Chapter 1
Back Home
I opened my eyes to see Ferdinand before me. He looked more tired than I remembered, more gaunt. And he was wearing his High Priest robes. When was the last time he wore that?
“Uh, Myne?” It was Lutz! Except he was small again and wearing his baptismal outfit from when we were younger. Wait… Myne?
I raised my hand, expecting to see the adult version I was used to, but instead, it was also tiny, with a prick of blood on my finger. Have I shrunk!? My eyes trailed down to see the baptismal dress Mom and Tuuli spent all winter modifying to my size. A wave of nostalgia hit me, and before I knew it, my eyes began to tear up. I must have gone back in time.
“Come on, Myne. I know you don’t like blood, but don’t you think tears are a bit much?” Lutz sighed.
I sniffed. “Sorry.” We began to move to our spots on the prayer rug. We were the last ones in line, so the bell rang, and the High Bishop entered. He began to tell the story of creation and the seasons. But this was my only chance. Until I can figure out why I got sent back, it is best to follow the weave as much as I can. Which means…
I get to read books! No responsibilities, no paperwork, no country-wide industries to negotiate. And most importantly, no attendants to take away my book. Eh heh heh heh heh. "Hey Lutz, do you think they’ll let me read that bible?
Lutz turned back to the High Bishop, having not noticed the book before I pointed it out. But for some reason he was exasperated. “Forget it. There’s no way you can go anywhere near that book. They’re nobles, remember?”
“I think I can. I just need to pass out, right? Don’t worry, just leave it to me.” I nodded in reassurance. I had full confidence in my plan. Passing out meant I can talk to the High Priest, Ferdinand, because the grays will mistake my dress for a rich' girl’s dress. From there, I can sit on his lap and read to my heart’s content.
Lutz opened his mouth to say something, but story time was over, and it was time to pray. Children rose, and the priests on stage got into the prayer pose. I didn’t have a ring, so I wasn’t worried about any blessings, but I still felt my mana move instinctively to the words. I simply had to let it go, and with my excitement for my nearby future filled with books, I was out in no time.
As I came to consciousness, I focused on compressing my mana with the usual 4-step method. It was a bit more difficult, but it left so much more room! Maybe if Damuel had this version from the start, he’d have even more mana.
As soon as I opened my eyes, however, all hopes of my books were dashed. Instead of the pristine, white temple ceiling I was expecting, I was under the brown, dusty, wooden ceiling of my family’s apartment. “Bwuh?”
Sitting up, there was no one else in the room. My room. Home. It’s been so long, but… Why was I here and not in the temple!? I went to open the door and was greeted with Tuuli sewing at the table.
“Myne, you’re up! Do you know how worried we were? How could you pass out at the temple!” Tuuli scolded me through her hugs. Oh, how I missed them. I hugged her back as tight as my sickly little body could.
“Where are Mom and Dad?” There was no sign of them, but it was the middle of the day.
“They went to work, of course. You’ve been out since yesterday.”
Nooooo! My plans! It’s all ruined!
“Now, head on back to bed. You still have a fever.” She began to guide me back into the room without even letting me get a word in.
“OK. But can I eat first? Also, once Mom and Dad are back home, we all need to talk.” I wasn’t planning on telling them I went back in time, but they still needed to know my plan. I knew they would understand once I told them the temple would keep me alive. Dad might fight it a bit, though.
I didn’t want to leave them again, but it truly was the only way. Plus, I have other family waiting for me, like Lady Elvira and Brother Cornelius. And, my dear bookworm friend Lady Hannelore is also waiting for me as well. I would miss them all so much if I didn’t take this chance to get into the temple. Plus, I was still a bit nervous of altering the weave without knowing why I was back.
Tuuli gave me a suspicious look but eventually relented. I hated the usual oatmeal and hard bread and rested in bed for two more days until Mom deemed I was all better. I didn’t miss being sick at all.
Once the time came for our talk, there was already a thick layer of tension in the room. Dad already looked angry, while Mom busied herself with making tea. Tuuli looked caught in the middle and kept glancing at me.
Once Mom placed the tea on the table, Dad wasted no time in getting to business. “So, Myne, what happened at the temple?”
“How do you know something happened? Maybe I just suddenly got sick.”
“Lutz said, the last thing he heard you say was, ‘I just need to pass out, right?’” Dad crossed his arms, glaring at me. Oops. The room dropped several degrees as both Mom and Tuuli stared at me.
“W-well, I had a plan!” I cleared my throat and did my best to put on a serious face, despite everyone glaring at me for some reason. “I have recently learned that the devour heat I experience is actually mana. What nobles have. And the temple, despite… everything about it, needs mana, or else the crops won’t grow. They even have magic tools in there that will take my mana, allowing me to live.”
It was best to lead with my life and not the books I cared about. That’s what Mom cared about, and she would be able to convince Dad at the right moment.
“And you thought that passing out would let you use one? Are you crazy? Nobles don’t care about us commoners!”
“No, I thought it was separate enough from me so I could request a meeting with the High Priest. Then I could negotiate my admittance.” Before Dad could burst out with anger, I hurried my speech. “Benno said there was a war recently with nobles all over the country. Right, Dad?”
His eyes widened at this. As a gate soldier, he would have heard something about it. “That’s right. More nobles have left than have come in, too.”
“With my mana, my printing industry, and all the rest of my ideas that could make them money, they would be foolish not to let me in.”
I puffed out my chest with pride, expecting everyone to praise me, but none did. Instead, the room seemed even more gloomy than before. It was Tuuli who spoke first. “But you promised me that you’d stay with us, Myne.”
“Tuuli…”
“If it’s the only way, then there’s not much we can do,” Mom sighed. Tuuli frowned, tears building in her eyes.
“I won’t let you go into the temple! It’s dangerous, and you’re too sick to stay there,” Dad said.
“I’ll make sure to commute. And the High Priest is trustworthy. He’ll keep me safe.”
“How do you know?” Tuuli asked through sniffles and tears. “I don’t want to lose you, Myne.”
“I’ve, uh, heard rumors among the merchants.” I couldn’t tell them about my predicament, but they seemed to buy my excuse. Sorry, Benno!
Eventually, Dad sighed. All the energy seemed to leave his body, and he slumped forward. “Haa. Fine. My daughter is the best, so I’m sure you’ll get the best deal.”
Once Dad began to relax, so did everyone else too. I felt the weight off my shoulders knowing I now had my family’s blessing to continue to the temple. But I wouldn’t be able to stay working there. I will soon have other obligations. “There’s another thing. If all goes well, my work might be deemed too profitable, and I might get adopted by a noble.”
Just like that, the relaxed atmosphere was gone. They all turned to stare at me. “What are you saying!? You’re MY daughter!”
“I am! I am! Always! But if Benno’s predictions are correct—sorry, Benno—some nobles will want a piece of it. By then, the only options would be to join them or die. And you all would die too, to keep silent. Benno and Lutz too, probably.” I let the words sink in. I didn’t want the situation to surprise them like it happened in the last weave. Tuuli was especially traumatized and blamed herself. I could save them from all that pain. “And… if being adopted by nobles will protect you guys, even if it takes me away, I want to do it.”
Mom sighed, tears brimming in her eyes. “Oh, Myne. Just what have you gotten yourself into… We’re your parents. We’re the ones who are supposed to protect you.”
There was nothing I could say to that. Commoners were powerless to nobles. Even parents. But that didn’t mean I had to sit back and take it. I will do anything to protect my family.
My parents shared a look that said they would talk later, then Mom stood and began to collect the teacups. “Why don’t you two go and get to bed?”
—
The next morning, Lutz brought me to the Gilberta company, and Mark brought us both up to the office. “Master Benno. Myne and Lutz are here to see you.”
“Let them in.” Benno set down his quill, and once I sat down, he didn’t waste any time with the interrogation. “Just what were you thinking!? Purposely passing out in the temple like that!”
“Owie.” He had reached over and pulled at my cheeks. “I had a plan!” Once my cheeks had been successfully freed, I rubbed away the pain and proceeded to explain the situation. Only this time, I was careful not to mention where my information came from.
Once I finished, Lutz sighed. “In the end, it always comes down to books.” For some reason everyone looked disappointed in me. Even Mark, who was usually a master of hiding his emotions, looked conflicted. Bwuh…?
I decided to ignore that. “Anyway, I was hoping we can lay the groundwork before I enter the temple and protect my businesses, the workshop, and the like.”
Benno raised an eyebrow. “So now you want to lay the groundwork, huh? Finally learned something?” Still, he gave the nod to Mark, who went to procure the magic contracts and necessary paperwork for registering the Myne Workshop. In the end, I made sure to get the same deal as the last weave. Until Sylvester comes along, that is. But I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.
Maybe it was because I seemed more confident, but Benno didn’t give me as much advice on the way to the Guildmaster as before. And while I was there, I made sure to mention the pound cake taste testing even to Frieda. I could feel Benno glaring at me from behind, but I will have plenty of work for him soon enough. It was best to let the food merchants do food trends.
On the way back Lutz had that look on his face. He was always so observant. He must have figured something was different by now, but I wasn’t going to bring it up first. We made our way to the temple, and after a few false starts, he finally spoke up when our destination came into view.
“You’re hiding something. What’s going on? How did you know all that? It’s like… you’re more mature. More than you usually are.”
I stopped walking and turned to him. He already knows I am Urano. I was sure he could take another hit to his worldview. “Nothing gets passed you, Lutz. Yes, something did happen. Back when I became baptized, the very moment my blood was registered, I received a vision from Dregarnuhr, the Goddess of Time, of the future. Or perhaps I have gone back in time to the past. It’s as if I have already lived the next decade of my life, at least.
“And in this future, I am secretly adopted into an archnoble’s house, then further publicly adopted into the Archduke’s house. The printing industry becomes a duchy-wide industry, backed by Aub Ehrenfest himself. Eventually, we don’t even live in Ehrenfest anymore, and I achieve a status far higher than I thought I deserved.
“Many things happen in this future. I want you with me in this future as well, but I will give you this choice. Will you still follow me?”
“Wait, wait, wait, wait! Future? Duchy-wide industry? Leaving Ehrenfest? Slow down!” Understandably, he was freaking out. I waited patiently, watching as he began to pace and mutter to himself. “Of course I have to follow you! Benno told me to keep watch over you, and you’ll just make a mess of things everywhere you go. As soon as you got back, you even tried to charge straight into the temple book room!” He crossed his arms and nodded, as if to say he made up his mind and that was that.
I exhaled a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. I kind of expected he would continue to follow me, since he was so accepting of my first life. But it was still a lot to take in. I smiled at him. “Thanks, Lutz. I knew I could count on you.”
“You didn’t tell Benno, though. Did you tell your family?”
I shook my head. “I warned them of my adoption, but it’s best they don’t know the full story either. Only you.”
“Why do I feel way in over my head? Haaa…” he groaned.
“Hmm. Since now you know, do you think you could get me a feystone or two?”
“The kind of stones that come from shumils when you skin them wrong?”
“Yes. Any kind you can find. Right now. I can use them to guarantee a meeting with the High Bishop. Maybe even today, instead of the usual three days.”
“Now!? Why didn’t you think of that before?” I gave Lutz an apologetic smile, but I could offer no excuse. After a quick detour downtown, where I waited at the Gilberta store, we resumed our trip to the temple with two dyed feystones in tow.
The gray priest in charge of the gate watched us approach. This one wasn’t one of the High Bishop’s attendants, so I was pretty sure he wouldn’t tattle on me. I showed him the two feystones I had dyed. “My name is Myne. I would like to make an appointment with the High Priest to discuss becoming a blue shrine maiden apprentice. Preferably today.”
Once I dropped the feystones into his hand, he stared at them in bewilderment. Lutz’s pointed cough snapped him out of it, and he promptly bowed. “Very well. Please follow me.”