Page 1/3 I, Igtinus the monk, servant of Einar, do hereby set down this record in the year 1199 at Kastleton Abbey, vowing to speak only the truth before Him. It was the year 1187. I came down south with Iverdit after escaping the war. Kastleton Abbey became my refuge. The Lord of Laslan showed grace to monks like myself in that difficult situation and helped us adjust to life in the village. It was around that time when the lord asked me to tutor his young son Henry in the philosophy of nature. Thus did I read with him the Introduction to the Principles of Nature by Chimenos. Henry was intelligent and filled with curiosity. I found myself struggling to answer his inciteful questions. The incident I want to record here occurred not long after I settled down in Kastleton Abbey. On that day, Henry came to the Abbey for his tutoring as usual, but he suddenly disappeared during the break in our afternoon lessons. Henry's escort guard was a young man named Matthew, who we found sleeping peacefully under a tree. Iverdit and I woke him and we quickly searched the Abbey. We continued our search beyond the setting sun, but we found no traces of Henry. We had no idea how we would tell the lord that his son had gone missing under our watch. Matthew's face turned pale as he realized aloud that the boy must have left the Abbey alone. Fortunately, the plains around the Abbey are only home to deer, and harbor no dangerous beasts, but even the gentlest of wilds are a mortal danger to a young child. We scanned the horizon and it was Iverdit who called out first. He was pointing at the hill that looks down on the plains of Hamel. We ran toward it as fast as our legs could carry us. As we arrived, we were shocked at the scene that awaited us: A parade of deer, shining like sapphires in the dark, were dashing right toward us! Page 2/3 The three of us were stunned into silence as we watched the shimmering deer. This was, undeniably, a divine experience. When the deer came close, I finally understood what we were seeing. A large stag with white horns stood at the front with a glowing blue aura, and its light was spreading to the other deer. I don't know how long I stood transfixed at the sight, but my fascination was broken at a word: "Henry!" Matthew was yelling now. I was frightened to my core, but when I looked closer, I too saw the boy sleeping on the back of the large deer! The deer took hold of Henry's clothes with its mouth and gently placed the sleeping child on the ground. The stag stared us in the eyes and shook its head as if to scold us, seeming to ask, "How could you fail to take care of this child?" And then the entire herd disappeared into the darkness. When we came to our senses, we ran down the hill. It was on this day that I finally realized that the legend of Hamel was true! The mysterious deer that defeated Iskale, the Wolf King, traveled between reality and dreams. It even had the power to turn back time! Henry was lying on the ground of the plains, and I was the first to reach him. I shook his shoulder to wake him. Henry rubbed his eyes as he awoke and asked, "Is it time to get back to our lesson?" Iverdit, Matthew, and I never spoke of what happened that day to anyone. Part of the reason was that we were worried of what would happen if anyone found out that we had lost Henry. But we also couldn't find the words to describe our divine encounter. Though I am now confessing to the truth, I had planned to remain silent to the day of my death because I could not be sure that I did not imagine the presence of Hamel. But everything that happened afterward confirmed to me that it was not a dream, and I wish to recollect the events of that day through these records. Page 3/3 The divine beast Hamel can see into the past and future of humans. It only shows itself to those with the potential to become a great hero. Perhaps Henry had already begun to walk the path of a hero when he encountered Hamel. Though I don't have the answer to that question, I recall that day every time I see his tombstone. I can't help but think of the way a moment can be both marvelous and terrifying at the same time. - Kastleton Abbey, Year 1199.
