2 A Future From A Stranger (2)

"The grave?" Asher didn't understand the last part, but he's glad that there's someone to help him hone his potential of being an author.

"But before that, I have one request."

"What's that."

The girl walks away, and after a few minutes, she came back to give Asher a list.

He reads the list, "'Death list: pardoned people'?"

"That's the list of people who will be saved because of you."

"Because of me?"

"Yes. All you need to do is get the books that were borrowed from the people on the list. All of them have their books are due to tomorrow."

"What if they can't."

"If they can't return the books to you, they can return it here tomorrow. If it's not returned tomorrow, just say the word 'guillotine' and they'll understand in a snap."

"Okay? But what's guillotine?"

"That's none of your business, you should focus more on that list first. Now go, I'll prepare your lesson while you're at it."

As Asher walks out of the library, he said to himself, "I know I should search for inspiration, but I think I should do what she said. She might be a great help."

"Those people were saved from me, if you didn't come to me for lessons about story writing, and I know they'll get the message, they already know the meaning of guillotine." The girl thought.

Asher went around town asking for the names written on the list. Eventually, he found them, though most of them gave immediately gave back the books some people didn't, when they received the message from the librarian, they looked terrified after hearing the word 'guillotine'.

He returned to the library with books piling upon him.

"Hmph. I'm impressed, you managed to carry it all." She commented as she walks around him, "And your face looks calm, I can tell that you're not faking it. So you can carry it with ease?"

"I've been through heavier stuff than this." He replied.

"Oh? Well then, just put all of those on the nearest table, and come with me."

"Okay."

Once he placed down all the books, he soon follows the girl.

"When did you became the librarian?"

"A week ago, the librarian had some personal issues and asked her assistant to manage the library while she's gone. But the assistant said she couldn't handle the responsibility, so the assistant came to me. She desperately asked me to be the librarian because she saw that I would fit the criteria, she was my friend so I had no choice but to take the role as the acting librarian they all know and fear."

"'They all know and fear'? Must've been like earlier, and I already know why the assistant couldn't handle the 'responsibility'." He thought.

"What about you? When was the last time you entered this place?"

"A few months maybe? I lost track of time because I was busy farming with my family. You could've been the librarian, why call yourself the 'acting librarian'?"

"Had some personal issues doesn't mean she quits. You're a farmer?"

"And the cook, and the dishwasher, and the guy who goes out to buy groceries."

"Now I feel like this might be easy for me."

"Why?"

"You're punctual, that makes it easier for me to teach you how to become a good author. Because, if you dare sleep while I teach, I might as well stab you."

"You what?"

"Since you've been here before, I think you already know the library's assistant librarian."

"Parker Langstaff."

"Correct, if I'm busy hunt-- I mean helping students or readers put back the books where they belong, you can just ask her for help if needed."

"Alright, but where is she?"

She points her finger behind him, Asher quickly turns around and see a small girl holding some books.

Asher lowers his head to her level, and said, "Hey Parker, looks like you've grown a little."

"And you didn't change a bit." Parker snarls at him, "I can't believe the first thing you notice about me is my height, I'm disappointed."

"Well with a cute face like yours, they might mistake you for a twelve-year-old." Asher tries to hold his laughter.

"I'm sixteen! I'm way older than both of you!"

"Now now Parker, just because he talked about your height doesn't mean..." The girl tries to hold her laughter as well.

"Are you serious!? Hmph!" Parker walks away sulking.

"Bye Parker. But wait, I forgot to ask you your name." He said to the girl.

"You go first."

"My name is Asher Westergard, nice to meet you, miss..."

"Esther Violette, the pleasure is all mine. Asher, I will teach you how to become a real author, in return, you must help me and Parker manage the library until the school year starts. I've read many books and I also created stories as well, from now own you will be the student as I will be the teacher... How old are you?"

"Fifteen."

"Month?"

"May."

"You may be older than me..."

"Did you just ask me my age to know if you're superior?" He thought.

"...but that doesn't change anything, got it?"

Asher nodded in response.

"Good. Sit here." She pulls out a chair.

When Asher was about to come closer, Esther sensed an anomaly. As she looks around, she saw three boys confused about where to put the books.

One of them said, "Dude, I got a cold feeling that someone's watching us."

"Whatever you do, don't look." Another one replies.

The first boy puts a book back on the shelf, she didn't respond so they thought it must be in the right place.

The second boy carefully does the same thing without misplacing it, and the third boy was shaking when he tries to put a book on the shelf, Esther's eyes were sharpening.

"Dude, wrong shelf." They whispered to the third boy's ear.

He then tries to place the book on random shelves but every time he does that, Esther's expression gets angrier and angrier. Until he finally decides to put the book on a shelf... Where they keep all the children's literature books.

The three of them said in unison, "Run." As they quickly flee from the acting librarian whose face is filled with anger and chases them elegantly but at rapid speed.

While the sounds of agony were echoing around the library, Asher pulls out the book that the third boy put.

"This is a botany book. Are those guys, really that dumb? No, I shouldn't jump to conclusions, the way they looked at her earlier. They looked like they saw a monster, is she that scary?"

"In their eyes, they know that she is the person you shouldn't mess with." He heard Parker's voice.

"How long have you been there?"

"Just now. I also saw the part where Esther went to Demonic Mode."

"Demonic Mode?"

"When she sees someone being stupid or doing stupid stuff, she turns into a demon and chases said, someone."

"By the way, what's guillotine?"

"Ah, she told you that? Well... You don't wanna know."

"If it's that secret, then I'll leave it alone."

"Good."

She thought, "Asher when you eventually find out what that means, I hope you'll still be friends with Esther even though she's somewhat scary. A guillotine is an apparatus designed for efficiently carrying out executions by beheading, meaning it cuts off your head."

After minutes of running around, Esther goes back to Asher with no exhaustion nor sweat.

She said to him, "Asher from now on, you are not an aspiring author, but a beginning author. It means you're new or inexperienced but I hope... No, I know that we can change that..."

"She just talks to me, looking like nothing happened." He thought to himself.

"...and I do hope that you can keep up with me Asher, or else you'll be left behind, got that?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Good... And one more thing."

"What is it?"

"Report to me every time if you see any anomaly."

"Yes ma'am."

While Esther and Asher are talking to each other, Parker smiles as she thought, "I know you two will get along just fine, I'm sure of it. I just hope that Asher can endure the stuff that Esther orders him to do."

One week ago.

"You want me to be the librarian?"

"You were complaining about the misplaced books lately, so if you want to."

"What happened to the other librarian?"

"She left, she said that I'm capable enough to manage things on my own. But that's not true! Please as your friend! I beg you!"

"Alright, I'll be the acting librarian until she comes back, but are you sure? Because if I become a librarian, some people won't come back here again."

"It's alright since some of them are delinquents. I don't care if they come back."

"Hmm."