The following excerpts are copied from Sand’s Diary. Unlike in the popularly sought after copy of The Travel Log of Sand Ashōran, these excerpts are unedited (mostly) and unabridged (also mostly), taken directly from my diary.

P.S. Please don’t try to go to these places. You will not have a very good time (if you even manage to get there). Just in case, I’ve changed up the names of the locations.

P.P.S. Thank you to those that have purchased this incredibly more expensive copy instead of the edited and polished up one. If you have both in your possession, I must ask you, why would you do this to yourself? Regardless, many thanks to you, dear reader, for supporting my travels. I would’ve eventually got the money somehow (is what I tell myself), but this makes it so much easier. (it doesn’t help that much, but my sister has informed me that I should thank you, so, there you go. Thank you.)

Entry 14

It is decided. The ship is oncourse for Kokuru. Preparations are being undertaken to make an outfit with two layers of clothes. All containers capable of holding water are also being requisitioned.

(No, I did not change my mind and tell the captain about the distraction idea. I now have started to carry this notebook around with me everywhere I go. Go figure. Hint: she snoops through my stuff. My fault for not thinking ahead.)

This time, a lot more of the crew will be coming on land, but I’ve not seen as many faces around the ship. Perhaps it’s just nerves and everyone is hiding -- can’t say I blame them. I myself don’t like the feeling I'm getting from this, but I no longer have any choice or voice in this whatsoever. I refused to be a part of this, and so I will remain in the ship.

- - - - - - -

Entry 27*

*Sand here. Present day Sand, I mean. I know I said that these are “unedited” and “unabridged” but you may have noticed that there’s a discrepancy between this entry and the last one. I would love to include the missing 13 entries, but I really can’t. When I say they’re missing, I really do mean that -- they’re gone, ripped out of my journal. Poof. Sure, I suppose I could make something up, go back through my memories and write what I remember, but those pages were ripped out on purpose, and I’d like to continue living, thank you very much. (‘Why are they so dramatic?’ I hear you ask, dear reader? Read on and find out. I think you’ll understand then why I don’t want to risk my life, even if there’s multiple islands and an ocean between me and them. If not, then, I don’t know what to say. I could apologise for not making my writings clear enough. But can you really blame me? I was terrified and had already written a dozen drafts of this, I didn’t want to have to rewrite it even mor- Whims. Now you’ve done it. You made me divulge what was on the missing pages. Harumph.

It has been... a rough couple of weeks. Everything went downhill (and I mean, absolutely everything). I should have kept my Whims-loving mouth shut, and not said anything about the vigaitos. What a Whims-streaked idiot I am. I was careful only to speak of their beauty, and their hilariously hideous offspring, but that was apparently enough to indicate to the captain that there were profits to be made. Either that, or the reputation of these creatures spreads farther than I thought.

Right before we arrived on the coast, I went into my cabin once more, making clear that I would not be a part of the "expedition" (I am loath to use this word to call that... that monsterly plunder. The captain’s “expedition” taints the very sentiment of exploration and research for the sake of adventure and knowledge). It turned out that I did not have much of a choice in whether I would come or not. And so, forced at sword-point, I gathered the majority of all my belongings and walked the plank into the pirate's temporary camp. It was a temporary camp, but still quite well-equipped. They apparently set this up -- this scourge that was the base of their base of operations -- shortly after dropping me off by Niraupa.

All this time that I was away, enjoying myself where no one else had ever gone to in decades, these monsters that I spawned were also trying to get to where only a few had gone. They didn't have any such luck penetrating the inner layer, the sanctum of the vigaitos, and it's why they needed me to take them there. I am afraid that I built myself up as this picture of someone courageous and righteous, that would not stand for blackmail or coercion. That image of me is a fraud, a lie; it’s nothing but a far-fetched dream. I crumbled easily. I didn't even laugh long enough for them to threaten torture! Just said one ‘no’, and then I completely broke down in front of them and agreed to everything they wanted me to do. Let me make it even more clear, if it already isn't so: I am such a coward that I nearly immediately agreed to their demands.

There wasn't any clever plan that had taken home into my head or anything of the sorts. That I am still alive, and what happened next, is purely luck. Luck, and the grit of the people of Niraupa.

The story goes like so:

After capitulating without a struggle, they saw that I wasn't much of a threat and didn't even bother confining me to a tent until the next day (they didn’t even assign someone to keep watch over me!) Of course, they had people watching the site at all times, but they really didn't care what I did to pass the time until the next day, which was when the captain wanted to make the push for the sanctum.

The colours of the first layer, those vibrant, clashing shades of the greenery, looked muted as we quickly made our way through them. It turns out that the second layer, the one that I commented before on as being "soothing," is actually filled with plants whose sap is enough to put someone into unconsciousness for days from just a single drop. I had no desire to stick around and take a sample; I didn't even want to look for other secrets that were surely hiding in the deeptive greenery. I just wanted this whole ordeal to be over with, and it hadn't even properly started.

When we arrived at the third layer (where the vasii can be found), a large section of it had been cleared away to make space for a second, smaller camp that seemed as out of place as a pigsty trough made out of gold and studded with precious jewels.

"We cleared a tunnel in the first layer, too, sir, but the jungle covers it up so quickly that it doesn't last long," the first mate apologised to the captain. "I hope that it wasn't too harsh a trek."

The captain waved a hand, scoffing. "It was fine. Enough of this loitering. We have work ahead of us. Is everything ready?"

"Understood captain. Yes, everything is prepared exactly to your specifications," the first mate nodded. "The canisters of water are waiting inside the tent, along with the suits. You can get dressed in there."

"Very well." The captain led us into the tent, where she and the rest of the party started donning the double layer of clothes. "Well? Will these be enough protection?" she asked once she had hers on.

"Yes. They seem adequate," I replied. These ‘suits’ were really just two shirts and two pants sown in each other. The sleeves ended in gloves, and the pants in socks. They also had garish hats with netting coming down around the sides, to protect the face and neck, similar to what beekeepers wear. I didn't bother to tell them that these “hats” were a waste of effort and time. The vasuu could just press themselves against the net, and still come into contact with enough skin through that.

"And the containers?" She snapped her fingers to draw my attention. "I'm talking with you. Are the containers of water good? And don't lie. You have been so cooperative until now."

The containers seemed good enough, albeit with too much water in them. I said as much and waited while she directed the crew to drink some sips to reduce the volume.

"That's good," I said, and they stopped, hastily capping them again. Final preparations made, and Happy's two jars shoved into my arms (one with water, the other with Happy in it), it was then that I realised that I wasn't given one of the suits. "Do I not get any protection?" I stammered. I had lied to myself that if I would be helpful enough, not put up much of a fight, listen to their directives, that they wouldn't kill me. It wasn't a very good or effective lie. Of course I knew that it was going to happen eventually, but I had beguiled myself into thinking that it was far off.

"No. We didn't have any time to make extras, you understand," the captain said, falsely sympathetic. There was no arguing with that, I could see. "But, we still wouldn't want you to miss out. You did pay us handsomely, both in the money you paid us to ferry you around, and also in the information you've given us. So many possibilities opened up! So you don't think that I'm ungrateful, I thought I would give you the chance to see the precious chicks you were keeping all to yourself."

She didn't need me anymore, that was clear. Once she was in the inner sanctum she could find the vigaitos easily enough, even without my help, but I suppose that she wanted to use me until the very last minute (alongside gloating).

The only highlight of the long, gruelling trek through that third layer was that I managed to release Happy without getting killed. By then, we had been walking for the better part of at least two hours, and had opened the containers of water after the first mate took a vasuu to the face and died.

I count myself lucky to have survived that layer while someone with the suit didn't. It really goes to show how much luck played a role in the party's ability to make it to the sanctum. Sure, the containers worked splendidly, causing vasii to veer into those instead of at people's faces. But it still attracted more vasii than I imagine would’ve passed by us if we didn’t have the water. In the end, it wasn't the suits, or the water containers strategy that stood out. It was sheer and utter luck.

Passing from the the second protective layer (although, now that I know the second layer is still actually filled with dangers, only less obvious ones, this should be the third protective layer as well, not just the third layer) to the sanctum should be like stepping through a portal and being transported from a hellish place to a magical one.

The vigaitos’ sanctum is colourful and vivid, like the first layer, only ethereal. The colours match with each other, leaves of all shades swooping against the blue backdrop of the sky (which is as vivid in the night as it is in the day, only darker and speckled with stars). And then, the noises. They are normal forest noises: wind passing through trees, rattling leaves and branches, insects buzzing, birds chirping, the whole deal. Somehow, these sounds are enhanced, taken from normal to other-worldly. And the vigaitos themselves…

They can be spotted through the branches of the trees, perching proudly, or soaring through the sky. Stark shades of black and white, they stand out against the colourful setting, the eternal guardians of the forest. Their majesty is what gives it away. (I'm not saying what it gives away, lest rumours spread, and someone gets the wrong idea again. They are gorgeous, yes, like an exotic butterfly whose likes have never been seen before and it stands out. Also. Mandatory “do not try to find these birds” warning. Consider yourself warned).

The vigaitos’ offspring, however, are completely unlike the parents. Where the mature ones are bold and beautiful, the young are scrawny, with bones protruding through their bodies in unnatural angles and to a great extent. Their parents have long, supple feathers, but the young are stuck with skin that seems to be almost tearing apart.

We found ourselves in something that looked nothing like the sanctum I remembered, not even a distant resemblance. Instead of vigaitos flying around, we were met with people aiming weapons at us and holding vasii wrapped around the protective leather around their forearms. (I’m not actually sure if vasii is the right word; they were more samwa-like, but I don’t think they’re fully domesticated, or at least not as docile as the ones in Omido).

Undeterred, and not about to go down without a fight, the captain yelled at her party to attack. The ones that moved to obey her order were dead before they could even properly get their weapons out. As for the rest of us, it took a few extra seconds for the vasii to be commanded to jump on a new target. This is the second stroke of luck. The leader of the people mentioned that they needed to capture a few alive, and I was one of the three that were chosen (I believe it may have been because of pity, as I was not dressed like the pirates, who were all wearing the suits. It’s a bit ironic. The very thing I thought would kill me ended up saving me).

It turns out that these people, too, are guardians. I’m not allowed to say much more, other than to make it clear: they are incredibly technologically advanced and quite steadfast in their dedication to ward off danger. They will maim and kill (although mainly kill) without a second thought if you are deemed a threat. I hope I made it clear. Do not, for the Will’s love, do not, try to seek these animals out. They will be the death of you.

Once they got information about the extent of the captain’s operation, they were very efficient in snuffing out the whole crew, dismantling their camp, and commandeering their ship. Also, after I explained my role in this mess, they were also kind enough to drop me off by Nada’s village, where I am now residing once again, trying to secure passage out.

This time I am going to hire a merchant ship. I find myself in the sudden possession of a lot more money than I originally started out with, and would want some less exciting crew this time around. I have enough adventure planned ahead of me once I get to my other destinations, so a peaceful and cathartic journey to them will be most welcome.