Story:Conquest/Zhanar

Zhanar Elesion
Beggar. Mendicant. Courtesan. Lady. Widow. In fifteen short years, Zhanar Elesion has been all these... and more.

Age 14
Dear Korem,

Mother Euphemia finally allowed me to write letters after scrapping all my other ones. The other girls have all been sending letters to their family so I thought I would do so too. I guess that before one can learn about God one has to learn how to be a master author??? But now that I've passed her writing class (which no one else had to take) I can send these to you whenever I want without her acting like a bat over my shoulder. Hopefully it does not shame you to receive a note from such a "costtic and hotty" sister! I think that all I learn in Euphemia's classes are new words to tell people they are stupid.

Speaking of stupid things, I was placed in the order of Ropocheche instead of Zebbeb! I told them I wanted to be an Artist because I love all the great paintings and statues in the central church and where all the other novice's live. But the elders told me that because of my zodiac I have to be a mendicant and be poor and wander around Trallia. I don't think they understand that that's kind of the opposite reason why I became a novice? When I explained this they gave me a strange look and didn't say anything else.

Otherwise, life at the mendicant convent is sort of nice. It's clean and we get food three times a day! Please tell mother that I am fine and that I hope you two are doing well. Mother Euphemia is like her when she has too much beer, and thirty years older and ugly instead of how mother is beautifull. Maybe do not tell her that last part she could take it the wrong way. But I am trusting you to read the rest of this letter to her, and to write, whatever she wants in your responses. I included some money that I made from washing the habits so you can pay to write me back. Well, my hand is getting tired now, so I will leave you by saying that I love you and even though we are far away now, I will think of you and mother always.

P.S. (This means "thing you add at the end of a letter that is important to look fancy") Throw sand at Rhis for me if he steals our begging spot by the butcher's again.

...

Age 16
My dear Korem,

In your last letter you complained that your writing was of poor quality, then I hope you will forgive me for my scribbling! I'm taking some time away from my duties to write you this short note, because I absolutely need to tell you what I pulled off yesterday. There's a place in the Healers' sanctum where one can make a donation to light a candle for the sick, and it helps pay for their education. The Healers have all the money they need, though, because they actually are allowed to go out and perform great works and get paid for it! So I decided to sneak in while they were off gathering herbs or something and light all their candles without donating. Euphemia suspected me, of course, but my friend Izin covered for me. She's quite smart and fools everyone into thinking she's a perfect angel. Of course, we're best friends. She agrees with me that the Mendicants should have a donation box instead.

Sometimes I find it difficult to understand how each Aspect of God is supposed to fit together. Each day I learn a little more of the mysteries of the church and how we can't ever hope to fully understand the wonder of God. God empties Itself to fill humanity with Its love, isn't that a beautiful thing that also really doesn't make sense? Another mystery: We often sing the antiphon "God is the bow, the arrow is the soul", which has special meaning to Mendicants, as we are chosen to fly far across Trallia helping those in need. I thought of something interesting yesterday, though. Aren't we all supposed to be working to grow closer to God, and don't we often take paths that bring us away from It? Maybe a better description would be, "The flesh is the bow, the arrow is the soul, and the target is God". After all, if one is shooting a bow, one needs something to aim at, even if sometimes our aim isn't true.

Time is short, and Euphemia will be calling soon to set another task upon me. Know that I think of you daily, and that when you look at the stars, even though you stand in the slums, I am standing with you in awe at the same heavens. Understand all that I want to say to you, and give mother all my love.

P.S. Of course I didn't forget your birthday, I just saved it for the special P.S. part. Happy 14th, my precious (and not so little anymore) brother. I had to steal this icon of Hashmurin from an adept, try to treasure it more than he did! Hashmurin is still your favorite, yes?

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