So Many Books (OPEN)

[Kirameki]

Lissa pulled yet another dusty book from the shelves, coughing as dust exploded into her face. That was the third time that had happened. Sighing, the brunette added the book about magical archery to her pile on the table, blowing a strand of hair from her eyes gently before standing on her toes to reach a book that she (clearly) couldn't reach. But... She had to get that book.

"Hmph," she murmured under her breath. "Where's a step stool when I need one?"

---

Lissa:

[Kiki]

"Do you need some help?" a boy asked as he passed.

[Kirameki]

Lissa looked over with a surprised smile, nodding. "If you would be so kind," she said quietly. She stood on her toes and touched the bottom of the book she wanted. "It's this one."

[Kiki]

He nodded and leaned up, taking the book down for her. "Here." He smiled kindly at her. He had brown hair and deep blue eyes that could easily be scary if he wanted them to be. But right now they were only filled with kindness.

[Kirameki]

Lissa blushed, not used to interacting with people, especially not pretty and handsome people like the boy. She smiled shyly. "Thank you very much." She took the book, flipping through the pages. She coughed slightly at the dust but added the book to her pile anyway before looking at the boy. "Well... If it couldn't trouble you, could you get me another book?"

[Kiki]

He nodded. "Of course. By the way, I'm Jalen."

[Kirameki]

Lissa, having walked away toward a section halfway down the aisle, blinked, looking back over her shoulder at the boy. "Jalen?" she voiced. It was a very lovely name. "I'm... Thalissa. I prefer Lissa though." She nodded sharply and stood on her toes, touching the bottom of another book. "It's the one above this one.."

[Kiki]

He pulled it down and gave it to her.

[Kirameki]

"Thank you!" Lissa replied, not looking at him. She opted for flipping through the book that was about basic magical studies. She then looked up at him, brushing a strand of her hair from her face. "I'm jealous of you. You're so darn tall."

[Kiki]

"I just got the tall genes, I suppose."

[Kirameki]

Lissa stuck her tongue out at him and walked past him. "Hey Jalen," she said softly, moving back down the aisle. "I've never seen you around before... Where are you from?"

[Kiki]

"I'm a traveler. I just got here a few days ago, but I think I might stay here for a while. My home is Ecruteak."

[Kirameki]

Nodding a little, Lissa asked, "Why stay here? I mean, yes, it's a beautiful place. I love it here... But... Compared to there, this city is just super stuck up and... Snobby." She looked at the brunette, furrowing her brows in confusion before sitting down at her table.

[Kiki]

"On the contrary. I've stayed in Goldenrod, Saffron, Vermillion... Pretty much every big city. Those cities are stuck up. The people here are kind and caring, down to earth," he said.

[Kirameki]

Lissa frowned. "Thanks for that," she muttered sarcastically. "My home is Vermillion." From about 2.1 billion years ago. But that she kept to herself. She lived in Vermillion when it was tiny and where everyone knew everyone and their grandmothers. She shook her head, blowing a strand of brown hair from her eyes again, pulling a book about the basics of magic to her. She peered up at him. "What do you know about magic?"

[Kiki]

"Quite a bit. I have some Elvish blood."

[Kirameki]

She smiled shyly. "Really? That's great. Then... Well, if it's not too much to ask, would you help me learn magic?"

[Kiki]

He nodded. "Yeah, of course."

[Kirameki]

Lissa grinned. "Really? Thank you! I want to be able to apply my magic to my archery. It's new and 'in' right now, so I want to do that too."

[Kiki]

He nodded. "All right. But that's Wind magi and that's one of the hardest Elements to control."

[Kirameki]

She sighed. "I'm almost 3 billion years old," she remarked, "I think I can handle it."

[Kiki]

He blinked and nodded.

[Kirameki]

Absently, Lissa flipped through the book she opened. "I have absolutely no idea where to begin.Do you?"

[Kiki]

He took the books and put them aside. "Books are no substitute for a real teacher. I'm several thousand years old, so I know what to do."

[Kirameki]

"Several thousand years of training in magic, right?" she asked uncertainly. "I'm much older than you so you're going to have to be more specific, Jalen."

[Kiki]

"Several thousand years old, but most of it has included magic training."

[Kirameki]

Lissa relaxed. "Alright, that's good. So, where do we start?"

[Kiki]

"Well, the library isn't a good place. Let's go outside."

[Kirameki]

She nodded and stood, walking toward the exit to the library. She didn't check to see if Jalen was following her, she just hoped he was.

[Kiki]

He followed, keeping his word.