#private record

My strange dreams began after I witnessed the fall of Syrcus Tower. I suppose anyone who survived what I did doesn’t walk away from it perfectly fine. I try not to think too much about what I’ve lost in the middle of all this. My main concern has been survival. So maybe 'tis all coming out in my dreams. 

When I dream, I appear in this void of light and color. Perhaps an aetheric void? I don’t know... I’m not much studied in things of that sort. 

When I find myself there, I probably should be afraid. But I’m not. 'Tis peaceful in that nothingness. 'Tis like a sense of finding something that I didn’t realize I lost. Even though I don’t know what it is. 

'Tis usually when I catch sight of two things - a massive crystal and a sky threatening to rain down fire. I’m not sure the relevance of these things and how they connect, but they’re almost always elements of my dreams. 

Sometimes I hear a voice - I think it comes from the crystal. Though how that can be, I just haven’t worked out. I know she speaks to me, but when I wake up, I’ve forgotten her words. No matter how hard I try, I haven’t been able to recall them. Which is frustrating. I wonder if I could make sense of things if I could just remember... 

Sometimes when I wake up, I’m not where I left myself. I don’t know if I sleep walk or what... Thankfully, my supplies seem to come with me wherever I end up, or that would be a real danger. 

I’ve continued my travels to a place that has seemed to survive the fall somewhat better than other locations I’ve seen. Perhaps I’m getting far enough away from Ground Zero now to have more in-tact buildings and structures. 

My atlas notes that there was once a pretty sizable settlement based here, used for recreation and vacation. I see the signs of it all around. If there are people here, I’ve been unable to locate them. 

I did have what I’d call an incident last night. Usually, I’ve been able to sleep unbothered even in the open due to the overall lack of wildlife and scavengers. When I woke this morning, however, I noticed that the pocket to my supply pack had been pried open and some of my rations were eaten and scattered about. 

There were signs of small prints in the soil, though I was not familiar with what sort of creature they belonged to. Not something I’ve seen in the forests, for sure. 

I spent far too much time trying to locate the group of people that I ran across in the ruins. I know that I’ve lost days searching for them, only to find no trace of anyone ever having been here. Nothing. 

I’ve begun to wonder if I saw... something else. I dunno. My mind playing tricks on me? 

I don’t even want to humor the idea of spirits of the dead... though the fact that I know the dead are likely buried, scattered throughout the broken ruins under my feet. Who knows what I’m sleeping above every night. 

Yeah. That’s why it’s better not to think about it. 

I’m going to be moving on in the morning. If I stay much longer, I’m putting my rations at risk. Wildlife seems abundant, but it’s hard to tell if that’s going to be something I can rely on for the rest of my journey.