Trivia

By @Merellia:

Trivia was not the name she was given at hatching; that has been lost in her pre-adoption past. But even as a young dragon, it was clear that she loved to read. From field notes to journals to scary storybooks, she read everything--an achievement especially challenging for Imperial dragons, for few books are designed to accommodate their great size. Even in the face of small formats and smaller scripts, however, she persevered, and took joy in what she learned. Equal to her pleasure in learning was her pleasure in sharing her knowledge: "Did you know that Serthis clans give birth all at once? Did you know the story about the dragon who wore a neck ribbon? Did you know...?"

Other hatchlings and young dragons, however, were not kind. "That's not knowledge," one said. "That's just trivia!" The other dragons followed this lead, calling, "Trivia, trivia!" And this became her name.

Trivia grew and tried to ignore the derisive treatment she often received. She read, if possible, even more voraciously. She also learned to fight--not only so that dragons would be less inclined to harass her, but also so that she could sell and trade the items she found in the wild spaces of Sornieth. She used her funds to buy books, carefully storing them safe in chests, and looked forward to the days when merchants and traders visited her clan that she might see if they had something new for her. Often they did.

Things continued in this vein for many seasons. Then, one day, a young Mirror in the clan fell ill. He could breathe, but only with difficulty, and blemishes broke out over his wings. The clan as yet did not have a healer, and no-one knew how to help him. Trivia visited him to share a favorite storybook that she hoped might entertain him. Eagerly making room for her, the little Mirror shooed off some toads. Trivia squinted at them--reading small books had begun to strain her eyesight somewhat. "Are those yours?" she asked.

"My pets," the little Mirror explained. He held up a grotesquely ugly green toad, grasping it firmly around a plump belly. "This is Fang," and then he showed Trivia a lumpy brown toad, "And this is Terror."

"Ah," said Trivia. "I came to share this book with you, but do you mind if I leave you to read it to yourself? I need to speak with your parents."

Trivia hastened to them. "Did you know--" she began, and paused as Marius rolled all four of his eyes. Petipa nudged him sharply.

"Did we know what?" Petipa demanded.

"Did you know that your son's pet--the brown toad--is making him sick? He is allergic to it." Trivia asked. She then supplied a recipe that would ease the little Mirror's symptoms. He returned to health, if peeved by his unwilling separation from the toad Terror.

In this way, Trivia's clan came to value her knowledge, even celebrate it. "Ask Trivia!" became a byword throughout all their lairs.

Trivia continues to read. But now she also thinks about where her reading may lead her in the future: perhaps, even, to becoming a healer. If she makes that choice, it is clear that she will be among the most knowledgeable of all her peers.