The Red Lands

Specialists of ancient times

Fanny ate her breakfast like a sentenced convict chewing her last meal.

"What's the matter with you today? Usually, Marie would be trying to choke your chattering by now."

Shine commented while bouncing her baby boy on her lap. Brushing away strands of brown hair over her shoulders, she gazed at the sixteen-year-old girl pinching at a piece of hot bread.

Although she might be considered having a child late in her lifetime in this world, Shine maintained the appearance of mature beauty. With full access to cosmetic potions, tools, and vague, modern feminine advice, most, if not all, of the females in the farm, according to Ming, seemed less rough around the edges.

"Aunty Shine hasn't heard as yet? Brother Clod called Sister Miki and Sister Lucy out to the fields early this morning. Sister Dyna is spending the whole day in the forest."

Yin said while buttering a piece of bread for a little golden-haired girl sitting next to her. Hope accepted the bread and began juggling it between her little fair hands. Nibbling with closed, blissful eyes, she continued swinging her legs in satisfaction beneath the chair.

Shine raised an eyebrow while in the middle of thinking. Looking at the pair of little girls, she switched her gaze between the two children and then at Franny.

"I honestly can't see the link. So what does this have to do with the dismal attitude from Fanny? Is it because Clod might begin farming soon? After so many years, I think by now we should have all accepted our fates."

With a melodious laugh, Shine joked at the expected back-breaking labor they had grown accustomed to during spring.

Yin shook her head from side to side.

"Aunty, it's not that. Since Chu fell sick from the 'damn rain', my sisters have attended to him. With all of them busy, the duty falls on the infirmary. Fanny is the only one present since Shauna is not here."

"Sister Fanny is afraid of Brother. I don't know why, because Brother treats me nicely. He just has a bad cold because of the damn rain."

Hope added.

Shine raised her eyebrow for an entirely different reason this time.

Opposite her on the bountiful table, Stavia sprayed out a mouthful of hot tea. The blonde woman locked her pair of blue eyes onto the two young but untouchable children.

Yin and Hope, practically stuck like glue, similar to Dyna and Sakura. Since Yin practically cared for Hope while she was a baby, the two never really separated.

As for the farm, everyone practically coddled and raised them. Ms. May cleared her throat while reaching for the soup bowl. She waved to a twelve-year-old girl chatting with Marie near the end of the table.

"Little Violet, take over in the infirmary to watch over the babies. Yin, you, and Hope remain with us in the kitchen. The most this old lady can do is wash your mouths until Mrs. Thomas returns. Honestly, I don't know why the Boss doesn't look around before he talks when up in the barn."

Hearing Ms. May speak, Stavia spluttered on another mouthful of tea. Shooting an accusatory look at Ms. May, she scoffed.

"Really, May? Do you think only the Boss influences them in the barn? Have you forgotten the wagging tongues and loose lips of the others who reside there? Without Beth to help control their mouths, I can imagine how freely Miki and the others chat."

***

Jill reached for another parchment paper on the stack and browsed through the contents. Leaning back while rolling her shoulders, she stared at the wooden ceiling. Running another calculation across her mind, she double-checked by scribbling on a sheet of white paper.

Satisfied, the young woman passed her fingers through her black hair and bounced the strands behind her shapely back.

"How far have you reached? If you require more information, Dyna is supposed to return tonight."

Marie said while depositing another stack of paper on another desk. Presently, the classroom under the dormitory was filled with notes and scribbles on various projects. The desk Jill occupied contained gathered information on one such incipient plan.

"I think the notes are fairly straightforward to understand. It's the pheasant foot writing that is killing me. Thank the Heavens, I noticed the lower parchments are obviously written by Sakura. If Dyna had written this entire record, I might have strangled her myself."

Jill answered the sharp-featured girl. As a thief raised within the Capital city of the Empire, she never regretted her decision to remain on the farm. Continuously awed by the various inventions to raise the quality of life, she loved acting as a liaison between this seemingly insignificant farm and her Master at the Thief Guild.

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Luckily, the Boss never once asked her to confirm her loyalty by breaking off ties with the guild.

Keeping secrets, even from her Master living miles away, proved easier than expected. Besides, the Guildmaster had been busy ever since the Boss sent him some very suggestive materials. Her previous Master now spends every waking moment expanding the Guild beyond boundaries once thought to be in the realm of dreams.

"You should consider yourself lucky. With Amanda and Sakura away, all the building projects pass through here. I have Elder Pick knocking daily to inquire if Worths has finished his initial survey so he can inspect the ground. Not to mention Pine is asking for updates while dropping off stacks of new notes and plans."

"Worths had the first shift of guard duty with me last night. I overheard him mentioning to Jim that the survey would be completed today. As for Pine, you can stem his enthusiasm by having Halter join you during your meetings. That should calm his nerves and ease your burden."

Jill answered while scribbling another sentence filled with words and numbers. As the lead nominated by Chu to head her own project, she wanted to ensure everything was in place before it lifted off in real life. The former thief had hung around the Boss long enough to understand the basics of pre-planning and procurement.

Before the two of them could sit in quiet silence to engage in their own battles, a knock sounded at the door. Jim entered bearing a sealed letter, which he handed to Jill.

The young lady pouted her lips while receiving it. Scanning the stationery from all sides, she examined the seal thoroughly. Ever since she witnessed the fate of Patriarch Getsum Prickus, which began with a forged letter, Jill became mighty particular when receiving mail. Slicing the seal with her dagger, she frowned on reading the contents.

"What is it?"

Jim asked on seeing her expression. Jill looked up with a puzzled face. She handed over the letter to Jim. The trapper tilted his face away from the letter in his hands. He shifted until his eyes focused on the words. But even his years of learning to read left him at a loss.

"Stay away. The waters under a few wells within the Capital are churning..."

***

Chu lay on his bed while staring at the wooden ceiling above. Without glass windows, the room remained enclosed in dim lighting from the fireplace and oil lamps. Guided by the flickering light, he watched Fanny soak and then dry another hot cloth. With intermittent shakes, the girl guided the towel to its destination and set it onto his forehead.

"Thank you, Fanny. What is Stavia sending today? I think I am able to chew a little more solids in my soup."

Chu rasped while watching the older girl retreat with a small hop. The startled eyes blinked as the girl composed herself with a deep breath.

"I heard Ms. Stavia mention a vegetable stew today. Ms. May said our stores of vegetables have nearly run dry, so you picked an ideal time to buy a fever. For the next couple of months, soups will be the staple diet."

"I see. Well, we never anticipated a demon beast raid and the unexpected villagers. Luckily, we can also learn from this experience. How is it in the infirmary? Are Yin and Hope giving you trouble?"

"No, no. Hope is quiet and easy to manage. She has no problem asking if she wants something. As for Yin, I can comfortably have her help in managing the babies. She is helpful in rocking them to sleep or when we clean them up."

Fanny answered. The light questions and easy conversation helped settle her nerves as she grew more confident. Chu continued talking while gazing at the ceiling.

"Soon we will begin large-scale construction. I had Worths survey a spot for another large building close to the future industrial complex. I want both you and Shauna to find suitable helpers so we can train and have a larger infirmary. It's best to be prepared for the future."

"If this is what you want, then we will do it. But I think it would be easier for us to ask if any of the women who might be joining us are midwives. This way, you can have an entire family working while knowing their children are well-taken care of."

"Good point. Since we have to cater for injuries during construction, around twenty subordinates should suffice. The building will have beds and enough space to handle little children. I will talk to Marie."

Chu said.

For the past couple of days, he had been confined to his bed under the weight of a cold and fever. Luckily, he remained with enough dignity to use the bathroom with some assistance. What Chu couldn't understand was why a Sersen like him could yet succumb to the virus.

Since acquiring his abilities, his body seemed to have become fit and strong. This boost in constitution seemed, however, not to shield him from the flu. The contradictions in this world never ceased to amaze him. At least he fared much better than Bon, who also caught the bug.

The blacksmith had the fever so bad, he couldn't even move from his bed. Once again, the flu demonstrated to Chu his weakness against viruses and microbes.

"Fanny, can you find out for me if Old Hodge made any progress in the distillation project? I had given him some advice for it before we left for the academy."

"Dis... distillation? I never heard about it during our dinner meetings. I'll find out when I leave to bring your lunch."

"Good. The mages in the academy have already succeeded, but I want us to create alcohol for ourselves. What we lack is a means to thwart infection and disinfect. Hot water is not enough. If only I could create antibiotics, but all I know is a name called penicillin."

Chu muttered out loud. The dark-haired girl sitting on the chair beside the bed tilted her head.

"Penicillin?"

"Yes, but I don't know much about it. Maybe I should begin with the basics and look for ingredients like garlic and onions to boost vitality. I should have paid more attention to the Alchemist Guild."

Fanny sat thinking while listening to the boy's train of thought. She witnessed with her own eyes the effectiveness of using healing potions along with the sterilization, cleaning, and bandaging of a life-threatening wound. Sakura had long handed over the work of stitching open cuts to her and Shauna.

"From our experience during the goblin skirmish, I believe that unless a person has received a fatal strike, they can survive with our treatment. What the Boss speaks about is more along with the realm of what Healers practice in the Churches. I also remember villagers once saying a witch residing near the outskirts of a nearby village treated sickness in exchange for herbs. Maybe the Boss can see if this is what he means while out traveling."

Chu listened to the words of his temporary nurse. Raising his lethargic hand, he rubbed between his brows. Within four years, his accomplishments crawled slowly forward. It was very easy to list priorities under food, shelter, and clothing, but even basic necessities required time.

His bowels gurgled as if to serve as an example. It had taken him four years to progress from wiping his rear from leaves, to rags, to moistened parchment, and finally to a softer, gentler sheet of invented paper. When Fanny helped him off the bed, he sighed while muttering.

"I need a diary to help remember the little things. It's time we seek out some of these specialists, like herbalists and witches, to accelerate our goals."