Three years had officially breezed past like the ever-constantly changing seasons.

And over that time I had made multiple progressions from crawling around the house, to slowly wobbling on my two feet, to eventually having my core and leg muscles strong and stable enough for me to walk properly.

I was also now capable of uttering more than mindless mumbles and moans and constructing actual sentences, but I still kept my speech simple and short. Who knows what would happen if my family realised I could talk perfectly like most adults at such a tender age? Perhaps they'd think I'm possessed?

It's always better safe than sorry.

However, over the last three years, my area of development and intrigue was consumed by a rather different topic. That being mana and magic!

Since my original discovery of mana, I haven't been able to learn much about it since. Apart from asking the innocent questions --- which were replied to with innocent and obvious answers easy for a child my age to understand --- all I have been able to do is observe the phenomenon performed by Mary and occasionally, my mother.

But that would all be changed today!

Revolutionary knowledge will be discovered and consumed today! It will be one small step for me and a giant leap for a toddler kind!

***

With Mary promptly occupied with making dinner, I found my small window of time to wander upstairs into the library. But first, I had to make my way through the perilous monsters and obstacles in my way.

The multiple servants sneaking around each corner! If they saw me and grasped me, it would be a failed mission. I would immediately be swarmed with unwanted attention and playful conversation and I cannot allow that! I must succeed!

Quietly, I tip-toed out of the kitchen in a moment's bliss and found my way into the high-ceiling corridor.

Archways followed along the ceiling as the seemingly endless path continued to narrow down with my vision. The red carpet beneath my steps rubbed against my bare sole, as I began speedily and stealthily prowling around the corners of the manor.

My head turned sharply around any corners I arrived at, my eyes glazing over vigilantly and observing the identical halls I passed for any incoming monsters.

There they are! They're already trying to lure me out!

The monsters, draped in their tidy black and white clothing, conversed with each other as they teasingly rustled around a bag cramped with sweets. A spell of trickery at its highest possible potential.

For a brief moment, my toddler instincts swarmed my mind and my left arm already began reaching out into the corridor, consumed by their dark arts, but my quick reflexes and steady thinking of an adult managed to sway the childish desires of this body.

"There is no need for such trivial things right now. I'm a man only tempted by knowledge!" My right arm choked and slapped my left arm as I regained my composure.

I then waited to find my next window of opportunity, and as the two of them briefly turned around at the obnoxious sound of rustling behind them, I leapt across to the other wall. Falling halfway short, I slid and tumbled across the floor to desperately and marginally arrive at the other side, my right knee and left elbow scratching themselves in the process and growing an irritated red.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

I quickly scurried away from the scene, attempting my very best to sprint and not fall with my limited balance.

Finally, I managed to arrive at the front of the house where the main stairs led to the second floor.

A bright room, leading from two grand doors, was filled with lavish décor. A large crystal-embedded chandelier hung lustrously as it brightened the otherwise, in my tastes, dull and large space. The auburn bannister burnt up along the stairs as it extended down to the carved stone steps leading further along the second floor.

I briefly scanned the area and began crawling up the stairs on all fours, my tongue slipping from my mouth as I could no longer contain my excitement. Once I had ascended the stairs, my small tired limbs exerted all my mental effort just to keep them moving and so I mindlessly no longer paid my mind to any obstacles that could be in my way. Flinging my arms from side to side, I'm sure I emanated the image of a baby bipedal ape charging for a bush of berries after starving for the past few days or so.

But if someone asked me if it was worth the humiliation and exhaustion I felt to get this far, I could confidently state with my chest puffed out...yes!

Because I made it!

I celebrated with a quick fist pump into the air as I fell on my back behind the secure doors of our library.

Heavy breaths escaped my mouth as my chest rose in an upbeat rhythm. I wiped the already-cooling sweat from my forehead and lifted off the tough floor, before fully closing the door behind me and breathing a sigh of relief.

My body then turned inwards to the large room.

A sprawling carpet of navy blue decorated the floor. Natural light flooded from the rows of slim glass windows in replacement for an artificial Lightsource, powered by those crystals that seem to smother the chandeliers and light up the place brightly. Iron brackets spread around the room, each filled with unlit torches ready for when night falls to illuminate the outspread area. Tall bookshelves were crammed into the room, creating tight walkways to navigate around the library and ladders were stored at the very end of each of the elongated shelves, each filled to the brim with hardcovered books.

My eyes travelled from one shelf to another, as I began walking down the makeshift corridors. It hadn't been my first time visiting the library, since I would occasionally enter with Mary whilst she picked out a new book for me to read, but the immense quarters stuffed with knowledge of this world left me awe-stricken.

My jaw slacked and my mouth gaped wide open as my neck strained to gaze up the columns soaring to the ceiling.

Fortunately, I wouldn't have to attempt to climb anywhere near those heights to find what I need. On the rare days that I did step foot in the library with Mary, I made sure to make good on the limited time I had.

And so recalling my memory of the layout of this place, I quickly walked over to the farthest section at the back to the right of the room, in a smaller, almost drawer-like, bookshelf. Positioned next to a chair at a desk in the direct light of the window, it snuggly hugged the wall.

I half squatted to the floor and reached out my hand to the dusted spine of the worn-out object. The book was very heavy for my small body, and mustering all my finite strength, I finally hurled the text over my head and wobbled around the same spot for a bit, trying to find my balance.

Eventually, I slammed the book onto the chair by the old wooden desk and climbed atop it.

From there on I prompted the book onto the desk, a cloud of dust falling and shimmering in the glare coming from the window. I coughed at the forming cloud and whisked it away with my hand.

My eyes proudly watched over the book. Its red, faint and frayed hardcover left much to be desired, but undoubtedly the imprinted golden letters on it made my heart race and my mouth drool.

Basics of Mana and Runes.

My heart rang like a smith's hammer as my fragile finger dragged across the spine's fragile body.

"Time to open this up!" I snickered to myself excitedly, I hadn't remembered the last time I genuinely felt like this.

The cover swung open and the first page revealed itself. Crumpled and dyed with yellow stains, the page had seen better days. The writing, however, seemed more than legible.

"Contents..." I muttered as my eyes quickly scanned the multiple chapters present in this thick encyclopaedia. Hastily, I gave up on reading the chapters and instead flipped the page sharply.

"Chapter One, The Power Encompassing." I read aloud.