The Wizard’s Library

By Allie Jo Andersen

That blasted bookworm is at it again.

I can hear his little munch munch munch all the way from the other side of the library. My mentor, Wizard Owyn, has told me countless times to ignore it while I am in his library. But I can’t help it—the wretched grub is eating the books!

I slam my palm on the darkened oak wood table, scanning the shelves surrounding me. The books near me skitter about from my sudden movement, flapping their pages and taking to the air. If I don’t stop the bookworm from devouring them, I’ll never find the poultice recipe Owyn told me to look for.

I curl my hands into fists. I can’t let that happen—Owyn has already threatened to end my apprenticeship once this morning after I dumped feathers and honey on his favorite chair. How was I to know he couldn’t take a joke? The backside of his tunic will wash out eventually.

Sighing, I turn the page of the book in front of me.

Munch munch munch.

I can’t work like this. Something has to be done about that bookworm, despite what Owyn says about it.

“Owyn has a soft spot for that bookworm,” I mumble as I rise from my seat. He never lets me touch it, no matter how many books that nasty thing devours.

But now it is imperative that I find that recipe. If I don’t shape up soon, Owyn will send me back to the village to find a new profession to study.

I creep along the shelves, following the curves of the massive tree in which the library is nestled. The books rustle their pages as they flutter past me, but I pay them no mind, focusing on the sound of the bookworm gnawing the magical tomes.

Munch munch.

There it is again.

I tiptoe up to Owyn’s section about woodland species. The books tremor as I brush my fingertips along their spines. One particularly thick book is still upon my touch.

“Gotcha,” I say as I grab it and yank it off the shelf.

The book rustles its pages in annoyance, but I turn my gaze toward the fuzzy caterpillar-like creature sitting on the empty shelf.

The bookworm looks up at me with bulbous, almost translucent eyes, tiny pieces of paper falling out of its mandibles. It starts to push its way behind the other books, dozens of stocky, furred limbs flailing when I cup my hands around the bug and scoop it up.

Books fly around my ears, making loud papery sounds. Probably congratulating me on capturing the pest.

“Do not fear, my friends,” I tell them. “This pest will bother you no longer.”

I strut outside and walk several strides away from the massive tree that holds the library. Once I’m far enough away, I set the bookworm down on a small bush.

“Bugs must stay outside,” I tell the bookworm, trying to ignore the fact that it’s staring up at me like a puppy being put in the doghouse for the first time.

I shake my head as I step back inside the library. There’s no way the bookworm could have feelings. It’s just another woodland creature that belongs outside.

Taking a deep breath, I settle down in front of the table, letting the peace and quiet wash over me as I grab the nearest book. It’s still under my touch, which is strange for Owyn’s books, since you can usually feel the pages breathing beneath your fingertips.

In fact, all the books are motionless now. Their rustling and flapping sounds seem to have vanished from the library.

Frowning, I gently open the book.

My eyes widen as the words slowly fade away. “Oh no,” I mumble, flipping the pages, only to find that all the words have disappeared.

I quickly grab another book from a nearby stack, only to find that these words are also completely gone.

My throat tightens as the reality of what I’ve done comes crashing around me.

Somehow, I’ve killed Owyn’s books.

I grip the edge of the table, looking around the eerily still and silent library. This can’t be happening–there’s nothing I can do to stop this nightmare from coming true.

“What did you do?”

I cringe as I look up to see Wizard Owyn hovering over the oakwood table, his graying eyebrows furrowed.

“I-I’m so sorry, sir.” I push the book toward him. “I… took the bookworm outside because it was being a bother, and now the books…”

Owyn pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. “There is a reason I tell you not to do things, Woodrow.” His tone is much calmer than it was this morning.

I hang my head, heat rising to my face. After this I’ll never have the chance to become a wizard. “I’m sorry.”

“The bookworm prunes dead, unreadable pages in the books. If you remove the bookworm, the books cannot survive.” Owyn gestures to the lifeless books around us.

I sigh. “I’ll pack my things.” Just like Father warned, my carelessness has ruined me. My gut twists at the thought of going back to my village where my reputation is already spotty at best. It’s a miracle that Owyn chose me as his apprentice, but now, after barely a month, I’ve let him down.

Owyn puts a hand on my shoulder, taking a deep breath. “No, Woody. I may have been harsh with you earlier, but I do not want you to go. You made a mistake, but now’s the most important part of being an apprentice—for you to learn from that mistake.”

My mouth falls open, but I can think of no words to say. A weight that I hadn’t noticed earlier lifts off my shoulders. Maybe everything will be okay after all.

He smiles and gestures toward the door. “This can still be fixed. Come on—I believe it’s time you had a hands-on lesson.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Allie Jo Andersen is a follower of Christ who loves weaving tales of adventure that entertain while instilling truth in her readers’ minds. If she’s not coming up with new worlds to explore, she’s probably cuddling one of her bunnies, exploring someone else’s fictional world, or planning victory in the latest family game.

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