One Step At A Time

Writers: Devin, Steel
Date Posted: 17th December 2025

Characters: L'tos, R'lor
Description: L'tos has a chat with R'lor
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 10 of Turn 12

R'lor

"Sir." L'tos reported. "I finished my assignment. Should I begin another? Or I could report for an extra chore rotation if needed."

R'lor looked at the clock. "Shouldn't you be at lunch right now?"

"I finished lunch." L'tos responded. "And I checked on Hallisenth. She's asleep." He added. "Her hide is clean and she's freshly oiled. Her sleeping space is clean too."

He paused. "I could sweep the hallway? Or... look over the next lesson or two to study ahead?"

"Or enjoy a moment of free time?" R'lor suggested. "You'll have little enough of that the next few months."

L'tos hesitated, then shook his head. "... No thank you, sir." he responded. "... Just because Hallisenth is asleep doesn't mean I can't be useful, or work on getting ahead."

The Weyrlingmaster gave a very small sigh. "Well, if you insist on keeping busy, you could study the upcoming lessons, or you could look for fellow classmates who are struggling and offer to help them."

"I can do both." L'tos said immediately. "I'd... like to study the upcoming lessons first, though. That way I'll have an even better grasp of what to help others with."

"It's unusual for a boy your age to be so studious and dedicated," R'lor said.

"It's not wrong to want to do a good job." L'tos responded, a little bit stiffly. "I don't _care_ that Halli's a green, I'm going to do the best I can and so will she."

"Have you forgotten that I'm a bluerider?" The Weyrlingmaster said mildly. "Did I say that you should expect less, want less, because you're a greenrider?"

L'tos considered that, for several more moments. "So I _don't_ have to give up on my plans to be a Wingleader someday?" He asked, dubiously. "... Huh."

He paused again.

"... Or maybe it's merit based, for positions like yours."

"A Wingleader needs to fly a full Fall," R'lor said. "But the Weyrlingmaster at Barrier Lake is a greenrider, and you certainly have potential to make Wingthird someday."

L'tos regarded him a moment, and then his shoulders straightened, squared. "Then that's what I'll do." He declared. "I'll train and study for _both_."

R'lor pressed his lips together, fighting a smile. "First you have to get through weyrlinghood, and it will be a few Turns before you're eligible for any rank."

"Then I'll have time to gain experience." L'tos responded. "And Hallisenth, too. We'll train hard and study as much as we can."

He paused. "When I'm not doing that... would you like or need help with anything, sir?"

"Well, as I said, you can help your fellow weyrlings, and if I remember right, you won't be turning sixteen until a few months after graduation," R'lor said. "So you'll working with me as an assistant for a while."

L'tos thought about that, and then nodded once, sharply. "Good." he said, after a moment. "At your side, I'll definitely get more experience from watching someone with a rank I can aspire to."

He considered, a moment. "How did you become Weyrlingmaster?"

"I was the Weyrlingmaster Third, and when the previous Weyrlingmaster transferred out, Weyrleader N'vanik had enough faith in me to promote me to Weyrlingmaster, despite me being a bluerider." After being passed over for promotion so many times at Rising Moons, the sudden rise in rank was a bit dizzying.

L'tos thought about that.

"A position as an assistant Weyrlingmaster until I'm old enough to fly in a fighting wing sounds like a good way to get ahead, sir." He stated. "And I know I'll need experience, so I should aim for a few years in the fighting wings first, and then reapply to work with you." He gave a nod, mostly to himself.

"Oh? Are you interested in becoming a Weyrlingmaster?" R'lor asked.

"Once I have more experience, yes." L'tos squared his shoulders and nodded. "... I mean. Also when Halli is older." He added, and his expression softened at the thought of his green, her mind always just in reach.

"Take your time," R'lor said gently. "Don't be in too much of a rush to gain rank."

L'tos thought about that, too, for a moment. Then nodded. "... Because you have to want it for the right reasons?"

"That, and if you're focused on rank and don't achieve it right away, you're setting yourself up for frustration and disappointment," the Weyrlingmaster told him. "It's important to have a goal, but for now spend more of your focus on the near future, the next milestone in weyrlinghood. Working on riding straps, Threadfall charts, first flights."

"Experience is important too." L'tos agreed. "But without a clear goal, what's the _point_? I wanted to be a rider, and that means doing everything I can, the best I can."

R'lor rubbed his chin. "What rank do you want the most?"

"I have Hallisenth." L'tos responded. "Rank wise-- A Weyrlingmaster with no experience isn't going to be much help to weyrlings. So I think I should work toward Wingthird, first." He added.

"Good thinking." The Weyrlingmaster smiled. "Now, this isn't an assignment, I want you to complete any classwork before this, but I'd like you to write out all the steps that will get you from today to making Wingthird. For example, you need several Turns of experience in the Wings, and to get there you need to graduate, and to graduate you need to learn how to go /between/ and so on. Then you'll have a list of near-term and middle-term goals to focus on for now that will lead toward your larger goal."

L'tos nodded, seriously. "I can do that, sir." He assured. "The first big goal is graduating from being a Weyrling, but there are plenty of smaller goals to accomplish in training."

"Exactly. You have a lot of work ahead, but I don't think that's going to be a problem for you." Then R'lor arched an eyebrow. "I will, however, sit on you if you don't take restdays to _rest_."

"I have a dragon now." L'tos responded, immediately. "I can't just... just _laze_ around, it's irresponsible. Especially if.. I mean, yes Weyrlingmaster sir."

Last updated on the December 30th 2025

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