With a shiver, I sat back in my seat, pulling the blanket tighter around my shoulders.Summer was entirely behind us and fall was in full swing. Nights were seeing frosts, and anything left unharvested in the fields was probably lost. Fortunately, my family’s fields were all harvested, which I had learned from a letter I had recently received. I pulled it out of the drawer to give it another read.Dearest Tovar,This is cantor Umbor writing to you on behalf of your family, here with me now. Hildan and Berrel want to thank you for the money you sent over. It went a long way towards filling the larder for winter and getting help in the fields, which have just finished being harvested, with the remainder set aside for hiring help in the spring.Torra, Tomas, and Tomellia are all doing very well. Torra and Tomas would like me to ask you how your magic is coming and if you can cast “that tilling spell which Magus Somnial cast in spring” yet, and if not, to “please learn it before the end of winter”. Tomellia is only gurgling, which Torra insists is agreement with them that you should till the fields with magic come spring, but I will leave that to your own interpretation.The whole village misses you and hopes you will be able to visit sometime soon (magical tilling or not) but we understand that your studies take priority and wish you the best with them. We are all so proud of you and glad that you found your Guardians-given path, and cannot wait to see where it takes you.Guardians’ protection to you,Umbor, Hildan, Berrel, Torra, Tomas, and Tomellia.I set the letter aside with a smile on my face. I had already penned a response, spending a bit of my own pocket money to have it delivered to Redding.Winter break was long enough that I could make the trip to Redding, but I had decided not to. (...)