A Story Remembered

Okay. We made it underground.

Why don't we go over our mission one more time?

Okay!

？！

You are in a minutemicroscopic, reallySingularity that's popped up in an unidentified European city.

It's somehow managed to stay intact, and its origin is likely something with a similar amount of power to a Holy Grail.

We've determined that the owner of whatever that object is, is the only mage in the area.

But, as it happens, the mage in question apparently died from an illness awhile back.

We suspect that some lingering desire or drive of theirs, or some sort of puppet proxy has taken over the operation.

Your mission is to infiltrate the mage's now vacant workshop...

...and grab this Grail-like object sustaining the Singularity as quickly as you can.

A distortion of this size will almost certainly disappear on its own.

But, we're going to see to this just to be safe. Luckily we have some free time on our hands.

What a wonderful thing it is, being safe.

One can never be too cautious, especially in matters of personal safety.

For instance, I suggest everyone wear a gas mask while doing their household cleaning.

You can never be sure whether someone has cleaned the same spot a few minutes ago with a different cleaning agent...

...which may be dangerous if it mixes with yours.

I also strongly recommend wearing full body armor when cooking. Should the tip of the knife break and deflect toward you as it does, you would be as good as dead.

I do so wish Beni-Enma would include that in the curriculum for her cooking class.

If something were to go wrong...someone could die!

You're such a worrywart, Scheherazade.

You try so hard not to seem like a scaredy-cat, but always end up acting like one.

That's nothing new, though.

I do agree that safety measures are important, yes.

Just a little time and effort can yield immense peace of mind, so it's best to put in the work.

Full body armor...may be going a bit far though...

I should ask, though: Why were we chosen to accompany Master on this mission?

Apparently, the mage who is responsible for this specialized in researching books and stories.

Which makes the three of you perfect for this mission.

Murasaki Shikibu, a writer and our librarian.

Nursery Rhyme, the embodiment of the concept of children's stories and fairy tales.

And Scheherazade, whose skill at telling stories let her survive a thousand and one nights.

Sending all three of you might be overkill for a Singularity of this scale.

You are each true professionals when it comes to writing and storytelling.

Yes. You have chosen me for this mission, so I will do my best.

Though, I do have some concerns...

Isn't there someone else more fitting to be in the vanguard?

Are you concerned because we're all Casters!?

I admit, I DO understand the concern. In fact, I was just thinking the same thing.

For example, if some big, sweaty, muscular type were to rush at us, I wouldn't know what to do with myself!

？！

I get it, but you're most likely to find yourself encountering Demonic Books and the like in this Singularity.

You're not likely to find yourselves on the wrong end of swords, spears, and such.

And even if you did, Scheherazade's djinn could probably counter them.

Okay. We made it underground.

Why don't we go over our mission one more time?

Okay!

？！

You are in a minutemicroscopic, reallySingularity that's popped up in an unidentified European city.

It's somehow managed to stay intact, and its origin is likely something with a similar amount of power to a Holy Grail.

We've determined that the owner of whatever that object is, is the only mage in the area.

But, as it happens, the mage in question apparently died from an illness awhile back.

We suspect that some lingering desire or drive of theirs, or some sort of puppet proxy has taken over the operation.

Your mission is to infiltrate the mage's now vacant workshop...

...and grab this Grail-like object sustaining the Singularity as quickly as you can.

A distortion of this size will almost certainly disappear on its own.

But, we're going to see to this just to be safe. Luckily we have some free time on our hands.

What a wonderful thing it is, being safe.

One can never be too cautious, especially in matters of personal safety.

For instance, I suggest everyone wear a gas mask while doing their household cleaning.

You can never be sure whether someone has cleaned the same spot a few minutes ago with a different cleaning agent...

...which may be dangerous if it mixes with yours.

I also strongly recommend wearing full body armor when cooking. Should the tip of the knife break and deflect toward you as it does, you would be as good as dead.

I do so wish Beni-Enma would include that in the curriculum for her cooking class.

If something were to go wrong...someone could die!

You're such a worrywart, Scheherazade.

You try so hard not to seem like a scardey-cat, but always end up acting like one.

But that's nothing new.

I do agree that safety measures are important, yes.

Just a little time and effort can yield immense peace of mind, so it's best to put in the work.

Full body armor...may be going a bit far though...

I should ask, though: Why were we chosen to accompany Master on this mission?

Apparently, the mage who is responsible for this specialized in researching books and stories.

Which makes the three of you perfect for this mission.

Murasaki Shikibu, a writer and our librarian.

Nursery Rhyme, the embodiment of the concept of children's stories and fairy tales.

And Scheherazade, whose skill at telling stories let her survive a thousand and one nights.

Sending all three of you might be overkill for a Singularity of this scale.

You are each true professionals when it comes to writing and storytelling.

Yes. You have chosen me for this mission, so I will do my best.

Though, I do have some concerns...

Isn't there someone else more fitting to be in the vanguard?

Are you concerned because we're all Casters!?

I admit, I DO understand the concern. In fact, I was just thinking the same thing.

For example, if some big, sweaty, muscular type were to rush at us, I wouldn't know what to do with myself!

？！

I get it, but you're most likely to find yourself encountering Demonic Books and the like in this Singularity.

You're not likely to find yourselves on the wrong end of swords, spears, and such.

And even if you did, Scheherazade's djinn could probably counter them.

Well, you are able to mold many stories into many forms.

None of the children listening to your stories tremble in fear.

Plus, I'm here too. I'm pretty sturdy, you know?

I certainly do not have any intention of using you as a shield, Nursery Rhyme.

Nevertheless, I appreciate the sentiment.

And I'm sure they chose the three of us for this party out of a belief that doing so would be safe.

So I do trust both of you.

The pages Nursery turns and the tales she weaves are all made up of wonderful, mysterious scenes.

And I have, of course, read Murasaki Shikibu's "The Tale of Genji."

It was a wonderful story. The psychological descriptions were so intricate, I became very emotionally involved...

Th-thank you. Oh, um, erm...

W-well, I have read your "One Thousand and One Nights" many times too, Scheherazade.

I've always looked forward to your story times at Chaldea...

It may be a misnomer to call them "my story times," but...thank you.

？！

You are right. We should complete our mission as quickly and quietly as possible.

Let's see...it seems we have to go through here. I'm going to open the door.

Oh, my. What a beautiful library.

They seem to have quite an interesting collection of books.

But I do see puddles and moss on the path we just took, which leaves me a little concerned...

I am not certain proper protective measures have been taken to preserve the books here... There could be excess humidity, mold, bookworms, mice...

Books face a nearly endless array of threats.

You're right. Those all sound horrible. Just hearing that sends shivers down my spine.

As the one responsible for this was a mage who specifically studied books, I am sure proper measures were taken...

Ah! Please be careful!

The floorboards over there are cracked... Some of the bookshelves look warped...

...and there's water dripping from the ceiling.

This library has not been properly cared for. It's in sorry shape.

What a sad state of affairs.

A very sad state. It simply won't do.

Even the Queen of Hearts wouldn't want to hold a tea party in a place like this. All the wonderful guests would run away!

(Perhaps I'm imagining things...)

(...but the leaking ceiling and the cracks in the floor do not appear to have resulted from a lack of maintenance. Rather...they look like recent developments...)

Master, please step back!

Come, my djinn!

Enemies...Demonic Books!?

I'm sorry I didn't react quicker.

You really saved our pages, Scheherazade.

It was nothing. Ambushes are the leading cause of death on an operation.

I was simply looking out for myself.

That aside...are these the Demonic Books the mage was keeping here?

It appears so.

The mage was negligent not only in caring for the regular books here, but with the Demonic Books as well.

？！

They appear to be rampaging completely out of control. We have no choice but to fight back.

...Let's do our best not to die!

There were so many! But it looks like that was the last of them.

Hmmm. Did you notice how strange they were acting?

I wonder what kind of books they were.

(Did I just see a crack in the floor beneath Nursery Rhyme? I thought I heard a creak, too.)

(My danger sense is tingling!)

Nursery, watch your footing!

Huh?

Eeeek!!!

Oh no!

The floor...it's coming apart! Look out!

Master, this way! You'll be safer near the door!

？！

(They both fell through the floor!)

(My priority has to be keeping Master safe... I hope the others will be okay!)

Is this a...natural cave? We seem to have fallen quite far.

(Gasp) Nursery Rhyme!?

Unnngh...

The impact knocked her unconscious, but she seems fine otherwise.

But I cannot be certain.

Should Mystics be involved, even a fall can be fatal for us.

How terrifying. This world is positively brimming with danger...

......

Hngh...hmm...?

(Yawn) Did I fall asleep?

Ah, you seem to be all right. Thank goodness.

I'm sorry. I remember now. This is all my fault.

No, it's not.

The floor was unstable to begin with. Our battle is what finally brought it down.

Even so, I feel bad about dragging you down with me.

You even jumped into the hole to save me.

That was really dangerous. Why did you do that?

I wonder... All I can tell you is that my body moved entirely on its own.

I see...

Well, then let me just say this: thank you, Scheherazade!

We're right below the library, right?

London Bridge has fallen down, and we're Humpty Dumpty who had a great fall and can't be put back together again.

But we have something much more reliable than all the king's horses and all the king's men.

Have you been able to contact Master?

No. I have tried several times, but have been unsuccessful with both my communication device and spells.

Perhaps there is a Bounded Field in place, or maybe there is some kind of natural inhibitor in this place.

Whatever the case, this must be part of the mage's workshop as well.

Yes...

What are we going to do? We don't know the way back up to the surface.

It's best we stay put at times like this.

I've heard we should not wander off.

Our connection with Master is still intact, so I'm sure he will come and find us sooner or later.

Right. I guess we have no other choice.

Maybe it's just me, but isn't it a little cold here? I might just be spooked...

I see. Then perhaps I could tell you the story of "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp"...

The dubious Maghreb sorcerer takes Aladdin to a valley...

...and makes him collect many dry leaves. He then sets them on fire, and...

Wow. The flames are dancing so merrily. How long has this wonderful bonfire been here?

(She's still not entirely calm. But...there isn't much else I can do.)

Should we talk about something else?

If you like, I could continue the story of Aladdin, or, if you prefer, I could tell a different story.

I'd like you to continue with Aladdin's story. Even though I know the broad strokes...

...it's not the same as having THE Scheherazade herself tell me the story from the very beginning. Who could ask for more?

Very well, then. Allow me to continue...

...And they lived happily ever after.

(What a relief. She looks much better now. I understand how she feels... No one likes to feel alone in the darkness.)

I'd like to hear your story now.

What do you mean, my story?

The story about you, Scheherazade. I suppose it's the same as the Aladdin story.

I know the general outline, but there are so many things I don't know or understand.

... ...

...Will you share it with me? If you don't want to, it's okay.

No, I do not mind.

Very well. If I am to tell you my story, I must begin with the story of a certain king.

Our main characters are the king, the daughter of the king's vizier, and her younger sister.

You were the daughter, right?

Yes. And my younger sister was Dunyazad.

It really is amazing that you could tell so many different tales every night.

For that, I am grateful to my father.

My father read many books to me, starting when I was quite young.

Did you like reading stories?

I did. It must have suited me. I enjoyed reading fiction, history, science...

Each was interesting in its own way. I must have read every book in my home's library.

Some of the stories I told the king were retellings of things I'd read before.

Others I composed myself.

I knew it. You can create completely original stories, Scheherazade.

You should write books, like Murasaki.

No. I have no talent for such things. It's embarrassing to be even be mentioned alongside Murasaki Shikibu and the other authors.

My stories were no more than trifling things I came up with on the spot.

That's why some of them are so nonsensical.

Several of the tales from "The One Thousand and One Nights" are stories nested within other stories.

What do you mean by that?

Well, in some stories, a character may say, "Let me tell you a tale," and then begin a completely different story of their own.

Take "The Adventures of Sinbad," for example:

Every night, an old man named Sinbad tells a story of his past adventures on the seven seas...

...to a younger man, also named Sinbad.

So it is like the Sinbad of the Seas telling his tale to the Sinbad of the Land.

That IS confusing.

But I get it. It's like Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

Who's who and who did what? The fact that it's so confusing is exactly what makes it amusing.

There are other tales like that too.

In one such tale, a tailor meets a barber who tells a story about each of his six brothers...

Teehee! How come you make them all so complicated!?

Heehee... I wonder why...

Perhaps it was a matter of desperation to prolong the tale...to buy myself more time, even if only a little, to live.

But that desperation gave all of usnot just the horrible kingthe privilege of hearing your many tales.

(Yes, I was desperate.)

(I just didn't want to die. I wanted to see the next sunrise.)

(Nights coming on without end. Night, after night, after night, after night...)

(I thought I would spend every night for the rest of my life in fear of my own imminent death...)

Scheherazade!

Oh...my apologies. I must have been lost in thought.

I'm sorry. Please forgive me.

I should have known asking you to tell me your story would bring up some terribly frightening memories for you, but I forgot entirely.

No, it's...it's not like that.

You know what, Scheherazade? It'll be okay.

Even if remembering is scary, you don't have to be afraid. I'm here with you.

For children in the dark of night, for you, on a cold night. Scolded by Father...where could Mother be?

Outside your window, a dreadful howling... Could it be the raging of a storm, the crackle of thunder, or some dread beast in the night, prowling? You hope your prayers might drive away the beast. Or will it instead make of you a feast?

There may be scary, unsettling things, things you don't want to think about, or things you don't want to remember...

That's what I'm here for: to make you forget all about those things, even if only for a moment, with silly, funny, and sometimes delightfully mysterious rhymes.

And that's why my name is Nursery Rhyme.

If you remembered something you didn't want to, maybe it's my turn to tell you a rhyme?

(Oh...I feel so...)

(...cozy and warm...)

...What was that!?

More Demonic Books! There're so many!

Please stand back, Nursery. I will...

Huh...?

Huh? They had to have noticed us, but they just passed right by. What's going on?

Th-this must be...!

Ah! Something's coming! It's coming this way!

Some other sort of demonic creature is...eating the Demonic Books.

... ...

Could it be...? The damage that seemed more recent in the library... The strange behavior of the Demonic Books...

Do you suppose they were fleeing this thing?

And maybe the deceased mage who created this Singularity died not from illness, but at the hands of whatever this is?

This isn't good, Scheherazade. I can feel it. I can tell what that thing is precisely because of what I am.

That thing devours stories!

It's a natural enemy of the written word...a poison to stories. That is its nature!

...I can't move my legs.

One of us has to escape. Run and find Master.

But...

It's no use! You should understand why!

It will affect you, too! That monster's story-killing poison will get you!

...Because you're a part of your own story, "Scheherazade"!

You'll die! You'll die!

You mustn't fight it! You're always saying you don't want to die, right!?

...You're right.

I do not want to die. I've been plagued by that terrible fear since that first, fateful night.

However.

But right now, I am certain about one thing.

If I don't do the right thing... If I just run so I alone can survive...

...that would be no different than if I had died.

You see, I've grown greedy.

It's not enough to see the next sunrise anymore. I want everyone else there too.

Ah, but...

(Perhaps I have not truly changed, but only remembered something important.)

(Because in my past life, there was someone who warmed my heart... Someone I wantedneeded to protect.)

(Dunyazad...)

(My precious little sister, who would beg me to tell her stories. Ah, her expressions of excitement as she delighted in them...)

(Yes, even then...I did all I did not only to keep myself alive...)

(...but to protect her as well. Her life, as much as mine, is why I told all those stories.)

This is just like back then. And what I have to do is just as clear.

I will do what I must. That is all there is to it.

Scheherazade...?

If stories are your food, then feast upon these.

I need only weave more stories than you can stomach, and I WILL defeat you.

Now come at me, Devourer of Stories.

Even if you are a symbol of death and a devouring monster, just like the king...

Even if I must tell more than a thousand and one stories...

...so long as I have something I wish to protect, I will never run out of stories!

(Pant, pant...)

I never imagined your strategy against a monster that eats stories up in one bite would be to throw even more stories at it...

I...suppose I mean that I didn't think you could be so...aggressive.

But then again...

Th-that. Was. TERRIFYING!!! I-I-I thought I was g-going to d-die!!!

I was on the verge! That was too close! Muh-much too close for comfort! If I had died... Ahhh!!! Hee...whuh...hwee...heeeh! (Hyperventilating)

Maybe she's one of those quiet sorts who are actually really scary when they lose their temper?

Either way... It's okay, Scheherazade. Calm down.

Hah...ah...Nursery...? You were not hurt, were you?

No. Thanks to you.

I said it earlier, but I'll say it again. Thank you for saving me!

Hmm?

Now that I look at you closely, I think I finally understand. I know why my instinct was to help you back there.

So allow me to say the same to you, too. Thank you.

Thank you for saving ME.

But I-I didn't do anything.

(Did the whole ordeal make her forget what happened?)

I'm grateful not only for what happened just now, but also for what happened in the past.

For all those nights I told my stories...when I hoped for nothing more than to see one more morning.

It was so hard. So terrifying.

It's thanks to you that I survived those days.

You...your stories saved my life. I'm sure of it.

... ...

You were always close by and smiling down on me...I was almost oblivious to your existence.

To me, you are a miracle, Nursery Rhyme.

You, born from the concept of children's stories and storybooks...stories given physical form.

I am so fortunate to be able to meet someone like you.

And that is why I wanted to thank you.

To you, who embodies the very concept of the stories I tell, I offer my most sincere thanks.

(Giggle) Okay. That makes us even, right?

Thank you, thank you! Now our conversation is looping round and round like a wild little squirrel playing tag!

？！

That's Master's voice! Over here!

What a relief.

？！

Oh? The walls and floor here are quite heavily damaged...as if a fierce battle were fought here...

A-are you two all right?

Things happened. Looots of things.

I would love to tell you all about it, Master.

Oh, but before that, I should tie up some loose ends.

Here you go, Scheherazade. This is yours, right?

What is that?

It looks Egyptian, so it's probably a talisman from Nitocris. It looks like it's meant to ward off death or something.

I'm sure a certain someone arranged to get this talisman the moment she learned we were going on this mission.

So the story I'm about to tell you is of a kindhearted vizier's daughter...

...who slipped this talisman into my pocket without my knowing.

It's about a woman who wants so badly not to die, and how that desire brings out the best in her.

It is the story of a whimsical, silly storyteller!

Now come on, Scheherazade. Hold your head high and tell us your new story!

Very well.

Then if I may...let me tell you a story...