Eln ; so. Welcome to the 103th Hive for Book Keepers.

Pinlana : I see. This is a home.

Eln ; yes. Where Book Keepers grow and reproduce, live and play.  I'm the headmaster.

Pinlana: so who's the chief ?

" we don't use the word Chief here. " Eln starts to lead her up the stairs where there was an elevator that headed downwards.

Pinlana : I thought no humans come. So what does an elevator do ?

Eln ; we do get tired of flying you know. But also this size is for other beings who come here.

Pinlana : other beings meaning... gods ?

Eln ; so she told you already?

Pinlana : I figured. Miss comes often ?

Eln ; not in a long time because of... ahem. None of your business. But she used to drop by whenever she wanted some quiet time away from the bustling mortal plane. She like to say , there was no better library space that here. We take pride in that you know.

The elevator door opened and they exited down the corridor to another door. There were , only two doors in this corridor.

Pinlana takes the knob and opens it " thanks for making it big for me. " and she enters.

Eln : you're observant. I guess you may , be a good fit after all.

Pinlana takes a look at the room and there was a bed , a walk in wardrobe , a dresser. Everything anyone could need.

Eln ; Miss got someone to bring these things in. Should be enough.

Pinlana : thank you. So... what does a Traveller do ?

Eln ; Book Keepers collect books , poems , songs anything written that has been created or made. Bad or good. We keep it. Don't mistaken , we don't do arts. That's for the other species . That's not for us. Then lastly we record the past. History. All the major events. Any humans our Book Keepers have bonded with , their history. But we can only collect so much on our own. For this Hive.

Pinlana: so my job is to collect more for you ? Go places where you haven't gone and collect for you ?

Eln ; .... sighs. Yes and no

Pinlana : what do you mean ?

Eln : I love more information for anything you can give. You travel to places on behalf of Nana and we'll record that. Anything you see or have been through. You also act as a liaison. You can pull any information you want from us to help Nana.

Pinlana : I see.  That is the deal between you and her. That's why you guys work for her. You get to record a god's history.

Eln ; it's an honor for us. But not wholly. Book Keeper Hives are usually in schools or libraries.... Places of creation for literature or history. Our Hive was born because there was a school here a long time ago. We were a very small hive. But the school got demolished and our kind grew hungry dying of no new knowledge...

Pinlana: that's when Miss came.

Eln ; she would feed us new knowledge , keep us alive and working if we promised to let her use any information we kept.

Pinlana ; seemed fair.

Eln ; Miss is a gift that keeps on giving. Sighs. If only she would agree to let me be bonded to her. So ! For you to be connected to us , you'll need to be bonded.

Pinlana ; oh.

Eln : elzen !!

Elzen came flying in " yes ? Headmaster. "

Pinlana ;  bond with her.

Elzen ; ok.

Pinlana ; but wouldn't I have to be chosen or compatible or something.?

Eln ; normal circumstances. Book Keepers choose their bonders. This time , elzen will choose you.

Pinlana : oh I see. So how do we...

Elzen bumped her forehead gently to Pinlana's and a small burn was felt . Elzen's name was now carved into Pinlana.

Elzen ; that's it.

Pinlana : that's quick.

The amulet vibrates but that was not the only reason how Pinlana knew. It was like there was a ping in her head telling her nana was calling.

Pinlana : how do I....

Nana : I can hear you.

Pinlana : oh.

Nana: the amulet opens it's channel upon your will and intention. No buttons or touch required .

Pinlana : oh. Convenient.

Nana : look up something for me.

__________________________________

Allison was now sitting in the front instead " erm. Thanks for making this trip for me."

Juliet was now driving the car " so you're the new gardener. Mr Joy said. "

Allison : yes.

Juliet: I'm the butler. Anything you're not sure. Do ask me.

Allison: the car you were driving.  It was gone when we came back.

Juliet : oh. It's there.

Allison looked into the dashboard where a green toy car was " minisation ?"

Juliet: yup. That's my ability.

Allison: I see.

Tedine ; Juliet. How long more ?

Juliet : 20 mins Mr Tedine.

Tedine : um. Miss is asleep. Drive steadily.

Juliet: yes Mr Tedine.

Tedine: what's there at Elma village anyway ?

Juliet : I hear it's a place of botany. It's supposedly a small city . But it remained it's name Elma village because it started as one. It just slowly expanded without the citizens knowing cos they enjoyed plants so much.

Allison: since I'm a gardener. I thought I should get some seeds to spruce up Miss garden. We're kind of near too.

Tedine ; not to mention, you used to sell there. Makes one wonder , what did you used to sell.

Allison: erm. I sell decorations that are made used of flowers or plants. Bookmarks. Earrings. Anything actually.... I've quite good hands.

Tedine : I see. First Boss, now turned employee. Do you feel a little uncomfortable?

Allison: well... I've got to compete with other vendors who sell kind of the things I sell. I do feel happy when my work gets recognized... but my grandma's gone... and ... Mr Joy made me a deal... he promised...

Flashback ~

Joy : take that piece of paper.

Allison did and read the amount on it " employee's salary. I wonder if a steady income is going to be more than what I actually earned in a year. "

Joy ; probably less. Your handicraft is quite recognized it seemed.

Allison: you checked on me that quickly?

Joy ; I have ways. I also know that bully killed your grandma in the process of kidnapping you to be his bride. It would be alone for you still say there. No ?

Allison : true. But it's not like I'm very close with you people either

Joy ; that's mean. My papa just punished him for you. My mama killed the hooligans, a type of revenge for you. Or were you thinking you could do it yourself?

Allison: probably not...

Joy : I could even say they saved you.

Allison: so you're threatening me to repay their good deeds ? That's not really a good deed then...

Joy ; you're not stupid. Good. A little rebellious. Ok.

Allison; what will happen if I don't sign ? Don't work for you ?

Joy ; nothing. Though, you do know the bully is still alive. My papa gave him a warning. But... *Shrugged* we're not here 24 hours.

Allison: I could leave ... to somewhere else.

Joy ; you could. Sighs... hmm... you're really not that important... but mama has a weird hobby of hogging... she'll be disappointed if I said , you didn't want to. Alright. One more. You can still sell your handicrafts. But , you can't ignore your current job.

Allison: oh. That's actually nice.

Joy ; deal ?

Allison : ok. Deal.

A new term appeared at the bottom of the contract. Allison signs off.

End ~

Tedine : Joy always knows how to win people over.