2025-01-03 - Journal Entry #1 (Erika Y's)

It's Friday evening on the third of January, 2025. It's approaching 10pm Central Time and Erika is in her room on Crescent Island. She's sitting in front of a computer and has document file open in front of her. She's been staring at the flashing cursor for a few minutes and then she nods and begins typing in her native Norwegian (OOC: This will be represented by English for the ease of the player [who does not know Norwegian!] and all who might wish to read this.)

03.01.25

It has been a week (Correction: technically nine days) since I've come back to Spellbound. The trip was as long as I expected and I ended up experiencing jet lag for a couple of days. When I got to the ferry to the islands I found out that there was going to be a masquerade. When I stepped off boat onto the island memories started to flood back, things that I'd thought were mundane or had even forgotten. It is because of these facts that I've decided that I have to keep a journal. These files should, hopefully, retain the information for me to review later even if I leave and forget again.

Luckily for the ball I brought my bunad with me, giving me something to wear. I also spent my first day on the island in temporary housing... a hotel room actually while they determined where to house me. I played around with my ability to change my appearance, experimenting with colors, textures and somewhat shape. I find it fascinating how I can look so different just with such minor changes.

I attended the Winter Ball at the Queen's Castle. Danced some, but because of the jet lag I'm not really remembering that really well. I went to the salon and ordered a drink... had to teach the bartender how to make a Fjellbekk with some substitutions. And then Layla was there. I'd intended to reach out to her over the weekend but there she was, what a coincidence!

The next morning I was informed about my apartment assignment so I spent the weekend moving in. I sent a quick email to mom with my new address also.

After the weekend I got to see my office at Crescent Island Clinic and then began my rotations at Spellbound Clinic on the main island. I do not intend to record patient information in my journal entries of course so I can just skip a few days as they were busy with minor issues.

The high point of the week was the New Year's Eve Spectacular. Lots of good acts but I got to meet a bunch of people also. Kissed the year in with a cute creative named Tank. He was dressed up as a countdown display. Then there were fireworks. And then a massive display of magic around the islands. And my hair went technicolor pulsing rainbow for a moment before settling on light blue. It was really strange!

Saw Layla after the spectacular. Discussed magic. Showed her my abilities. She walked me home. Discovered we're on the same floor of Fox Run, isn't that incredible?! The next morning I woke to find long, drooping ears sticking out of the side of my head. They didn't remain drooping long though because they shot up straight the moment I saw myself mirroring my surprised expression. It only took me a few moments to change them back to normal but darn it if they weren't back the next morning. My other changes revert back when I sleep also. Are those crazy ears my normal now?

Found the employee forums also. Found an invite to a book club and a Veterans' meetup that I've signed up for, also joined in an ongoing discussion about magical oddities. Seems like this is my place though. Never expected to be able to live at an amusement park!

After she finishes typing up the entry, Erika goes back and inserts a correction into the first paragraph and adds a link to the discussion forum in the last. She then saves the file as Journal Entry #1 locally on her computer in a folder that will not be backed up on the cloud.