Childrens of Terra

Layla I

"As Heinrich had said, what would come, would come... and he would have to meet it when it did."

The young woman closed the book and glanced toward her charge, whose eyes sparkled with barely contained wonder and curiosity. Sitting on his bed, the young boy was thrumming with energy.

"What happened next?" The boy asked, eager to see the continuation of the story he has been following for many nights.

Smiling, she opened her mouth to answer, only to be interrupted by a deep voice "I'm afraid you will have to find out another day, son."

Quickly, she stood up and curtsied "My lord, please forgive me for not noticing your arrival."

"None of that girl, I'm just a lowly Baron. There's no need to be so formal." With a gentle but firm hand, he took the book from the girl's grasp and turned to address his son.

"It's already late kiddo, go to sleep. You can continue the story tomorrow." "But dad-" The boy tried to interrupt but his father swiftly deflected "No but, you have class in the morning. Go to sleep."

Realizing that resistance was futile, the boy pouted and turned away from his father "Fine!"

Sighing, the man turned towards the girl "Come on, let me walk you to the front." Without waiting for her response he walked out of the room. "And please, close the door on your way out."

Not wanting to be left behind, the girl swiftly followed. Just when she's about to close the door a small voice, muffled by a blanket, called towards her "Will you be returning tomorrow miss?"

Afraid that he will get his hopes up, she answered with the truth "I'm afraid that will depend on your lord father's decision young master, but personally, I would've loved to accompany you again!" She finished with a beaming smile.

Peeking from behind his blanket, the boy stammered out a request "C-could you please tell me your name?"

For a moment the girl's eyes widened with surprise, not expecting the boy that she just met to want to know her name. That surprise was quickly replaced by happiness though "Of course!"

"My name is Layla."

---T3RR4---

Layla hummed as she walked down the familiar streets. Her payment tonight might've been a pittance to a noble, but for a commoner like her? It was a hefty sum.

She has worked as a hired help for a few years already. Her clients varied, from a merchant family looking for someone to take care of their home during a trip, to a Duke's daughter who needed a chaperone for a party.

Over the years, Layla has managed to build a reputation for herself as a smart and reliable hired help. A lot of nobles had shown interest in hiring her in a more permanent fashion, but she always politely declined them. She valued her current independence too much...

Before long she arrived at her destination. A small old bookstore, tucked inside an alley, away from the main road. It might not seem like much from the outside, but the true treasures lie within.

The bell above the door clinked as she entered, alerting the gentleman manning the counter of her arrival. An elderly man, with a grandfatherly countenance and graying hair. A thick pair of glasses sat upon the bridge of his nose, and a thick looking tome is opened on the counter in front of him "Good evening Layla, coming back from work?"

"Good evening Mr. Fergus! Yes, I thought I would stop by and pick up the book that I saw the other day."

"It should be somewhere over there." He said, pointing to one of the many piles of books scattered throughout the store. "Tell me if you need any help."