The Tournament, The Yellow Rose, and Second Knowledge - January 4

 Journal Entry: January 4, 2026 

Location: Ar's Station & Kattegat 

Mood/Title: The Tournament, The Yellow Rose, and Second Knowledge

It has been a full day, balancing the pleasures of the city with the responsibilities of my new station. Rask joined me early on the patio—he always seems to know when I need a quiet moment, and today he brought pastries. We were joined by Abraham Jacobson, the head of the school. I introduced them, and we took a walk to inspect the "Yellow Rose" room where I will be teaching. It is a colorful space, though it lacks sufficient seating; six chairs will hardly suffice if the attendance is what I hope it to be. Rask surprised me by quoting Guardsman of Gor regarding soldiers and flowers—"In the soldier are flowers and storms." He suggested I plant some, and I think I shall.

Later, we traveled to Kattegat for the Kaissa tournament hosted by Kevin Rothmoor. It was a grand affair, beginning with a somber tribute to those lost this year. The dancers from Ko-Ro-Ba were lovely, and the matches were intense—Matt defeated Hermes, and Rea bested Gavyn. It was good to see the city coming together in such a way.

Upon returning to the Station, the atmosphere was more chaotic. There was a tense moment involving Commander Valerius, a small sleen, and a tarn—I am glad I was not in the middle of that.

I spent the late afternoon rehearsing my lesson plan with Rask as my audience. I ran through the introduction regarding the Counter-Earth, gravity, and the vital importance of the Home Stone. Rask listened intently and applauded my efforts, though we discussed the danger of sharing "Second Knowledge"—the truth of Earth and the Voyages—with the lower castes. To a peasant, science often sounds like sorcery. I must be careful how I phrase things to avoid being branded a witch, though Rask promised he would do the "petting" if any Kurii came around. He is a comfort to me.

To Do:

• Secure more chairs for the Yellow Rose classroom before the first session.

• Hang the picture frame Rask gave me (New Year's Eve memory).

• Refine the lecture notes on the "Voyages of Acquisition" to ensure they are understood as history, not magic.

• Plant flowers near the house.