Published: July 26, 2025
“Myne, what shall we do today? The weather’s bad.”
The gloomy, overcast sky visible through the window was unsuitable for paper making. I could go gather materials in the forest, but if it rained halfway through, I’d become quite a burden, so it was better to stay home.
This spring, whenever the weather was good, I devoted myself to paper making and earned money, and on slightly bad weather days, I wandered the town with Mark, helping with the workshop’s construction.
But the workshop was nearly finished, and I’d taught them how to make the paper. After checking the prototype we made the other day, I figured our work was done.
“Benno said our baptism ceremony is next Tuesday, so I wanted to make the last batch of paper, but weather’s something we can’t control.”
“Even if the last paper isn’t finished, I’m surprised at how rich I am right now.”
I only got one small silver coin in cash every time I sold paper, which I handed to my family. Our food situation improved slightly, but our life didn’t change much. However, the money in the guild’s account had become an enormous sum. It was thanks to the good weather, relatively smooth paper making, and the high price of Trombe paper.
With the recent sale, my savings surpassed two gold coins. Lutz was close to two gold coins as well. No matter how you look at it, that’s not an amount a child before baptism should have.
Well, after the baptism, I won’t be able to earn much for a while.
As I thought about whether I’d forgotten anything to do before the baptism, I suddenly realized.
“Lutz, let’s go see Benno today. I totally forgot.”
“Huh? I haven’t promised anything to master.”
“No promises, but since the baptism is next Tuesday, we should check if you need to prepare anything to become an apprentice. …Your parents aren’t merchants, so they won’t prepare the tools for you, right?”
“...Ah!”
After the baptism, work as an apprentice begins, and apparently, it’s customary to receive work clothes and tools as baptism gifts. It’s a way parents encourage their children who will follow the same path by choosing and giving tools.
But Lutz’s parents won’t prepare anything.
Because his father still opposes it. Also, because they’re not merchants, they don’t know what tools are needed. Plus, they don’t know how much money is required to prepare for merchant apprenticeship.
Benno said clothes were necessary and even ordered some, but I don’t think that alone is enough.
When Tulli became an apprentice seamstress, her parents gave her work clothes and a full set of sewing tools on baptism day. Merchants likely need tools besides just clothes.
Fortunately, we’ve saved enough money, so we can buy what’s necessary ourselves. Benno or Mark should be able to tell us.
“I don’t really know what tools besides clothes are needed. We’ll study during newcomer training, so I think tablets and calculators are necessary, but what else is required?”
“Nowadays, we can buy just about anything. Glad you saved money, Myne.”
Aunt Carla had started to support Lutz, but she couldn’t do much about him becoming a merchant. She had no connections to merchants, and Uncle’s opinion hadn’t changed. However, she scolded his older brothers for their bad behavior, which made life a little easier, Lutz said.
“Since Benno will be your guardian once you become an apprentice, we should ask him.”
Taking our usual tote bags, Lutz and I headed to Benno’s shop under the gloomy sky.
“Oh? Isn’t your paper ready in a few days?”
Mark, who roughly knew our schedule, spotted us and raised his eyebrows slightly.
“We came to consult with Benno… Should I tell Mark first?”
Mark was in charge of apprentice education at this shop.
“What is it?”
“We want to ask about the tools needed for apprentices. Lutz’s parents aren’t merchants, so they don’t know what work tools to give at baptism, and he needs to prepare them himself…”
“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.”