Klaus left the tavern. He still needed to find ale, a task he knew was impossible without money. A disappointed sigh escaped him as he conceded defeat and braced himself for Renn's inevitable punishment. This wasn't a new feeling; he'd often accepted beatings for his foster parents' impossible demands—like delivering debt payments without being given money, or now, procuring ale with none.
He 'could' go the extra mile, find ways to earn money for them, give them everything they wanted. But they had already branded him "useless" and "dumb," and he saw no point in trying to change their perception.
After the recent ordeal with Eirlys, Klaus just wanted to spend the rest of the day at the local library, catching up on some reading. Though his foster parents couldn't afford him a proper education, he was considered a learned kid in town, thanks to his hours spent among the books. The library was his sanctuary, a peaceful escape from the chaos of his life, a place his foster parents neither cared about nor visited. It was here, in this quiet haven, that Klaus cultivated a secret: he was the exact opposite of everything Renn and Eirlys claimed him to be.
Before he could take another step, the tavern door behind him swung open. He turned to see the purple-haired girl with glasses he'd encountered inside.
"Sorry," Klaus said, stepping aside and gesturing for her to go first.
"Don't be," she replied, walking past him.
From this close, he could smell her flowery scent, remarkably distinct even amidst the tavern's pervasive odors of ale, sweat, and smoke. This wasn't his first time near a beautiful woman; the town had many. However, most would subtly avoid him or distance themselves once they learned who his foster parents were.
"Why didn't you do anything?" The girl stopped, turned, and asked.
"Oh, it happens quite a lot. I'm used to it," Klaus blurted out, surprised by his own instinctive honesty. He gave a light chuckle, hoping she'd forget the scene inside. He didn't want her to remember him as 'that person in a tavern who got scolded by their mother.'
"Besides, what good would that do?"
"It could change how they treat you," she stated, her face still stoic, yet beautiful behind her giant, gem-filled glasses.
"I'd rather not. Why try to convince people who are already convinced of who I am?" Klaus countered, walking past her this time.
"So, you're just going to let them treat you that way for the rest of your life?" she asked, her voice rising, catching the attention of a few passersby.
Klaus merely shrugged with a smile. Internally, however, he was already plotting his escape from the Ashes, from Kragnir itself. All he needed was the right opportunity. Having turned eighteen, he longed to leave—by ship or carriage. The only hurdle was money. No one in town would hire him, fearing his foster parents' reputation, and those who might would offer no pay, using him instead to settle his parents' debts.
"How about me?" she asked.
"What about you?" Klaus replied, confused.
"You won't try to convince 'me'?"
Klaus paused, her question replaying in his mind.
"Based on what I see before me," she continued, adjusting her glasses, which briefly flashed yellow, "you're someone who is confident in their ability to change their life but never took the initiative to do so because of the preconceived ideas people already have about you."
She then posed a question that resonated deeply: "If the opportunity to change is presented to you, what would you do?"
'An opportunity? If she's a sorcerer, wouldn't this be perfect for a bit of coin to get myself out of this town?' Klaus thought, though he tried not to sound desperate. "I don't know how long you've been in town, but opportunity for someone with a reputation such as myself doesn't always come."
"Hm, meet me back here tomorrow at dawn."
"Excuse me?" Klaus wondered. "For what?"
"I've already presented you with an opportunity. Come back tomorrow, and I will explain everything."
"And if I don't show up?" Klaus asked.
"Then I will take it as a sign that you're already contented with the way your life is and I will no longer bother you," she said, walking away from the tavern. Her purple hair swayed, the ends of her robes trailing in the mud and hay.
Her words cut deep. While Klaus's refusal to prove himself stemmed from hatred and spite for the Ashes and the people of Kragnir, it also made him appear like a beaten dog, accepting every punishment. This was not the life he envisioned, nor did he plan to stay. He wanted to leave, but everything came at a cost, and Klaus currently had no way to cover it. The opportunity the beautiful sorcerer presented might just hasten his escape. Klaus wasn't afraid of manual labor; he did most of the chores at home, only to be scolded and beaten afterwards. If it was a job and it paid well, Klaus would take it.
Deep in thought, trying to imagine scenarios for tomorrow, Klaus made his way to the library.
After some time he arrived at a small yet slender 2 story building. The worn-out sign on the library read "Book Wurm." Though not a fancy place, it housed numerous books, occupying shelves up to its second floor.
The librarian, Jobel, was a tall and slender woman who looked to be in her late 40s. She would normally acknowledge Klaus and his joy for reading, but the two never interacted, either inside or outside the establishment. She was a quiet woman, evident by her not noticing any display of punishment whenever Klaus had ashes on him outside.
They exchanged a nod as Klaus walked past her, making his way up the spiral staircase to the upper floor. Here, Klaus had his own little area of privacy behind one of the bookshelves.
He reached out to one of the books stacked beside him, immediately opening it to the bookmarked page and starting to read.
At this moment, he was at peace, though the thought of what might come when he got home was already inching its way into the back of his mind.