Dear reader, I have just returned from a lovely day of gathering Impressions in and around the forest, and I am pleased to say I have made progress on the Courage remedy for the Baron.
My first step in the right direction came a few weeks ago. I was out wandering in the forest, enjoying the colors of the changing leaves, when I found a group of ancient trees, much larger than those nearby. I reached my arms around one as far as I could, and they would not even go halfway around, it was so big! I closed my eyes and smelled the sweet, musty bark. It reminded me of when I was a little girl and I would climb the oak tree behind our house. Oh goodness, I would stay up there for hours, just drawing comfort from its strong branches. And, as I stood in the forest hugging that huge tree, it dawned on me that this might make the perfect base for the Courage remedy: the strength of an old tree. So, I pulled a vial from my bandolier, and began to draw the Impression. This one was golden orange in color.
Impressional magic is something of an art, well, at least as it was taught to me. Once, when I asked Auntie Ember how Impressional magic worked, she told me it was like making a stew. You gathered up all the ingredients you wanted, like onion, and carrots, and garlic, and then you added them together. Oh, how silly it sounds, but when I craft a remedy, I suppose it is a little like that. Except, instead of vegetables and such, I mix Impressions, like… like the smell of the air after it has just rained, or the feeling of lying in a freshly made bed, or in this case, the way it felt to touch that old tree. But it’s more than that… it’s the impression, my impression of those things. They filter through me. I try to capture the way they make me feel, and then I take those Impressions and I blend them together into something I hope will encourage the same feeling in others. But Impressional magic doesn’t make you feel a particular way, rather it’s meant to inspire, like a beautiful painting or song. I suppose in that way it can be seen as an art.
So, I spent the afternoon gathering the sound of the wind in the leaves and the smell of the damp earth and a few other things. Oh, and when I came back, I found a bunch of apples outside my door with a note from Mrs. Hume. They are delicious. I ate one as I reread through the letter from Auntie Ember which arrived this week. While she was unsure about the mirror, it was nice to read that she and Lettie, that’s my sister, are doing well. Oh, I miss them so! But I hope to go back and visit this winter for the Feast of Wysolice.
It’s getting dark outside now. I should light the Long Night Lantern. It’s supposed to give aid to travelers as the nights grow longer. Though, in truth, not many folks come out this way. But oh, how strange, dear reader! Last night I thought I saw a stream of smoke over the forest…but, well, I didn’t think that could be right. There are no paths through the forest that I know of, and goodness, I don’t think anyone actually lives out there. My eyes must have been playing tricks on me. Perhaps I will ask Mrs. Hume about it the next time I see her, but for now I think it’s time to rest.