When he did not have pressing work, the wizard would go to the Ancient Library to study. The institution was filled with lost secrets and forgotten lore that the staff could barely manage, much less catalog.
He wandered the dusty corridors seeking out ancient prophecies of destruction and predictions of the end of the world. He wanted to separate the true portents from the false ones, and prevent what he could.
Whenever he was gone too long, his apprentice would come find him. Even though she was studying under him, she always had to tell him to stop doom scrolling.

“One New York Public Library lion” by 4nitsirk is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!

Everyday Drabbles © 2025 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0