🍁Nine Ancient Obelisks

Ushumgallu, son of Kingaludda, wrote this, following the example of warriors of old.

Faris.
March.
Day one.
Received a letter from Sir Kira. Let's consider it my ticket to a new life.
In the Hall of Martial Valor, I met three other warrior initiates and got free equipment. It's not the best, but one shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. Gonor is a decent guy, strong, and by the end of the first week of training, he was winning in friendly duels. Sheila is a funny girl, frail like any woman, but stubborn as a rhinoceros. Mini-skirt, manicure, all that girly stuff, and she's covered in mud up to her neck in every training session. Iliman is a budding guardsman, a loser, a weakling, he annoys me. He dressed like a conservative, and because of that, he won on the first day.
Kira was strict. Like a father, not in the sense of my father, but in general. Strong, stern, but generous. On the first day, we walked around a lot, then we fought. I took second place, which is bad.
Then we went to the Unbending Brothers restaurant. The owners, Am and Im, I don't know if they are unbending or not, and they don't really look like brothers. We ate at Kira's expense. I wish I were rich and could eat like that every day. I fell asleep content.

Day two.
Kira taught us how to hit vital organs, gouge out eyes, and cut arteries. In practice, we were hitting a dummy, but the main thing is that I learned.
On Kira's advice, I went to the administration. I almost mistook Protector Ferrari for someone's concubine. Well, she's an elf, pretty, lying on her villa, grumbling and yawning. Spoiled brat, but she helped me get a guidebook, a gourmet's diary (????), and a good dagger. She told me some things about the situation in the country. I sense unrest.
I was at the Book of Records. Serious warriors used to come here, I was lucky that their records were burned and I didn't have to feel like a nobody. I set a couple of records! Champion Ushumgallu, son of Kingaludda, my name is now on the stone tablets. Or maybe on paper, and it will burn later.
Everything is managed by Esseres Bunpro, a sad old man in a funny costume. It seems that he could once set a few records himself, and now his only joy is when someone comes to beat up dummies and stand on coals. Yeah, old age is a bitch.

Day three.
Kira came home early in the morning for some reason. I didn't think he had insomnia, but maybe he just wanted to cheer us up. He beat us up all day, we persevered. Good.

Day four
It was a strange day. I wouldn't have believed it, but as soon as I left the house, I ran into the Black Knight. Huge, creepy, smells like a corpse, and asks: why are you looking for strength? And then, I swear by the three goddesses, he killed me. I woke up after who knows how long, and I would be happy to consider it all a nightmare, but I'm not used to fainting, and besides... Something has changed. Maybe it's related to my father? Or maybe I was cursed? But I haven't seen him anymore. Kira doesn't know anything about him.
During the day, we hunted a lion with three others. It was a beautiful beast, and now I have a beautiful cloak. Lions are trickier than they seem – I got tired of chasing it. And they are also delicious.
After the lion, a strange girl attacked us. One against four. Clearly not in her right mind, she was talking nonsense. Kira says that such girls are common in Margel. She was lucky that Kira subdued her, and it ended with bruises and a beating. I would have treated her in a desert way.

Day five
We fought again. Second place again. It sucks.
Erika, a girl with a mushroom (???), joined us. Strange. I haven't seen her since.

Day six
Kira gave each of us a good sword. It seems that the guy no longer believes that his life has meaning, so he spends his time and money on us. But he's not old. Sad stuff.
Anyway, the sword is good. More of a status symbol than a weapon, but I'm happy. We named it Teut, and the others also have swords with the names of some goddesses.