Still nervous about what had just happened, Adam sat at his desk and, with trembling hands, wrote to his godfather seeking help.

Once the young man explained the situation, his godfather replied:

'Remember that I've never read a magical book in my life. I have no idea what's happening to you. I've never heard that reading too many magical books brought dangerous consequences. I really want to help you, but I don't know how...

In any case, the eyeless old man wouldn't gain anything by betraying you now, so I doubt he handed you a cursed book and lied about its effects on his list.

Believe me, he won't kill you; he would lose too much. By now, the eyeless old man should know when and how the purge will happen.'

Adam read the message and wrote with annoyance:

'What do you mean by "the eyeless old man knows when and how the purge will happen"?. I got the black robe a month ago, and nothing has happened yet, at least not from outside the eyeless old man's cave; I don't notice any difference.

Also, what does the eyeless old man gain if the purge occurs? Even if it pains me to think about it, I believe the old man would easily kill me just to avoid paying me for my work in the war. Or am I mistaken?'

His godfather wrote quickly and messily:

'You're 25 years old! Think for once in your life and stop questioning everything, idiot! Do you really think all godfathers are like me? No, of course not...

The answers to your questions would be easy to figure out if you took a minute to think before asking. If the librarians change, only the strongest survive. I doubt those on the wooden floors are the strongest.

The new librarians might be able to live on the silver and gold floors that have been inhabited by lunatics for millennia, not worthy people. If those floors are activated, the eyeless old man will achieve what he desires most in life: to truly belong to the silver and gold floors. He doesn't want to be just a parasite on those floors.

Do you see the other librarians living in the bookshelves? Do you think he would have let you live this long with a bookshelf that only sees you as a speck of dust that talks? Remember your place in life, Adam; in the eternal hallways of this library, the bookshelves have learned not to get too attached to the librarians and will only seek to get the most out of you in the end, just as it happened with the matter of the biography of the Toy Maker.

Adam, I know you care for the eyeless old man as if he were your father, but we are different species. He cares for you differently, and he probably doesn't want to get attached to something that won't last long. That's why he saw the Toy Maker as a way for you to always accompany him in a certain way. With what I've told you, you should be able to answer all your questions by thinking for yourself.

But since I know you're an idiot who only depends on others, you won't understand what I said. However, don't worry; the other answers will come in due time.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Now, you must focus on the magical books because I'm not lying about that topic: I've never read a single magical book... You're on your own on this one, kid. Try to solve this challenge by yourself.'

Adam read the long message and ignored half of it; at the moment, he was solely concerned about the issue of the magical books, and his godfather's 'truths' were often more false than true. The only certainty for the young man was that he needed some information before continuing to read the magical books.

The young man became even more nervous; by now, he had grown too dependent on his godfather's information. With desperation, Adam wrote:

'Don't you know any rumors? Nothing useful? Magical books are on all the bookshelves. How the hell can it be that you don't know a single rumor?!... I almost died reading the last book. This is serious, damn it! Don't get hysterical and help me!'

The words faded into the pages of the biography, and when it was completely blank, his godfather wrote slowly, trying to calm the young man:

'It's not that common to read a magical book... and it's also not normal to live on the floors where you live...

I lived my whole life without see an ascent, and no one ever gave me anything, let alone a magical book. The little I heard about ascents were just rumors, and they were on floors that, for some reason or another, I couldn't access.

Reading six magical books is crazy, but if you think about how you achieved it, you'll realize why few people get to read a magical book in their life.

Living two ascents and being involved in both, a magical creature walking with a magical book, surviving and killing a Toy Maker, and five little books helping you in a double ascent... let's say you're very lucky... too lucky.

But you're right, Adam. Even if it's crazy, it's not impossible. Having silver eyes because of karma is much rarer, and you just have to help other librarians to get them...

Still... There are no rumors, and that's strange. What do you think is the reason, Adam?'

Slowly, the young hero read word by word, taking time to ponder the last question, and he realized what the problem could be:

'Is there a restriction? Those who achieve it don't divulge it, so there must be some issue if they say it , and the eyeless old man seemed unwilling to reveal it either, so it must be valuable information.'

Immediately, his godfather responded in neat handwriting:

'Yes, it could be that: it must be the entrance to the Path of the Wizard or the first great challenge of that religion..

I told you long ago that I followed the religion of the Builders and discovered many secrets: secrets I don't remember, secrets I can't share with you, and secrets I couldn't share with anyone when I was alive.

But when you discover a secret of the religion you chose to follow, you naturally realize you shouldn't speak about it. For example, when I tried to share a secret with someone, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach, as if a nail was driven into me before I started talking. You haven't reached that point yet, so there must be a barrier you haven't crossed, but you became aware of its existence today.

Therefore, in this case, the same thing must happen. Otherwise, it doesn't explain why there's not a single rumor about the problem with reading too many magical books.

Moreover, the more magical books you read, the further you walk on the Wizard's Path, and that will surely cause something: something secret and very dangerous for you, Adam.'

The redhead grew worried upon reading that it could be dangerous and asked with much doubt in his heart:

'Should I stop reading the magical books?'

His godfather crossed out the question and messily replied:

'Being an idiot is even more dangerous, and you're the king of idiots, kid. Of course, you're going to read the magical books! Do you think it's safe out there?

I don't know how risky reading the magic books is, but you're just two steps away from regenerating water and with a bookshelf to protect you. Where the hell do you expect to read them if not here?

You just have to be prepared for complications. I'm sure you'll manage, Adam!'