I had a miserable night. I wasn't able to sleep well because of the coughing fits that would take me from time to time. I had to constantly get up and spit out the phlegm. Yeah, tough luck for me.

 The training for the Southern Provinces Security Service resumes today. At least I got a break there. They were able to move the training from last week to this week. Bad news though is that I am still going into this training not at a hundred percent. I'm hoping things would go well.

This also happens to be day one of my training for taking over the Southern Provinces Security Service. I have trainings lined up for the rest of the week. I hope we can postpone tomorrow's meeting just in case my illness gets worse. If not, well, I just hope I get better by tomorrow.

Things are getting quite... I don't know... interesting, to say the least. There's no turning back now. It seems I am really set to take over the operations of the Southern Provinces Security Service. Training for the duties as head is coming up this week. I wonder if I'm really ready and capable of handling such a responsibility. I hope so, but still, I am anxious. I've never been to the Southern Provinces before, and I know nothing of its Lords and Ladies, the threats they face, the requests they will make of me, and temperament of each. I'm also wary of the training. Will it be enough? Two-hour sessions for three days...

I will also be the primary guard next week... I hope nothing escapes my watch.

Bah! What talk is this? If the enemy comes, let them come! They will find out just how hard it is to get past the strength of my wits and the edge of my sword.

This is not to say, however, that this day has gone without a hitch. The Witch of the Books has chosen, once again, to show me the ugly face underneath the pleasant facade. Her reactions/behavior towards me contradict the wonderful image she seems to have conjured for one of my friends. I have, however, conferred with my other fellow Servants of the High People, and I have confirmed that the Witch really is wicked. Could it be that she has bewitched my friend? Or does my friend simply have a powerful charm of amulet that renders the wicked Witch helpless as a puppy. That question, sadly, seems to have no answer immediately at hand.

I will leave tonight, a squire on his pony. When I return, it will be as a true Servant. The question now is, will I be content being a Servant? That is yet to be determined.

The day has just begun, as the old saying goes...

It's been building up inside me, over these past few days. The problem with this Squirehood is that aside from my duties as a squire, I'm also performing the tasks that would be assigned to me once I become a FULL Servant of the High People. Yeah, I'm one hell of an overworked and underpaid guy.

I've worked my ass off to finish my Squire duties early, with what time they could give me for it. I'm also WAY WAY over the required number of hours for this Squirehood. I did it all because I need some time to gather the requirements I need for my employment as a full Servant. I asked my Vassal if I could push the date of my regular employment by a week, but that does not seem to be possible. Next week is the only way to go for me. Technically, I should be free to go, right? Why do I feel like things are suddenly going to turn sour?

I'm a bit scared, really. One Lord sent an email regarding a discussion set for next week. In that email, he specifically mentioned me...

I wonder how I would react if management sees fit to unapprove the early termination of my Squirehood. After all the trouble I went through, I feel like I really should be free to go. And besides, my duties as an Squire are over. If they are to extend my so called "internship period" for a week, I would not be doing the job of an Squire, but that of a Servant. Another week of being overworked and underpaid, with no time to gather the requirements I need for turning regular.

I imagined the situation today, over and over. How my Vassal would tell me that I couldn't take off next week, in a perfectly conversational and pleasant tone, a bright smile on my manager's face. I imagine myself, shaking with outrage, asking in that calm, steady voice, whether or not the decision is final. My Vassal nods in agreement, still with that pleasant smile, teeth gleaming under the florescent glow of the barracks torches.

In the space between a breath, in the time between a blink of an eye, I make my own decision. I will quit, right there and then. If that's the way this Fiefdom would treat me, then I don't want to be a part of it. This is not the vision of the perfect Fiefdom that the recruiters seem to construct in the various fairs. I surrender all the office equipment, turn in my access card, and leave the office for good. To hell with their dreaded blacklist, I don't care if they put me in there. I will not work in a Fiefdom that would treat me so, while pretending to emphasize flexibility and promote the best working environment. I feel no regret in walking out....

If only I had the guts to do it in when the time comes... If only I could afford to do it when the time comes... We'll see what happens tomorrow. Tomorrow is the day of reckoning. Tomorrow is the end of days. Let's just see if the days will end for good.