The Hidden Knowledge Within Books

A week had passed since Ethan began working at the Grand Library of Cordoba.

It was strange to think how much had changed in such a short time. Just days ago, he had been a starving orphan, surviving by scavenging parchment scraps from the library's backyard. Now, he had a stable job, a steady income, and most importantly—a reason to wake up every morning.

Of course, being a cleaner wasn't exactly thrilling work. Every day, he dusted towering wooden bookshelves, organized misplaced tomes, and swept the library's marble floors until his arms ached.

But the exhaustion was a small price to pay for what he gained in return.

The chance to be surrounded by knowledge.

Even if he wasn't allowed to touch the books, that didn't mean he couldn't sneak a peek when no one was watching.

Ethan had learned early on that the first floor of the library held common knowledge books—mostly on language, history, and religious doctrine. The truly valuable knowledge—the kind that could challenge the Church's authority—was locked away on the upper floors, guarded by strict regulations and watchful eyes.

For now, Ethan focused on what was within his reach.

While dusting the shelves, he would discreetly glance at open books, trying to match words with their meanings.

Progress was painfully slow.

Most of the time, the texts were a confusing mess of symbols that made no sense to him. But sometimes, he would recognize patterns.

After a week of effort, he had learned a few basic words. It wasn't much, but it was something.

"Learning to read is like learning a new language," Ethan told himself. "It just takes time and repetition."

Still, he knew that peeking at books while cleaning wouldn't be enough.

If he truly wanted to master literacy, he needed a better plan.

After finishing his shift one afternoon, Ethan decided to explore Cordoba City.

Up until now, his world had been limited to just three places:

His shack

The library

The marketplace

But if he wanted to understand the society he lived in, he needed to see more of it.

Walking through the streets, Ethan observed the people, the culture, and the subtle power dynamics at play.

The Church's Influence: Priests in white robes patrolled the streets, spreading divine teachings. Large banners displaying holy symbols hung from every major building, a constant reminder of who truly ruled the city.

Marketplace Politics: Merchants haggled aggressively, but Ethan noticed something interesting—every transaction involved a tax paid to the Church. Even food and literature weren't exempt.

Public Behavior: Most people behaved with strict discipline, avoiding questioning authority. Ethan rarely heard anyone speak negatively about the Church, which suggested either strong faith—or strong fear.

He stopped at a small food stall, using a portion of his earnings to buy a skewer of grilled meat.

As he chewed, he thought about what he had seen so far.

"Faith is a weapon here," he realized. "Not just belief, but control."

The more he learned about this world, the more he understood how dangerous knowledge could be.

And yet, he wanted it more than ever.

As he made his way back home, Ethan's gaze drifted toward a charred ruin near the city's outskirts.

It was the remains of the house that belonged to the mage who had been burned at the stake a few days ago.

Most of the structure had collapsed, leaving behind blackened wooden beams and piles of ash-covered debris.

Ethan stopped, staring at it.

The execution had been brutal. The memory of the mage's screams still haunted him.

And yet… there was one question that refused to leave his mind.

"What did he leave behind?"

Mages didn't just exist in a void. They had possessions, research, knowledge.

Would a man who practiced forbidden magic truly leave nothing behind?

His mind began calculating. Most people wouldn't dare approach the ruins, fearing the Church's wrath. If there was something hidden inside, it was probably still there.

Ethan made his decision.

Tonight, he would return.

The city was silent by the time Ethan crept through the darkened streets, the moon casting silver light over the charred ruins.

Most of the wooden walls had collapsed, leaving nothing but a skeletal frame of blackened beams. He moved carefully, stepping over the scattered debris, scanning the area for anything unusual.

At first, nothing stood out.

But then, his foot hit something hard beneath the ash.

Frowning, he crouched down and brushed away the soot, revealing a thick wooden slab hidden beneath the rubble.

A trapdoor.

Ethan's pulse quickened.

"A basement."

If the mage had hidden anything, this was where it would be.

The wooden slab was heavy and tightly sealed, likely meant to survive fire. Ethan dug his fingers under the edges, straining as he pried it open.

With a final grunt, he managed to lift it, revealing a dark hole leading underground.

A wave of dust and stale air rushed up to greet him.

Taking a deep breath, Ethan lowered himself into the darkness.

The underground chamber was small and cramped, its walls lined with crumbling stone bricks. There was no furniture, no signs of recent activity. Just dust, silence, and secrecy.

But in the center of the chamber, resting atop a stone pedestal, lay two books.

Ethan stepped forward, his heart pounding.

The books were old, bound in dark leather, with no titles on their covers. The pages inside were covered in strange symbols, unlike any writing he had seen before.

And yet… something about them felt powerful.

Not knowing why, he reached out and touched one of the books.

A strange tingling sensation ran through his fingertips, as if the parchment itself recognized him.

His mind raced.

"Magic?"

He couldn't understand the text—not yet. But he knew one thing for certain.

These books were dangerous.

Which meant they were valuable.

Wasting no time, Ethan grabbed both books, wrapping them in cloth before climbing back up.

He carefully replaced the wooden slab, ensuring the trapdoor remained hidden beneath the debris.

With his prize secured, he moved swiftly through the sleeping city, his heart hammering with both excitement and fear.

By the time he reached his shack, dawn was beginning to break.

He set the books on his wooden table, staring at them under the flickering light of his candle.

For the first time since coming to this world, he felt like he had found something truly worth protecting.

These weren't just books.

They were secrets.

And secrets, Ethan knew, had power.