WORKSHOP MYNE

By, Vivat Musa

Illustrated by,

dezdance and poffin on Ao3: archive of our own works / 23994634 / chapters / 57719941

Thank you for reading!

After they processed the children as citizens (with more blood magic, ick ), the Baptism ceremony consisted mainly of the children listening as the Head Priest recited the story of how the world was created. Myne wasn't surprised this world had their own origin story. Older civilizations tended to have myths like that to explain the world around them before their science could. This earth's origin story had some dark themes to it, too, like the God of Life's "strong desire for dominance." She couldn't help but notice certain connotations in those word choices.

Myne listened raptly to the priest. It wasn't a book, sure, but a story was a story no matter its form.

Once it concluded, the Head Priest taught them how to pray. Myne almost burst out laughing when she saw the stout older man balance on one leg like Glico. Lutz gave her a funny look when she tried to replicate it without toppling over from laughter.

Myne had felt invigorated when she listened to the story, but when the Head Priest kept droning on and on about their roles in society as devout, respectable worshippers of Ehrenfest, she felt her enthusiasm drain away. Geez, she was grateful she'd been reincarnated in a family that wasn't this serious. If anything, the way her dad spoke the rare times the topic came up showed there was no love lost between him and the Church.

When the Baptism was finally over, Myne felt exhausted. She might've entered on her own two feet, but she left on Lutz's back. Which seemed apt, in a way. She didn't remember much about riding on her parent's shoulders back in her previous life, but she did recall that once she got too old and her limbs had lost their baby fat, it hadn't been comfy any longer. Myne wasn't exactly the chubbiest child now, despite her age, but she still rested comfortably on Lutz back.

"Hey," she said, as he maneuvered them through the crowd of other children to the temple's entrance, his arms careful not to jostle her. "I didn't have time to say it earlier, but...thanks again. For everything. I wouldn't have made it this far without you."

"Literally," he teased, adjusting her on his back. But then he turned back to glance at her. "Were you okay in there? I couldn't tell if you were laughing or dying."

"Hey, I'm still here, aren't I?"

"Trust me, I can feel it."

She kicked him in the ribs. He pinched her leg. She was about to retaliate when another idea came to her. "Wouldn't do that if I were you. I could concoct some really evil inventions."

"That doesn't mean much when I could refuse to build them."

"But who else would split as much money with you as I do?"

"...Fair point."

Myne grinned. "See? Now, don't get me started on what else I have planned."

"Is it going to rely on me standing in freezing water again?"

"...I'll cook for you."

She didn't have to see him smiling to know he was. "You don't have to bribe me. I already said I'll make anything you think of."

"But the food doesn't hurt, does it?"

"Nah."

They came to the front doors of the temple, with the rest of the kids around them. One or two pairs were holding hands, but none were getting a piggyback ride like she was. "Thanks, partner," she said.

"Always," Lutz said, and then the doors opened.

Children spilled out, surging forward to find their parents. It took a bit of searching through the crowds, but Myne would recognize her dad's stature anywhere. "Over there!" she said, pointing, and Lutz headed towards him. Once her family saw her, they quickly waded through the crowd to them.

"There's my beautiful little woman!" Her father scooped her up from Lutz's arms and moved her to his shoulders.

"Congratulations, sweetie," her mother said, while Tuuli cheered around her.

"You two looked just adorable," said Lutz' mom, her many sons swarming around her in their nicer clothes.

"Thank you," Myne said, then smiled at Lutz. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"First thing at Benno-san's!"

With that, they departed. The paved sidewalks and newly painted houses slowly gave way to dirt roads and buildings that never saw more than wooden boards and nails. And yet, Myne felt relieved. By the time they reached their home, Myne felt a lightness in her chest...and a rumbling in her stomach.

"Get changed," Mom said, once they'd stepped inside. "I started a pot of stew during the ceremony."

Myne couldn't help but grin. Stew might not be anything close to a fancy feast, but it was her favorite of Mom's dishes. Sometimes homey was the best.

"Need some help, Myne?" Tuuli asked, as she headed for the bedroom.

"Probably," she chuckled, giving an embarrassed smile. The dress looked beautiful, but also had a few too many ties and buttons down its back to easily untie herself. Tuuli made quick work of the mechanisms, her fingers having grown more dexterous as they learned their way around dresses.

Once they were done and returned to the main room, their parents were already seated at the tables. Not only were steaming bowls of soup awaiting them, but also two packages.

"This one's for you," said Dad, handing Myne a small, thin present rolled up in scraps of cloth.

"And this one's for Tuuli," Mom said, giving her sister a much wider gift. "Since we gave Myne a present at your Baptism, we thought you should get one at Myne's, too."

"Thank you!" the sisters said at once. Then Tuuli nudged Myne.

"You open yours first," she said. "It's your day!"

Myne nodded, and carefully unrolled the piece of cloth to reveal a new set of crochet hooks.

"Since I might've... borrowed yours," Mom said, blushing.

"Thanks, Dad! The woodwork's beautiful!" And it was. The hooks were of an attractive dark wood, slim and carved to a smooth finish, and small enough to be held comfortably in her hands.

Dad practically beamed. "Thought my girl should get her own set. Who knows what else you'll come up with?"

"If you do, you have to show me!" Tuuli said.

"You're still better at sewing than me," Myne said modestly. "Now, your turn!"

Tuuli giggled, and opened her present only slightly faster than Myne had. She squealed, and brushed her hands over what looked like a brand new yard of fabric, the color of linen. It wasn't close to being the most expensive material, but it was a big step-up from the scraps Tuuli usually worked with.

"Now my girl can make the cutest dress ever!" Dad said proudly.

Mom raised her eyebrow. "What about mine?"

"...SECOND cutest!" he quickly amended.

"But...mine isn't the cutest?" Tuuli pouted.

Gunther looked quickly between his daughter and his wife, distraught, before the rest of them broke out laughing.

They talked as they ate, and Dad shared his latest adventure dealing with some snooty merchant at the gate, only for Otto to flatter him and get a few coins in the process. Myne smiled as she listened. To think these people were once strangers to her, and now they felt as much a family as Urano's mom was to her.

After dinner, the sisters helped clean up the dishes before getting ready for bed. The weather was warm that spring night, but the sisters still huddled close as their mother joined them under the covers. Most nights Mom was too busy working on a new project for one of her clients to send them off to bed. But on weekends and special nights like this, she'd crawl into bed with them and whisper a story. They would have to strain to hear it, but that only made her words sound more magical in the night.

"Tell us the one about the princess with the birthmark!" Tuuli said, once their mom had settled into her spot.

"Oooh, or the one about The Haves and Have Nots!" said Myne. That story was about what it sounded like: a short fable that could have easily been about the social divide but also lent itself well as a parent's lesson when one girl might've made a prettier basket than her sister's. Her mom tended to make up stories based on either ones her own mother told her when she was young, or things she noticed around her. Tuuli didn't seem to notice the connection, but Myne recognized the trick from her mom back at her time as Urano.

Mom propped her head up with her hand, and laughed quietly. "No, a story is never as magical as the first time you've heard it."

Myne wanted to argue that, but she knew better than to interrupt when her mom had that faraway look in her eyes. "No, this is a special night. We need a new story. Hmm…" She tapped her fingers on her cheek, and that was when the girls knew to be quiet.

Finally, she whispered, "Have you ever heard of the story about the man who never left his house?"

The sisters silently shook their heads.

Mom smiled. Then, in a soft, low voice she used only to tell stories, she spoke, "The story begins with a man who had never stepped foot outside in years… "