A/N: Hi everyone! Hope you are enjoying this so far!

Disclaimer: I do not own anyone or anything in this story, except for Mari and Klitus.

"No, those are the correct journals Mari." Professor Silvertongue assured her.

"But-"

"I disagree with her giving those to you," Pan added quietly, "but I do think you can help us out."

"With what?!" Mari cried. "Finding one of those two? What were their names? Roger and Will?"

"Not Roger." Professor Silvertongue said quietly. "Just Will."

"According to this," she held up a journal, "he's from another world professor! How can I help?"

"Do you know what an Alethiometer is?"

Mari shook her head. "It sounds familiar, but I don"t ever remember hearing about one in classes or in books. Besides in that journal I was looking through of course."

"It's a type of... compass you could to say. It only tells the truth, and there are- or were- only six in existence. I own one, and have been studying it since I received it when I was eleven, fifteen years ago. I now can read it fairly well, and according to it you are to be of some help. Continue reading those journals I have given you, and just think about how we could get through a window and to Will's world."

"Professor, I'm not that smart!"

"You are one of the best students in this school, and the Alethiometer says you will help us."

"Then it's lying!"

"It never lies," Professor Silvertongue said quietly. "Mari, have you ever loved someone? Have you ever had a boy who loved you?"

She thought quietly about her past and shook her head. "Not truly. I thought he did at the time, but he changed and I realized he was lying. He just wanted to be with me to have his popularity grow, but it failed miserably on his part and affected my social life a bit as well."

"I'm sorry you have never had what Will and I had, but in a way it's good as well. You don't have to go through the pain I have been through over the last fifteen years. Wondering whether or not he still loves me or if I will ever meet anyone like him. I know that Pan thinks the same of Kirjava,"

"No I don't!"

"Pan you do, you just won't admit it. I'm sure you will find someone someday Mari, and when you do you'll understand why I have to talk to Will one last time. At least one last time."

Mari sighed and looked down at Klitus who rubbed against her leg trying to comfort her. "I'll be happy to try Professor, but I don't know if I can."

"You can, just believe in yourself and you can."

Mari nodded. "I'll do my best, but it may take awhile. Is there anyway you can talk to Will, or sense he's nearby? That may be my best bet to figure out how to open a link between the worlds."

"Window,"

"Window?"

"It's not a link between worlds, it's a window. And yes, there is one day a year when I can sense that Will is with me, and we both want to talk to each other."

Mari closed her eyes and thought. "I'll get to reading those journals. When is that day that you meet with him?"

"Midsummer's day at midday."

"We have some time then. May I come along with you and see if I can figure out those windows?"

The professor nodded. "We meet at the bench under a tree looking over the pond in the botanic gardens."

Mari nodded. "I'll see what I can learn from the journals you gave me and tell you what I find out. And I'll probably spend some time in the libraries as well."

"Do what you must. If you need any help with anything, just let me know."

Mari nodded. "I'll get to work on this right away."

"After classes," The Professor said.

Mari checked her watched and jumped. "I better hurry! I don't want to be late!"

The Professor chuckled. "If they give you any problems tell them to come and see me."

Mari nodded and waved a goodbye over her shoulder as she and Klitus ran out the door

"So he did get a daemon?" Mari asked a few days later.

Professor Silvertongue nodded. "Indeed."

"Her name was Kirjava," Pan said quietly. "She was a beautiful cat."

Klitus looked up at Pan who was sitting on Professor Silvertongue's shoulder. "I'm sure you'll see her again."

"It's best for our world and other worlds we don't, but I can't convince Lyra of that."

"You will see them again," Mari said confidently. "I will do everything in my power to help you both. After all, you are my favorite teacher."

Professor Silvertongue smiled. "Well, I'm glad I am,"

"I have an idea as to something that will work without affecting the Dust at all, but I need to be around for the Midsummer's day. We may be able to get through that day, but I'm not sure."

"Thank you so much Mari, if you ever need anything just let me know."

Mari smiled. "All I need is to pass school and get a good job, then I"ll be happy."

"But lonely,"

Her smile faded, but she forced a smile so the professor wouldn't worry. "I'll have Klitus and he's all I need."

"No need to be brave," The professor said, "I know it's lonely. I've been lonely for fifteen years, but Pan has done his best to cheer me up."

"I've been lonely for only six years, but Klitus is always there for me. I know he always will be, just as I will be for him."

"And I'm glad to hear that. One day you won't be lonely though,"

"I suppose," Mari sighed.

"I'm sure there's someone here who loves you,"

"No more than a friend,"

"I'm sure there's one boy here who does." She pulled what looked like a golden compass out of a velvet pouch. "Let's see what the Alethiometer says," She turned a few dials and watched it's face as if reading a book. "Hmm... not here in this school, let's try something else." Again she turned the dials and studied the face. "Ah, but there is a boy here in this world. You're a lucky girl,"

"What does it say?"

"It says, 'Look for the quiet one,'"

"What does that mean?"

"I'll let you interpret that one yourself. Your extremely lucky to have some in this world though. I'm sure you'll find him soon,"

Mari sighed. "I don't know who he is though Professor. That's all I want to know, is who he is. I guess I'll just have to watch out for the 'quiet one' whatever that means. Does that mean him? Or his daemon?"

"It could mean either,"

Mari stared down at Klitus. "I guess we'll have to search," She sighed.

He nodded, jumped up and licked her hand. "We'll find them someday. I know we will,"

"Will," The professor sighed.

"We'll find a way to them. I will find a way for you professor. It's the least I can to for all you've taught me."

The professor smiled. "I feel bad asking you for this-"

"Nonsense! If that compass- that Alethiometer- says that I'm to help you, then I will help you. You said yourself it doesn't lie,"

Pan nodded. "It has never lied before,"

"Can you ask it something for me professor?"

"What do you want to know?"

"Ask it if I will find a way and soon. Please,"

She quickly set the dials and watched it spin. Her face lit up as it stopped moving. "It says yes, and very soon,"

Mari smiled and scratched Klitus' head. "I suppose we should get to work then."

He let out a quiet bark of agreement. "Don't forget your questions!"

"Oh right!" She pulled out a notebook of notes she had taken while looking through those journals. "I have a few questions just so I can understand what you were talking about."

The professor smiled, "I figured you would. All right."

She looked through the book. "All right, this may be a little while, but I'll try and ask fast... before I start, may I ask one kind of personal question?"

"Sure..."

"If you love Will so much, why do you seem so happy?"

The professor thought a moment. "Well, before he left for his world, we promised each other to try and move on with our lives. We would try and find someone to love, and get married and treat them well. I tried, but no one could ever be Will, and I just gave up and asked the Alethiometer what I should do. It told me to watch my students and one day one would be able to help. One with an unusual daemon,"

"You mean me?"

"Yes, it's not everyday that you see a Jackal daemon. You should be proud to have such a rare daemon. It shows that you yourself are quite rare."

"Me? I don't think so, I think I'm pretty average."

"Mari," The professor said in a no nonsense voice. "You take any extra credit that is even mentioned, you are the hardest worker in this school, one of the top students (if not the top student) and you are the kindest. You help others even if they've been rude to you and you don't ever let something from the past affect you. That is quite rare, not many people would help someone who had mistreated them in the past. And you are quiet and cunning, if you ever come across a problem you look at it a different way and figure it out. Most people give up after a few tries, but you never give up, constantly looking at the problem from every angle. And what is most amazing is that you are so young, but you are already quite wise, even wiser than me and I've traveled the world!"

"But you have a rare daemon as well!"

"Yes, but Pan is different because I am different. He isn't as rare as your Klitus. You two best watch out; you may be chased after over the years, but you need to learn who is real, and who is wearing a mask."