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Page #17: "Meeting Sechen"
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Dear diary, a smart and scary monster once told me, you maynever know someone unless you take the time to learn of them, for the most frightening of visage can hide the kindest of souls. So it was, that soon after hearing Sir Connor's words, did I meet the example to which he might as well have been referring. Sechen's was a beauty to behold, a contradiction of my mind and heart, for here was a magnificent monster. Her scales were curled over slightly tanned skin like the spiral of vines embracing a floral growth. She had only one eye, the other damaged and kept behind a leather eyepatch. Yet, her cycloptic imperfections merely offered greater insight into her curious soul. I felt drawn to her, as though our souls, invisible to the naked eye, had risen from our mortal forms to hold and entwine in the circling embrace of kindred's dance.
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I giggled and laughed as she spoke, her foreign accent clearto hear, and adorably, she gestured with her hands and body to support her efforts of communication. It was a game to me, and I wanted to play. Introducing myself, I held out my hands, curled into each other and slowly, I unfolded them, imitating as best as I could, a blossoming flower. "I am a botanist" I said, and an idea came to me. I reached into my satchel of herbs and produced a flower which I carefully secreted into my sleeves. I repeated my blossoming gesture and magicked forth the hidden bloom. Senchen was awash with shock and glee. "Myosotis sylvatica" I explained, "a beautiful blue flower to compliment your hair. It is also known as forget-me-not, a fitting gift to make a lasting impression".
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Sechen liked my flower, and affixed it to her hair. Shebrought me to sit and we spoke of each other's past and dreams, namely my impending rite of passage, a quest to collect flowers from around the world. As the night drew on, the tables emptied, and Sechen and I were at last alone. I remember admiring her hair and the mesmerising flow of her scaled skin. They were blue as crystals, a beauty of lapis lazuli. As sleep washed over me, I became mesmerised by Sechen's rustling hair, each strand dancing in the midnight breeze, blue as the azure skies.
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I must assume she helped me back onto Steelbane, for on themorrow, I awoke sprawled over the velvet sheets of my four-poster bed, safe and sound in the familiar walls of my family home. I recall speaking to Sir Jikam the caravan master, who agreed to have me join the Wayfinders group. I believe they're set for the beaches of Costa del Sol, a place unknown to me in the east of La Noscea. Though I cannot yet leave the Twelveswood, I was glad to have been taken in by my new friends, especially, that Sechen had desired me to do so. I hope to see her again, so that we may properly celebrate. To all the gods do I pray, for protection and safe passage of my newfound friends. Bless the earth they traverse, good Nophica, and give nourishment to their vessel, wherever their camps may be.
