Episode 9

Book of Twilight
Episode 11 Episode 09: End of the Twilight World
Japanese Name	黄昏の書
Romanized Name	Tasogare no Sho
Airdate	September 10, 2011
Adapted from	Chapter 3 (light novel 3)
Manga counterpart	N/A

"Book of Twilight" is the 9th episode of The Mystic Archives of Dantalian anime and the eleventh story shown in the adaptation. It's also known as Episode 09: End of the Twilight World. The episode is unique for presenting a different art style for most of it.

Hugh and Dalian are in a strange world where they must help the shaman apprentice Aira and the inhabitants of a town in their fight against giant winged insects.

Summary

Hugh and Dalian reach a bleak fort inhabited only by crows. There is nothing they can do for that place. That world is already on the verge of destruction.

Hugh and Dalian explore a desolate fort of a strange world.

Inside of a longhouse, an old woman is seen using a large pot to work on some type of bizarre concoction which requires even a bug as ingredient. She calls for Aira, but her granddaughter had left to obtain more ingredients, although she is seen happily going out of her way to pick some flowers. Aira sings while running to the town. An old man carrying a baby on his back thanks her for the herbs and remedies she brought. She watches the street through the window from inside his store. She's thinking about Tito. The shopkeeper Salute affirms that Tito will like the flowers she picked. Salute adds that the Galeazzo Caravan should arrive in the evening. Blushing, Aira gets angry. She notices a couple wearing strange clothes outside. Hugh and Dalian had been wandering around the town since that morning.

The Elder calls for Aira.

Aira visits Salute's house.

Aira watches Hugh and Dalian.

Gianni tells Aira to take him to her grandmother's house.

Gianni requests the Elder's help.

Aira was giving herbs to a serviceman to help his family, when Gianni appeared to take her. He and his soldiers escort her out of the town. Gianni requires the strength of the old shaman, Aira’s grandmother. The young girl tries to run away, but she eventually is forced to guide them. The old woman doesn’t welcome them, since the sacred land is being tainted by the those violent men. However, Gianni insists on asking her assistance. Winged insects devoured everyone at Micheaux Fortress. The Baziumu are invulnerable to swords or spears, so Gianni wishes to have the Yakatsu. Reluctantly, the old woman tells them to come get it the next day.

Aira finds the tree next to Hugh and Dalian.

The Chief Healer mentions a vine-like tree with white flowers in the northern forest. She asks Aira to pick half a basket of the tree’s leaves. The flowers will wilt after dark, so she must be quick. The young girl searches the tree. She hears a creature, then a gunshot. Hugh had scared a boar-like animal. Relieved, Aira finds the white flower next to him. Following her grandmother’s instructions, she uses two layers of gloves to pick the leaves of this poisonous plant. Hugh tries to touch it, but Dalian warns him about the danger. After filling her basket, Aira burns the gloves. Dalian tells her not to confront the winged insects. Hugh asks Aira if there’s a place with a large quantiy of books around the town. Aira mentions a printing workshop next to Salute’s house, on the street where Hugh and Dalian were walking earlier. Dalian is angry for being taken deeply into the forest. She heads back to the town with Hugh, while Aira returns to her grandmother’s house.

The Elder produces the Yakatsu.

The old woman prepares the Yakatsu with the ingredient collected by Aira. Worried about Tito, Aira wants to go to the town. Her grandmother gives her a good-luck charm to be thrown at her enemies. She’s almost at her destination, when she witnesses some explosions damaging the houses. The townsfolk had already evacuated. The Baziumu are flying over the place. One of the creatures breaks out from Salute’s store. Aira hits the winged insect with a bottle of Yakatsu, but it has no effect. Hugh appears to help her, using his revolver to shoot the beasts. However, only the fumigant he used is effective. Some sort of white mist envelops the Baziumu, making them disappear. He wonders if the creatures escaped from the barrier he and Dalian set around the printing workshop. Aira is worried about the inhabitants of the town, but Hugh comforts her, saying that there are carriage tracks leading to the mountains. Dalian learns that the Baziumu are benig attracted by someone who's carrying books in a carriage.

Aira receives a bottom of Yakatsu.

A Baziumu flying over the wrecked town.

The Baziumu is defeated.

The three head to the mountains. Gianni blames the Chief Healer, who didn’t hand over the Yakatsu right away, for the deaths during the Baziumu attack. Aira explains that the poison doesn’t work on the giant insects. Furthermore, the Yakatsu was not available until now. Tito sides with her. Tito condemns him for buying the books and bringing the creatures to the town. They see Hugh and Dalian examining the carriage filled with books. Hugh tells everyone to leave the place. However, the Baziumu are already upon them. Dalian gives Hugh the right to open the Labyrinth Library. As he reads the Book of the Sage, a white mist climbs up to the night sky. The insects disappear in a flash of light. Aira wants to learn about Phantom Books from the Biblioprincess. However, Hugh and Dalian came to that world only to solve the problem they caused. It's their time to leave. They will meet again whenever Dalian opened the book. Dalian affirms that Tito shall be bossed around by Aira. The latter blushes. Hugh and Dalian disappear. Aira and Tito hold hands and watch the sunrise together. She runs to hug her grandmother.

Gianni tries to blame someone for the tragedy.

The Baziumu disappear.

Aira and Tito watch the sunrise.

Hugh moves the damaged books.

Hugh is seen moving stacks of books during a rainy night, at the basement of the Disward estate. Dalian reproves Hugh for allowing silverfish to consume the pages. He separated all the books that need repairs and fumigation. Attracted by the rain, the insects were eating the stories inside the books. Dalian affirms that she’s too busy to help him. She opens the Book of Twilight containing the story of Grand Sage Aira, keeping the promise to meet her once again.

Dalian reads the book about Aira.

Light novel-anime main differences

Light novel	Anime
The chapter starts with Aira returning home. Gianni shows up to ask for the Yakatsu. Aira walks to the town the next day.	The episode starts with Aira going to the town. Gianni approaches her and walks her back home, where he asks for the Yakatsu.
The old shaman gives a Yakatsu bottle to Aira. The latter should give it to Tito. The bottle will protect Tito and, consequently, Aira will not worry about him so much.	The old shaman gives a Yakatsu bottle to Aira. The latter should use it to protect herself.
During the Baziumu attack, Aira checks Salute's shop to see if he and the baby are fine. Soon after, she finds a Baziumu among the tents of the Galeazzo Caravan.	Aira finds a Baziumu inside Salute's shop.
Hugh uses a fumigant to kill a Baziumu.	Hugh shoots a Baziumu. Soon after, the creature dies as it's affected by the fumigant.
Hugh, Dalian and Aira follow a steep mountain path. Hugh carries Dalian on his back.	Hugh, Dalian and Aira follow a steep mountain path.
Gianni attacks Hugh and Dalian. However, the sword goes through them without affecting them.	-
Hugh inserts the Book of the Sage back into the void on Dalian's chest.	-

Trivia

• The soldier is voiced by Yūki Ono. He gives his voice to Jun Isashiki from Ace of Diamond, Taiga Kagami from Kuroko's Basketball and Isami Aldini from Shokugeki no Soma.
• Japanese animator and director Osamu Kobayashi is responsible for the unusual art style of the episode used to represent the world inside a book. He's criticized for the visuals of Episode 4 of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, another production from studio GAINAX.
  • Kobayashi used vibrant colors to represent the world inside the book, different from what's seen throughout the rest of the anime, which has darker colors that give a more realistic feel.
  • In September 2011, when the episode was released, GAINAX featured one of his illustrations on its website. The image shows Hugh, Dalian, Gianni, Tito, Aira and her grandmother. The latter appears with earrings that are not seen throughout the episode.

Osamu Kobayashi's illustration.