'Hello there, Friends of The Thing.'
Place called out mentally to the presences he could feel watching him.
His greeting got... strange reactions.
Something 'waved', another replied with one of its own, and a third... 'giggled', as it somehow 'waggled' its 'fingers' at him.
'Oh...' Place kept his face steady as he mentally groaned at the actions he could somehow feel.
It made no sense, mental communication didn't function like that. He shouldn't be able to feel something waving its 'hand' in greeting, much less waggling fingers.
A sense of mirth and joy propagated from the connection.
They were laughing and taking joy at his reaction.
Place stopped focusing inside, and tried to hear for any movement in the physical world.
Finding nothing, he returned to the mental realm.
'Even though you may know this, I am Ald-placeen Cublue.'
He felt a sense of shock.
'But, please just call me Place.'
The shock transformed into a feeling of 'giddiness' and excitement.
The Friends knew him, and did not expect him.
Place filed that away, with more than a little bit of fear.
He slammed down his mental locks to suppress his questions and feelings at that realization.
'Please don't make things difficult for me.'
He made his request, sending with it a feeling of tiredness.
A feeling of 'pat-pat' came through, and he barely managed to stop himself from shuddering.
'Please do not do that.' That feeling was comfortable, the problem was that it came out of nowhere, and he couldn't stop it.
One of the Friends shot an accusing gaze at another, and that one, 'bowed' in apology.
'Just, don't do it again.' Place accepted the apology.
It nodded, then suddenly burst into 'movement'.
'Huh? What?'
It 'tossed' something at him, and he panicked for a moment.
Then whatever it was went 'into' him.
'What just happened?' He blared his question.
A moment of silence passed, then a bunch of instructions appeared in his mind.
'What is... this?'
He scanned the instructions, and as he was about to follow them, a sound brought him back to the physical plane.
The door had swung open, that had been the sound that attracted his attention.
Two people strode in, followed by Professor Cumber.
A woman who was dressed in what looked like sleepwear and carried a thick book, and a man with greying hair who looked dressed for battle.
"It's always one of the first years, isn't it?" The woman complained sleepily.
"It's in their nature." The older man agreed. "But this is a new record, to have gotten into a situation like this before his first day... I swear they get more unruly every year."
Place watched them approach him as he stood up and gave a small bow in greeting.
"Good ...morning?" He greeted with a question, having lost his bearings for a moment.
'What time is it?' A bad time to wonder that.
"It's not even first light, child." The woman chucked the book at him.
He was taken aback, but his hands moved immediately to catch the book, muscle memory coming into play.
The book seemed to have a different idea.
It opened in mid-air and flew above his head, and started to glow and spin, its back facing the ceiling.
Place lowered his hands as he stared at the book floating above his head.
"Mr. Cublue." The older man spoke to pull his attention onto them.
"Please just call me Place." Place gave another bow. "I apologize for disturbing your rest."
"I am the resident demon expert. My name is Kalak Phiree, and this sleepy fool," He gestured to the woman he had arrived with. "Is the current acting-headmistress, Galathee Magi-child."
"Professor Kalak, Professor Galathee." Place nodded to show he understood.
"Just call me Miss Gala." Professor Galathee waved a hand as the book flew back ot her and floated in front for her to read.
"As you say, Miss Gala." Place corrected his words as she read something in the book.
"The book didn't find anything wrong." She stated aloud. "Can you smell anything?"
"No." The demon expert stared with fascination in his eyes as he looked at Place.
"You said that this isn't the first time this has happened, correct?" He questioned.
"That is correct." Place nodded in agreement.
"How many times has something like this happened?"
Place paused for a second.
"I believe that this is... the thirteenth time."
All three of the people blinked in surprise.
"The thirteenth time you've had a Revelation?" Miss Gala muttered in quiet wonder.
"The first time something like this happened was back when I was nine years old." Place started to reminisce about the first time the Thing interfered in his life.
"I felt a pull, and it showed me something that changed my way of thinking at that time."
'I wonder what would have happened if 'It' didn't do that.'
"Could you tell me what happened?" Kalak asked.
"I would rather not." Place shook his head. "Those times are not fond memories."
He nodded in understanding, then turned to Miss Gala.
"Well, there seems to be no reason for us to keep Place." He gave the others a second to see if there were any more questions.
"I will be keeping an eye on you, Mr. Place, but for now, you can go back to your dorm."
Place gave them a bow.
"Then I shall bid farewell, Professors." He walked past them and out of the library.
He walked at a brisk pace back towards his dormitory, his mind abuzz.
He knew both Kalak Phiree and Galathee, the child of magic.
They were both famous worldwide for their accomplishments.
Kalak Phiree first gained fame 43 years ago, during the Bleeding Sky incident in Ionsul City, then again and again, 36 years ago, 25 years ago, 11 years ago, 4 years ago, and last year was the most recent.
All of them included him absolutely demolishing demons and repelling the forces of the underworld. There were rumors that he had gained fame in the underworld itself.
And then there was Galathee, the child of magic.