The Discovery in the Library

A year had passed since my last birthday, and now, at two years old, I could speak Aetherian fluently. Astor, my twin, had also picked up some of the language, though he wasn't quite as good at it as I was. He still carried that mischievous gleam in his eye, though lately, he'd been acting a little more mature—just a little. Growing up with him, it was hard not to notice how fast our minds were developing, but I didn't think Astor was a reincarnation like me. He was just… Astor, pure energy in a small body.

The manor we lived in was massive. Sometimes, while playing with Astor, I'd wander too far and find myself lost in its grand halls. One day, during one of our usual explorations, I stumbled upon a library. The smell of old books and the quiet atmosphere drew me in. As I wandered between the shelves, a voice called out to me.

"Where are you going, young master?" an old man asked. He had a long white beard and a bald head, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he smiled at me.

I blinked, not entirely sure where I was going myself. "I'm just roaming, Grandpa," I said without thinking.

He chuckled but quickly waved his hand. "Young master, don't call me grandpa. My name is Ian, your librarian."

"Okay, Grandpa Ian," I replied, grinning mischievously. He sighed but didn't correct me again. Instead, he watched as I began looking curiously around the shelves, clearly interested in what this place held.

"Do you want to read something, young master?" he asked, noticing my wide-eyed fascination.

I nodded. "Yes!" I said, excited by the idea of exploring the books.

Ian brought me over to his sitting chair and told me to wait. A minute later, he returned with a familiar children's book, the same one my mother often read to us. I stared at it, unimpressed.

"Grandpa Ian, I already know that book. Mother teaches us from it all the time. Do you have something else?" I asked, hoping for something more interesting.

Ian raised an eyebrow, intrigued by my request. "Come with me, young master."

I hopped down from the chair and followed him as he led me through the library. We passed a section filled with children's books, but none of them caught my interest. I didn't want to read more children's stories—I wanted real knowledge.

Then, something caught my eye. In the corner of a section, I saw a title: Zephyros. My heart raced. "Isn't that the name of our world?" I asked, looking up at Ian.

He seemed surprised but nodded. "Yes, young master. That section is about the history and mysteries of Zephyros."

"Let's go there!" I said eagerly, and he followed me to the section.

The first book that stood out to me was Zephyros: Realms of Magic and Mysteries. It was big, old, and filled with the kind of knowledge I craved. Ian glanced at the book and frowned slightly. "Young master, isn't this book too advanced for someone your age?"

I shook my head, determined. "No, I can understand it."

Seeing the confidence in my eyes, Ian couldn't bring himself to refuse. With a sigh, he let me take the book, and I found a chair nearby to sit and read.

As I opened the book, the words seemed to leap off the page. The first chapter was all about the solar system of this world, the Astral Helix System.

At the center of the system was Solara, a yellow-white star that radiated warmth and golden light. Its spiral shape created a mesmerizing display in the sky, rippling with energy waves. The Astral Helix System had six planets, each orbiting in a unique spiral pattern.

The first planet was Emberis, a volcanic world filled with fiery landscapes and rivers of lava. The second was Nebulon, a swirling gas giant with powerful storms and colorful clouds. It had many moons, each with its own environment. The third was Gaiathis, a planet with towering mountains and rich mineral deposits, rotating so slowly that its days and nights were much longer than ours. Then came Zephyros, our vibrant planet known for its diverse ecosystems and elemental magic. The fifth was Aquaria, a water world covered in oceans, with floating islands and underwater civilizations. Finally, there was Crystallis, an icy planet with shimmering ice formations that reflected light in dazzling ways.

As I read, questions filled my mind. How did the people of Zephyros know so much about outer space? Even in the world I came from, we didn't know these details. Did magic make such discoveries easier? And how did they travel to these planets? Did they use magic, or some other method of transportation?

I was sure of one thing: they had definitely visited these planets.

I was about to turn to the next chapter when the door to the library creaked open, and a caretaker entered with a deep sigh. "Young master Nyx, it's time to return to your room."

Reluctantly, I closed the book, but not before marking the page in my mind. I'd have to come back for this later. I hopped down from the chair and carefully placed the book back where I found it. "Goodbye, Grandpa Ian," I said with a smile.

"Goodbye, young master," Ian replied, smiling warmly as I left.

As I walked back to my room with the caretaker, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. All this knowledge, and yet my day would end with something as dull as sleep. What a boring thing to do.