One would say that a book is the window to the world, but in this magic-ridden world. A book hold a deeper meaning than just that.
A book holds a person's view on the world, and how he understands it. When the world is full of unknown phenomenon that needs to be understood, a collection of different ideas could help one comprehend what is unknown.
As the legend goes, "A good book gives you insight, a great book teaches you."
Those are the parting words of Xan, the late Magus that has helped breakthrough a lot of theory and created understanding on a lot of the oddities around the world. The most spectacular being a rediscovery of a lot of the lost mythical beings, for example, dragons, unicorn, phoenix, and more.
The rediscovery of the beings counts as oddities because their disappearances turns out to be unnatural, it was not because they lost their habitat, and could no longer feed. But the creation of said creatures need to be under special circumstances.
And when that circumstances aren't met for long enough cycle, the species could no longer reproduce and thus went into extinction. And those special circumstances has been easily reproduced now, because of the Magus and his fellows support.
But the Magus felt that if in the end he too is claimed by the will of time, all of his knowledge would slowly crumbles, and in the end lost in an arbitrary library somewhere.
That concern began his deep dive of the earlier saying. "A good book gives you insight, a great book teaches you."
What if he could create a book, that could think, that could preserve his understanding, without any interpretation from other, thus keeping the knowledge in its purest form.
As time ticks, death's gaze drew ever closer. And the Magus has yet to reach a comprehensive end on his final research.
With no lead, he went into his study, reading all the books that might have a clue on how to impart a will, over and over again. No topics left unread, books and themes from all over.
"There is no bad knowledge, only bad application." Is what he holds true, even the most gruesome of magic can be turned into something that is useful by simply using it incorrectly.
Hundreds and thousands of book floats around, each having been read more than once. The Magus was desperate, but even with all that book the only clue he could find was something along the line of giving an inanimate object a goal, or maybe giving it a soul.
Before he was able to find a resolution, a knock came from the door in front of him. All the books slam into the ground, his ears perked up, hearing magic instantly cast on the door.
A children's whisper could be heard. "Granpop? Are you still busy?"
Xan flew straight to the door, opening it inwards, picking up his only grandson.
"No, I am not, dear!" With the pile of book behind him, some still on its way to hit the ground.
The child glanced behind the Magus, and then back at him. "If you say so."
But then another noise could be heard from a little farther away, a cry from a man. "Cesra! Where are you!"
The voice grew closer, and a figure of a man, in his early 30s could be seen, his clothes unruly, and his hair messed up. Upon seeing the Magus and the child that he's holding up, he sighed.
"There you are." He walked closer, while fixing his clothes and hair, and straightening his glasses. "Can you not run by yourself again, please?" His arm opens, preparing to carry the child into his arm.
The child turns away, hugging Xan even harder. "Papa's a meanie, Cesra doesn't want to be carried by Papa."
Xan let out a thunderous laughter. "What did you do this time, Geran?"
While Geran's hand slowly drooped down in disappointment. "We were supposed to head to the reception first, but Cesra just couldn't wait to meet you."
"He is my grandson after all." Xan's hand glides through Cesra's head. "Come in, I wouldn't want my guest to be standing outside the door now."
Before they entered the room, Xan chanted a spell, and he whispered to Cesra. "You might want to take a look at this."
He waved his free hand, and the book that was scattered on the ground started dancing, some floats, some seemed like it walked, but they were all moving to their places in the bookshelves. Meanwhile the papers turned into a giant bird, flying around the room, slowly getting smaller while the pages are heading into the correct files.
Whilst all that is happening, Cesra and Geran were mesmerized by the display of accuracy and memory in his magic, being able to return every single book to its correct place, and even the papers.
"You know pop, If you teach me this, my wife probably would never get mad about my messy study again." Geran nudged, his father's sides.
Xan only smiled, and asked them both to sit in the burgundy sofa, right in front of his table. "Tea anyone?"
Cesra shook his head, while Geran nodded. Not long after, the Magus brought a tray full of snacks, two cups of tea, and a glass of warm milk.
"So." The Magus broke the silence. "What seems to be the purpose of your visit today?" He slurps his tea.
Geran raised his eyebrow. "Did you" He held his breath, and lowered his tea cup "not summon us to be here today?"
"Did I?" The Magus again waved his hand, a giant book, covered in white ragged cloth, came flying. The pages flutters, and then one page stood, he glances at it for a while, and then let out a sigh. "And so I did."
"It's true then?" Geran's voice trembles.
The Magus's face soften, his head lowering. "I'm afraid so."
Geran shifted his gaze away, his jaw clenched tight. He turned his back on Cesra, trying to keep composure.
Xan then stood, with his book in his arm, he sat down beside Cesra, who was enjoying the ginger biscuits and his warm milk.
"Cesra, my boy." His voice soft, like a lullaby. "Do you like to read?" His hand strokes Cesra's head.
The little kid's face lit up, and he looks up at his granddad, with a mouthful of biscuit. "Of course! I wanted to be as smart as you are someday!"
Xan nodded, "Good." He then showed him the white book that was in his arm "This is my book, I was the one who wrote all that ever was in that book."
Cesra puts down his milk and biscuits, "Can I see?" his small arms reaching for the book that is almost as big as himself.
"But, of course." Xan rests the book on his lap, while Cesra stood beside him, trying to flip the pages.
The boy could only tilt his head, trying to understand what is it that he's reading, "This book's hard." He said, as his face furrows.
Xan chuckled, "Do you still want this book then? Or is my knowledge a tad too much for your little bean?" He shuffled Cesra's hair.
His head lowered, his face still furrowing. "Can I be as smart as you are if I understand this book then?"
"Of course you can, you might even be smarter than granpop." A gleam of smile formed on his face.
"Then I will gladly accept your Grimoire, grandpop."
The Magus then activate the seal on his book, the book glowed, the raggedy cloth turns pristine, and the mass slowly shrunk, fitting itself for a child's grasp.
Geran turned back to face them both, wiping away the streams on his face, his voice still raspy, and his breathing uneven.
"Your very first grimoire, huh, kid?" The side of his mouth turned up ever so slightly.
Cesra faced his father, nodding happily, while holding the book he got tighly in his chest. While the Magus's eye welled up, holding back himself from letting his emotions run.
There were not much said after, what was left was but an empty tray, with cups and a glass, and crumbs of snacks.
Not a week later, the news of the Magus's passing was announced.
His funeral was grand, a sea of mourners attended. It was a colorful bunch, from the majestic high elves donning their royal green shroud, to even the smallest of goblins wearing their raggedy leathers.
Giants sat outside the cemetery trying not to break anything, meanwhile the demons folded their wings as they stood beside the others.
It was a day to remember, and the day Cesra felt a connection to the book. As it was the only thing that his grandfather left for him.
He was on the front most line, watching his beloved role model, slowly went under the dirt, buried underground.
"I will continue your legacy grandpop, I will become a Magus too!" Cesra clutched the book in his hand, and a faint golden glow emerges.