Studious Acolyte

393 AC - Fasano is at an age where I can see him changing with every month. Training is making him slimmer, but he's also visibly growing. And so is his self-confidence. I don't know if he holds me responsible for the death of his sister, but if so, he's only showing it through his dedication. Whatever punishment I hand out to him, he accepts it without complaint. Just like me at his age, first under the guidance of my father and then under Qaasin. I had hated both of them on occasion, but I can acknowledge now that they managed to instill a stubborn determination in me. Let's hope he keeps this attitude in the months to come. He's just starting adolescence, and that transition is never easy for anyone.

I smile as I watch him flip through his spell books, remembering how he could barely carry them between Lodges just a year ago. But a year can make all the difference when you're experiencing these kinds of growth spurts. I caught him with tears in his eyes a few days ago as he placed flowers on an improvised altar. I'd decided not to disturb him. Bereavement is something that takes time, and it's a very personal matter. That's something I'm all too familiar with. Ultimately, all I could do was give him some space to come to terms with it, and give him opportunities to release his anger.

AFANAS