The Library of Cordoba

Ethan woke before dawn, the first rays of sunlight barely peeking through the cracks in his shack's wooden walls. The air was cold, damp, and filled with the distant sounds of merchants preparing for the day. He stretched, his body still sore from days of scavenging, but today was different.

Today, he had a job.

He grabbed his only decent piece of clothing, a tunic that was slightly worn but free of holes, and threw it on. After stepping outside, he made his way to the nearest public trough, a stone basin filled with stagnant water. The moment he splashed the icy water on his face, he shivered violently.

"That's one way to wake up."

After shaking off the cold, he set out toward the Grand Library of Cordoba, his steps firm with purpose.

As he walked through the city, the streets were coming to life.

Merchants were setting up their stalls, displaying fresh produce and stacks of parchment for scribes. The aroma of baking bread and sizzling meat filled the air, making Ethan's stomach grumble. He glanced at a bakery and made a mental note—once he got paid, he'd buy something better than stale bread for dinner.

The Grand Library of Cordoba loomed in the distance, a three-story stone building, its massive entrance adorned with intricate carvings of scholars and divine symbols. Its towering windows reflected the morning light, giving it an almost sacred aura.

Ethan's pace quickened.

He stepped onto the library's marble steps, but before he could enter, two armored guards crossed their halberds in front of the door.

"Hold it," one of them said, his voice gruff. "Entry fee."

Ethan blinked. "Fee?"

The other guard nodded. "One silver per entry. Library access is not free to commoners."

Ethan's stomach dropped. One silver? That was more than what he could earn in a week. He had assumed that libraries were open to all—a foolish assumption, considering the Holy Dominion controlled knowledge.

He clenched his fists. Would they throw him out before he even started?

"Step aside," came a familiar voice from behind him.

Ethan turned to see Marcus Brown, the senior scribe, walking up the steps. The guards immediately straightened, lowering their weapons.

"He's with me," Marcus said. "New cleaner, first floor."

The guards hesitated, then stepped aside. "Go on, then."

Ethan exhaled in relief as he stepped past them, finally entering the Grand Library of Cordoba.

The moment he stepped inside, Ethan felt overwhelmed.

Rows upon rows of towering wooden bookshelves stretched toward the high vaulted ceiling, filled with thousands of leather-bound tomes, ancient scrolls, and loose parchment. Candles and oil lamps flickered at long wooden desks, where scribes meticulously copied texts, their quills scratching against parchment.

The scent of aged paper, ink, and melting wax filled the air.

It was breathtaking.

"So much knowledge... just sitting here."

Marcus smirked at his reaction. "First time in a library?"

Ethan forced himself to remain composed. "Something like that."

Marcus led him toward the front desk, where a young woman stood, sorting through stacks of parchment. She had auburn hair neatly tied in a bun, sharp brown eyes, and wore an elegant yet practical scholar's robe.

"This is Raya Allen," Marcus introduced. "Receptionist for the first floor and my apprentice."

Raya barely looked up. "Another cleaner?"

"Not just any cleaner," Marcus said. "A kid who thinks scavenging parchment from the trash is a good idea."

That got Raya's attention. She glanced at Ethan with mild curiosity before sighing. "As long as he doesn't get in the way, fine."

Marcus patted Ethan's shoulder. "Come with me. We need to make this official."

Inside Marcus's office, Ethan was seated at a wooden desk. The room was cluttered with scrolls, loose parchment, and ink bottles, as if Marcus spent more time working than organizing.

Marcus pulled out a blank document and began writing.

"Every worker, even cleaners, gets a formal contract," Marcus explained. "You'll be compensated accordingly. No touching books without permission, no questions about restricted knowledge, and if you break something, you pay for it."

Ethan nodded. "Understood."

Marcus finished writing and then stamped the contract with an official seal.

Ethan signed without hesitation. A job in the library. A step closer to knowledge.

The rest of the day was exhausting.

Ethan focused on his cleaning duties, knowing he had to prove himself before even thinking about reading.

His tasks included:

Dusting bookshelves – Some books were so old they hadn't been touched in years.

Rearranging misplaced books – Some scholars were too careless when returning them.

Sweeping the marble floors – With so many visitors, the floors collected dust quickly.

While others studied, Ethan scrubbed, lifted, and cleaned. His arms ached, his back hurt, but he didn't complain.

Every now and then, he glanced at the scribes writing at the desks, fascinated by the way their quills moved effortlessly over parchment. One day, that will be me, he told himself.

He caught Marcus watching him once or twice, nodding in approval.

By the end of his shift, Ethan was exhausted but satisfied. He had survived his first day.

Ethan returned to the front desk, where Raya was waiting.

Without looking up, she handed him a small cloth pouch filled with his first wage.

"Don't spend it all on bread," she said dryly.

Ethan smirked. "I was thinking of upgrading to soup."

That got a small chuckle out of her.

He took the pouch, feeling the weight of the coins. It wasn't much, but it was the most money he had ever held in this world.

With a slight spring in his step, he left the library and headed toward the marketplace.

For the first time since arriving in this world, Ethan could afford proper food.

Instead of buying the cheapest bread, he purchased:

Fresh vegetables – Carrots, onions, and potatoes.

A small pouch of dried herbs – To add flavor to his meals.

A small chunk of salted meat – Something with actual protein.

He carried his groceries back to his shack, where he carefully prepared a simple vegetable soup over a small fire.

As he ate, he thought about how far he had come in just a few weeks.

He had been a starving orphan, scavenging through trash for scraps of parchment.

Now, he was employed in a library, earning money and securing a future.

He wasn't just surviving anymore. He was moving forward.

His gaze drifted to the parchment scraps on his table, the same ones he had been studying at night.

Soon, he would learn to read.

And when he did, he would uncover the knowledge this world feared so much.

With that thought, he smiled to himself and finished his meal in silence.