The Library (1)

I've mentioned before that making people angry is something I'm good at, right? In case I haven't, well, now you know.

The whale had her beady little eyes pinned on me. "You talking to me, you little dirtbag?"

Oh, so we're trading insults now, are we? I'll show you, lady! "Are your ears lost in all those layers or are you hard of hearing?"

"You think you can talk bad about me and get away with it?"

"I'm pretty sure I have every right to badmouth someone who doesn't know how a library works."

She pointed at me and said in a very threatening tone, "You better watch your mouth, boy. You don't know what's coming!"

I gasped dramatically and took a couple of steps back. Throwing out my arms, I wailed, "No! Please, Mrs. McFatty, don't sit on me! My frail body can't take the weight of the universe in one go!"

Believe me when I say she charged at me like a bull. Even though she had more layers in her chin than Earth's entire planet, she was faster than I anticipated. Much faster.

I dove to the side just in time. Unfortunately, her arm shot out and grabbed my shirt. Yanking me forward, she used me as a human shield as we plowed into the wall behind us. Between the wall and the four hundred pounds of human flesh, you can imagine how pleasant that ordeal was.

It was so pleasant that when the woman slammed me into the wall, the impact dislocated my shoulder. Yeah. That was nice.

Oh, but she didn't stop there. No, no, no. There was so much more fun to be had!

Stomping on my leg, not once but twice! Wow! And she just couldn't wait to snap my wrist. That part was the best!

Luckily, before she could sit on me―I was very worried that she would take my lighthearted joke and turn into reality―Eshia yelled "Security!"

A group of buff men in black suits grabbed her and dragged her away from me. She fought them, of course, kicking and screaming. "He started it! Get your grungy hands off of me! Do you know who I am?" They ignored her protests and dragged her back toward the room I'd come from.

Fulton scurried over to my side. "Either your stupid or you've got the biggest pair I've ever seen."

I chuckled through gritted teeth. "You wanna take a peek?"

"Ew, no, that's weird. How's your arm doing?"

"Broken and a bit more broken. My leg feels like crap, too, so that's a plus."

"Eshia! Can you, like, do your thing and help him?"

She'd been staring over from her desk, watching all the action. When Flake called her name, she snapped out of her daze. "Oh, yes, yes. Sorry."

The blond quickly rushed around the side of the reception desk and over to my side. Kneeling, she placed her hands on my arm and leg and healed me.

"Thanks," I told her.

"Of course. I'm sorry you had to get hurt helping me."

Fulton snorted. "He wouldn't have gotten pummeled like that if he hadn't opened his big mouth. She may be the fattest cow around, but she's still part of the Tackien family."

"Who?"

He rolled his eyes. "Arlyse Tackien, the wife of Zyre Tackien."

"Never heard of them before."

"The four biggest families dominate the Southern Bayshore District: yours, Tackien, Moonleaf, and Brookens. They're all known for something that contributed to the development of the Bayshore Republic―hey, wait, we're in a library. Why don't you go look up your family history? Eshia, give him a library card."

Eshia ignored him and looked at me with her mouth agape. "You're a Theeves?"

"Yeah, this is Powyn. The guy who lost to a Scavenger."

"Whatever," I said. "The library card?"

"What? Oh, yes. Um, come up to the desk with me, please. You're going to have to fill out some forms and give me an I.D."

Briiing! [The Player's I.D. is located within the chest given to him by the Player Elenai Theeves.]

How convenient. I opened my inventory and brought out the chest.

Fulton frowned. "You carry a chest around with you? Why don't you just put the stuff in your inventory?"

"I've been busy."

Opening the chest's inventory, I searched through the items to find the I.D. In the corner of my eye, I saw Fulton staring over my shoulder. He gasped at what was inside.

"Wow! An Assassin Player Book? Assassins are so cool! Wow, so many cool weapons! Are those dungeon maps? They're so expensive! Are those gems?! Hey, Powyn, buddy, you mind if I―"

"Fulton," I interrupted. "I don't even know you. Why would I give you any of this? Especially since you make it seem so priceless." I had no idea what these gems were for, but since Fulton wanted them, I was gonna keep them.

"Aw, don't be like that! I'd be a great asset to you in the future!"

I rolled my eyes and tossed the stuff in the chest into my inventory. Fulton sighed as he watched it disappear.

Eshi cleared her throat. "Um, Mr. Powyn?"

"Oh, yeah. Here."

"The form..."

As I studied the paper she handed to me, Fulton sidled up next to me.

"Just one gem?"

Eshia came to my rescue and gave him a light shove. "Go away, Fulton."

"So mean..."