Chapter thirteen:
"Looking for anything specific?" A librarian comes over to them causing them to turn to her. She has the classic old looking lady librarian usually seen in movies.
"Well we were just thinking of doing some for fun research into travel between other worlds. Maybe we could even find a world without those changelings." Near tells the librarian who nods her head to this.
"Well you'll probably want a mix of the science section and fantasy section. I don't imagine that there is much looking into traveling to other worlds in actual science research."
They turn as a man approaches clearing his throat. He looks slightly older with a military looking cut brown hair that has a stripe of grey hair down the middle, he is wearing a pull over navy blue sweater, black sweat pants, and black runners. His face is cleanly shaven and kind yet stern looking hazel eyes. "If I may. I have actually been researching such a thing for awhile. I was wondering if there could be answers of how to take care of the changelings out there. We can discuss what I have found." He offers to which the three nod their heads.
"That would be appreciated." Near confirms. "It would be interesting to even just maybe be able to go to a world without them there."
"Well I guess you're all figured out. Just make sure to keep it quiet." The librarian reminds them getting nods of understanding. She heads away with that while the man gestures for them to follow.
The three follow the man to a secluded table in the back of the library with books, notebooks and some space still left.
The man stops then turns to them. "I've seen you around. There is more than you are letting on about this. Aren't you?" He studies them closely. "I didn't want to freak anyone out but are you changelings? Why would changelings be interested in going to other worlds?" He has a hand on his chin in thought. "What are you hiding?"
Before either Mello or Near can speak Matt steps forward.
"Okay. We are. But it isn't what you think. We actually come from another world. A science project went wrong and put us into these bodies. One that was done by someone else so we don't know anything about what was used to let it happen. We're trying to find a way home to try to be back in our own bodies as soon as possible." Matt explains then he glances to Mello and Near to which he realizes he might have said too much.
"Okay. Well if that is true then I'll ask you something that any changeling knows. Who is the biggest changeling hunter?" The man presses and the three really aren't sure since they don't know the answer to that.
"There is a changeling hunter who is the biggest?" Matt gasps in shock at hearing this. "I didn't know that we had to watch out for that kind of threat. The threat of trying to get into the city to try to research how to get home has felt dangerous enough."
The man seems satisfied as he can truly tell that they really don't know. "This is so interesting. You really aren't from here. Even though you ended up in the bodies of changelings. I won't ask you to drop your disguises here. I don't really need to know which changelings you are." He gestures them over to the table which they follow. "I have been looking into theories of how one might travel across worlds. As well as the very limited books I have found, the internet tends be a bit better on that though it is full of speculation or fantasy, on those that are thought to have traveled through time or space to even other worlds. Even if it was only briefly. Though I really need to ask. What is the world you're from like?"
"Well we live in an orphanage. One that has a school attached to it for the orphans there to be able to learn at the skill level were at. Since our orphanage takes in the smarter orphans. We only really go out to town if we sneak out usually after classes for most of us. It's pretty peaceful most of the time. There isn't actually confirmed creatures like these changelings you guys have." Mello points out and they hear the man mutter to himself 'I knew there was worlds where there were none.'. "Never has been any actual creatures like that. We hadn't even heard of them before being sent here. We had to covertly learn to not raise any suspicion that anything is off. And honestly we would rather return home before we are forced to feed."
"You could get busy and maybe ask another one to do it for you?" The man suggests to which Near shakes his head.
"We'd prefer if we didn't have to take any feedings at all. It'd still be coming from the same place. It'd still kind of be like if we had done it ourselves. We don't really like even the idea of how the changelings feed. We just have to pretend we are to not raise suspicion." Near informs the man who nods sympathetically.
"Don't you worry. I'll keep quiet. I would rather help you guys get home so you don't have to deal with such things. I had to kill in the war. It's something that stays with you. You all have enough to deal with being orphans." He picks up a notebook sitting on the table. "From what I have been able to gather there is a few possible ways that this could be done. I haven't tested too much of it myself yet. So I can't guarantee that anything will really work. At least for sure yet." He keeps going as the three listen to what he has to say about things. "One of the ways I would not recommend is finding a weakened spot between worlds. That tends to be random and very unpredictable. It can even appear in someone's cupboards. Plus there's no guarantees that it'll even be your worlds."
"Alright. How about we focus on the ways that are more likely to work?" Mello inquires slightly impatient. "We do have to be careful to not get caught as not who we are pretending to be."
"Don't worry. Those you picked don't tend to come around here. At least I don't usually see them in the library. You should be good. Not to mention pretty much no one comes over here. They likely won't even notice you're here." The man assures them, clearly not even bothering with his own name. "Anyways. The ones that I have deduced that are more likely to work is perhaps a machine that has enough power to travel through. It would have to be a certain scientist. I have talked to a very recluse scientist about it. I just don't think that it is actually operational yet. It is still an option if he is at least close to getting it done." He flips to a certain page in his notebook. "If he isn't ready with that machine that he also wanted to build when I spoke to him, then there is one way that maybe we could pull off." He shows them some scribblings of some strange symbols. "Magical sigils. Because our world has at least hints of magic, hence the changelings being able to be here, then it might work if we do it right. I have read that they are very sensitive. I have gathered the sigils that are not just all fantasy. There are truth to some that have even been around for generations. A lot for traveling to Hell for some reason. Wouldn't really think that'd be a great travel destination." He shrugs his shoulders as though shrugging it off.
"Curiosity." Mello points out to which the man seems to agree to.
"Right. Well anyways with the traces of magic in this world, especially in you so this might work even better with you guys since changelings have magic, If we are able to find the right sigil and combination to use."
"We can talk to the scientist to see how the machine is going. If needed we will try the sigil route." Near suggests clearly knowing that using the machine could allow them to have better success plus be easier or faster to do."
"Of course. We can go there soon if you want." The man offers to which the three nod. "Oh and here. Lets change your disguises. Trust me it'll help." He hands them each a piece of ID of someone else. "Trust me they will come up as real if they try to scan them or anything. I got them from my time in the war when I would have to pretend to be others to get into certain places or groups. A bit of undercover work to help the enemy." He then gives a smile. "And don't you worry. I can tell that you all are telling the truth about not being from here. I'm not trying to work against you or get you captured or anything. After the war I decided to try to find something in a way to maybe deal with the changelings. Coming to the idea of finding something in another world. A lot of people tend to think I am crazy for it."
"Well we appreciate your help in this." Near confirms and they change into the forms that are shown on the ID cards.
"The librarian is an old friend of my moms. So she doesn't mind leaving my books like that. Even if someone takes a book if they find this spot then its fine. Lets go to the scientist who was actually willing to help me. We'll walk out of this library apart so no one really questions it." The man leads the way with the three following at a distance pretending to not be with him. He briefly talks to the librarian which the three take the time to move past then out of the library. He joins them outside soon after and they go off to get to the location that they need to be in.
The three hope that this scientist will indeed be able to help them out.
