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When Algie took the time, the walking time really, to think on everything there was some sense to how things worked. Even in the chaos he could put together the bits of what he knew and what he found. He was beginning to think it was more than coincidence for him to find the right bits of information at hand recently. He'd thought it good luck, but there'd been talk of will and what it could do and he wondered if perhaps he was tapping into some of that in some small way himself.

And he certainly remembered what Heliodora said, that she would be there and if they wanted to find her they simply would.

So the professor followed the same path he'd followed days before, past where they had found the foot and into the forest. With his mind on his goal he hoped he was walking towards Heliodora's demesne.

Algie fixed his glasses, only mildly surprised he'dfound his way here so swiftly. He couldn't help glancing around to see if Pax or Smol were there. He was much more comfortable with her and no strange monsters (especially ones that roasted and toasted his... friend).

"Ah- thank you," Algie approached but seemed tentative. Still there was genuine concern in his voice, "How are you?"

"No- but, it's still worth checking." And the sentiment was genuine.

With nowhere to truly sit down for him, Alg sort of approached and hovered with his books firmly in hand. "I've been experiencing the books here. My own-" His hand brushed the cover, "And yours. I was also in the library."

Alg took a breath, "And I think I understand why you stay. Why you have to stay. You and your friends-" He paused, knowing that wording could be sensitive, "Are the memories true? Your foot- and the stars, the crown and the sword?" To keep back the Enemy.

Alg hesitated a moment with the unique seating that was suddenly provided, but finally moved and sat down in his usual upright and proper way.

It made sense what she said, about memories never being fully true. Any memory was just your own version of things, the swing your mind put on it, and were tained with your own emotions and biases. How often did people argue about things they'd both been present for? At this point though, Algie was simply interested in her truth.

"Did you and your friends agree to stay here? To keep The Enemy in?" There was a way it was said, like a name not a role.

The author glanced around at the mangroves and the water, thought about the concept of it all being controlled by her will, "Sunny had told me that this place was a cage."

"The crown, and the sword, and the stars. They need all three of them or the Enemy gets out. And... you. Me. Mike."

He remembered it clear as day, someone else's memory now his.

"Like destiny. Fate." Algie's brow furrowed. He was an old man, yes, perhaps a bit strict about his views on things, but he was a fiction writer. The concept of predestined paths and roles wasn't completely lost on him. Once he abandoned his own reality, the trick was to find the pattern of the one he'd fallen into.

Everything followin' the right progression. Everything in order.

Algie had to accept that arguing against the idea would be pointless. "How did you discover your role? And why would Sunny send us here for you?"

Yes there had to be a beginning at some point, but if she could barely remember the life in his world, what was the likelihood she remembered that?

Algie was silent for a while and felt very suddenly that this Heliodora here in front of him was not the same who's book he held. Perhaps originally she was, but she was right that 30,000 years was a long time. Should the age be true she was some ancient thing- and he could barely remember what he had for breakfast most days.

"Are you the stars?" He was leaning, just a bit, keenly interested to be able to actually sit and ask questions, "What about Doe?"

He'd felt something there, in the memory between them.

Them being here kept back the dark. Was the dark connected to Sunny? The thought made him shake his head with a smirk. It would be amusing that Sunny (Ascension of course) was more akin to the dark than light.

"What is Sunny?" He may as well ask, vague answers or avoidances were expected at this stage.

"And what's in the dark? What are you keeping back?" Algie was intent, because Heliodora's answers were more complete than most. He wasn't quite sure why but he felt more comfortable with her than he had any of the other strange things they'd come across.

Perhaps he simply thought too much into having her book.