Three months flew by, and today Achilles decided to take his students to learn about bookshelves to celebrate everyone reaching 30 pages; logically the shelves that they will visit did not have anything abnormal, and it was simply an unofficial celebration.
Achilles also made it when everyone got to 20 pages, but this time he only gave each student an easy-to-read book. As the professor noticed that the strategy was working, and he decided to continue with these unofficial celebrations to win the hearts of his students and avoid future problems with the baron.
—Well, we're almost there—Achilles said happily; it seemed that his students were very excited this time—The bookshelves are on the middle floor 4 of 5, hex 2 of 18 in one of the inner hexes, somewhat hidden. But they always catch your eye when you look at them for the first time.
—Do they have very complicated rules? —Adam asked with some fear, since what happened with Sofia he never spoke to the unknown shelves again.
—No, you just have to fulfill a simple request or answer a question— Achilles said looking at Adam to see how he was doing— If you do it wrong, you just have to clean the shelf. He played with them when he was a kid, so they are very safe.
—And do you have any magical books?— Franco asked with great emotion.
—Of course not, but they could have some treasure inside their books— The teacher answered, while he guided the students through the corridors — He hasn't checked them for a long time; I discovered them as a child. His books are more common knowledge, so hardly anyone visits them.
Finally, the three of them reached the shelves indicated by the teacher, they were four white wooden bookcases one attached to the other. The wood of the shelves seemed to shine from how clean they were; except for one of the four: it was full of dust, to the point that its books could not be distinguished.
Before any of the three approached, Achilles gave the security instructions:
—Let's go one by one, and I'm going to listen to the conversation with the bookshelf, when I verify that everything is safe, you can take the book. Don't touch the one with dust, when I was a child I didn't have it, but if it does, it must be for something. And write down the comments I make about the bookshelves, the school doesn't teach this, but it should.
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The three children nodded many times from how excited they were and began to fight to see who would go first. In the end, Achilles decided that Bianca would go first.
Bianca approached the bookshelf and asked excitedly:
—I can read?
The head of a very handsome woman came out of the wood, she had two very glamorous earrings and a pearl pendant on the portion of the neck that protrudes from the wood. The woman looked the girl up and down and said contemptuously:
—I don't like women, go away.
Bianca felt bad and almost burst into tears. Unfortunately this never happened to Achilles with this bookcase, and he couldn't warn the student about it, the teacher went ahead and gave Bianca encouragement before she cried:
—How about you try the other shelves, if I remember correctly: there was a handsome boy in the group.
Bianca nodded, wiped the few tears that had fallen from her face, and tried the following:
—I can read?
This time the head of a young boy came out, he had very long and glamorous hair; that made him look like the classic charming prince of the books, a rose was seen in his mouth and he said smiling:
—Sure, read!
Bianca cheered and held out her hand, but Achilles knocked a few times as if to remind him of her rules; Bianca understood, and she stopped and asked:
—Shouldn't there be a rule or condition?
—Yes, of course— Said the charming prince with a smile, with a lot of energy he shouted— Princesses forward, knights to fight and orcs to death!
—And what is an orc?—Bianca consulted the question Achilles murmured at her back.
—Filthy beasts who abandon themselves for a few pleasures—Prince Charming answered elegantly, but with hatred.
—Okay, you can take the book—Achilles said as he looked at the other two students to get them to write down—He means having bad karma; whether you do good or bad deeds, some bookshelves help you and others condemn you.
Bianca went over and took a book, as the teacher said there was nothing very interesting, but when she was turning the pages a very pretty flower came out of the book and placed on her hair. Bianca was excited to have gotten something and looked at her other two classmates to ask how she was doing, but they were writing down Achilles' explanation.
"But he didn't mention anything about being bad or good," Franco asked as he wrote down.
—The shelves are somewhat poetic—Achilles replied slowly so that they could write down—The more general knowledge they know, the more they will be able to understand the riddles. Now it's your turn, Franco.
Achilles noticed that Adam was still a little nervous; so he let the boy be last so that he would gain more confidence, seeing that nothing bad was happening.
Franco approached, and the lady told him that she should fight, but she stopped to ask the rules, as Bianca had done.
—Children: they fight, pretty boys: enchanted, the old: they die and women: they don't pass— The handsome woman answered with a smile.
—And what is my fight?—Franco consulted the question Achilles whispered to him.