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centralgoldstarCard story: What both of us are looking for
Cain: Whew, we’ve secured many of the books already but the end is still nowhere in sight.
Because of the Great Calamity’s influence, the books of a special store for wizards all ran away. Therefore, we split up and went around to look for them.
After we managed to find a considerable number of the books, Cain, Shylock, and I decided to take a short break. However…
Akira: (They told me to wait then disappeared. What’s going on?)
Cain: Sorry to keep you waiting, Akira. There’s a shop known for good coffee nearby so I went to get some. Let’s drink together while we rest.
Shylock: I thought something sweet would be good for a tired body, so I purchased some baked goods. Feel free to eat it with the coffee.
Akira: Thank you so much! So you went to get refreshments. I’m sorry for sitting here doing nothing.
Shylock: Please don’t mind us, Master Sage. We were only doing what we wanted to do.
Cain: Shylock’s right. It’s enough for us that you enjoy what we bought.
Akira: Oh… I will prevail on your generosity then.
Cain: Go ahead. You’ve been working hard trying to find and capture the books that flew away.
Shylock: After all, the books just don’t linger in one place for long since they gained the ability to fly freely like birds.
The books weren’t actually books but secret writings left behind by wizards. Full of the original wizards’ knowledge, they waited for the time to come when their next master appeared.
Cain: I heard that only the people chosen by the books that flew away could read them, but after so much trouble I’m a bit curious about their contents.
Shylock: Certainly. I understand the feeling of wishing to take a little peek to see what kind of wisdom that they carry.
Cain: I know right? Well, I have enough manners not to look uninvited, but coming in contacts with so many books makes me want to read to my heart’s content.
Akira: Do you read a lot, Cain?
Cain: Yeah, I used to get some coffee like this then settle down on a bench and read in my hometown. There’re lots of books I like too. That reminds me! There’s a really interesting book, but I was careless and only borrowed the first volume. I really want to read the remaining part, but haven’t managed to find it.
Shylock: You’re getting me curious too. What’s the title?
Cain: It’s called ‘The Clown’s Crown’. It’s a mystery story, but there’s a conspiracy of a lord’s underling to overthrow him too. The writing is really smart and elegant.
Akira: That sounds really fun!
Shylock: It is. I’ve read both volumes of that book. So many years have passed but its popularity has only been increasing, so it’s probably hard to borrow a copy. I heard that a hardback edition was released out of the blue recently though.
Cain: Really? Then maybe I’ll find that book when walking around town.
After our break, we resumed our search for the runaway books and came across a busy book-for-rent store.
Man in front of the store: They said the hardback edition of ‘The Clown’s Crown’ is available!
Woman in front of the store: I heard we can rent that title now!
Cain: It’s just as Shylock said. If everyone is talking about the book then maybe we’ll encounter it soon! Huh?
Cain: Master Sage! Shylock! Over there!
Shylock and I looked in the direction Cain pointed out to us. A flying book was there.
Akira: So another one of the books that ran away!
Shylock: I want to check out ‘The Clown’s Crown’ too, but shall we take a look later in leisure after this quest?
Cain: Yeah! Let’s go!
The book flapped its wings and nimbly weaved its path through the roadside booths and the many people.
Cain: It’s certainly easy to lose track of that book when it keeps flying into the crowd. The way it moves is pretty distinct though. Let’s split up and chase after it! Master Sage, do you mind helping me so that I won’t bump into people?
Akira: Not at all!
Shylock: I’ll look over there then.
Cain: Understood. Let’s go, Akira!
As I was holding Cain’s hand to help with his vision issue, I could hear people cheerfully chatting about ‘The Clown’s Crown’ around us.
Man on the road: Have you heard? The hardback edition of the ‘The Clown’s Crown’ is out!
Woman on the road: That’s wonderful. It’d be a shame to miss this chance to read it!
Cain: The more I hear them, the more I want to read the story as soon as possible. We still have to capture that book though.
Akira: You’re right…. Oh! Cain, there’s a group coming our way from the front!
Cain: Oops, sorry! Mind letting us pass?
As we crossed path with the chattering people and got distracted, the book blended into the endless crowd and disappeared.
Cain: ….! Oh no, we lost it!
Akira: I’m sorry. I was too focus on avoiding people and forgot following it.
Cain: It isn’t your fault. There’re just too many people. Thanks for helping me.
Cain: That book though. It seemed to be interested in vendors that trade in books, since it kept flying to such places.
Akira: That seems to be the case, now that you mention it. The stores we came across as we chased it were mostly places that rent books.
Shylock: Oh, so you two are here.
Akira: Shylock!
Cain: Sorry, we let the book slip away. How about you, Shylock?
Shylock: I think I can guess what the book has been looking for, so I’d like to show you two a place it may show up.
Cain: Eh? Really?
Shylock: Yes. Please follow me.
The place Shylock led us to was a vendor that rent books in a small street with few people passing by.
Akira: Oh, it’s over there!
The book we were chasing after was fluttering around the rows of ‘The Clown’s Crown’ in front of the vendor.
Shylock: This hole-in-the-wall establishment has a nice selection of offerings. Our little book seemed to be curious about the shops that attracted customers thanks to that title, so I hazarded a guess.
Cain: So you’re looking for ‘The Clown’s Crown’ too, book?
Akira: Maybe the person who wrote this book wished to read the rest of the story like Cain.
Cain: I see…
Cain whispered to himself and took up a volume of ‘The Clown’s Crown’. The fluttering book approached him and gently landed in his hand.
Cain: Haha, so both of us have found what we’re looking for, right?
Cain smiled at the book then looked up at Shylock.
Cain: Thank you, Shylock. Thanks to you, I have found not only the book that escaped but also the book I want to read. May I pick something to read for you from this vendor after we’ve found all of the runaway books?
Shylock: For me?
Cain: Yeah. Like you said, this vendor has a nice selection of offerings. I’d like to recommend you some titles to show my gratitude for helping me find what I was searching for.
Shylock: *chuckles* I’ll take up your offer then. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for me.
Cain: You’ve helped me a lot too, Master Sage. Please join us if you don’t mind.
Akira: I’m happy you invite me, but I can’t read the script of this world…
Cain: No worry, we’re more than happy to explain everything to you. We’ll share all our thoughts about the books we read so you can enjoy them to the fullest extent too. Right, Shylock?!
Cain casually placed a hand on Shylock’s shoulder. Shylock nodded with a smile.
Shylock: Certainly. Your pleasure is my honor.
Akira: Thank you! I’ll look forward to that.
Cain: That’s right! How about me and Shylock having a discussion about ‘The Clown’s Crown’ after I finish reading it?
Shylock: That’d be delightful. I’ll be your conversation partner at any time you want.
I too couldn’t help a smile as I listened to the light-hearted chatter, the kind one would have with a friend.
Card episode: To be captivated by an idea
Akira: Thanks for your book recommendations, Cain. I could have a glimpse into the stories of this world because you explained the contents to me. That was really fun.
Cain: The pleasure is mine. I’m really happy that I got to share my thoughts and feelings about the books I love.
Akira: Since we’re on the topic, what kind of books do you read besides the ones you recommended me?
Cain: Ah, that’d be specialist books about swordplay techniques and novels. I enjoy the popular titles, but I’d read anything that isn’t too difficult. Paperwork and writing aren’t my forte, but I love interesting stories. I can read those all night without getting bored.
Cain: The day before I read a book about someone who transformed into a sea creature in the morning after they decorated their window with sea shells they found and saved their hometown.
Akira: Eh, what kind of story is that?
Cain: Haha, that is certainly a lot, right? I was like, ‘how could that happen’, and kept reading on. It kept defying my expectations so I got all the way to the end.
Cain: Somehow I keep being sucked in by such stories though. I wonder why.
Akira: (That, well, sounds a lot like the so-called B movies.)
