The clamor of the streets and civilization are a welcome song to ears tuned to rustling leaves and lonely travel; a joyous change of pace. Though joyous, even a few steps prove difficult among all the jostling elbows and careless passerbys. Like an oasis in a desert, Nyx spots a small shop on the side of the road, boasting "We have every book you could want!"
Hmmm. Every book? Ha. Let us see if this is true, or just another farce, she muses in her mind.
Greeted with a small jingle and the euphoric old book smell, Nyx's jaw unknowingly relaxes, tense from the chaos outside. At a quick glance, the store is lined with bookshelves accompanied by several tables stacked with books, promoting different school subjects.
A defeated sigh accompanied by soft laughter escapes her. Of course it would. The proximity to the academy, the popular location in the town, it only makes sense to have books catered more towards the masses. She didn't have much hope for this store. Yet, that is not enough to hinder her search; after all, if there was a book that had information on her curse, it wouldn't be advertised at the front of the store, but hidden in some dusty corner, only ever read by its author.
As Nyx meanders around the edge of the room, scanning the spine of each book, a shopkeep approaches, her gait practiced and well polished. "Hello there! Have you found everything to your liking? If you are looking for books the academy uses, we have various textbooks that previous students have said helped them. I can show you to them if you would like."
"Oh could you? I ought to familiarize myself with the resources the students use if I am to be of aid."
"… Pardon?" A look of confusion colors the shopkeeps face.
"I will be a new librarian at the academy soon. Despite how I may look, I am well beyond your years." The library at the academy was renowned for having a massive collection of books, as well as many obscure titles. If there were truly any book that could serve useful in breaking this curse, it would be amongst those shelves. Regrettably, that means having to deal with the antics of staff and students alike, but that is more than a fair price to pay for a chance at a cure.
"Ah, my apologies," the shopkeep says. Her expression betrays her, showing hints of doubt, as she tries to discern if her words are the truth or just another one of the student's pranks. "Since that is the case, follow me." But who is she to judge a paying customer?
"Here they are," she says as she walks, waving her arms and a grand gesture at all the various text books. "Do you have any books you would like to peruse first?" She scans Nyx up and down. "… Dark magic perhaps?"
"You are truly a master of your craft. Yes I would like to see those first, if you would."
As the shopkeep leads the way, she turns her head slightly towards Nyx. "Are you well-versed in this topic? Or looking to get into it?"
Nyx lets out a slight scoff, not one mocking the comment, but more so slighting her own past. "I am all too familiar with it. It has been with me most my life. It has been my greatest ally at times…" She pauses for a moment, glancing at her own youthful hands. "And yet, it has also ailed me. I was foolish in my younger years," Foolishness stemming from my own arrogance, "which has left me cursed in this form despite my growing age."
This curse, this magical manifestation of karma, is a constant reminder of her sin. Whether it was born from a surplus of magic, stolen life, or sense of profound guilt didn't matter. The search for a cure was all she could do, even if no cure proved to exist. It's her quiet atonement.
"If you do wish to read magical text, I highly recommend you look towards other magics if you want a light read."
"I'll keep that in mind." Just what kind of customer has walked through our doors…
As Nyx is shown around the various tables, she requests countless books to be brought up to the front desk for checkout. Book after book, the shopkeep grows more and more terrified at the possibility that she could have offended such a valuable customer unintentionally. It didn't matter if this were a prank or not if she was going to purchase this much.
"One's personal library can't ever be too detailed now can it," Nyx says, staring at the horrified shopkeeper as she fears the tower of text looming over her, now more worried that it may topple and damage the floor boards.
"You seem to be quite well read young- Ahem- I mean miss. Is there a book in your library that you favor?"
"Would you ask me to choose a favorite child? How cruel of you. I may just have to take my patronage elsewhere." The shopkeeper's face drops, her worst fear realized.
A small laugh escapes Nyx's lips, "Haha, I jest. I can't give you my favorite, but I will bestow a recommendation. 'The Salvation of Ellie Sinch' is a tale of trials, tribulations, and growth. A story where effort is rewarded and the protagonist shakes off her troubled past and lives well despite it."
Truly a tale that only remains in fiction. If such a story were to be real, I am sure Ellie would not wish for her sins to be spread so, being immortalized in text. Rather, I think she would prefer to remain a footnote in someone else's story. Yes, I am sure that is what she would desire.
"It is not the most ground-breaking plot, but one where you can't help but wish the protagonist gets what she is owed."
Nyx sets a hefty pouch on the mat. "I've rambled for too long, I should be off. Once you are done, please keep a coin for yourself. You did quite well. Thank you for handling all those books. I'll have someone come pick these up for me at a later date." With a wave and fluttering of her cloak, she once more sets off, melding into the crowd.
















