I shook my head. “Not really, but it’s familiar. Whatever spell was placed on me, it’s designed to cause me pain whenever I push at its barrier. I have to figure out a way to break through so the memories return. Whoever created this spell, they hoped I would just settle into my new life and never question the plot holes, so to speak.”

Gaster’s laughter rasped out of him again. “They don’t know you at all. You’re forever questioning everything. It’s part of your appeal.”

At this point, I wanted to hug this little guy, but I refrained, just in case it was offensive here.

“So how did my memories get taken? And what happened to the library?”

This was when he sobered, the odd laughter that I already enjoyed hearing disappearing as quickly as his smile. “You had a powerful spell placed on you,” he said, his eyes lowering. “From what I observed, almost everyone who was outside of the library at the time of placing was affected by the spell. Those of us inside these walls were somewhat protected.”

I nodded, encouraging him to continue, even as dread built within me.

“Shadow was outside the library,” he said in a rush, “and even though he was spelled to forget you, he knew something was wrong. When he returned to the library, he was more beast than I’ve ever seen him be. He lost control, destroying the library and Solaris System. He didn’t know what he was looking for, but he knew something important had been stolen from him. He…” Gaster shook his head. “It was catastrophic, and I have no idea who survived the fallout. Everyone is gone, as you can see, and the doorways have been destroyed. Along with any means to get help from the outside world.”

“What is the Solaris System?”

At this point, I’d given up repeating for Sam, but she was good to her word, waiting patiently.

“It was a network of doorways connected to this library.” He waved his hand, letting out a long breath. A sad breath. “This was one of the most beautiful and complete knowledge portals in all the worlds. Knowledge that will now be lost for eternity.”

Okay, if he cried, I would cry because this was heartbreaking.

“There were ten doors, each leading to a different world in our system of worlds. Including my home world of Faerie.”

He repeated a bunch of other names, including Valdor, where vampires of all fucking things lived, and the Shadow Realm, which was where he said I’d been when everyone’s memories had been wiped.

“Was Simone here in the library?” I asked, because that was what made sense with everything else I’d learned.

Gaster nodded, sitting straighter. “She was! She was here when Master Shadow released his beast, and I have no idea what happened after that.”