The sun hung low in the sky, painting the land in warm hues of purple and orange. Sarah and Victoria walked side by side, the cool evening breeze stirring the trees as they took in the unfamiliar yet oddly comforting sights of Amphibia.
For once, things felt calm. No running from monsters, no battles, no looming threats. Just a simple walk.
Victoria had been unusually quiet. Normally, she had something to say, whether it was a sarcastic remark or some insight on their situation. But now, her brows were furrowed, lost in thought.
"I still don't get it," she finally muttered, her voice distant. "We've been here for weeks, and there's so much we don't know about this place."
Sarah glanced at her sister, sensing the frustration behind her words. "Maybe we don't need to know everything right away. This world is… different. We'll figure it out as we go."
Victoria gave a small, tired smile. "I guess. I just hate feeling like we're in the dark. Back home, I could always look things up, find answers. But here? We barely have anything to go off of."
Sarah understood. Victoria had always been someone who needed control, who thrived on knowledge and certainty. Being thrown into an unknown world with no clear explanations had to be driving her crazy.
They continued their walk in silence until something caught Sarah's eye, a faint glow through the trees. It wasn't the usual golden shimmer of fireflies, nor the eerie green glow of the creatures they'd learned to avoid. This light was different.
"Did you see that?" Sarah asked, slowing her steps.
Victoria turned her head. "See what?"
Sarah pointed through the trees. "There. It looks like a hidden path or something."
Victoria squinted, now noticing the faint glow peeking through the thick foliage. "Huh. That wasn't there before."
Curiosity got the better of them. Carefully, they pushed through the undergrowth, their steps cautious but steady. As they moved forward, the glow brightened, leading them to something unexpected, a massive, ancient structure, hidden deep within the forest.
The building was old, its stone walls covered in moss and vines, yet it stood tall and strong, resisting the pull of time. Intricate carvings lined the entrance, depicting scenes of Amphibian history, newts, frogs, salamanders, and humans standing together in unity.
Victoria let out a slow breath. "This… this is incredible."
Sarah nodded in agreement. "It's like something out of a history book."
The doors loomed before them, weathered but intact. Sarah reached out hesitantly, pressing her palm against the cool stone. At her touch, a low creaking sound filled the air as the heavy doors slowly swung open.
Inside, rows upon rows of towering bookshelves stretched high above them, filled with ancient tomes, scrolls, and artifacts. Dust floated in the golden beams of sunlight filtering through the cracks in the walls.
Sarah's jaw dropped. "No way…"
Victoria stepped forward, her expression one of pure wonder. "It's a library. A massive one."
Her fingers brushed against the spines of the old books as she walked, her usual curiosity kicking in. "This place… it's filled with knowledge. Real history. And not just Amphibian history, look at this!" She pulled a book off the shelf, flipping it open to reveal delicate, handwritten pages filled with notes in both Amphibian script and human writing.
Sarah leaned in. "Someone from our world must've written this…"
Victoria's excitement grew as she scanned the shelves. "This is it. This is exactly what I've been looking for. A place where I can actually learn something about this world, not just guess."
For the first time since arriving in Amphibia, Victoria looked… happy.
Sarah smiled, watching her sister's enthusiasm grow. She had always been a bookworm, a researcher at heart. And here, surrounded by knowledge, Victoria seemed at home.
Then, Sarah's gaze drifted to a certain section of books, one with an emblem that seemed oddly familiar. A swirling symbol, much like the one etched into her amulet.
She pulled a heavy tome from the shelf and flipped it open. Her heart skipped a beat.
"Victoria…" Sarah breathed.
Victoria looked up from her own book. "What is it?"
Sarah turned the book around, revealing an illustration—an amulet, identical to the one she wore around her neck.
"The Multi Amulet…" Sarah murmured.
Victoria quickly stepped over, her eyes scanning the text. "It's… ancient. A relic of immense power, tied to the history of Amphibia itself. But why would your necklace be connected to something like this?"
Sarah's fingers tightened around the pages. "I… I thought it was just a family heirloom. A gift from Grandma. But if this book is right, then it's much more than that."
Victoria flipped through more pages, her expression serious. "If this amulet is as important as this book says, then we need to figure out why you have it. And what it means for us being here."
Sarah nodded, determination settling in her chest.
They had come here searching for answers. And now, they had a new mystery to solve.
Victoria carefully closed the book, tucking it under her arm. "We need to bring this to Clover and Dolores. If anyone knows something about this, it's them."
With one last glance at the grand library, they turned and made their way back.
But as they walked, Victoria cast another look over her shoulder, a small smile playing on her lips.
Maybe Amphibia wasn't so bad after all.