Crucible Journal Entry

I dreamt of the rain.

The same rain that filled my entire childhood.

The same cold rain that showered down on the alleyways that I hid in, sloughing the grime off the walls and into whatever small crevice I would have been hiding in.

I dreamt of the same drops of rain that poured like stones, the same stones that were thrown at the many beggars, like myself, living in the winding narrow streets of Aquillum.

I found myself walking down the same paths I used to walk and beg in, the same narrow winding passageways I used to evade any furious shopkeepers who would desperately search for the sewer child who stole their wares.

I walked and walked,
Sean nearly fell off the trail last time.”

It’s loud as ever….

“You should worry about yourself more. Instructor Hearst was not pleased with you yesterday. Hell, even I was a bit shocked. How do you even fail to remember those basic reconnaissance protocols?”

“Fuck off, the last time we went over that it was 2 years ago back when we were still being evaluated. The fact that you can still remember all that is weird.”

“Hey, just remember that it won’t be me that gets kicked out because they didn’t study hard enough.”

“What time is it right now that you two are arguing like two cocks in the same henhouse?” I groggily sat up from my cot, looking over at my two roommates, Adam and Trest.

Trest looked back at me with a slightly apologetic smile, evidently guilty that he woke me up. Meanwhile, Adam simply grunted. “Late enough for all of us to get ready.”

I stood up in our cramped room, and reached for the water pitcher, only to find it empty. I groaned slightly, it meant that I had to be the one to leave the warm confines of our barracks to fetch water from the
I shot him my best death glare and prepared myself to go out to the courtyard. I looked out the window and saw the rain that the two had been talking about when they so rudely woken me. It was a thick and heavy rain, coming down in sheets and nearly obscuring our view of the courtyard. Even though our compound was well up high in the mountains the fall rains came down often and heavy.

Though, thanks to that we enjoy a rather plentiful harvest in what little arable farmlands we possess.

I felt a slight aching sensation in my chest, and rubbed the old scar that was there, slightly beneath my left collarbone. I was lucky to have survived that blow that day…

A slight nudge on my shoulder from Trest broke me from my contemplative mood and I walked out the still quiet barracks, ready to be hit by the uncomfortable weather. The stairs creaked as I went down to the courtyard, and then I rushed out to the well, trying to get my water before being drenched too thoroughly in the rain.

Just another morning in Aquillum.