Juliana’s Workshop - Volume 1 Chapter 4
Book 1 Chapter 4: The noble girl and alchemist girl
Paddington looked at the girl named Juliana. He couldnt feel any danger from this flowery girl, but… an alchemist? This young child in front of me? You are an alchemist? Paddington asked again.
“Yes, Sir Knight. Although my skill isnt very proficient, I am indeed an alchemist.”
“A girl like you, it is too dangerous for you to learn alchemy,” Paddington said. He glanced at the girl’s hands – the hands werent very delicate, although clean and fair, there were many tiny wounds on it.
Alchemy isnt some kind of popular profession. It can’t be said that the alchemists deserve to be disgusted by others or anything. There arent more accursed existences than wizards and warlocks in the territories of the Illumination church in the west. The unpopularity of alchemy only means that not many people take the initiative and willing to work in this profession. A warrior can gain strength then wealth after the painful and hellish trainings. Wizards, warlocks, and priests can look for ancient languages, beliefs, or whispers from the spiritual world to get the power that can shape reality and look down upon all living beings. Only the alchemist, using a cane or a wooden stick to stir the alchemy kettle with the height of a half or one person, carefully playing with the dangerous liquid or gunpowder particles – the later are used mostly to develop new explosives – they appear more in the courts and bustling cities, when they are called alchemists, they are actually not much different from craftsmen. Or to be straightforward, there is nothing wrong with calling them gunpowder craftsmen.
The pagan emperor of the Crescent Empire raised a large number of craftsmen, not only the wood and stone craftsmen who built palaces and fortresses, but also the alchemists who were urged to make better gunpowder. Alchemists are not just about the creation of roaring and bursting flames, but this talent of them is widely known and accepted by the world – even if it comes from fear and uneasiness.
Gunpowder doesnt often mean peace. Followed by gunpowder, there are soldiers, knights, muskets, cannons… wars and sieges.
“There is no such thing, I am very safe.” Juliana laughed. “As long as you are serious and careful, you can avoid most of the unsafe matters. Although the fluid from poisonous creatures is terrifying, there will always be something similar to antidotes near their place; and as long as you honestly follow the regulations of your predecessors, you wont produce a pile of dangerous and harmful garbage. Oh, and one of the most crucial things: don’t play with fire in the forest. Grandma made me have to remember this, so I never manufacture gunpowder.”
Paddington heard some interesting words, “You are not living alone here.” He looked around. “Your grandmother, where is she?” With the combination of the cabin in front of him and Julianas words, Paddington felt that he had encountered the log cabin in the forest as described by the village chief. But in the words of the chief, living in the cabin is a gloomy old woman, not a flowery girl like this.
Juliana replied: “Grandma, she passed away a few years ago, after that I live alone.” She pointed to the back of the cabin. “I buried her behind, which helped me think that shes still by my side.”
Paddington looked in the direction where Juliana was pointing and saw a small mound, along with a cross made of branches on it.
A funeral for a believer of the God of light.
This made Paddington feel relieved It seems that he couldnt meet a living gloomy old woman, but a girl with a bright smile like the flowers instead, which is better than the former – he didn’t mean any disrespect to the dead.
“So, after your grandmother passed away, do you live alone in this forest?” The only thing that made Paddington feel incredible is this immature girl, who had lived alone in this cabin after the death of her loved one for several years? Even when she was still a child?
“I was able to barely live through the days, thanks to the God of light, thanks to the Emperor, for letting the southern part of the Forest of the dead became so calm. Juliana replied, “I will occasionally leave the forest, go to the beach and use herbs to exchange for some food with the fishermen. And strictly speaking, I am not really living alone here, I have a loyal friend to guard me.
Paddington heard the bushes creaking on his side as something was coming out of the woods, which made his right hand touch the hilt of his sword, but he quickly drop it.
Coming out was a yellow thin-haired dog. Many parts of the dog were hairless, looking like a cruel man has pulled out its hair, but there is no scar on the skin and the hairless places were smooth and shiny. The dog appeared to be languid, but quite intelligence. It glanced at Paddington, then looked at Juliana, seemingly judged that this strange guest was not malicious. He didnt bark at Paddington and continued to sniff the ground with his head down, then lay down next to the door of the log cabin, no longer moving.
Juliana went over and scratched the dog’s fur and ears. “Ward, you ate something weird again. Look at what you have turned yourself into, its just like when you ate a bunch of salted fishes. If you ate something poisonous again, I wont find the antidote for you anymore and let you have diarrhea for a few days oh wait, this wont do, it will be very stinky all around the cabin…
The dog named Ward didnt care about the harassment of his master, but occasionally moved his body and let Juliana played around with him.
Paddington looked at the interaction between this person and a dog. The guardian in Julianas words was probably him, a dog that eats craps and needs the owner to take care of it. It seemed that there is no ferociousness in him, even a wild cat may have stronger fighting capability.
Paddington took a step forward and came a bit closer to the log cabin, “Miss Juliana.”
Juliana was sitting next to Ward, hearing that Paddington called her, she quickly stood up. “Pardon me, Sir Knight, I have delayed your time… How may I be of service to you? If you need some well-refined herbs, I have a few in my possession…”
Paddington raised his hand and stopped Juliana from continuing. “I don’t need herbs for the time being. Of course, to us knights medicine for external injury is something you could have as many as possible… I have something else I hope you can help. Paddington pointed to the direction of his convoy. Can you hear the noise over there? I am the knight leader of a convoy. I plan to cross the forest of the dead, go to the smooth and safe road in the west, and travel until we see the city states of Ayer Sea. It isnt safe to travel at night, so I hope we can camp and rest nears your place here, and…” Paddington remembered what Roseanna had just said, “A noble lady wants to borrow your cabin for one night. Of course, it isnt for free, we will provide you with appropriate and generous rewards.”
Hearing Paddingtons words, Juliana was obviously taken aback. When she heard about a noble lady, she also patted her own clothes, fearing that the dust would make her look uncomfortable. Of course! It is my pleasure, Sir Knight.”
After hearing Julianas affirmative answer, Paddington nodded. Thank you for your help, child. He returned to the convoy and told Olga and the others about it.
Being able to rest for a night in a place with a roof, even if it is just a log cabin in the forest, was a good thing for Roseanna. For Olga and other servants, the young lady can have a place to shelter from the wind and rain, which is naturally better than staying in the carriage and can’t even stretch your body. But not everyone can have such treatment. The carriage can’t leave the rough road and can only stop on it. Most of the servants had to stay on the side of the convoy to camp and rest. As for the mercenaries, of course, it was impossible for them to have a chance to get close to Juliana’s cabin – in order to prevent these restless guys from disturbing young lady Roseannas rest, or harassing Juliana, who seemed to be a bit naive about the outside world, Paddington let Leo led the church knights to camp in a line between the convoy and the cabin, separating the two sides and monitoring these mercenaries.
Roseanna came to the cabin with Olga and two maids. The dog named Ward was still languid, after having a look at the people coming, he lowered his head again. Juliana stood in front of the log cabin and looked a little nervous.
“A good day to you, my noble lady” Juliana greeted.
Roseanna stepped forward and came to Juliana. “Sir Edgar said you are an alchemist.” She glanced at Juliana – who should be younger than her. “I understand a bit about alchemy. Dealing with gunpowder is a dangerous matter.”
“Not all of it is about gunpowder, my lady. Although refining poison is no safer than gunpowder.” Juliana explained, “My grandma said that gunpowder is the simplest and most direct thing, so of course it will be more popular like that.”
Why is it simple and direct? asked the curious Roseanna. As far as she knows, it is still a complicated and difficult job to produce high-quality gunpowder.
Juliana replied: “Because gunpowder can easily convince everything from living creatures such as animals and people, to the inanimate objects such as buildings and walls, all can be “convinced” by gunpowder.” Speaking of this, Juliana was embarrassed and smiled. “This is what my grandma said. I don’t understand it very well, but I still keep one thing in my mind for certain: don’t play with fire in the forest.”
At this time, the sky went dark and the stars can be seen faintly. Juliana probably remembered that she shouldnt let her honored guests wait in front of the door, and quickly gave up the way: “Sorry, I have said too much. My noble lady, please, this way.”
Roseanna and Olga entered the cabin under the guidance of Juliana while the maids waited outside there were only that many people that can fit in it.
After Roseanna entered the cabin, she glanced around in circle. “Here’s… a little bit different from my imagination.”
In Roseannas impression, even if the woman who lives in the depths of the forest isnt a witch but a girl who is younger than herself, her home should be a bit more racy – the room should be dimly lit, hanging on the wall are frog’s dead bodies and screaming Mandela grasses, a large pot in the room, cooking some strange plants and animals, the owner would also smirk and make a sharp laugh.
But Julianas cabin wasnt like that. It had a clean cot and a hammock full of sundries on the side, looking more like a net than a place to rest; there was a table in front of the small window with bottles and jars placed on it; a blue-gray cauldron was in the corner of the room, but there is neither any strange smell nor anything inside to cook, completely empty; Roseanna also found potted plants and books scattered around.
As Juliana introduced herself, she is an alchemist, and her home also had a style very fitting to one, so that it isnt compatible with this forest and Roseannas impression.
This was a good thing for Rosanna, at least she didnt need to sleep in a horrifying witch’s house and even have a reassuring girl to accompany her. And that cot didnt look hard, it actually seemed very soft.
Juliana took a chair and let Roseanna sit on it, then she went around packing things up. “Sorry, after my grandma was gone I live alone. I don’t care much about being tidy and neat, so things seem a bit messy here.”
Roseanna didnt think this place was that messy. It was much better than her expectation as a place to stay for one night.
Olga has been observing the cabin, his sharp eyes and rich experience told him that there was no suspicion here. However, in order to be cautious, he still made a request to Juliana, “Miss alchemist, I hope you can endure it a bit and stayed outside for a night.”
Juliana wasnt surprised by Olgas words. “Oh, of course, my lord.” She had a completely natural righteous look. “When I travel from my house to the beach in the east, I often sleep outdoor so I have long been used to it. And actually this cabin doesnt have space for two people to sleep.”
Roseanna spoke. “Olga, she is just a girl younger than me. What are you worried about?”
“My lady, its always better to pay more attention to safety, and as the alchemist girl said, Im afraid there is really no place for more than one in this cabin.” Olga said to Roseanna, “You should have a good rest.”
Roseanna hesitated for a while, and finally nodded.
Juliana smiled and said: “Thank you for your concern, my noble lady. Your kindness makes me feel that even if I was lying on the soil, it is still as warm as sleeping on a bed.”
“I am Roseanna Mullin.” Roseanna said, “You don’t need to call me a noble lady anymore, Juliana – I am not used to it.”
“Okay, lady Rosanna,” Juliana responded immediately. It seemed that there was no difference in the essence of replacing “noble” with “Roseanna”.
Roseanna was quite satisfied with this title, it was still better than listening to “noble lady” which made her feel ironic. “Olga, you should go out first,” she said to Olga.
Olga lowered his head and said, “I will be waiting outside the door.” He left the cabin and went outside to help Roseannas two maids build their camps.
There were only Roseanna and Juliana in the cabin.
“Let have conversation with me for a while, little master.” Roseanna said, even called Juliana a master, which is a title that can only be obtained by people with highly proficient skills. Juliana was obviously very happy to hear this, and her tone had raised a lot. “Of course, lady Roseanna!”
Roseanna watched as Juliana was busy around, putting books, bottles and jars back to their places. “Just a moment ago, I saw the grave behind the log cabin. The cross made of branches is impressive – your grandmother is also a believer of the God of light?”
“Yes, of course, and me too.” Juliana didnt look back and answered Roseannas question just like that.
“As far as I know, the pagan emperor will not persecute the believers of the God of Light, he is very tolerant.” Roseanna continued, “Why did your grandmother bring you along into this seclusion?”
“I don’t know. When I started to understand things, I only knew that I was picked up by my grandma. Maybe I was abandoned by a villager in the forest.” Juliana continue to answer, “My grandma said that people are much more horrible than the magical beasts in the forest the beasts does not know that its behavior is cruel and bloody in the eyes of human beings, only for the survival of the fittest; but human beings are different, even when human beings know the things they do is cruel and brutal, they would still commit all kinds of atrocities.”
Roseanna listened to these words and didnt immediately say anything. She murmured only what she could hear to herself, “Your grandmother may be right.”
Roseanna changed the subject. “The whole forest is like your home. If you want to see the vast sea, you can go to the east. If you want to see the mountains, you can go to the west. If you want to meet with people, you can go to the south. If you want to see the dragon-like mountains, you can go to the north… You seem to be able to live so freely, restrained by nothing.” There was a sentence Roseanna didn’t say: and I really envied such a carefree life of you.
Next, Roseanna was glad that she didnt say it, saving her from showing how ridiculous and ignorant she was.
Juliana chuckled, as if she just heard something interesting. “No, lady Roseanna, I am not free. The wave of the sea can shred me apart, the suspicious villagers will regard me as a witch, the robbers in the wilderness will violate me to death, the dragons in the northern mountains will eat me as snack… Juliana turned her head and looked at Roseanna, My freedom is limited in this half of the forest, and I am afraid of when there will be some natural disasters and man-made disasters, everything that I have with me, even myself, will be taken away and become the dust floating on the plains.”
When Roseanna heard Juliana, she got lost in her thought and seemed to remember something from a not very distance past.
“Yes, who can truly be free? Both you and me are not free,” she said.
End of chapter 4
