The original plan had been to return the following day, but it turned out that Astrid's brother had other plans. Instead of immediately returning after a night's rest, Astrid was forced to head back to Nathaniel's two days later. She left as soon as possible, leaving early in the morning, all her supplies in the back. By 11 am, Astrid was hiking up towards the manor, excited to get back to helping Nathaniel solve his dilemma.

When she finally reached the manor, she knocked on the door quietly before entering, a small smile on her face. "Nathan?" Astrid called for him, not too loudly though. She didn't want to disturb the peace of the place.

Nathaniel did not want to doubt Astrid - he knew things might come in the way though, and life could certainly be unexpected, and well, what was two nights in the grand scheme of it all?

Yet there was still a heavy feeling of relief in Nathaniel's ghostly being when Astrid walked into the manor.

He had to focus for longer than normal to get his form to be more physical - it had slowly been getting more difficult the longer he stayed beside the book - but eventually, he flickered into existence, not too far away from the door, "Hello, Astrid," he said pleasantly, a hint more smile in his voice than normal, "I am happy that you have come back."

Astrid surprised herself by not being surprised when Nathaniel suddenly materialized only a few feet in front of her. Instead, a small smile slipped onto her face, as well as some of her own relief. A small part of her had been worried that he'd left without saying goodbye, this prompted her to get upset at herself, after all, he was the one stuck in the mansion and hadn't been able to see the world for many years. He was probably worried that she wouldn't come back, and here she was worried that he would leave after years of being stuck in a mansion.

Regardless, Astrid was very happy to see Nathaniel again. "Well of course! I'm always gonna come back as long as I need to Nathan." Astrid smiled as she spoke, and began walking back over to her little corner, setting up her supplies and setting down her heavy bag. "Any developments while I've been out? Sorry it took me so long, my brother held me up, he was worried about me being kidnapped or something." Astrid shrugged before finishing up what she was doing and turning to face Nathan again.

Astrid's words eventually caught up with Nathaniel, and he moved forward across the floor, "Yes... as more days pass, it has been as if... yes, as if I am less tethered to this house, and to my spectral form. I believe that with a read-through of this book that I shall be released, and free to move on.... also.... Nathan?" The name was strange. No-one had ever called him that before, although Nathaniel could see where it came from. He had not caught onto it the first time, having been too happy to see Astrid, but the second was a lot more prominent, and stuck out.

As Nathaniel spoke, Astrid pulled back her hair with the hair tie that she kept around her wrist. A small smile was still stuck on her face and at Nathan's good news she did an excited little hop-dance thing. "That's wonderful, I'm so happy for you! I'll stay as long as I need so we can finish the book in one go."

Astrid paused as she realized why Nathan seemed a little confused, Beans immediately covered her mouth with a hand as she quickly shook her head. "Oh I'm sorry, it just slipped out, I won't call you Nathan again if you don't want me to. Nathaniel is just kind of long and I assumed you'd be fine with me shortening it." Astrid winced, she'd completely forgotten that some people didn't like nicknames. She was so stupid.

Nathaniel cocked his head to the side, and a curious expression would have been on his face, if his face had enough distinction to make expressions. Still, it appeared in his voice as he spoke, "Hmm... I do not mind it. It is just interesting... but feel free. I have no opposition."

Nathaniel's form flickered, and he disappeared for a moment, then appeared beside the book a few moments later, "Forgive my impatience, but may we begin? I find myself filled with anticipation for what we will find."

Nathan's words caused Astrid to do a little happy dance, a mixture of relief and, of course, happiness. She quickly recovered her wits, and became serious at Nathaniel's questions. His form flickering in and out mildly concerned Beans, but she figured he probably had meant to do it.

And if he hadn't, then maybe that was a good thing.

"Oh, of course! Sorry, I need to stop jabbering on and on, bad habit sorry." Astrid quickly hurried over, sliding onto the floor with ease. Within a moment, she'd picked up the old journal, the yellowed pages felt so delicate, so fragile, in her small hands. "You ready?" Astrid turned her head to Nathan, trying to hide her concern. She hoped that whatever they found within the pages would give Nathan some peace, and allow him to move on finally.

- so i have an idea about what they find, and at the end of it, nathaniel's form is barely there, but still present. he then says, "i know what will let me move on. astrid - please, you have a platform. spread this information. clear my name - that i was not a murderer, but instead murdered, by the one they praise. this is the proof - it outlines his plans, and his joyous celebration of my death"

etc etc

and then when astrid agrees, nathaniel smiles, bows to her, thanks her, and disappears.

few months later, astrid has done just what nathaniel asked, and the day the book goes to be put in a museum, 'nathan' knocks on astrids door

----

but i wanted to ask if you wanted to do anything before i did that big summary, cuz once that's there, then we have a few posts and then the story is over

Oop, okay sounds good to me.

The journal was... a lot. Nathaniel hadn't known what to expect when they flipped to the first page, but the pages and pages of hate and anger filled every nook and cranny of the journal still took him by surprise, even though it had been expected.

Christian hated that Nathaniel was the firstborn, and therefore the heir to the estate, going on and on about how he was kicked to the curb - never mind the fact that Nathaniel had offered to split the ownership in half.

Christian despised the fact that Nathaniel was engaged and going to be married to the King's daughter, even though he'd never courted a woman in his life, or attempted to set himself apart from the crowd.

Christian loathed Nathaniel's fame and prowess on the battlefield and as a strategist, and the place he forged for himself through hard work and effort - something Christian had never attempted to do.

His brother's words and memos - this documentation of his life - repeatedly griped about how Nathaniel got everything handed to him on a silver platter, and then on the very next line Christian would accidentally write exactly what Nathaniel had done to earn it.

The journal was almost done - just a few pages left - when the 'Plan' that had been lightly mentioned throughout it was plainly written out.

It was a plan to murder his family, burn down the estate, and frame his brother for it all, painting himself as the hero who took down the beast.

Nathaniel hadn't thought it would get worse.

Then they flipped the page.

Now it outlined his plan to marry his brother's fiance, and become King of their fine country - to rule what had once been promised to his brother - to Nathaniel.

And, at the very end, the last page of the journal, was a small message.