“Alright, let’s get to the core of what ya all really want me to explain. How it is, yer mana abilities work. Before I do that, let’s go through what each of yas can do. I get the feeling none of us are know just what Serilina or Wiggles are capable of over there, or Librarian guide for the matter. Ya got any mana abilities, Libby?” Twonger looked around the room at all of them, finishing with Libby. His focus remained there until they spoke.

  “Not in any traditional sense. I’m not sure my artificial body would allow me the use of mana channels, but I am able to see most directed mana flows. It can be useful at times. It was so we can keep the front desk free from any chaos.” Libby answered.

  “Makes sense, alright, the rest of ya can chime in any time now. I want to hear it all. If I’m signing up for interdimensional war, I want to know what I’m stuck with.” Twonger had an odd smile on his face. Andy guessed he had already decided he wanted to join them for the treasure potential alone.

  “As I assume my abilities are the most complex and require some backstory, I will go next.” Ralth started. “My current abilities were refined by the system Cal was gifted to better understand reality. Originally, I returned to my home universe with a mishmash of powers from various other dying realities that I was taught by the conductor how to use. It was always extremely difficult at best, but it seems to have well-prepared me for my newer abilities, which allow me to copy the mana signatures of others as well as channel both raw rift and transcendence mana. Not that I’ve seen any sources of transcendence mana since I’ve returned. I was hoping I may locate some here to practice.”

  “When you say conductor, are you referring to the grand conductor of the star rails?” Libby asked, looking genuinely interested.

  “Yes.”

  “It is unlikely you will find any transcendence mana within this wing. It is only known to make up the system that connects the railway. And as I’m sure you already know, it’s something that can’t exist yet does.” Libby said.

  “Yes, I was worried about that.” Ralth frowned.

  “Alright, the big man started off strong with insanely powerful mana. Who’s next?” Twonger continued prodding.

  “Bill and I are connected mana-wise. I tried to manifest my core into him instead of creating a mana spirit, and somehow, that led us here to this Under Library. I am able to control small balls of gravity and pressure. Bill is able to take control of other's mana flows and maintain them himself. What I was hoping is you could help us find a way to increase our abilities without access to a spirit realm.” Andy explained his and Bill’s powers as well as their current needs.

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  “Who needs a spirit realm? Those are usually more trouble than they are worth. I know you all are in a unique situation where you can just keep pouring energy into them, but most people don’t have that. So congrats, yer stuck doing it the normal way. Work on your mana channels, and keep pushing yourself to channel bigger and better things. Pass out in a pile of your own sweat and other worse things as you realize you pushed it too far. You’ve got access to Cal and Ethel’s spirit realms already. Do ya really think ya need more? Alright, how about you, Andrew? What do you have?” Twonger finished his rant at Andy and moved on.

  “Nothing as of yet.”

  “We are going to need to fix that. Everyone in your group should be training up some kind of mana core. I hope my brother is making things really clear to Cal about what needs to change if ya’ll want to win this insane war. Alright, you two go” He pointed to Serilina and her cat.

  “I have a flowing ice core that I’ve been building up for a very long time. It’s got some offensive and healing abilities, as you saw. So you know there is a lot of stuff you guys all seem to know about the multiverse that I missed the news on, anyone want to share?” She asked the group, not having explained Mr. Wiggles.

  “We will get to it eventually, I’m sure, over the next decade, but what about the cat? That thing is more than it appears, isn’t it?” Twonger kept his focus on Mr. Wiggles.

  “I don’t know. While I can understand him, he doesn’t like to talk about his past or how he got here. He saved me when I ended up here and has been my guardian ever since and as you’ve all experienced, he likes to save other hapless travelers. He’s a very good boy, aren’t you, Wiggly?” She ran her hands through his fur as she finished speaking.

  “Good enough, I suppose. Next time we take a break in a room, I’m going to put ya all through your paces and see just where I think yer channels are at.” Twonger had a sadistic look on his face.

  “Hey, what about you? Just what can you do, Twonger?” Andy asked.

  “Ah yeah, I suppose I should share. So I use my core to channel mana into this sword hilt here. Inside it are a few of those dead world seeds we discussed and one proto-one. That’s the important one; lets me pick my mana type from what I’ve been able to channel before. That’s a big part of why I’m thinking of joining up. Ya all have some really crazy power mana types that I haven’t had access to before, and I really want to learn to use em.” He answered.

  “Last question for the night: you’ve made reference to the way mana and language works several times. Can you explain that?” Andrew said.

  “Ah yeah, you just think all those animals, or me for that matter, speak yer language magically? Yer mana cores are working to translate it through the universal mana flow. It tends to work best on sapient creatures, as I’m sure you’ve learned. It can still be useful to learn other languages, though. Some details do get lost every now and then.” Twonger answered.

  “Hey, does anyone else hear that banging over there?” Bill pointed at the wall.