Upon entering the library, I found myself oddly in my element. It was as if Raine had cast another one of their calming spells, but this time with books. With the Organization, we had held meetings in libraries, but there never was enough time to stop and breathe, or read. Actually, knowing that I was in a place of such power made my fingers itch with desire. Perhaps once I found my way back, I could return here. Fake a cold, and spend all day in the magic library with a cup of coffee. That sounded nice.

Raine took me up to the front desk, another pointy eared girl was there. Her red bushy hair nearly covered her ears and the glasses that consumed her face looked almost comical. If it weren't for those bright green eyes, I would not have taken her seriously. They held knowledge, and the confidence and ambition to wield it like a blade.

"I'm looking for the lost and found," Raine said to the girl.

"Good to see you too, Raine" she turned her attention to me, "And who might this be?'

"A friend," they pulled out their library card, "Like I said, Lilith, we're looking-"

"For the lost and found," Lilith sighed and pulled out a key, "Just don't get caught."

Raine smiled and snatched the key before walking with me in the opposite direction. Lilith called out to Raine, "Tell my sis dinner's ready at five today."

The lost and found was expansive to say the least. Piles and piles of mystical junk, clearly stored throughout the ages, was carelessly tossed into small mountains. There was everything from dragon's teeth, to a pile of jewels, to chocolate 'whipperwoppers,'' whatever those were. My mind flicked to my days of reading Harry Potter and the Room of Requirement. It would have been easy to get lost in there, if it weren't for Raine.

Glancing back at my traveling companion, they now held a map in their free hand. I could see there was a small gold star at one corner and a strange purple wisp moving across the map.

"Spirits," Raine explained, having caught me staring over their shoulder, "They're the library's security. We just have to make it past this one, and we'll be set."

We made it to the other side of the room without notice. Crouching down Raine pointed to an indent in the wall, two suits of armor seemingly guarding it. Raine, violin now in hand, played a few chords, and a door appeared between the two. We slipped inside, like bandits in the night.

What we were greeted to looked similar to a clubhouse. A large couch with a coffee table and crystal ball sat in the center. On the wall behind it was a bookshelf lined with books that all said "restricted" on the spine and weapons of all shapes and sizes. On the far right wall laid a whole symphony's worth of instruments, and posters for something called "Die Bard II."

I would have spent more time gawking, if it weren't for Raine pulling me out of the way as a screaming dart flew past me. I turned around to see it fly into the center of a dartboard on the door. It's source, another young girl, also 14. Her pointed ears stuck out over a mane of flaming orange hair, and her yellow eyes held a glint of mischief. If I was about ten years younger, I knew I would have gotten along with this firebrand. Unfortunately, I had grown to the ripe age of 26 and had responsibilities beyond that of a teenager, beyond that of most people my age too. Still, this was my life and I made a point of remembering how vital my role in the struggle was.

"Raine, not again" the girl walked over to the door, pulling out the screaming dart that screamed again as it was yanked, "I thought we agreed no more outsiders? The spell to move this place is hard enough as it is"

"This one's different, Eda" Raine turned to me, pulling off my hood, "Human, see."

"Seriously?" Eda stepped forward, pinching my ears and pulling on them before stepping back to talk to Raine, "You're in luck. The door probably wouldn't open for her, either way."

"I'm just trying to get back home," I sighed, massaging my now pinched ears, "Raine said you could help."

"Other than the Emperor," Raine blushed, "You're one of the strongest witches I know. I thought we could lend a hand."

"And get in a lot of trouble sticking it to the Emperor while we're at it," Eda frowned before giving me a once over. Her face then turned to an almost Chesshire like grin as she took my hand and began to shake it, "I'm in! Name's Eda."

"Marlow," I nodded, a faint smile gracing my lips. These kids were so welcoming. If things were different, I'd say they almost felt like friends. I missed having friends.