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E1-21-Adam...

Adam returned to his home with a box full of study materials. Along the way, the boy didn't encounter anyone, luckily, the shelf with mushrooms and moss was not frequented by the librarians.

Adam approached and picked up one of his books. The head of the old man without eyes emerged with excitement, but then looked somewhat disappointed to see it was just the boy and not an unsuspecting librarian. The old man seemed to want to tell something to Adam, but the hallway was not the right place to speak with the child, so the shelf abstained and opened the passage to the spiral stairs.

Adam descended the stairs and changed into an older robe. Hopping over the stones, the boy made his way to the exit, but the door didn't open. Instead, the same face of the old man without eyes emerged from the stone and said in his raspy voice:

—How was your adventure, young hero?

—Fine—Adam replied brusquely, feeling a bit rushed to do the task he could finally accomplish this time.

—Librarians, always in such a hurry—complained the old man without eyes—They think life is slipping through their fingers, but what slips through their fingers are the desires to live it, being so obsessed with time... even at such a young age

Seeing that the old man wanted to talk, Adam put down the box of school supplies and sat on a rock to converse. The old man without eyes asked with concern:

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—How was school? A reliable little book told me that Baron Muglok appeared again on the middle floor 4 out of 5, hexagon 8 out of 18. You should be careful, young hero.

Adam merely nodded, still somewhat traumatized by the scene from a week ago.

The old man without eyes noticed that the boy was in an unusually unsettled state and asked with great emotion:

—You don't mean to tell me that you crossed paths with the Baron?... But... you made it out alive! Did you manage to deceive the Baron? Impressive, Adam, you never cease to amaze me with how far you can go to change your miserable life. But don't tempt fate. The Baron probably likes heroes; that's why he hesitated to turn you into a book.

—Deceive him?—asked Adam with anger and fear— I just followed Sofia; I didn't do anything wrong. The giant head is a bad shelf: it doesn't follow the rules. I don't want to go to that place anymore, but my dad is forcing me to go to school... I don't want to go; I don't want to become a book!

—Do you really not remember who you are, Adam?—asked the old man, somewhat bewildered—or rather, the person you live with, whom you call father. Hasn't he told you who you are and who he is? The Baron's rules are well known: only children study.

—But I am a 10-year-old kid!—Adam complained angrily.

—No—answered the old man without eyes brusquely— Your body is 10 years old, your mind is 10 years old, but your soul is not. I don't know if it's the right moment, and it's not for me to tell you, but if you get the black robe and your father doesn't tell you, I promise to reveal the truth, Adam. Be cautious of the Baron! And don't be afraid, because heroes don't fall so easily!

After saying those words, the stone head began to sink into the cave wall, revealing the exit.