Knowledge Beyond the Library

Ethan awoke to the familiar sounds of Cordoba City—merchants shouting prices, horses clopping on the cobblestone streets, and the distant chime of church bells marking the morning prayer.

Unlike before, when waking up felt like a burden, today was different.

Today, he was not just a cleaner or a struggling orphan—he was someone who could read and write, someone taking steps toward true knowledge.

He sat up, stretching his sore muscles before reaching for the book Raya had lent him. Before heading to the Grand Library, he wanted to test himself.

Flipping through the worn pages, he traced his fingers over the text and began reading a full passage aloud.

"The merchant traveled across the kingdom... exchanging silk... for grain... and spices."

It wasn't perfect, but it was smooth. He barely hesitated.

A few days ago, he couldn't even recognize half of these words. Now, he could read them with confidence.

"It's amazing how quickly the mind adapts."

Feeling satisfied, he placed the book back on his table, splashed cold water on his face at the public trough, grabbed a piece of stale bread, and made his way toward the Grand Library of Cordoba.

He was hungry for more knowledge—but today, he wasn't just looking inside books.

He wanted to understand how knowledge worked in the real world.

Ethan finished his work at the library faster than usual.

His cleaning routine had become second nature, allowing him to focus on observing rather than just working.

As he dusted shelves and arranged books, he noticed something interesting—the types of books scholars were reading.

Some focused on history and law, others on religious scriptures, and a few scribes were busy copying texts for merchants and noble clients.

"Books are more than just words," Ethan realized. "they control information, wealth, and power."

That thought made him even more curious.

If books and knowledge were so valuable, how did the common people get access to them?

It was time to find out.

After finishing his shift, Ethan decided to explore Cordoba City through new eyes—the eyes of someone who could finally read.

The streets were the same, yet different.

Before, he had seen only buildings, merchants, and people, but now, he saw information.

Store signs advertising goods and prices.

City notice boards filled with official decrees.

Religious posters warning against heresy.

He realized that reading wasn't just a luxury—it was a tool of control.

The Church heavily regulated written information, ensuring that everything people read was aligned with divine doctrine.

Most commoners couldn't even verify what was true or false—they simply believed what was told to them.

"No wonder the Church holds so much power. They control what people can learn."

This realization strengthened his resolve—if he truly wanted to understand this world, he needed to seek knowledge beyond what was freely available.

And that's when he noticed the street scribe.

In a small corner of the market, an elderly man with ink-stained fingers sat at a wooden table, scratching his quill across parchment.

A poor-looking farmer stood before him, speaking in a nervous tone.

Ethan moved closer, listening.

"...I need a letter written to my son in the next town over," the farmer said, placing a few copper coins on the table. "I can't read, but he can. Please write what I say."

The scribe nodded, dipping his quill into a small ink bottle, and began to write.

Ethan watched in fascination.

"So this is how illiterate people communicate..."

It was strange, watching someone pay money just to have a letter written—something he could now do himself.

The farmer dictated slowly, pausing every few sentences to make sure his words were recorded correctly.

Ethan's eyes followed the scribe's hand, recognizing most of the words on the parchment.

"I can actually read that."

He was silent, but inside, he was thrilled.

A few days ago, these words would've been meaningless symbols.

Now, they were clear and understandable.

When the scribe finished, he sprinkled sand over the ink to dry it, rolled the parchment, and handed it to the farmer.

Ethan smiled to himself.

"This is real power—the ability to read and write on your own."

And he had just obtained it.

Continuing his exploration, Ethan wandered through narrower alleyways, where the bustle of the main market faded.

That's when he saw it—a small, hidden bookstall, tucked between two old stone buildings.

The bookseller, an elderly man with a long beard and piercing eyes, sat behind a modest wooden counter, surrounded by leather-bound tomes and faded scrolls.

Unlike the Grand Library's pristine books, these looked worn, old, and personal.

Ethan's curiosity flared.

"These books… they don't look like Church-approved texts."

He stepped forward, pretending to browse casually, his fingers running over cracked book covers.

One in particular caught his eye—a thin tome with strange symbols on the spine.

His heart skipped.

The markings were similar to the ones in the forbidden books he had taken from the burned mage's house.

Carefully, he picked it up and flipped through the pages.

Most of it was written in Hermes, but a few sections contained unknown glyphs.

"Could this be... an introduction to magic?"

Before he could read further, the bookseller spoke.

"I wouldn't recommend that one, boy," the old man said, his voice calm but sharp.

Ethan glanced up. "Why not?"

The bookseller leaned forward, lowering his voice.

"Some books attract the wrong kind of attention," he said. "You wouldn't want to be caught reading something that could be considered... heretical."

Ethan felt a chill run down his spine.

He set the book back carefully.

"He knows."

This man understood the risks of unapproved knowledge—and now, he knew Ethan was interested in it.

Forcing a casual smile, Ethan nodded. "I see your point."

The bookseller watched him for a moment, then chuckled.

"You have a scholar's curiosity," he said. "Be careful where it leads you."

Ethan gave a polite nod before stepping away.

But inside, his mind was racing.

"That book had symbols just like the ones in the forbidden books I found. What if it contains something useful?"

He needed to return—but not today.

Now, he knew where to look for hidden knowledge.

Returning to his shack that night, Ethan sat at his table, deep in thought.

The day had given him valuable insights.

The Church controlled knowledge.

Commoners were forced to rely on scribes to communicate.

Some knowledge existed outside the library—but it was dangerous.

He reached for the book Raya had given him and opened it, but his mind wasn't on the words.

His journey had only just begun, yet he already felt like he was stepping into dangerous territory.

"If I truly want knowledge, I need to look beyond what's given to me."

With that realization, he leaned back and smirked to himself.

"The real learning starts now."