The feeling that overtook him was nothing like he ever felt before. A veritable cornucopia of emotions that danced inside of him but not quite overtaking him. At the same time, he could embrace sullen and morose feeling that has plagued him for years or turn around and reach for the maniac happiness and joy. Mab was talking about spell books and human mages before the Sundering, his boyish voice barely registering. Somehow Todor knew that the tome was not really a spell book but something much more. He was sure it could function as a grimoire of spells but that wasn't its primary function.

The immaterial tugging at his scalp stopped but something else took its place. A presence, a faint impression of something that made itself into his psyche. It wasn't intelligent, or at least not yet. Definitely not in a sense that most people define intelligence. Descartes: 'I think, therefore I am' fails here, this thing doesn't think, it just ... feels. Todor concluded patting the aged leather.

"Do you know what this could mean?" Mab asked excitedly, his eyes shining with excitement.

"It means I am buying it," Todor said flatly.

"Well, of course, dummy. What I am trying to say is that maybe humans can do magic after all!" the boy exclaimed happily.

"How so?" Todor asked as he moved his index finger along the books large spine. Mab slapped his forehead.

"These books were sealed by human magic. All the Morg and Anadori spell casters tried their hands at opening them. They tried destroying them as well but they failed at that too. So, everyone came to the conclusion that only humans can open them but since human magic is gone they became paperweights." boy explained with exasperation in his voice.

"How do you know so much about human spellbooks?" Todor asked eying the boy. Somehow he didn't feel excitement at this discovery just content. It is how it should be. I don't know how I know that.

"Well, since I am half-breed there was a fifty-fifty chance of inheriting the ability to use Anadori magic. But I didn't. So I researched the way to somehow activate my human magic." Mab responded, blushing.

"So, that is your Onodori. To bring back the human magic." Todor said opening the book.

"Sort of, yeah. How dumb is that?" he said turning even more crimson.

"It is as dumb as my own. To bring back the Internet," he said with a chuckle. He turned few pages but all the words were written in some strange glyphs. Mab climbed on a stool nearby and peeked over his shoulder.

"I figured it wouldn't be that easy." the boy murmured staring at the incomprehensible pages.

"At least now you know why your aunt, the Seer, told you to go find Nintendo 64," Todor said closing the book and locking back the covers.

"Huh, I guess you are right. You think it's still relevant to get the console?" he asked jumping down from a stool. "Wait, what are you doing?! Don't close it, you don't know if you can open it up again!"

"If you don't buy the console I will. It had some great games." Todor said with a smirk. "And don't worry I know I can open it again."

"How are you so sure?" the boy protested putting fists on his hips.

Todor snapped his fingers and book clicked. He snapped it again and the lock clicked again, this time securing the heavy tome.

"We have an understanding between each other," he said moving to the main room where shopkeeper lady was still reading her notebook.

"Any luck with that console, ma'am?" he asked her. She looked up from her writings one of her eyebrows quirking in surprise.

"Oh, I think my husband found one, functional at that. Did you find anything else interesting?"

"Yes, this thing," Mab said putting a Rubik's cube on the counter. Ah, that is what he was playing with back then. Todor thought, amused.

"And this book," Todor added thumping the hefty tome next to Mab's cube.

"Oh, I am afraid that purchasing that particular book has some conditions attached to it. The toy, we can sell you right away," she said suddenly more serious than before.

"What are the conditions?" Todor asked.

"You must know the title of the book." the woman said gravely.

"How can we know the name of the book if there is nothing written on it," Mab asked his cheeks blushing furiously.

"That is not up to me young man. The patron who donated the book gave us strict instructions that only a human, male or female, can purchase the book and only if they can name the tomes truthful title. So do you know it?"

"That is bullshit! Why put it on sale if you have some weird ass rules for buying it?" Mab started asking, his boyish voice shrill with indignation.

Todor thought for a second and reached out to that new feeling that nested below his scalp. It tingled when he touched it with his awareness. Somehow feeling of calm and understanding came over him. How can I feel understanding when I don't understand a thing? He thought bemused.

"If you can't name it, I can't help you." the shopkeeper said sadly.

And then it clicked. It came, but with great difficulty. His head wanted to explode like something was trying to move, to flow. But it hit the wall and only a tiny opening let it squeeze through, tiny bit by tiny bit. He winced at the pain that blossomed above his eyes but as soon as it reached its peak it vanished leaving behind the information. And just like that, he knew the name of the book.

"Ezezu Kiag" Todor whispered in surprise.

"Excuse me?" the shopkeeper said.

Todor looked at her and shrugged.

"That is the books name. Ezezu Kiag."

"Morgosh, come here! Quickly!" she screamed.

The large man strolled slowly back into the main room, not even a hint of urgency in his step.

"Did you murdered our young guests and now wish for me to hide their bodies?" he asked chuckling to himself. When he entered the room he scanned the scene and noticed the book on the counter. That froze him in place, wide-eyed.

"Oh, it's about time." he spat.

"Quickly, bring the chest." shopkeeper ordered to her husband in one breath. The large man just kept murmuring "I know, I know" as he left behind the current.

"What is going on?" Mab demanded to know."Did he guessed right?"

"You can't guess the name of the maharoon. It must introduce itself, child." shopkeeper explained in a huff.

"I don't understand, is the name correct or not? Can I buy it?" Todor asked a hint of irritation coloring his voice.

"We will know in a second. And I will explain everything if the name turns out to be correct," she said taking a big breath afterward.

The large man came back like an avalanche carrying a tiny ornamental chest. It looked a bit tacky with small intricate engravings and silver-gilt animals.

"Here it is love, " he said putting the chest in front of his wife.

"Alright. You, young man. Open the chest and put your hand in it."

"Why?" he asked confused.

"It will tell us if you said the truth." shopkeeper woman responded sternly.

Mab pulled his sleeve. Todor looked at the boy questioningly.

"Don't. That is hortirion chest. It inflicts pain upon those who tell lies." Mab said, fear in his voice.

"It is the only way, boy." the woman said in a shrill voice.

"He is pureblooded human. He can die." Mab retorted angrily.

"It is the only way, boy." woman repeated more gently.

Todor was amused and horrified by the notion of such a device. But somehow knew he was telling the truth.

"I never planned to live forever anyway," he said with a smirk and put his left hand in the chest. "What now?" he added since nothing happened.

"Answer with a full sentence. What is the title of this book?" the giant man asked putting his large palm over the tome.

"The name of that book is Ezezu Kiag," he said. A coldness enveloped his hand, then warmth. And a second later even that ceased.

"So? Is the book mine, or what?" he asked feeling silly standing there with three people staring at him.

The shopkeeper woman gasped, large man whooped with happiness and Mab let out a sigh of relief. Then Mab rushed at him and punched him in the shoulder.

"Don't be so stupid. That thing could have killed you." Mab said half-heartedly.

"It didn't," he responded with a chuckle.

"What is your name, young man?" the woman asked slowly.

"I am Todor, what about you two?" he asked in return.

Large man laughed full belly laugh while the woman just smiled.

"I am Carol and this is my husband, Morgosh. He is half Morg if you couldn't tell," she answered for both of them.

"So I can buy the book now?" Todor asked even more confused.

"Buy? Boy, your money is no good here. You can have the console, the Rubik's cube and the maharoon on the house." Morgosh said through the fits of laughter.

"Why? I am willing to pay a fair price." Todor insisted.

"Mister Todor, you don't understand. The book was never ours. We were just custodians until its owner shows up. And that is you." Carol explained eagerly. "The maharoon is a living thing, it is born anew every time it makes a connection with an owner. And that connection is for life. "

"So human magic is not completely dead?" Mab asked, hope painfully evident in his voice.

Carol shook her head.

"Humans still can't cast magic. Somehow we lost the ability because we were separated from it for so long. But this is a start, a change. Hope."

Todor scoffed at that.

"Hope for what? Humanity did just fine without magic. We are holding our own against everyone with just technology."

"True, but for how long? Anadori are immortal, and Morgothlites are so long-lived they are practically immortal as well. How much longer do you think will their arrogance keep them from developing the technology of their own to augment their already powerful magic?" Morgosh argued.

Todor considered that for a second and agreed. True, I was shortsighted. But why am I considering humanities plight now? I am just a single person who has no power to change anything. But that presence under his scalp sent a sense of disapproval. Is that you Ezezu Kiag? He got a feeling of satisfaction. Oh, boy. I will need time to get used to this.

"I still think I should pay for a console at least." he insisted stubbornly.

"Hey, Todd. That is my console, don't try to steal it from me." Mab added behind him. From the tone of boys voice, he concluded he was only joking.

"Alright, then you pay for it. And I will take the book from this nice folks," he said suddenly needing fresh air.

"If you need anything, anything at all, just call us," Morgosh said giving Todor business card.

-"Thanks. Mab, I'll wait for you outside. I need some air." Todor said taking the card and picking the book from the counter.

He moved to the streetwalk right away breathing hard. The wind brought the smell of wet asphalt and ozone. Storm clouds in the east inched since they entered the store and Todor drunk the fresh air. What a hell was that? What does this all mean? He thought, glaring at the clouds rumbling closer as if they knew the answer. The flash of red lightning illuminated the darkening sky. He felt Ezezu send a pulse of reassurance.

He heard the door behind opening and Mab's voice saying: "And if it doesn't work I will come back." A moment later the half-breed boy stopped next to him.

"So." the boy said.

"So," Todor responded.

"Can I come read the book sometimes?" the boy asked.

"Can I come to play Nintendo 64 sometimes?" Todor responded right away.

Both of them burst out laughing. After a minute their laughter died down and they stood there staring at the clouds and occasional flashes of lighting. The wind picked up carrying papers and plastic bags around them.

"I don't know what this means." Todor finally said.

"I don't think anyone knows," Mab replied.

"I just want Internet back. And now I am starting to consider how to help humanity against extinction itself." Todor confessed to the strange boy next to him.

"I don't know you, Todor. I just have an interest in that book. And since that book chose you, I will try to get along with you too. But I have trouble with people. I don't do friendship thing." he said honestly.

"Well, that was some heartfelt confessions we spat out," Todor said with a smirk.

"Yeah." Mab snorted.

"So, you have plans for the weekend? I was thinking you can bring that N64 to my place and you can study the book while I play some games. Have some cartridges left around the house." Todor suggested.

"Can't, have to attend some boring Anadori ball," Mab said grimacing.

"Huh, me too. But that is on Sunday." Todor said remembering Irry's request.

"You are going to Sunhawk ball? How?" Mab asked flabbergasted.

"My friend, Irrindonila Sunhawk asked me to be her plus one," he explained.

"Oh, black sheep Sunhawk. Nice. You aim high, my friend. That Morg girl will be disappointed." Mab said teasingly.

"Irry and I are just friends, Mab." he proclaimed truthfully. "And how did you know it's Sunhawk ball?"

"It's the only one happening in the city right now. And I have to be there during the entire weekend." the boy said with a painful grimace.

The wind started howling, rattling street signs and tree branches along the street. A few heavy drops of rain started hitting the ground around them.

"I guess I will see you during the ball," Todor said taking his phone out to check the time.

"Oh, we should exchange numbers."

And so they did and parted ways. Todor walked briskly hoping to get home before storm front hit him but he got caught in the downpour halfway there. Swearing and cursing the weather he sprinted the remaining way home.