The Dwarf of the Great Library

“Oh, wow!” Madoka couldn’t believe her eyes. The great library was everything she’d expected, but that didn't make it any less awe-inspiring. There were shelves as far as the eye could see. Looking up, it seemed like there was an infinite tube of floors and bookshelves suspended above them. A bright light shone down, though how a skylight could cast so much light when it had to be a few thousand feet away, Madoka didn’t know. The entire building hummed with magic. Shelves and staircases shifted around without anyone touching them. Books and artifacts flittered through the air on their way to new locations. Every nook and cranny were stuffed with maps, globes, and unidentifiable tools.

It was odd for her to be so giddy over a library. It wasn’t that Madoka hated reading, but more that what she was expected to read felt torturous. Other than history, her textbooks were too hard for her to absorb. Anything related to math or science was the worst; all the numbers and big words hurt her head. Nonfiction in general was boring, and she would mindlessly read and reread the text, unable to comprehend or process much of it. Madoka loved fantasy novels, but her teachers considered them to be literary junk food and called her lazy for not putting in the effort to read “real” books. Her mother had tried everything she could to get her to read, including making her to read the American classics that she’d studied in her home country. How her mother could like those books, she couldn't fathom, as they were older than dust and far too bland for Madoka’s tastes. Her mother said she’d learn to like reading one day, but she couldn’t for the life of her figure out how repeatedly reading stuff she hated was supposed to make that happen.

This library was different, though. It didn’t feel empty, lifeless and restrictive; it felt like it was brimming with life energy and truly alive. It was the sort of place that truly made the prospect of learning seem fun. “Mr Aqua, where's the librarian? I need to ask her what to do first to learn magic. With all the books in this place, there’s no way I can get started without guidance.” Aqua grimaced in pain. “Miss Madoka...oh never mind. There’s a reception desk over there. Ring the bell and it should get the library keeper's attention, assuming that she isn’t busy.” Madoka bounced off towards the desk and Selena groaned.

“Sorry about that.” She apologized. “Madoka doesn’t mean to be rude. She just doesn’t understand why you wouldn’t like being called that when it makes sense to her.” Aqua grimaced. “She’s going to keep calling me that, isn’t she?” Selena shook her head in affirmation. “It’s hard to explain but Madoka is...different. She thinks about things in ways that are more unique. People assume she’s trying to be obstinate or mock them, but that’s not it. It never enters her mind that people could or would interpret her actions in a negative way because they seem natural to her.” The adults trailed Madoka to the desk. “I didn’t think she was trying to be rude.” Aqua clarified. “She seems too nice to annoy people for fun. At least, that’s how it seems to me. And she is still a child.”

“Thanks for understanding.” Selena breathed a sigh of relief. “We have enough problems here without Ma-Chan accidentally making enemies by rubbing people the wrong way. That’s why I want to move into our own place as soon as possible. It’ll be better for her to have a safe space to be herself without everyone looking at her."

‘I doubt that this world is any more understanding of people with disabilities or special needs than ours.’ Selena thought grimly. ‘I have to make sure that Ma-Chan doesn’t upset anyone but, at the same time, I don’t want to advertise that she’s different in any way. She doesn’t need that stigma hanging over her head again. Besides, who knew if the rest of this world will be as open-minded and tolerant to us people from the real world as Aqua is?'

As they joined Madoka at the desk, her daughter looked at them expectantly. “Okay, Ma-Chan, you can ring the bell now.”

*Ding! Ding!*

*Dingdingdingdingdingdingdingdingd-*

“Ah, my sensitive ears!” Selena yelped. “Once was enough!”

“Oh, hello! I was wondering why the bell was ringing so insistently. It’s rare that someone requests my attention so urgently.” A pleasant, childlike voice rang out causing the three to look up. A small girl was bouncing down from above as if on invisible stepping-stones in the air. She was the size of an eight-year-old but was clad in a royal blue robe trimmed gold and a matching hat that marked her as a scholar. Underneath the open robe, she wore a long, puffy white dress. Over one big blue eye was a very proper golden monocle, though her curly chestnut hair got in its way.

“Aww, you’re so cute!” Madoka gushed as she squeezed the girl’s cheeks. “Miss Madoka, noooo! That’s the Great Librarian!” Aqua panicked. “Ma-Chan! You can’t just grab people like that! Personal space!” An embarrassed Selena quickly pulled her daughter backwards by the hem of her cloak.

“Yeah!” The tiny librarian huffed, crossing her arms and puffing out her cheeks. “I’ll have you know that I may be cute, but I’m a very mature adult! Do I look like a joke to you?”

Madoka stared. “You’re the ancient dwarf who’s the smartest person around?” The doll-like woman stomped her foot. “I’m not “ancient” I’m in my young eight hundreds and I still know more about this world than anyone else!”

“But you said you were mature? So contradictory!” Aqua uttered under his breath. “I’m sorry, Great Librarian. Please excuse her. She’s not from this world.”

The little scholar abruptly quit her sulking and, standing straight and tall, stared intently into Madoka’s face. “Hmm...” A big smile broke across her face. “I see! You and the wolf were part of the otherworlders who were transported here yesterday?”

“Yes.” Selena padded forward and bowed her head in what she hoped was a polite greeting. “My name is Selena, and this is my daughter Mad-”

“Mahannana. I go by Mahannana.” Madoka interrupted. Selena looked at her daughter in shock. ‘Why are you giving her that name? It’s not your real name. Don’t you understand this isn’t a game? This is our actual lives!’ Selena did her best to hide her confusion. “Yes, Ma-Chan is my daughter. I know it’s hard to believe with our current bodies, but she’s fifteen and I'm a normal human mother.”

The librarian gave a proper curtsy. “The pleasure is all mine. My name is Elfrida Drweyn. I know all about what happened yesterday. I have eyes and ears everywhere you know. Keeper of the Great Library at your service.”

“Nice to meet you, Ms Drweyn.” Madoka gave a little bow. “If you would be willing to help us, we could really use it. You know about our situation coming from a world without magic and our bodies being based on game characters?” The dwarf nodded. “Just wanted to make sure. I played as a mage in the game, and now I want to do the same thing, but for real, and I have no idea how to start. Since this is our new home, I want to master the basics as quickly as possible so I can help mama make money. Mr Aqua said you know everything about current and past magic, so would you be willing to teach me what I need to know?”

Elfrida’s eyes lit up and she clapped her hands together in delight. “Oh, finally, a willing student! Of course I’d be willing to teach you! I’m an academic, so teaching is my specialty, after all! But nowadays, everyone either wants to run into adventuring headfirst like an idiot or they consult Combat instructors and veteran adventurers. No one sees the value in researching!”

While the librarian and her daughter conversed happily, Selena watched on in shock. ‘Is...is this really my Madoka?’ This was the clearest and most confident way that her daughter had communicated with anyone! Madoka had always struggled with asking for help, since she was intimidated by people she viewed as having more experience and authority. But here she was, casually being able to request what it was she specifically needed! Selena was proud, yes, but more stunned than anything. Between communicating properly with the librarian, introducing herself nicely and choosing to go by her in-game name, she was already acting more assertive and comfortable in this strange world after only one day. ’Not that I’m happy for her but...will it only last until she has a culture shock moment? Either way, I hope she doesn’t get too attached. That could cause issues when we’re finally able to go back home.’

Suddenly, Madoka looked over at Selena and cut off whatever conversation her and the librarian had been having “Oh! I want to learn Magic, but my mama wants to learn about this world. If you’re going to start teaching me today, then could you help her find what she needs, too?” Selena nearly jumped out of her fur at her daughter talking about her.

“Y-yes! We don’t have magic or supernatural creatures in our world and our technology is more advanced. Everything is so different.”

Elfrida adjusted her monocle. “Yes, yes, I understand! I can’t imagine being in your situation.” She shook her head. “That man who tricked you into this seems like a real piece of work. There were so many otherworlders suffering from hysteria last night that all the doctors, apothecaries, and healers were completely overwhelmed. People were passing out left and right!”

“We got out of there as soon as the transmission cut.” Selena explained. “What happened? Was there violence?” Elfrida shook her head. “No. Some otherworlders accidently hurt themselves or trampled each other, but that was the extent of it. Everyone seems to have found somewhere, except the ones who decided to leave town right away. You’re lucky to end up in the town of beginnings. Everyone here is very kind and welcoming here, and we’re pretty used to strangers passing through.”

“The townspeople have been taking in the other people from our world?” Selena asked, wanting to be sure she heard correctly. “Yeah. No one blames you. This wasn’t something you wanted to have happened, and you didn’t know you were being used. It seems like everyone in Umbria has collectively decided to help you otherworlders get established here.”

“Amazing...” Madoka whispered. “We’ve only been here overnight. Everyone’s so cool...” Selena agreed with her daughter’s sentiment; the overwhelming sentiment of sympathy and support was surprising to her. If it had been reversed, she could see the exotic people and creatures of this world becoming lab rats. Given the situation, landing in an accepting inital environment was the best outcome.

“Oh, but you haven’t seen anything yet!” Elfrida gloated, summoning a shimmering purple platform. “Enough yakking! Everyone, climb aboard and let's get started with today’s lesson!”