The head librarian was significantly older than any of the old men that Grindleby often saw in the library, yet he looked much younger. His head was clean but his face was covered with a rich, grey-brown beard. His eyes were dark and aged but they retained a sense of youthful optimism and excitement. He always had a spring in his step and spoke with a clearly elderly voice that was somehow lively and free of the strain that others would have at his age.

Sometimes he insisted that it was due to his knowledge of herbs. They kept him invigorated and energised. Other times he claimed that every time he finds an answer to one of his questions, he receives a portion of his youth back from the angels. Sometimes he dismisses the matter entirely. So Grindleby learned to not question it.

“Hello, Albius. Your beard is looking much less...”

“Much less grey?” the man answered looking up from his book excitedly, “Yes, the latest delivery of books from Brilduth has been quite... satiating.”

“Brilduth... the wizard?”

“Yes, the wizard. His latest venture into his basement has been quite lucrative.” Noticing the puzzled look on Grindleby's face, Albius stood up from his desk and walked over to his personal bookshelf, “Pray tell, how much do you know of impossible space? Other than the fact that it is impossible.”

Grindleby thought back to all the books he had read on the role of magic in buildings. “It allows for a hollow object to have much more volume than is rightfully possible while still retaining it's original external shape. Like a one litre bottle being able to hold an entire lake's worth of water, fish included, without even growing an inch.”

“Precisely. So, to answer the question that was brewing inside that brilliant little head of yours,” Grindleby blushed, “Brilduth's home operates using impossible space. His basement is exeptional in this regard. It is a full scale library on its own. Every book we have here is a copy of something the Brilduth has in his basement.”

Grindleby wasn't surprised. He had made guesses as to where these deliveries came from and one of them was that they came from the wizard.

“But wait, there's more. He has an untold number of works there and whenever he finds something that we may need, he'll have a copy of it sent over to us. That, is why I have this.” He picked a dark blue leather-bound book out of the shelf and handed it to Grindleby.

The Smiling Demon: Volume I

“It tells of a single dream had by many different people across the ages.” Albius said, sitting back down. “It should be an interesting read.”

“You haven't already read it?” Grindleby puzzled. This was exactly what he needed, but he hadn't told Albius about his nightmares. How did the old man know?

“No, not yet.”

“Then how do you know I need it?”

“Brilduth said that you would be particularly interested in it. By the way you're clutching it, I'd say he was right.” Albius replied with a slight giggle, “That old fart tends to know these things. He also said that you should read it in my office, something about a loud reaction to its contents.”

Grindleby didn't know what to make of it so he decided not to worry about it. So, without wasting any time, he opened the book and got stuck in.