“So I don’t really have a mana spirit like most of these people here, but I think I can still help you the same way I figured out how to use my magic,” Serilina said. Her own magic had come from a trip Mr. Wiggles had demanded they take when she was still just a kid.


    <hr>


    “I know you’re scared, Serilina, but it’s important we find you some sort of magical bond. I may not be here forever. There are forces at play you don’t understand,” Mr. Wiggles said in that strange, silent voice that only she seemed to truly understand. She was grateful the cat had found her, so alone, but sometimes she wished he would talk to the others too or let her try and make friends.


    “Okay, fine, where do we need to go?” She asked, worried he wanted to take her through another one of the dark places. The last time they had gone through one of those, they barely made it back out, but something worse had been hunting them, and it was the only way.


    “There’s a red book that isn’t always here. The Under Library will not acknowledge it, as I don’t think it was supposed to be part of the design. I believe we can use that to connect you to the greater mana flow of reality. The book is near the reference desk,” the orange cat explained.


    “That’s not an easy trip, Wiggly, are you sure I really need this? You know the shadows have been hunting in constantly. It’s barely for even a few hours a day anymore,” she replied. The shadows had kept them trapped in one of the reading rooms for nearly a week already.


    “I know, and the Librarians have been growing more and more restless as of late, that’s why it’s important to get you some of your own abilities. I promise I will keep you safe during the journey. Have I failed you yet?” Mr. Wiggles rubbed his back against the girl''s legs the way he did when he tried to calm her down after monster attacks.


    “No, I believe you. We can go,” Serilina said. She knew that he wouldn’t be this pushy if it wasn’t for the best, but it still terrified her to travel the stacks.


    <hr>


    What she had read in that book that gave her the connection she had now, she couldn’t remember. It felt like something had reached into her brain and locked away something that could break her if she focused too much on it. She now felt a constant link to something Mr. Wiggles had called the Ocean InBetween, and it had never failed to rise to her call.


    “Why do you look like one of the monsters?” Dennis asked her suddenly, knocking her from her memories.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    “Because I am one of them, just not from the same universe as the ones you are fighting, at least I don’t think I am. Mr. Wiggles found and raised me when I was very young, so I basically know nothing about them,” she answered truthfully. She had no idea where she actually fit when it came to the Gryalth, or the humans for that matter, but she also knew she didn’t like bullies or monsters. So these seemed like her kind of people here.


    “Oh, what makes your magic different? Are you a paladin like Bug? I thought only dogs could be paladins,” Dennis asked, rapid-fire.


    “Nope, I don’t know how to explain it really. I’m more connected to some water concepts than your average person, no real mana spirit, but I think I can translate it a little, and there is a cat paladin, too. You will probably meet her soon. Ask Bug about Trashcat the next time you see her, she will tell you the story of their meeting,” She answered.


    “Okay, well, what do I need to do?” Dennis asked. She considered that a very good question and wasn’t really sure of a good answer, but that wasn’t about to stop her.


    “Well, what some people do is they sit and meditate, but I’ve never been much of a sitter. How about you follow me? I’m going to take you to a weird library where I first met everyone. It’s safe now, but even if it’s not Wiggly here will protect us. He’s a lot stronger than he looks,” Serilina said.


    “Oh, a field trip, awesome. I haven’t had one of those since I was in school,” Dennis said as he followed behind them. During the walk to the entrance of the Under Library, Serilina made sure to point out all the different features she had learned about in the voidhouse, hoping to engage Dennis’s brain. She thought that might help reach the spirit inside him. Once they reached the Under Library hub, Dennis started looking around wide-eyed.


    “Yeah, weird isn’t it? I want to know who built this place and what the other wings are like,” Serilina said.


    “It’s cool and scary at the same time,” Dennis replied, feeling along one of the walls. Until his hand suddenly stopped. “What, you think I should touch the weird symbol right there again? Okay,” Dennis said to someone Serilina couldn’t see, and before she could consider the ramifications of him doing that, he already had. There was a loud rumbling sound, and the wall slid away, revealing a hallway similar to the one she had walked through to get here from the What Is Wing.


    “Uh, let’s really not go in there. I’m glad you managed to talk to your mana spirit, but we need to go find Libby and Andrew right now, and I really hope we rescue Andy and Bill soon because this could be a big problem,” She said, and as she said this Mr. Wiggles started hissing loudly down the hall. There was something at the end of the passageway and she had no intention of sticking around to find out what without help. She grabbed Dennis and pulled him back through the door into the voidhouse, locking it behind them once Wiggles was also through.


    “So, it turns out the other wings are real then. I’m sure that won’t be a problem at all. Mr. Wiggles can you go tell one of the dogs what happened while I go find Libby and Andrew,” Serilina said. Mr. Wiggles nodded in return, dashing from the room. She wished she knew what she had just unleashed.