Adrien stood there for quite a good while, staring through the wooden door, collecting his thoughts. His cheeks were sore from how much he had been smiling. At last, he felt at ease about the choice he had made. As he opened up his bag and sorted his possessions, Adrien thought of the letter he'd be writing to his mother; "Dear mom", he rehearsed in his mind, "I have arrived at my destination, and I am doing great. The journey went just fine, I don't have much to say about it. I was right about the sorcerer Valerion - he is a fun and cheerful person, and I am sure I will enjoy my time here. I have a whole tower as my private quarters! I am still not quite sure how to thank him for that. This whole place is amazing, mom; my bathroom contains enchanted baskets that clean the laundry for you. Tomorrow I will have my first lesson". Adrien paused; he realized how excited he was about that prospect.

He put away the last of his things and walked upstairs to the bathroom. He kept rewriting his letter and smiling as he took off his clothes and filled the bathtub with hot water. He climbed inside, seated himself, and sighed; the water was warm and wonderful, and he was in such need of cleansing after his long journey.