[October 28, Lost Era 1001.
I was still trapped on Kelhailong soil.
This was by no means good news.
Lord Versace had no obligation to inform me of the fighting at the front, and he seemed to be deliberately suppressing the news.
Whatever was happening on the border walls could only be a matter of groundless speculation on my part, but I still believed the outlook was far from optimistic.
The only thing I could know was that I was safe.
The Ashen Mountains were now heavily guarded, and the allied forces of the border nobles had even begun digging trenches in the scorched earth. It was hard to imagine what promises Lord Versace had made to secure such obedience.
But I could make no guarantees about the other civilians within the Great Wall, nor did I dare draw any conclusions-
I felt I needed to do something.
Before letters could no longer be sent, I needed to do whatever I could.]
Geya's diary ended abruptly.
It was already the bitter cold of December, and Lingering City had even welcomed Teren's first snowfall.
These manuscripts had probably been mailed just before Versace imposed a complete information blockade, only reaching the poets today after a circuitous journey.
As Ashley made Geya's diary public, the bards who had been listening quietly could no longer remain silent. "Using the empire's army for his own purposes-does he know what he's doing!?"
"He knew perfectly well this was a war to the death, yet he abused his authority for personal gain while the beastfolk were massing in huge numbers! Now I understand why the Great Wall fell!"
"The front was desperate while those behind it gorged themselves. This is our great, respected, capable Arbitrator! For that little bit of profit from rust moss, he was