Wow, sorry for the shorter chapter guys— but, with that, and getting back on schedule, I will hopefully fill the gap with a few longer chapters in the future.

Tootles!


Hunter's shoulders tightened, as if an invisible force had gripped them, squeezing the last drops of life (and sanity) he had left. He felt the small grin of the librarian staring at him with a tentative yet soft gaze.

"Are you going to speak? Or just stand there like a petrified abomination?" he chuckled, yellow eyes glowing dimly as he stepped out of the dark, shadowy cast.

"N-no…" Hunter swallowed hard, leaning back from the towering beast. But he knew that voice, it wasn't as plastered in his mind compared to Willow, or Luz, but there was some documentary in that memory of his. His mouth sputtered a word, less like a whisper, and more like a choke. "Malphas?"

Malphas' soft expression hardened slightly. "Yes, it is I." he informed, head slowly cocking to the side in a questionable curiosity. "I have never seen you around before… are you new to the Boiling Isles?" He questioned, feet briskly gliding on the floor. For such a big beast, he was quite quiet.

"No." Hunter repeated, his limbs relaxing after a few moments just being in the presence of a familiar face.

"Hm." the demon pondered for a moment, giving a second look to the boy standing in front of him. "Then where—"

"The Toes!" Hunter blurted out before Malphas could have any chance of spitting a syllable. He knew that wasn't the most creative idea he could come up with, but it wasn't the most stupid. Since Luz had said the same thing years ago in his time— and everyone from the Boiling Isles had fallen for it.

"Oh?" the demon's eyes glinted for a moment. "I haven't seen a Toe resident come down here in a few years," he turned around, gliding to his big reception desk in the front. He scrolled through the clutter of scrolls, using his magic to make them go back to their respective places.

"Ye-yeah, I'm new here." Hunter's arms set behind his back, fingers folding together nervously. His feet shifted from weight on the toes to his heel, then back to his toes as he avoided the same present gaze from Malphas. Even if he wasn't even physically looking at him, it still crept him to think this was their ancient beetle from their time. Seeing how he's so young and happy in the past. Maybe not happy, but content, now that he thought about it a little more.

What if I told him? Hunter thought to himself, inching a few strides closer. No, no, that would be a risky move. Would it? I would think—

"So," Malphas cleared his throat. "Since you are first: not supposed to be here, and second: a young kid with no parental guidance or guardian around, what's your name?"

Well shit, he never thought of that. Except his mouth moved, not saying his name, but something— stupid his mind quickly picked up. "Spike."

Malphas blinked. "Spike…" his lips curled for a moment, itching his beak.

"Oh! Um…Pratt. Spike Pratt." Hunter coughed.

Malphas' wings unfurled. "Interesting." He mumbled to himself, wings unfurling for a moment, glaring deeply as if looking into Hunter's soul.

Hunter remembered the time he and future Malphas had met, it was quite awkward back when he was just the Golden Guard looking for old wild magic books and scrolls to clench the burning thirst to learn.

"So, what are you here for?"

"Books on wild magic." the Golden Guard ordered, leaning on his artificial staff.

"You? The Golden Guard— wants to learn about wild magic? I think I've seen it all kid." Malphas grumbled, turning away and casting a simple levitation spell. A dozen books came flying down to the library tables. Neatly arranged. "Take your pick."

"I will." He replied. "I'm not afraid of magic that is dead."

"Wild magic is not dead, Golden Guard," Malphas replied, venom spewing from the title.

He glared a scowl under the mask.

That was the past, Hunter told himself. When he didn't make amends with the people he cared about. Before he met Luz and his family.

Malphas watched with curiosity as Hunter's eyes lingered around the books. "What has gotten you so interested in Wild Magic, kid?"

Hunter shrugged and reached for a book on a higher shelf. "I'm just curious, that's all."

"No child of this time is 'just curious' in the forbidden arts." the demon mumbled, head swiveling to meet the boy's gaze. "Are you going to check out your stack of books? Or are you just going to leave without paying?" he continued, raising his voice as Hunter stopped in his tracks with the three books wrapped around his arms. He could tell the books were heavy, and he was going to need some sort of bag to make it to wherever the kid needed to go.

"Oh." Hunter shuttered, and Malphas motioned with a pointed finger to go over to the reception desk in the front to check out. His arms swung upwards, the books stacked landing with a loud thunk to the wooden boards. "Sorry."

"It's fine, it's fine, just remember to come to the front next time. Okay?" His yellow eyes parted upwards, peeking at Hunter. The stamp pressed and stuck to the paper for a moment, tearing off moments after with a red: Checked out label on the book's interior. He raised an eyebrow when he closed one of the books. "If I may ask... what has you interested in these topics?"

His head perked up, but the glint in his eyes dimmed, as if he was trying to keep his mouth shut. The head librarian took immidate notice that he was hiding something. But decided at the last second to not press further. "You be careful out there." He reminded, extending his arms out to give Hunter the novels and encyclopedia's.

Hunter's breath hitched for a moment. "Thank you." He said quietly, his eyes veering away from Malphas' gaze. Exiting the library with caution.