He's a Mess of a Man

Book One ~ Chapter Twelve

Lucio lagged behind Leviathan on their way to the library, deep in thought. "Is something still bothering you?" Leviathan asked.

"Am I that transparent?"

"I mean... you are a ghost."

Lucio laughed lightly, "True, true. I just... I thought everyone would be happy with me now. I thought we could all be friends. I helped spring free those familiars. I warned Noddy about The Devil and the masquerade! What more do they want?!"

"You're doing fine. Just give them time," Leviathan reached for Lucio's ghostly hand, though, his fingers passed right through his. "People don't change their feelings about others overnight. Be patient."

"Uh... Levi, you know this by now, I'm no good at being patient."

Leviathan chuckled softly, "I know it all too well," he thought. "Think of this as a chance to practice."

Lucio blinked, "Practice..? Being patient? Is that even a thing?"

"It certainly is."

"Honestly, that sounds horrible and boring. But I do want to be friends with everyone, so... Maybe it's worth a try." The two reached the library door which stood ajar. Countess Nadia was already sitting in an alcove with a huge stack of documents. Aisha and Salim were there as well, leaning over a mountain of books at one of the reading tables. Lucio looked up and down the seemingly endless shelves, his eyes rolling, "So, this library. It's pretty great! Full of books and... learning!"

Leviathan stifled a laugh, "I've never seen anybody look more horribly out of place in a library," he thought. "I think most of the spellbooks are on the shelf by the window."

"Spellbooks! That makes perfect sense!" Lucio drifted along the shelves, snatching books at random. A few of the books hung in midair. Others dropped. Leviathan barely caught them in time. "Are any of these useful?"

Leviathan sighed and glanced over the covers of the fallen books. "A few of these might help," he said before reshelving the rest. "Lucio, you can't just grab any old book. We have to–"

"Oh. I thought I heard a library ghost." Asra's fluffy white head appeared around the corner of a bookshelf. His hair looked even messier than usual, like he'd been running his hands through it in frustration. "I've racked my brains, but I just can't remember which books I used. And we don't have time to search every shelf and read every..." Asra drifted off mid-sentence, gazing at Lucio's shade over Leviathan's shoulder, "I have an idea. Levi, would you mind lending me some of your magic for a moment?"

"Sure," Leviathan said, holding out his hand but Lucio narrowed his eyes at Asra.

"Woah, wait, what are you doing?"

Asra smirked, "Tracking residual magic with borrowed power from another magician. Don't worry about it."

Lucio was still blinking in confusion when Asra reached for Leviathan's outstretched hand. A tingling jolt shot up his fingers when their hands touched. Unsettled magic swirled around the three of them like an autumn gust, "AAH-! What was that?!" yelped Lucio.

"Hm." Asra's eyes widened slightly, "The spell's stronger than I anticipated. Even Lucio can feel it."

"Augh... is magic supposed to itch?" Lucio asked, "Something's scratching at me from all the way over there!" he pointed a few shelves down from where Asra and Leviathan stood. The three slowly picked their way among the books as the strange sensation grew stronger. Leviathan didn't feel it as itching, but as hairs standing on the back of his neck.

"It's strongest up there!" said Asra, pointing to a red-bound journal on the highest shelf, far above the group's heads.

"I got it! I got it!" yelled Lucio as he zoomed up the side of the bookshelf, tugging the book free. It tumbled into Leviathan's waiting hands.