The way Tria treated him, she certainly made it feel that way. She had been blunt: if he refused to make use of his abilities, whatever she imagined those to be, she would throw him straight into the habitat. Dump him among the humans to fish and farm like the rest of her livestock. And he had believed her. That threat had sunk deep, lodged itself in his gut like a rusted hook. Yu had seen how they lived, and it was most definitely not for him.
His thoughts twisted, festering. He could hear her voice, sharp and dismissive, laced with that thinly veiled contempt she never quite bothered to hide. Always reminding him of his inadequate attitude. No, the years on the estate had not been perfect.
But they had been better than this.
Yu had assumed being a guard would be easy. Standing around. Watching. Nothing physically taxing. It was, in fact, on of the reasons he had at least somewhat complied with this wretched arrangement. All the other reasons were that Tria had made full use of her legal rights as his shirka to force him.
But today proved him wrong.
The guild’s definition of “guard” was insultingly loose. Guards did not just watch. They did everything. Every menial, tedious, degrading task even remotely connected to keeping the stream of travellers comfortable. And as the new recruit, naturally, Yu got saddled with all the shit jobs.
A Day of Hope and Love
Dear Travellers,
Valentine’s Day is a day for young love and old memories. It is a celebration woven from history and myth, its namesake a figure of quiet defiance and enduring faith. Saint Valentine, whether priest or poet, lived and died believing in love — not just the romantic kind, but the love that binds us in kindness, in loyalty, and in the quiet certainty that we are not alone.
Love, in all its forms, is a force that shapes us. It is found not only in grand gestures but in the spaces between words, in the patience we offer, the understanding we extend, and the stories we share. Whether this day finds you in the embrace of another, in the company of those who make your world brighter, or in the solace of solitude, I wish you warmth, meaning, and the quiet joys that linger with the memories of love once received.
If you are one of the few people who continue to give love and hope, even when they are neither returned nor acknowledged; one of the rare givers in this world that persist in kindness and compassion despite being lied to, abused and stolen from, I wish that no one may ever take away this kindness and strength.
On a different note:
With this section, The Glass Wizard has breached 500 pages!
I am thrilled by how far the story has come, yet at the same time, it still feels like a collection of beginnings. There is so much more I want to tell, especially with Yves returning soon.
As a token of appreciation, I would like to share the first song I created for the narration — a composition based on the poem about the Feathers of Varna. Please find
While no earthly melody could capture the artefacts’ irresistibly enchanting sound, I hope this simple rendition brings a bit of variety to your reading experience. I hope to crearte more songs in the near future.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
With love and heartfelt appreciation,
The Duckman
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