Protective Literacy

[Ava Brooks]

Ava was home, and happy about it. She’d just taken a trip all the way to Clover. Adventure’s were all well and good, but she wanted to come home. She was someone who liked to take adventures through the pages on her books. She was growing up and actually getting out to see things for herself, but she still valued her home. Why go out and be something great if you had nowhere to return to and appreciate it? Ava definitely appreciated coming home and changing into one of her nicer dresses.

Being away from home reminded Ava that she really needed to start saving money. There was an absolutely lovely library at Lamia Scale, but Ava liked to have her own collection. Maybe someday, when she was fully grown, she might even like to have her own house. She could fill she shelves with her own books, and a closet with all new dresses. After all, her fashion had to mature with her age. It was required. So after relaxing for most of the day in her room, taking advantage of her rambunctious roommate being away, Ava went down to the request board. She was still fairly inexperienced, but when she saw a job to guard the aforementioned Library, she immediately headed there to talk to Gorge.

[Ava Brooks]

When Ava entered the library she spotted Gorge easily. Ava was a book worm, and she had met Gorge her second day in Lamia Scale. She often came down and accosted him for conversation. He was one of the few people she felt she could hold certain conversations with. Oh, she could talk to a lot of people, whether she held them in esteem or not, but Gorge was just… different. He was highly intelligent and demanded respect. Ava could handle that. If he treated her like a lady, she would speak to him with respect, and this unspoken agreement had yet to be breached.

The spiky haired man was packing a bag when Ava entered.

“Good evening, Gorge. Heading out of town?” she asked him politely, walking over to him.

“Yes. I see you just got back to town,” he remarked, nodding at her presence before packing more.

“So I saw you had a job out… guarding the library from hooligans?” she asked. He chuckled lightly.

“Something like that. Are you here to take the job? It would be quite convenient, as I’m about to head out, and I’ll have to find someone to watch the place while I’m gone.”

“Oh, yes, definitely,” Ava said with a grin. He seemed pleased to hear this, and informed her he would return around noon the next day, or perhaps earlier. She said she hoped it was earlier so she could get tea. They spoke for another five minutes or so and he headed out.

[Ava Brooks]

Left alone to her own devices Ava went to get a snack. Maybe it was slightly less responsible than staying put, but he’d said she needed to guard all night, and she didn’t expect anything to happen immediately. Hopefully nothing would happen at all. She returned with some tea and a snack to tide her over for the whole night. Soon Ava was sitting comfortable in a chair in the corner, reading over a novel she hadn’t seen yet. This one wasn’t about romance. In fact, it wasn’t even a story. This particular book was all about a man going out and training various spells. Spells Ava herself would never be able to learn. Oh well, if she kept up the effort, one day she would be able to have friends who casted spells like that. “Friends” being her summons. Ava was very attached to her little Sparkfly, and once they were able to add another few keys to her collection, she was sure they could all be friends. Ava didn’t voice these things to anyone else, merely because they did not ask. She would have been happy to explain her philosophy to just about anyone, and if they called her childish… well she would be more than happy to argue them into the ground.

[Ava Brooks]

To Ava’s surprise, long after she had started nearly nodding off, she heard noises. Two voices, saying… well, she wasn’t sure what. But whispering in the Library was bad today. If it was someone else from the guild, she would firmly tell them to leave. If it was something else… she would…. Firmly make them leave. Yes, that sounded appropriate.

She put down the book, leaving her now empty cup of tea, and her comfortable chair behind. This seemed like a pressing matter, and she wasn’t one to ignore pressing matters. When she spotted three men Ava’s heart started pounding. She felt dizzy, but she clutched her key. She’d learned from the bandits before, she wasn’t going to try to reason just yet. Ava summoned her Sparkfly and it flittered about near her head, rubbing against her some to show affection. She almost smiled, but instead cleared her throat.

“You should leave,” she said, noticing that the men were looking for something. They turned to see her, surprised to see someone in the room with her. Ava looked much like a doll, her hair all done up, her fancy dress, her small figure, all standing there in the moonlight of the nearest window. She was looked nothing like one might wish if they planned to intimidate three fully grown men.

[MP 140/150]

[Ava Brooks]

“No, you leave,” one man said. He then laughed, Ava’s shoulders snuck up to close to her neck, her posture clearly angered at being laughed at. As if he knew who she was. As if he was anyone.

“Fine, I’ll persuade you. Sparkfly,” she said. Her first statement was more annoyed, the second statement, simply saying her summon’s name, was a direction. It flew into the middle of the group. As the men seemed confused at first, Sparkfly used its Pulse spell to zap all the men in the area.

At least two of the three started swearing, and Ava frowned even more. She had no patience for foul language. Why did all these criminals have to act so classless? It was just offensive. One of the men threw a flame palm at Sparkfly and Ava tensed. She didn’t want her friend being hurt, but then, this was how fighting worked, yes? The man injured her Sparkfly, but lingered long enough he was zapped again by proximity.

The men proved to be cowards, because after only a few zaps from the small happy creature, they started backing off. All Sparkfly had to do was stay close, and they couldn’t handle it. Ava was gleeful when the men eventually fled, leaving behind what they had been trying to steal. She pulled Sparkfly close and hugged it, “You’re the best little friend ever,” she praised.

[Ava Brooks]

Ava didn’t show her adorable side to anyone but her summons. It wasn’t actually on purpose, she just didn’t have someone she was that relaxed around. She could be pretty cute for her roommate, but that was behind her roommate acted like a crazy child most of the time. Ava had since stopped complaining. Once her heart stopped pounding Ava went back to her seat, well, after checking to make sure no one else was around.

She eventually dozed off in the chair, but by the time she heard Gorge coming in, she woke up quickly. He didn’t need to know she’d fallen asleep, nope. She did tell him about the robbers though. He praised her and gave her money. She added it to her collection. She was saving up for another key. She also informed him of this, and he wished her luck. She didn’t tell him how much she enjoyed doing jobs, or how much she appreciated the library, or any of her private personal thoughts. Ava simply thanked him for the jewels, for the experience, and said she hoped his trip had been pleasant. He claimed it had been, and that was all she really needed to know. She wished him a good day and went off to get that tea, and probably a nap.

Total Words: 1357/500

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