Ellyn sat in the library, helping with the efforts to try and collect/dry any of the books that could have been saved by the tsunami. She loved books; she did, but being here was depressing as all hell. Not because of the tsunami, though that was depressing, but because of why she was here.
Ellyn had offered to help Ophion with the library in a ploy to get closer to him. Of course, she was helping when he wasn't around, too, but she was having teenage angst over the idea that he had put so much emphasis on them being friends. They could be really good friends. But nothing more.
Was it because he wasn't attracted to her in the slightest? Was it because of what happened during the tsunami? Or maybe it was because she was sixteen? But sixteen was legal here, so Ellyn didn't see the problem.
This was all quite strange for her because Ellyn had never been big into dating back home and she hadn't had any interested in anyone since arriving at Manta Carlos before now. She was very aware that she didn't know Ophion enough to like him. It was infatuation, for sure, but it felt so strong, and his rejection (as subtle as it had been) was digging at her insecurities.
With a somewhat dispirited sigh, Ellyn laid out another book on the table she was working at, fanning out the pages and drying it best she could.
Vincenzo was a terror according to word of mouth, but he was much different in the school. He regarded the Academy with a lot of respect, and that was what he acted, respectful. He talked to his teachers as if they were his superiors, and he never stole from the library. He could've been mistaken for a polite, if not soft-spoken, young man to people that knew nothing about him.
The tsunami was... Vincenzo thought it was a joke, of course, and played along until Milo dragged him to safety, but he hadn't realized the severity of its impact when he stepped into the school library. This was a miserable sight. Vincenzo, usually one to have no apathy, felt great loss at the soaked books.
He approached a girl with genuine concern in his face. In a soft, low voice so as not to disturbed the Library's token "silence is golden" rule, he asked, "The tsunami hit the library pretty bad, huh? Is there some way to lend you a hand? How can I help?"
The tsunami was... Vincenzo thought it was a joke, of course, and played along until Milo dragged him to safety, but he hadn't realized the severity of its impact when he stepped into the school library. This was a miserable sight. Vincenzo, usually one to have no apathy, felt great loss at the soaked books.
He approached a girl with genuine concern in his face. In a soft, low voice so as not to disturbed the Library's token "silence is golden" rule, he asked, "The tsunami hit the library pretty bad, huh? Is there some way to lend you a hand? How can I help?"
Ellyn had been so lost in the repetitive nature of the job she did now and her thoughts when a soft voice spoke to her. She jumped (very slightly) and looked at the man. Ellyn motioned to a few of the drying books across from her.
"Yeah," she whispered back. "You could check those books to ensure they're dry enough." A few of the older tombs at the sides of the table were beyond repair, and thus utterly lost.
Ophion had said some of them would be saved through time magic, but only the important stuff. Some of these books weren't around anymore, and so would never be replaced. They'd lost have of their inventory.