Chapter 3 – The Little Girl Who Learned Too Quickly

Five years had passed since the day a little girl had been found drifting down the river.

Five years since a basket had been pulled from the current.

Five years since a woman from Saint Lumina Church had carried a frightened baby back to Willowbrook Village.

And five years since that child had been given a name.

Mina.

Now, she was seven years old.

And she was currently chasing a chicken.

"Come back here!"

The chicken ran.

Mina ran faster.

"You're not escaping!"

The chicken suddenly turned left.

Mina turned left.

The chicken turned right.

Mina turned right.

The chicken stopped.

Mina stopped.

They stared at each other.

"..."

"..."

Mina narrowed her eyes.

The chicken narrowed its tiny eyes back.

Mina slowly pointed at it.

"You."

The chicken clucked.

"You ate my bread yesterday."

The chicken clucked again.

"Don't pretend you don't remember."

The chicken suddenly ran.

"HEY!"

Mina chased after it.

"COME BACK!"

The chicken flapped its wings and escaped beneath a wooden fence.

Mina stopped in front of it.

She stared through the gap.

"...Coward."

The chicken clucked.

Mina put her hands on her hips.

"I'll remember this."

From the nearby doorway, several children burst out laughing.

"You lost again!"

"She can't catch the chicken!"

"Mina lost to a chicken!"

Mina turned around.

"I wasn't trying to catch it!"

One of the children pointed at the chicken.

"You chased it across the whole yard!"

"I was conducting an investigation!"

"An investigation?"

"Yes!"

Mina nodded seriously.

"The chicken is suspicious."

The children laughed even harder.

Mina crossed her arms.

"You'll understand when you're older."

The chicken clucked behind her.

Mina slowly turned her head.

"...Did you just laugh at me?"

The chicken walked away.

Mina gasped.

"GET BACK HERE!"

She ran after it again.

Mina had changed quite a lot during the five years she had lived at Saint Lumina.

Her crimson-red hair had grown out from the tiny strands she had as a baby.

It now reached around her shoulders, though she usually kept it loose because she disliked having someone constantly fixing it.

Her eyes were still a striking red.

And despite being only seven years old, there was something unusual about her.

Mina learned quickly.

Very quickly.

At first, everyone thought it was simply because she was a curious child.

Then she started asking questions.

A lot of questions.

Then she started remembering the answers.

Then she started connecting things together.

That was when the people at Saint Lumina began realizing that Mina wasn't exactly an ordinary child.

One of the first things that revealed this...

Was cooking.

"Mina."

Sister Elena stood in the kitchen doorway.

"Yes?"

"What are you doing?"

Mina was standing on a small wooden stool.

She had an apron around her waist.

Her sleeves were rolled up.

And in front of her was a table covered with ingredients.

Sister Elena stared.

"Mina."

"Yes?"

"Why are you holding an egg?"

"Because I'm cooking."

"...I can see that."

Mina carefully cracked the egg into a bowl.

Sister Elena watched nervously.

"Where did you learn how to do that?"

Mina paused.

She couldn't exactly say:

From my previous life.

So she shrugged.

"I just know."

Sister Elena stared at her.

"...You just know."

"Yep."

Mina continued mixing.

Sister Elena slowly walked closer.

"What are you making?"

Mina smiled.

"Something new."

That answer somehow made Sister Elena even more nervous.

A few minutes later, Mina placed a strange-looking dish on the table.

It was rolled.

Golden.

And filled with egg.

Sister Elena stared.

"What is that?"

Mina proudly placed her hands on her hips.

"Egg roll."

"Egg... roll?"

"Yes."

Sister Elena looked at it.

Then at Mina.

Then back at the egg roll.

"Where did you learn this?"

"I thought of it."

"You thought of it?"

"Yep."

Sister Elena sighed.

"You're seven."

"I know."

"You're not supposed to be inventing food."

"Why not?"

"...I don't know."

Mina picked up a piece.

"Try it."

Sister Elena hesitated.

She took a bite.

Her eyes widened.

"...Oh."

Mina smiled.

"Good?"

Sister Elena took another bite.

"It's actually delicious."

Mina's smile became enormous.

"I knew it!"

"You did?"

"No."

Mina laughed.

"I was hoping."

Sister Elena couldn't help laughing.

"You're unbelievable."

That wasn't the only thing Mina had made.

A few days later, she introduced another dish.

A warm soup.

It was simple.

Clear broth.

Tofu.

Seaweed.

A little seasoning.

Mina called it—

"Miso soup."

Father Aldrich stared into the bowl.

"Miso?"

Mina nodded.

"Yes."

"What is miso?"

"...Miso."

"That doesn't explain anything."

Mina paused.

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She realized she had absolutely no idea how to explain fermented soybean paste to someone living in a medieval fantasy village.

"...It's soup."

Father Aldrich stared.

"I can see that."

"It's good."

"That's more important."

He took a sip.

His eyebrows rose.

"...This is very good."

Mina smiled proudly.

"See?"

Father Aldrich took another sip.

"I think you've spoiled me."

Sister Elena laughed.

"You haven't even finished your first bowl."

Father Aldrich looked down.

The bowl was empty.

Everyone became silent.

Mina pointed.

"You finished it."

Father Aldrich blinked.

"...Apparently."

Mina burst out laughing.

"Father Aldrich ate it all!"

"I was testing it."

"Testing the whole bowl?"

"It's important to be thorough."

Sister Elena covered her mouth to hide her laughter.

Father Aldrich sighed.

"I am surrounded by traitors."

Mina laughed even harder.

Word spread quickly around Saint Lumina.

The little girl found by the river could cook.

And apparently, she could cook very well.

Soon, Mina was helping in the kitchen whenever Sister Elena allowed her.

She learned how to prepare vegetables.

She learned how to make bread.

She learned which ingredients should be cooked first.

She even began suggesting different combinations.

Sometimes they worked.

Sometimes they didn't.

Once, she tried mixing three different ingredients together.

The result was terrible.

Mina stared at it.

Sister Elena stared at it.

Father Aldrich stared at it.

Nobody spoke.

Finally, Mina whispered:

"...We don't talk about this."

Father Aldrich nodded seriously.

"Agreed."

Sister Elena laughed.

"At least you tried."

Mina pointed at the failed dish.

"That thing never existed."

Mina wasn't only learning about cooking.

She was learning about the world around her.

And she learned unusually quickly.

She remembered names.

She remembered stories.

She remembered the locations of things around the village.

She could recognize herbs after being shown them only once or twice.

She knew which children liked playing outside.

Which ones preferred books.

Which ones were afraid of insects.

And which ones always stole extra bread.

She had also developed a habit of asking questions.

Constantly.

"Why does the moon change shape?"

"Why do people pray before meals?"

"Why do knights wear so much armor?"

"Why are there different classes?"

"Why can some people use magic?"

"Why does Father Aldrich snore?"

That last question had caused an entire room to go silent.

Father Aldrich slowly lowered his book.

"...Who told you that?"

Mina pointed toward Sister Elena.

Sister Elena immediately shook her head.

"I said nothing."

Mina pointed toward one of the children.

The child immediately ran away.

Father Aldrich sighed.

"Children..."

Mina smiled.

One afternoon, while the children were playing outside, Sister Elena and Father Aldrich watched from the church doorway.

Mina was sitting on the grass with several other children.

They were playing a game involving wooden swords.

Mina held one herself.

"Prepare yourself!"

One child shouted.

Mina raised her wooden sword.

"You're going down!"

They charged.

Mina dodged.

The other child fell into the grass.

Mina raised her wooden sword triumphantly.

"I win!"

The children cheered.

Sister Elena smiled.

"She's grown so much."

Father Aldrich nodded.

"She has."

"It feels like yesterday that I found her."

Father Aldrich looked toward Mina.

"She was so small."

Sister Elena smiled.

"She wouldn't stop crying."

"Now she won't stop talking."

Sister Elena laughed.

"That's true."

Father Aldrich watched Mina carefully.

"She's also learning remarkably quickly."

Sister Elena nodded.

"Sometimes I wonder how she remembers everything."

"Have you noticed?"

"Of course."

Father Aldrich folded his arms.

"Most children need to hear something several times before they remember it."

"Mina only needs to hear it once."

"Sometimes she doesn't even need that."

Sister Elena looked amused.

"She learns by watching."

Father Aldrich nodded.

"And then she immediately tries it herself."

"Usually."

He looked toward the yard.

Mina had now abandoned the sword game.

She was trying to climb a tree.

Father Aldrich sighed.

"...Usually."

Sister Elena laughed.

"She's still seven."

"Thankfully."

Mina eventually climbed down.

She had grown tired of playing.

The other children continued running around outside.

Mina wandered back into the church.

She liked exploring.

Saint Lumina was much larger than it looked from outside.

There were several rooms.

A kitchen.

A dining area.

Bedrooms for the children.

A small prayer hall.

Storage rooms.

And a quiet study where Father Aldrich kept books.

Mina had always been curious about that room.

She had seen Father Aldrich enter it many times.

But she had never gone inside.

Not because she wasn't allowed.

She simply hadn't asked.

Yet.

Mina walked down a quiet hallway.

She looked around.

Nobody was there.

Then she noticed something.

A bookshelf.

Her eyes widened.

"Books..."

She approached.

There weren't many.

Perhaps a few dozen.

But to Mina, they looked like treasure.

She stood on her toes.

One book was too high.

She stretched.

Almost.

"Come on..."

She jumped.

Her fingers touched the edge.

The book moved.

Mina jumped again.

This time—

Thump.

The book fell directly onto her head.

"...Ow."

She rubbed her forehead.

She stared at the book.

The book stared back.

At least, that's what it felt like.

Mina picked it up.

The cover was old.

The title was written in large letters.

WORLD OF ETERNIA

Mina froze.

Her fingers tightened around the book.

"Eternia..."

The word felt strange.

Familiar.

Not like a word she had learned recently.

It felt like something she had heard a very long time ago.

Somewhere far away.

Somewhere she couldn't remember.

Mina stared at the title.

"...Why does that sound familiar?"

She couldn't answer herself.

She opened the book.

The pages contained maps.

Descriptions of regions.

History.

Different races.

Magic.

Classes.

Mina couldn't understand most of the writing.

She knew how to speak.

She knew some basic words.

But she couldn't read properly yet.

Still...

She looked at the pictures.

A kingdom.

A forest.

A mountain.

A strange symbol.

Then she noticed another book beside it.

This one was much older.

The cover was dark.

On it were several symbols arranged in a circle.

Mina tilted her head.

"Huh?"

She pulled it from the shelf.

The book was heavier than she expected.

She sat on the floor and opened it.

The first page contained symbols.

Dozens of them.

Mina stared.

She didn't understand what they meant.

But something about them caught her attention.

There were fifty-two symbols.

Each one seemed different.

Some looked like animals.

Some looked like weapons.

Others resembled strange shapes.

And beneath each symbol was writing she couldn't understand.

Mina stared at them.

For some reason...

Her heart beat a little faster.

Why do I feel like I've seen these before?

She touched one of the symbols.

Nothing happened.

She touched another.

Still nothing.

Mina frowned.

"I don't understand."

She turned the page.

More symbols.

More writing.

She couldn't read any of it.

Yet she couldn't stop looking.

It felt important.

She didn't know why.

"You found my books."

Mina nearly jumped out of her skin.

"AH!"

She turned around.

Father Aldrich stood in the doorway.

He stared at her.

She stared at him.

He looked at the books.

Then at Mina.

Then back at the books.

"...You know, most people knock before entering."

Mina's face became red.

"I'm sorry!"

She immediately stood up.

"I didn't mean to enter without permission!"

Father Aldrich stared for a moment.

Then he started laughing.

Mina blinked.

"...Why are you laughing?"

"I'm sorry."

He wiped the corner of his eye.

"You looked so serious."

Mina puffed her cheeks.

"I was reading."

"Reading?"

Mina looked at the book.

"...Trying to read."

Father Aldrich walked over.

He crouched beside her.

"You can't read yet."

"I know."

"Then what were you doing?"

Mina pointed at the symbols.

"Looking."

Father Aldrich glanced at the old book.

His expression changed slightly.

"You were looking at that?"

Mina nodded.

"What does it mean?"

Father Aldrich smiled.

"Those are symbols representing the Gods."

"The Gods?"

"Yes."

"How many?"

He looked at the page.

"There are fifty-two recognized Gods in the old records."

Mina's eyes widened.

"Fifty-two?"

Father Aldrich nodded.

Mina stared at the symbols again.

"Are they real?"

Father Aldrich paused.

"That's a difficult question."

Mina looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because people have different beliefs."

He gently closed the book.

"Some believe the Gods still exist."

"Some don't?"

"Correct."

Mina thought about that.

Then she looked at the book again.

"Can you teach me?"

Father Aldrich smiled.

"Teach you what?"

"Everything."

He blinked.

"...Everything?"

Mina nodded seriously.

"Reading."

She pointed at the book.

"Writing."

Then she pointed toward the shelves.

"History."

Then she pointed at him.

"And whatever else you know."

Father Aldrich stared at the seven-year-old girl.

Mina stared back.

There was absolute determination in her eyes.

Finally, Father Aldrich laughed.

"That's quite an ambitious request."

Mina puffed her cheeks.

"Can you?"

He smiled.

"I can."

Mina's face immediately brightened.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Today?"

"Not today."

"Aww."

"Tomorrow."

"Why not today?"

"Because it's almost dinner."

Mina looked toward the door.

Then toward the window.

Then back at Father Aldrich.

"...Can I read while eating?"

"No."

"What if I eat really fast?"

"No."

"What if—"

"Mina."

She stopped.

Father Aldrich smiled.

"You ask too many questions."

Mina smiled back.

"You're going to teach me anyway."

Father Aldrich laughed.

"Fair enough."

He placed the old book back on the shelf.

Then he picked up another book.

A simple beginner's reading book.

He handed it to Mina.

"Start with this."

Mina accepted it carefully.

She looked at the cover.

Then at Father Aldrich.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Mina hugged the book.

She was excited.

There was so much she didn't know.

This world was unfamiliar.

Its history was unfamiliar.

Its magic was unfamiliar.

Its Gods were unfamiliar.

And yet...

Something about the name Eternia continued to bother her.

She couldn't explain why.

She couldn't remember where she'd heard it.

She couldn't even explain why the word felt like something she had lost.

But perhaps...

She would find the answer someday.

For now, she had something more important to learn.

How to read.

Mina looked down at the first page.

Then she frowned.

"...Father Aldrich?"

"Yes?"

"What's this letter?"

He looked.

"That's an A."

Mina nodded seriously.

"Okay."

A few seconds passed.

"What's the next one?"

Father Aldrich smiled.

"The next one is B."

"And after that?"

"C."

"And after that?"

"D."

"And after that?"

Father Aldrich stared at her.

"...You really intend to learn all of this today, don't you?"

Mina smiled.

"Yes."

He sighed.

"Then I suppose I should prepare myself."

Mina giggled.

And for the first time in her new life...

She began to learn about the world she had once only dreamed about.

One letter at a time.