The Stonehearted Knight-Chapter 274: Reading the diary

Rublena and Dollaire mounted their dessert horse early in the morning.

Hex had a clear view from his window. He watched the twins leave with a small group as the sun rose from the horizon. The unending dunes seemed to be made of gold in the light of the morning ray.

The fresh morning breeze caressed his face as he stared at the exiting group. They turned smaller and smaller as the distance increased. He wondered how long before they could start to explore the unearthed burrow.

As part of their agreement to partner, Lord Red Hare and he decided to send a team. They had to scout the periphery of the discovered burrows. The team consisted of people from both parties. Lord Red Hare placed three people in the team. Bashar was one of the three.

The man didn’t even blush in embarrassment before Hex. As far as he was concerned, he only owed his respect to Hex. His loyalty belonged to his Lord. Hex didn’t like the custom but he also couldn’t find fault with the man.

As far as the people belonging to Hex were concerned, he didn’t have anyone. Sterling proposed adding the twins. He assured Hex that the two sisters were the best scouts at the Knight stage he could get. Despite their obvious dislike for Hex, Hex agreed to let them scout.

’It’s good if they succeed. If not, I don’t think I will miss them. A win-win.’ He sneered and threw them to the back of his mind. There was a lot more to do. He rather did them now. Based on his past, there seemed to be a pattern of events worsening faster than he could breathe.

After becoming a Refined Knight, he used the Ice to reduce his fatigue. His physique improved too. He could sense it devour every wisp of chaotic energy in the air. But the energy in the air was too sparse to satisfy its hunger. Only using low-graded pills would do.

’With the gains of the burrow, I can buy the pills. I wonder how much would be required at this stage.’

Hex lost all his Sterren and coins during his fight against the King. Even the promised competition points evaporated with the destruction of the ruin. At least he ascended a stage. Or else his efforts might have been in vain for real.

After his breakfast, which consisted of bread, eggs, and cheese, Hex sat on his bed. He held the Witch’s Diary. It was weird. A part of him wished to read it and the other part wanted to burn it.

He knew he had to read it. He believed it would deepen his understanding of Heaven and the Divine Lord. The Witch was after all a person who opposed one and served the other.

Taking a deep breath, he opened the book. The ink reappeared on the pages once he had recovered. Hex focussed on the words, but they were shaking a bit. How could they shake – oh, Hex noticed his hands were trembling, not the words. His heart thudded wild against his chest. It seemed his body revealed what he wished to ignore: his desire to learn about the woman who created him.

Unable to stop his body from trembling, Hex placed the diary on the bed and turned the page. At first glance he noticed a few things: she wrote in short blocks, her letters were slanted, and she liked to doodle on the fringes of the page.

’She sucked at drawing,’ he thought with a sneer...but then whispered, "I did too."

He turned his gaze at the words. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

...day one of the green leaves.

Sister gave me a book. She also gave me a feather. She said writing helps the mind. But I want to play with her. Father yelled at me.

...day six of the green leaves.

Father yelled at me again. He says I disturb Sister a lot. She has to study. Sister doesn’t like to read. I do. And I am fast. She is slow.

...day twenty of the green leaves.

I am bored. I have read everything. I have done all the chores. Sister still isn’t done. We can’t play.

...day fifty of the green leaves.

I can move my arm again. I don’t feel pain anymore. Father didn’t hit me anymore. I wish to keep the bandage on. Maybe he won’t hit me anymore. He yelled at me. He has to borrow money for Sister’s books. He found the old ones in the creak. He screamed at me for doing it.

But...I didn’t do it. It was Sister. But I didn’t tell father. What if he hit Sister? No, I have to keep it a secret.

Hex didn’t realize his hands had stopped trembling. He continued to read. At the beginning, he wondered about the way she noted the dates but it flew to the back of his mind as he continued to read. The more he read, the more he lost himself in the words. At some point, he even forgot to blink.

...day three hundred of the green leaves.

The Shaman came. Father brought us to receive our Blessing. When Sister touched the stone, the leaves above us whispered and the birds started to sing. I heard people cheer. Everyone was happy. Father smiled too. Sister is a Saint.

I didn’t get a Blessing. No one saw. Father saw. He...he said he knew I was cursed.

...day one of the yellow leave.

Sister is with her friends. I wanted to meet them. I heard them laugh. And sing. But father didn’t open the door. He said people shouldn’t know Sister has a little sister like me. I don’t think anyone knows that.

Sometimes I wonder, who knows I exist? Father? But he never looks at me. Sister? But I haven’t met her since she became a Saint. Who else?

...No one.

...

Sterling burst through the door.

"Hex, the burrows are a treasure trove – what happened here? Hex?!"

The sun seemed on its zenith. But inside his room, it was freezing. Snow covered the walls and floors. Sterling wore a thin shirt and baggy pants. He shivered due to the cold as he stared at Hex in shock.

Hex gave him a blank stare as he replied.

"Nothing. I just lost control."