This letter is seen being penned in public, written and rewritten, in more than one draft and more than one place, enough that anyone who cared to see it before it was sent could have easily fed their curiosity, but quickly find it to be a sappy letter home to Finn's mother.
"Mi Fantastico Mommina,
To say the days have felt empty with you and mi famiglia would be far from a lie. I am sorry it has taken me so long to write home. Though it has only been months, to me it has felt like years; My wounded pride keeping words that should have been said so long ago locked behind a burning resentment I could not discard, and only until recent events have I come around to some of what father was trying to tell me. Perhaps if I had a better understanding of magic I could be more helpful, and.....safer. Despite all of that, I have chosen to stay the course. I will become a great craftsman and alchemist in my own right. I choose to aim for greatness rather than settle for plain bottled magic. The Drogue name will be one of innovation! of relevance! To settle for less would feel like defeat.
I have made many friends here in Ephia's Well, so much that I feel very well cared for. I have so many things to tell you. Getting a start in Ephia's Well was not so easy. Here is a place of many refugees, both skilled and unskilled. Since the ringfall Ephia's Well is the place they all go. It has made me realize how fortunate I am to have been born to such a blessed family, but it has also made me realize how people who can do great things must do great things for the sake of those that cannot. Truly, this is a place in need of what our sages teach and while I cannot offer this as well as our sister-priests I can offer my mind and my invention, just as Giacomo did for our great city in his lifetime. We have been blessed by the presence of a sister-priest here in the well though! Sister-Priest Sephoni di Chiarore and her charge have seen fit to bless the well with her compassion. Know that the only thing I want for here is your company at our favorite cafe.
I have become very involved here in the well! I was inspired by a man I met here, an Itri Ablator, to take a course of study through the Sandstone Colege. Shortly after my arrival I was blessed to meet this man and receive all of his alchemical equipment and a bag of starting reagents! Fortuna smiled on me this day as I received all I could need to begin my own research! Signor Ablator pioneered the field of Arcano-Chemical Engineering at the Sandstone College, the field I received my degree in. Signor Ablator, his soul return to the dome, passed away shortly after that. I like believe he was happy to be able to pass on the flame of invention to a new bearer, I only wish Papa had felt the same.
I said awful things before I left to both of you. I cannot continue letting you believe that I meant them. Papa and my brothers are incredible men, and I am proud to be a Drogue, and I wish all of you good health. It is still my dream to study at the Lamplight of Learning though, right now, I have set my eyes on the Tower of Q'tolip. They are very exclusive institution normally accepting those who have magical talent, something I am painfully aware I have none of. This has not deterred me, however! I have received recognition from a number of their Apothari, Officers of the tower. I would be remiss not to mention, however, that I have been recognized by the Balladeers of the Lost Hearth and received invitation to join them in their esteemed college, and I may take them up on it if I am yet refused from Q'Tolip.
You may have heard rumors across the sea about the island of Hufaidh erupting recently. If I am to be honest with you, I was there when it happened. So much has happened That I don't know how to tell you, so I will be direct. I have been fighting Djinn. The destruction of these vile creatures is what I have chosen to study, to put my talent towards seeing these monsters destroyed. I simply cannot settle for a simple, quiet, life like you and Papa. I know this is a difficult choice to understand for you, but for me I have never felt so much purpose and drive.
I am certain there is more I could write, more I could tell you, but that simply means I will have to write more often. Know that though there is a famiglia sized hole in my life I am more fulfilled in my goals than I ever have been, with more friends and allies than I could have ever asked for. I promise to visit home in the future, but perhaps you could fish out a recipe from one of the servers at our favorite cafe? The food of Ephia's well is fantastic but it lacks the true taste of home and there are many talented chefs here! If you should visit this place I will show you all of the best parts of my home here. Please, do not worry about me.
Con tutto l'amore nel disco,
tuo figlio,
Finneas"