The owl tapped the glass again gently and tilted it’s head sideways. Its large round eyes which were as big as door-knobs, pleading to be let in. Master, Ulla hungry.

Luin regarded the avatar for a moment, but then shook his head. You’re free to hunt what small creatures you can, but I cannot let you in to eat this human’s food. It is not mine to give. The owl was a manifestation of some remainder of his power that could not be bound within his small body. The owl had told him that itself when it had appeared beside him in the alleyway earlier that evening. It had apparently been watching over him ever since it formed while he had been unconscious.

The owl picked at its breast feathers with its hooked beak as it pouted. Let me ask the human then? I want to eat what you eat, Master.

Luin sighed. Though Ulla was practically a piece of him, she had developed an ego of her own somewhat. It had been the owl that had tapped on the kitchen window earlier that evening. Thankfully, he had warned her away in time for Thea not to notice a giant owl begging for scraps.

He glanced back at Thea’s sleeping form. The human won’t know what to think of you. It is best to stay out of her sight for now, understand? He was firm, but he still felt the owl deserved a reward for leading him to the library in the first place. I’ll save some from the next meal, alright?

The owl bobbed its head happily in a bit of a circle. Thank you, Master. Ulla go hunt and keep watch now. Without a sound Ulla launched herself off the roof, gliding between the buildings.

Luin shut the curtain and climbed back into bed. As he watched Thea sleep, and an uncomfortable feeling swirled in his chest. He knew that those creatures were still looking for him. By staying near this woman, he was putting her directly in those creatures’ path as well. He didn’t think that they would care at all if a human–or even many humans–became collateral damage in their search for him, such was the intensity of their bloodlust that he’d felt.

He should leave. He’d gotten a lot of good information from the library books, and he could always get more later at perhaps another library, but the woman’s smile and the way she held his hand gently but firmly despite not knowing who or what he was had kept him from following that logical path. He had surprised himself when he’d found himself asking to go home with her, later rationalizing it by telling himself that he just needed more time to access more information and a secure place to rest.

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His energy was far from stable, and he wasn’t sure when or how frequently he would lose consciousness. If he really was in a human body now, he may lose consciousness like they did, at least once in a daily cycle for sleep–or maybe more often since he was so small.

He stared at his small hand in front of his face. Perhaps if I figure out how to change this form into that of an adult human, I can leave her be, and the creatures after me will not cross paths with her either. But when exactly would that happen?

Beside him, Thea stirred, rolling back over onto her back but staying blissfully asleep. Her mouth smiled as if she were dreaming about something that made her happy. Luin wasn’t sure why, but he felt a great disinterest in never seeing that smile again, and he found himself hoping this woman would keep smiling for a long time.

His normally stoic face slowly smiled as well. Well, if I can’t leave right now, the least I can do is give her what blessing I can.

Thea had no skill, such as the ones that tied him to so many humans. She had a minimal amount of mana, but nothing that could be used in any offensive or defensive way. But if his sleeping presence was enough to give most of the humans in this area a useful skill, then perhaps he could intentionally give her one that could aid her in protecting herself.

He slowly bent over Thea’s face until his forehead touched hers lightly. He closed his eyes and pulled at the stagnant power within his small, human form. He pulled at the power that linked him to Ulla as well for good measure. The strain caused an ache to erupt throughout his chest and up his spine, his first real taste of pain.

Thea Cronwright, I, Luin, newly awakened God of Skill, bless you with a skill that can protect you and help you to keep your smile.

Luin moved over just in time. As he thought the last of his blessing, he collapsed as if his body were made of lead. But even as sleep dragged him down again as payment for using his bottled power, he felt content in knowing that his blessing had worked. He only hoped that it would be enough and that Thea would forgive him for his selfishness.

***

Thea dreamed that Luin smiled at her. In her dream, she thought she heard him say something about a skill. She felt her body and mind overflow with energy, like a jolt of restlessness that surged through her, and then it was gone. Her dream-self thought nothing of it, but part of her knew she dreamed and wondered how neat it would be to have a skill, even if it was only in her imagination.

In the same way that she used to do as a child when playing pretend, she stood stock straight as her dreamscape took her back to her library. “Skill Form Reveal,” she said. It was what was taught to those who thought they had awakened a skill.

Thea smiled when a young voice--one a lot like Luin’s surprisingly--said, Skill Form: Reading Comprehension, in her mind.

Thea laughed as her dreamscape changed to her tiny kitchen. Of all the things to dream that I have a skill for! She found it funny that even in her own mind, she couldn’t manage to dream of having a skill that let her fly or some other amazing ability.

Ah, perhaps I’ve been a librarian for too long now.

With that thought, she drifted deeper into sleep where not even her silly dreams disturbed her rest.