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The community of Rosewood was bustling with the usual noon activity, people coming and going, taking care of chores and heading to work, and the odd travelers looking for a place to be. One part of the community in particular, the library to be exact, enjoyed the usual quiet that was often desired of an establishment like it. The only sounds that were heard within its walls was the odd stray noises from its patrons, what little slipped in from the outside, and the doors opening whenever a new visitor arrived, like right now.

Within the library, there was a certain librarian who looked all too happy performing her duties as she dusted off some of the bookshelves. To those unaware, she might just appear to really like to clean, but to those who are aware, the locals of Rosewood who frequent the library would understand the real reason behind the librarian's excitement, which was the book on her desk. It was the last one in the library, the only book the librarian hadn't read to completion yet, the only book she hadn't yet enchanted to ensure that it would remain in its prime state for all time to come. The bookmark protruding from it reveals that the librarian is nearing its final chapter.

Tranquility was nearly a must within this sanctuary of words, so of course, the doors had been kept in tip-top condition to make sure no excess squeaking or creaking came from them. Only the light chime of a bell signified the arrival of an incoming patron to the library, which the working librarian hurried over to greet them. With a gentle smile and a soft voice, she told them, "Welcome to Rosewood's community library. Please enjoy your stay and let me know if you need help finding anything."

A traveler with dirty blonde hair and a pair of black-framed glasses entered the library, looking around with a neutral expression on his face. "Oh thank you, ma'am," he said politely, giving another cursory glance about the room before asking, "You wouldn't happen to have any recommendations for fantasy adventures, would you?"

One of the librarian’s eyes twitched and a pout briefly flashed across her face as she thought to herself, “I know I don’t dress in the most flattering manner, but I can’t look that old for him to be calling me ma’am.”

“I’d be happy to recommend some titles to you, but to properly do so, there is something I must ask. Are you looking for novels with more vanilla or… adult content?” The librarian replied, hoping the slight blush on her face was enough of a hint for the traveler to understand that she was asking if he was searching for an erotic novel or not, “That’s an understandably awkward question to answer, so don’t answer it if you don’t feel comfortable doing so.”

He had thankfully missed her pouting as he gazed upon the myriad bookshelves of the library with interest. The question she posed, however, did not go without notice, of course. "U-Um, vanilla, please. Unless you have one of the adult variety that actually puts an equal amount of stock into the story itself as it does the... colorful descriptions," he answered, making sure to try and maintain a polite tone, knowing she had to ask to help him.

A small sigh of relief escaped from the woman’s lips. It was always so awkward having to recommend adult novels to others. Now for the difficult part, pitching book summaries without getting too into it and spoiling them. “In that case, I have a few in mind I think you’d like. There’s the ‘Otherside’ trilogy, a classic medieval adventure fantasy with a few twists. The first book isn’t the most spectacular, hitting the common notes of the genre, following the story of a heroic group setting off to defeat the bad guys, but I believe that was the author’s intention as it sets the groundwork beautifully for the sequel, which goes over the some of the same events as the first book and more, but now from the perspective of the villains. And, well, I can’t say much about the final book without spoiling some stuff from the previous ones.” She told the adventurer, “Then there’s the duology of ‘Initiation’ and ‘Termination’, one of the more mature series we have here that is around an even split between story and colorful descriptions of certain events, as you put it. It takes place is a dystopian future where mankind and Midara are working together to fight off these mass produced, ever evolving, robotic Midara. The author of these has to be one of my favorites. They just have the ability to write in a way where they can go from 0 to 100 in an instant but not make anything feel rushed at all. Fair warning about these, there is some body horror with those robotic Midara making full use of their adaptive bodies, but other than that, it avoids most, if not all, major turn offs.”

The young man was surprised by just how enthused she was to offer her recommendations. Usually when he asked for recommendations, the most he got was a title and its genres, this was a definite change of pace from the usual library workers. "Well, with talk like that, I think I oughta give both a shot. I don't think I need to ask if you've read them before."

Normally, the librarian wouldn't be one to boast about things. However, they were talking about books, so it was a different case. "Of course, I've read them, along with nearly every other piece of literature within this library, baring one which I hope to finish up today," She proudly proclaimed whilst still keeping her voice at the appropriate volume for a library. "Now, that's five books you want to read, and they ain't exactly short ones either. Do you plan on reading them within the library, or where you looking to rent them out?"

That was an even bigger surprise, that she'd apparently ready every tome and text in the building besides the one. "That... Oh wow. How long did that take?" He couldn't help the curiosity, assuming she wasn't bluffing or anything, though she seemed sincere. His inquiry got put on hold with the librarian's question. "Oh, rent them, if you don't mind. I'm looking to do a few jobs in town, maybe some outside of it, so I'll be needing something to entertain myself on the side."

She had to think about his question for a second. "Well, I can't give the exact time it took, but I would estimate it to be around fourteen years. Of course, that wasn't fourteen years of solely reading, so it probably is more somewhere around ten years' worth of time," She answered.

As she spoke, the librarian ushered them over to her desk and retrieved some papers for him to fill out so that he could rent the books. It wasn't anything special; they weren't forcing him to sign away his soul; it was primarily just getting ways and places to contact him if the books he rents are overdue.

He was amazed yet simultaneously not surprised by the amount of time it took her to clear through every book in the library. Amazement at the dedication and enjoyment of reading that she must have to have done that for as long as it took, and equal parts an understanding that something that daunting would take years on end to do while balancing life out. He followed her and paid close attention to what she told him, and he wasted no time in signing down his name and places of contact. "Okay, that's about it. Is there anything else then?"

“Nope, that’s all we need from you on that. I’ll fetch you those books now, let’s see…” The librarian informed him as she began to shuffle through some paperwork on her desk, pulling out what appeared to be a spreadsheet and quickly scanning over it. Shortly into her examination, she lifted a hand and made a beckoning motion with her pointer finger, and as she did so the traveler witnessed white scales that looked like they were made out of coarse paper appear along her cheeks and the back of her hand and fingers. Those scales were gone in a few moments as the books he wished to rent landed on the desk in front of him, having seeming flown here from their spots on the shelves. “There you go,  please enjoy reading them. You can return or renew these rentals in three weeks.”

"Thank you very much," he said, awaiting the books he wanted before being treated to a sight he wouldn't see every day. "What was that?" he asked, slightly bewildered and with no shortage of wonder. "Rina, did you see that?" Seemingly forgetting the books, he peered over his shoulder, but there was no one behind him, the only thing back there being the entrance to the library he had just entered through.

"I saw, I saw," chimed in a smaller voice as a shine of light fluttered over his shoulder, seating itself before it fade away, revealing a small pixie with cozy red hair that fell past her shoulders. "You some kinda dragon girl, bookwyrm?"

She never planned on keeping her scales hidden, so she didn’t mind the now apparently a pair seeing them, but the questions afterwards were always awkward. “Those were indeed scales,” She answered the traveler’s possible rhetorical question before moving on to the pixie’s, “and as awesome as it would be to claim I am a dragon, I don’t have enough information to do so. I could easily be some sort of other reptilian girl… well, not easily since my scales differ from the usual ones reptiles have, but they also differ from the usual description of dragon scales, although those descriptions I’m referring to come from novels instead of studies, so perhaps in reality dragon scales are more like mine…” As she rambled on, the librarian kept up her gentle smile, but there was now clearly some sadness behind it.

"Hear that, Griffin? She doesn't what she even is," Rina said, bumping her elbow against the side of his neck gently. It was clear that the fae woman was living up to the reputation of fae, getting a laugh out others and not exactly being the nicest.

"Rina, don't be rude," he snipped firmly, lifting a hand up to wave her away. With a outraged protest, Rina faded away a brief spark of dancing lights. "Really sorry about her, she's nicer than she acts, I promise. That said, you say you're not sure what you are? I guess there hasn't been any info that's come by here then... Hm... Have you traveled before?"

“I’m sure she is very pleasant,” The librarian replied as she tried to play it off, but her expressions were as easy to read as a book, so it was pretty clear that the fae’s words really hit a sensitive spot, “But her wording is closer to the truth. It’s not that I’m unsure about my lineage, it’s that I don’t know. Barring a single memory, I can’t remember any event up until I awoke in the infirmary of this village.” As she mentioned that single memory, her face went pale, so it clearly wasn’t a joyful memory.

“By the definition of travel, I have, as I had to arrive in this village somehow, but I’ve never actively traveled outside of this village,” She admitted, “However, I am planning on doing so very soon, after I finish up the final book here. I’m thinking on heading to the next town on the road and checking out their library to look for the information I couldn’t find here.”

"Oh, that's good. If this village doesn't have the info you need, then it would be a good idea to look elsewhere," he said with a nod as he collected the books she handed him, stuffing them in his bag. "That said, can you defend yourself or trust yourself to dodge trouble?"

“Theoretically, I should be fine to travel. I’ve picked up a few combative spells from some tomes here. However, I’ve never practiced those spells against a Midara, so they could be too weak or strong to safely use in a battle,” The librarian admitted, “I was planning on putting up a request to get someone to escort me. I don’t really know any adventurers here well enough that I’d feel comfortable singling them out and asking for their help.”

Griffin pondered her words and considered something for a moment before offering a smile and asking, "Then why don't I escort you? I'm an adventurer myself, and I'd already planned to travel out of town for jobs anyways. I plan to come back, of course, I have these books to return when I'm finished with them, but I need to make some coin while I'm at it, don't I?"

Sure, he was offering his help himself, but the librarian did admit to not feeling comfortable singling out someone to ask for escorting her, so it can't be any surprise at her rather flustered response. "W-Well, I truly appreciate the offer, but are you sure?" She asked, "I have an inkling of a feeling you still need to check out other available jobs. Surely there's something else you'd rather do and that'd pay you more than this. And what about your fae companion? Shouldn't you converse with them about this offer?"

"Why not? You're just planning to go to the next town over right? Besides, it's not like you're leaving right away, you've still got some book to finish. That should be enough time for me to kick up my feet and get some rest before you go," he answered, adjusting the strap of his bag as he regarded Saphira's question. "Well, not necessarily, I'm her summoner, after all. She and I have a pact for her to assist me in combat... and not much else unless she wants to do something."

"I..." The librarian began to protest before she decided just to suck it up and deal with the minor discomfort she'd have traveling with someone she slightly knew since he seemed to be doing this out of the kindness of his heart... at least, hopefully. There was a lingering thought in her mind that this could be a scenario from a book, one where a serial killer finds a young woman such as herself and puts on a friendly façade in order to lure her somewhere for an easy kill.

"I'd appreciate it if you would do this. There is no reason I shouldn't finish the book today, so I'd like to leave tomorrow morning so we have as much daylight as we can get, but if you need more rest before traveling, I have no qualms about sticking around for a few more days," She replied, "Oh, and how should I pay you for this? Would you prefer a flat sum, an hourly rate, or some other method?"

"Sounds good," Griffin stated brightly, unaware of the rather dour concern Saphira briefly thought up. "Tomorrow morning will work just fine. Oh, as for pay, I'm fine with a flat sum, don't worry. I plan to take a few more jobs after this escort and we're hurting for money enough to stick some hourly rate on you." He certainly didn't want her to feel like he was robbing her, especially with this being her first time really travelling, not to mention the chance of danger on the road.

He may not want her to feel like he was robbing her blind, but she certainly didn’t seem to mind as she took out some scratch paper and started mumbling to herself. “So the flat fee… that’d be inclusive of supplies for our trip there and his trip back, the time spent traveling, which is around two days there and another two back for him, lodging for him for the night we arrive there, and some more for him possibly needing to protect me…” The librarian mumbled as she scribbled out an equation as she thought of how much to pay him, “Hm… Does 75 gold sound like a fair amount to you?”

He waited patiently for her to do her calculations, impressed with how professional she was about the whole matter. "That sounds like a good amount, yeah," he answered plainly, accepting the amount he'd be paid. "So then, where should we meet tomorrow, here, somewhere else in town, or at the edge?"