The Cat's Grimoire || 2024 ONC

Entry 27

Dear Diary, 

Way too much has happened since my last entry for me to have had time to write. 

Abo arrived 5 days after As sent for him; it took us about 5 more days to get to Greed. Arriving at Greed was supposed to be exciting; it was supposed to be our big moment of reunion. It was not. As of today, we have been in Greed for 7 days and still have not seen Lillith or Monet.  

Upon our initial arrival, we were astounded by the beauty of Greed- everything was gold and shiny, from the sky on Abo's back we could see the hundred of buildings, all golden and beautiful, and all uniquely built. I've never seen something so beautiful hide something so foul. As we approached the entrance- a huge golden gate guarded by two armored elvish men- we were asked of our business in Greed. 

Abo kindly used his status and power to explain and build our case for us, it was agreed on the journey here that Munin and I would do everything we could to let As and Abo handle any questions or concern. After hearing of our long journey, we were allowed entry and escorted to a large marble building not far from the front gates, where we met Monma. 

Monma is a large man, but not like the men from home. Much like a centaur, his head and abdomen resemble a human man, but all other parts of him are spider-  his eyes are human but under both of his regular eyes are three more smaller eyes, and his mouth holds large spider-like fangs along with human teeth, at the middle of his back begins a shiny, black spider abdomen with 8 spindly black legs. In the same way that As and Abo rule their regions, Monma rules Greed. 

Seemingly, without being filled in on our situation, Monma knew why we were here. Before anything else, he took us to a window and pointed out the building where Monet and Lillith were staying. We then heard that the entire city of Greed was having outbreaks of a strange magical illness. 

A few weeks back, right around the time our friends went missing, people started popping up with flu symptoms —nothing too odd—coughing, sneezing, fever. But things became strange; the flu started to show more strange symptoms—greenish purple skin, yellowing eyes, paranoia, less control of magic, and finally, a deep sleep. Monet has been infected with this illness. 

Monma and his most trusted people are working hard to find a cause and a cure. Hundreds of their people have been affected, and to contain the outbreak, all of the ill have been contained to one building, and they are not allowed any visitors other than those who were around at the beginning of their symptoms. 

For now we have been given a place to stay, its strange, the place is large enough for even Abo. There are exactly enough rooms for all four of us, and again, there is a room large enough for Abo. Monma and his people have all been kind, a bit dry in conversation, but very accommodating. I don't know how long we will be here or even if we will ever leave now. Munin and I are feeling very powerless in our current situation; we have traveled so far and worked so hard just to be denied access to our family. As has been trying to comfort us, she says if we can help with the cure, maybe we can speed things up; I don't even know if they will accept our help. 

Surely we will get to go home, all together, we just have to. 

-Felicette