Ruby’s Desire

Fall was nearing its end, and for the last month, Roots had been filled with farmers and farmhands rushing down their fields. This year’s harvest was good, and the granary was full.

I learned about the local religion from Otto, which centers around the Sun Goddess Surya and the Moon God Chandra. The Sun Goddess is in love with the Moon God but can only meet him during a solar or lunar eclipse. The Sun Goddess represents life, light, rebirth, and harvest, while the Moon God represents death, shadow, solace, and grief.

They celebrate a holiday every quarter of the year.

The Winter Solstice is a grand celebration where all women are expected to give presents to all the men in their lives.

During the Summer Solstice, the men are expected to do the same.

The other two holidays are celebrated at the beginning of spring and at the end of fall, honoring new life and the harvest, respectively. Each holiday is preceded by a week-long Lent during which people are not allowed to eat meat or fish, followed by a grand festival that usually lasts three days.

The Lent was finally over, and the festival would begin tomorrow.

The calendar and the moon phases here are the same as on Earth. When I arrived, it was summer. Summer has passed, and fall is ending as the weather turns cold.

I’ve had to treat many more combat injuries, but strangely, the number of soldiers who died has decreased dramatically.

The Ibasans started coating their arrows in feces to cause infections and switched to barbed arrows. I couldn’t make heads or tails of this change for a few days, but I finally pieced it together yesterday.

A few hours later, I approached Janus with my theory.

“There’s something I want to tell your father, but I think it’s better if he hears it from you,” I said.

“Sure, as long as it isn’t something weird,” he replied casually.

I whispered to him, “I think I know what the Ibasans are up to.”

Only a few men talked loudly at another table, but I didn’t want to spread any rumors.

“What do you mean?” he asked skeptically.

I felt a bit angry that he wasn’t taking me seriously. Still, I continued, “I keep receiving more and more injured patients, but most aren’t seriously hurt. All the arrows they’re using have changed.”

“Changed like what?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

So, I explained, “They’ve started to coat them with feces to cause infections and added barbs so the arrows would stick.”

“But where’s the problem? You can fix them up anyway,” he said, confident in my skills. Over the past few months, I’ve started using more substitutes for healing magic, like tools and simple remedies, to conserve my mana. I’ve also begun experimenting with incorporating more death magic.

“Sure, I can, but what if I hadn’t arrived at this fortress? You would be in the midst of summer with a Fortress full of infected wounds and no healing mage in sight.”

In short, they would be screwed.

Janus began to look more interested. I added, “I bet it’s also no coincidence that the new priest hasn’t arrived yet.” At that remark, Janus looked troubled. The previous priest was old but in good health, and his death was sudden. The new priest is indeed very late and should have arrived two months ago at the earliest. According to reports, the priest and his escort were ambushed by a band of mercenaries. After those incidents, they decided to stay in a neighboring town until things cooled down. All priests are considered equal to nobility and cannot be commanded like civilians. So, the timid priest decided to stay put. They would have been in real trouble if I hadn’t shown up.

Then Janus had an epiphany. He hugged me, lifting me off the ground.

“Uwaah!”

“Thank you, Ruby, thank you!” he exclaimed, setting me back down and running off.

“W-Wait!”

But he was already climbing the stairs to his father’s office. I felt confused as I watched him go. What is up with him? He keeps hugging me. I could hear people giggling a few tables away.

At this rate, I’m sure I’ll hear new rumors from Rika.