Remember When

(15 Imaerasta 5115, Ta’Illistim)

Oh, what a year! It seems almost impossible she could be the same, scared young bardess who was guided from Ta’Vaalor to the Landing a year ago by the Travel Agency.

A Year and A Day: the traditional period of contracts. She had been under no agreement, however, only one of her own goals. She took a bit of time in the early of the morning to think about what had transpired since the time she stepped foot out of her home village and set off to learn more about music, being a bard, and about life.

Over various months, she had been haunted, used, deceived, and discarded; yet the pangs and pain of all of that were now gone. She did not let them define her. This, alone, was a victory to the young bardess. She knew she had been a source of a hurt, there was no taking that back. That changed her more than most hard-learned lessons.

She decided to list her accomplishments like her Grandpapa had taught her to quantify things.

  • 16 songs written and finished (that were worth keeping, anyway)
  • A small collection of 7 fine instruments, all cherished. She could touch 4 in the case she kept near
  • 42 promotions, as of last week
  • Master certification for 4, almost 5, instruments
  • Two second place awards and one honorable mention for her music
  • Confidence in her loresinging, thanks to one of her mentors
  • Order of Voln joined (finally) and mastered
  • Countless cherished friends made
  • So many stories heard, history learned; yet so many more to go
  • Some money saved in the bank
  • A plan for her future training goals that was very doable, thanks to the tutoring of one of her mentors
  • Countless public performances, planned and unplanned, had given her confidence that she could sing anytime it was called for
  • Accepted first commission

She saved the most important for last, because it was not of her doing. Carefully, she added it to the list:

  • Found my soulmate

She glanced at her beautiful emerald engagement ring and smiled. The weeks ahead were going to be so busy. So exciting. She could not think beyond Jastatos at this point in time, but she knew another year beckoned her.

She missed living near the Shrine of Dreams, and she missed friends who were bound to The Landing. She found a graceful and inspiring home in Ta’Illistim, and friends in the Shining City that she missed when she traveled away from them.

Oh, what a year! It seems almost impossible she could be the same, scared young bardess who was guided from Ta’Vaalor to the Landing a year ago by the Travel Agency.

She felt like she was thriving now, and in complete control of … most things.

A year and a day later, she was wiser, more confident, and happier.

Here is to the next one! “It only gets better,” he had promised her.

 

 

Author: GSBardess

A young bardess named Luxelle is currently learning her trade and hoping to one day make a name for her songs in GemStone IV. Follow along with her adventures in life and song.

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