Another day in these strange, foreign lands, beyond the lands of Ashina.
Chiharu woke as she had these past few days, lying on the large, raised block of softness the Sorcierjin slept on in lieu of futons, the room still dark with but the faintest morning light entering through the windows made of stone that was as clear as water. It reminded her of the room in that place where the flesh-bound Shura had dwelled, but it was a gift from Campbell-dono, and so she treasured it as best as she could, even though sometimes she had to sleep on the floor lest her body be wracked with nightmares of being touched by burning hands…
Shuddering, she sat up, throwing off the thick, fine blankets that had been given to her and that she was to wash once a week, but carefully, lest she wake the other girl who shared the bed with her. The blanket was soft and warm beyond belief, as expected of noble things, even gaijin noble things. More than a simple peasant girl could have expected to even glimpse in her lifetime, unless she was taken as the concubine of some lord or other. Or disposable plaything.
Which, she supposed, she had. She threw that thought back into the deep valleys and hoped the wild monkeys tore it apart properly this time. Not that they had every other time before.
Chiharu didn't know what 'irony' was. Irony wasn't something that peasant girls had time to think about, even peasant girls considered one of the village beauties. But there was some kind of irony in being held in fear by one gold-haired, powerful Sorcierjin of terrible skill with the sword, and throwing herself into the service of another one. If she had known, Chiharu would have said that was a terrible comparison and in her current state would have… well, she'd have dared to glare angrily at whoever had proposed the thought. Campbell-dono seemed almost a parody of a lady and samurai at times, apologizing to them as if feeling dishonored she wasn't heroic enough in their rescue or the day-to-day luxuries she provided them since taking them in to her palace. Chiharu doubted even some of the former noblewomen from Ashina had slept on sheets this fine.
With fear-borne experience, Chiharu slid quietly out of the warm sheets, adjusting it back around her roommate Homura. She had taken to protecting the girl from some who had seen her name as an ill-omen, and though such things had ceased after Claes-oh-just-call-me-Katarina-dono had scolded them (well, less scolded than acted like an innocent child asking them to explain why they'd do such a terrible thing and everyone had sort of stop in embarrassment and shame), the girl had latched onto her. To old, if barely, to sleep with the other children, Homura had claimed her on the first day when Claes-dono was explaining the concept of 'roommates', clinging to her fearfully, as if afraid she would need to sleep by herself. They'd slept in the same room ever since.
Chiahru got dressed, putting on the combination of foreign clothes and reproductions of more traditional Ashina garb that Claes-dono had provided them. It was not lost on her that while they dwelled in Campbell-dono's lands, much of their comfort was thanks to Claes-dono, who seemed to understand their needs even as she understood their civilized tongue. Still, for all that she was grateful, it was Campbell-dono she had sworn herself to, as the armband she was tying to her sleeve indicated.
She stared at herself in the mirror, something that her upbringing said was less of a luxury and more of the province of the gods, for the worship of Gwyndolin the well-endowed Moon. A ragged face stared at her, dark eyes, dark hair, unsmiling and miserable. Had this wretched thing ever been called the village beauty, with boys and other girls fighting for her attention? It seemed ludicrous.
She took a deep breath, trying to smooth her face, trying to look like someone worthy to serve their magnificent lady. She shaped the face to smoothness, trying to make herself look as their lady did.
That done, she made her rounds of the morning, checking that once more no one had tried to kill themselves in the night….
Breakfast was ramen in meat broth, with those warm buns called bread and sweetened boiled fruit potion called jam.
It was another day in the Campbell estate.
"…and that's how you make gunpowder," Maria finished explaining to Sophia. They were in the alchemy lab during lunch, and Maria had quickly demonstrated how to mix the substance together.
Sophia blinked. "Wow, that was… surprisingly simple and easy. Have you told me about this before? I feel like I've already heard about it somewhere…"
"I have guarded this secret closer than my life," Maria said, mildly annoyed Sophia wasn't looking more impressed. "None in this world but you and I could possibly know this formula. Oh, and the Third Prince, of course, but only because he seems the only one likely able to deduce it. "
"Yeah, blondie's kinda dung pies over-talented like that," Sophia said, nodding. "The only thing he can't seem to understand is how he and Katarina are obviously not meant to be together."
"I could not possibly comment," Maria said as she collected the powder to take back with her.
"I thought you didn't approve of the two of them getting married?"
"I could not possibly comment."
"Newbie, good work today," Rafael said. "There's not much left to do, so you can clock out early."
"Oh joy, I can go back to my room with nothing to do but waiting for tomorrow," Sora said dryly.
"There's also the library," Rafael said. "I hear we got the new Night Fall book."
"Pass! I'm not into that girlie stuff," Sora said adamantly. "Don't we at least have anything decent? Have they made a sequel of From the Ashes yet?"
"There's Hollow Coil," Rafael suggested.
"Oh joy, yet another book set in the age of myth about a hollowed hero trying to recover their memories," Sora said, rolling his eyes.
"Isn't that what From the Ashes is?" Rafael said, starting to put away his work.
"Yeah, but that one has awesome crossbow action," Sora said, miming holding a crossbow and tracking some ancient monster or other.
His imaginary sights fell on Larna Smith, who was trudging past them towards the door.
"Other newbie!" Rafael called with malice aforethought. "We got another complaint from Director Lanchester."
"Eh?!" Larna cried. "Another one?!"
"Yeah, apparently he found your behavior while you were making deliveries unacceptable for a ministry employee," Rafael said. "So you got a few more days slapped onto your Magic Tool Research ban."
"EH! More days? WHY?! I already have over a month added to it already!" Larna wailed.
"Well, you apparently still haven't learned your lesson about conducting yourself like a ministry official should, or so the Director feels," Rafael said beatifically. "Also, someone filed a report of you being out of uniform."
"Out of uniform?" Guy 'Laura' Handerson exclaimed, delicately putting a hand to their cheek in shock as they passed by on the way to the door, careful not to smear their makeup. "How scandalous! To think someone would so besmirch the good name of the Magic Tool Laboratory by not being in proper uniform!" Their shudder was the shudder of a delicate maiden.
"Okay, I don't' want to hear that from YOU of all people!" Larna cried, pointing at the musclebound, blue-bearded, macho Ministry worker. "Don't you DARE tell me that skirt is regulation!"
"It is the proper length," Laura said primly, even as the movement made huge muscles flex. "It's not my fault I'm tall!"
"Other Newbie, be more respectful of your seniors," Rafael said with a bright, sunny smile. "Tomorrow you're handling the rounds to the Magic Research Department again."
"Lanchester will just report me even MORE!" Larna protested.
"Not if you act like a proper ministry official," Rafael said, grinning wildly.
"I'm pretty sure this is some kind of abuse of power, vice-Director," Larna said.
"Can't be, I reported all MY activities and got approval," Rafael said. "Good night, other Newbie."
Larna walked away looking less happy than she was before, muttering something about needing to 'see them again'. So far, no one's caught her illegally making magic tools, but everyone had their bets on how long before she got busted.
"Can I just say how glad I am you're not treating me like that, even though I threw knives at your girlfriend," Sora said, a smile of schadenfreude on his face.
"You just threw a few knives," Rafael said dismissively. "Big deal. If you'd been any sort of threat she'd have decapitated you. That woman put me through paperwork hell. I'm enjoying this. She's no Marchioness Dieke, but close enough. Oh, by the way, mail for you. Though who'd want to write to you, I have no idea."
Sora took the envelope, smiling slightly as he recognized the handwriting, and pocketed it to read in his room.
"Come on, let's have dinner," Rafael said. "I'm still supposed to make sure you don't mess with anyone."
"You all make me feel so welcome," Sora snorted, but there was no bite to the words.
"Hey, I don't see the point either. Your magic is so weak it's Katarina-level," Rafael said. "And you're no good at it either."
"It's not the size, it's how you use it, virgin," Sora retorted. They were off the clock, after all. "I'll have you know I have excellent technique."
"Boys, please don't be so lewd!" Laura said, easily falling into step with them as the floorboards creaked under the weight of muscle they possessed.
It was another ordinary day at the Ministry.