Sonatine for the Forgotten · Chapter 1
The Black Book
The Thorn Vine of the Blue Rose
A name from a forgotten past.
Back when even the idea of tomorrow meant nothing.
Days when the present, shaped by dust, air, and passing scenery, felt like the entirety of life.
Looking back, perhaps I was arrogant...
...To never imagine that even the present could one day end.
Blue Rose Sisterhood Member A
A-A Voidborn!
Blue Rose Sisterhood Member B
Everyone, fall back!
Terrified screams and desperate eyes pleading for help.
The dread that everyday life might disappear.
Helplessness and despair can paralyze a person and steal their breath away.
???
Are you all right?
We'll take it from here. Leave the rest to us.
The maids of Candle Square are here to help.
Then descended a light that saved them from it all.
A cold, empty light, so faint it seemed closer to a shadow.
What awaited at the far end of that light... was tomorrow.
Claire
Yes. Come in.
Maid
Excuse me.
...Uh, Ms. Claire?
Claire
Is something the matter?
You're responsible for the library archives, aren't you?
Is there a reason... you're just standing there?
Maid
It's just that... you looked quite worn out, Ms. Claire.
Would another time be better...?
Claire
Oh... I see.
It's nothing worth concerning yourself over. I'm alright.
Now then, what was it that you wanted to discuss?
Maid
Well, actually...
I happened to find this book.
Claire
...A book?
Maid
I checked the library catalog thoroughly, but it wasn't listed anywhere.
I figured it was worth bringing to your attention.
Claire
A book... with no catalog entry?
That's impossible. There shouldn't be any books here that aren't listed.
Could it have been overlooked during the registration process?
Maid
I-I suppose that's possible, but...
I've never seen a book quite like this among the recent arrivals.
Also, any new book would have required your approval before entering the collection...
Which is why the whole thing seemed rather odd.
Claire
...Hmm, is that so.
A black hardcover book with neither title nor distinguishing features...
It is certainly unusual. If such a suspicious book had been brought in, I would have inspected it personally.
Perhaps it doesn't belong to Candle Square at all and was left behind by an outside visitor.
Did you happen to check its contents?
Maid
N-No, not at all! Like you said, I thought it might be someone's personal property...
The book was inside the return box next to the library entrance!
Claire
...The return box, hm.
Maid
Although... there is one detail that bothers me.
I was the one who locked the library yesterday and opened it again this morning.
There definitely wasn't anything in the return box when I checked yesterday...
Claire
Nothing at all?
Maid
Do you perhaps have any idea about this?
Claire
...Hard to say. I'll have to look into it.
I'll take custody of the book. You can return to your duties as usual.
I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention this to anyone else. We don't need rumors spreading.
Maid
Yes, understood.
Claire
A black book... with no catalog entry.
...There's something unsettlingly familiar about it.
Somehow, this feels less like a book. It's more like...
...
...Hm? What?
Why can't I open it...?
Did someone glue the pages together or something?!
Claire
...Wait, what was that strange feeling just now?
Between this and the fact that it won't open...
It feels almost like a warning telling me not to look inside—
Gah!?
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