The library door rang with bells when I opened it, and another nymph poked their head over the table. Well, I was pretty sure she was a nymph, but she'd put on a lot of different sorts of decorations all over herself. Makeup brushed like colorful glitter over her face, strings, and beads woven in her twining hair, and her clothes were almost a neon color.
"Oh, my magic!" shouted the nymph, almost vaulting over the table. "Oh, you poor dear. You must be Ni. Marial said she met you yesterday, and Xavier told me that you were going to die, and now I see what he means."
"I'm not going to die," I croaked, trying to keep the nymph in my line of sight, as she moved energetically into my space.
"Well, of course not, but if this is what a city does to you, then I'm very glad I was born a hick!" she said, stopping just short of hugging distance. "Let me go find you some books on how to safely get healthy."
"Um, I was told…" I said, but also just sort of let her drag me behind her. Hugging distance destroyed.
"I'm sure the people in the cities think they know, but they also think that by working in a little soil and going to sunbathing spas is enough to keep your health up," said the nymph. She let go of my wrist and looked at the bookshelves and started taking books down into my arms. Then she froze, titled her head, and then started to put some back. "Working at Sunshine will help, but you also need to be sure you're supporting your magic and body, so it won't get more rundown."
"Reagan," said a stern voice. The nymph froze and then turned to where a clean-shaven dwarf stared at the nymph with a raised eyebrow. "You didn't jump down our new resident's throat as soon as you saw her, did you?"
"Um, well," said Reagan, then she pushed one of the books she'd been holding into my arms. "Here, that'll be best to start, come to me if you have any questions. Marial might seem a little scary, but I'll let her know you take out books, ok?"
"Ok," I said, a little dazed. Honestly, I was a little overwhelmed. Her words were a jumble in my head, and I was trying to untangle them even as she beat a hasty retreat back to the front desk. The dwarf sighed and smiled when I looked over her and gave a small bow. I copied them.
"Hello, I'm Melissa the Librarian, I use she/her pronouns," said the dwarf and then pointed in the direction the gaudy nymph went. "That was Reagan. You might not be able to tell because of how she dresses, but since she started her on and off-again relationship with Marial, she uses she/her pronouns as well."
"Oh, um, nice to meet you. I'm Ni," I said trailing off and then quickly realized I was missing something she had used. "I use he/him pronouns. I guess."
"You guess?" asked Melissa, making me blush hard. "Do you actually want that book?"
"Oh, well," I said, floundering again. "I was actually hoping that I could get a book on different species of creatures."
"Species of creatures?" asked the dwarf with an eyebrow raised.
"Um, yes? Am I not using the correct word?" I asked and then looked up, trying to remember if there was another word. "Like I'm a… nymph."
"Ah, well, I suppose here that we go with 'races' usually," said the dwarf, and like a clod, I drew in a sharp breath.
"Sorry," I squeaked, putting a hand over my mouth. "Just, I guess I was brought up that calling different… um… different people that was not acceptable. I mean, it was what made the humans into us because they fought and… I mean, maybe that was just propaganda? This is why I need a book because I don't know much, and I know some of what I learned was wrong…"
"You're worse than Reagan," the Librarian said and then turned on her heels. "Follow me. I know you're staying for more than just a few weeks or a month, so I know you won't steal any of our books by 'accident' so I'll let you take three books home. And only three."
"Oh, um, thank you, but maybe if you could direct me toward websites that are actually factual. I've been looking online for information, but a lot of it had to be wrong because it was so contradictory," I stumbled. Melissa hummed.
"That's actually not a bad idea," said the Librarian and then looked over at me. "You're taking this seriously."
"I grew up in a very, um, nymph heavy part of All Rock and am naturally awkward, so I know that I need to learn something, or I'll completely mess up," I stumbled in saying. "I mean, I'm going to mess up anyway. I know that. I already did with you, and I know it'll happen again. But at least if I'm better read up, I'll know better if I do mess up at some point, or maybe even avoid doing or saying something stupid. I mean…"
"You're a nervous talker," Melissa said, not smiling, but not sounding overly condescending either. Still, I blushed and looked at the floor and shrugged. I wanted to repeat that I knew that I was awkward as hell, but that would just make me even more annoying.
"I'm going to give you some books you might have already read, just to start," the dwarf handed over a book that looked to be an encyclopedia on different species, and then one with a picture of chaos and light magic in harmony. I didn't think I'd actually read these books, but she was probably right that I'd at least talked about it. "Read The World of Species with an eye for how magic is expressed, and this book on the harmony of light and chaos is rather flowery, but I think represents how Louis and all of us long term members of the community view how those magics are needed within the world."
She then turned and quickly walked back over to the main desk. Reagan saw us coming and quickly walked into the stacks. Melissa ignored her. She took out a pad of paper and started writing names and then websites down quickly.
"We have our own town page. No one officially currently runs it. I think Luke makes sure it runs properly and that no one uses it to start fights, but other than that, people write what they're selling or fun little stories. It'll give you a feeling for a lot of the residents, especially the ones that like to use it. I'll also give you the name of a philosopher that writes comprehensive but quite amazing pieces about the cultures of different races," said Melissa and then pushed the paper to me.
"Thank you," I said, hoping it hid my wince.
She then held a bag toward me with the name "Weather News Library." "Take this, everyone gets one. All you have to do is signup for a library account."
"But I don't have one," I pointed out, watching as the dwarf put the three books in the bag. Without looking at me, she pointed to where she'd put a pad with a pen next to it. I took it, and quickly started filling out the information I could. Thankfully, it changed dates in the real world to its equivalent here, so I wasn't completely lost.
"These are due next Friday," Melissa said and then held out my bag while glaring consideringly at me. "You like reading and learning things this way, don't you?"
"It feels safer," spilled out of my mouth. "I mean, I know I should learn by doing, but reading about it makes me less…"
"Nervous and word-vomity?" asked Melissa, and then she laughed. I felt like my blood was going to be stuck in my face for the rest of my life. "I'll send more information as to you later. Liam hasn't given me any really interesting projects, and it'll be nice to do some actual research and gather materials about something other than magical resonance, religion, and science."
"Ah, thank you," I said and then bowed, took my new card, and quickly ran out back into the fresh air.
"Don't get my books too dirty!" I heard yelled at my back.
The way back to my cottage was taken in quick bursts of speed, and if anyone tried to get my attention, I didn't notice. Maybe they wouldn't even try. The only ones to seek me out had something they needed, and maybe they had made it clear to other people that I had nothing to give yet. Maybe they thought of me as another Charge nymph. Fleeting, not someone to get attached to
I put the root vegetables into the cupboards. I then remembered something. I could use one of the apps to help scavenging. I had looked up, took the picture, and had the app scan what I'd found. It looked like I had dug up common spring vegetation. It could be eaten by nymphs raw, but it was easier to digest if I cut it up and boiled it.
But, I didn't even have a stove. Thankfully, then was a recipe tag, and I looked further and saw away to just let it soak and how long before it would be more edible and taste better even without seasoning. For a moment, I wondered if I should throw it in the box, get some needed money, but decided against it. The roots might be hard to eat, but this vegetable could also be stored for more than a month before going bad, so it would be a good thing to eat if I ran out of food again.
The rest of the day I spent clearing the area around the cabin and throwing all the grass, plants, and shrubs haphazardly into the box. When I started to feel the sun go down, I got some water and hoped no one would show up, as I washed my clothes in the river before putting it out to dry on my porch and going into my cabin to read.
I checked my email first. Cora had sent an email apologizing for missing me, but that she had fixed the electricity and looked forward to working with me in the future. I blushed, having completely forgotten that she had planned that. I put the pad away, as if I could cover up my gaff by not acknowledging that it had happened in the first place. I went for the book on the different types of magic and was a little sad that I couldn't write notes all over the margins.