How quickly summer flies. The brilliant sky above Greenwood is slowly tucking away beneath soft clouds, and the endless green fields below are turning to ripened gold. Harvest time is near, dear reader. After all the swirling adventures of the past few months, it feels like now the world is slowing down, and so am I. In the quiet moments when I stand in the tall grass or rest beneath a whispering tree —a few of its leaves already yellowed— I close my eyes and turn inward…
My sister Lettie’s return letter was surprisingly short, given that I revealed everything about my feelings for Lorenz to her. Ever the romantic, she was clearly enthralled, but also wrote that she might have a few surprises of her own to share and hoped to write back soon. Goodness, so now I am left wondering what surprises she could have meant. I must admit, I had secretly hoped she might offer me some advice with regards to my heart. Well, I suppose I’ll have to continue navigating these feelings on my own… though I’m not sure how well I’m doing.
I saw Lorenz and Alexander a few days ago, on our visit to the Well of the Green Sister. It was Alexander’s first time seeing the room with the large magic mirror and the vision held in the amber stone. I was so nervous to be around Lorenz again that I nearly dropped it. I couldn’t help but blush deeply when he put a hand on my shoulder and asked me if I was alright. I nodded, and somehow managed to calm myself by the time the green figure in the mirror had finished speaking. Alexander had no idea what language they might be speaking either, but he also recognized the word ‘aumbra’. “Isn’t that what you call Greenwood up north?! It can’t be a coincidence!” he had exclaimed and talked about doing some studying in his father’s library. “That is, after I’m finished with my lessons for the day,” he added, with a glance at Lorenz.
And it seems he has many lessons right now. Lorenz told me that next summer Alexander will have to go to the capital and undergo a most important examination, one to determine whether he can become the next baron of Greenwood! Alexander will have to pass a set of written tests and gain the approval of the Council of Barons and the King himself in order to move forward! Oh goodness, I couldn’t imagine such a thing. How anxious Alexander must be. But Lorenz said his student was preparing well. It did however leave less time to explore the Well of the Green Sister and to consider the significance of the word ‘aumbra’, which he regretted. He asked if I would come to the library and perhaps research as they were studying, and that way we all might be able to steal a few moments together. But alas, I did not know how much I could, for you see dear reader, I believe l shall soon have lessons of my own to consider this fall.
I have set my mind to ask Dorothy the witch if she might teach me the art of healing magic. It is a lost art to all the world except her. Now with the chill air setting in and the scent of the moss and mushroom thick on the forest floor, autumn is near and the time grows close when I might once again see the smoke from her stone cottage over the treetops. I wonder if she will agree and how difficult it might be to learn. I know that healing another person takes great strength, as one gives of their own energy. I remember Dorothy was very tired after healing Lorenz’s broken leg. Goodness, was that really two years ago?! My, how time flies! So much has changed; I’ve changed too.
It’s funny how now that I finally recognize my own feelings for Lorenz, and find myself wanting to spend more time with him, he is so busy and we will not be able to see each other as often. It fills me with wistfulness and relief at the same time, for I know not what to do with myself when he is near! There is a small voice inside me that is beginning to grow restless. It urges me to speak how I feel, to tell him that I care for him, but goodness, I couldn’t do that! I… I mean, what would he think of me!? … What does he think of me? Oh well, dear reader, for now I will focus my mind on Dorothy and healing magic and… will quietly treasure the moments when I do get to be with him.