Ascendance of a Bookworm

Volume 6, Chapter 13: Spring Prayer Preparations

The temperature outside was increasing, and almost half of the snow in the city had melted. The thickest of winter was over, and everyone worked together to shovel the snow in anticipation of sprint’s arrival. Since Tuuli had to resume work, the times she could visit me lessened down to alternate days.

With Lutz as the middleman, all of the orphanage wintercraft was sold to Benno. The money earnt would help ease the orphanage’s financial situation.

There was too much snow in the forest, but it would not be long till the snow melts away and we can resume collecting wood to make paper.

Until then the orphanage would focus on studying, gray priests with past experience as attendants would be in charge of teaching the children proper manners. Apparently, the gray priests were worried that I was setting a bad example to the children. Because they always spoke casually to me, they feared that they would act improperly to the other blue priests too. All the lessons were held in the dining hall, so the workshop was empty, except for me, Lutz and Damiel.

“I plan to use the printing press for the next edition of books, at most, I would like to have the texts printed.” I said

“I’m cool with that,” replied Lutz. “But we don’t have the printing press ready yet”

“Hmm… My plan was to just modify the press we already made.”

I dug out my rough drawings and passed them to Lutz. I vaguely recalled that the first printing press by Gutenberg was based on grape presses for making wine. I had some confidence that I could copy it a little, but I was struggling to pull it out from my memory.

“Put the letter pieces like that, paint on the ink, put the paper below… and you press it down.”

I attempted to describe how to use the press with my hands (since I couldn’t use the actual press because I was too short). I was stuck in the temple so it was up to Lutz to order the stuff we needed and to pass the messages to the workshops.

“Guess we’ll have to decide on how big the thing where you lay out the types—the, uh… forme1? Yeah, how big the forme will be,” said Lutz.

“We need to write down how big we should make the thing that holds the letter pieces… uh, the forme? How big should the forme be?”

“We’ll make it according to the books we already have.”

I used the ruler to measure the necessary stuff and wrote it onto my blueprint, while continuing my discussion with Lutz. I made a list of things to note for, like “make the board to hold the paper slanted” and “needs a holder for the ink”.

Lutz read it all and shook his head.

“Uhm, Myne. Can’t we just do all that extra stuff later?”

“Extra? But these are all necessary.”

Knowing myself best, I knew I had forgotten more than I remembered, and there were probably some unnecessary things I wrote down subconsciously. But Lutz just took his head again at my words.

“Not that,” he pointed to a part of the blueprint. “I understand why we need a place to hold the ink, but I can tell you’re not even sure where to put it. So why don’t we just keep the ink separate on another table?”

There was nothing for me to object about that. We just needed to include these important parts; a forme for the letter pieces underneath the press. Other than that we only needed to do the minimum, even if doing the minimum would slow down the printing.

“You’re just overthinking everything because you’re only thinking about the final product. Don’t you remember how we first made paper with some random tools? We’ll just continue doing that too. We only need what is actually necessary, the rest can come later.”

“…You’re right. Since you mentioned this, our biggest hurdle to overcome right now would be asking the craftsman to make a press for the children to use.”

We finished up the blueprint as we talked. We finalised on a simple sketch for Ingo’s carpentry to make and the order would be sent through Benno.

“Moving on now…”

Since we were done with the printing press’s design, I wanted to talk about the forme and composing stick, but Gil barged into the workshop right at that moment.

“Sister Myne!”

“Gil, what’s up? Do I have to go to the High Priest’s room now?”

I did not have any harspiel lessons today because my female attendants were preoccupied with the Spring Prayer preparations.

“Nope. Rosina asked me to get you. It’s just that, she’s mad that you have only been caring about printing presses and unbothered that we’re not done with Spring Prayer preparations. I mean, she’s trying not to show it, but… she’s definitely angry.”

Why did it seem like she was venting her anger on me because she can’t play her harpsiel and I was going around doing whatever I wanted…

I got the impression she was simply expressing her frustrations at me since she had less time to play the harspiel, but I was free to do anything I pleased.

“Ah, ok. Can you take the fall for me then?”

“Sure! Wait… Wait a second. Certainly not! I don’t want to!”

It took Gil a while to process what I said and he turned it down strongly. He acted so hilarious that me and Lutz bursted out laughing, and Gil glared back showing that he would drag me back no matter. So, it appeared that I had to subject myself to Rosina’s anger no matter what too.

“…Oh well, looks like I have no escape now. Lutz, can you finish up the rest?”

“Sure thing. You have important things to do, right? Good luck. You’ll definitely do well.”

Lutz rubbed my head, but I just nodded back in dread of what was to come. I walked back to my chambers with a sulky Gil in the lead.

~~~

I got a shock when I saw the horrible state my chambers were in. There were luggages filled with shoes, clothes and beauty equipment. They were accompanied with towels, cloths, utensils and dishes, writing tools, paper and diptychs my attendants would need.

It felt like I was moving houses again

The main had a few crates filled with food supplies and some empty ones that would be used to store the utensils from the kitchen needed to cook my meals for the trip (they would be packed after today’s meal).

I walked up to the second floor to see my even more wrecked room. I saw three boxes on the floor, one each for fabric, clothes and shoes. My table had lots of items strewn across. And in the centre of all this chaos was Delia, Rosina and Rose.

“Sister Myne, please do not leave your chambers for the workshop when preparations for the Spring Prayer are still incomplete.”

Though Rosina had said that, I knew that they would scold me if I tried to lend a helping hand. I had been lectured constantless times that laborious work was my attendants’ responsibility, so I was not supposed to do anything. My job was just to sit, not move, and watch my attendants do the work.

“Hey! You’re supposed to be excited about this! This is your huge responsibility, Sister Myne!”

“…But, I already believe that everyone is capable of packing everything without my supervision.”

“That’s not the point.”

A few of my attendants would come along for the Spring Prayer. First was Fran since he was there with the High Priest’s past ones, then Rosina because a girl was needed to tend to me, Hugo and Ella would come too as they needed to prepare my meals. Delia, Wilma, and Gil stayed behind to man my chambers, the orphanage, and the workshop respectively. Food would be prepared for those in the temple by Todd and the other chef, with Nicola’s and Monika’s assistance (they both had been trained by Ella last winter).

“Anyways, there’s way too many things to bring,” I muttered to myself unknowingly. There were just too many things I had stored to cover me for the winter.

Rosina looked perplexed though. “You have much less luggage than others. Sister Christine would have 2 more boxes for her clothes, and more boxes for painting and her musical instruments.”

Wilma agreed and continued, “Sister Christine’s preparation took much longer. Whenever she had to go to the Noble’s District, we struggled so much to pack everything.”

Rosina’s eyes enlarged as though she remembered something significant when I was still trying to process how amazing Sister Christine had been.

“…Sister Myne, if you don’t mind me asking. “May I also bring a harspiel?” She asked cautiously.

I shook my head, my gaze falling on the harpiels sitting in the corner.

“I believe it will be better to keep them here, even more so because they are not mine.”

It was not a good idea to bring them along without permission because they were the High Priest’s. I would have to pay a hefty sum if they got damaged, missing or stolen.

Rosina, on the other hand, was adamant about not giving up. She continued speaking as she looked at the haspiels.

“Could you please ask the High Priest for his consent, for my sake please?”

“No worries, I will give it a shot.”

“Thank you so much, Sister Myne.”

~~~

As expected, me being around had no purpose because I could not help out, so came up with an excuse that I needed to see the High Priest, and Fran and Damuel tagged along.

“It is quite difficult to prepare for the Spring Prayer. A request from the Knight’s Order needs to be seen to immediately, but as an attendant, preparations are easy because there is not much to be done.”

Fran said that the Spring Prayer preparation was considerably more difficult because our mode of transport was carriages, not the highbeasts we rode on previously.

As for me, thinking about the travel there made me much more sad than the packing. I lost all of my excitement for the trip when I heard that we would ride in a carriage. That was because I knew that the travelling would drain me of all my energy before we reached the first time. I can see myself being so dead tired that I wouldn’t be able to do anything.

“Can I just skip the whole Spring Prayer?” I let out a sigh.

“How can you say that, apprentice? The Spring Prayer is a sacred ritual,” Damuel remarked in disbelief

I was well aware of its significance. But…

Can’t he just let me off this time , I need to vent some of my frustrations.

“I know it is important, Sir Damuel. I’m just not looking forward to me passing out because of the journey there.”

“…Hm. Seeing how you can barely get by everyday, I sort of understand your feelings. But I doubt Ferdinand-sama will let you skip out.”

I was fully aware that there was no escape for me. But, as a last ditch effort, I waited till the High Priest was back before presenting my thoughts to him.

“High Priest, is it a must for me to go to the towns for the Spring Prayer? I am confident that travelling in the carriages will take a toll on me.”

“You are right. I will prepare more potions for you,” the High Priest gave a nonchalant response

I squirmed when I recalled the potion that was forced down me when I had a fainting spell because he still needed me around.

“…You mean that effective but disgusting potion that makes you want to drop dead with its horrendous taste?”

“Yes.”

“Gah… I don’t want to go more now.”

This was how everything would unfold: I will faint on the journey to the town, be forced to drink the High Priest’s horrible potions, dragged to complete the ritual while the potion still lasts, and then faint again before we move on to the next town. An endless loop of suffering would await me with every town we visited. I was getting sick thinking about it.

“High Priest, please fix the potion’s taste. Or just make me take a sleeping drug so that I will be out for the entire journey, or let me on those magic statues the knights use. Can you please try something? I beg of you.”

I was so desperate that I tried to give every solution I could think of and proposed it to the High Priest.

The High Priest nodded, a little disturbed.

“…Since you look that desperate, I will try my best.”

“Thank you so much. Oh and, would it be ok for my attendant to bring a harspiel though I know that’s not possible.”

I did not want to damage a valuable instrument so I had hoped he would say no, but the High Priest accepted it without hesitation.

“Contrary to that, it would be better to bring it. Rosina’s playing throughout the trip will definitely be calming throughout the deep nights.”

“Wait, you’re serious?” I was taken aback. “I heard we could be in danger because of bandits and monsters. Won’t this precious instrument be damaged if we get attacked?”

The High Priest looked befuddled by what I said.

“No bandits will be willing to target blue priests and nobles in charge of the Spring Prayer, unless they are foolish enough to do so.”

“…Wait really? No danger at all?”

I presumed that bandits will be happy to select wealthy nobles as their target, but apparently that was not so.

“Myne, most bandits are just farmers.”

“Huh? Aren’t bandits something like thieves that make a living from robbing others?”

“Fool. If that was so, the merchants would stop travelling to these targeted areas. Even if they did take these paths, they would hire guards and this would make robbing them much more difficult. If they continued robbing people, the Knight’s Order would take action. It is simply impossible to live on robbing others.”

I had the false idea that merchants travelled frequently. The High Priest got annoyed at how little I knew about this world.

“It is not unusual to see some commoners turn to the thieving trade temporarily to exhort money and goods from merchants, but it would be foolish to attack nobles as that would mean that their land would no longer receive chalices. As such, no farmers will dare to target nobles or priests. And even if they did, winning is impossible.”

So it turns out bandits did not dare attack nobles because of the consequences their actions would have on the farming towns, and also because the nobles could easily defeat them with their mana.

“So the trip will be completely safe?”

“…Yes, supposedly.”

I wondered why there was some hesitance from the High Priest, nevertheless, I was relieved that our trip would be much safer than expected, but that was the only thing I could be glad of.

~~~

I had a busy morning before our trip for the Spring Prayer. I took a bath and put on my ceremonial robes and hairstick. Since Fran said the farming towns would be muddy, I decided to wear my new pig leather boots, though I doubt the towns would be worse than the lower city, but I still gave it the benefit of the doubt.

After prepping myself, the rest of the items were stored in boxes and tied up with ropes. And with that I was ready. Fran and Gil worked together to load the boxes into the carriage, and Rosina just clung onto the harspiel case, hugging it gleefully.

Since I had nothing to do in my very bare room, I took the chance to say my goodbyes to the rest of my attendants.

“Wilma, I entrust the orphanage to you.”

“Yes, Sister Myne. I promise you that before your return, the children will be polite little angels. When the time comes, please praise them.”

As I nodded to the request. Gil knelt down and looked at me as though he was saying “My turn now, praise me”.

I stretched out and patted his head, “Please look after the workshop, Gil. I take it that you will do a good job?”

“Yep, leave it up to me!”

“Please look after my chambers while I’m away, Delia.”

“Of course… Geez! Why are you so worried?! I’m more concerned that you won’t be able to carry out your duties properly, Sister Myne.”

Delia scowled and her crimson hair seemed to be raised like a lion. It’s not that I was worried that she couldn’t handle looking after my chambers, but I dreaded the horrible carriage ride.

“Ngh… I’m worried about the ride.”

“Geeeez! You’re making me even more worried!”

“Uh-uh, I’ll do my best,” I stammered.

Delia was probably losing all hope on me, which she probably didn’t even know she had in me initially.

Fran walked back to me once he noticed that I had finished my pleasantries. “It is time for us to depart, Sister Myne.”

“Sure. Let’s go.”

“Goodbye. We pray for your safe journey.”

Some of my attendants said their goodbyes and I left the room after Fran, with Rosina and Damuel after me. We walked to the side of the temple where the nobles resided, the main entrance was close there, where the carriages were stationed.

“Rosina and I will double check the belongings and then discuss our plans for the trip with Arno. Please rest in the resting room with Damuel. The High Priest will be there too.”

I followed the instructions and left for the waiting room, with Damuel behind. On route, I ran into the High Priest who was with his attendants.

“Good morning, High Priest.”

“Good morning. Myne, please head to my chambers. There is something important I need to tell you. Wait there until I am done briefing my attendants. Damuel I take it that you understand what to do?”

“Yes, sir!”

We finished our talk and the High Priest took quick strides to the carriages. Though he was moving quickly, he was moving with so much grace. I exchanged looks with Damuel before we left for the High Priest’s chambers.

We entered with ease as some of his attendants were there to welcome us. We took our seats, and the High Priest returned quickly.

“Thank you for the wait.”

“High Priest, what is the important thing you mentioned?” I asked in curiosity

My head tilted to the side and watched the High Priest close and lock his cabinets filled with paperwork.

“There has been a change in plans. We will be riding highbeasts. I have ordered the carriages to depart and wait at our next accommodation…”

“…Is something going on?”

“Hopefully, it’s nothing,” he said, he held into a bunch of keys as he walked into his hidden room, returning with a ring that had a yellow feystone in it and a bangle with embedded seven multicoloured stones

“Myne, put them on.”

“Lord Ferdinand, that’s—”

“As a safety precaution, Damuel.”

The High Priest was wearing a similar bracelet and a ring on his middle finger, the ring looked like the one he lent me for the Knight’s Order mission. It proved to be helpful then, so it would probably do the same again.

I was glad to use them both, putting on the ring on my left ring finger like the High Priest’s.

“Also, as much as I don’t want to say this…”

“Yes?”

“We will have… another blue priest with us,” the High Priest mumbled with a conflicted expression.

I was surprised by the sudden announcement and the door opened at the same time. Karstedt came in with an unfamiliar blue priest.

“That will be me, Sylvester. I see, you’re the apprentice shrine maiden that is a commoner?”

He analysed me with his thick eyebrows and profound green eyes. He had bluish purple hair tied up with a silver rope. I kept looking at the rope he used to tie his hair. Though he was shorter than the High Priest, he was more well-built, he looked more knight-like than the High Priest who used to serve as one. He looked similar in age as Benno and the High Priest, but that did not help because the latter two were far apart in age despite their looks.

“…You’re so small but you’ve been baptised? Have you been lying about your age?” Sylvester laughed and gave me a vulgar stare.

I was so tempted to shout back, but I held myself back. No matter what, Sylvester was still a blue priest. I had no power to argue back.

“Hey. Say ‘poowee.’”

Sylvester poked out a finger after staring at me for so long. The finger poked my cheek and burrowed in deep.

“Ow!” I gave a shout of pain, but he only shook his head.

“Yes, but not quite there. Try again, say ‘poowee.”

He did it again but with less strength. I looked at the High Priest out of desperation. But he just looked away and sighed to say he could do nothing.

“Myne, though he might seem horrible, he has a good heart underneath that horrid rot. Your only choice is to give in to his requests. And Sylvester, Myne is actually extremely weak. If you keep pushing her she might die. Anyways, Karstedt, come over and look at this.”

The High Priest took out and unrolled a map.

“Yes, sire!”

Karstedt walked to the High Priest, leaving me with Sylvester and Damuel who had gone pale. No one was going to save me now…

“C’mon. Do it.” Sylvester stared at me deeper and still kept his finger on my cheek. There was no way I could say no to a noble.

“P-Poowee.”

I just hardened myself and gave a “poowee” like he wanted…

Sylvester was satisfied with my response and nodded before poking me again.

“Good. Continue again.”

“Poowee~ Poowee~ Poowee…”

I dreaded the trip even more now, knowing that I would be stuck with this blue priest for the entire Spring Prayer.

1. forme: (from wikipedia) in typesetting, a forme is imposed by a stoneman working on a flat imposition stone when he assembles the loose components of a page (or number of simultaneously printed pages) into a locked arrangement, inside a chase, ready for printing.