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Bibliophiles Unite!

Started by Zero, January 28, 2016, 07:49:39 AM

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Zero

There wasn't much to know about accepting an offer of escort. Keiran tried to give a soothing smile as he brought his other hand over to gently pat her hand as he tucked it against his elbow and started leading her away from the garden.

"You seem a bit ill at ease, Miss Lyssa. Is there anything more I can do to make you feel more comfortable here?" He was sure that she would feel better once she saw the library, but he still felt guilty for her discomfort and nervousness!

DragonSong

"Oh, I'm fine!" Lyssa tried to assure him quickly, offering a small smile. "Really. I just...I'm not quite used to places like this, that's all."

Internally she berated herself for being so obvious; Keiran was doing such a kind thing for her, and she didn't want her nerves to make him think that she was ungrateful.

Zero

"I see...well I hope that you will soon feel perfectly at home here and if there is anything I can do to help you feel more at home, do let me know." This was all his idea, after all. Keiran truly did wish to see Lyssa attending this school along side him. She was kind, helpful, intelligent, and her magical gift was quite extraordinary. A young woman like her belonged in a fine school like this - she deserved it.

The library wasn't far from the entrance he led her through. The building was old, but finely maintained, and vastly regal. As he drew her through the gilded doors into the library, she would see a towering three storied giant, elegant, sweeping balconies surrounded the inner circle of the second and third floors. You could see all the way to the artistically painted ceiling. Each floor had various study nooks richly furnished with comfortable chairs and tables for the students to use.

Students speckled throughout these places, most very engrossed in their own studies and not even glancing up at them. "Welcome to the library of Kia's Garden."

DragonSong

Lyssa's eyes widened and she could have sworn her heart actually skipped a beat. She gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth as she looked around with massive, sparkling eyes.

"This is beautiful," she breathed reverently when she found her voice. "My gods... You all can just...come here whenever you like?"

Zero

Keiran couldn't help but smile faintly as she saw the library for the first time. It was much larger than the one Lyssa worked at, but he found he enjoyed both very much. She probably had something to do with his fondness for the other building.

"Yes, and so can you. This will be your library too, Miss Lyssa. All students are welcome here, and the library is open almost always." Some students, like himself, could spend much of the night studying in here. They had to keep it open for the night owls.

DragonSong

"Oh, you'll have to drag me away," Lyssa laughed softly, shaking her head with a wondering little smile. She glanced up at him, cheeks a tad flushed and eyes glinting. "And Keiran- you really don't have to call me Miss Lyssa." He'd said she could use his first name informally, after all, surely that went both ways.

Zero

"Apologies, it is a force of habit. I was taught to always call a woman Miss, unless of course she has a more formal title such as Lady, Baroness, or so forth." He really couldn't help it much of the time, but he could try. Keiran gave her a somewhat wry smile. "I am glad you like the library. I had truly hoped you would."

DragonSong

"I love it," she assured him, squeezing his arm a bit in her excitement as she beamed up at him. "Thank you, for this. For everything. Truly, Keiran, I-"

Her voice cut off as she realized she was starting to choke up a bit. Embarrassed, she looked away, clearing her throat. The amount of purely selfless kindness he'd shown her was almost too much to believe, and she knew she'd be forever grateful for it.

"Is, um... Is there anything else I should see?"

Zero

"Your happiness is all the thanks I could ever ask for, Lyssa." Keiran told her gently and sincerely as she looked away from him, seemingly on the verge of emotional upset - of a more positive kind. He tried not to draw too much attention to the fact, of course.

He gestured to the vast library. "Would you like to take a more thorough look? If you would rather explore on your own at a later time, I fully understand. I know you have a home in the city, but would you care to see the dormitories? If you wish a room would be provided for you to live on campus. My father will have included funds for room and board within the sponsorship, I am sure."

DragonSong

A soft green blush dusted her cheeks and Lyssa ducked her eyes. "W-well, um. Thank you." She gave a sort of nervous little chuckle. "I think if you let me look around we'll never leave. I'd...love to see the dormitories, if that's alright."

Zero

"Before I discovered your library I rarely left." Keiran pointed out with a soft chuckle. It was true enough, he spent countless hours pursuing these books. While he had found the lack of the book he needed annoying before, now he was a bit grateful. If he had never gone in search of that one particular book, he would never have stepped foot in the other library.

He would never have met Lyssa, and that would have been a terrible shame. She truly was a delight to him.

"I think you will find the dormitories to be more than sufficient." Leading her by the arm still, he took her from the library building and pointed out two large multi-level buildings that looked almost like inns in their size, or perhaps manors in their splendor. "There on the left is the male housing, and on the right is where most female students reside."

They approached the female's building. "While the men and women are housed separately you are free to enter either."

DragonSong

"Oh." Lyssa raised a hand to her mouth, eyes going, if possible, even wider.

What in the name of all the gods had she been thinking? Did she really think she was cut out for something like this?

But Keiran's touch was comforting, and she took a few deep breaths in an effort to ground herself. She'd asked to be given a tour, that's all this was. Just a tour. Calm down, nothing bad is going to happen. It's just a building. A massive, fancy building...that you might be living in...oh gods.

She swallowed thickly and clung a little tighter to Keiran's arm. "They're lovely," she murmured when she'd found her voice. "Like- like little palaces."

Zero

Keiran brought his other hand over to gently pat her hand reassuringly as she held to him tighter. He knew this was all overwhelming for her. Honestly, with his privileged upbringing he couldn't truly imagine what it must be like for Lyssa.

"Oh, well...yes. I suppose like little palaces." It wasn't in him to tell her that these were not nearly grand enough to truly even compare to a palace.

He led her up the steps and into the female dormitory. If she had thought the outside grand, well, the insides were all marble and gold gilding, with vases and art decorating the grand entrance, which had a sweeping double staircase leading up to additional floors.

Of course there were also a few ladies in very fine dresses milling about. Thankfully not the two girls that had given Lyssa trouble before, but they did look at them as they came in. All of them recognized Keiran of course, and they offered him smiles before glancing curiously at the unfamiliar, and obviously lowborn, girl clinging to his arm.

Patting her hand reassuringly once more, Keiran led her over to them. "Ladies, always a pleasure to see you. May I introduce a friend of mine?"

"Of course, Lord Keiran, we're always happy to make acquaintances with someone you call friend." The most well-dressed of the young women spoke, offering a gentle smile to Lyssa as the other two women murmured agreement.

"This is Miss Ilycia Alcherein, a librarian from one of the city libraries. She will be a student very soon, sponsored by my father." He actually puffed up a little proudly. Truly, the young lord felt that his family was doing not only Lyssa a great service, but anyone that might benefit in the future from her gained knowledge and power.

"How nice to meet you Miss Ilycia, we so hope you enjoy our school. I am Lady Nadine Sikorsky, this is Lady Melody Tomes and Lady Ruby Folks." Each girl nodded her head in turn.

DragonSong

Lyssa's jaw dropped as they entered the dormitory and she had to make a concerted effort to close it again when she noticed the young ladies milling about. Her grip clenched rather spasmodically on Keiran's arm, then she forced herself to relax.

She tried for a small smile when she was introduced, teal cheeks deepening to an almost aquamarine color. "A pleasure to meet you," she said softly, not quite sure what to do. Should she offer her hand to shake? None of the other young women had done it, but was she expected to? Her hand sort of fluttered absently by her side, then fisted in her skirt.

She suddenly realized how very out of place she must look, not just feel. The young women before her were dressed in what she supposed to them were simple enough walking gowns, but they were still some of the finest garments she'd ever seen.

Not to mention Lyssa felt most comfortable in the fashions of her hometown, usually two piece affairs that bared her midriff, shoulders exposed and skirts barely falling to her knees.

Gods, what must these people think of her?

Zero

Nobody seemed to expect anything specific of Lyssa, and the women smiled pleasantly at her. Obviously they were not nearly as concerned with her appearance or manners as she herself was - and definitely not at all like the girls that had insulted and threatened her at the library.

"Miss Ilycia you simply must join us sometime for tea and cards. A group of us gather a few evenings a week to have a pleasant time in the Rose Room. It is a formal sitting room here in the dormitory. No boys allowed, of course." Nadine tittered softly and gave a sly look at Keiran. "You see, we also spend the evening gossiping about the astute gentlemen that attend lessons with us. Can't have the boys hearing what we really think."

Keiran chuckled softly and shook his head before looking down at Lyssa. "Thank you kindly for being so welcoming to my friend. I can tell she is still nervous about coming to our college."

"But of course, Lord Keiran, it is our pleasure. Sadly we can't stay and chat with you longer, but we've lessons to attend now. Perhaps you'll join us in the library later, my lord?" Nadine said as she leaned towards him just slightly.

"Perhaps! For now I must continue the tour I promised." He said, graciously avoiding making concrete plans for the night.

"Quite right, well good day Lord Keiran." They brushed past them, heading out the front doors.

The young lord smiled a little wider as he beamed down at Lyssa. "You see? Already receiving invitations to ladies events."

DragonSong

Lyssa had to made a concerted effort not to drop her jaw at how...friendly the young women were. Given previous experience, it was not at all what she'd been expecting.

"Th-thank you, m'lady," she murmured at Nadine's invitation, trying for a small smile. It was only when the ladies had left that she found she could breathe properly and she blinked up at Keiran with wide eyes.

"I, um... I wasn't exactly expecting that," she laughed a little breathlessly, pressing a hand to her heart and taking a few deep breaths. Gods, she wished she could just calm down.

Zero

"What were you expecting?" Keiran asked, confusion etching across his handsome face and knitting his brow slightly. The young lord sighed softly, giving her a rueful smile. "Forgive me, but those girls from before, they do not represent most of the students here. Yes, there are some that would look down on others, anyone they think is of lesser bloodlines than they, but that is not the majority."

DragonSong

"O-oh, that wasn't what I-"

That was exactly what she'd meant, but she didn't want to admit it. She didn't want him to think she'd made a snap judgment, but truthfully the encounter in the library had rattled her deeply.

She sighed, worrying her lower lip. "...I suppose I was nervous they wouldn't think I was...good enough," she admitted in a mumble. Then she chuckled dryly. "I just barely think I'm good enough, how could I expect it of these people?" She looked up at him with a wry smile.

Zero

"These people..." Keiran looked at her rather...sadly. He was one of 'these' people she seemed so hesitant to put faith in. She had a bad experience, this was true, but he didn't think that she would think so poorly of everyone else of a higher upbringing.

He shook his head and took both her hands in his, squeezing them gently. It was a rather intimate gesture, but they were friends, right? "Lyssa, it pains me to know you think my peers will mistreat you just because you are not of rich or noble heritage. I assure you, you are more than good enough, though I think I have said it already. Please do not let those awful, unladylike, young women sour your entire opinion of the students here."

DragonSong

Oh dear.

Lyssa's eyes widened slightly as she realized how her statement must have sounded. "Oh- oh no no, no, I don't- I didn't mean-"

Cheeks very warm, she ducked her eyes and bit her lip, cursing herself internally. She let her hand remain in his though, and returned the squeeze gently. "It's not y- their fault, Keiran, that isn't what I meant." She frowned a bit. "Those ladies at the library aside... I'm just different. People who grew up a certain way treat me differently; I don't blame them for it, it's just how things are."

She shrugged and tried for a small smile as she glanced up at him. "That's...sort of why I was surprised by you, at first. Before I came to the city...everyone was the same. I didn't have to worry about birth and rank and- but life is different here. So when I met you, and you were so kind to me, just for being the way I am-"

Her blush redoubled and she dropped her eyes again. "I'm just...trying to figure things out."

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