Prologue: A Deal With a Devil

Hello again, Journal. I'm greeting an inanimate object, that's...probably not a good sign. Should I give you a name? Something dashing like, Ike, Jeffrey, or Meredith. The point is, this is a new entry in my journal. I thought I would not have to collect my thoughts until the journey to the other side, but circumstances have changed. There's a few very troubling topics to work though this time around. I'm not really sure how to go about explaining it, honestly.
 
Let's begin with the fact that I can find the confidence to go into the material plane, bring back stability to the home my Mother once lived in, and to make the memory of my father proud. I can do all of that with ease, yet I can't find the courage to tell my own siblings that I'm doing it. They deserve to know, and it's not improbable that I could die on this journey. After all no one has been as far as I'll go in some time. I know why, of course. Why I can't tell them. Helfren is the type of big brother that would shoulder all the burdens in the world if he could. The bullheaded fool would jump into a random portal without even considering the dangers, not if it meant saving someone he cared about. Which means if I get in trouble, and he hears about it, he might follow me out. I can't be the reason he gets put in danger. I want him safe, and I want him here. For Mother and for Mialla.
 
Mialla, most people in her situation would feel envious. Jealous and resentful that their twin sibling awoke as an aasimar and they did not. She doesn't. In fact, she's been my biggest supporter. Of course she also experienced the brunt of this "gift", having been on the receiving end of my lapses in control, and more than one time. Mia has been nothing be helpful to me. Assisting me to research and practice control methods. Growing up we both had to go through a lot because of me. I think that rather than drive us apart, it brought us together. Finding a common goal, and a common interest in this magic. She, being a daughter to the great Fialla Nodelmiir's, took well to magic. Becoming a powerful wizard in her own right, truth be told she could probably be more useful on this journey than I could. Mia is amazing, and I'm really proud of how far she's come. Selfishly though, I think she should stay at the tower. Me telling her would only make her want to come, not because of me. I'm not that egotistical, Journal! She has an adventurers spirit, a curious mind, and the skill to match. She'd be an asset the expedition, but...I don't want her to run into the same danger I am. I want her to be here, incase something goes wrong. To be there for Mother. To carry the Nodelmiir's to new heights. Heights my "chosen"-butt could only dream of. I'll have to tell them both, of course. Soon. I will, but...not -that- soon.
 
Now let's get into the meat of this entry. The real reason I was driven to write it. Family stuff, I can internalize and process poorly on my own. Don't need journal for that. No, but I do need to document an encounter. I believe I caught the eye of a devil. No surprise there, I am an Aasmiar. I've read about corruption before, and I always thought the ones who fell to it were weak. Yet in that moment, a part of me--a very small part of me wanted to consider that offer. That's how it starts, right? First you consider it, tell them no. No dice. Then they come at you when you are at the lowest point, they offer once more. You can't refuse, but I will. This Devil, who introduced herself to me as Mala, presenting herself as an Orc woman. Dark green skin, long black hair, that seemed to melt with the shadows she was surrounded in, and eyes red as the blood that flows within the veins of mortals. She caught me curious, and lured me to the sublevels of the tower. I resisted her this time, with the help of Succisa. She was...not afraid, no, more irritated by the presence of my Guardian Celestial. Probably would've done the same for most interlopers, of course assuming they were on the same level of power as Succisa. Still, it was an uncomfortable stand off, until Mala backed off. I have a bad feeling this is only the first unwilling meeting I'll have with this entity. I only hope in the future I'll have the strength to say no once again. I must not fall.
 
Speaking of, Succisa changed their shape again. After leading me out, and being their usual vague self, of course. A gnome this time, I hate when she's a small race. It hurts my neck. Seriously. I wish she'd consider being a minotaur, or like a human with a side shave haircut. That'd be easy to look at, at least. Succisa said I'd have many important things to be done. I wish they'd be more honest with me. I'd like to know the weight that's on my shoulders. It's hard to be serious when everything seems to out of reach to them. Like they almost care. At least I felt that way until the Mala incident. For now, I'll trust Succisa judgement. I have no other choice. I can only do my duty. I'm pretty decent at that. I've been complemented on it before, so I'd say that's good.
 
Anyway, I'm running out of room on this page, so for now I will conclude here. Main points for future Vereshia are as follows:
-Don't trust strange Devils.
-Don't make deals with Devils, EVER.
-Be more careful with your curiosity in the future. (Don't always trust your gut, it's not always right.)
-Be honest with your siblings and express your concerns with telling them. You've always had an easy time talking with Mia, but Helfren...that won't be as easy. Hard to connect with that guy.
-My item preparations are as finished as they can be. Stop checking. (So much)
-Spend more time with Saleesh. (I'm gonna miss her so much. I wish she could come with me.)
 
Thanks again Journal, and I hope you like the name Meredith. It's you now.
 
Cya later,
Vereshia Nodelmiir.