[From the Chronicles of The Twelve Gates of Twenty-Six]
Dear 2026,
The last letter that I wrote you had a promise to write to you shortly, a promise I have sadly failed to uphold. At the time, I was being escorted by August to the House of Manasseh.
It’s been a while since I spoke to you about the scenery and settings of the houses you have led me to, but for this house, I cannot withhold such information.
Led by August, I was greeted by high-ceilinged modern stone estates made of dressed limestone and raw basalt—fortresses disguised as manors, with polished timber-beamed ceilings, ironwork gates, and terraced gardens cascading down hillsides. Such a beautiful sight!!!
There was no noise upon our arrival, but the people were not quiet either; they were the perfect blend of boisterousness and quiet. Their hospitality did not carry the essence of welcoming a stranger; it felt more like reuniting with family, like they had known me in the distant past and were excited to see me once again.
So I must tell you about the people. They are stoic and grounded, possessing a quiet confidence born of scale, land, and hard-earned self-reliance. They practice unfiltered, practical honesty, speaking with unpretentious gravity. They say what they mean without political posturing or diplomatic fluff; they do not talk to fill space, and when an elder or leader speaks, they quiet down to listen.
I have in no small way been blessed to live amongst them. After the rigorous training and many tutors I have encountered in all the other homes—which, don’t get me wrong, I have absolutely loved—Manasseh’s home felt like a break: an opportunity to refuel, refine, and reevaluate. I have been poured into in no small measure; I have even entered a new season of life in this home.
So it is natural that, more than being reflective, I am exceedingly thankful for this home, because more than an adventure, it felt like a gift I had not expected to receive.
September came a few days ago, and I had thought I would have been reluctant to accompany him from here. Far from it, I felt ready.
2026, you keep stunning me with the goodies you have in store, so much so that a part of me is reluctant to exhaust your twelve gates. I’m off to Gate Nine, as excited as when I had started this journey, probably even more now than then.
I might have been hesitant at the beginning of the journey, but I’m really glad I embarked on it.
To watch on YouTube;
