ReThree: sisterhood

"Which family do they belong to?" Mom asked.

"I prefer not to reveal their identity. But since you are aristocrats as well, I feel you'd recognize them as soon as you see them…"

Their conversation had become boring for me. I moved to the front row of chairs and sat in a corner. The preparations for the servant ceremony included a bowl of holy water and a sacred book. The sacred book contains incantations related to Gaubear, or the sacred bear. Gaubear is a renowned sponsor, and anyone whose sponsor is Gaubear becomes the Courier. That's why many say the connection between Gaubear and the Almighty God is false and that he's just another sponsor like the others. However, since it is referred to as a protector in ancient inscriptions and legends, and most magic related to it is utilized for protection, it still raises doubt for many.

I really can't think deeply enough to research and find the true answers about these matters. So I prefer to rely on the miracle that has been shown to me.

"Alright! It's time to pray."

I leaned toward the statue. I joined my palms together and closed my eyes.

"O Great God, thank you for all the blessings you have given me in this world and the previous one. And thank you for giving me another chance to atone for my sins. As you know, next month we will begin the next round of knights exam. As your humble and weak servant, I ask you for Arina…"

"…Mr. Aldous, please do this for the Almighty Creator…"

'for Arina…'

"You know how busy I am with my prayers. So don't interrupt me…"

'…Arina…'

"But I really can't…"

I glared at the empty space in front of me in disturbed. I turned around to look behind me. Aldous was seated on the chair behind me, arguing with one of the servants.

"Can you lower your voice?" I asked softly but forcefully.

"Cover your ears if you are so annoyed."

"Aldous, if you continue to disturb my solitude, I'll pull down your pants right here and spank you so hard you'll faint from the pain."

"W-Well, I'm not the one bothering you; it's this guy."

"For God's sake, you don't even believe in religion a little bit; helping others won't cost you anything."

"What this guy does is none of my business."

I sighed angrily and turned to the servant next to Aldous. I forced a smile.

"Brother, is something wrong?"

He didn't take his eyes off Aldous.

'As usual, I'm getting ignored again.'

I stood up from my seat and walked over to the servant. He was taller than me, so I had to stand on my tiptoes and reached out to his shoulder. 

"Brother, is there a problem?" I shouted. 

"Oh!" He finally looked at me. 

"I have a very small request. The truth is, I was in charge of arranging the table for the ceremony, but I forgot to gather olives from the olive grove last night." 

"Olives?" 

"Maybe it's because you haven't participated in such ceremonies before that you don't know. But olives are a completely sacred item. Whoever eats this fruit is as if they have eaten from the table of God, and they join the family of God. Eating it also removes all negative energy." 

Then he took his hands off my shoulder and held them in his own. 

"I'm in charge of logistics, so I can't go to the grove and search for them. Courier needs me. I really need them so If it's possible, please do this for me, for the sake of God."I stood with my arms crossed, deep in thought, looking at the ceiling. 

'If I want to do this, I definitely have to sacrifice some of my prayer time. But helping a servant is a form of worshiping itself. On the other hand, God knows what I want. So it doesn't hurt to give this person a little help, right?' 

"Where can I find olives?" 

"The olive tree is rare kind in our land. However, our region can cultivate and grow these trees due to its climate being similar to their native area. Just follow the dirt path behind the shrine to reach the part of the forest where the olive trees grow." 

I was still hesitant about this task and looked at him doubtfully. 

"Please do it." 

I closed my eyes in frustration and grabbed my hair. "Alright, alright. I'll do it." 

He excitedly pumped my hand up and down. 

"Thank you so much! May God's grace be with you."

 I forcefully pulled my hand out of his grip.

 "In about an hour and a half the ceremony will get started. If possible, bring them back early so I can arrange them in the container."

 I nodded in understanding...

 'I hope it's worth it.' 

***

I thought that just as that servant had told me, finding the trees would be easy; I'd be able to find an olive tree as easy as taking a candy from a baby. But now I've been walking around for about half an hour with no luck. I fixed the backpack he gave on my shoulder.

"Put any olives you think are healthy and suitable into this backpack so I can decide which ones to use." 'Damn you coward! With this situation, it's unknown if I'll find even a single one...' 

And suddenly my eyes caught sight of a bunch of olive trees by the roadside. Wiping the sweat off my face with my shirt sleeve, I excitedly approached the trees; they were all tall and reaching for the sky. And that meant... 

"How a dwarf like me is supposed to pick their fruit?!" I shouted. 

In my previous world, I was 174 cm (5.7 ft) tall; that's why I'd completely forgotten about my current situation: I'm now 140 cm (4.5 ft) tall. Of course, that's fine for a 11-year-old girl, and there's a chance I'll grow taller in the future. but that's not important right now.

 'Why did he tell me to go look for willow branches? I made a polite suggestion; why did he take it literally?' 

Looking at the trees sadly.

 'If Aldous was here, he could definitely gather those olives...'

 With resignation, I sighed out loud: "It is what it is." 

I started searching on the ground.

 "Maybe a healthy branch has fallen from one of these trees." 

After about 20 minutes of searching for olives without finding anything."Damn! That servant said to come back half an hour before the ceremony starts." 

Finally made up my mind; lifting my head determinedly.

 'I'm going to climb those trees.' Back then, climbing straight up walls was easy for me; climbing a tree should be nothing! 

Reaching out towards the lowest branch... It was just out of reach… "Damn…" Finally managed to grab it! Laughing with excitement… 

"Now we're talking."

 Like on a pull-up bar, I pulled myself up towards it; as soon as my body touched the branch, I hooked my legs around it… The branch above me was full of olives. just needed to reach them. As I turned on the branch, causing it to sway. 

'I hope it doesn't break... ' While holding onto one side of the branch with one hand, reached out towards the olives with my other hand. 

 "Just a little more—" 

"Oi girl up there! What matter got you up there?" A shout from an unknown person startled me and made me lose balance. 

"Ahh!!" I screamed.