Dear Summer of my Heart,

How does this sound?

“Salutations and honour be yours, dear Master.

My name is Charlotte Minerva Noir Underwood. I have turned fourteen this previous moon.

I take pride in my ability to grow healthy herbs and brew poisons and the fact I possess maturity and determination advanced for my age.

My shortcomings, although many, include fascination with lethal poison and limitless curiosity.

Some say my perfectionism is a flaw.

Did I also mention I possess a great sense of humour?

Out of the three mentors I am to have before obtaining my licence as a potion master, I have already served under Master Yoshikazu Seo for five years in Japan. My previous Master gifted me with a wealth of knowledge on detoxification, eating manners, and expertise on the Koto. I wish to continue my pursuit of poison and detoxification. My goal is to become a great virtuoso in these fields.

News of your esteemed accomplishments have travelled far (and rightly so), and I am overjoyed and honoured that you have agreed to take me as your apprentice.

I respond best to constructive criticism with a dash of kindness.

I promise to work hard and diligently, and become a student you can be proud of.”

It’ll take some time for me to memorize all this, but I think I have the important things down. What do you think? Do you think he’ll like it? Dad told me I should prepare an introduction while we were on the flight, but the chilly air rendered me useless. Hence why I am hiding in the bathroom, the pen dancing a furious tango on the paper. I believe the pigeon should be delivering multiple letters at once.

Oh, I hope he doesn’t hate me or ask me to go back. I’ve heard of some masters sending their apprentices back for having a voice they didn’t like! That cannot happen to me. I cannot un-see his beautiful garden!

Then there is Master Mikaere. He was the youngest person to get his licence, and he only required one master. He also resigned from the Order at the age most people would start there! There are even rumours that clients from all over the world seek his potions ranging from the Queen of England to the King of the Beggars! I remember Ma telling me Master was behind the flying reindeers when I believed in Santa! Even if I didn’t believe a man to climb down chimneys once a year, I believed in Mikaere Tahuriorangi. Snu, what if he hates me? What if I sneeze the wrong way? Blink in the most offensive way possible?

Maybe I should act cute and impressionable. No, although creating a façade is a simple task, maintaining one would be arduous.

I absolutely must study under him. He is the potion master that will rocket me to success. Just imagine, after studying with him, I will be the best potion master in the world! People will queue from all over the world to have a drop of my potions and newspapers and magazines will be filled with my stories.

I can almost smell the modern and beautiful apothecary I will build in the islands. The garden and the greenhouse will smell of roses, rosemary, frangipani, chocolate cosmos, wisteria, jasmine and everything else! Don’t worry. I’ll make sure they build a private mansion just for you.

Oh no, Dad is asking if I’m okay in the bathroom! Why does he have to yell! Ahhhhhhhh

Your Panic-Stricken Pal