The day was slow; only two or three people came in to get food while trying their best not to talk to Zane as much as possible. When Zane's shift was over, the baker gave Zane some cash and a fresh loaf of bread before Zane left. As the child left the bakery, Zane couldn't help but notice that people started to enter the bakery after Zane was, and he quotes, a safe distance away. Zane sighs and headed off to the library like he did every Tuesday.
"What are you doing here?" Zane turned his head, seeing someone leaning against a streetlamp.
"I go to the library often. You should know this. You asked me the same question last week," Zane answered. The kid, who looked to be around eight, scoffed.
"Whatcha got there, fatty?" the kid asked with a smirk.
"I have bread. And I am not overweight. I am what you call skinny to an almost concerning amount," Zane answered, causing the older boy to frown in confusion. Zane turned back to walk into the library and continued, ignoring the demands of the older boy to come back.
"Welcome back, Zane!" The librarian called, causing Zane to wave and enter the History section. The librarian was a sweet lady who went by the name Betty. She was one of the few people who treated Zane well, not like the child of a demon or a spirit, just Zane.
Zane walked into the mythical creature section and brushed his small fingers against the dusty books until he found the one he was looking for, which happened to be on the top shelf. Zane sighed and took a bite out of his loaf of bread, his face full of confidence. He grabbed a large book from the bottom and set it on its side, stepping on top to reach the book he needed. After a little bit of struggle, Zane was able to grab the book off of the shelf and put the book he used as a stepstool back on the bottom. Zane smiled to himself as he took the story to the reading area and sat down in one of the large chairs.
"What are you doing, nerd? Looking for your family tree?" The same kid from outside teased.
"Yes, but, no," Zane answered. "If people are right about the claim that I am The First Spinjitzu Master's or the Overlord's son, then I already know my family tree. But they're not. If the incident from years ago is a clue, then I need to know if it means something." The kid looked at Zane with a confused and weirded-out look.
"What does that even mean?" The kid asked.
"You're older than me; you should know this stuff," Zane said as he opened his book. The boy paused before growling and smacking Zane's book out of his hands. Zane just stared at it, looking like he expected it to move. The boy grabbed a fistful of Zane's hair and yanked up, forcing Zane to look at him.
"Look at me, freak!"
"Not like I have a choice-."
"I don't care if you're the child of The First Spinjitzu Master or the Overlord; All I know is you did a freakish, unexplainable thing when you were a baby, and everyone still doesn't have any answers!" The boy yelled, trying to give himself an excuse to hit the smaller boy.
"Why do you think I'm researching? I want to find those answers! Let go!" Zane yelled, grabbing at the boy's hand to try to loosen his grip.
"Hey, hands off!" Someone yelled. The boy quickly let go of Zane's white hair and ran off before the person could get him. Zane rubbed at his head and picked up his book, tears slightly threatening to fall.
"Are you okay?" the person, wait, the girl, asked. Zane nodded and looked at her.
"Yes, I am alright. Thank you for your assistance, ma'am," Zane thanked. The woman slightly scoffed.
"Ma'am? I'm only fourteen," She objected with a small smile, giving a sign that she meant it in a joking sense. Zane couldn't help but smile a little.
"What are you reading?" The girl asked, walking towards the small boy for friendly conversation. Zane showed her the book he attempted to read before it got thrown to the ground.
"The Incomplete History of the First Spinjitzu Master? Aren't you a little bit young to read that? I believe there's some Latin in there as well," the woman observed.
"I am well aware. Because of that information, I have learned bits of Latin to help me read," Zane informed her. The woman smiled, impressed with the progress of a five-year-old.
"You like to read?" The woman asked. Zane nodded.
"Yes, very much so. Although I have very little time to read," Zane said.
"Let me guess; school and chores?" the lady presumed.
"Chores, yes. School, no. I have to take help take care of the orphanage, help Miss Skylar gain money; I have my job, which is to help with Miss Skylar's money problem, I have to find answers from years ago, and I have my dreams to think about," Zane explained. "I don't have much time for myself." The woman's eyes widened as Zane continued his list.
"What do you mean by dreams and answers?" she asked.
"When I was two years old, I stopped a criminal from kidnapping a ten-year-old orphan with a giant block of ice. I don't know where the ice came from, and I don't know how I did so, but there's photographic evidence of my claim. As for the dreams, I always have visions of something happening, whether it is someone falling over or a place closing down," Zane rambled. The woman was in shock, eyes wide and mouth slightly agape.
"I apologize; Did my rambling trouble you?" Zane asked, his voice getting slightly quiet. The woman quickly objected.
"No, no, it's alright. It just, you're dealing with so much, and you're only five. You shouldn't have to deal with that," The woman complained. Zane could only shrug as the woman sighed.
"I have to retreat to the orphanage. I don't want Miss Skylar to worry about me," Zane said, going to put his book away, ignoring the fact that the woman stared at him as he left. The lady couldn't handle seeing him like that, but at the same time, he seemed like the exact type of child the others were trying to find.