Victor did not like his job, and that made him feel like ingrate scum.

He had no business being an assistant librarian at his age. He shouldn’t have been able to afford lodging and food, yet he somehow was. And even then, the Guild insisted in paying half of his rent. 

And the library! It was a thing of wonder in itself, more than five thousand tomes, some centuries old. 

Truly, he was blessed. So why he still unsatisfied? He didn’t need his family’s help, unlike his older and more laborious siblings. He chuckled to himself. After imagining their righteous indignation, he didn’t feel so guilty. 

“Whatcha laughing at, boy?” asked the librarian, a wrinkly old man four times his age.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“I was thinking of ‘The Giants’, sir ” he lied.

“Bahaha! Was that the one with the goose?”

“Yes, I think so.”

He lied. Why did he lie to such a kind man?

“Oh gods! The goose! Ha ha. He was a smart one, that… doctor. Hum. Can’t remember his name.”

“I’ll go check.”

It was because he was immature, of course. He was ignorant and mean, like a spoiled child. Next year he’d be twenty, and he wouldn’t feel so out of place anymore. He hoped. Two decades was a respectable age, right? No, it wasn’t. His older brothers and sisters were not respectable at all. It was just enough to be considered an adult. Oh, of course he was already an adult, but in terms of life experience he was nothi...

“No need, no need,” the librarian interrupted his descent into loathing.”We can do that later, it is now time to rest.”

“But we just opened.”

“Precisely.”