Completed Anthropology 101b [Lenell Belleste]

[Lenell Belleste]

Timestamp: 41st of Spring, 513 AV

Lenell entered Professor West's office without knocking and plopped herself in a chair. She whisked her study books onto his desk, then dropped her forehead down on top of the pile with a thunk. She heard Shaymear turn about slowly, but she didn't look up.

"Well, Lenell. It's nice to see you, too. We have a problem, do we?"

"I can't do this," mumbled Lenell into the leather cover her face rested on. "I'm stupid. I'm ridiculously stupid. Ship me home. I won't even ask for a refund of my fees. I've read each of these books several times, and I can't make sense of them. In fact, I feel I know less about the Drykus now than when I started."

Lenell heard West lean back in his chair with a creak, and chomp into what sounded like an apple. "Good."

"Good!" Lenell jerked her head up. "How could it be good? I mean, I can see that it would be more fun to be out on a research trip than stuck here trying to bang knowledge through my thick skull, but...good?"

Shaymear looked down at the pile of books. The indent Lenell's head had left in the leather cover of the top one was slowly popping out. "Well, yes, your skull does seem thick enough to take a good whack, but leave that for self defense in the future, and try not to take it out on poor literature."

Lenell laughed a little desperately and wiped her forehead. "Well, I mean, what should I do? Ok, perhaps I don't want to give up and go home. No, I really don't want to go home. Maybe...maybe a different study?"

Shaymear leaned forward, grabbed her hand, and patted it till she sighed and calmly dropped it into her lap. "Lenell, dear, you have a fine mind. It is not you. There is no reason whatsoever for you to leave the University or even change disciplines. Now, I want you to tell me what the problem is. Try to keep yourself calm."

Lenell took a moment to breath deeply before gesturing towards the books. "These. They all purport to be about the Drykas. But if they are all telling the truth, there is more than one group of peoples going under that name, and I know that can't be right. For instance," she picked up two separate tomes, "these both devote large sections to what they terms separate "clans" within the Drykus, and the names and specialties of each group, but they both argue with one another on those things." She sighed as she placed them back down, barely stopping herself from flinging them away from her. "They can't even agree on how many of these "clans" exist!"

Shaymear nodded. "And what does that tell you? That you are stupid, or that, just perhaps, the knowledge of other cultures is in a dreadful state across Mizahar?"

Lenell's mouth dropped open, then snapped close. "I...well, I assumed it must be me, that there was sense there that I simply couldn't see."

Shaymear shook his head. "No, dear, your brain is working. It is the research that is lacking."

"You mean..." Lenell calmed herself as she felt her voice wanting to rise again. "Are you telling me, sir, that you assigned me these books while knowing they contained inaccuracies?"

"Of course I did. Quite frankly, dear, in this department, there is little I could assign you that didn't contain inaccuracies. That will be part of your learning---how to identify what can be relied upon and what must be questioned."

"Why didn't you warn me?"

"Honestly, I had no idea you'd be so fiercely stubborn. I thought you'd reach those first inconsistencies and come back to my office within a few days, not try to make sense of them." He grinned as Len sighed and looked away. "You'd like to hit me, now? With one of these books, perhaps?"

Lenell smiled, but kept her eyes on the wall. "Honestly? A little, yes."

Shaymear laughed. "Well, that's good to hear. Better abuse my old skull than your young one. Besides, mine's tougher, I'd wager."

Len turned back towards him with a smirk that he answered. Shaymear then gave her a quick nod. "Ok, Lenell dear, here is your new assignment. First off, I want to see you in here at least once a week. I understand you are used to being self taught, but that isn't what you pay your fees for, yes? Now, as far as these books," he picked one up at random, "all I expect from you is a short bit of writing on what you feel can be relied on. If you're feeling very ambitious, perhaps a little about the major unknowns and their possible sources. But, first and foremost, you come in every week to chat, yes? Even if you feel you have nothing to chat about. Now, it is almost dinner time. Would you and these books like to join me in the dining hall?"

"That would be fine, sir. Am I looking at a large replacement charge if I drop them in the soup?"