On the way to the library, Nellie fell asleep, which was a blessing. A sleeping baby was a quiet one, and the silence of the library wouldn’t be disturbed. A kind librarian directed them a certain set of stacks, and the two Lost delved into the contents of the shelves.

At first, we were unsure who these strange beings were, or where they came from...and in fear, for over fifty years, we killed every single one that arrived.

— Excerpt from Frillin: A Brief History of the Lost

Gemma shivered after reading those words. Two hundred odd years ago, they would’ve killed her, unless she had figured out how to blend in quickly enough with the other humans. Frillin wasn’t so innocent. Gemma was surprised they had even admitted to murdering people at all.

And when they had stopped with the whole ‘killing people they fear,’ thing, it wasn’t done only out of the goodness of their hearts.

It was Princess Lafania who discovered that the Lost could bring growth and goodness to the country, and she was the one who eventually gave them legal status and rights, when she ascended the throne after her mother passed.

— Frillin: A Brief History of the Lost

As interesting as the histories were, as well as the biographies of notable Lost (there was actually an entire section devoted to notable Lost) not one word mentioned Lost returning to their home dimensions or any attempt at doing so.

{{Eddaba kthulisa, popopopo, menasa ma++echa echgunim, golipusa&yi}}

I was just, like, where’d the kitchen go? My poor brother probably had a tripod explode when I disappeared. Anyways, Travalar is the best thing that could have happened to me. Before I ended up here I was headed for bad waters, that’s for sure. Losing everything put what I did have into focus.

— Translated from a Lost named Galaxinuu, who became famous for his innovations in fish farming. He was also the only documented Lost not to receive the Universal Language Skill, an oddity.

“Any luck?” she asked Skyler. Maybe he had found something.

He shook his head.

Gemma sighed, “Me too. But some of these are interesting, anyway.

After a while longer of searching without anything coming to light, they called it quits.

Gemma and Skyler borrowed some of the more exciting Lost books and then left the library.

“I think we’re going to have to investigate this on our own,” Gemma said, “Find people to talk to, not just reference books.”

Skyler nodded.

“But before that, I really need to do some more shopping. I’ve been wearing the same clothes for days— and I did wash them, excuse you—” Skyler hadn’t said a word, even, but he had wrinkled his nose, thus the admonishment, “but it is getting kind of gross, and Nellie really needs a new outfit too,” Nellie’s clothes were covered in food stains of assorted colors, “she’d almost be better off in just a diaper at this point.”

Skyler decided to split off from them. He wanted to work on getting his Classes to level.

Gemma spent the rest of the day purchasing essential items. She bought a couple outfits herself and Nellie, snacks and food from the market, as well as formula for Nellie, which in Frillin was made of dehydrated flying-goat milk mixed with some supplements. Much better than the typical stuff on Earth, which usually listed vegetable oil as the third ingredient.

When they got back to their room, Gemma fed Nellie dinner, gave her another bath, and then made a bottle before laying her down on the bed. Soft, damp hair moistening the pillow, her chubby little fists clutching her bottle, Nellie was the picture of a little angel baby. Gemma took a photo, and then showed Nellie pictures of Mia, her mom. Gemma wouldn’t let her forget.

Once she fell asleep, Gemma sat down, and planned. She had an idea on how to level her Musician Class.

It was becoming clear that if she wanted to get answers, she couldn't stay complacent, or just go with the flow. If she wanted answers, she needed to become someone who could get them from people, whether they were willing or not.