Day ~51~

After awakening a young woman's libido yesterday Rea had wasted the entire day, she really hadn't meant to spend her day at the library like that.  Resolving herself to study properly today Rea quickly wolfed down breakfast with the Ainsworth family.  It's probably worth mentioning that last night Rea had begun to tell Meril of all her most recent escapades, well, all but the one involving Ella Wyrmwind... that was different.  When Rea was done Meril admitted that after the wild success of her last book and bonus story, her first true sequel was in bound.  That pleased Rea to no end... Meril did ask her to leave out any further stories about a man who'd been close enough with the family for her to call Uncle Denny though.  Rea felt a bit bad about that, haha.

Just as Rea was leaving Lark mentioned that Denarius had asked if she knew anyone who could be her dorm partner at the academia.  Rea grinned wholeheartedly and said, "Selene Lancaster is a dear friend who will be enrolling at the same time as me, if it's not too much trouble I'd love to share a room with her during my time at Vestlei's academia."  Meril just drooped her shoulders and shook her head absently as Lark began to write a letter to Denarius.  With that she was off to the library, but first, a few pit stops.  Rea stopped by her favorite grilled tasty of bits heaven stall(Named by one Rea Ainsworth) and paid so that an assortment of meats and veggies would be delivered to her twice a day at the library for the next few days, she also requested that they deliver water.  The owners were very accommodating because she overpaid them by an entire gold for their trouble.

Once Rea did arrive at the library she was greeted by Selene, she had told the girl she would be back today to study.  Rea was happy to see that the girl was in high spirits despite the condition her, "don't fall in love with me," speech had left the poor girl in last night.  The library had a few other guests today but Selene stated that it was actually rare for anyone to be here, it would seem that people have better things to do.  The girl was a bit skeptical when Rea asked for her to retrieve books on learning both Tal'ma'tarn variant text and Solanis variant text.  Selene was absolutely shocked when she returned half an hour later to find Rea writing basic text for both languages.  When she asked if Rea already knew the basics of both, Rea simply said that she gets bored learning one at a time so she was alternating.  Rea also made an off handed comment that her memory blessing must be helping with text and language comprehension, there wasn't even a need to bang her head against something this time.

Ability [Human Solanis-variant Text] learned.

Ability [Human Tal'ma'tarn-variant Text] learned.

Rea began to complain about the hard seat as Selene excitedly looked over her notes, the girl was honestly amazed that something like this could be learned by someone in less than two hours... it had taken her nearly half a year to learn both.  When Rea started to ask for something Selene cut her off and led her down one of the second floor corridors.  As they approached a room on the end she took a key off of her neck and unlocked the engraved wooden door.  Rea grinned when she saw Selene's name engraved on the door.  Once they were inside Selene explained that she wasn't really a librarian, just the librarian's daughter.  That alone wasn't very surprising, as Rea looked around the room she had to chuckle a few times, a really girlish pink bed, an atrocious blue desk, some funny looking lamps hanging from the curved ceiling.  What really pleased her though was the most comfy looking sack of leather she had ever seen, Selene told her it was made from rabbit furs and stuffed with all sorts of fluffy goodness.  When Rea looked at her expectantly she nodded in approval.  Selene had let Rea in her room with the purpose of allowing her to study on the comfy little monstrosity.

Rea kicked back and let the tension roll off as she requested that Selene bring her any books they have on monster languages.  Selene figured Rea must have a knack for languages and hurried off to collect what she could get.  A while later Selene had found a few dozen books she thought would help and was opening the door to her room.

"..."  Thanks to a shameless ophidian, Selene had nearly dropped her books when she opened the door.  Quickly moving inside and placing them on her desk she slammed the door behind her. "Why are you naked!?"

A wolfish grin graced Rea's features, "Hahaha, well I'm just getting comfortable, don't let me distract you from work too much." Rea switched which leg she had folded over the other, "I know you're busy Selene..." As she arched her back up while digging in and snuggling the rabbit fur Rea added, "This is heavenly, I see you got the books, may I?"

Selene picked the pile of books back up and started to walk towards Rea, just as she was almost there the girl dropped all of the books and removed her shirt, "I'll take a break..."

*hahaha* "I love breaks!" Rea was pretty darn happy right about now.

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Once Selene left and got back to work Rea took to the books.  She was very pleased to find that the girl had been thorough.  As Rea absently browsed the books she heard the door swing open but couldn't be bothered to look up.  She'd be glad that she wasn't laying face down with her scales exposed in a moment.

"Selene..." A man with short black hair was gaping at the naked ophidian, Rea sat cross legged and only had a book covering her supple mountains.

Realizing that it was obviously not Selene, Rea, in all her glory, looked up and said, "A pleasure to meet you, Mr.Lancaster?"

"Honey what's wrong..." A woman with wavy black hair was gaping at the naked ophidian.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mrs.Lancaster?"

The woman spoke up while knuckling her husband, "That's me... a friend of Selene's?"

"Rea Ainsworth, and well... at least I've got the important bits where you can't see em' right?"

The man chuckled and received an elbow for his sense of humor, "Don't suppose you could explain?"

Rea smiled innocently, "I've always been more comfortable in the buff and your daughter was kind enough to let me use her room for my studies," she motioned to all the books and muttered casual garb.

The woman was a bit shocked when Rea's clothes popped out of thin air, "Rea someone came by and delivered... Mom, dad, you're back already?"  Selene let out a sigh of relief when she saw that Rea was wearing clothes.

Rea ignored the coming conversation and looked at what Selene was carrying, "Ohhh, is that my lunch Selene?"

"Right... why is my dad hiding?"

Rea spoke honestly while taking the food, "He may have seen heaven on earth a few seconds ago."

The woman jabbed her husband again as Selene drooped her shoulders, "Glad to see you're being modest."

Rea happily began to dig in while sitting at the desk, "I try my best."

Ignoring the shameless ophidian Selene went on to explain that Rea was the person who had a meeting with the headmaster yesterday, and they'd become fast friends when she found out about Rea's talent with languages.  When her mother mentioned that she shouldn't get distracted with a new friend just before going to academia, Rea interrupted her and said that she'd also be attending as a new student.

"You look a little older than the normal new students."

"I wasn't in a city until now so I couldn't attend, I'll be going now though." she explained.

"I see, what was the meeting for?"

Rea looked at her like it was none of the woman's business but answered anyways, "Minor details regarding my hasty enrollment and all that."

The woman let out a sigh and gave in, "The headmaster is a great man, do try not to upset him with that attitude young lady."

Rea cracked a grin when Selene interjected, "Don't worry mom, Rea made the headmaster very happy yesterday."

After telling Rea that she should keep her clothes on because it isn't ladylike, Selene's parents left.  As Selene closed the door behind them she locked it and just banged her head against it, "Rea."

"Yes, Selene?"

"You're already nude again, aren't you?"

*Hahahaha* " How did you know that?"

Selene let out a long winded sigh, "I had a feeling, that's all.... you could have finished eating first."

Rea was still stuffing her face with a tasty assortment of veggies and meats, "There's a bit more than I can eat, care to join me?"

"Why not?... I won't have to watch the library now that mom and dad are home." Selene took a skewer of rabbit and badger from Rea.

*om nom nom nom* "We can get to know each other before all the chaos following enrollment."

As Selene tore into the cooked animal's jiggly bits she gave Rea a skeptical look, "I really do want to know more about you, but if you feed me more lies like yesterday I'll kick you out."

Rea pursed her lips in annoyance, "I said I was sorry, they told me to say it was from an ability.  I guess they weren't counting on someone having prior knowledge on the subject, I certainly didn't expect you to see through it so easily."

"I get it, I'll go after you my life is kind of boring."

Rea's eyes softened as she watched Selene toy with her food, "I prefer boring, and I didn't mean like that Selene.  This isn't the part where we tell each other our life stories, we barely know each other.  For now, small talk is enough.  Later, when we're not reading books and stuffing our faces, we can judge each other through actions..." Selene shot her another skeptical glare, "....not those kind of actions."

Selene, having spent her life reading books and all that, could appreciate the romanticism in Rea's words... but she really did have a bland story to tell and decided to just blurt it out.

Selene went on to explain her, indeed, boring life.  Nothing really out of the ordinary had ever happened to her before the day she met Rea.  Relatively normal parents, staying within the safety of the city, crushing on a few boys here and there, going to school, and spending most of her free time in the confines of the library, in the world of books.  She also explained that her father and mother had urged her to go to academia and become a mage, as it turns out she had [Water Affinity] and [Demigod of Water's Divine Protection] which is rare for a human to be born with.  Rea didn't tell her but so far Selene was the first person she'd spotted with a higher initial mana threshold than herself, and Selene was out of this world.  The girl's mana pool was as large as the only water sage she had seen.  Rea was sure that one's mana threshold could be increased through training, but starting with so much made Selene seem gifted.  She was silently hoping that this girl may be someone who could keep up with her in the future.  Rea made a mental note that she should train with the girl when it comes to learning about magic.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Selene had done her part and urged Rea on to give her story as well.  Rea just cringed, "My story isn't nearly as nice... and it's long, do I really have to?"

Selene glared daggers at Rea, "I just told you mine, at least give me the short version."

"I told you not to tell me."  Rea absently finished off a skewer and mumbled to herself that this is why she doesn't usually go for people lower than the mid-twenties range.

"Please, please, please... I've never met anyone like you.  If we leave it like this all I know about you is that you're a smart pervert with low self-esteem.  Do you really want me to think that?"

After glaring at Selene she relented, "... All right, short, I was born human in another world, I lived through hell as a child, I found happiness as a mother, despair as a surviving mother.  I became a monster, did a lot of bad things, got hurt, got better, did a lot of perverted things.  Made a deal with a goddess, got reborn, evolved into this, came to Vestlei.  Here I am on a quest to fulfill a promise that said goddess made to reunite me with my daughter."

The girl gave her a flat look, "I said if you lie... you're not joking are you?" Rea shook her head, "That was waaaaay too short.  You've got a story straight out of one of my books, please tell it to me!!!"

Rea shook her head no while picking a book up and sitting back on the fluffiness, "There was a lot of bad in my story, I doubt I'll ever tell it to you in detail... especially the beginning.  That's all you get for now Selene."

Now pouting Selene finished off her food and picked one of the books up, after giving Rea a sullen glance she plopped down next to Rea and opened the book.  "I'll hear more someday right?"

Rea perused the book as she answered, "That depends on you, I'll be getting serious when we go to academia.  I intend to become all sorts of hero and live for hundreds of years, think you can keep up?"

Selene was a bit shocked with how easily Rea said she'd be a hero, but that didn't stop her from grandstanding, "You're the one who'll have to keep up."

Rea chuckled and went back to reading.  After that the two of them just silently spent the time reading, once in a while Rea would get bored and entertain herself with Selene.  When Rea's dinner arrived her father brought it up, luckily he knocked first... rather Selene remembered to lock the door.  Throughout the day Rea had managed to finish learning every language from the books Selene had brought up.  Rea was a little confused when she realized that learning to write the languages had also given her the ability to speak them, but Rea wasn't one to get angry about an obvious perk.  Rea also had to laugh when she'd realized that she'd forgotten to ask Selene to get her some elven books.  Selene had been kind enough to throw a few into the mix.

Ability [Minor Elven Language] learned.

Ability [Elven Text] learned.

Ability [Minor Dwarven Language] learned.

Ability [Dwarven Text] learned.

Ability [Goblin Language] learned.

Ability [Gnome Language] learned.

Ability [Kobold Language] learned.

Ability [Orc Language] learned.

Rea was absently running a few fingers through Selene's long black hair, she had just rewarded herself for all the hard work.  "I'll be back tomorrow, I still want to read about hero jobs.  I feel like there's this haze over my eyes, I want a clear goal."

Selene snuggled her head against Rea's chest and asked, "Looking for anything specific?  I'll go gather some books for you tonight.  In fact you could stay over, I'm sure my parents wouldn't mind since you're a girl."

Rea let out an uncharacteristic giggle and took a few moments to ponder that, "Well, time is of the essence.  If you'll have me..."

Selene picked herself up off of Rea and leaned in for a kiss, "Oh, I'll have you... just don't let mom know, she'll freak out."

While Selene was walking out the door Rea got up to follow her, "You know, normally I'm the one twisting peoples words."

Selene gave her a sidelong glance, "I'll twist more than your words."

*Oh ho ho* The ophidian was rather pleased with this change of pace.

There really wasn't much of a problem with Rea staying over.  Mother dearest was still a bit on guard, but dad was happy that his girl finally got attached to a friend... Rea was feeling a bit bad about the reason why though.  With that finished the two set about returning all of the books she'd been using.  A minute later they were in the lobby and Rea was telling her that anything with a longevity boost is what she's looking for.  Selene asked her to be more specific, as in tell her what Rea is good at so she can choose correctly.  Rea just shrugged it off and said that she can be good at everything as long as she puts the effort in.  Selene didn't bother to argue and just sent Rea up to the second floor table. She then browsed the library and stopped by to drop one book after the other off for Rea.  Once there were seven books the two split them and waltzed back to her room.  Rea picked a small leather bound one and plopped down on the fluffy pillow of fluffy heavenly heaven on earth.  Half a second later Selene picked up a blue hardback one and plopped down on top of Rea.

*Ooohff* "Haha, you could aim for the seat next time."

Selene opened her book and laid back onto Rea's chest, burrowing into her neckline, "I prefer this seat."

At that moment Rea realized that she may have bitten off more than she could chew...  Ignoring any further thoughts on the subject Rea also opened her book and began to read.

A few hours, several breaks, one call for lights out... that threw Rea for a loop, and seven books later...

The results weren't promising, they had only managed to find two hero class jobs that suit her needs.  When Rea asked if there were any other books on heroes, Selene shook her head no and pursed her lips.  The first job they had found Rea outright refused, and Selene was glad she did.  It happened to be a type of hero that becomes undead and feeds off of the life force of others to survive.  How someone, or something like that could be called a hero baffled Rea.  Selene explained that they usually end up gaining followers who willingly give up years of their own life to sustain the hero.  Rea wasn't willing to do anything that would harm other people so she rejected the idea without a second thought, to be honest even if it didn't harm other people... being known as something called a psychic vampire would make her die from embarrassment.

The second job they uncovered... or rather Selene uncovered.  The girl tried to hide it at first, but Rea easily saw past her facade and asked what she was hiding.  [Hero-Dracovian] a job, no more of a rumor... it wasn't a longevity boosting job, it was immortality.  The way you attain the job, well it was insane, and there was no known hero, living or dead, who had succeeded in becoming one.  So verifying the validity was impossible.  Selene told Rea to just give it up, but Rea was grasping at straws for a goal, and this was a big goal.  The only reason people believed that the rumors about becoming a dracovian were true is because many adventurers had managed to complete the first two steps before.

Gaining a sizable amount of experience as a lancer, a spear user, then eating the hearts of wyverns and lesser dragons till you become a [Dragoon].  Once you were a dragoon it was as simple as slaying a dragon alone and devouring its heart... yeah Rea could see why no one had become a dracovian.  Deciding that this may be her only choice at the moment Rea kept it in mind.  When Selene kicked up a fuss, Rea simply told her that it wasn't set in stone.  She'd still be traveling to other cities, gathering more information, and training for other paths in case a different, less dangerous path presented itself.  That said, Rea began to imagine what it would be like, what it would take to face a towering vicious creature, come out of the fight alive and... at that moment Rea realized it'd be a bitch to eat that giant heart all at once...

Rea consoled the worried girl and asked her to read up on any powerful [Hero] class jobs she could find that may help fighting such a thing alone.  When Selene said that was pointless since you'd have to be a dragoon, Rea interrupted her and stated that she could become multiple jobs at once.  Selene was gaping at this point, the next few minutes were spent explaining [Job Access] and [Garb Apparatus].  Suddenly the bookworm was incredibly excited, Rea reluctantly handed over the rights of writing her biography to Selene... seriously the girl wrote a contract on the spot.  Rea took a moment to ponder what Nathan had once told her about devouring a god blessed ogre lord's [Matchless Vigor] to become a longer lived hero class.  She wondered if Nathan had known something that wasn't in any of these books or if he was talking out of his bum.  When Rea realized that Selene was still shaken with the thought of her running off to fight a dragon alone, Rea decided that they had researched enough for one night.  As Rea carried the girl to bed she thought that this may become a problem, Selene had gotten way too attached to her, way too fast... tonight was the first time Rea gave the, "don't fall in love with me," speech to one person twice.

Rea excused herself for a few hours stating that she wanted to go find an elf and maybe a dwarf...  Selene didn't bother stopping her.

Ability [Elven Language] learned.

Ability [Dwarven Language] learned.

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