Report From Just Outside of The Hall of Kindling and Charcoal
Fir
Metadata
Reference Number: BICI/SSP/CRJ0703/006
Title: Report From Just Outside of The Hall of Kindling and Charcoal
Author: Fir
Date: Written approximately in the third month of year 5607 A. o. W.
Extent: One report, two pages long
To His Eternal Warmth,
We’re almost at Scritta’s Hall. We’re staying at the base of the mountain tonight. I’ll leave a couple of the more promising Undying Embers at the base of the mountain to watch our things. I only need one, but that person should have company. Two days spent completely alone is a bit much for most people. There are two young ones who have been flirting with each other the entire trip. I do hope they take advantage of their relative privacy to get that flush of first love out of their systems by the time we return.
The trip here was lovely, actually. Zeolite was fine. Wolfjaw was great as always. All these years later, and they still give me such a warm welcome… oh, and the wine they offered me? Fantastic. I asked for four bottles. Spica even split two with me!
It was a good experience for Spica. She hasn’t gotten much of a chance to see what exactly I do amongst the people. What I’ll need her to do amongst the people. It’s one thing to feed the flames of an undying fire, but another entirely to tend to flames that burn out within heartbeats. She sat by my side for every meeting and listened to every silly little request I heard. And after I had asked her her thoughts, she responded with the same spark of intelligence I saw in her at the very beginning. Oh, I was so delighted!
I think the messiness of our first few days together really wore on her. I understand. It was a big transition. But she needs to move past it! We’re destined to sacrifice so much. But for everything we sacrifice — a relationship, an opportunity, a future we extinguish — You give us that and so much more in return. An idea I think she’s finally coming to understand.
We’re also having some excellent conversations. Our last night in Wolfjaw was delightful. I looked at her, and for once, she actually looked back at me. It was like my heart skipped a beat. I can’t remember the last time someone was willing to meet my gaze. Maybe before everything with Scritta fell apart…
Anyways, I do worry for Spica. Her combat is still poor. It isn’t a major issue. She has other Undying Embers to kill aberrations for her. And she’ll never be alone. Now that her training is as complete as it needs to be, why WOULDN’T I keep her at my side?
What worries me is how little she cares for her weapon. I swear, it’s like she’s afraid of her sword. And it was such a precious gift from You, too! I thought she’d treat it like a little piece of her old home, but I was wrong. She refuses to draw it. And while we don’t share a tent, she pitches hers next to mine. When I look over, I can see its silhouette perched against the opposite side of where she puts her bedroll.
I’m not stupid. I know she wanted to use a spear. But if You wanted her to use a spear, then You would have given her a spear. If that means she’s going to be a mediocre fighter for the next few decades, then so be it.
Honestly, it isn’t that bad. If she improves her people skills — and I’m certain she will — then she’ll never have a lack of people wanting to fight for her. To prove themselves to her.
She’ll need to improve her confidence first. I’ve seen how little she thinks of herself. I want her to realize just how much value she brings. To You. To me. To the world itself!
Hopefully Scritta’s little sham trial will be good for her. She’ll see that in this world, there are those of us who are blessed, and then there are those of us who become stuck in the stupid ruts we make for ourselves. And if you ask me, Spica’s not one for ruts.
Your faithful disciple,
Fir