For so long the stories had been told via voice, using only the mouth to transmit information. It didn’t seem natural for Saam to use any other methods. After all songs and tales were the way that their people told of themselves. It was like that for centuries, Saam figured that it would be like that forever.

But no, in the years after Christianity came to their land, a priest took an interest in Saam. Despite their rebellious nature, the man recognized something in Saam that intrigued him, made him wonder about what Saam was capable of. And so the priest took Saam back to the church where he worked and showed them words. Writing on paper.

Saam could still remember sharply to this day how huge a revelation this was. The fact that information could be transmitted via writing felt so incredibly foreign and yet.. fascinating. It had sparked something in their eyes that Saam didn’t recognize was possible. 

It was this curiosity that this priest had recognized in the sullen youth. A mind that was eager for work, for information – for another way to be available. And to realize that writing and reading was possible – Saam’s interest was voracious and could not be contained.

It was no wonder that after a while, Saam was used to reading anything that they could get their hands on.