Ace Examinations

Dear Mr. Reiaki,

I will say, writing to you is a little strange. The only people i ever write to are family members, and you’re always just a few steps away so there was never a need for something like this before. But i guess talking in person about this could be a little draining with all the people in the guild and their long and complicated histories.
I am very happy you consider me eligible for such a high position like guild ace. Honestly at first i had assumed you had written the wrong name upon the envelope, but i now see it was no mistake. I don’t know if i have anything as impressive as the other more ecstatic and colorful personalities within the guild, but i shall try my best to at least leave some sort of mark within your mind. After all, the purpose of the mentee is to surpass the mentor and leave not just an impression on them, but on the entire world. I hope that one day i can do that very thing.

“Based on everything you have done before, how do you feel about your actions as a whole?”
This is a rather tough question to answer. There are lots of instances in my life i am proud of. Entertaining the children at Magnolia Hospital, seeing their bright little eyes light up as i showed them my violin playing. Or even the time when i was able to take down an escaped convict all by myself! But i think overall the one i am most proud of was gathering up my courage and asking you to mentor me in the way of the violin. Though i am not exactly introverted it was hard for me to talk to you, you probably know this anyway. My tear stained face when i finally got to speak to you is probably burned into your memory… Embarrassing… But meeting you, after you were the person who brought the magic of music into my life… You’re my idol. How could i have not been nervous to even be in your presence? It is the memory i am most proud of because i could actually feel myself grow as a person the moment you laid that kiss upon my hand. I had done it, i had actually asked my idol to mentor me, and i succeeded. Not a lot of people can say they have achieved that. I had done what i thought was the impossible.
But then, of course, there are instances i am not so proud of, most of them being things i am sure you are aware of. Would i change them? I’m not going to lie, maybe i would. If i had some sort of time magic there’s no doubt i would try and change those dark moments. Everyone has at least one moment in their lives that they wish they could change, i think. But i do not have such a magic, so there really no need to dwell on the past. I cannot change it. It has happened. What i hope to do is try and move on from those times and make sure something like “that” never happens to me or the ones i love ever again. That is why i joined Golden Phoenix in the first place, to make a fresh start for myself after a rough beginning to my adventure. It is like the phoenix itself. This guild is for people who want to leave their past behind them in the ashes and rise once more as something greater.

In all, it is hard to sum up all of my emotions from my past actions when there are so many emotions a person can feel all at once, and if i could i would change some of my actions in a heartbeat. But since time travel is out of my grasp i do not see the point in dwelling on the past. I want to move forward and have better times, not simmer and stain myself in the dark times of the past. But i do not want to forget the past, as forgetting the past would be like forgetting yourself. Instead i want to learn from the past to hopefully do better in the future. And maybe, one day, i can pass on my wisdom to the next generation of guild members just like you are with me so they can live their lives the way they want to and aim for the stars, reaching for greatness with all their might.

I’m not too sure if this is what you wanted or if i did this right, but i hope this was at least somewhat decent to read. I tried my best despite not being the best writer.
May your search for aces go well.

Your dedicated student,
Astrid Foss