From the Mixed Up Notebooks of Mr. Richard T. Wichard

-5, 31, 989
The council session was today. It was the one that I feared for years. While my brothers have always mocked me for how serious I am naturally, today the foreboding in my soul has reached its fruition. Doom has come to not just this continent of Astilia, but to the world. The others are so short sighted. They continue to believe they can hide away from the world; that this will not reach others, but they are fools. Today, we were reached by a jade bird. It was made of stone and metal, but it spoke as fully and completely as a human might. It was not a simple spell, but a complete transformation. It contained the crystals. They are unknown here, but I have seen something similar before in another world, one another continent, in another life. . . . . I haven't told the others. I don't want to alarm them if this is just my ridiculous sense of doom . . . . . . But it can't be. I'm not wrong about this.
I have to find out what the cause of these crystals may be. Who sent the bird? It didn't say.
Dire warnings.
Vague.
The barons took the warnings too lightly. They are children. They just divided up all the spoils and set us each away with one. Ephraim (Baron) is a great leader, but sometimes he doesn't listen well, and the others, especially Eirika and L'Arachel just go along with whatever he says.
I have the orange crystal.
The bird was able to warn us not to touch them. They were "Set apart by time for the heroes of destiny."
When I talked with Time and Destiny, they both said it wasn't their call. . . . . . What does that mean? They have known everything.
For now, I will return to my love. The heart of the world. The soul of eternity. The Reincarnation of Creation. My life, my love.

6, 10, 989

My love has refused me. She has told me that I'm not welcome. I know I shouldn't be hurt, but she seems to have changed. She seems to be a different person altogether and I don't know what has happened. The twins have left home. Is that why she's on edge? She couldn't have stopped it. There was nothing she could do about that. They were always destined to wander. I'm just surprised they are still together. Passion and Purpose. Sight and Sound. Future and Present. One day they will find their destiny. She has promised me that much, but today, they will wander and wonder.
Today I do the same. Bernie said they were making progress on the orange crystal, some new discovery. I have to see what it is. He has always been the wisest of us, the deepest thinker.
I only hope he has found an answer, a solution. Can he harness its amazing magical potential? We can only hope it will be enough. My Ethedrian pigeons have gone silent. All of them. Is this the sign? Is it a sign of doom or salvation?

6, 11, 989

It's gone, all gone. I saved Bernie. Only one. What happened to the others? I got there and only desolation. The entire island was covered in fog so think it blotted out the sun. No magic could dispel it, only push back the darkness a little bit at a time. I tried to wade through it. Bernie was the only one alive. The rest were. . . . . not. Nothing. Vacant. Didn't want to. Couldn't avoid it. I did what had to be done.

8, 17, 990

There's another. They trusted me with a second. This one I knew. I knew it from my dreams. Space, Time, and Destiny have been trying to find solutions. Their dreams, the dreams they've gifted me have shown me the way. It isn't safe. It saved who it had to, it tried to kill when given the chance. It isn't safe. Too many people want too many things. I can't trust them anymore. I can't trust anyone anymore. She still won't take me back. She's the only one I can trust and she doesn't trust me. Why? What have I done? I have to find a way to keep it safe. Hide it. Keep it where no one can find it. Where only the right person can get it. Where would that be?

12, 30, 990

I succeeded. It's hidden. It's done. I know no one will be able to find it. Though time is running out. It will be a race against the clock. A race against the clock to find the shard in the darkness. All alone. But at least it will prove if they can save the world or not. We can only hope. Now to death. Death, my old friend, you shall be my only comfort. Spurned by my lover. Lost to my friends. Unknown to my family. Into the darkness alone. At least they'll get a kick out of it. - Richard the Wichard, the only one in the whole wide world, last known Cardcaptor of Astilia, Ethedria, and Carmanthia, Head magister of the Wizards College, master of Space, Time, and Destiny. Husband of the Dawn of humanity, the last working day.