Setting the Bar High

Winter came.

Parents would be nervous for a couple times due to how many children they may have, who'd debut at Winter. There's also kids who'd get baptized at the Aub's Castle due to travel issues. That unless your domain is near the aub's territory who can afford to call a Priest over for baptism, those who weren't so lucky, season-be-damned, go do it at Winter instead, a season when life sleeps and wakes.

Truly, a season for the Married Gods.

However, even if you get baptized early, no one and we do mean NO ONE is gonna get away from performing at their Winter Debut!

The poor sods called Archnobles go first. Because one performs in order of their mana strength and amount.

That was what Siegbert told Lorelei during the carriage ride. 'Well, they gotta set an example as per their duty as trendsetters.' he said with a shrug. 'The ones baptizing us all is the High Bishop and the High Priest. But uh...a lot of drama occurred in my time.' he croaked out. 'There's four who uh...are exposed to have too little power they can't even light up the medal with their power. It was awkward...'

'How come?'

'Well, to qualify as a noble, you have to have enough mana to light up the citizenship medal, a magic item that registers us as citizens of Ehrenfest. Different colors will show, showing our mana affinities.' said their father, recalling last year's baptism where a lot of drama ensued and since his daughter has lots of mana, she need not know until before she gets married!

'Green for Flutrane, the element of Water, Blue for Leidenschaft, the element of Fire, Yellow for Schutzaria, the element of Wind, Red for Geduldh, the element of Earth and White for Ewigeliebe, the element of Life.' Lorelei found that quite...unconventional. It's out of order from what he's used to! 'Lay and Mednobles can only have two, high-ranking mednobles can have three if they're lucky, and Archnobles can have all five. But if they do, their mana will be color white. Though some are outliers due to highs and lows so there's rainbows occasionally.'

'Failing to light that up, you're sent to be a priest or priestess to the Temple where you'll live the rest of your days serving the gods as repentance for failing your duty as a noble even as a young child.' he continued. 'Because our duty is to give our mana to the land to keep it fertile for society to survive and thrive. Even the Zent is no exception in the Sovereignty they rule over. It's what our whole family does every spring, when priests come here with those chalices.' he said. 'After baptism, noble children recognized in society begin to take part by pouring their mana onto those chalices, we have to do it.' he said. 'It helps a lot to preserve our magic tools that drains us of our mana so we won't get the Devouring.' he said.

'So every spring you and everyone go out for that, but not me back then...'

'Yes. Unbaptized Children are not recognized by law. Children are therefore, vulnerable without the protection of their parents.' said her mother. 'Anything can happen and if you're not a citizen by law, even if you have people vouching for you, you won't get help that you need simply because 'you don't belong here' as justification so crimes usually go ignored. Your father and I are strict with you and Sieg from going out the house as kidnappings DO happen.'

'Kidnappings?!' Lorelei gasped out.

'Yes...families whose children failed their first duty who are sent to temples, tend to hire kidnappers and kidnap children of other homes with enough mana to meet the standards. With a little magic to change their looks and brainwashing, they now have a replacement child.' said her father darkly. 'Children are not toys to use and discard, but some nobles are cruel that way. It's easy to count which noble family has a conscience than those who don't have any. This is why nobles do not announce births until Baptism Day.'

'...'

'Well, we're here...in Ehrenfest Castle.' said her mother. 'Now then, be on your best kids. Round two for Sieg, Round 1 for Lorrie. We are given time to use the restroom, dinner, then after you eat, quickly use the restroom again because the ceremony takes quite a while as well as the Debut...and it's very rude to leave the room when people are performing. It's like saying you are so bad I'm leaving, an ultimate insult no one will forgive you for.' she warned.

'Yes mother.'

'And you are forbidden to leave our side due to danger we told you about!'

xxx

And so, Lorelei's first battle as a noble began.

She had all her Laynobles down pat, though she really didn't like being a doormat. But a single wrong thing here will be used against you for life. One or everyone goes down. All she can do is endure, was in her lessons.

After 'washing up', the family went to the dining room and sat where told to sit. Thankfully, the food is all the same. Though the host, Sylvester Aub Ehrenfest tested the food to prove it's not poisoned, before he allowed everyone to partake.

The baptism then begins after. But no Archnoble today.

It's mostly Mednobles and Laynobles. But Archnobles are still present to watch the show.

Unlike commoners who put up with a short introduction of the world's creation, here, it's very straightforward.

You are called, and escorted by your family to the top of the stairs, lent a schtappe and tap the medal. Shrine Maidens played music in the background with their Harspiels and Flutes.

Her medal turned out Orange. An even mix of her two elements, Earth and Wind. And the brighter the medal, the stronger your mana is to the point hers is like that of a LED. It's very unusual for a Laynoble to be so strong!

'Congratulations, Lorelei.' said High Priest Ferdinand. 'You are now officially recognized as Adalbert's daughter.' he declared. Her father gave her a magic ring, declaring her as daughter of his household and a citizen of Ehrenfest by saying 'I present the child who was born to House Ehrenfest.' and after that, Ferdinand blessed her under her patron deities.

Then the Winter Debut has begun. One by one, the newest citizens were called to perform. Even if one is a Med or Laynoble, they are still ranked based on mana. They are to use a Harspiel lent for the event by the Aub...and the Aub's Music Teacher will make sure nobody's cheating on their performance with magic. Children must perform on their own merit.

Children based on mana strength were called as she was warned beforehand...so after a boy who sang about Schutzaria, she was called.

Her song is about her Married Deities. She maintained her composure as she played the intro, before singing.

Here in this world, I come bringing cold and snow
And as the land around me sleeps, and so does all life here
But in the coldness I sense a gentle warmth
I sought it out, its how I came to know of you

That graceful form, that deep red hair and lips
And a gentle smile that struck me hard, life was born anew
And so I know that I know for certain now,
you're the one, I long for, my dear maiden

In my longest memories, the coldness is all I've ever known
Then you're here. Your warm embrace causes life to be born

I sought you out, longing for your hand.
Please be beside me forevermore.
I'll give you joy and happiness.
All I ask is for you to love me back in turn.

Won't you please be mine, Geduldh?

She played the closing, ignoring the...reactions to her song until she finished. She then stood up, returned the Harspiel to the deeply-shaken teacher with a flustered expression she was holding back, while Lorelei curtsied to the crowd that applauded. Stunned by her unconventional methods with flustered expressions.

Hey, she was a man before, OK? She knows how stupid men can be before a pretty face.

A few more kids performed until there's a closing ceremony by Aub Ehrenfest.

And then the nobles left one by one.

'Hey, I was wondering why are all mansions here so alike? And who lives here other than the Aub? We live in our domain all the way to the frontier...'

'Well, the nobles living here work as Attendants and Knights to Archnobles that are the ones actually living here and it became a hereditary position...and the strongest supporters of three factions live here. Us who have nothing to do with it, would rather stay where it's safe.' her father shuddered. 'We're neutral. We seek protection without getting too close. Attendants, Scholars and Knights only quit service when getting married with permission from their masters. Those who are their families' successors really has to leave to govern their duchy. Second children onwards have no such excuse...you're bound to your employer for life, so choose wisely when you kids are in the academy.'

'Yes father!'

xxx

Now that Lorelei 'officially exists', she can now freely go outside and explore on her own.

For laynobles whose lives isn't exactly a garden of roses, they wear form-fitting sleeves since they practice hunting and foraging if they want extra stuff. Form-fitting sleeves therefore, aren't in the way like big and wide sleeves.

Because Siegbert wants to be a Knight while Lorelei wanted to simply be a Scholar as she knows how to fight anyway, but she still does basic Knight Training alongside her brother. He is two years older than her, making him nine this year. He will enter the Academy after next year.

At least, Lorelei wanted him to have tasty foods before he leaves, so now she's in the kitchens again.

Experimenting.

Because it's known that Lorelei hopes to be an Independent Scholar, not an Affiliate, this is simply par for the course.

But hey...what actually tastes good?

Her first mystery was 'Why do people scald vegetables?' and she was told, 'Well, if you don't scald them, the impurities in them will get us sick.'

What logic is that? Especially in a magical-medieval world where pesticides nor pests don't exist?

So just wash the vegetables! That way, no impurities so no need to scald! That's basic common sense! If Tohsaka were here, she'd ream their ear off with no mercy for such...ignoramus way of thinking.

After washing all ingredients, Lorelei did things her way!

And her way, the path of 'Scald-no-more', was actually DIVINE! She wrote down a variety of soups and stews, and how to cook meat properly. It was all a matter of Time Management too. And due to how delicious things have gotten in winter, Adalbert was proud of his little scholar who brought joy to the family by letting mere Laynobles taste heaven without having to be an Archnoble!

It was way too good that they wanted more...maybe next mealtime!

To avoid a mutiny, Adalbert called all his servants just for an announcement.

'Chef Dita, every Earthday, you will teach three recipes to our womenfolk in our village.' Adalbert ordered. 'Everyone already knows Lorrie's bread trick, so start with soups.' Even if the rest of the world has it crappy, at least his domain has 'gold standards' in something.

'Yes sir.'

And the consequences to having full access to nutrition was as Lorelei expected in six months, since her Winter Debut.

"The vegetables of this world is a thing to envy." Lorelei thought, as her father read reports from the Village Chief regarding growth of youngsters that they need fabric-and fast.

Fruits provide vitamins. Vegetables provide Minerals and meat and eggs provides Protein and other things for skin and bones, not just calcium anyway. Each specific produce, has complete RDI required in a human body. And since all that is washed away in soup...despite uneven ingredients floating in bowls, the broth has it all anyway! Vitamin and Mineral Tonic!

As soup, it's easy to self-medicate with it in terms of vitamin supplements. The veggies afterwards, are simply for Fiber. Chicken Bone Soup is popular at home. She boils smashed bones for extra flavor but after that, it's strained out into another pot to take bones out, before you put vegetables and meat chunks in, AND boil them to tenderness. It's a lot of effort, but doggone delicious...and wrinkle-be-gone for ladies. Skin and flesh firmed back up that the family had a talk about it.

'Lorrie, as a scholar, how did you come about your research?' her grandfather Gilbert asked her.

'I was curious about what we eat and why'd it have to be mostly sour while bland, and our vegetables soggy and dull...when I was told about Scalding, I had to look with a spell I made called Artikerten using my magic ring since I got no schtappe.' Lorelei was oblivious to the incredulous looks of her family. 'It's a spell that lets me see all information I want about an item, manifesting as images in my mind.' she did that on purpose as this world cannot yet comprehend her level of science.

'And to see if there are actual impurities in food to justify scalding...but none. There's no impurity at all as long as you wash the vegetables after harvesting them. And when there's froth during boiling soup, it can simply be removed by skimming them off with a spoon with great care as the frothy bubbles represent the bitterness removed from vegetables in boiling process, leaving only deliciousness behind.' she said.

'And scalding is totally pointless...it washes away the deliciousness of the food and the boons each food gives! Look at ourselves in the past, compared to now. How many years has everyone been stunted growing up because of this stupidity and who made said stupidity public knowledge?' Lorelei spoke out.

The family exchanged perturbed looks.

'Er...we know who and you'll know who when you study History...you just cannot be outspoken about it lest you get your head on the chopping block.' grandmother Galatea warned her. 'As a Laynoble, it's easy to get bullied and framed to justify persecution.'

'Yes grandma.'

Fruits for Vitamins, are eaten as is or drank as juice. It replaced Blenrus Tea in their household because Siegbert is hard at work preparing his body for the Academy. And because he doesn't know spells nor know if one is cast on him, Lorelei was able to cast Reinforcement on him but powered by his mana by tweaking the spell to bring out his good looks their blood can afford him so he'll grow handsome come puberty. The spell is active the whole year of his last year at home, as he eats healthy and plenty.

The result?

He needs bigger clothes now. He had a growth spurt, and he actually got toned. Well, as far as a child can go with basics anyway! Their father on the other hand...his physique improved. Siegbert was taller and more developed than kids here that he was as healthy as a ten year old Shirou back in Earth. And due to Reinforcement, his looks changed by 30% in Summer and after a year, 60%.

Her brother is a Spring Baby so he could go to school 'on time' unlike her. Winter Babies end up going late that they're 11 or almost 11.

Before he left for school, she cast another Reinforcement on him. After that, she no longer can as he would learn when magic is used on him upon contact. But at least she did for him what she can and for her, that's a win. And in school he has no worries about the Devouring for at least, six years, so his magic tools are now for sale to rich commoners who are merchants whose children have mana for the bargain price of 3 small gold.

Siegbert's Magic Tool, went to purchase 2 small gold's worth of fabric of all colors. A bolt of Niren Fabric which most commoners can afford, costs 6 small silver. So that's 34 bolts of fabric, plus the bulk of it from her own family's coffers as there are 400 homes with at least three or four children per house...

The remaining gold coin, Siegbert HAS to have to register at the Library in the Academy after the Library Tour. It's THAT expensive.

If you cannot pay that fee within Introduction Day, it's like saying your family is so poor you cannot even afford a Library Card that even other Laynobles will bully that person. It was for his safety.

But in exchange for such business, their devouring children are adopted in or marry the sons of the family, effectively becoming nobles...or slaves. It depends on which noble your family did business with. It's basically a Russian Roulette. If you get the bullet of luck, you'd marry in and be treated well with education to match. The other empty chambers means you're under a lifelong misery under your patron who spent money on you and will enjoy reminding them painfully about it. A miserable life like that would make one prefer death by explosion than live in misery away from family who would at least, treat you right!

Laynobles usually do this business that they have a longest history of having commoner blood than even Mednobles and Archnobles. For the snooty ones, Laynobles are 'no different from commoners anyway' but at least, their blood was diverse to prevent inbreeding! But pray for your life if an Archnoble takes interest in a defenseless commoner with a lot of mana to give. Pray that a nice one looks at you!

Mocked they may be, but nobles and Mana ARE needed very badly. No thanks to that Civil War Purge that her family emphasized on Neutrality for survival's sake. That sure, education-be-damned, they'd rather stay home and focus on the development of their tiny domain and be vassals to their own relatives and fellow neutrals than work for anyone who are in Factions. The Factions that loses tends to get annihilated down to the last infant! Her family adults were spooked by that Royal Civil War badly.

If not Devouring Warriors, they are usually married to children of nobles. If they had the Devouring and contracted with a noble, they get Baptized in Winter BUT in the Temple. And no, they don't do Winter Debuts. They simply gain the surname of their contracted family. But it would be 'X frau/gemahl X'. And any noble who hears girls/boys introduce themselves that way already recognizes them as 'Devouring Brides/Grooms' whose status is lower than Laynobles, but in limbo between commoner and Laynoble. Because to be a true noble child, you absolutely must have 'tochter' and 'sohn' in your name.

Devouring Grooms are submissive to the wives they marry as it's HER family keeping them alive and his status is lower than that of his own children's. In this case, the wife makes the decisions for her family, functioning like a husband should. But still get the privilege of going to Royal Academy at 10 years old. IF they are engaged. But to those non-engaged are simply Mana Slaves.

Lorelei understood that despite her chagrin about it even if her family are humane than most, treating their slaves well that their slaves are loyal to them, but slave is still slave that they are beneath even commoners in social status. Mana is needed if nobody wants to starve.

So she began reading up on Mana Compression that is actively practiced starting at after baptism. By internally condensing mana as much as possible and keeping it condensed, the remaining 'extra space' is then naturally replenished with new mana. The existing mana and the new mana are then compressed together, creating more space for mana to be restored. By repeating this process several times, a person can acquire more mana.

But for Lorelei, Very Inefficient that she devised a method for her brother and for herself, and their slaves. They are the current young children at home whose mana are still growing. Those who came of age, can no longer increase their capacities. For her brother whose mana is less than hers by 60%, this would be a boon for his future. The slaves are trained carefully in this as well. For her? She helps her father clear out more land for farming to increase family income until she turns 10 herself.

She clears and flattens more and more land, and digs up Irrigation Trenches and Wells. More Cash Crops and Food Crops to keep up with population demands. This is normally Siegbert's job with his dad but alas, he's in the academy...

She also opened a space to grow Niren to supply their domain's common folk. That since her baptism, she stopped donating her mana for the sake of land clearing to open up more room for farming and carefully map out areas that lead to rivers and open up new irrigation. However, she reaps harvest of mushrooms and undiscovered edibles and usables, and the uprooted trees are processed into timber, and all rocks purified of impurities and processed into stone blocks for future use as construction material.

As a scholar, she studies what she can, writes books and began cultivation on her instructions, that mushrooms became a part of diet and a favorite of common folk due to it's fleshy, chewy natures. She also cultivates medicinal herbs for minor and moderate illnesses in the family yard as farmlands are valuable more on food and cloth. End result, she had Potions Training under an aunt because they began exporting potions to the Knight Order for sale to further help with family income.

But alas, until she's at her third year in school as a first year in Scholar Course, she cannot publish any of her works, which she keeps sealed in her room. None of her family can break her barriers so her papers and everything are safe from Research Theft.

But in regards to marriage, they cannot 'jump the gun' just yet. Not until Siegbert's growth period is over. There's also possibility that he might meet a noblewoman he'd fall for and their family cannot support concubines.

So the kids whose families her family contracts with are Mana Slaves, but well-treated to ease her family's conscience because Mana is really needed for livelihood. Simply given jobs in the farms or work the factories without pay because of magic tools involved, but at least have basic needs fulfilled and basic education young nobles usually get, incase some of them have to become Devouring Brides and Grooms, they can function immediately.

They work the farms, and use up all their mana in Spring. They can marry each other at age 20 and only then do they start earning money to support their family if they're lucky. The Devouring Children also have Basic Attendant Training due to their future as Concubines and Consorts...just incase. And the boys also have Knight Training and Combat Experience against Feybeasts.

Laynobles who have slaves like them, are usually frequented by those in need of strong wives, as a child's mana is dependent on the Mother. Female Slaves have better prospects in life as a Bride. And are purchased at ten years old because they are enrolled in the Academy by the family they're to marry into as Concubines and Consorts. That Lorelei visits them on the guise of checking up on them to Reinforce their beauty so it's a must for her to do this every year.

This works as advantage for her family. They get money which they need to run a domain.

Due to a potential nasty future if they ARE selected, her family does its best to at least, give them a good beginning as they know full well how it's like to be mistreated simply for being less.

Upon hearing of her family's way of doing things as they have so much mana to shell out for a 'tiny domain', High Priest Ferdinand had a talk with her father since her family's domain always has so much mana to give and a lot of people pouring mana into the chalices despite having low mana as laynobles can have as reported by other priests.

Her family compensates Financial Poverty through having plenty of food to sustain the small domain throughout the year. Their slaves are treated very well that they're happier, but also, mentally-preparing themselves if higher-ranker nobles decided to drop by and purchase them! They were rather terrified by the idea and if it ever happened, they pray hard that no abuser will buy them as not even their parents hurt them. They'd sooner kill themselves upon reaching their new home, than enrich their abusers and tormentors with their powers if their new masters are horrible people.

Being treated well even as a slave is already good luck as it is even if they have forever lost the comforts they once had as wealthy children of merchants.

'So that's how it is,' Ferdinand would say. 'I will have to report this, you understand.'

'We accept.' said Adalbert. By that he means future judgment.

A month later, they got a letter from Aub Ehrenfest himself. He would purchase their strongest. Price based on Strength, so he'll drop by for a visit before winter.

The house is scrubbed spic and span for presentability, all fabrics washed. The walls that are cracking were repaired by Lorelei's spells and the stitches on curtains and tablecloths were removed and fused together to look brand new.

On the Promised Day, Sylvester Aub Ehrenfest came with a bodyguard and a large carriage for obvious reasons. As a precaution, they cooked food and sacrificed one of their valuable Weizen flour sack just to bake Weizen Bread which wealthier nobles eat.

They prepared a banquet to welcome the guests in and the delicious food stunned the Aub and his retinue they asked for seconds...and thirds...Sylvester even had a fourth!

There was a small chat in her father's office that Lorelei wasn't privy to. In fact, her job was to prepare their strongest slaves into packing their belongings, and reinforce them one last time before ordered to take a bath.

They were horrified and had the air of being sent to their executions.

xxx

Two hours later...

Sylvester observed the strongest Devouring Kids the Wagner Family has. They were very healthy, dressed well and are very clean. Though understandably dark-skinned due to farming work incase of the boys, and the girls were fair due to working in factories.

'This is pretty good...Devouring Children are usually small and stunted!' Sylvester was amazed as he inspected each child. 'Yet they're big and tall for ten year olds. They are indeed treated well.' more importantly he thought, they weren't broken like most slaves are. 'What do you think, Karstedt?' he asked the Knight with him.

'Mm. They would be of great help for my wife's family.' said Karstedt. 'That person is too much as of late that my wife's family is hit very hard that they need all help they can get. They can no longer justify choking my in-laws and their domain to death now.'

Ten of the forty slaves Baron Wagner owns, have mana capacities of high mednobles. Due to this, each child is worth 5 small gold each slave and Adalbert received coins enough for five Large Gold. Which still went to fabric needs.

With the money earned, the slaves then had a talk with their new master, reassuring them that they will be treated well and still live well as long as they keep their single duty, before flying off to their new home.

'Father, are they OK people?' Lorelei asked her father.

'Yes. Lord Linkberg's reputation is well-known in the Knight Order. He is highly trusted by people worth noting that those kids will be fine.' Adalbert promised his daughter. 'We should reassure the other kids. Come on. After that, we'll have a talk in my office.'