Dear Risa,

  I know you're going to forget, so allow me to explain.

  As we were on our way to the docks this morning, you were being all dramatic and tragic, saying we’ll never see each other again. We passed a bookstore. You had a brilliant idea, ran in, and bought me this diary.

  It is, I'll admit, a lovely diary. Thanks.

  Anyhow, you said you want me to write all about my life and everything I do, then when it’s full I'll bring it back to you and you can read it.

  Very sentimental.

  So here I am, waiting for the boat to leave, writing this down so I don't forget.

  And don't worry. I'm gonna fill this thing. And I'm gonna make sure you read it. We all know how much you loooooove reading, so reading a whole diary should be eeeeeeasy for you!

  Yeah, Risa, I'm gonna tie you to a chair and force you to read this thing.

  But don't worry! It’ll be interesting! If I have to make crap up, I'll do it! You will be entertained by whatever I write in here!

  I'll start by a fascinating tale of my genealogy.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  For fifteen generations, my mother’s family has been supreme monarchs of the proud town of Fish. Fish is, in fact, named after my mother’s family! My great-great-great-great-great grandmother, Lucinda Fish, helped liberate the town from the reign of the kobolds in the nearby mountains.

  My father’s family is a mystery. He was found as a baby, lost in the forest north of town, after having been dropped there by a dragon. All he had to identify him was a birthmark in the shape of a Y, so that became his name. Someday a royal family will see it and declare him the rightful heir, we’re sure.

  In the meantime, he’s just a normal healer. But he does a great job at it, which is why Mas also wants to be a healer.

  You know Mas, right? Right, Risa? You’ve met him once or twice? You may recall? I recall him smiling in your general direction and your brain immediately turning into pink mush. You may or may not have been drooling. It was kinda gross, not gonna lie.

  I also have another brother, who I shall say nothing about because he’s on the boat with me and writing his name might summon him. Don't want that.

  And then I have a sister, who you haven't met. Meriel. She’s cute. I have two cousins, Cali and Wisp, who are also cute. Cali has a dual-specialty of lightning and charm magic, so she’s got yellow hair and pink ears, you’d love it. Wisp is… seven. So kinda cute by default.

  Cali and I are the same age, but she’s a beastmaster like her dad, so she didn't have to go through extra school like we did. Lucky.

  Oh yeah, her mom and my mom are sisters, so she also has the ancient and noble Fish Monarch bloodline running through her veins. At midnight on the first of the year when we’re both twenty, we shall duel to see which of us will have the glory of reigning over our fair town! It shall be a battle which our children and grandchildren shall speak of! It shall indeed!

  You can come watch, if you want.

  Ah, the boat is moving. I'm about to be incredibly seasick.

  Rrrregards,

  Maeve Zee