Chapter 18 - Childbirth

Dawn, before leaving to begin her magic research, called the farmers to attention.

They’re still shocked, but less than last time.

“I will teach you a second game. I recommend trying to make more games, as this will be the last one I make, at least for a while. This game is called chopsticks. Are there any volunteers?”

This time, someone raised their hand. It was Marau.

“Alright. Come over here. Now, set your fingers like this…”

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With chopsticks taught, Dawn asked Marau a question.

“Do you know when Foxshire was settled?”

“No, your majesty.”

“Do you have any ideas on who would know?”

“Perhaps Samuel, your majesty? And, I hesitate to say this, perhaps Plerith has some ideas as well.”

“I see. Thank you,” Dawn left for the forest, rather than the standard spot in the corner of town, where she had spent her nights recently. She soon caught a wolf and carried its body to Aron’s former house. She carved it up, cooked it, ate well, and walked inside.

I’m finally getting tired. Perhaps my rank-up improved my ability to go without food or sleep.

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When morning came, Dawn collected the bones and fur from the wolf and carried them with her as she traveled to Foxshire.

Perhaps I should pick up a skill to make something out of these bones and fur. If I can make something similar to that spear, I can arm everyone with quality weapons. But first, I need to make a bag or wrap. Would this fur work? Isn’t there a way to process fur?

As Dawn was lost in thought, she arrived at the gates. She ignored the skeleton guards' salute as she entered.

“Hello, Samuel.”

“Ah, your majesty? What have you come for?”

“Two things. How are furs treated?”

“Ah, that’s Dith’s expertise. I’ll bring you to him.”

“Before that, do you know when Foxshire was settled?”

“Not really. It was a few generations ago, I know that much.”

“How?”

“How do I know that? Well, my father, the former chief, told me of the great split.”

“What’s the great split?”

“Back when all humans were together, the gods grew enraged and tore the land into pieces. The survivors all fled, in many groups.”

“Gods?”

“Yeah. I dunno if they exist, they haven’t attacked here despite our lack of faith.”

“Alright. Do you know anything else about this first nation?”

“Hrmmm… no.”

“Very well. Now take me to Dith.”

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“Ah, a fine pelt you have there. Ah, your majesty!” When Dawn and Samuel arrived, they had to fetch Dith from teaching Marau.

“How do you treat this fur?”

“Ah, tanning it? There are 3 main steps. You need to fully remove the meat, soak it in some tanning agents, then soften it. Do you have the brain?”

“No.”

“Ah. Then you’ll need to get some tannin from tree bark. Come back to me when you get them.”

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“You’re fast!” Dith said, receiving the bark.

“What now?”

“We need to extract the tannins by turning the bark into tiny bits and boiling them. Then, we soak the fur in the tannins.”

“Alright. How long?”

“Oh, a few days? Come back in 3 or so.”

“Alright.”

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“So, Jackson. What do you know of the great split?”

“Ah, that. Back when all of humanity was one, they neglected the gods. The First of Blood, seeing them, was angered. They sent great earthquakes, tearing the town to pieces. And those who lived fled.”

“What do you know of that nation?”

“Hrm… they studied magic a lot. Supposedly, the magic tools from that time are much more powerful than ours now, but that’s just because they actually studied magic.”

“Do you know if the language you and I speak came from them?”

“Ah! There was another story I heard, of the divine language. As humans studied the language of gods, the runes of magic, the gods blessed their language, so all may speak one.”

“I see.”

So the gods did it? Do the gods really exist? If people studied magic, and the runic language holds every possible word and concept as a rune, perhaps they based spoken language off of it. I need to investigate this town, though, to figure out how language came to be, but I can’t do that for a while. I guess I must shelve this question for now.

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“Thank you for your time.”

“No problem, your majesty.”

What to research now. Distances? I’d prefer to copy the metric system, but that’s difficult without a ruler. If only… all concepts have a rune? Then is there a rune of 1 meter? And if it’s the wrong distance, it will still function. And a kilogram is a cubic meter of water? No, that’s too much. Regardless, I have a subject to research after magic efficiency.

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Arriving back at Aron’s home, with the sun at its peak, Dawn began thinking of how to improve magical efficiency.

More runes is less efficient, isn’t it? [Antiheal] is more efficient than [{Anti} {Heal}]. Then wouldn’t no runes be more efficient?

Dawn attempted to create a fire without [flame]. Her mana poured out almost endlessly, before a small flame flickered to life.

So runeless magic is possible, it’s just horribly inefficient. So, runes improve efficiency? Then why is [Antiheal] more efficient than [{Anti} {Heal}]? What about using [heal] as the anti-healing curse?

Dawn swiftly cut her hand in three places, and cursed each of them with different curses. She then [healed] them, finding in order of efficiency [antiheal] was best, followed by [{anti} {heal}] and then [heal].

Ah. To cast a concept effectively, the more runes the better, as it better overlaps the concept. Casting a fire is easier with [flame]. And more complex concepts, like [{anti} {heal}], using more runes is more efficient. But the most efficient is a complex concept condensed into a single rune, like [antiheal]. So to improve [rapid growth] efficiency, I need to find what runes would make it more efficient, then condense those runes into 1.

Dawn, with her main plan made, began to think of what plants needed to grow.

Providing water made the growth more efficient, so I will need to find [water]. Plants use sunlight to build food out of water and CO2, right? Then I need [sunlight]. Do I need [CO2]? No. The air should have enough. But can it be absorbed quickly enough? No. Then I do.

With her next runes to discover known, Dawn spent the evening studying, discovering [water] when the dusk came. Channeling mana through [water], Dawn found it draining to produce mana from nothing, so she changed her thought of [water] and instead condensed water from the air.

If I added [condense], it’d be more efficient, but limited to only condensing water, and based on the atmosphere. If I added [create], the atmosphere would be irrelevant, but it’s less efficient than condensing water. So even creating water requires more concepts than just [water]. But this should do for now. Next, [sunlight].

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When the morning came, Dawn had yet to discover [sunlight], but she left her commandeered home and waited in the fields for the farmers. And while she sat, she meditated on [sunlight].

Hours passed, and the farmers arrived.

“You’ve arrived. I have a discovery for you all. When casting magic, the addition of certain runes can make it more efficient. Or, by including the runes I’m in the process of discovering, you should be able to grow these plants without using as much mana. I have discovered one rune, [water].”

The rune flared to life in front of Dawn, as the farmers crowded around and watched it.

“Does everyone have this rune memorized?” The farmers nodded. “Good. I trust you all can use this rune, and if not, I will return tomorrow with the next rune, and you can ask then.”

Dawn, without a second glance, left.

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As Dawn was walking, she debated what to do.

Research on culture? Or continue magic research?

When Dawn arrived at Foxshire, she noticed a commotion. A woman was yelling. Unable to see, Dawn jumped, finding the woman screaming to be a woman.

I have not been paying attention, as this is the first I’ve seen of her pregnancy. I need to take charge and get her proper care.

“EVERYONE!” The crowd froze. “If you are not actively helping, leave.”

The majority of the crowd left with speed. The few who remained were all supporting the woman.

“Are there any empty rooms? We need somewhere to have her give birth. And fetch some bowls and water.”

“Uh, my house…” the woman mumbled.

“Do you all know where that is?” Dawn asked the helpers.

They nodded and said “yes” in a tangled cacophony.

“Take her there. You, find Jared, Ryan, or Lynn. Tell them to fetch a large bowl from Plerith and fill it with water. Bring it to the room.”

With water on the way, Dawn entered the room.

What do I know? Basically, nothing. She’s going to be in pain, and then the child comes out, so then cut the umbilical cord. Who would? I don’t know. The main thing I know is that cleanliness is needed to preserve the life of both mother and child.

“Do any of you know how to handle this?”

The remaining citizens all shook their heads.

“Do you know who does?”

“Ah, yes, it’s-”

“Fetch them. Now.”

They ran out, and all Dawn could do now was watch over the pregnant woman.

Soon, Lynn arrived with a large bowl of water and set it down.

“Lynn, do you have any knowledge on childbirth?”

“Uhm, no, your majesty.”

“Alright, you may leave.”

What can I do? What can I do? What can I do? Calm down.

“What’s your name? Who’s the father? What are you planning on naming them?”

“I’m… Anita.”

“The father?”

Should I be distracting her?

“AH!” the pregnant woman yelled.

Yes.

“Anita, who’s the father? Do you like him? Is he nice?”

“Ah, Raad! He’s great, he’s nice.”

“That’s great to hear. What about your child? What are you thinking the name should be?”

“I’m- ARGH!”

“It’s alright. You’ll be alright. What will you name your child?”

“I’m thinking Gabe or Lea.”

“Sounds wonderful.”

A woman walked into the room.

“Are you the midwife?”

“While I wouldn’t call myself a ‘midwife’, I am here to help with the delivery.”

“Alright. I will leave now unless you have some need for my presence. The only advice I can provide is to keep your hands clean, to prevent infection to either mother or child. Oh. Anita, do you want me to find Raad?”

“That w- argh! Would be great.”

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“Is Raad here?”

“Uh, yes?” A man in the fields asked, confusion evident with a hint of terror. The other farmers watched on, no one moving.

“Come with me. Your wife wants you.”

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“Here’s Raad. I’ll be waiting outside for the good news, or if you need me to [heal] anyone.”

Dawn sat down, back leaning against the wall. Even still, she could hear Anita’s screams.

Can I do anything? No. Then what should I do? Should I get in there and learn? But if I do, that means I dedicate myself to being a problem solver for everything. Should I do that?

Dawn looked into the sky. She glanced around, seeing the teachers off in the distance discussing, with a hooded figure joining in.

I am the empress. I cannot be there for everyone. But I am here now.

Dawn rose and walked into the operating room.

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“Congratulations, Anita,” Dawn told Anita.

“Thank you.”

“Get well soon,” Dawn turned and said to Gabe, “and grow well.” Before leaving, Dawn cast [cleanse] on both Anita and Gabe, trying to provide the cleanliness the room lacked.