The town appeared to be a little bit bigger than the one that the Kiftans lived in but still had that lovely, small-town feel to it. Ward escorted her to the door of the library and asked if she wanted him to accompany her inside. Already feeling guilty over the amount of his time that she'd been taking, she'd smiled and shooed him away. He hesitated for a long moment before nodding and turning away, his long lope eating up the distance and he turned a corner and was lost to her sight.

Turning her attention back to the wooden door in front of her, Ria absently wondered why she was so nervous. It wasn't like she had never been to a library before, she had practically lived in various libraries growing up. She suddenly realized that this was the first time she'd been alone in public since she'd arrived in Audrilandre. She'd always had at least one of the Kiftans with her if not more.

Swallowing hard, she squared her shoulders and carefully rested her hand on the intricately carved door. She could do this, she had studied hard and Ward wouldn't have left her in a situation that he didn't think she was capable of handling. Not only that, she had dealt with many more delicate situations back on earth when she had to open up a new region or enter negotiations with less intel than she preferred.

Taking one last deep breath, she pushed open the door and stepped inside. Immediately, the familiar smell of paper and ink met her nose, causing her to unconsciously relax. The woman at the front desk greeted her quietly before turning her attention back to the stack of papers before her. Ria moved past the desk, relaxing further when there was no call for her to stop or where did she think she was going. Glancing at all the shelves, she decided to start at the furthest back corner and work her way back toward the entrance.

Making her way to the far corner, she was quickly ensconced in her task. It wasn't until mid-morning that her attention was pulled away from the books that she was flipping through idly. Peeking around the end of the shelf she was perusing, she saw a family enter the library. At least, she was pretty sure that it was a family given the similarity of their features. A grandmother, mother, and a young daughter who couldn't have been any more than five or so. They were native Audrilandrians, the pale blue shade of their skin and dark blue-black hair some of their distinctive features.

The mother and little girl headed off to what was obviously the children's corner, covered in bright colors with toys scattered about. The grandmother settled on a bench close to where Ria was, content to watch over her family as she pulled out some knitting. Ria watched them discreetly, trying to pick apart what the mother was telling the daughter, although her words seemed to carry a regional accent that was harder for her to pick apart than what the Kiftans or Derrick had spoken.

The older woman spoke, nearly startling Ria out of her skin, "I can sense you watching us, child. If you're so curious, why don't you come out and speak with us instead of lurking in the shadows?"

Ria immediately turned bright red, shame washing through her. Clutching the book she was skimming tightly to disguise the way that her hands were shaking, she stepped out and offered the woman a bow, "I apologize, I meant no disrespect. I did not wish to disturb a family enjoying their day out."

The woman smiled at her and indicated for her to sit in the chair opposite her. "New star travelers are always curious, it is a privilege to guide them, not an imposition. I am M'tra. So, what brings you to our corner of the world, wanderer?"

Ria took the seat and inclined her head in thanks, "I am Allegria. I have come in search of knowledge of star travel."

The older woman kept knitting smoothly without even glancing at her project. "Hmm, that is not a subject that many think to look into. Of course, there have been many scholars in the capital that have sought to understand why Audrilandre calls people to us, from across time and space, but there are mysteries in this universe that are simply not meant to be solved. Besides, it is a simple matter."

Her curiosity intrigued, Ria couldn't help asking, "Oh? Why do you think that there are star travelers?"

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M'tra chuckled, the sound low and soothing, "Audrilandre calls for those that we need, that fill the things that we do not already have. Many people consider star travelers world changers because of what they bring to Audrilandre. However, I think that they bring something that we needed all along and simply were not aware of the need. Sometimes we get so caught up in the way that things have always been done that we don't stop to think that maybe there is an easier or better way to do things. Of course, change is never easy."

Ria couldn't help her smile, "No, if there is one thing that is certain about change, it is that everyone will kick up a fuss about the change, bother and fuss and protest, before acting like it was their own idea the whole time."

She guffawed at that, causing her daughter and granddaughter to glance over briefly before returning to their task. "Ah, I see that you are a student of humanity. It is very true, the proud peacocks act like they were the ones behind the changes all along instead of putting every roadblock that they could think of into their path. However, if you already know this, why are you searching about star travelers? Is there another that you seek?"

Ria looked down at her lap, tracing the edge of the cover of the book that she didn't even remember picking up. "It's complicated, I'm afraid."

M'tra just gave an understanding hum, "If it is private, you do not have to speak of it. However, if you are worried or simply need a listening ear, well, I am here and you are here and there is no need to rush."

Opening her mouth to politely decline, Ria was surprised to find the whole story tumbling freely past her lips. About waking up in a strange world, her struggles to wrap her head around the situation let alone adjust, her fears for the family that she'd left behind, and her goal to return home as soon as possible. During the rather lengthy tale, M'tra didn't speak, she simply kept knitting and offering an encouraging hum here and there for her to keep going when the words knotted up in her throat.

Once Ria had finished, M'tra didn't speak right away, just allowed the silence to envelop the pair of them, punctuated by the occasional giggle of the little girl as she played.

Finally, she cast off whatever she had been knitting and allowed it to rest in her lap, "Well, that is quite the tangled tale, from start to end, one that I've never heard the like of. I have met all sorts of star travelers in my lifetime but never one that does not remember accepting an invitation. Believe me, a tale like that would've spread like wildfire."

Ria felt her anxiety skyrocket but before she could plead with the woman not to spread the tale, the woman raised her hand, "Don't fret, I won't tell anyone what you've spoken of today. You entrusted me with your confidence and I will not be the one to break it. However, I will tell you that you won't find what you're searching for here. No, the answers that you seek lay elsewhere and I think that you will have to journey a while longer yet to find them. However, do not give up hope. You were brought here for a reason, maybe that reason was to find a way back for those who are homesick for their place of origin. Maybe it is something else entirely, who knows? However, the truth of the answers that you seek already lies within you, ready to be discovered. You just need to be willing to be still and listen to what those truths are saying."

She turned and watched her family for a long moment, a small smile on her face, before turning her attention back to Ria. "Just remember, a man often finds his fate on the road that he takes to avoid it. Just trust in yourself and believe that things will work out as long as you try your best."

A tight band around her chest eased and Ria relaxed back into the chair, a smile tugging at her own mouth as she watched the innocent joy of the child playing. "Thank you. I often struggle with trying to take on too many responsibilities. It is a good reminder that I can only do my best and that the rest is out of my control."

M'tra offered a hum of approval. "It's a lesson that we all must learn. Now, if I'm not mistaken, that guardian is searching for you."

She nodded over Ria's shoulder and Ria twisted to see Ward standing by the desk scanning the shelves for her. Well, his work must've ended sooner than she anticipated. Standing, she offered M'tra another bow, "Thank you. I didn't realize how much I needed to get that all off my chest."

M'tra offered her a gentle smile, standing as well, "Sometimes, a sympathetic ear can make our worries much lighter." She met Ria's gaze directly, her gaze sharp yet kind, "You will find what you need, star traveler. It might not be what you want at this moment but trust in your heart, it will not guide you wrong."

She offered Ria a small bow before walking away to rejoin her family. Ward asked quietly, his eyes bright with curiosity, "What was that all about?"

Ria turned and offered him a small smile, "She was just offering me some advice. Done with the administrative side of things for today."

He nodded, "I thought we could get some lunch and then maybe head out for a circuit if you're still interested. Do you wish to take that book with us?"

She glanced down at the book in her hand with surprise before laughing. "No, I don't think I'll find the answers that I need here. Lunch sounds wonderful, let's go."