63rd of Glade, 121 AS
It was inevitable she supposed. Over time the work increased, while Lyra remained simply one person. Well, two techniques, but Naila was not much for the type of work Ale'Epherium required.
I don't do scribe work. Naila said as if to answer the unspoken accusation.
You do little work at all. Retorted Lyra with a smile.
Still, banter aside Lyra had come to accept that she required aid, and with the coming journey to Zaichaer she knew she would need to hire new hands sooner rather than later. So she set out and began her search. She started with the circle of spells, passing along news of her search through word of mouth with her contacts there. She then went to other locals, including several of the local guilds, both magical and non-magical. There had been a surprising number of applicants, and over the course of the last few days, Lyra had steadily interviewed them one by one. Thus far none had been quite right.
It's because you are too picky. Said Naila with a sigh. She relaxed in the soul space as Lyra sat at the front desk, idly scratching a few notes on one of the recent applicant's resumes. You keep looking for someone like you, and sad to say those types are few and far between.
Setting down her quill Lyra shrugged and sat back in her chair, I simply hold high standards, as I believe all should. Why would I spare time for those who can barely perform the basic necessities? What I require are those who can stand beside me, not those who will simply trail in my shadow.
The purple ice wing doesn't exist. came the reply, which was promptly ignored.
The sound of the door opening made Lyra glance up to the wall where a clock ticked idly by. The hour had grown late, and she was just about to close for the evening. Curiously though she waited and raised an eyebrow as a young woman came into view.
"Welcome to Ale'Epherium." Lyra said standing. Around her neck Artur stirred, raising his head to stare unblinkingly at the new customer, who shifted slightly where she stood, "I will be closing soon, but if you know what it is you seek I shall assist as best I can. Have you come for quills? Paper perhaps?"
"I... " Her voice was soft, not uncertain but rather hesitant as she looked at Lyra and then past her down the hall where the rest of the shop stretched out. Patiently Lyra waited, and eventually, the woman continued, "I heard there was an opening at this shop. I came to... to apply."
"Is that so?" Glancing down at her desk, Lyra shuffled a few papers before looking up once more, "I did not have another interview scheduled for this evening. Do you have a letter of reference?"
The woman shook her head, which made Lyra set her hands on her hips, "Then how do you know of the opening?"
"My friend mentioned she interviewed a few days ago and said I should try. I'm sorry, was I supposed to speak to someone else first?"
There was a momentary pause as Lyra studied the girl, her curiosity peaking as she noticed the slightly pointed ears. An elf perhaps? Not fully human at least, which to Lyra was in the girl's favor.
"It is fine child. You are here now, so shall we talk?" Lyra motioned to the desk and the chair that sat before it before settling back down in her own seat. The girl was quick to follow Lyra's example as if afraid the opportunity might be snatched from her if she hesitated any longer than absolutely necessary. "Tell me about yourself, and begin with your name. Why is it that you are interested in my shop?"
"I'm Rean, Rean Fel'hesta." She was indeed soft-spoken, so much so that Lyra might have thought her shy were it not for the music of her soul. The girl's symphonies were all soft, but not timid or weak. More... controlled, as if they wished to rise and crash yet they had met a measure that called for quiet and calm instead. It was a juxtaposition that piqued Lyra's interest.
"I've seen your shop since you opened it last year. You probably do not remember, but I have come in several times to buy paper and ink."
"Truly? Tell me, do you find pleasure in writing?"
"I do," Rean's eyes sparkled for a moment, but she kept her voice low, "Ever since I was a child I've wanted to be a writer. At college, I studied language and dabbled in calligraphy. Obsessed over it I suppose..." She laughed lightly, but when Lyra didn't respond in kind her smile faded slightly, "After I finished my studies I joined the circle of spells as an apprentice scrivener, and I usually work to update and repair the books for the circle as they get damaged. That is actually how I learned about your shop. You prepared a series of tombs for the graduating class last winter, and I was tasked with their upkeep."
"There upkeep?" Lyra asked, surprise coloring her tone, "Those grimoires should have required little upkeep, especially after so short a time."
"The circle is rough on its property." Rean said with a grimace, "One man brought his grimoire in after severely ripping the cover. I was able to repair it thankfully, but it was difficult to see such craftsmanship handled so harshly."
"You repaired the grimoire I created?"
Inside Naila whistled.
"I-- yes." Rean replied, looking slightly abashed, "I'm sorry, I should have brought it back to you, but I thought I could do it myself and I didn't want to trouble someone else when it was my job in the first place."
Lyra simply stared at Rean for several long, uncomfortable seconds. She searched the girl's tones, shuffling through her thoughts and mind's sounds for any sign of falsehood or lies, and she found none. Was it possible? Was this girl able to actually repair a near master craft item made by Lyra's own hand? That would put her well past talented. Her skills could be close to hers even. If she were trained...
"How long have you studied the scripts?"
A confused expression passed over Rean's features before understanding dawned, "Scrivening? About a year now."
"Only a year?"
Rean nodded, "Yes, but I've studied both Alchemy and Runeforging a small bit. That, and my experience with writing and bookbinding helped me figure out some of the basics just by studying the Pictographs required for those magics." She paused and added, "I also have the rune of Semblance, which helps with studying things as well."
Without realizing it Lyra found herself sitting straighter, curiosity now evolved into true interest. This girl, young as she was, showed the signs of a true user of the scripts. It was odd that she appeared now, yet still...
"The work here is difficult, tedious, and time-consuming." Lyra said as she studied Rean, "I take on work from many clients, and most require something personalized. Then there is the day-to-day work that needs doing. Scrolls need to be prepared, schema's updated. It may require long hours some nights. Would that be an issue?"
"I don't really sleep." Rean said with a smile, "And tedious work is the kind of work I do best."
There was another long pause before Lyra stood, extending her hand toward the girl, "Then you will begin work in 4 days' time. Be here 1 hour past dawn, and not a moment after."
"What? Really?" The girl hopped up, a mixture of surprise and excitement coloring her face and melodies. She grasped Lyra's hand, "Just like that? Don't you need to think about it?"
"I am not one to hesitate when I find something I desire." Said Lyra, smiling for the first time during the entire interview.
After Rean left Lyra locked the door behind her, letting her hand rest on the doorframe as she found herself thinking, There are those types in this age as well...
There was a glimmer of something close to hope deep in that shattered soul at that thought, and when she turned away from the door Lyra was still smiling.
It was inevitable she supposed. Over time the work increased, while Lyra remained simply one person. Well, two techniques, but Naila was not much for the type of work Ale'Epherium required.
I don't do scribe work. Naila said as if to answer the unspoken accusation.
You do little work at all. Retorted Lyra with a smile.
Still, banter aside Lyra had come to accept that she required aid, and with the coming journey to Zaichaer she knew she would need to hire new hands sooner rather than later. So she set out and began her search. She started with the circle of spells, passing along news of her search through word of mouth with her contacts there. She then went to other locals, including several of the local guilds, both magical and non-magical. There had been a surprising number of applicants, and over the course of the last few days, Lyra had steadily interviewed them one by one. Thus far none had been quite right.
It's because you are too picky. Said Naila with a sigh. She relaxed in the soul space as Lyra sat at the front desk, idly scratching a few notes on one of the recent applicant's resumes. You keep looking for someone like you, and sad to say those types are few and far between.
Setting down her quill Lyra shrugged and sat back in her chair, I simply hold high standards, as I believe all should. Why would I spare time for those who can barely perform the basic necessities? What I require are those who can stand beside me, not those who will simply trail in my shadow.
The purple ice wing doesn't exist. came the reply, which was promptly ignored.
The sound of the door opening made Lyra glance up to the wall where a clock ticked idly by. The hour had grown late, and she was just about to close for the evening. Curiously though she waited and raised an eyebrow as a young woman came into view.
"Welcome to Ale'Epherium." Lyra said standing. Around her neck Artur stirred, raising his head to stare unblinkingly at the new customer, who shifted slightly where she stood, "I will be closing soon, but if you know what it is you seek I shall assist as best I can. Have you come for quills? Paper perhaps?"
"I... " Her voice was soft, not uncertain but rather hesitant as she looked at Lyra and then past her down the hall where the rest of the shop stretched out. Patiently Lyra waited, and eventually, the woman continued, "I heard there was an opening at this shop. I came to... to apply."
"Is that so?" Glancing down at her desk, Lyra shuffled a few papers before looking up once more, "I did not have another interview scheduled for this evening. Do you have a letter of reference?"
The woman shook her head, which made Lyra set her hands on her hips, "Then how do you know of the opening?"
"My friend mentioned she interviewed a few days ago and said I should try. I'm sorry, was I supposed to speak to someone else first?"
There was a momentary pause as Lyra studied the girl, her curiosity peaking as she noticed the slightly pointed ears. An elf perhaps? Not fully human at least, which to Lyra was in the girl's favor.
"It is fine child. You are here now, so shall we talk?" Lyra motioned to the desk and the chair that sat before it before settling back down in her own seat. The girl was quick to follow Lyra's example as if afraid the opportunity might be snatched from her if she hesitated any longer than absolutely necessary. "Tell me about yourself, and begin with your name. Why is it that you are interested in my shop?"
"I'm Rean, Rean Fel'hesta." She was indeed soft-spoken, so much so that Lyra might have thought her shy were it not for the music of her soul. The girl's symphonies were all soft, but not timid or weak. More... controlled, as if they wished to rise and crash yet they had met a measure that called for quiet and calm instead. It was a juxtaposition that piqued Lyra's interest.
"I've seen your shop since you opened it last year. You probably do not remember, but I have come in several times to buy paper and ink."
"Truly? Tell me, do you find pleasure in writing?"
"I do," Rean's eyes sparkled for a moment, but she kept her voice low, "Ever since I was a child I've wanted to be a writer. At college, I studied language and dabbled in calligraphy. Obsessed over it I suppose..." She laughed lightly, but when Lyra didn't respond in kind her smile faded slightly, "After I finished my studies I joined the circle of spells as an apprentice scrivener, and I usually work to update and repair the books for the circle as they get damaged. That is actually how I learned about your shop. You prepared a series of tombs for the graduating class last winter, and I was tasked with their upkeep."
"There upkeep?" Lyra asked, surprise coloring her tone, "Those grimoires should have required little upkeep, especially after so short a time."
"The circle is rough on its property." Rean said with a grimace, "One man brought his grimoire in after severely ripping the cover. I was able to repair it thankfully, but it was difficult to see such craftsmanship handled so harshly."
"You repaired the grimoire I created?"
Inside Naila whistled.
"I-- yes." Rean replied, looking slightly abashed, "I'm sorry, I should have brought it back to you, but I thought I could do it myself and I didn't want to trouble someone else when it was my job in the first place."
Lyra simply stared at Rean for several long, uncomfortable seconds. She searched the girl's tones, shuffling through her thoughts and mind's sounds for any sign of falsehood or lies, and she found none. Was it possible? Was this girl able to actually repair a near master craft item made by Lyra's own hand? That would put her well past talented. Her skills could be close to hers even. If she were trained...
"How long have you studied the scripts?"
A confused expression passed over Rean's features before understanding dawned, "Scrivening? About a year now."
"Only a year?"
Rean nodded, "Yes, but I've studied both Alchemy and Runeforging a small bit. That, and my experience with writing and bookbinding helped me figure out some of the basics just by studying the Pictographs required for those magics." She paused and added, "I also have the rune of Semblance, which helps with studying things as well."
Without realizing it Lyra found herself sitting straighter, curiosity now evolved into true interest. This girl, young as she was, showed the signs of a true user of the scripts. It was odd that she appeared now, yet still...
"The work here is difficult, tedious, and time-consuming." Lyra said as she studied Rean, "I take on work from many clients, and most require something personalized. Then there is the day-to-day work that needs doing. Scrolls need to be prepared, schema's updated. It may require long hours some nights. Would that be an issue?"
"I don't really sleep." Rean said with a smile, "And tedious work is the kind of work I do best."
There was another long pause before Lyra stood, extending her hand toward the girl, "Then you will begin work in 4 days' time. Be here 1 hour past dawn, and not a moment after."
"What? Really?" The girl hopped up, a mixture of surprise and excitement coloring her face and melodies. She grasped Lyra's hand, "Just like that? Don't you need to think about it?"
"I am not one to hesitate when I find something I desire." Said Lyra, smiling for the first time during the entire interview.
After Rean left Lyra locked the door behind her, letting her hand rest on the doorframe as she found herself thinking, There are those types in this age as well...
There was a glimmer of something close to hope deep in that shattered soul at that thought, and when she turned away from the door Lyra was still smiling.
