Planet Zar: Nexus

Janzanrath didn't believe she'd ever get used to the sheer enormity of Sultherem's library. The shelves were a labyrinth of books snaking for miles between tall, marble walls. How did Timotojaius keep track of anything in here? How did anyone find what they were looking for? Janz memorized the first few aisles as best she could but the books were incomprehensibly numerous. She tucked her discarded, slender novel tighter under her forelimb and pushed onward. She had the genetic memories of generations behind her, she could figure out the dewey decimal system!

A choked sniffle emanated from a few shelves down.

Janz paused her search, peering through the stacks of books. While the library technically never closed, it was deep into the evening and few patrons mingled so late. Was it a scoundrel out to steal books? Someone hiding from the law?

"Hello?" she called, creeping cautiously around the shelf. She send a hesitant telepathic tingle toward Timotojaius in hopes that her bond wasn't far. "Do you need some help?"

The sniffling cut off abruptly, followed by shuffling and the heavy thud of a fallen book.

Janz rounded the corner and spotted a young human hunched in a corner, fumbling after the novel they'd dropped. He didn't appear dangerous and was rather small, not much bigger than Janz herself. He turned quickly, clutching the novel like a shield to his chest. Janz knew that plenty of the abyss born could look like humans, even if they really weren't. Timotojaius has shifted form in front of her many times but he always felt the same in his mind, no matter what he looked like. This person felt like a human, plain and simple.

"Are you okay?" she asked, inching closer.

The boy sniffed and wiped his nose on the back of his shabby sleeve. He nodded.

Janz knew immediately that he was lying. Even without her magic it was obvious the poor fellow was in distress.

"Do you need help finding a book? I'm not very good at it yet but I can asked Timotojaius. He's the head archivist, if you didn't know."

The boy shook his head and lifted the book in his hand. It was written in some human language Janz didn't recognize but the cover was vibrant with dancing characters.

"Are you lost? I know it's awfully tricky getting around here."

The boy hesitated. After a beat he nodded, the tiniest little dip of his chin.

"I can help you out, if you'd like! No worries, we all get lost in here. Do you want to follow me?"

The boy shuffled closer, nodding with a little more enthusiasm.

"Excellent!" Janz whirled around, keeping her pace slow and steady to encourage the fellow to come along with her. "Have you been to the library before?"

"N... no."

He was telling the truth but there was something more behind his answer.

"Have you been to Sultherem before?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder.

The boy shook his head. "Just got here."

He was one of the refugees, then. Timotojaius had told her humans didn't belong on Anygh. He'd showed her to some of the comfort houses where they were kept until someone with a ship came along to collect them, bring them somewhere safer. They'd been stolen from their own world and raised like cattle for the euclides. This poor kid was one of the lucky ones, to escape. Was he alone when he reached Sultherem? Did he have a family somewhere? Janz ached to ask him but he was already so upset, he didn't need a reminder of bad things gone past.

Janz led him through the winding shelves until they breached the sitting room, peaceful in its emptiness with only a few golden light-glows casting their warmth over the couches. The boy scurried past her and curled onto a settee, clutching his book with white-knuckles. He ought to go back to one of the safe houses to sleep. What would he eat in the morning? The library didn't serve breakfast and Janz figured him too young to be getting a cuppa tea.

"Do you have somewhere else to be?" Janz asked, shuffling next to him and propping her chin on the couch. "Has anyone assigned you a bed or a home yet?"

"I'd... I'd rather be here for a bit."

Well. The library didn't close and Timotojaius would forgive her if she spent a bit of time helping a human rather than reshelving books. Janz crawled up onto the next couch and peered over the boy's shoulder.

"What book is that? Is it your home language?"

"It's what my mama taught me. I don't know this story, though."

"Would you like to read it to me?"

The boy shot her a bewildered look, his eyes wide as the neighboring moons. "You'd like that?"

"I love stories! Maybe after I can read you one of my favorite books?"

"... that'd be nice."

:: He needed a friend. :: Timotojaius' mind voice was a dizzying comfort, like staring at infinite space and knowing it loved you back. :: Thank-you for finding him, Janzanrath. ::

Janz brimmed an equal wash of love back to her bond and settled around the boy as he cracked open the colorful pages of his story.