(Ravenna’s POV)

“Lancel I want you to gain a melee class. Bottom go ranged and Reddwarf learn a pharmaceutical skill”

“My lady” All three bow in perfect unison before disappearing to do their tasks.

Ah shame I haven’t gained more minions, but that Avani messed up my culturing of them so for now, these 3 shall suffice.

Asking the whore of an elf where the library is, she succinctly gives me the directions, instinctively shooing me away so her customers aren’t distracted.

Hmm maybe I should become a counter girl and recruit people for my guild…

A thought to tend to another time.

Walking through the bustling late morning crowd, I spot 2 of my former squad members, Goldy and Blacky, rushing through the crowds, bumping into many people along the way.

Idiots. Truly why did I ever choose them?

That’s right it wasn’t me, but Anoobis who made me believe they were worth something.

A sly one he is.

His image floating around my mind, I canter out of the market place and into the Residential district.

Seems like that elf whore really was trying to get rid of me, but lucky I asked a few ogling men where it was on the way. They are always so helpful.

Walking briskly through the deathly cold and quiet mazelike streets, I arrive at a ramshackled church would be the best description of it. With slowly crumbling walls and an aura of unuse bogging the surroundings.

I’m in a town of illiterates, great.

Walking through the great double doors of the place my expectations were both kept and broken: the library looks as drab, broken and unused with dust gathering on the many rickety bookshelfs and piles of unreturned books that lie in masses upon the desks and pews on either side of the wide, expansive hall. Though it is not as unused as it seems as many a person flits about in silence, reading or finding books to do so.

A young, harsh looking woman with black bun tied hair, large round spectacles and a goose-like beak for a mouth peers out from the pulpit behind a small counter, as if ready to sermon any noise-maker or book mistreater. Her spot clearly visible even from the entrance and I wonder how it would be throughout.

Moving down a corridor made almost explicitly for this action, I make my way to this librarian.

“Hello” I whisper, no negative reaction from her, so some base whispering is allowed then it seems “I am looking for a book to help learn your language’s alphabet”

“Third aisle, 4th shelf from the top. That is where it used to be” She replies without emotion, just a sort of languid retirement of her duties.

Nodding my thanks, I go over to the third aisle, beginning from the left, and inbetween a pair of bookcases, too many spaces on the shelves for her liking.

4th shelf. Almost head height, so those for a 1st shelf book need to eat the dirt to gain knowledge…it must be an interesting selection of books on that shelf then.

Books on languages books on languages…and I can’t seem to fi-

“I see I’m not the only one with brains in town” A pair of glistening amber with a twinge of purple eyes gaze at me from the other side of the shelf, his face and folded arms taking up a large portion of the empty space where books should have been.

“In a second you may be the first with your brains all over town” The bookshelf groans under Anoobis’ unusual weight but he doesn’t visibly move.

“Oh, I’m guessing you don’t need this then” He casually lifts his head, revealing a small leatherbound tome wrapped by his arms.

“Already learnt the language? Almost impressive”

“I’m sure for you it’d be easier to learn the whole thing in a single hour” His arms snake away, leaving the book free for me. “I’ll be…perusing” his self-absorbed smile glints off the glimmering light shining through the large decorated windows.

An hour? I would take him for a liar if I did not know his type. But then again he could be lying to wind me up and make me rush something that should have a certain time put into it…

But I can’t lose against such a witty man, can’t let him win anyways.

Taking the book to a nearby pew, cleverly inserted in line with a bookcase, I begin to flip through the nonsensical pages.

Closing the book carefully, I stand up and walk over to the librarian.

“I’m sorry but could you teach me the alphabet. If not I cannot read a single book here”

She doesn’t look disappointed or angry, just dully stares at me. Gesturing for me to open the book she grabs a quill and a piece of parchment.

Writing down the symbols she states the letter it is.

26 letters, just like the alphabet then.

Thanking her, I take the book and parchment back to the pew and begin reading

…

Congratulations, you have learnt a new skill: Reading

SKILL: Reading, Beginner [Lvl1] (Active)

When used: Reading allows you to understand written down symbols

Xp increases by 5%

Congratulations, you have learnt a new Language: Dekin

LANGUAGE: Dekin, Beginner [lvl1] (Passive)

The Dekin Language is used primarily in the Dekin nation. It is a simple language, much in common to English.

Symbols may now be replaced with words

Xp increases by 5%

Interesting; So I get the choice to replace the symbols which would make it easier and definitely help me finish this book within the hour. But what would be the drawbacks in not learning it using the symbols? Slower learning speed or simply a mis translation?

So this is why he was playing his game, to make any moronic people opt the easy way out, hinder themselves before they truly start. Devious man indeed.

Taking my time in reading the rest of the book, a large portion of it becomes instructions and visual diagrams on how to draw the symbols.

Borrowing a piece of parchment and ink from the librarian, she has me learn standing by her counter, probably so that she may keep an eye on the ink pot and the book.

Congratulations, you have learnt a new skill: Writing

SKILL: Writing, Beginner [Lvl1] (Active)

When used: Writing allows you to write down symbols in their corresponding language

Xp increases by 5%

Congratulations, for being one of the first 5 in the server to learn a language, spoken, written and read, you have gained the Learned Title

TITLE: Learned

You have the ability to read, write and speak a whole language giving you literary powers above many others.

For gaining this title your Communication, Intelligence and Wisdom stats will increase by 5 each. If these stats are unused the additional points will be added once the stat is active.

Reading and Writing skills and Languages gain 4 levels

Xp increases by 25%

Another title, they truly are very useful things.

Skills may be more beneficial in the long run but whoever gets the most titles will always have extra boost in both stats and xp.

*Clap clap clap* A slow faultless clap whispers it’s way to my ear and I turn to see a grinning Anoobis sitting on the pew behind me.

“It only took 2 hours, was it a little bit too hard for you?”

“Rather dulling, but if one doesn’t build their house right, it will crash down upon them soon enough” There is no way he did it within an hour without replacing the symbols.

“ah finally someone who understands” or maybe he did? No it was slow progress getting all the symbols right, especially as quite a few look similar, even for me.

“Don’t you have more…perusing to do?”

“With how…lived in this library is the perusing will have to wait”

“How many bookshelfs do we have?” seems like the books really aren’t in much order and that doesn’t make searching an easy task whatsoever.

“24 split into 6 rows of 4 back to back” So 24 different categories are the possibility.

“Shall we begin from the left?”

“A most thought out idea” By yourself not me…smarmy indeed.

…

Sending him a variety of hand gestures symbolizing the completion of the history bookshelf, he responds by casually waving a book, one that is meant to be on my shelf.

Wordlessly I saunter over to take it off him, noticing that his fictional bookshelve is quite empty with barely over 2 of the 6 shelves being filled.

*Creak*

The hurried slapping of feet catches my attention and I turn around to see Joat sauntering past the bookshelves and towards the librarian.

He must really love punishment to be back here so soon.

He stops at the counter faced by the unpleased goose-beastlady librarian whose eyes glower darkly towards him. Well it was his own fault that he walked in yawning and complaining

…

..

.

Joat why are you playing charades with her?

“You can speak” The librarian almost spits the words “Quietly”

“where do you keep the language books?”

“You cannot take unless you return the others”

“Oh yes here they are” He returns the books he had taken out a short while earlier.

Softly dragging the books away from him, her expression lightens somewhat “They’re around”

“…thanks” Ever the gentleman he bows at her most uselessly vague information.

Seems like he really is hungering for another title. Since he must’ve gained the Learned title from learning the language earlier and he’s needy for more.

Though I don’t see anything wrong with a man who knows many languages, it opens up all sort of flirtacious things he can whisper in my ear…and also for conversational aspects but who really cares about that?

Anoobis waves a book in front of my face, distracting me back into my work.

So far we’ve taken all the books out and have begun sorting them, only recently begun placing them in aisles with their proper category: History, Fiction, Skill based, Combat based and Languages.

Unsurprisingly there’s only 421 books in the whole place, which is barely anything at all.

If we didn’t bother to categorise them we could fill up maybe an aisle.

Though it’s better if there’s clear categories, stops people milling about looking for something and when there’s an order to things people tend to respect that.

We’ve sorted out around half the books by now without any disputes; luckily, he and I think similarly. Or maybe that is too much of a compliment for him…

“So where are the language books?” Joats curious voice whispers from behind me, too close to be an accident, just close enough so that his hot breath tickles the rim of my ear.

Looking up from the book I’m trying to decipher, I stare at his bemused expression as he scans the horizon of books.

“4th pile, faded green cover at the top. Do not mess it up or my minion trio will be visiting you later”

“And if I don’t mess it up will you be?” He gives me a cheeky wink before heading to the pile, not giving me enough time to reply back.

“You” Anoobis says his greetings halfheartedly, not even looking up from his book.

“Your Geniousity” Joat bows mockingly.

What a strange title to be given Anoobis, I’d prefer something like Mistress or Queen. But it does fit you quite nicely.

With no further conversation everyone gets down to work.

Slowly but surely the piles of books descreases to the dozens, leaving only the language books which are all currently being used by Joat, the greedy man.

Learning another language isn’t enough, only another 4 would suffice it seems.

Suddenly surpressing a yawn, he closes the book quietly and succinctly leaves.

I don’t think he’s learnt them all, just got bored it seems. Very unlike him, he’s usually a lot more diligent in finishing his tasks…

Talking about disappearing people…where is Anoobis?

Spying him through a large gap in the bookshelves, he’s staring at the door on the left-hand side again.

We tried the door earlier, with no repercussions from the librarian but it was locked nonetheless.

Worse is that it doesn’t have a handle just a knob and no keyhole. So it’s more likely barred from the inside.

I am curious to see what is on the other side…but one task at a time.

“Maybe it’s magically locked” He suddenly muses, just loud enough for me to hear, probably too loud as the librarian’s fierce gaze zaps towards him.

“And why would someone bother to magically lock this door?” I come close, whispering so as to not instill anger.

“Tell me, what do you notice is missing in this library?”

“Many things, but I’m assuming you’re talking about the lack of any magical books or religious ones at that”

“Exactly and even though there is a Magical District, and if the magical books are all over there, why is this door locked?”

“Could be a cave in on the other side blocking it”

“We both know it isn’t that. So 2 questions remain to be answered, what is on the other side…”

I roll my eyes as he waits for me to finish it “And how do we open it?”

“Glad you asked” You forced me to “Because I believe I may have the answer”

Now that is what I call an interesting discovery…but first things first, let’s finish up the library.

Lightly dragging him away from the door momentarily we finish up the library, placing the final language books, all of which were perfectly formed into a wink…he’s such an idiot sometimes with the way he does things.

“You two, come here” The librarian whispers over to us as we finish placing the last of the books, feeling rather annoyed as I spot a pig-beastman placing a history book in the fiction section.

Ignoring him for now, I go up to the librarian who asks us our names.

She’s either going to ban us for moving her library around or be grateful, I hope it’s the latter.

Spending a few moments looking under her desk she rises back up with two small steel placards, with our names written on them.

“Your official library card, steel ranked. It will allow you to take 3 books out from every library in the kingdom. As well as acess to tier 2 books for the larger libraries”

That does sound rather grand.

“I’d also like to employ you to be my library-assistants. Pay is 5 silvers a week and your library card will increase by 1 rank immediately”

“No thank you” Bot of us state simultaneously much to her unchanging demeanor.

It’s not a surprise, as easy and unchallenging a job it would be with the large bonus of a higher ranked library card which means access to better books and greater knowledge…it would be way too dull a life. Especially as I do enjoy ordering around minions to my will.

Although I’d imagine me becoming a librarian would sate many of my fans desires…possibly could even use that to recruit.

“Though I’d be honored if you wrote us a letter of recommendation so that if we do desire work as a library assistant our worth would already be accounted for” Anoobis barely misses a heartbeat before asking for another reward.

Smart, being a library assistant here wouldn’t mean much…but in a large library with lots more books…it’s priceless.

“I’m not an altruistic fool, shoo” She rather harshely shoos us with a gesture and we retreat to the ‘locked’ door once again.

“Well now what was your answer?”

…

(Miss Nameless’ POV)

“Krudel these clothes smell kind of funny” I sniff thick shawl which smells kind of like old dirt.

“Sorry Mistress but you only need to wear them until we are inside” Krudel gives me a small apologetic bow before putting on hiw own ragged shawl. “Now as we practiced”

We hunch over and begin hobbling towards the gates, acting like old women, leaning on some sticks Krudel found us in the swamp.

Apparently we’re not allowed into the city so Krudel had me go to sleep early while he did some preparations.

Now I get to have a night adventure!!

Hobbling towards the gate a barely visible man in shiny armour halts us with a lantern, the dim light not penetrating our thick shawls.

“Halt, who are you!?” His voice sounds slightly fearful for some reason.

“Dearest man sorry we came back so late, we found a large bundle of herbs and it took a long time to pick them” Krudel speaks in a haggard, breaking voice of an old crone, while producing a woven basket of plants. I didn’t recognize him for a second there!

“Ah” He sounds almost relieved “Forgive me ladies but the gate is closed for the night, we can’t open it for anyone”

“My bones” I shiver visibly, croaking the words as best as I can.

“Gertrude don’t worry, we’ll be home soon”

*Sigh*

“Fine I’ll open the gate, but don’t be caught out so late again you hear me? It’s not good for you to be out in this chill” His tone softens as if speaking to his own grandmother.

He seems like a caring man.

Hobbling through the gates, half-helped by the guard, we make it inside. Croaking our thanks we leave him behind and start walking.

“Where are we going Krudel?” I lift my shawl slightly to see the dark cobblestone road ahead of me, sweet smelling canals on either side.

“To Joat” He doesn’t sound too happy about that.

Ooh Joat, I get to see Joat again, so soon too!

I was worried when he had to leave us behind, worried that he’d disappear on some adventure and not bring me with him!

I want to go on adventures with him, they’re always so fun!!

Krudel’s hand suddenly stops me, and he places a bony finger on my mouth.

2 guards walk out in the distance, their senseless chatter losing meaning over the distance.

Once they disappear, we continue walking, Krudel in front, leading and watching for more guards.

Looking around curiously, I spot something on the left bridge in the distance:

Someone is sitting by the stone railing, their fiery locks of hair resting on top.

Turning towards it, I can feel something calling from over there.

Coming up to the bridge I see a short, thick young man with fiery hair and a strong jaw sitting by the railing, sleeping silently.

The feeling is something, a little white light that’s pulsating slowly in his chest.

What is this? I feel like it’s something i’ve seen before.

Placing my hand lightly on the light, I feel and see it snaking towards me.

Eww it’s so slimy, wriggling all the way through my arm and into me .

“Oy you, what are you doing?” A burly voice calls out from nearby and I whip round to see a guard squinting at me from the other side of the bridge.

Frozen in place, heart stuck in my mouth, I watch him come towards me, dim lantern light shimmering me into his vision properly as I try to make up an excuse.

His eyes widen in fear as he sees me and the fiery haired man “MURD-” A bony hand protrudes from his throat, spraying me in blood “ERER” He finishes his screams, whipping his sword around in a turn and facing Krudel, one hand trying to step the bleeding from his throat.

“RUN MISTRESS” Krudel shouts as he dives past the dying guards’ sword and pulls me away.

It’s so sticky and warm. It’s just like squished tomato, nothing else, nothing else.

Fighting down a sickening feeling in my stomach, my feet begin working properly again and I begin running in earnest as the sounds of alarm break out everywhere.

Dogs start barking, men start shouting, I keep running.

“OVER HERE” Someone shouts as turn left into a large field, full of craters, dead trees and other signs of battle.

Running through, more guards appear on the other side.

We’re surrounded.

“Into the pit and stay silent” He whispers gently despite the situation before he gives me a gentle shove into a pit.

Silently tumbling down, I land into the hot dirt at the bottom and stay still, hearing the shouts of men coming close and disappearing slowly.

Finaly I decide to move, crawling out the pit.

*Swoosh*

A sword swishes past me wildly, cutting off a bit of my hair.

Scrambling up to standing, I turn only to narrowly be missed by a sword.

The wielder is the guard from before, his throat wound sealed but his voice doesn’t seem to be working as he doesn’t make any noice but angry grunts.

Backing up away from his wild swings, he stumbles after me.

Tripping on a root, I crash to the ground, his boots planting either side of me.

A wicked smile creeps on his face as he sways slightly, sword dangling above me threateningly.

“Felbolt” my fingers claw together into a point, blasting outwards towards the man, the unfamiliar greyish green fire bolting from the point and smacking into him, burning a large patch onto his chest.

*Thunk*

The sword sinks into the ground next to me, the body of the man falls on top of me, his chest weirdly cold and the bright white light pulsates in his chest.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

…

“HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-”

“FOR CRYING OUT LOUD WOMAN STOP SCREAMING”

“HHhh……” Anoobis’ voice cuts over my screaming and I immediately rush up to hug him, shaking madly.

*sniff*

“He was dead…I” *sob* “…I killed him” I killed someone. It wasn’t like killing a chicken, wasn’t like squashed tomatos, his body felt weird with no heartbeat.

“Honey, it’s a game, it’s not real” The beautiful raven-beastlady, Ravenna gives me a pat while she soothes me with her voice.

“Ravenna back off” Anoobis growls and grabs me by the shoulders. “You killed a person, it isn’t nothing. Now tell me, why did you kill him”

“He had a sword, he was trying to hurt me” Tears spring out my eyes and I try to rub them off, but Anoobis holds my arms down forcefully.

“Then you did good” Ravenna speaks up and gives me a pat on the head.

“Ravenna, I told you to back off” I can feel the angry heat emanating from him and her warm hand leaving my hair. “It isn’t good that you killed someone it never is. Was it necessary?”

“Yes, Maybe? I could’ve dodged, run?” could I have stopped it, not hurt him, not done…that?

“Are you sure you would’ve gotten out there alive, that you would be safe?” His tinged purple eyes bore into mine with a serious expression.

“…No”

“Then you did what you had to do. It isn’t good, but you’re not allowed to die. Ok? You are not allowed to die and if you have to kill someone to keep living, don’t beat yourself up over it ok? Now go hug Ravenna, she prefers those things” Anoobis gives me a single pat on my head before not so gently pushing me towards a cooing Ravenna.

“You’re completely correct, I apologise” Ravenna soflty runs her hands through my hair.

“Well of course I am, I am a genious afterall” He chuckles lightly. That’s more like the Anoobis I know.

“Well I can’t exactly say no to that either, especially as you made it here” An unfamiliar, older voice grabs my attention and I turn away from her warm hug to see and wizened man, completely bald and wearing grand silk purple robes with golden embroidery and 2 rings stitched onto his chest; one red, another brown. “Now shall we have some tea?