Running a hand over his flame-like red hair, the boy slowly closed his left eye, the one not concealed by an eyepatch.
In that instant, the darkness arrived.
In the lightless, pitch-black world, a grave voice asked, “Who are you?”
The boy quietly answered within his heart.
The one who will succeed the Bookman.
“Who is the Bookman?”
The Bookman is a spectator to history, and its chronicler. He records the secret history of the world and passes it on to future generations.
The Bookman’s role was to travel to every place in existence, lingering in no one location, but wandering, to emblazon history on his vision and record what he’d seen.
“What must a Bookman be like?”
He must not become attached or be controlled by emotion. He speaks with all kinds of people, then leaves as if nothing has happened.
Emotion was unnecessary to chroniclers. They need only record things as they are, without getting their emotions mixed in.
“I will ask you this once. Who are you?”
The Bookman’s successor. I take on a new name each time I go somewhere new, and discard it each time I leave.
Right now I’m also an Exorcist of the Black Order. My current name is—
“Rabi!”
Rabi opened his left eye to see an old man of small stature in loose Chinese-style clothes standing in the doorway. The old man’s sparse hair was gathered at the crown of his head, and his sharp eyes, which held a strange luster, were surrounded by black makeup. Although his strange appearance would draw anyone’s eye, he possessed an innate air that let him effortlessly blend in anywhere.
The old man was the current Bookman. And Rabi’s master.
“We have work. Start preparing for departure.”
It seemed that the Black Order had contacted them about a new mission.
A fierce battle over the fate of the world was presently unfolding between the Millennium Earl, who was trying to lead the world to destruction, and the Black Order, a military body under the direct control of the Vatican. Rabi was in the Black order as an Exorcist, along with his master, so that the Bookman could record the secret workings of history.
Exorcists were the only ones who could counter Akuma, the weapons the Millennium Earl made to destroy mankind. Exorcists were chosen by the mysterious matter called Innocence, which they could control. Because Innocence was also called “God’s crystals,” Exorcists were sometimes known as “God’s apostles.”
God’s messenger, huh? It doesn’t suit me.
Rabi smiled faintly.
“What is it, Rabi?”
“Oh, nothing.”
There were no more than twenty Exorcists in the Black Order at present. They were sent out all over the world without a moment’s rest.
Rabi shrugged into the black uniform that was the sign of an Exorcist. When he wore this uniform, he became an Exorcist. Although he remained the Bookman’s apprentice in truth. “Now then, where to this time?”
“France.”
*
A boy with a slight build stared unmoving in a single direction, letting the wind toy with his black hair. Not a single stain marred his white uniform, as if showing the purity of his heart. His back straight, he watched the entrance to town intently, like a loyal dog waiting for his master to return.
