Jake, who was reading the newspaper... as usual... paused for a moment when he heard her. He heard the heaviness, the weight, in her tone of voice, and set the paper down to look at her.

"...Miss Remmington?" he addressed her.

"This is unexpected." he said.

"Normally Agent Sharp gives me a heads-up when you're stopping by." he commented further.

"...is something wrong?" he then asked her.

Jake was silent for a moment, and sighed.

"I believe it's you." he told her.

"And I want to just let you in." he said further.

"However, we've had breaches of security because of some extremely talented shapeshifters." he went on.

"I'd never forgive myself if I allowed such a thing to happen because I didn't follow protocol." he informed her further.

"So I'll need some verification."

Jake paused as he saw this, before his eyes shifted from side to side.

His tongue then flicked out several times, and she saw him smile... slightly... mellowly.

"Ah, yeah." he said.

"Yep. That works." he told her.

He then pressed the button, allowing her entry, before flicking his tongue out a few more times.

"Mmmm, yup." he murmured.

Hal looked to be surprised to see Hollie.

"Oh, Hollie." he said.

"...what is it?" he asked her, cutting to the chase.

"What do you need help with?" he asked further.

He could feel the heaviness in her tone, and could tell that this was something important. It didn't seem... extremely urgent, as he didn't sense panic in her tone, but he had a feeling this wasn't to be taken lightly.

"Do you want some tea?" he then asked.

"And no, I'm not making light of whatever it is you have to ask of me, you just look like a cup of tea could do you some good." he quickly clarified.

"........" Hal was left speechless for a moment, taking that all in.

"Er... right then." he said.

"Admittedly, I have several questions." he told her.

"However... let's get down to the most basic one." he said.

"What IS this?" he asked, gesturing to the package.

"Not that I don't trust you, but I'd like to know what it is that I'm guarding to diligently." he explained.

Hal was silent as he saw the mana float over towards him.

"....very well." he replied.

"I, Hal Sharp, solemnly vow to keep watch over this artefact, for as long as necessary, until it can be properly stored and cared for." he said aloud.

He then grabbed the package, and made his way over to one of the walls. Once there, he tapped 3 times on it, and a hidden panel swung open, revealing a heavy safe door. He unlocked the door, placed the package in safe, shut the door, locked it, and then closed the panel again.

"There. It is protected." he told Hollie.

Hal seemed to freeze for a moment.

"The Tome of Untold Futures?" he asked.

"Ohhhhhh my." he said.

"The one that, when paired with the pen, will give the holder power over anyone's immediate future." he said further, his voice quiet.

"Without the pen, it's harmless." he went on.

"But the legends say that the tome and pen are drawn to each other." he mumbled further.

"I swear I will guard it to be very best of my abilities and capabilities." he told her.

Hal just nodded in response.

"I understand." he said.

"That damn tome and pen is a veritable curse on this world." he grumbled.

"I hope it and the pen never come into contact." he went on.

"If they do, the results could be disastrous." he said further.

"I'll do all I can to ensure the tome's safety." he then assured her.

"Anyone else know that I have it now?" he inquired.

Hal returned the hug, and held her close.

"It's all right." he replied.

"I understand why it needs to be me." he told her.

"I'll be fine, and the tome will be fine." he then assured the woman.

"NOONE will know of this." he stressed.

"I swear it." he said.

"I assume you must be going now?" he asked.

"There anything else I can do to lighten the burden that seems to have been placed upon you?"

Hal just watched her go, before sitting back down at his desk.

".....hm." he mumble, looking at the wall.

"That damn tome." he said.

"Never thought I'd see it again." he muttered. "Never WANTED to see it again." he said further.

He then sighed quietly, and looked at his tea.

"....where to keep it at home..." he whispered to himself, trying to make arrangements and plan things out.

After a couple of days, Illias was sitting at his desk, going through some notes, before he looked around, as though looking for something.

He then went back to writing... before he looked around again. And then again.

Either he was looking for something specific, or he was hearing something nobody else was. Regardless, he wasn't finding what he was searching for.

"....weird..." he mumbled, seeming to be thinking aloud.