Penny sat slumped in the corner of the library, books scattered around him like a storm had passed through. His brow furrowed with his eyes darting over lines of script that refused to either make sense or were just not what he was looking for. He dragged his hand down his face, frustration pouring out of him.
Out of nowhere, Zelda's calm voice drifted in, carrying that usual mixture of patience and sharp insight.
"You're not going to find the answers in there, you know."
Penny looked up, glaring as she walked closer, her presence already grating on him.
"Each time," she continued, "you always struggle to fully grasp your aspects. And each time, you find yourself here, buried under books."
"Well then what the fuck am I supposed to do, huh?" Penny snapped, tossing a book onto the pile. "When I can't even travel properly, how the hell am I supposed to take anyone with me and get it right without screwing everything up?"
Zelda stopped just in front of him, tilting her head slightly. "Well… there are books you can read about travelers but..."
Penny's eyes widened with sudden hope. "But? But what?"
Her expression softened, though her words fell like stones. "It's in another branch, unfortunately."
"I don't understand," Penny muttered. "Can't I just place an order for it or can't you just expedite that shit or something?"
She nodded. "Yes. But it would take a week at least to get here through the proper channels."
"Fuck me," Penny muttered under his breath, his shoulders sinking.
Zelda studied the boy's downcast face, then spoke softly. "They are the most precious people, you know."
Penny raised his head slowly, confused. "Who?"
"Travelers." Zelda's voice carried weight, reverence. "Most of our collections here are only here because of them. They are unique, unbound, unshackled. And so are you, Penny when you finally embrace yourself properly."
She began to pace, her tone shifting into something more contemplative. "Travelers always come with their own unique set of dreams. They are the unmoored, the ones who can slip beyond walls others never see and they get to explore the multiverse, discovering new places beyond our comprehension."
Penny gave a bitter laugh. "Yeah, well, I know one who's proving that statement wrong right now in Fillory's dungeon. She's pretty damn bound."
Zelda paused, considering his words. "Yes… but I'm sure there are circumstances that led to that."
"You make it sound so simple. So fun." Penny shook his head.
"No," Zelda said firmly. "But your people are valuable. And from what I've observed, master travelers have a fantastic time doing what they do."
Penny scoffed at that, rolling his eyes with a small smile.
"Don't worry, Penny," she said with the faintest of smiles. "If you can survive long enough, you'll get a handle on it. I promise."
"If huh. Funny," Penny muttered. "Does it say that in my book?"
Zelda gave a sly little grin. "No spoilers." With that, she stood and walked away, leaving Penny staring after her.
---
Later, the group gathered. Kai and the others stood together, prepared. "Well, it's time to go," Kai said.
Just as they were about to move, Zelda returned, chuckling softly. "I thought this would have ended differently, you know."
Kai gave her a look. "Let me guess, you thought you'd have to wave goodbye to us after one of us destroys a boom or something?"
"Oh, I'm surprised you know that, and about the wave goodbye well, I'm sure I can still do that, Kai," she replied smoothly. With a flick of her hand, the world shifted, and suddenly they all found themselves outside, standing near a fountain.
Julia groaned. "Ohhh man, I hate that."
Margo quickly agreed, muttering her own complaints.
"Enough," Alice said sharply. "We need to move. Hurry up."
Kai nodded. "Alright. Cloaking spells now. And watch where you step."
They all whispered the incantation, invisique, fading from sight as they slipped away from the fountain with a shallow box in tow. The maze wound before them, twisting and suffocating, until finally they reached a place where they saw the Neitherlanders.
They froze, ducking behind a wall.
But then there was a crack. The sharp snap of a branch beneath someone's foot. Everyone froze. One of the hooded figures, a girl, turned toward the sound. Her eyes narrowed, scanning. For a tense moment, silence held. Finally, she turned away. "Keep searching."
The group exhaled as one. Kai let his cloaking spell fade, the others reluctantly following suit. He turned, his eyes landing on Quentin who looked painfully sheepish.
"Unbelievable," Margo snapped. "You couldn't keep your legs from stepping on a fucking branch?"
"Lay off him," Alice cut in defensively.
"Hey," Kai interrupted. "We don't have time for this. Someone's here." And then he blurred, vanishing with vamp speed around the corner.
There, meters away, a hooded figure lingered. But before the stranger could react, a voice drifted behind him.
"What's up, doc?"
The figure spun, startled at the voice, only for Kai's hand to clamp around his throat. The man struggled, choking, as his hood fell back a bit to reveal not rags but jeans and a sweatshirt. Kai muttered, eyes narrowing, "Oh…" He yanked the hood back fully, revealing a guy with glasses.
"Well, well, well," Kai said dryly. "If it isn't the hobo."
He dropped the man, who collapsed to the ground, coughing hard. The others rushed up as the stranger scrambled to his feet.
"Who's the extra?" Eliot asked, eyebrow raised.
The man brushed himself off. "Josh. My name's Josh." He glanced at Kai. "Damn, dude. No need to go full-on Terminator."
Kai smirked. "Could've been worse. Good to see another Earth magician here."
Josh blinked. "Wait, you guys are from Brakebills?"
Alice frowned, turning to Kai. "How does he know he's an earth magician?"
Kai pointed at Josh's earthly clothing. Margo sighed. "Yeah, he sticks out like a sore thumb."
Josh suddenly paled, glancing around. "Uhhh, guys? We need to get out of here. Like, pronto."
Without hesitation, they followed his lead. As they moved, Kai found his thoughts drifting, strangely enough, to one thing. The apple that supposedly tasted like pizza.
He really wanted to try it.
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