Story text
To help Cog repair his damaged memory core, Leo and Marmalade board the mysterious 'Library Train' that departs from the study fireplace at midnight. This train travels between worlds made of books. They must help the story sprite Aria retrieve a crucial plot point—a 'Moonlight Silver Needle'—that is being devoured by 'Forgetter Bugs' at a collapsing fairy tale station. Otherwise, the entire narrative thread of 'The Starry Night Weaver' will disappear forever.
Page 1
Late at night, the mysterious No. 99 Misty Lane was silent. Leo, however, was awakened by intermittent, harsh grating noises coming from the study. Rubbing his eyes and clutching his pillow, he went downstairs and found the source of the sound was Cog. The little robot was trying to flip through a huge 'Atlas of World Mechanics' with his malfunctioning left hand, gears jammed, sparks flying. 'S-sorry, Mr. Leo,' Cog's voice was mixed with static, 'my... memory core access arm... was grazed by an... ancient counter-curse this afternoon while organizing Sector 7 of the 'Echo Gallery'. I need... the 'Soul Gear Calibration Method' chapter from Volume III of the 'Clockwork Federation Basic Repair Guide'... but my internal database... is damaged.' Marmalade paced out from under the desk, his tail lightly brushing the mantelpiece: 'That book? I remember it was checked out, in the 'Floating Section'. Can't get it the usual way. But... perhaps 'that train' will pass by tonight.'
Page 2
'Train?' Leo was puzzled. Marmalade didn't answer directly. Instead, he jumped onto a bookshelf and pushed a decorative bronze locomotive model with his paw. With a click, the entire bookshelf silently slid to one side, revealing a hidden wall behind it—not made of brick and stone, but a swirling nebula of countless glowing book titles and author names. 'No. 99 Misty Lane has many doors,' Marmalade explained. 'Some lead to the outside world, some lead to 'the worlds within'. And what connects all story and knowledge worlds is the 'Library Train Network'.' He pointed at the fireplace: 'When the midnight clock strikes thirteen times—oh, don't ask why thirteen, magical math is always odd—and if there happens to be enough 'thirst for knowledge' as a ticket, the train will stop here. It seems our little Cog's malfunction just meets the criteria.' As soon as he finished speaking, the cold ashes in the fireplace suddenly glowed with a warm orange-red light, and the illusory sound of extending tracks grew from far to near.
Page 3
With a pleasant whistle that sounded like a mix of wind chimes and steam, a peculiar train 'emerged' from the fiery glow of the fireplace. It had no physical tracks, hovering a few inches off the ground. The locomotive was shaped like a huge brass book, with pages as cowcatchers, and the chimney emitted 'steam' made of dancing letters. The carriages were pieced together from books of different materials and styles: leather-bound carriages, bamboo-slip style carriages, glowing crystal-panel carriages, and even one that looked like a rolled-up parchment scroll. The door opened, revealing a warm curtain of light. A soft, neutral voice echoed in the air: 'Knowledge seekers, please present your tickets.' Marmalade touched the mother-of-pearl box (the Echo Badge) in Leo's hand with the tip of his tail. The box emitted a faint glow. 'There, his 'True Name Badge' is the pass. As for me? An old passenger.' Cog's malfunctioning flicker was also scanned by the light curtain. 'Hmm... Knowledge repair request, valid. Please board. This train: The Midnight Library Express, will soon travel through Narrative Sector 7.'
