Turning around to hear the response of the presumably male behind me. I see no one. 'Maybe I'm just tired,' I tell myself and continue my stroll to the library opening its doors. Immediately I'm hit with the smell of freshly printed books and lilies in a brilliant blue.
"Hello how may I help you?" The woman with whitening hair and spectacles drooping down her nose asks me kindly.
"I was wondering if there was any work available," I say confidently with a hint of nervousness.
"Yes for the month there is, for book covering and repairs. Our last employee is on maternity leave and will be back by the end of the month," she says happily fiddling with the newspapers crossword.
I think for a moment, ' the library is a busy place if I work hard enough she might be able to recommend me to someone or pay me well, then I can build my cottage in the wastes and spend the rest of my years studying... alone,' the thoughts cross my mind before finally agreeing to the job.
"So when will I be starting?"
"Now if possible miss..."
"(Y/N), and yes it's possible,"
"Right I won't pay you by the hour but rather the amount of boxes of books you fix, one box seven pounds, now if you follow me,"
I follow the smiley elderly woman into a small organised room with wall of boxes, At the corner of the room was an old wooden desk with what appeared to be glue dried hard onto it . What she doesn't know is that I already have a spell to fix old books. And it will probably take me less time resulting in me getting more money.
"Thanks again ma'am" I say eager to start work.
"Please call me Emma,"
"Well thank you again Emma but I must tell you, I won't be needing these supplies. I can fix these books with a friendly spell," I say hoping she'll approve.
"Magic.... now I know for a fact that it doesn't come cheap," she says laughing.
"Don't worry I won't ask for more than you have already offered which is 7 pounds a box,"
"Really? Well it's great to meet another witch who isn't power hungry or evil," she says with a smirk on her face. Shocked yet happy I smiled probably wider than a Cheshire Cat.
"Now who taught you magic? I must know that I can trust you,"
"I teach myself, I guess you could say I have a lot of time on my hands,"
"You teach yourself now that's a task to overcome. I've never heard of it before, in fact this is quite rare...."
"Rare?"
"Yes now if you will give me a moment," she says as she ventures to the front desk her unfinished crossword laying atop her calendar.
She opens her drawer and pull out a red hard copy book with a gold crest on the front cover.
Walking back towards me Emma opens the drawer at the front desk pulling out a hard covered red book with a gold crest made of triangles. She swiftly walks over to me an expression hard to distinguish painting her face.
" Please show me your left forearm, don't worry I wish not to hurt you," she requests. Anxiously I show her my forearm, she grasps it lightly and mutters and incantation that I can barely hear. A light mark begins to darken on my arm, one similar to the crest on the book.
"So it's true, come now child follow me. We don't know who might be watching," she whispers nervously as she looks around then continuing to hurry me down the hall toward, presumably, the back door of the building.