Hey Diary,

  We’re in the lovely town of Lamp. They’re having a festival tonight, and there’s banners everywhere that say “I love Lamp”. Weird, but who am I to judge? We’ve got our Festival of Fish back home, and I doubt that’s a thing anywhere but in the village of Fish.

  We joined for a little while, but it’s not really our place. We aren't Lamp residents.

  So we just ate and came back to the inn.

  I have my own room, and after saying I wasn't feeling super good from all that fried food, I came in and tried carving the small rune.

  It works. I held it in my hand and activated it, and my lightning magic level jumped from 44 to 144.

  I’ve never felt… power like that before. I mean, I have two specialties, so I’ve always been a little behind everyone else. Like, everyone else got to Level 10 when they were still twelve, but by the time I turned thirteen I hadn't made it yet. It’s kinda rude to ask about levels, but I know Maeve is somewhere in the 60’s, and Maki did fight training with his magic, so he’s probably close to 80.

  And sure, getting a level up is a little boost of power, just a little more, and it’s fun. I know what leveling up feels like.

  This isn't it. This is like… Like the world broke, and I got all the level ups. I could feel the lightning in my bones.

  I tested it by arcing lightning between my fingers. Something small, simple, that I’ve been able to do since the day I got magic. Usually it’s just a little zap. Something that makes a noise vicious animals don't know and are nervous about. If they still attack, it gives them a little pinch and they back off. It’s a super handy little defense spell.

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  I’m pretty sure what appeared when I pulled my fingers apart could have killed a dragon. And the light was so bright. A flash of that could seriously blind someone.

  I get why these are illegal in some places and restricted in all the rest. Having this much power is dangerous.

  I’m kinda afraid of what will happen when I suddenly jump a thousand levels in charm magic. I really will be able to control everything.

  And what would happen if I targeted only one person? I could probably completely rewrite their entire personality.

  I… probably shouldn't be writing this stuff down. I should remove the last three pages and burn them.

  This feels way too illegal.

  I don't know, it’s a bad idea, I shouldn't do it, but… I have to know.

  The lightning magic boost just felt so good, it felt like I was in complete control of everything, like nothing could hurt me. Like I never have to be afraid again.

  Is this what drugs are like?

  If I had ten times that amount of power with charm magic, I could do anything.

  Like tell all the animals that the world isn't ending, and the big, scary earthquakes will be over soon. I could tell all the people that, too. I could probably save so many lives.

  And then I’ll smash the gem, and never even think about using it again.

  Yeah. It’ll be a one-time thing. That’s all.

  I might keep the lightning boost, though. Just in case I ever need it.

  It’ll be fine.

  It’ll be ok.

  Yeah.

  Signing off,