Word: Athenaeum

athenaeum

1. a library or reading room.
2. an institution for the promotion of literary or scientific learning.
3. (initial capital letter) a sanctuary of Athena at Athens, built by the Roman emperor Hadrian, and frequented by poets and scholars.

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               Corvin took a deep breath.  The smell of paper and parchment was a familiar, almost comforting one.  Breathing in the distinctive smell of the library was always welcome for him.  It was less so for his young student, Edmus.  The teenager had little trouble voicing his opinion regarding the visit.

               “Why did you drag me here?” Edmus asked his mentor.  “We should be out in the field, completing quests and going on adventures and stuff.”

               Corvin sighed deeply.  Edmus was a good kid, he really was.  He just lacked perspective.  That, when combined with just enough skill to not realize just how unskilled he was, and he could get himself into some serious trouble.

               “We will.” Corvin said.  “I’ve got some decent quests lined up that should suit you.  And that’s why we’re here.”

               Edmus looked at the large warrior with skepticism.  “You took a quest in the library?  What are we supposed to do, help sort book?”

               “No.  Although, I’m sure the librarians wouldn’t turn down help, as long as you do it properly, that’s not the quest.  I took a basic goblin subjugation quest.”

               “Alright, now that’s what I like to hear.” Edmus said, maybe a bit too loudly.  It earned him a few cold stares from the staff, and a few patrons.  “What’re we wasting time here then?  Let’s go and bash some skulls in.”

               Corvin saw his student’s hand brush the hilt of his sword eagerly.  It was almost nostalgic, really.  Corvin remembered being in the exact same position.  The memories were not exactly fond ones though.

               “We will.  But first, research.”

               “What?”

               “You’re going to be doing some vital research before going out to do the actual quest.”

               Edmus groaned.  “But why?  Doing that stuff is pointless.”

               “Listen, Edmus, I’m going to tell you the same thing my teacher said to me.  All successful quests are 90% research and 10% action.  We’ll go out and kill the goblins, but first, we have to study and research them.”

               “But you don’t.  I’ve never seen you open a book once.”

               “There’s two reasons for that.  The first, and biggest, is that I’ve already done the research years ago.  I spent many a long hours at these tables, reading on all the most common monsters.  I read so many book on them that, to this day, I can recite most of them by heart.  The second reason you haven’t seen this part of the job is because I simply haven’t brought you here yet.  That doesn’t mean I haven’t been logging the hours here.  Haven’t you wondered how I always know where to go and what to do?  And you know how I always leave you to do self training for a day or two before we head out?  I wasn’t spending those days in taverns or shops.  It was always, always here.”

               “Okay, but why?  What’s the point?”

               “Knowledge is a powerful thing.  A little bit of it, when applied correctly, can save your life just as effectively as a shield and armor.”

               Edmus shook his head and shrugged. 

               “Okay, let me put it to you this way.  What’s the simplest quest you can think of?”

               “Herb gathering.” The teen said without hesitation.

               “Good, perfect.  Do you know the difference between blue grass and sapphire weed?”

               Edmus thought for a moment before replying that he did not.  Corvin nodded and continued.

               “Blue grass is a fairly common herb that grows in many forests.  It’s used in mana potions, and various magical status relief potions.  Sapphire weed, on the other hand, is a deadly poison that grows in the same environment that blue grass does.  They also look nearly identical.  Now, if you got a quest for blue grass, you might just get a general sense of what the plant looks like.  But, with just that, you will definitely get some sapphire weed along with the blue grass, which will cause quite a few problems.  But, if you spend the time here, doing the research, you’ll be able to tell the difference between the two, and thus save many people a lot of time and headaches.”

               “Okay, that’s…”

               “The same thing applies with every quest.  For monster subjugations, like this one, knowing everything you can about the monster before you set out will help you prepare properly, and you’ll have well established tactics and known weaknesses.  I could go on, but maybe a more visual example of how important this is will be best.  Look around and the people in this library.  Who do you see?”

               “I see a bunch of scholars and mages and stuff.”

               “Look closer.”

               Edmus did as instructed.  As he really looked at the library patrons, he saw people that were definitely not scholars or mages.  A man even larger than Corvin sat amidst a pile of books, while a woman with daggers strapped to her waist perused a bookshelf.  And those were just two of many.  In fact, it looked like there were more adventurers in the library than actual scholars.

               “All of these adventurers know the value of knowledge.” Corvin said.  “And I guarantee that most, if not all, are high class adventurers.  It’s easy to simply get a quest and simply head out into the wild.  And, yes, it is possible to be successful like that.  But the best know how important doing the research fist is.  It always improves your odds of coming home alive and victorious.”

               Edmus fidgeted nervously.  “So, where should I start?” He did not look happy about it, but the fact that he was willing to try spoke to his dedication.

               Corvin headed into the shelves of books, pulling out a title he knew well.  He handed the book to his student and ushered him to a table. “Here, take this and start reading.”

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Support your local library, even if you don't use it yourself.  They're useful things to have around.

Word: Atelier

atelier

[at-l-yey, at-l-yey; French atuh-lyey]

noun, plural at·el·iers [at-l-yeyz, at-l-yeyz; French atuh-lyey] /ˈæt lˌyeɪz, ˌæt lˈyeɪz; French atəˈlyeɪ/.

1. a workshop or studio, especially of an artist, artisan, or designer.

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               “Oh my god, I can’t believe I never noticed this place!” Ben’s mom gushed as she perused the isles. 

               Ben could not care less.  He had been forced onto his mother’s shopping expedition, and was doing his very best to make his position clear by paying more attention to his phone than the displays.  The small building served as both workshop and store for various local artists, and was starting to gain popularity.  That is, popularity with parents.  People Ben’s age usually could not care less.

               “Oh, is that a new piece?” The woman exclaimed as she moved towards the rear of the building.

               She was suddenly engrossed by one of the artists currently working on a new piece of art that would inevitably make its way to the shelves.  Ben could do nothing but roll his eyes.  To him, watching some guy paint was one of the most boring things he could think of.  As such, he chose to wander, leaving his mom to watch the creation of art in progress.

               As he looked at the various paintings and sculptures on display, he found it.  The true jewel of the store.  The only real masterpiece he could see.  He slowly made his way towards the work of art.

               “Hey.” He said.

               The girl looked up from the tray of sculptures she had been methodically placing on a shelf.

               “Hey.” She replied, setting a piece of molded clay on the shelf.

               “I’m Ben, nice to meet you.”

               “Cindy.”

               “So, Cindy, you new in town?  Sorry, it’s just that I haven’t seen you in school or anything, and I think I’d notice someone like you.”

               She gave him a side smile at the awkward compliment, but stopped her task to face him.  “Yeah, we just moved here a week ago.  I’ll be starting school after winter break.”

               “Man, a week in and you already have a job.  That must suck.  Especially in a place like this.”

               “Oh, god, I know, right?  It’s so boring.  But my dad says I have to work somewhere, and since my mom’s an artist, she managed to get me in.”

               “Well, at least you have something nice to look at.  My job features selling food to fat people, so there’s a lot less to look at.”

               She winced at the implication.  “Oo, fast food?”

               “Let me just say this.  Have you seen the place at the corner of Main and Oak?”

               “Sure.  Haven’t gone there yet though.”

               “Don’t.” Ben said quickly.  “Avoid that place with everything you have.”

               A worried expression crossed her face.  “Is it really that bad?”

               “I once saw a mouse jump in the fryer while it was going.  The boss just scooped it out, and had the guy working it keep going.  And that’s not even the worst thing I’ve seen.”

               “Seriously?”

               “Only reason I haven’t reported it is because nobody would care.  Apparently, lots of people try and submit all the problems to headquarters, but nothing sticks.”

               “That sucks.  Well, look on the bright side.  At least it’s not boring.”

               “That’s true.”

               “So, now that fast food’s off the table, what other places around here are good?”

               “Oh, there’s plenty.  Maybe we can get together some time and I’ll show you around.  Not just the restaurants and stuff either, but everything.”

               She cradled her chin in her hand and made sounds like she was thinking.  “You know what, that sounds good.  Here, give me your phone.”

               Ben did so without hesitation.  Cindy tapped a few screens and entered her number in his contacts list.  She then handed him her phone, where he completed the exchange.  As soon as the phones were back with their respective owners, Cindy looked over his shoulder.

               “Ah, geeze, there’s my boss.” She said heavily.  “I’ve got to get back to work now, but it was nice meeting you.”

               “Yeah, same.  So, I’ll see you around?”

               “Yup.”

               “Great.  Later then.”

               As Ben walked away, he had to force himself not to start singing and dancing right then and there.  Maybe his mom was onto something with places like this. 

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Support the arts, even if you're not always interested in them.

Word: Sippet

      

sippet

[sip-it]

noun

1. a small bit; fragment.
2. a small piece of bread or the like for dipping in liquid food, as in gravy or milk; a small sop.
3. a crouton.

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        “How are you still eating?” Julie asked.  Her face was scrunched in disbelief as her boyfriend, Kyle, used a small piece of bread to sop up a shallow pool of gravy.

               “Easy, like this.” He said and popped the wet bread into his mouth.

               Julie just looked at him with her face still locked in disbelief at his seemingly bottomless stomach.

               “You’ve had three servings.  How are you not exploding?”

               He tore another small fragment of bread off the much larger whole and continued to mop up the remainder of the gravy.  With the plate now devoid of the thick grey liquid flavoring, Kyle extended his tongue and placed the gravy laden bread on it.  He slowly chewed and swallowed the morsel before saying anything.

               “Easy.  Did you see me eat anything else today?”

               Julie thought back to the previous hours of the day.  She had indeed not seen him eat so much as a crumb.  But that meant little, since she had not been constantly watching him.  But the fact remained that she had not seen him eating until dinner started.

               “Well, no, but…”

               “That’s because I didn’t.  I haven’t eaten anything today until now.”

               “Dare I ask why?”

               “So I can eat more now.”

               Julie hung her head with a long-suffering sigh.  Had it been anyone else, she would not have believed him.  But, since it was Kyle, it was entirely believable.  The man lived for such meals.  Every other day, he ate like a normal person.  But, whenever there was any kind of large or festive meal, he went all out.  And of course, Thanksgiving was the mother of all big meals.  Their relationship was still very new, but she had still learned enough about him that she knew that much.  It was still hard for her to watch though.

               With the gravy gone, Kyle’s next piece of bread went towards wiping up the dregs of cranberry sauce.  The now sticky bread was then used to dab up whatever crumbs, specks, and other miscellaneous bits of food and sauce remained on his plate.  The food sponge followed its brethren into his mouth.

               “Please tell me you’re done now.” Julie asked.

               Kyle swallowed and thought.  She desperately hoped he was finished.  He did not think she had it in her to watch him down another full plate of food.  It hurt her stomach just to watch, even after she had finished her one plate. 

               “Well, I suppose so.” He said.

               Julie let out a breath of relief.  At least he had some kind of limit.  If he gone for a fourth round, she might have to stop thinking of him as a person.  More like a black hole contained in human flesh.

               “Only for now though.  I mean, I do have to save some room for dessert.”

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Try not to eat too much on Thanksgiving.  You'll just end up paying for it later.