Ascendance of a Bookworm

Proofread by Ruriko

My name is Wilma. I will be 17 years old this autumn, so I am 16 years old now.

I became an attendant of Miss Maine, a blue-robed priestess apprentice, several days ago. I am entrusted with the work of taking care of the children who have not been baptized yet.

“Is everyone here? Let"s pray and thank G.o.d for the grace. To the supreme G.o.ds who rule over all in the high, lofty skies, to the great G.o.ds who rule over all in the wide, vast earth, and to all the G.o.ds who grant sustenance to the thousands of living creatures, we offer our heartfelt thanks for this meal.”

The young children begin to sing with me and then start the lunch. Everyone seems hungry and concentrate on eating. Because I have already finished mine, now I just teach them how to eat and clean up the table. However, it is surprisingly difficult to look after all the six children at the same time.

“Today"s rice is delicious, too.”

“That"s right.”

The meals taken to the orphanage are eaten by adult priests and priestesses first, and then by the apprentices. Then the food left finally is eaten by the children who have not been baptized. So they have to wait till the last.

I feel sorry for these children. Because they have been waiting for so long that they are too hungry. On the other hand, though children have so few things to eat, it is better than having nothing. This makes me feel better.

“The soup is delicious.”

“We have all the vegetables today. Maybe they are cooked by Lizzie?”

On days blessed by the G.o.d and the other days, when I see the soup that is provided every day, I can think of Miss Maine. The soup means almost everything that changes the condition of the orphanage.

“Miss Maine taught me how to make this soup. Some ingredients are picked from the forest, and some are bought with our income.”

“Wilma is always like this. What will you do then? Please thank Miss Maine.”

Children joke with me and laugh. Yes, it is none other than Miss Maine whom the children should thank first. Now they have baths, have food, and have the chance to go out to the forest with us.

Cleaning is rough work for the blue-robed priests and priestesses. But since the blue-robed priests does not come the orphanage, this place has never been well cleaned so far. I have no time to clean the surroundings, so all I can do is to clean the places nearby every now and then.

That"s why the rooms for priestesses and priestess apprentices and cafeteria are not so dirty to make people frown. But there is n.o.body who can bath the children who have not been baptized, or clean their surroundings. Since it is the duty of those gray-robed priestesses who have babies to take care of these children, I have not thought about or even noticed these things.

I don"t think that only I was surprised to hear the situation of the children who haven"t received Baptism from Miss Maine"s attendant, Fran. I also learn from the people outside the orphanage that there is no priestess to take care of those children, and that the apprentices only leave little food in the plates, which is cared by n.o.body.

“Wilma, will you go to the workshop after finishing the work here?”

“Yes, after you wash your dishes and clean your hands and face. If you stain paper, you will be scolded by Gil.”

“I think Lutz is scarier than Gil.”

I heard that someone was scolded or fired by Gil who takes charge of Maine"s Workshop. But I only know that Lutz, the merchant apprentice who often comes to the workshop, is trusted by Miss Maine.

“Right, right. How many days and efforts do you want to spend on this sheet!? He will be angry, right?”

“Well, do you know how much it costs!? Don"t touch the goods with dirty hands! Like this, he gets angry before I touch it. If you smudge the goods, he will not bring you to the forest next time.”

“It is said that Lutz uses violence recently. He should not use violence. First, he warns. If you cannot understand what he says, he would act violently, and then would say it"s your fault.”

I"m not good at communicating with men, so I rarely go to the workshop. Although the workshop is inside the temple, it is quite different. Miss Maine, integrating the rules of merchants and that of the temple, makes her own rules.

… Recently, it seems that the orphanage director, Miss Maine often acts in her own way.

She cleans the orphanage like cleaning the temple. She cooks in person in order to satisfy all children to some extent. She does not wait for the G.o.d"s grace but earns money by herself.

Miss Maine teaches us that these things are what all commoners should do.

She always says, “I just tell you how to make it. It"s not I, but you all, who make our life better and better.” However, in this temple, a place where live the n.o.bles and orphans only, who else would teach us anything? Thanks to the G.o.d who allows Miss Maine to teach us.

I"m often complimented by Miss Maine for taking care of the children. She says I am like a saint. But for me, she is a saintess. … No, she looks more like a child of G.o.d.

Thinking of this, I laugh unconsciously. Then I recall the conversation with Miss Maine this morning. It was about Rosina, who becomes her attendant together with me on the same day.

On attendants" role, Miss Maine has different point of view from Miss Christine. Rosina, who was regarded as the first attendant of Miss Christine, has difficulty to serve Miss Maine. Although Miss Maine said she would “consider” my suggestion, I can feel that Rosina may be sent back to the orphanage.

Rosina is a real beauty. She has a mature face and fluffy chestnut hair. Her eyes are as blue as sapphire. Miss Christine who loves beautiful things or people likes her very much.

Besides, she and Miss Christine are of the same age, both are interested in art and are born with the artistic talent. So, Miss Christine, who left her families and came to the temple, treated Rosina as her close friend.

Miss Maine also takes Rosina as her attendant, but there seems no way for her to accept Rosina.

“…That"s roughly the situation.”

After lunch, Miss Maine comes to tell me that she has something to talk with me, for she is going to ask the opinions of all her attendants. If Rosina refuses to change her att.i.tude, it will be in trouble for her.

After meal, I send children to the workshop and take the board to make the cards in my room. These cards are gifts from Miss Maine for children. So I must paint as better as I can. I can"t wait for the chance to put my skill to the test.

The cards Miss Maine prepared for Gil to remember the letters are excellent. Gil often takes it to the cafeteria proudly and play it with us together. Thus children can remember the words or names of the G.o.ds naturally while they are playing with the cards. Besides, what I draw are the G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses. I can remember all their features. But as for painting them on the cards, it makes me nervous.

The board is smooth after being polished. I start drawing the G.o.ds and virtual articles on it with the ink and pens that Miss Maine gives me. I was required to read the chants on the cards so many times, but I can hardly remember any of it. Even if I don"t know, children can answer my question and tell me what pictures they like.

I enjoy the time of taking care of children. However, it"s a special experience to feel the excitement when I concentrate on drawing. I know how much I"m longing for drawing.

When I have just finished several pictures, there is someone knocking at the door. Yes, finally. I urge myself to work faster while I am considering. As I expected, Rosina comes. As soon as she enters the room and closes the door, tears drop from her blue eyes. How many tears has she refrained on earth?

“Wilma, Miss Maine is very unkind. She asks me to do the gray-robed priests" work!”

“Rosina, I just cannot understand that. Can you tell me what happened?”

“Of course. The only one who can understand me is you, Wilma. You were the attendant of Miss Christine, just as I was.”

I stop my work and turn the chair to face my bed. She sits on the bed, and thus we can face each other. Then she begins to tell her experience with tears rolling down her face.

“The unkindest one is Delia.”

“I don"t know Delia, Rosina. I have not known all Miss Maine"s attendants yet. Can you tell me what kind of person is Delia?”