One, two, three, four.
Yellow, gray, red, brown, blue, green, and more. Just the names, though; she couldn't even identify those.
A and G.
She didn't really know much, in the sense of what education was supposed to be. She had lacked a figure that expressed affection—the closest she had ever come was the woman who swore kindness into her young soul, even if it weren’t given. But Lock loved nothing more than learning, all too well aware that there were infinite things for her to learn. So she devoured the manners at a young age, committing them to her character; it benefited her to no end of survival, it would seem.
She had always been shoved this way and that with care-takers, but she really didn't mind that much. One of her only talents, she was sure, was meeting people, and getting into good situations. The world was kind, Lock did believe—it'd turn out well one way or the other, and she only just had to be patient, courageous, and polite. Even the casting shadows of the wicked could not bend the overwhelming light that had to exist in the hearts and souls of Man.
She was thirteen years old, and that was a number she didn't know existed. Her mind might as well have been that of an eight year old, apart from her ability to endlessly concentrate and commit. It really was just a matter of putting her mind to it: given the opportunity, she'd agree to try near anything if it would mean bettering her life.
She was a beggar, but a worker as well. She would do odd-jobs to the best of her ability to follow instructions, for any amount of pay. Lock was always good at saving her coins, but she couldn't tell them apart. Copper, silver, and gold(if the coin had ever graced her unknowing sight) all looked exactly the same. Dull, dark, and...She didn't know how to describe the color. She wasn't sure if she had the learning yet to identify that a color was different. When she payed for things, most merchants just counted out the money from her pouch for her. But the world was good, and she trusted that they were honest with it.
Miss Vaven.
The most important color was red. Eat slowly and carefully. One's and ten's. Colors were impossible, but she would still remember that red was the best.
The woman offered a warm embrace and soothing hands, words of praise where they belonged, and words of disappointment when Lock failed to appease her. It was something painful to disappoint Miss Vaven, and Lock swore to herself that she would do anything possible to make her happy. The woman was the most loving and caring person, ready to offer up her teachings on accord of her own good will and morals, and Lock believed that the world was good, that she was good.
Lock wouldn't be good if Miss Vaven was unhappy with her, and she was determined to no end to prove to the world that she was as good as everyone. Miss Vaven bought her a room at the inn. She gave her the opportunity to bathe, to eat, to be safe and warm and happy and, most importantly, smart. She knew that Lock had a long way to go, but she told her, dear Ms. Lock, you could be a scholar some day!
She soon told the young girl that she would never learn her colors, and Lock was utterly confused and devastated. She tried to press the matter, but Miss Vaven seemed upset, changing to the topic that she best not disappoint her with further attempts of learning other matters. That was the last Lock wished to do, and so she abandoned colors, allowing the topic to switch to numbers.
She knew: One, two, three, and four.
She learned: Five, six, nine—No, eight? ...Seven, eight, nine, and ten.
Miss Vaven seemed overwhelmed in joy, and praised the girl for learning so quickly. The words she gave, the smile and glow of the talk...Lock couldn't help but childishly wonder if this is what they claim loving a parent is like. But she wasn't her mom, and Lock didn't want to be silly with ever thinking that is was...But of all the good people she had met, she was sure that none were as good as her.
She had left a letter, and Lock had to locate another to read the transcription outloud. She would be gone for a few long days, Lock understood, and would be fine all alone. She had been alone a lot, and was used to it, but she wasn't used to the feeling of knowing that someone was coming back for her. So, it didn't really count as being alone, did it? She was giddy with joy, at the thought.
The world was good.
Miss Rhyva Red.
It took Lock awhile to realize it, but the woman had the name of the most important color of them all. If she had only just realized it sooner, she would have had a more grand idea of the blessing brought upon. Miss Red was, too, one of the most good people she had the chance to meet—not as good as Miss Vaven, perhaps, but it was just as well.
It had begun with the promise of receiving five silvers for every dog that she sold, to help her. Each dog cost twenty silvers for someone to buy, which she learned to count to by just counting ten twice.
One two three four five six seven eight nine ten. One two three for five six seven eight nine ten.
She wasn't quite sure how it made sense, but she understood that ten-ten was twenty.
But then a new number came up, and she found herself just much more frustrated than before. A silver was apparently a hundred coppers...And Lock hadn't a clue what a 'hundred' was supposed to entail. But then Miss Red brushed it away, and it was only important to know that a dog as ten-ten silvers, not ten-ten coppers, or a mixture of silvers and coppers in ten-ten.
...If only she could tell the difference between coppers and silvers. Miss Red began to become frustrated, and after scolding her for being unable to tell the difference in 'brownish and silver', began to describe the other telling differences that were not color. Coppers were smaller, but heavier, and probably in bad, dented condition. Silvers were lighter, smooth, and inscribed with a small image to tell it apart. Of all the studying Lock had done to try and find difference, she had never yet noticed this! In fact, she was convinced for a few minutes that these differences were colors...But Miss Red only shook her head and told her that she was color-blind.
Like blind, but she can actually see—just not colors.
It was horrid news, and she felt as if she had failed being good in the world. But she grew past it, willing herself to not give up, because there was still time to be good at other things. She pulled out the coins she had saved, and began to count.
Overall, ten-ten-two coins. Seven silvers, and ten-four coppers. One other. A gold piece—Miss Red snatched this up, and went on some short speech that Lock wasn't too sure of. But Miss Red was good, and she didn't mind helping her out with coin. So many others had helped her out, and so this was a good time to return the favor. Miss Red said, that in exchange for the gold piece, she would be allowed to stay in her house so long as she was clean.
On top of it, she let Lock have Benny—an attack dog! Lock was first upset, because she only had seven silver, and not ten-ten, but Miss Red assured her that the one gold took care of it. Lock had a feeling that she couldn't even begin to fathom how much one gold must be worth.
Her instructions: He eats anything but poison. Don't say 'pounce' loudly, unless she wanted someone to die by his jaw. And...She had forgotten the word to make him stop attacking...
But still—the world was good.
