“…You want us to do odd jobs?”
“That’s right.”
After another day of Maha training Ruri, Ney called for the two of them. Apparently the town the Base was situated in had a dire labor shortage, and they needed anyone they could get to help out.
“I thought fighting demons was our only duty,” said Maha.
“Well, it is, but we rely on the town to provide for us, so we must do our fair share as well.”
“…Fine. What needs to be done?”
“Quite a bit. Picking up trash in the slum, repairing the fields ruined by demons, helping deliver a baby at the convent—”
Maha figured she would just go with picking up trash, but then Ruri blurted, “Baby?!”
“What’s this? Are you interested in helping with childbirth, Ruri?” Ney asked.
“Yes. I haven’t seen baby before.” Her eyes shone with curiosity. Maha had a feeling this was going to be a hassle.
According to Ney, a sister had sent over the request for help as an expectant mother was going into labor.
Maha said, “But Ney, I have no idea how to deliver—”
“I never said you would have to do the delivery itself. The convent just needs extra hands around while the nuns are busy.”
“Miss Maha. I want to see baby,” Ruri said.
“Childbirth is difficult. There’s no guarantee you’ll see one.”
“But there is chance!”
“Sounds like it’s settled. Ask the nuns what to do when you get there.” Saying that, Ney practically chased the two out of the Base, seeing them off at the entrance. Maha was still in a daze when she and Ruri arrived at the convent.
Nuns hurried this way and that, too busy to attend to the pair. Eventually one finally noticed their presence and called out to them. “Thank you for coming. I hate to put you two to work so soon, but we need all the help we can get. Could you prepare some clean towels and hot water? As much as you can if possible.”
“Sure,” Maha said.
“Once that’s done, please attend to the children. I’m sure they’re worried.”
“Understood!” said Ruri.
Preparing the hot water was relatively easy. Maha and Ruri were alchemists, and creating distilled water was the most basic of the basics. They had no trouble at all heating up the water. For the towels, they were able to synthesize the plants growing in the courtyard.
The real problem came afterward.
“You think everything will be okay?”
“Sure sounds painful…”
The convent was by no means large. Even though the delivery was happening behind closed doors, the anguished wailing of the mother still reached the children gathered in the common room. Childbirth was difficult, and a single mishap could mean death. It was natural that the children should worry.
“It’ll be okay. Don’t worry.” Maha tried her best to reassure the children, but she wasn’t accomplishing much. The intermittent wails continued to make them tense.
“Everyone. Let’s pray,” Ruri suddenly suggested. She got on one knee and brought her hands together, closing her eyes. “Let’s pray for baby to be born safe. I’m sure things be okay if we all do together.”
The children looked at one another for a few moments, unsure, but one by one they lined up on Ruri’s sides and joined her.
“You can do it…”
“Just a little more…”
“May your child be born safely.”
Their expressions turned focused. Having them attempt something positive in this situation proved to be more helpful than just insisting things would be okay. It definitely helped that prayer was a daily ritual in their lives, although I wondered if Ruri had even considered that fact.
After a moment’s hesitation, Maha knelt and joined them. She was unsure if she had a right to pray with them. She was someone who wished she hadn’t been born herself, and she had doubts about whether another life being introduced into this terrible world was even a good thing. But right now, in this moment, her personal beliefs seemed small in the face of the pain the mother was enduring to bear her child, and of the wholehearted prayers of so many children wishing them well.
They prayed for what felt like forever.
“…Aahh. Waaah…”
Eventually they heard the faint but firm cry of a baby.
“It’s born!”
“The baby was born safely!”
“It’s here! It’s here!”
The children joined hands and rejoiced. Ruri celebrated with them as well, as did Maha.
A nun appeared and called out to the children, her habit slightly dirty with blood from delivery. “Everyone, please wash your hands, gargle, then come over here.” It seemed she wanted to show them all the newborn, so Maha and Ruri joined as well.
The smell of blood was thick in the delivery room. It was a smell Maha had long grown accustomed to, but this time it was not the smell of death, but of life. A strange feeling came over her. Just then, the nun approached, holding something wrapped in a cloth.
It was the baby. Its eyes lay closed, its umbilical cord freshly cut. It dozed peacefully, swaddled tightly in its cloth. The children looked at it in awe.
“Want to try holding her?” the nun said, looking at Maha.
“Huh?”
“She can’t hold her neck up yet, so be sure to support it.”
“Huh? Uh. What?”
Still flustered, Maha was handed the baby. She took great care though, holding the baby just as the nun instructed to ensure she didn’t drop her.
“Oh…” It hit her hard then: There was a life, one born only moments ago, in her arms. The baby was still a weak little thing, unable to even open her eyes, but she already had nails grown on her tiny, little hands and was unmistakably, undeniably alive. She couldn’t have been more than a few kilograms, but Maha felt the great weight of the baby’s small life clearly.
The baby suddenly began to cry, her voice strong and vigorous.
“Ah…” Maha only then realized tears were streaming down her own face. She didn’t know why she was crying. But her spirit did not feel dejected.
“It’s cute.” From Maha’s side, Ruri looked at the baby as well. She must have noticed Maha’s tears, but she said nothing of them and simply smiled.
Unable to speak, Maha could only nod in reply. In her arms, a new life continued to loudly cry.