I was pretty bored today. Things have been slow without some overbearing deadline we have to worry about. I decided to head over to the camp library to pass some time. Reed and Ann have been spending a good bit of time here to study magic, so maybe I could improve my skills here. Reading usually isn't my thing but I guess I'll try it.

  I browse the shelves for something. Most books are about philosophy. On a small shelf in the back of the store is a book with no name. I pick this one up. On the first few pages is sketches of modern things. One will just be a tree while another is a whole skyscraper. After maybe ten pages is actual writing. This one looks nice so I might as well read it. I start going toward a table when Ann appears out of seemingly nowhere.

  "Caleb! I didn't think I'd see you here, like ever." She says.

  "Yeah, just pretty bored." I tell her.

  "What book is that?" She asks while pointing towards my hand.

  "I... Don't really know. It has sketches from Earth." I say.

  She reaches her hand out and I hand her the book. She flips through the pages, she flips the book towards me and points at one of the pictures.

  "What's this?" She asks.

  She points at a picture of a crane.

  "That's a crane, it's used to move heavy things." I tell her.

  She flips through more and reaches the text. She hands me the book back.

  "Seem interesting! I may have to read it sometime." She says, "Bye Caleb, see around?"

  "Yeah, see you!" I say while walking off.

  "Caleb! Can I ask you something?" She says.

  I walk back over. She holds her head down. Her fist are clenched.

  "I want to be the one who kills the king. Please, let me deal the final blow!" She tells me.

  "If that's really what you want... Go ahead. I won't take away from your revenge!" I say while smiling.

  She starts crying and hugs me. The king took her brother away. I don't know what kind of retionship they had but she definitely cares about him, more than I want to go home.

  I sit down at a table and begin reading, the book starts off like a diary.

  "Day one:

  I was just walking down the street when I tripped and woke up here. This pce is strange, the trees are different, the people are different, and worst of all it doesn't have my family."

  Each page has a long paragraph, each one covers a whole different day. I flip through pages.

  "Day two:

  A stranger came and talked to me, he said I'm a 'hero' whatever that means! He tells me I have to kill a king or something?"

  "Day ten, day twenty, day thirty six."

  The book is long. Clearly written by a past hero.

  "Day seventy two:

  I met a rge man named Bud, we became quick friends. He said he was the leader of some revolution and they have the same goal as me. I'll join up with them for now."

  I skip through most of the book. I want to see when the book stops. I get near the end when I read a small part that catches my eye.

  "Day three hundred thirty two:

  The king is finally dead. But no portal opened! They said I could go home! What... happened."

  "Day three hundred forty one:

  I'm leaving, I found a nice vilge in the human territories! I'll stay there for now. I'll find another way to get home and see my son. I swear to it."

  "Day three hundred fifty six:

  The magic is taking over. The god of fmes is calling my name. 'burn' it tells me. I want to ignore it! But... I'll burn! Burn this world I will! These people tricked me! This world will be ash and I swear to it!"

  The rest of the pages are burnt. There's no other text. As I finish reading I hear footsteps approaching me. They walk around me and sit on the other side of the table. It's Vincent.

  "Hey Caleb, what're you reading?" He asks.

  "It's the burning man's diary." I tell him.

  He looks me in the eyes. He has a serious look on his face.

  "Why do we still have that?" He smacks his forehead and leans back in his chair.

  "Did you know him?" I ask.

  "Yeah! Me, him, and Bud were pretty good friends." He says.

  "Could we... Help him?" I ask.

  "No. he's too far gone and we can't do anything to stop him." He says with a sad look on his face.

  I try to lighten the mood with some jokes but they don't nd. He looks over at me after five failed jokes.

  "Caleb, we have a job for you." He tells me.

  "What is it?" I ask.

  He stands up and walks out of the library. I follow him and we reach his tent.

  "We have some allies in the orc territory that we're gonna need to go get." He tells me.

  "So I have to go get them?" I ask.

  He gives me a nod and begins walking out of the tent.

  "You move out next week, continue training for that time." He says.

  Later that day is training. It's different than usual. Marty brought out three rge boxes covered with a tarp. He puts us in groups of two. It's me and Mark. Ann was with Reed, and Wick was with Mal. Once we have our pairs Marty removes the Tarp. It's three rge cages with giants inside.

  "These are giants! All three of these giants have the giant disease. You have to take out one with your partner." He tells us.

  Me and Mark have to go up first. Marty lets the giant out of the cage and it rushes out at us. I cover us with a shield. Mark runs a few feet behind us and throws some knives at the giant. They don't damage the giant, only make it focus on Mark. It runs at him and I follow it. It's about to kick him when I cut the giants foot clear off. Before I couldn't even scratch it. How did I just do that? The giant falls on the ground and rolls around. I look over at Marty to see if we need to do anything else.

  "Sorry Caleb, but you've got to kill it to pass." He yells.

  I walk over to the giants head. I pull my sword up and cut it's head off. Reed and Ann go after us. Once Marty releases the giant Reed use a rge sharp piece of rock shaped like a drill. He shoots through the giants stomach but it doesn't kill it. Ann crushes it's head with a rge rock.

  Wick and Mal go next. The giant runs towards Wick. He avoids it and fire lightning at the giant. This slowly pisses the giant off. After every hit of lightning Mal would run in and cuts the giants feet. After the giant falls for the same trick a few times it finally falls. Wick then cuts it's neck with his spear. This means we all passed Marty's first test. He tells us we will have three more tests before we can move onto out next teacher. They will arrive after my mission.