Of Crows and Songbirds (Part 2)

(Me not having looked up average reading age: <.< >.>)

"I'm sure the librarians can find you a good starting book as well. The library has pretty much every reading level in every language, I think."

(Yeah I feel like that is very very young lol I learned at 4 and was very early as far as I’m aware. I think average is more like five or six lol)

“Yessir.” Tadaaki dipped his head. “I’ll definitely follow your lead with all this.”

(I think I also learned at 4 but I gotta check with my mom)

He smiled. "It's not as hard as you might think. Though that depends on which language you're learning. Upper Tongue isn't my first language."

(Honestly how I learned to read is a mystery to everyone lol my mom decided to start trying to teach me to read when I was like five or six and I already could. I attribute it to my sister but she denies it. So. Who knows lol)

“Oh?” Tadaaki asked. “What is?”

(Wow that's wild XD)

"Moon Speech. I was born in the East. Learned a couple languages over the years, but I wasn't taught to read til I came here."

Tadaaki nodded. “…so you came here when you were fourteen, sir?”

"I'd just turned thirteen, actually. I didn't really have reading in mind when I first came here."

“Makes sense.” Tadaaki nodded. “… you come straight here from the East, sir? What brought you this way?”

"Gaius." He glanced at Ky. "I was, uh, also a slave, once."

Ky glanced at him and ducked her head. She hadn’t mentioned it. It wasn’t her place.

“Oh…” Tadaaki hesitated. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

He shrugged. "It's been ten years. I'm doing okay now. I mostly try to forget it happened."

“Understandable.” Tadaaki nodded. “I’m glad to hear that at least… what is your role here? If-if you don’t mind talking about it, sir.”

"Not at all!" He brightened. "This is sort of my job: watching newcomers to make sure they're not up to anything fishy. But when there aren't newcomers I work for the steward doing odd jobs."

“Oh.” Tadaaki nodded. “And do you… enjoy that?”

"Keeps me occupied." He nodded. "It's better than lounging around the Keep all day! Some of the jobs are fun, too."