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Traveler – Part 03

“Now then, young man. Are you well-versed in any other fields?”

“Oh, absolutely. Every book in this store is like a treasure trove for me. I find writings on European traditions and wisdom fascinating. Then there’s modern history, with the emergence of science and new technologies, the rise of the New World, and the shift from gas lamps to electricity, horse-drawn carriages to automobiles, dresses to skirts. The changes in people’s lives and culture are just so intriguing.”

“I see. Young folks these days seem to brim with curiosity. Ah, this takes me back. I was the same when I was your age.”

“Everything is changing, but I don’t find change terrifying at all. It seems that the world we live in—the vast territory of the ancient gods, also known as the Old World—is facing an unprecedented crisis. But…” Ambrose wore a faraway look.

Was he picturing the village chief, who valued tradition, keeping the villagers away from civilization and modernity? Or was it the nameless village burning before his eyes? Perhaps he recalled his own self, choosing to dash across the burning drawbridge, leaping into the outside world, away from the Kingdom of Saillune stuck in the medieval era and into early 20th-century Europe.

“Change isn’t a bad thing,” Ambrose said softly, but with confidence. “I’m genuinely curious about the new world that’s unfolding.”

“Hmm…” The gentleman cracked a slow smile. “We adults like to think we’re the backbone of the country, carrying the burden of responsibility, but in reality, it’s the younger generation that holds the keys to the future.” Tucking his desired book under his arm, the gentleman descended the stairs.

“But folks like me still get jittery about change,” he said, handing over bills at the first-floor register. “Oh?” He glanced back at the bookshelves.

Ambrose also cast a glance in that direction. Despite the absence of wind, the old books on the shelf trembled as if the earth itself rocked. Some books even leaped from their places, landing on the floor. The shelves seemed astonished and left speechless by the intense shaking of the books. The frightened books continued to tremble under the watchful gazes of the people present. It felt like they might burst from the shelves, transforming into crazed birds made of ancient paper, ready to flutter wildly throughout the entire store.

“The books are unusually rowdy tonight. I’ve been wondering for a while,” Ambrose mused, staring at the books lovingly. “Books about the old world sometimes start shaking on their own. As if they can sense the changes in the world, fearing their extinction.”

“I see. They’re no different than me, then,” the gentleman said, smiling in amusement.

Once the man left, Ambrose picked up the fallen books, carefully placing them back on the shelves. Occasionally, the books trembled again, causing a few to tumble.

“No need to be so scared.” Ambrose whispered softly to the books. “Even if the world changes, it won’t be forgotten. Take me, for example. I still remember the mysterious old village. Wonderful things will stay forever in people’s memories.”

The female owner returned from taking down the shop sign. “We’re closing for the night,” she said. “Don’t you want to go out and have some fun?”

“I would love to!”

With an eager nod, Ambrose returned the books to their places and ran down the spiral staircase.

After bidding goodbye to the owner, he glanced back at the bookshelves with a concerned look. However, unable to contain his anticipation, he left the store with a spring in his steps.

The owner leaned against the window, watching the departing young employee with a mix of hope and incredulity.

“Never a dull day with that guy.”

The lantern’s light swayed gently in the quiet and empty store.

---

A few days later, in the morning.

In the imposing administrative district at the heart of Saubreme, the capital of the Kingdom of Sauville, a woman descended gracefully from a gray carriage. Her attention seemed elsewhere as she walked straight down the pavement.

She wore a simple, grassy-green dress, clean and elegant, yet with a touch of playfulness as if she had never outgrown her girlhood days. Her brown hair peeked from under a brown bonnet. Despite her unassuming attire, her countenance exuded a certain dignity that belied her youth, causing passersby to straighten themselves.

From the same carriage, a lovely woman around twenty hastily jumped down, holding lady accessories in her hands. “Madam, your necklace!” she said, chasing the lady. “Your lipstick, too. Oh, and how about lace gloves? Ah, please wait!”

The last to descend from the carriage was a lively boy around ten, with a round face adorned with freckles. He ran and caught up with the lady—Mrs. Jacqueline de Signore, the Police Commissioner’s wife. The three walked side by side down the sidewalk.

Engines growled as military trucks carrying young soldiers passed by. The boys in bulky khaki military uniforms, carrying machine guns, looked surprisingly young, their eyes gleaming brightly.

They were soldiers of the Free Sauville Army, a unit of young volunteers. As autumn set in, eager individuals seeking to enlist flooded city halls across various cities. Converging in the capital, Saubreme, they were loaded daily onto trucks, embarking on journeys to distant lands. Some joined the Allied Forces of the Old World, others were assigned to safeguard their homeland, while some boarded ships bound for the faraway New World.

The distant rumble of engines signaled another truck’s arrival. Jacqueline, drawn to it, gasped and halted in her tracks.

Following her gaze, Marion said, “Madam, all three of my boyfriends enlisted in the Free Sauville Army. One in Italy, another in Russia, and the last heading to the New World. I’m really worried.”

“Is that so… Must be hard. Wait, three boyfriends? Wow!”

Marion playfully shrugged her shoulders.

The trio continued down the sidewalk, approaching the city hall’s entrance, where a bustling crowd had gathered. There was a queue of young people in different outfits—students, businessmen, artisans, and another column of individuals wearing military uniforms exiting.

“Um, we’re here to deliver something that the Master forgot, aren’t we?” Marion said. “The police station is behind the city hall.”

“I know. I just felt like taking a walk, so I got off the carriage prematurely. I had no idea the sidewalk would be this crowded.”

Jacqueline looked over her shoulder curiously.

“What’s wrong, Madam?” Marion asked.

“Oh, no… I just thought I saw a familiar man on the military truck that passed by just now. I must’ve been seeing things.

“A familiar man? Who would that be?”

“Grevil.”

“Oh.” Marion’s face turned sour.

“You’re ruining your pretty face, Marion. I haven’t seen him since we ran into each other at the human chess tournament at Saint Marguerite Academy last… no, the year before last, when I was invited as a special judge. He works for the government, and by that, I mean the Ministry of the Occult. It’s just weird for someone like him to go to the battlefield as a civilian volunteer. I must have been mistaken.”

“Grevil… That’s the police inspector with that weird hairdo, right?” Luigi chimed in. “Word on the street is he resigned from the Ministry of the Occult.”

Jacqueline turned pale as a sheet. “He resigned? Why?”

“Who knows? Apparently, he did something outrageous that angered his terrifying father. So, he handed in his resignation and left home. There were also rumors that he volunteered as a foot soldier and went to war. So, yeah, maybe he really was on that military truck earlier.”

Jacqueline was at a loss for words. Sinking into silence, she continued down the sidewalk.

They arrived at the front of the city hall. It was congested, with columns of boys entering and soldiers in uniform exiting, making it difficult to move forward.

Avoiding the soldiers, Jacqueline absentmindedly ventured onto the road to head towards a corner that led to the police headquarters.

“Look out!” shouted a voice from the boys’ queue.

Snapping back to her senses, Jacqueline saw a large military truck approaching her, like a mechanized giant beast lunging for its prey. Luigi and Marion screamed for her to get out of the way. As she tried to move, she uncharacteristically stumbled, and she fell to her knees.

“Ah, Jacqueline!”

A familiar voice called out, and a golden silk curtain fluttered in, blocking her field of vision. The dazzling winter sun momentarily peeked through.

Strong hands held Jacqueline, and they tumbled on the street, spinning about three times. Someone had saved her, and fortunately, nothing seemed to hurt. Brakes screeched. Cautiously, she opened her eyes, finding a truck stopped right in front of her.

Had she stayed where she was, the truck would have hit her.

The person who saved her appeared to be one of the civilian soldiers from the city hall, judging by the khaki military uniform. In the distance, a gap in the soldier column indicated where he had jumped out from. The machine gun on his back rattled.

“Are you okay?! A-A-Are you hurt?!”

“I-I’m fine. I don’t know who you are, but thank you.”

“Jacqueline!”

“Huh?”

Her name was called again, and finally, she noticed. Jacqueline lifted her face slowly.