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What feels like a few days ago, Lars and I left my father's home to report to Eric. While we were there Vincent showed up with a slightly drugged Alice. Apparently some Black Unicorn cult had kidnaped her, fortunately she has people like us to go chasing after her. While in our care she unwittingly created a gateway to a version of Wonderland. It seems as if her power over dreams is getting stronger, or she has had more time to exercise it.
After that strangeness we traveled to Shadow Earth. Specifically a nation there called Japan, which is slightly similar to my mother's Shadow. It was a welcome break while we waited for Eric to send word.
That night when I traveled to the garden, I came upon someone else enjoying the night. When I came into sight the other person fled the area. I followed long enough to see that person disappear in the Trump rainbow. With no real way of following the stranger further I returned to the garden, thinking that I would tell the others after I had meditated for a bit.
As I settled my breathing I turned my attention to the pulses that I can no longer ignore. Then I noticed that I could no longer feel the wind, it was as if the world had vanished around me. When I opened my eyes I saw that was not far from the truth. I was in the place where the whale had taken me before. Shadows flickered around me, giving the impression of moving down a tunnel.
Soon I became aware that the pulses had subsided into one steady pulse. It seemed as if I was being taken to the source of that pulse. I decided to see where that would be, and much to my surprise the end was just that. Before blacking out I vaguely remember the feeling of hitting a wall, at a very high speed.
Lars' voice is what dragged me back to consciousness, and when I got there I wished for oblivion again. Every inch of my body hurt, it seemed that I got very close to breaking every bone in my body all at once. On top of that my sword had vanished.
According to Lars I had literally dropped into a large gathering that he was at. This would not normally be too much of a problem, but we were in the Courts. He had gathered me up and taken me to his Ways, the same concept as the Trions had, and had seen to my care as best he could. He wished to get me out of the Courts, and I was in agreement. He could have Trumped someone and handed me off so I could be cared for and kept his relations with his home. Instead he Trumped both of us directly to Amber.
I am not sure how I can ever replay him for what he did for me. No one has ever done such an act for me. I doubt even my father would. Of course he would make sure that I went to good hands and check up on me, but that would be it. How can I properly replay this act of kindness, when I know so little of kindness itself.
Back in Amber, when Lars and I Trumped in we were fortunate enough to encounter Lentaro, ambassador of Telluria. Len offered to take me to his Shadow, where I would have a faster recovery time with the technology that they can employ. It sounded like an excellent choice, the war would not wait for me to recover.
The trip to the boat was quick. Lars helped keep my mind off things by telling me of his childhood. That was until Eric called him to the front lines at the Black Road. Before this, however, he received a Trump call from his mother. She confirmed what he already suspected, he is now an enemy of his own homeland. The rest of the trip was a blur of semi consciousness.
In Telluria they placed me in a machine of some sort. I have never been one to easily understand complex machinery. The rest of my healing was spent in oblivion. When I woke I was completely healed and Lentaro was there with my mended garments. Alexander was there waiting for me as well, and we spoke for a few moments about their efforts to gather extra troops. I soon departed to locate my sword in Shadow and then travel to the front lines.
I took control of the army at the Black Road and again have the title of General. On the second day of fighting we were able to fully turn back the enemy, mostly due to Vincent and Alexander arriving with a surprise force. Now the warriors are celebrating this little victory, and I am here preparing for the next wave.