Introduction
In the literary traditions of the far eastern island of Hingashi, a pillow book is a private diary usually kept by an aristocratic Lady. Within such a book, one can often expect to find the Lady's private thoughts concerning matters of court, the latest fashions of the day, anecdotes on proper Noble behavior, and of course, the juiciest gossip. In this book, this is not the case. These pages are filled with thoughts of pain and loss; fear and joy; adventure and wonder. This is the private dairy of one Lady Tsubaki of the Yatsurugi clan.
Lady Tsubaki was an Au Ra noble woman of clan Yatsurugi who lived on the island of Hingashi some 700 years ago. She lived during a time of great turbulence, when the Empire of Garlemald was at the height of its power and set to conquer and colonize the entirety of Hydaelyn. Forced to flee her home by the cruel blades of assassins, Lady Tsubaki traveled to the realm of Eorzea. There she channeled her pain of loss into the energy necessary to take back control of her life. Making a name for herself as an adventurer, she participated in several well-known battles of the time and waged a private war against the killers who robbed her of her family and honor.
Sadly, like so many heroes and adventurers of the time, Lady Tsubaki's tale has been over-shadowed by the fame and legacy left by the Warrior of Light of that era. It is fortunate that this book was recently found hidden in a small secret room of what was once the Lady's estate. The her descendants have graciously donated the book to be translated from its native tongue so that the world might read her story. Here, I present to you Petals of the Camellia: Pillow Book of an Adventurer.
*Compiled, translated, and edited by Dr. Ferdinand Aeolus, Head of Eastern Studies, University of Sharlayan.
Entry 1
I've decided to begin recording my thoughts in this diary. I picked it up from one of the vendors in the marked place of Limsa Lominsa. I thought it might be good to keep a record of events for my own mental well being; to keep me grounded. You see, I have been forced to endure a great loss and dishonor. A loss no woman should ever have to bear, least of all a woman of my station and lineage. My family has been murdered. My parents, loyal members of Clan Yatsurugi and more loving than anyone can know, were beheaded in their own home. My two older sisters, Tsuya and Matsumi, both cut down in the garden. What kind of monster murders unarmed women?! My older brother and heir to the head of our family, was the only one besides myself who seemed to escape the carnage. At least, I hope he did, for I did not see his body. I can only hope that we are reunited one day, that we may seek vengeance and justice together.
The only reason I survived is because my most trusted servant, Kaede, bade me hide in the secret crawl space in my room. And hide I did, like a cowardly rat in its hole. This shame will forever mark me. I heard many feet and muffled voices searching for me, though I could not see the villains from my hiding spot. For an eternity, Kaede and I hid until all was still. When we finally came out, I saw the assassin's handiwork for the first time. Not even the servants and the children were spared. My home became a house of death. I wanted to end it right there, to die along side my family and retain what little honor I had left, but Kaede would not allow it. "No!" she said. "Your duty is to survive that you might avenge your family." I will never forget those words for they have given me a purpose that now drives my every step.
We swiftly packed some essentials and fled. To my great horror, I was unable to find my katana and soul crystal. The assassins must have stolen them, along with other valuables as our house had clearly been ransacked. Not content with mere murder, it seems. Kaede led me safely from our home and to the port city of Kugane. There a merchant vessel, captained by Kaede's brother no less, was bound for the far western realm of Eorzea. She secured my place aboard the ship and gave to me a set of twin brass knives. "Learn to use these and the techniques that compliment them. You will need them to survive" she said to me. Then she pressed into my hand, a black soul crystal with a red symbol then said, "When this crystal glows, you will be ready for the next level. An agent of mine will then find you and train you in our arts." It seems there is more to Kaede than I had ever realized. She bade me farewell and soon after the ship set sail for an unknown future. She will remain and act as my agent seeking out those who destroyed my life. For now, I must do my part to grow stronger so that I may be ready to strike when the time comes.
Entry 2
The journey was not an easy one. Despite my station as a woman of noble blood, I was forced to perform servant's work cleaning the decks and assisting the cooks. I was even forced to keep watch in the area of the ship called the "crow's nest." I expressed my concerns that this work was not appropriate for a lady of my station. The captain, whose name was simply Takeru, merely laughed and said, "This isn't a pleasure cruise, my dear. Even ladies have to earn their keep."Â
Needless to say, I was deeply incensed. How dare a lowly peasant speak to me in such a manner! Under normal circumstances, such disrespect would receive severe punishment. A public flogging perhaps. However, I was in no position to make demands. The captain has ultimate authority over his ship, especially out on open waters. Had I made myself too much of a burden, he could easily have his crew throw me overboard, despite his relationship to Kaede.
The time I didn't spend working was devoted towards combat training with the knives Kaede gave to me. One of the captain's crewman, a Miqo'te woman of sturdy build named K'licca, was in charge of teaching me the ins and outs of knife fighting. She was a brusque woman of few words and she would drill me until I could scarce stand, let alone fight. The first two weeks were some of the most trying weeks of my life.Â
Between the hard labor and the combat training, my body ached constantly and I developed calluses and blisters in places I knew not could get them. I am no stranger to physical exertion, having trained in the Way of the Sword since I could stand, but that skill was developed over years of moderate training. What I went through now was like condensing all those years into a single month of intense training.
Though the days were brutal, it was the nights that were my truest challenge. Not for any external source, as the sea remained relatively calm the entire trip. No, instead it was in these quiet hours, that I was haunted by my own mind. As I lay on deck among the coils of rope, for I had no bed to speak of, I would curl up from the ache of body's physical exertions. Memories of my murdered family and all that I had lost would then come flooding back to me at once. Images of my family's bodies covered in their own blood forced their way into the forefront of my mind. It was all I could do to stifle my sobs until I fell asleep.Â
However, even unconsciousness failed to render peace. Hellish nightmare images tormented me. Visions of my family's mutilated corpses would cry out to me for justice. Sometimes they would label me a coward for hiding whilst they died and other times they bade me throw myself into the sea or slice my belly open with my knives and join them in death. During these long nights with little rest, the only comfort I could find was in the beauty of the night sky, where the stars would sparkle peacefully in the darkness.