The Witch and the Lich; Arcania's Quest

Credits; Rea, Krell,
"Did you realize that Arcania is still alive?"
For a lab of seemingly infinite size, the guest rooms were of a decidedly limited quantity.  Krell and Rea were sharing a room; a prospect he did not welcome.  She didn't seem to mind, whether it was because he was undead or just because she knew he had enough of a sense of decency to stay out of the way and look at the corner all night while he got as close a semblance of sleep as he was capable of, he wasn't sure.  It may well have been a part of her seemingly ongoing plot to embarass him, or possibly worse.  If it weren't for fear of insulting their hosts, he'd have just stayed on the ship. 
Although Rea really didn't seem to be trying too hard this time.  She'd taken her shoes off, but then she'd just sat up against the headboard and started reading.  There had been a little gizmo that was linked to the local archive and she was pouring over it with no apparent goals.  Krell still refused to leave his corner, but a conversation couldn't hurt. 
The clicking stopped and he could hear the bed shifting.  The floor creaked a little, and he realized she was walking over. 
"You really didn't know?"  She sounded calmer than usual, more subdued.  He looked down and saw that she managed to get between him and the corner.  She pointed towards one of the chairs and then slipped back around him.  It seemed like this would be a civil conversation then; Krell decided to risk the loss of his safe corner and lowered himself into the chair.  She had sat down across from him on the bed. 
"Alright then.  No, Arcania isn't dead.  She's not a villain either, but she's no hero either.  Not a lot of immortals live outside of the system, but she always strove to be one of them.  And she still does; she has to.  Do you know how many people try to kill her any time she pops her head outside?"
Krell shook his head.  He had a few guesses, but no actual data. 
"Five.  Four mortals and one newer heroic immortal; I'm surprised she doesn't stay here all the time.  I would if I could.  Arcania has lived a hard life; and you'd do well not to make it harder."
"She killed half the known universe.  I think she deserves a little more than 'a hard life'."
"She was being manipulated by a demon.  She made the mistake of summoning one, and it dominated her.  Ever since Courtney freed her, she's been a depressed wreck.  She spends all of her time reading; and not just silly tabloids and textbooks like I do.  She reads everything she can find about demons, immortals, magic, and anything supernaural.  She's on a quest she's been on since she was my age, and she doesn't stop for people along the way.  But she does feel bad.  And she will never kill again, no matter how hard pressed she is."
"What quest?  To rule the universe?"
"To know the universe.  There is a book, one of ten.  It is enchanted and crafted like nothing of this universe, for it is not of this plane.  The greater Death, Zink, once set out to construct a book that would catalog all knowledge; not just of the physical world but of heaven and hell also.  An Omnipedia so to speak; and she poured her power into one of the ten copies, and made it indestructable, and she made it so that it could never be made unobtainable.  If knowledge is power, than this book could kick me to the curb.  And Arcania wants it.  I don't know why; other than her love of knowledge.  But I think that may well be it for her.  Before she was Arcania, she was just a nerdy little girl with access to a lot of books.  And now that she's free, she's a broken woman, with nothing left but her books.  When you see her, be nice.  She's got all of her Mother's finest traits.  Even if you do insist on fighting her you'll find her courteous and kind-hearted; although I might hurt you if you do fight her."
"And it never occured to you, as you travelled across the universe killing immortals, that maybe there was a slightly more deserving immortl right here?"
"Oh it did.  Back during the war I tried it actually.  I couldn't help myself; she was just so prominent yet reculsive a target."
"And?"
"Well she's still alive isn't she?"
"She beat you?"
"No, it wasn't her time.  I was...chastised for stepping out of line and going after her when I shouldn't have."
"Could you have beaten her?"
"Knowing what I do now, no.  In a fair fight certainly, It'd take me till tuesday, and the duel would span a thousand worlds, but I'd get her in the end.  But there's no such thing as a fair fight with Arcania; she'd get away every time."  She stopped and yawned.  "Go head back to your corner, I'm going to get ready for bed.  When she gets back on Thursday I don't want to hear a peep out of you about 'paying for your crimes' and whatnot.  I need her help and you won't go screwing it up."