The kids fell silent suddenly; it seemed like someone was approaching the classroom. The classroom door opened, and Professor Aquiles entered, but as Adam's friends had said, the professor's attitude was much colder than before: there were no greetings or apologies for being late.
The face on Aquiles' forehead looked at everyone attentively, but luckily for the kids, he didn't say anything. It was really gross; it was like having a gigantic mole filled with pus with a wrinkled human face right on his forehead. The mole was so big that it was almost covering the professor's eyes. However, the kids had already gotten used to the mole thanks to its gradual appearance.
—Well... Today, we celebrate that you managed to read your 80 pages,— Professor Aquiles responded with a very tired voice; he seemed like he hadn't been sleeping well lately —I had planned a very, very special class: the one I've been waiting to do for over 5 years. But I think it's best to celebrate it differently, as the friend on my forehead wants to postpone it. So, to celebrate your 80 pages, each of you can go home early and enjoy the day off: congratulations and good luck on your way.
Adam's heart broke; the little boy inside him, who had not yet disappeared, wanted his celebration, but the tired look on the professor's face denied him the opportunity to say anything. Thus, the young hero left the classroom, feeling hurt inside, as if he had lost a great battle. From the other side of the coin, Adam's two friends left the class with smiles on their faces for getting out of class early.
The hero left the school and said goodbye to his friends, heading towards the stairs of hexagon 3.
Meanwhile, Bianca and Franco always took the stairs of hexagon 6, as it was closer to their homes, so Adam walked alone to the cave every day.
The journey was just as monotonous, but he felt much sadder than he used to be. Nothing unusual happened, and Adam managed to reach the cave without any trouble. But to his surprise, the cave was not empty this time, as the eyeless old man was having a discussion with someone:
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—The mission is solely to help the boy find more little books; he gave me two magical books already, now I need some disposable little books so they can fulfill the breeding floor's war mission, and then I can get more magical books to guard.
Adam couldn't see who he was talking to because he was carefully descending the rotten wooden stairs, but he could hear a person with the hoarse voice of a drunkard replying:
—I know some little books that have been quite active lately, they could be used for this war, but the information is valuable, old man.
Adam didn't want to interrupt the negotiation; it seemed like this person could help him return the favor, so he decided not to make any noise while descending the stairs and waited on the moldy steps.
—How many mushrooms?—the eyeless old man asked.
—Two mushrooms per little book...—the person with the somewhat hoarse voice replied —You'll win magical books. How long does it take you to kill two librarians, and how long does it take you to cultivate a hero who obtains magical books?
—Both take me a long time, and there are fewer and fewer librarians on these floors each time— the eyeless old man responded with some annoyance —One mushroom per little book is quite enough.
—Two is expensive, but the information is worth it...—the drunkard-sounding person said —If you want, I'll give you a piece of information in advance that might change your mind, old man.
—I don't know what the information is, but two mushrooms are too much...—the eyeless old man said, reluctant to accept that price.
—Seems like there's going to be a purge in...—the drunkard-sounding person commented.
—Alright, don't say anything else— the eyeless old man interrupted, pondering for a long while —I accept, but if the event doesn't happen, you owe me a favor worth 1 mushroom per little book.
Adam didn't know what they meant by "purge," but it seemed like the eyeless old man had found himself an assistant, so he was quite happy.
—Kid, stop eavesdropping on the stairs and come down!—the eyeless old man shouted —I have someone I want to introduce you to.