As I closed the book, I heard an unexpected sound that made me freeze. It was a faint muttering that broke the silence of the dimly-lit room.

I quickly spun around, expecting to see one of the keepers looming in the doorway. Instead, a young boy appeared before me, no older than six years old.

The single candle flickered, casting shadows that concealed his features, making it difficult to see him clearly.

“Hello...” I uttered with an awkward smile.

“Hey...” He replied in a curious voice.

“Are you also into books?”

I nodded. “How long have you been coming here?” I questioned, curious as to what a young child was doing in the library at this hour.

“Two months now. What are you reading?”

“The Legend of Alexander and Sophia.”

The corners of the boy’s mouth went upwards, and so did his eyebrows.

“Aren’t you too young to read complicated books like that?” He ridiculed.

“Well, how old are you?”

“Six... point taken.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at his recognition of his ironic comment, and he began chuckling after he saw me.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“What’s your name?” He asked as he approached closer.

“Finian.”

The boy stuck his hand out.

I grabbed and shook it.

The first thing I noticed about him were his round, sparkling blue eyes, enough to suck someone in. It’s as if they were a window to the ocean. His long, golden locks of hair looked brighter than the sun itself.

This guy is gonna become extremely attractive after he grows up... I thought.

“Mine’s Ennis. Nice meeting you.” He said in a charismatic tone. It’d be a lie to say that I wasn’t awe-struck.

“Nice to meet you too.” I replied.

“What books do you read?” Ennis asked me bluntly.

“Well... anything, I guess?”

“...Anything?”

I nodded. “I’ve read most of the books in here, including Persia’s biography. I don’t think I can ever read such a long book again...”

Ennis chuckled. “Yeah, I can understand you, though her eventual revenge against the man who betrayed her was satisfying to read.”

I was taken aback by the young boy's responses.

Even though he was six years old, Ennis seemed to be extremely mature for his age.

Maybe he is the same as me...? I asked myself.

“Hey, Ennis. This might be a weird question, but have you ever felt like you lived a life in the past before?”

His expression turned quizzical as he tilted his head.

“Huh...? No, I can’t say I have. Why?”

“Oh, nothing. Do you know any other books here? The selection is quite small.” I tried to change the topic.

Ennis smiled and, without saying a word, grabbed a stool and approached the bookshelf.

He put the ladder onto the shelf and climbed on it, until he reached the top of the bookshelf.

Even though there was supposed to be nothing there, I suddenly heard a small creek, and then a few seconds later he held a book in his hands, showing it to me with a grin.

“Look what I have.”

I held the candle closer to the book. Its cover was unlike that of other books. There seemed to be circles imprinted it on, with symbols of water and earth.

It’s title?

“A guide to magic.”

He nodded.

“That’s right. I discovered the existence of the compartment and by extension this book just last week!”

“Let’s read it together, then.” I suggested.