Milo found himself back in the city park, closer to after noon. The time discrepancy did not escape him as always but that is what happens when you go plane jumping. Milo adjusted the strap on his “brand new” favorite book-bag and stepped off for home munching thoughtfully on his cookie. As he always did he wrapped himself in a cloak of magic with the intent to pass unseen. His version of the cloaking technique wasn’t nearly as potent as his masters but it was as close as most would ever get to.

Milo took a slight detour through downtown and to pop into the old Used Bookstore to play at visiting his master. Passing various shops, students and weaving in and out of the crowd the whole time. He may be practically invisible but that didn’t stop people from bumping into him from time to time.

“Ye Olde Book Shoppe”. Milo said, coming up to the front door. Stepping inside he noticed only another different display of books up. And of course a peculiar sign in the back announcing the “William V. Hawkshaw” office.

He didn’t bother knocking, the door was already open revealing a cleaning closet. Stepping through, he flooded an amount of magic into the air around him shaking and warping the illusion. And then before him sat the reclusive, paranoid and impressive magician looking tired. The man in front of him looked ragged, exhausted and barely holding it together.

“Milo! My Boy! How was your trip?” master Hawkshaw tried to give a winning smile to try and hide the exhaustion.

“Master, I hav-”

“Bill,” he was corrected by a finger.

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“Bill! You left me in the market, you made me find my own way back to earth!”

“It's about time,” Bill said wryly.

“I know I don’t need to tell you how hard jumping is without a beskers crook!”

“So.. How did you get back?”

“I practiced till I got lucky!”

“Congratulations, there is a reason why most people believe jumping without a crook is a myth.”

“Because it's hard as hell?”

“Dangerous too!”

Milo took a deep breath, and really looked “Bill” in the eye. He realized he was hiding something, and for once made a poor effort which sort of put Milo off. Hiding things was all Bill really did, so either something was really wrong or he was getting played.

“What's wrong?” Milo said with a frown.

“I can't find Greg. and as far as I can tell no one else can either.” And instantly William V. Hawkshaw, Master magician, deflated. Milo kneeled down to his aged master.

“Are you certain?”

“Yeah.” He took a deep breath and continued. “Greg usually goes “vacationing” every so often but shows back up after a couple days.”

Milo thought for a second, and came up with a course of action that his master could not look into.

“I’ll go pay Batty a visit, I'll see if he has any overdue books on his person.” And within a few moments he left his master sitting in his office spiraling and slipped into the library.