Well! I'm 19 now! My birthday was a few days ago and it was great, even though I think Angela felt kind of bad that she didn't have a chance to get me anything, since you two were so busy.

And yeah, anybody who wants to know, Leon totally exaggerated how bad she is. He did! She's been nothing but a sweetheart to me, and she's really eager, and she asks me all these questions about the temple. She seems excited! I think Leon just realized he was in over his head, or something. But no, she's really been so kind to me, and she says she really can't wait to get to know me better. Which I think we'll have a lot of time to get to know each other once we head back to the temple!

I guess we should start making real plans for that now ...

Well ...

She's certainly enthusiastic...

I've been home for so long now that it's kind of weird to think of going back to the chapel again. Which is probably a sign I should start packing my things to go back, but ... But Dad hasn't told me that I have to go yet, and that means it's probably okay for me to stay here a while longer. He always gets antsy when he thinks I need to go back, and he's definitely not antsy now.

I'm a little antsy, though. I really wish you were back already, Leon. Even seeing Dad yell at you, or watching you try to explain Angela, would be better than sitting here every day. I mean, there's plenty to do, and I get to sleep in every day, and I can eat breakfast in bed if I want to and you know, everything home-y. But it's not like you're here for me to go riding with. And Aubrey is still in the middle of the ocean somewhere, or something.

So I guess I'm writing to say I'm bored. Sorry, everyone else on the journals. But I figured you can just look past it if you don't want to read it, so ...

I'm home. It feels so nice to be back in my own bed, in my own room, with all my things ... I know it's not that far away from the temple, but it's still nice just to take a break every now and then! Dad hugged me so hard when he saw me I lost my breath. I think he's a little lonely without you there to chase around, Leon.

And before you ask, I didn't tell him anything about Angela. You can do that yourself whenever you get home with her. I don't want to get him mad too early. It was really, really tempting though, believe me.

The storms seem to mostly have passed, here ... I'm glad. Father Jacob said, when I asked, that I could go home for a little while ... it'll be just me and Dad, there, and I guess it might get kind of lonely, but I just really need a break. Just to relax, at home, sleep late, not have to worry about cleaning up or helping pilgrims ...

I just feel so tired. I haven't even done very much lately and I'm just so exhausted. It'll be nice to be home.

we're it's

iIt's storming outside. It's storming really hard, it sounds like the roof is like really loud. We're all in the chapel together, all of the sisters and acolytes, everybody. Father Jacob is saying a prayer and we're going to read scripture together for a while until things calm down. They want us somewhere together right now so they know that nobody's out there or ...

I just want to go back to my room and go to sleep. I just want to go back to sleep so this will be gone when I wake up, I -- I just ...

I went outside for a little today, while my work wasn't so busy. It's really incredible how much things slow down, once September's over. It's like an entirely different world then than it is any other time of year. All the pilgrims are gone, and everybody's staying back home most of the time. We'll have extra people for services tomorrow, but that's how it always goes.

It's really grey out. ... A lot, actually. And the wind is picking up fast, too. The clouds were moving so fast they kind of made me dizzy. It's not storming yet, but I know it will be soon. Maybe even any minute. I'm back inside now, but I feel cold just thinking about how stormy it's going to be soon. I hope it's not a big one.

It's really not busy here today! I'm surprised. I guess the locals decided just to stay home with their families today, and we've had a few pilgrims through but it's been a pretty slow morning all around! I've already swept the floors twice and I think if I do them again I might tear my hair out from boredom, so I'm taking a break to write here instead.

How's your girlfriend, Leon? I hope you've dumped her already. The last thing she deserves is a nice Festival when she's completely crazy. I hope you were smart enough to realize that!

Aubrey, where are you, anyway? I hope it's someplace decent for Festival.

Ugh, the month's barely started and I'm exhausted. I know we don't get as many people here as the mainland, or Lucre, but it's still so much more than usual. I can't even get the Festival off, it always upsets me. Every year. I have all my gifts purchased already, but that's only because I wouldn't have any time to get them otherwise! Daddy's supposed to come see me, but I know I probably won't get to talk to him for long before I have to get back to work.

It's looking kind of grey out, too. I guess it's getting to be that time of year again, but I hope it doesn't start storming soon. Or if it does, I hope doesn't rain too hard ...

Hey, Aubrey! I haven't heard from you in a while. What's going on? I'm starting to get worried.

Flametongue is always so weird to clean up after. It's nothing like all the other holidays where it's just ceremonies all day and we just have to clean up after the people, either. The temple here has its own sweat lodge for people who might not have one at home, and we have to clean it up ... Well, I don't, but everybody else does. I feel kind of bad that I'm not helping, but not that bad. Besides, I have to clean up things inside, and that's enough for me.

I don't even know what I really think about Flametongue! It's just another holiday. It's not like the Festival of Leaves, or the Day of Everlasting Light or anything. I like it, but it's just ... there, I guess!

I have to see if I can get some time off to do my shopping, even though Leon probably still won't be home. For the Festival, Leon, really!

[Filter: Private]

It's just all ... just all silly! That's all. He's never going to see that girl again and I've got nothing to be upset about! That's all.

[Filter: Aubrey]

Hey, um. Can we just talk for a little? I kind of miss talking to you every day.

I am ... bored!

It seems like everybody else on these things is doing really exciting stuff, and going places, and enjoying themselves. And I'm just here! In the temple, doing my work!

I really like being in the temple, though, don't get me wrong. It's just so ... you know, the opposite of exciting! It's the same thing every day. And even if I get a break and get to go home, there won't be anything exciting there. Aubrey's still ... on a boat, apparently! Aubrey, are you sure that you're not lost or something?

Anyway, yeah, I guess there's no real point to this entry. I just wish I was doing something more exciting, you know? Something fun. I love being here and doing the Dragons' work, but some days it just gets all tiring like this ...

Oh, so, it's Wednesday, right? I wanted to try doing this, just once!

Um, so, my question is, who's your role model? Everybody's got to have one, right? Somebody you really looked up to, and tried to be like, or maybe still try to be like ... I bet a lot of people say their parents, too, because parents are really important ...

But, um, for me, it was my brother. He's probably just going to get mad about this again, but I'm really, really tired of fighting about this, so, yeah. Leon always just did whatever he could for me, and he was so strong and so brave. He was the best big brother in the world, you know? Especially when I was tiny.

So, right, who's yours? I'm curious about it, and about, you know, why they're your role models ... I guess it's kind of a silly question, but I like it, so, whatever!

Busy, busy, busy, busy!

There's so much to do for the Day of Everlasting Light that I really can't even hear myself think! My feet are going to be sore for a week. And we're not even in a big city! I don't know how the priests in Lucre can do it, I really don't. It's all so tiring and there's so much to get ready and I just know that the temple is going to be full to the brim all day.

Aubrey, how's your trip, anyway?

Do you ever have that feeling like you're forgetting something really important? I've been over just about everything and I still feel like I'm supposed to be doing something! Aubrey's birthday isn't until December, so that's not it, and Leon's is in August, so that's not it either, but I still feel all, you know, jumpy, and everything! I get like this all the time, though, I'm sure it'll go away.

Except I have to go back to the temple soon, sigh. I always get so homesick the first few days. You'd think I would be used to it by now! At least I'll get to spend plenty of time with Aubrey before I have to go back. They're probably doing fine without me, I think I could get away with staying home a day or two longer, but, well. I'll survive!

Um ... well, I know this is kind of late, but my brother got me thinking about things, and even though he's such a big jerk, he was really kind of a softy in that entry about memories ...

So, um, I think my best memory is ... well, it's back when my mother was alive. Leon and Dad and I all went to the beach with her, and we had a picnic ... it got ruined, because the wind came up and everything got blown everywhere. But after that, we all just walked along the beach, all four of us, just talking about anything... She braided my hair so that Leon and I could play in the water together and it wouldn't get in my way.

... it's good to remember these things sometimes, isn't it? It's like what that person was saying, before. It hurts a little, but only if you let it, and the good is so important to remember. Even though it does feel silly.

Wow, now I feel embarrassed, too, I bet no one even really cares about this...

[Filter: Aubrey]

I cannot believe him!

[Filter: Private]

He's really only overreacting. I know he'll calm down and things will go right back to normal, but I still feel like ...

I really wish he could just stop being so mean about everything. Aubrey means well, he really does. And he's really trying, even if Leon doesn't think so ... Or Dad. I really do wish they'd just let Aubrey have a chance. Even a small one...

I think I'll go see if Aubrey wants to go riding. I really need some fresh air, my mind is just ....

Well, at least today I get a bit of a break! It's been really busy at the temple the last few days, I really wish I could have gotten this week off, but, Days of Radiance ... I'm just glad today I can sit back a little, Father Ezekiel is going to take over for the rest of the day, since he's more versed in the whole dark stuff.

Only today and tomorrow. I can make it!