Ascendance of a Bookworm

Fespiel and Rosina

Proofread by Ruriko

The Head Priest has begun my training of Fespiel . What he hands to me is a small Fespiel for children beginners, though it’s still large for me .

The strings of a child-specific Fespiel are less than that of adult-specific one . The range, which has about 5 octaves, is about half of adult-specific Fespiel’s . It is about twice Pianica"s range .

"If you lean it against your shoulder, this angle will make you feel heavier and heavier . Please try your best to support it as straight as possible . "

"Ok . "

As the Head Priest does, I lay it between my thighs, supporting it with my upper arm and my left shoulder . The Fespiel is made of wood . No heavy material is used, so I can hold it like this .

"Fespiel can play all the pitches . If you master it, it will be very helpful for you to learn other instruments . "

Perhaps because the small one is for practice, one of the strings is colored . What the Head Priest is touching is just that one .

"This is the basic sound . "

. . . Oh, it’s the sound Do .

When I was Urano Motosu, my mother taught me piano for about three years . I learnt that the basic sound of music is Do, the next is Re, then the next is Mi…

There is a difference of a semitone between two thin and soft strings in terms of pitch . Differing from piano, the Fespiel has no black key . So it is very difficult to find the right sound .

"This is the scale . It makes the sound continue, high or low . "

It’s just like remembering the numbers . The basic scales that the Head Priest explains are decoded into Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si in my mind .

It will be difficult to play fluently before I get used to it, but since I"ve known that the colored string is Do, I can play some melodies that I learned before .

"Blossom . . . Blossom . . . "

Accompanied by the melody, I chant these words and sing the song "Tulip" . The Head Priest widens his eyes lightly .

"What is this song?"

"It"s a song for flowers, as you heard . "

There is no tulip in this world, so I"m sure that the Head Priest don"t know this flower and will get confused if I tell him about the song "Tulip" . Thinking of this, I lower my eyes .

" . . . You must have a music talent . "

"No, I don"t! Not even a little!"

Oops . I"ve raised the hurdle for myself .

In his view, it looks like I can play a piece of melody created by myself, with a musical instrument that I have never touched before . The Head Priest may regard me as a genius like Mozart . Thus it will be a great trouble for me .

I can only play some pieces recalled from a few songs which were performed in the school chorus, and several melodies which were heard at piano concerts during my school days . Not because I have the so-called talent for music .

"No, you should not jump to the conclusion by yourself . To be honest, I have been worrying how far a commoner can do . But now I believe that you will play well soon . "

In spite of my desperate negation, the Head Priest begins to make a training plan with a grin, mainly intending to cut down my important reading time .

"Excuse me, Sir . May I have more time to read?"

"But daily practice is essential for you to master the instrument . "

"Eh, I know that . But I just cannot sacrifice my reading time . "

I have to take care of the children of the orphanage, and manage Maine"s Workshop, and a.s.sist the Head Priest in the official business . Fran is also busy with many things . So I won"t have so much time even when I stay at the temple . Dinner time is strictly controlled . And the books are locked so I can"t borrow or take them out . The time for reading is much less than I thought before I entered the temple .

"When I came to the temple, the Head Priest asked me to provide mana, and to organize the library . As to a.s.sisting the Head Priest with official business, I do it out of my own kindness . I would like spend the a.s.sistant time, rather than reading time in practicing the Fespiel . "

Considering my words in silence, the Head Priest weighs official business and music training, then he seems to conclude that the latter is more important . He tells me that after I arrive at the temple I need to accept the Fespiel training till the third bell rings .

"Well, let"s notify Wilma and Rosina . And then I will come to check occasionally . Please do your best in your practice . If you slack off in practice, I"ll know right away . "

"Ha . . . . "

I"m supervised, just like being stuck by an oversized nail . It"s difficult for me to concentrate on practicing an instrument that I"m not interested in without supervision . In that sense, the Head Priest is right indeed .

"Well, then, Miss Maine . Please go to the orphanage . Because you need to notify your attendants Wilma and Rosina . "

After seeing off the Head Priest, I go to the orphanage with Fran . And while we are talking at the orphanage, Delia and Gil clean the room for Rosina .

"Please . Make it clean by the time we are back . "

"Lutz is always surprised by the Gil"s speed of cleaning . Thank you . "

"Ok!"

I go to the dining hall of the orphanage with Fran, and have somebody call Wilma and Rosina .

Children in the orphanage who finished the work of Maine"s Workshop are looking at us with curiosity . Maybe they have known why I call the two .

"Does Miss Maine take Wilma away as your attendant?"

"Will Wilma go?"

Little children stare at me anxiously . I can see that they love Wilma deeply and feel relieved to make her stay at the orphanage .

"Wilma will become my attendant . And, as director of the orphanage, I will have Wilma continue to work in the orphanage . Her job is to take care of you guys . "

"Wow! "Really?"

"So, Wilma will stay, right?"

The cheerful children rush towards Wilma who just showed up in the dining room . They cling to Wilma, pulling her clothes and arms .

"Wilma, you can still stay at the orphanage when you are my attendant!"

"As Wilma said, Miss Maine managed to do it!" Fran explains .

Crowded by the children, Wilma comes quickly with a happy smile .

"Good afternoon, Miss Mine . "

"As I said that day, I will take Wilma as my attendant . "

I invite Wilma to have a seat, and tell the children stay away and keep quiet until we finish the talk . The children leave as rolling waves, and line up against the wall, still looking at us with a happy face .

Wilma sits in front of me . I can see her calm brown eyes get wet for delight .

"As my attendant, you need to take care of the children who have not received baptism and to draw the picture that I ask . Since the young children may have a fever at night, you will stay here and live in the orphanage . I have talked about it with the Head Priest . "

Now, Wilma can live in the girl"s wing of the orphanage . And other blue-robed priests cannot call her for flower offering anymore .

"Thank you . I will work with all my heart for you . "

"Thank you . "

After talking with Wilma, Rosina appears in the dining room . Her hair is half-up today . I remember it was grouped together behind when I saw her earlier . Her blue eyes are shining brightly and she has fluffy and maroon hair, like Tuuli .

"Good afternoon, Miss Mine . "

Rosina has a beautiful, mature appearance . Since she has not put her hair together, she is not an adult yet . Rosina is a neat lady, with beautiful hair and dignified behavior . When I see Wilma and Rosina, I can imagine their former masters" mode of behavior . They must be adept at arts .

. . . Perhaps, the Head Priest wants me to behave like Rosina .

I can understand . But human beings choose their own way of life . How can I compare with the beautiful attendants who refine every behavior, and boast courtesy? I sigh heavily .

"Please be my attendant, Rosina . "

"Oh!"

Rosina covers her mouth with hands . Her face flushes, as if it is unbelievable . Even though I do the same thing, different people"s response is quite different . I drop my eyes slightly .

. . . I think that beautiful Rosina is a little shy .

"The Head Priest asks me to improve artistic cultivation and recommends you as my attendant . We will practice the Fespiel every time when I arrive at the temple, till the third bell rings . The rest of time, you will do the same job as other attendants . What do you think?"

"Ok . Ok, sure . It"s very good . Fespiel is my favorite musical instrument . "

Having finished our talk, I leave the orphanage with Rosina . Wilma and the children see us off . Rosina has no personal luggage at the orphanage . She moves to my house without bringing anything . Her necessities should be prepared by me .

When we return, all a.s.sistants are waiting on the first floor . Fran takes me to the upstairs . After telling me not to eavesdrop their talk, Fran took Gil and Delia back to the first floor .

Then all the attendants gather on the first floor . Fran introduces everyone to Rosina . Apparently, as a master, I shouldn’t eavesdrop on communication between the attendants .

Now I"m idle, so I scan the score left by the Head Priest . It is the music for the first lesson . It"s not that long, but it"s hard to remember the melody which I"m not familiar with .

Suddenly, I hear Gil say, "I"m going to clean up the workshop and check the lock," and a sound of leaving the room . After the introduction and guidance on the first floor is over, Fran goes to the second floor with Rosina to show her the room of female attendants . Delia follows them to help Rosina prepare the room .

"Oh! Fespiel . . . . Miss Maine, may I play it now?"

Seeing the large and small Fespiels in the room, Rosina cries with emotion .

I know the excitement that one will show when seeing the thing he really wants, so I want to nod immediately . But I am disturbed by Delia"s voice .

“Well, Rosina! The instrument will not escape . It is better to have the room prepared first . "

" . . . Yes, Delia is right . "

It is not good to have Delia help her prepare the room, while she herself strums an instrument .

Rosina enters the room while looking at Fespiel with a strong attachment . There is little luggage, so the room will be prepared soon .

"Miss Maine, may I play Fespiel now?"

I nod at Rosina who quickly has the room prepared . Her blue eyes brighten delightedly . She takes the Fespiel, touches it with her thin fingertip, and strums one string gently . As a high sound resounds, Rosina slightly drops her eyes and sighs, listening with an enchanted expression .

"I want to hear Rosina play the Fespiel . Could you please play a song?"

"Ok . "

Holding the Fespiel, Rosina bows gently and moves her hand down from the top of the Fespiel softly . After an act resembling Ballerina"s greeting, Rosina sits in a chair and holds the Fespiel .

As Rosina moves her fingers softly to stroke a string, a delicate and melodious sound comes out .

Though people play the same instrument, because of the different characteristics of the player, and the different melody, it sounds different from what the Head Priest plays .

I"ve never heard this thin and high-pitched song, but her teary-eyes and slightly opened mouth are all reflecting the joy of being able to play the instrument .

" . . . It"s a very nice performance . "

"My honor, Miss Maine . I am really happy to perform once again . . . . I will serve you with all my heart . "

Therefore, I have two more attendants, and start my Fespiel training as a daily routine .