The more I see of the world, the more I am realising just how big it is. It is one thing to look at maps and tables of distances in the safety of my study, but to be out there in the world, travelling upon the roads (and often-times venturing off those roads) is a multitude of experiences in itself.
Of course, when I have been given an important task, it must be seen to with all urgency, whether that involves helping someone with a problem, or travelling to contact someone else on their behalf. But, in amongst all that urgency, I am still finding time to explore places on my own terms.
It is part of the reason I chose the life of a Scholar. There is so much in the world to learn and examine and understand, be it studying the creatures of a region or documenting the remains of buildings and monuments of kingdoms long past. In Evendim, I have been able to help the Wardens retrieve items and fill in gaps in their knowledge of their past. That, to me, is just as important as any small thing I can do to help safeguard the future against the evils that threaten our world.
Taking time to study the nature of an area is equally satisfying. Even fishing has proven helpful in this, noting the differences in what can be caught in which region, or even in which specific lake or river. Sometimes, simply making sketches of the fish and appreciating details like the colours of their scales, or how they differ from a variant species in a neighbouring area feels rewarding in itself. Documenting these things might not be heroic compared to the great deeds of warriors, but I like to think that Scholars like myself are contributing to our world with our knowledge - and by helping to spread that knowledge to those who wish to learn it.
As much as possible, I will continue these studies as I travel, wherever those travels may take me. The long lifespan of my kind is well-suited to this sort of vocation as (all being well), it gives me time to focus on my research and to explore a great many subjects across the various parts of our world.
