The darkness clouding my eyes slowly starts to fade as I regain my senses. Feeling the cold wind flowing through the open window, crawling over my body makes me realise what situation I'm currently in. This is not he first time this has happened, I have fallen asleep while reading again. Before I even manage to think about how tired I am I hear the door opening. "Please forgive the disturbance my Lord, but you have a visitor." Giving me a courteous bow he continues "The book merchant you invited has arrived, I informed him that you would be meeting him in your study."
Giving an appreciative nod to my butler I start making my way down the hallway. Though I am a noble I do not care about status. I've always thought that knowledge hold much more power than status, so knowing I own the largest collection of literature in the country. Finally arriving at my study I'm faced with a strange man, his whole body covered in a long dark cloak while his hands are hidden beneath gloves. Only his head is visible, but there is not a single hair to be found on it. With a smile that gives me an uneasy feeling he starts the conversation.
"Greetings my Lord, I'm certain I have something your interest in." His whole demeanour is making me a bit sceptic, but I learned not to judge when in search of knowledge. "Yes, as I told you in the letter I sent beforehand, I'm in search of books or to be more specific, I'm looking for the rarest ones." I tell him, my excitement slowly increasing. With a sly grin he replies "I have some you may like. One about the rare plants of the south, another about tribal gods far to the west. And a special one made for you hands only."
"Three books? If I recall correctly I only asked for two." Even though I say that I still take all three of them, being mesmerised by the design of the large 'special' book. It is completely black except for the gold engraving at the front. "Why is my name on the cover, is that why you said it is for my hands only." I ask the merchant who is simply ignoring my words. Not taking his eyes of me he opens up the first page for me to read and starts to speak again. "This will satisfy your insatiable thirst fo knowledge, I'm sure of it." I don't believe his words, but is Beginn to read nonetheless. Immediately my eyes are focussed on the pages, my breathing growing heavy.
My life, my whole life is written here, events I can barely remember. The merchant doesn't make a single noise while hour after hour passes. At last I arrive at the page talking about today, not finding a single mistake so far. A sudden, a dreadful despair inducing realisation comes over me. "There are only three pages left!" I whisper under my breath, barely audible to even myself. Looking up in horror there is not a single trace of the merchant, as if he was never here. I want to throw the book away, burn it to ash, but I can't.
I need to know what happens next. With shaking fingers I turn the page.
