Vardian has blessed me greatly today.

I have never experienced generosity such as this in all of my time in this land, either before...well, before I left...nor since my return!

I awoke outside the gates of Milltown today, expecting to spend another day wandering in the terribly dusty desert killing zombies, scorpions, and desert demons until my arm was sore. However, I was not quite awake -- at least I don't think I was -- when I heard Vardian's voice in my ear saying she wanted to see me. I wasn't sure what that meant -- but I know that once she said those words, something happened to me. At once, I was able to hear voices -- voices of friends and guild mates. I heard Vardian and Glorina at first, and it was as if I could talk to them without speaking. Once I began to realize it wasn't just a dream, I began to concentrate -- and it was as if I could not just hear them, but see them as well! I tried to see others - Waterfall, Mylor, and even Tienchi - but I couldn't.

By now I was sure I was fully awake, and yet I was still able see and hear my guild mates even though there was nothing around me except sand and sun. It was as if a new consciousness was awakened inside of me... I am not sure that I have fully grasped what this means for me, but I know that Vardian did something to me, something FOR me.

Well, I headed out into the desert to start my day with a few Desert Demon hearts -- and once I got into battle, I found that my sword felt lighter and I felt stronger than I had in a long, long time. I can't explain it, but I know that whatever Vardian did for me today made me stronger and my sword swifter. It as if she has raised me up a notch and I am still struggling to understand her generosity -- I only hope that someday I can repay her for her gift, though I am not sure that I could ever offer as much as she has given to me this day.

DEMONS!

Once I had pawned a pack full of demon hearts off on Eldahr, I headed down to Dundee, to see if I might be able to find Vardian in person -- maybe at the Inn -- and thank her in person. I headed into the Inn, and wow, a full house! Conversations abounded and then the World Crier announced that demons were attacking in Dundee. Of course, I blindly ran out of the Inn, trying to stuff my Dundee Burger into my pack while pulling out my sword at the same time -- I must have looked like a buffoon. Anyways, I ran down the street following the others, and drew my sword and swung it viciously at the first demon I saw -- before i knew it I was sitting outside of the gates of Milltown sporting a nasty bump on my head and a thoroughly bruised ego. I waited a couple of minutes to catch my breath, and then I sprinted through the forest and managed to finish off a lesser demon at the end of the raid. I decided that a nice tart lemonade sounded good after a battle, and returned to the Inn for a quick drink and to finish writing this entry.

And then, a strange thing happened to me -- Azure Greenhills, an Iron Knight -- whispered something in my ear. She said "You may want to wander down past the sea dweller cave some time..... and visit the lighthouse down there. You may find it useful."

I'm not sure what that means -- but I know where I'm headed today!