The large bell in the Burning Tower struck midday as Valentina and Crispin streamed out of Professor Greycloak''s lecture on the history of Essence Weaving. The smell of roasting meat and fresh bread wafted through the corridors, luring the hungry students towards the dining room.


    "I''m starving," moaned Crispin as they descended the wide staircase. "I could devour a whole ox. With tail."


    Valentina smiled weakly. Her own stomach growled audibly, but she tried to ignore it. Breakfast seemed like ages ago, and the exhausting Essence weaving in the morning had sapped her energy reserves.


    As they entered the large room, they were greeted by a babble of voices and the clatter of dishes. Long tables and benches stretched across the room, where students from all three years sat, ate and chatted.


    Valentina glanced around the crowd and spotted Innogen waving to them from the other end of the dining room. She made her way through the crowd, Crispin close on her heels.


    "Here, I''ve saved us seats," Innogen said as they approached. She pointed to the empty places next to her.


    Valentina and Crispin gratefully settled down. In front of them on the table were bowls of steaming soup, platters of fresh bread and cheese, and jugs of cool water.


    "How was Professor Greycloak''s lecture?" asked Innogen as she handed Valentina a loaf of bread.


    "Fascinating," Valentina replied, tearing off a piece of the fragrant bread. "He was talking about the origins of Essence Weaving in the time before the Martyrium. It''s amazing how far back the scholarly art goes."


    Crispin nodded eagerly, his mouth full of soup. He swallowed hastily and said, "I found the bit about the various theories on the origins of the Essences particularly interesting. The idea that they might be leftovers of the one original force that formed our world is really intriguing."


    Suddenly the conversations fell silent. A tall man in the traditional blue jerkin of a messenger entered, followed by a janitor whom he had put to work carrying a large sack.


    "Mail!" someone shouted excitedly, and a commotion immediately broke out. Students jumped up from their seats in the hope of receiving news from home.


    Valentina felt her heart beat faster. She had been waiting for a letter from her family for weeks. The latest news from home had been worrying – the harvest seemed to turn out not as good as they had hoped, and the interest payments on the debts her parents had incurred for her studies were weighing heavily on everyone.


    The messenger began calling out names and distributing letters. Innogen received a thick envelope sealed with her family''s coat of arms. Her eyes lit up as she opened it and began to read.


    "Good news?" asked Valentina as she nervously waited for her own name to be called.


    Innogen nodded, a slight smile on her lips. "My little brother Jasper sends news from the royal court. It seems he has already made a good impression."


    Crispin also received a letter, but Valentina could see that he was hesitant to open it. She knew his relationship with his family was complicated, especially since he had decided to become an Essence Weaver instead of following in his father''s footsteps.


    The names continued to be called, but Valentina''s was not mentioned. With every moment that passed, her tension grew. What if something bad had happened? What if her family...


    "Valentina of Palewood!" the messenger finally called out.


    Valentina stood up with trembling hands and walked forward. The messenger handed her a simple envelope sealed with wax. The paper felt rough under her fingers and she immediately recognized her father''s clumsy handwriting.


    "Are you all right?" Crispin asked anxiously as she returned to her seat. Valentina nodded silently, her eyes fixed on the letter.


    "Aren''t you going to open it?" Innogen urged gently.


    Valentina swallowed hard. "I... I think I''ll read it later. In peace."


    Her friends exchanged a worried glance but respected her wishes. The conversation turned to other topics, but Valentina could hardly concentrate on them. The letter in her bag seemed to burn in her mind, reminding her of the responsibility that weighed on her shoulders.


    As the lunch break came to an end and the students rose to go to their afternoon lectures, Valentina remained seated.


    "Aren''t you coming to the lecture on the ethics of Essence weaving?" asked Crispin.


    Valentina shook her head. "I... I think I need a moment to myself. Please tell Professor Ravencroft that I''m not feeling well."


    Innogen put a hand on her shoulder sympathetically. "Of course. If you want to talk, you know where to find us."


    With one last worried look, her friends left her alone. The dining room emptied quickly and soon Valentina was surrounded by silence. She pulled the letter out of her bag and stared at it for a long time. With a deep breath, she finally stood up. She had to find a quiet place to read the letter – a place where she would be undisturbed, no matter what the contents might bring.


    With a heavy heart, Valentina left the dining hall and made her way to the secluded corner of the university gardens that she had discovered yesterday. There, by the roses, under the shade of the old oak tree, she would find the courage to open the letter and face the news from home.


    ~


    Valentina made her way through the university''s extensive gardens. Afternoon lecture had started, and the paths were mostly deserted. Only here and there did she see a lone student sitting on a bench, bent over a book or quietly muttering Essence formulas to themselves.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    The air was filled with the sweet scent of late fall flowers and the earthy smell of falling leaves. A cool breeze brushed through the trees, making golden and red leaves dance around Valentina''s feet. In the distance, she could hear the muffled ringing of the Burning Tower bells calling for afternoon worship.


    Finally, she reached her destination: an old oak tree on the edge of a small pond. Its mighty branches offered protection from prying eyes, and the gentle babbling of the water created a calming atmosphere. Valentina had discovered this place a few weeks ago and had often come here since then, when she was looking for peace and solitude.


    She sat down on one of the protruding roots and leaned against the rough trunk. With trembling hands, she pulled the letter out of her pocket. The seal was simple – a piece of ordinary wax into which her father had pressed the imprint of his old ring. It was so different from the ornate wax seals on Innogen''s letters or the Essence-enhanced seals that some of the richer students received.


    Valentina took a deep breath and broke the seal. The paper crackled as she unfolded the letter. Her father''s handwriting was clumsy and smudged in places, a sign that he had probably written the letter late at night by candlelight after a long day of hard work in the fields.


    "My dear daughter Valentina," the letter began.


    "I hope this letter reaches you in good health and finds you eager in your studies. Here in Palewood the chill has set in. The days are long and the work is hard, but we think of you often and pray together every evening to the Martyr for your well-being and success.


    Your mother sends word that she is proud of you and hopes that you dress warmly enough. Winter is approaching and we know that firewood is much more expensive in the city than here in the country. She has started knitting you a new scarf, which we want to send you soon.


    Your siblings miss you very much. Adeline keeps asking when you''re coming home and even little Thomas, who is just starting to talk, is trying to say your name. Cecily has got married and is expecting her first child. She knows that your studies probably won''t allow you to be there when it receives the ashes, but hopes that you will get to meet it the next time you can visit.


    Now, my daughter, I must move on to less pleasant things. It is difficult for me to write this, but you have a right to know the truth. The harvest this year was not as good as we had hoped. The summer was too dry and many of our fields only produced half the usual yield. We will get through the winter, but it won''t be easy.


    The debts we took on to finance your studies are weighing heavily on us. The moneylender from the city was here last week and threatened to seize our land if we didn''t continue repayments soon. I tried to explain to him that we''ll have the money as soon as you finish your training and start working as an Essence Weaver, but he wouldn''t hear of it.


    Don''t get me wrong, my daughter. We have no regrets. Your mother and I are so proud of you and what you have achieved. You are our hope, our flame in the darkness. We know you work hard and do everything you can to succeed. But I must ask you to work even harder, to make even more effort. Our family’s future depends on it.


    I know this is a heavy burden for your young shoulders. Believe me, if I could, I would take it off your shoulders. But you are strong, Valentina. You have the fire of the Martyr in you, I''ve always seen that in your eyes. You''ll make it, I''m sure of it.


    Be careful with your money. I know life in the city is expensive, but we can''t send you anything for a while. Every penny we can spare goes to the moneylender. Maybe you can find a way to earn something on the side? I''ve heard that some students work as scribes or tutors.


    Your brother Roric, who is doing well in the monastery, sends word that he is praying for you. He says you should stay away from the temptations of the city and concentrate on your studies. I know you are a good and pious girl and will not disappoint us.


    I have to close now. The candle is almost burnt down and tomorrow is another long day on the farm. Know that we love you and are proud of you. Don''t let the worries I have shared with you discourage you. You are our good hope, Valentina. With the Martyr''s blessing, you will make it.


    With love, your father"


    Valentina stared at the letter for a long time, the words blurring before her eyes. She felt a knot forming in her stomach and her throat tightening. The burden of her family''s expectations, the worries about her financial situation – everything seemed to be crushing her all at once.


    A breeze rustled the leaves of the oak tree and Valentina flinched. She looked up and noticed that the shadows had grown longer. How long had she been sitting here staring at the letter?


    With trembling hands, she folded up the paper and put it back in her pocket. She leaned against the tree trunk and closed her eyes, trying to organize her thoughts.


    The situation at home was worse than she had feared. The idea that her family could lose their little piece of land filled her with fear and guilt. Was it all worth it? Should she perhaps give up, return home and work in the fields to pay off the debt?


    No, she thought resolutely. She couldn''t do that. Her family had bet everything on her. She was their only hope for a better future. She had to find a way to succeed, whatever the cost.


    But how? Her limited resources were already making it difficult to keep up with the other students. Without additional resources, without more Distilled Essence, she would soon fall hopelessly behind.


    Valentina opened her eyes and stared at the pond in front of her. The surface was calm, disturbed only occasionally by a falling leaf. She watched the rings spread across the water and disappear again. Like Essence patterns, she thought. Everything is connected, every action has consequences.


    A sudden thought flashed through her mind. The Greystone Excellence in Essence Weaving competition! She''d heard about it of course, everyone had, but hadn''t seriously considered taking part until now. The competition was known for its challenging tasks and fierce competition – it was really a thing for the wealthier students who had long had a head start in knowledge. But the prize... the prize could perhaps solve all her problems.


    Valentina felt new energy flowing through her. This was it. She would take part in this competition and win. She had to win. It was her only chance to help her family and continue her studies.


    She got up with a faint glimmer of hope. The sun was already leaning towards the horizon and the evening shadows were getting longer. She had to hurry if she wanted to get to the library before dinner.


    On the way back to the main university building, Valentina met Professor Veilford, who had just come out of the greenhouse. His arms were full of strange-looking plants, and a faint scent of Essence surrounded him.


    "Ah, Valentina," he greeted kindly. "Not in a lecture?"


    Valentina blushed slightly. "I... I wasn''t feeling well, Professor. But I feel better now."


    The old man nodded in understanding. "The demands here can sometimes be overwhelming. Don''t forget to take care of yourself too. An exhausted mind cannot weave Essences."


    "Yes, Professor," Valentina replied. Then, driven by a sudden impulse, she asked, "Professor Veilford, do you know anything about the Greystone Competition?"


    The professor''s eyes lit up. "Ah, a fascinating competition! A great opportunity for talented young weavers to prove themselves. Are you considering taking part?"


    Valentina nodded hesitantly. "I''ll think about it. But I''m not sure if I''m... if I''m good enough."


    Professor Veilford smiled warmly. "Valentina, I''ve seen your work in my class. You have a natural talent for Essence Weaving. With hard work and dedication, you may well have a chance. The library has some excellent resources on the subject if you''d like to learn more."


    "Thank you, Professor," Valentina said, a feeling of hope welling up inside her. "I''ll definitely look into it."


    With a final nod, she said goodbye to Professor Veilford and hurried towards the library. Her head was buzzing with ideas and plans. She would find out everything she could about this competition, use every spare minute to practise and prepare.


    When she reached the large doors of the library, Valentina paused for a moment. Her father''s letter lay heavy in her pocket. But for the first time in a long time, she felt not only the burden of responsibility, but also a spark of hope.