Saturday, August 1st 2026
Hello, my name is Silverlunia. I am now beginning my journey into becoming a full fledged Explorer. It was s tep in my life I never thought I'd take, but with all the stories I read...how could I not?
In any case, I write this as a means to document my experiences, the sights I've seen, friends, allies, the works. I don't expect someone to stumble onto my writings and put them in a library or anything long after I'm dead. As cool as that would b
As cool as that would be.
It's funny, this all started because of a book I found in a library. It was covered in dust, like nobody peeped past the cover even once.
That book seemed to just call to me. As if I was spellbound. Inside, I met the heroes who saved the world. They were endless, too many to count, like the falling leaves in autumn.
One in particular caught my attention. I had heard of him, damn near everybody on Maple Island had.
The Hero of the Maple Tree Legend.
The one they called the First Explorer. I loved his story. I couldn't stop reading about him! I read and read, walking alongside him like a ghost as I watched his many journeys and experiences throughout his life, all under the same maple tree he used to love so many years ago.
So there I was, underneath that tree. As I approached, I could see the vague shape of someone there, but my vision was soon taken by a maple leaf that had floated towards me. The shape and size were no different than the others, but this one was...glowing. The way it wafted down, right as I walked up, you'd think it was sent to me.
But as I clenched it in my palm, enough to hear a slight, crisp crinkle under my fingers, the glow was gone. Like I had hallucinated or it was a trick of the light.
My money was on hallucinated.
Regardless, I swore I saw it glow. Somehow I could feel it was special, so I opted to keep it. Like a good luck charm or something.
I had figure the girl was just ta at the tree to lounge and ret relax, so I plopped down at the base of the tree to read.
"Excuse me..."
It was so quiet, I nearly didn't catch that, but that shape of a person from earlier was that of a girl. Her soft voice had gotten my attention, tearing me from my book to look up at her.
Seeing
Seeing her up close, I got a better look at here her. Her hair was a sandy light sandy blonde. Bangs cut perfectly straight with twin low ponytails. Her eyes were soft green with a gentle, soft look to them. They matched with her outfit, which was a green cloak with a hood that was tried neatly in front, and had two gold buttons adorning it. Her pleated skirt was the same along with her knee length boots. Her long sleeved shirt was a stark white in contrast.
Judging by her face, she seemed to want my attention.
"Excuse me, um..." she seemed to struggle with getting the words out. Mood.
After a few tries,she did.
"Hi!"
Oh.
Suppose that works.
I waved back.
"Yeah, um...my name's Sugar..." She mumbled out. Se She made my social caterpillar look like a butterfly at this rate.
"And I..." she continued, "...lost my hairpin around here somewhere."
Oh, was that all?
"A hairpin?" I asked.
She nodded.
"If you're not too busy, could you help me find it? It's really important to me." It must have been, with how much of a kicked puppy she looked like right now.
I gave her a reassuring smile.
"Sure thing, I don't mind hepl helping you out. What's it look like?"
She instantly lit up.
"Oh, really? Thanks so much! It's about this big," She made a sizing gesture with her hands, "-and it looks like a maple leaf. I lost it around here, so it's probably hiding under a bush someplace."
Seemed simple enough. I first checked around the tree, even swiping away the lead leaves on the ground, but no luck. Nothing in the bushes either.
The only other place I could think of was over the ledge. It wasn't that far of a drop, so I hopped down. Shuffling on the ladder attached to the smaller ledge, I reached the bottom and began searching again. A glint caught my eye amid a pile of leaves. Kneeling down, it's what appeared to be a maple leaf but with a gold button in the middle.
I called up, "Hey! I found it!"
Sugar peered over the ledge.
"You did??" her voiced squeaked out.
Climbing back up, I walked over and held it out to her. She was practically beaming, her smile befitting her name.
"You found it! Thank you so so much!"
She giddily took it and pinned it into her hair.
"So, um...what's your name?"
My name? AH, crap my name. All this and I somehow forgot to tell her my name.
"It's Silverlunia." I said.
She repeated my name a few times, as if testing it out.
Then she smiled.
"Yeah! That's a pretty cool name."
Jeez, ain't she a flatterer? I could feel my cheeks burning a little.
"I dunno. I always thought it was boring." I said, rubbing the back of my head.
"Well, I like it! And I promise I won't forget it!" She proclaimed.
Yep. Define Definitely a flatterer. That pin seemed to give her a hell of a confidence booster.
Cutting through my flustered thoughts, Sugar spoke up.
"Y'know what? Here, let me give you some supplies for your adventure."
Oh, how sweet. These potions will be useful-
...wait, what?
She apparently thought I was a Beginner Explorer (a bit funny in retrospect). I didn't want to accept her gift if I wasn't an Explorer though.
"Uh, thank you, but I'm not an Explorer. I just...live here." I began.
"I like reading about Explorers and their adventures, but...I just came here to read a book under the maple tree."
"Do you like maple trees?" She asked.
That was so out of left field, but I still answered anyway.
"I mean, I like this one for some reason." I said looking up. I watched as the red leaves drifted down. Sugar's gaze followed.
"There's someone history to it, y'know. Supposedly the great hero got started under this tree."
Sugar tilted her head.
"Which hero?" She asked.
I looked at her.
"The one from the Maple Tree Legend. You know the story, right?"
Surely she must have, right?
As if she was reading my mind, she smiled.
"Yep! 'He wandered through a world in chaos...'"
I nodded.
"That's the guy. This tree right here, this is the one he loved, or so they say. His fans got together here and built a town, and a lot of them became Explorers to carry on his legacy."
Sugar seemed mesmerized.
"Wow...you know a lot!"
The burning was back.
I waved it off.
"Nah, everybody here knows that."
Sugar stared at me. It was strange. It was like she saw directly through me. I couldn't place why.
"So, are you gonna go on an adventure too? You want to be a part of that legacy?"
Did I...? I read stories, but actually getting to experience it firsthand?
"I don't know. I've never really thought about it. I don't have a lot of reasons to leave town. I've never fought anything, never even caught a snail."
I stared at the ground.
"Tell you what," Sugar started, "You found my hair pin. Let me help you."
I looked up at her quizzically. Help me?
"I know I'm awkward, but I'm also pretty strong. Wanna see?"
Wheeeere was she going with this?
She looked around and spotted a wooden crate. Walking over, she tried to pick it up. Emphasis on tried.
The bottom fell out, and with it a bunch of snail shells. They shattered on impact. Sugar looked embarrassed as she put the crate down with an "oof".
We just stared in awkward silence for a few minutes.
"Oh no...I broke all the snail shells..." She lightly kicked at them.
"Great...they're gonna let me on the boat without them..."
Boat?
"Like...the Sangri-La?" I asked?
She nodded. "Yyyep...So now what?"
"You could always catch more snails." I said matter-of-factly.
Sugar lit up again.
"OH! Could you help me with that?"
I waved my hands.
"Me? I'm, um, not too good at that."
She hung her head.
"I mean, I wouldn't bug you, but...there's nobody else here, I don't think."
I gave her an incredulous look.
"Didn't you just say you were strong?"
"C'mon! We can find some over this way!"
Ah. Not paying any mind to that.
Okay.
In the end, I followed her. It didn't take long. Just needed five, apparently. When I went to Sugar, she handed me the rest.
"Listen," she began, "You said you've never been on an adventure because you're afraid of snails, right?"
She smiled.
"Now, look at you! You're a full fledged Snail Hunter!"
...I couldn't bring myself to correct her.""
It had taken some convincing, but when I found out Sugar was an Explorer herself...that explained that feeling I had before. I always thought you needed some noble reason to be an Explorer. Saving the world, discovering something unknown, stuff like that.
For Sugar...all she wanted was to make friends.
It was so simple, but it still struck a chord in me. She told me the First Explorer had a good heart. If that was truly all you needed, with a simple reason being enough...
"The Second Maple Tree Hero..."
Her words made me think back to that glowing maple leaf. Maybe it was divine providence. Maybe I was overthinking it. Or I really was hallucinating.
Either way, I had no idea where this will take me.
But with Sugar at my side, I felt...hopeful?
I told her we could get our tickets tomorrow morning.
I'll write again soon.
Tomorrow, I'll take my first step into becoming an Explorer.
Hello, my name is Silverlunia. I am now beginning my journey into becoming a full fledged Explorer. It was s tep in my life I never thought I'd take, but with all the stories I read...how could I not?
In any case, I write this as a means to document my experiences, the sights I've seen, friends, allies, the works. I don't expect someone to stumble onto my writings and put them in a library or anything long after I'm dead. As cool as that would b
As cool as that would be.
It's funny, this all started because of a book I found in a library. It was covered in dust, like nobody peeped past the cover even once.
That book seemed to just call to me. As if I was spellbound. Inside, I met the heroes who saved the world. They were endless, too many to count, like the falling leaves in autumn.
One in particular caught my attention. I had heard of him, damn near everybody on Maple Island had.
The Hero of the Maple Tree Legend.
The one they called the First Explorer. I loved his story. I couldn't stop reading about him! I read and read, walking alongside him like a ghost as I watched his many journeys and experiences throughout his life, all under the same maple tree he used to love so many years ago.
So there I was, underneath that tree. As I approached, I could see the vague shape of someone there, but my vision was soon taken by a maple leaf that had floated towards me. The shape and size were no different than the others, but this one was...glowing. The way it wafted down, right as I walked up, you'd think it was sent to me.
But as I clenched it in my palm, enough to hear a slight, crisp crinkle under my fingers, the glow was gone. Like I had hallucinated or it was a trick of the light.
My money was on hallucinated.
Regardless, I swore I saw it glow. Somehow I could feel it was special, so I opted to keep it. Like a good luck charm or something.
I had figure the girl was just ta at the tree to lounge and ret relax, so I plopped down at the base of the tree to read.
"Excuse me..."
It was so quiet, I nearly didn't catch that, but that shape of a person from earlier was that of a girl. Her soft voice had gotten my attention, tearing me from my book to look up at her.
Seeing
Seeing her up close, I got a better look at here her. Her hair was a sandy light sandy blonde. Bangs cut perfectly straight with twin low ponytails. Her eyes were soft green with a gentle, soft look to them. They matched with her outfit, which was a green cloak with a hood that was tried neatly in front, and had two gold buttons adorning it. Her pleated skirt was the same along with her knee length boots. Her long sleeved shirt was a stark white in contrast.
Judging by her face, she seemed to want my attention.
"Excuse me, um..." she seemed to struggle with getting the words out. Mood.
After a few tries,she did.
"Hi!"
Oh.
Suppose that works.
I waved back.
"Yeah, um...my name's Sugar..." She mumbled out. Se She made my social caterpillar look like a butterfly at this rate.
"And I..." she continued, "...lost my hairpin around here somewhere."
Oh, was that all?
"A hairpin?" I asked.
She nodded.
"If you're not too busy, could you help me find it? It's really important to me." It must have been, with how much of a kicked puppy she looked like right now.
I gave her a reassuring smile.
"Sure thing, I don't mind hepl helping you out. What's it look like?"
She instantly lit up.
"Oh, really? Thanks so much! It's about this big," She made a sizing gesture with her hands, "-and it looks like a maple leaf. I lost it around here, so it's probably hiding under a bush someplace."
Seemed simple enough. I first checked around the tree, even swiping away the lead leaves on the ground, but no luck. Nothing in the bushes either.
The only other place I could think of was over the ledge. It wasn't that far of a drop, so I hopped down. Shuffling on the ladder attached to the smaller ledge, I reached the bottom and began searching again. A glint caught my eye amid a pile of leaves. Kneeling down, it's what appeared to be a maple leaf but with a gold button in the middle.
I called up, "Hey! I found it!"
Sugar peered over the ledge.
"You did??" her voiced squeaked out.
Climbing back up, I walked over and held it out to her. She was practically beaming, her smile befitting her name.
"You found it! Thank you so so much!"
She giddily took it and pinned it into her hair.
"So, um...what's your name?"
My name? AH, crap my name. All this and I somehow forgot to tell her my name.
"It's Silverlunia." I said.
She repeated my name a few times, as if testing it out.
Then she smiled.
"Yeah! That's a pretty cool name."
Jeez, ain't she a flatterer? I could feel my cheeks burning a little.
"I dunno. I always thought it was boring." I said, rubbing the back of my head.
"Well, I like it! And I promise I won't forget it!" She proclaimed.
Yep. Define Definitely a flatterer. That pin seemed to give her a hell of a confidence booster.
Cutting through my flustered thoughts, Sugar spoke up.
"Y'know what? Here, let me give you some supplies for your adventure."
Oh, how sweet. These potions will be useful-
...wait, what?
She apparently thought I was a Beginner Explorer (a bit funny in retrospect). I didn't want to accept her gift if I wasn't an Explorer though.
"Uh, thank you, but I'm not an Explorer. I just...live here." I began.
"I like reading about Explorers and their adventures, but...I just came here to read a book under the maple tree."
"Do you like maple trees?" She asked.
That was so out of left field, but I still answered anyway.
"I mean, I like this one for some reason." I said looking up. I watched as the red leaves drifted down. Sugar's gaze followed.
"There's someone history to it, y'know. Supposedly the great hero got started under this tree."
Sugar tilted her head.
"Which hero?" She asked.
I looked at her.
"The one from the Maple Tree Legend. You know the story, right?"
Surely she must have, right?
As if she was reading my mind, she smiled.
"Yep! 'He wandered through a world in chaos...'"
I nodded.
"That's the guy. This tree right here, this is the one he loved, or so they say. His fans got together here and built a town, and a lot of them became Explorers to carry on his legacy."
Sugar seemed mesmerized.
"Wow...you know a lot!"
The burning was back.
I waved it off.
"Nah, everybody here knows that."
Sugar stared at me. It was strange. It was like she saw directly through me. I couldn't place why.
"So, are you gonna go on an adventure too? You want to be a part of that legacy?"
Did I...? I read stories, but actually getting to experience it firsthand?
"I don't know. I've never really thought about it. I don't have a lot of reasons to leave town. I've never fought anything, never even caught a snail."
I stared at the ground.
"Tell you what," Sugar started, "You found my hair pin. Let me help you."
I looked up at her quizzically. Help me?
"I know I'm awkward, but I'm also pretty strong. Wanna see?"
Wheeeere was she going with this?
She looked around and spotted a wooden crate. Walking over, she tried to pick it up. Emphasis on tried.
The bottom fell out, and with it a bunch of snail shells. They shattered on impact. Sugar looked embarrassed as she put the crate down with an "oof".
We just stared in awkward silence for a few minutes.
"Oh no...I broke all the snail shells..." She lightly kicked at them.
"Great...they're gonna let me on the boat without them..."
Boat?
"Like...the Sangri-La?" I asked?
She nodded. "Yyyep...So now what?"
"You could always catch more snails." I said matter-of-factly.
Sugar lit up again.
"OH! Could you help me with that?"
I waved my hands.
"Me? I'm, um, not too good at that."
She hung her head.
"I mean, I wouldn't bug you, but...there's nobody else here, I don't think."
I gave her an incredulous look.
"Didn't you just say you were strong?"
"C'mon! We can find some over this way!"
Ah. Not paying any mind to that.
Okay.
In the end, I followed her. It didn't take long. Just needed five, apparently. When I went to Sugar, she handed me the rest.
"Listen," she began, "You said you've never been on an adventure because you're afraid of snails, right?"
She smiled.
"Now, look at you! You're a full fledged Snail Hunter!"
...I couldn't bring myself to correct her.""
It had taken some convincing, but when I found out Sugar was an Explorer herself...that explained that feeling I had before. I always thought you needed some noble reason to be an Explorer. Saving the world, discovering something unknown, stuff like that.
For Sugar...all she wanted was to make friends.
It was so simple, but it still struck a chord in me. She told me the First Explorer had a good heart. If that was truly all you needed, with a simple reason being enough...
"The Second Maple Tree Hero..."
Her words made me think back to that glowing maple leaf. Maybe it was divine providence. Maybe I was overthinking it. Or I really was hallucinating.
Either way, I had no idea where this will take me.
But with Sugar at my side, I felt...hopeful?
I told her we could get our tickets tomorrow morning.
I'll write again soon.
Tomorrow, I'll take my first step into becoming an Explorer.
