Rows and rows of books spiraled up the walls. They rose so high that the few candles around the room couldn’t even begin to illuminate them all. Stacks were piled semi-haphazardly on the floor, and many were sitting sideways or upside down on shelves.
Overall it was an organizational nightmare. But it mattered little, for no one was allowed inside the library except Llewellyn. She was a witch of the highest caliber and the proprietor of all magical and non magical texts in the kingdom. With her staff she could find any book in a matter of seconds.
Llewellyn was almost always in the library and because of that she had decided many centuries ago that security wasn’t necessary. Her staff was more than enough to keep the everyday and every other day type of villains at bay.
This sort of thinking, and the lack of any security threats for the past few decades, made Llewellyn go a little soft. She was middle aged after all, and couldn’t constantly be worried about guarding her books. She mostly just wanted to enjoy them, and help out an occasional citizen when they had an important inquiry.
Llewellyn was in the middle of researching archaic medical treatments for one such inquiry when the sudden urge to get some fresh air hit her.
These strange feelings came from time to time, it was just part of being a witch, and she had learned the hard way not to ignore them. So, with a crack of her knees and a wiggle of her hips, Llewellyn shuffled outside, leaving her staff and ceremonial hat behind.
The midsummer breeze was highly refreshing, and after a minute or two of deep breathing Llewellyn was feeling calm and centered. Her magic was flowing strong in her veins. She was focusing on the power surging in her very blood when it hit her. The solution to the medical problem she was researching had to do with blood! Highly satisfied, she shuffled back into the library.
She was nearing the reading stand at the center of the library when she saw him. A little mouse was standing in front of the book, peering closely at the pages. Llewellyn’s heart thundered in her chest. How had the little mouse gotten past her basic defenses?
She was about to scream at him when something else caught her eye. Squinting a little, for her eyesight wasn’t as good as it once was, she could just make out what looked like a… staff? A wizard’s staff? It couldn’t be.
But as she inched closer, she saw the swirls of the wood at the top and the tiny power gem situated snuggly in the wood. Somehow this mouse had created his own magical staff.
Llewellyn was stunned speechless. This was completely unprecedented. But, her magic whispered from somewhere deep inside her, unprecedented times called for unprecedented measures. And don’t forget that you’re not so young and spry anymore.
Ugh. She hated it when her magic took on a mind of its own and bothered her about her age. But she had to admit that it made a good point. If this mouse already had enough skill to make a staff and read her books, then maybe this was a sign.
Sighing under her breath, Llewellyn did what she had to do. “Hello, what’s your name?”
The mouse spun around, eyes full of fear and staff pointed dangerously at her heart.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you. In fact, I have a proposition for you,” Llewellyn said.
The mouse lowered his staff a minuscule amount, but seemed to be listening.
“I am in the market for an apprentice, and since you’ve so kindly invited yourself in, would you be interested in filling that position?”
The little mouse’s jaw dropped open and he let out a series of shocked squeaks before finding his voice, “Of course. It would be an honor to serve in the great library.”
“Lovely, you’ve got the job. Now quit your blubbering and tell me your name.”
“I… I’m Harold.”
“Harold, what an interesting name for a mouse,” she said, tipping her head sideways to look at him better. “Tell me, what do you know about medicine?”
Original Prompt: The art featured in the story by Waldemar Bartkowiak from artstation.com