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Sign Three

After living for almost eight years, she kinda knew a little bit about the world where she lives now. The name of the world that she lives named Althera. Just like the earth, there are mountains, seas, plains and etc.,. At one glance, it is really hard to look for the difference between both of them except for the fact that there are 2 'suns' that are above her head which will then become one like an eclipse when the night comes. In 27 hours of a day, the suns will become two in the daylight and become united again in the nighttime. Their light also changes in the transition from morning, noon, and night. It will be like a moon from the earth when both of the suns are united. Their light will be fading but could help the lighting in dark.

So it is quite wrong to say that the 'suns' are the sun while they are also 'the moon', but somehow in this world, they called them Solis as the representation of the God which people in this world believe. Pope Joseph once said that It the mainland, the big continent in Althera there is a superior Empire named Solisa Empire. The Empire where the monarchy who runs the empire is known to be blessed by the God of the two suns, Solis.

" The empire located right in the perfect middle between the two suns, when they rise in their prime time. The imperial family members also have their unique appearance as they are the only people that have blonde hair," said Pope Joseph while they are enjoying their dinner time.

" Woah, both of the prince and princess have that kind of hair?" asked Arisha.

and Pope Joseph nodded. " All of the Imperial family has that kind of characteristic," he said.

" Also, the empire is so beautiful! There are many things in there, many people also gathered as they are one of the superior empires," said Anna excitedly as she is remembering her moment. " It was really amazing."

" Wow!" and Arisha looks at her in excitement.

[ You said that the Solisa Empire is one of the superior Empire. Is there any more empire?] asked her. She could understand the entire conversation because they are using sign language. Even sometimes it fast, as she already read and being told by Pope Joseph some of it, she quite understands.

" Yes, there are many independent governments. the old one, the new one spread all over the world," he said. " The oldest just like the Empire of Fahir, The Kingdom of Jahar, Empire of Laka... Ah, I don't know. They are so many."

After doing some read with many books that Pope Joseph has, in the end, this world concept is still the same as the concept in the world. Where some war, trade, and political things will involve inside. Yet, she could safely conclude that this world is a kind of a world where men dominate the world. In the very simple example is just like in the village. The mayor, the priest, and the important person will all be a man just like Pope Joseph.

" If the empire is truly magnificent why don't you just live there?"

" Living in the empire is expensive. The air is also polluted, people like us are better to stay in the countryside," he said.

And that is also something that Irisha feels unfortunate about. To put it simply, there is something that is called 'mana' in this world. It is a kind of internal energy that could be manipulated to create something like magic. Truthfully she could not really understand as the books did not tell much and the Pope Joshep explanation was just too rough, but the mana inside the body differs. One has a large power other maybe have none. Sadly enough, the mana power is something that defined how worth you are in society. So, even though in this isolated world, there is a man like Pope Joseph who could develop the idea of sign language, he is not worth it as he has no big mana inside his body.

Hierarchy. She could say that right?

So, it was not so strange if she thinks about when the first time she came to this world as a deaf and muted girl. In a world where a normal person discriminate by the mana power, how then a person with a disability like her could face society?

Even for Pope Joseph, Sister Anna, and Aunt Marsha who was helped her that night. Their responses toward her were based on a mere pity. They pity her, so they helped her. It was not something she despised, even until now she is very grateful for their help at that horrifying night, but it was also the truth that their first thought about her was pity and they were thinking that there was nothing someone like her could do with her condition.

She was thinking the same too.

What could she do in this kind of world? Especially when she was slapped with an event where she could not do anything to her baby sister while she was sick.

She is deaf and muted.

Yet, she promised to protect and always be with her sister and it means that she has to be strong. She has to be the wall for her little sister. So that was why she took the opportunity to learn something when Pope Joseph and Sister Anna let them stay. She read many Pope Joseph's books every day, learnt to write, improved her reading, and just increased her knowledge of this world. Somehow Pope Joseph looked at her and helped her in developing sign language, and it then became easier for her to have a conversation and ask something she could not understand.

At first, not many villagers approached her except Pope Joseph, Sister Anna, Aunt Marsha, and her husband, and the priest. People tended to avoid her as much, somehow show their pitiful expressions to her but did not do anything as they thought that helping someone like her will just add their burden, and of course she understands that. Living in the village is not a joke. especially a typical medieval village where there is no water or electricity. People here are mostly can not use magic so, of course, it was already hard for them to live even until now. She understand quite much that, there is no one obligation to help her in the first place. So, at that time she thought that she should be the one who helped herself. She did some work around Pope Joseph and Sister Anna's house, at first it was a simple matter like cleaning around. Then, the second time, they let her assisted Sister Anna in her cooking and somehow a simple technique in this world was something extravagant. Then, her previous experience in many fields, especially management and business helped the farmer who does the trade with outsiders. Starting from then, they trust her gradually.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

[ To put it simply just ensure the expenditure is not higher than income.] she said while explaining to the farmer in this village about a simple ledger, the next day. [ You guys usually do barter as the main transaction but, sometimes it could give you a big loss because you can't equate wood and fish, right? but if, you ended up doing some barter just make sure to write it in the book to track down your transaction.] while explaining this she is not only using sign language but also using the board to write down the important thing down because not all of them could understand the language. Then they will write things down in their own note that they bring.

The one that she taught to them is actually not a new thing in this world. After having a discussion about several empires and kingdoms, their economic system is the same as the one in her past world. The difference here is that not all people have the same education about that. It is not because education is something that commoner could not have, somehow a formal education exists in several empires depending on the empire and the kingdom's regulations. It is just their mindset that believes if they don't have mana power or blessing, then, either they become a very humble farmer, maid, or just living in the isolated village where the living expense is almost none. By the way, is not that she is underestimating all of the jobs above but, after reading and asking, they all really choose to live in a very simple way. It is also not like they want it, it is just like they are surrendering to the situation.

" If my analysis is wrong toward this mindset thing, they will not study eagerly like this, right?" She thought.

" Then Irisha, do you know some solution for the unwanted product." asked uncle Jacob who then look at Arisha who is sitting in the chair beside her. " How to say 'product' in sign language, again?'"

and Arisha stands up swiftly. " Like this, uncle!" and shows him the way while Uncle Jacob nods happily.

" Yes, yes. that part is always the hard one," he said who then looks at her. " Do you understand what I mean?"

and she nods, [ I understand but, the unwanted products that you mean are the products that are not purchased by merchants?]

" Yes, yes."

[ Well, the trading here in the first place is quite tricky, the farmer only sell what they grow and the merchants only buy what they need.] she said and goes in silent for a while to think. [ You have to gather some data of what merchants that comes around, what goods that they need. You could also gather some data of places that don't have or have limited produces like yours, then you can ask for cooperation to them to provide them with products that they need but they don't have. You can get a good price from that, too. Well it also depends on the distance and transportation too-] she said as they nod and feel amazed with a new concept that maybe they never learned about.

then just like this her daily work in the village, at the end of the session she will come home with many gifts in their hand from the villager as gratitude for her lesson.

" Bye! Bye! Uncle Jacob, thank you for the ride!" said Arisha while wiggling her body because her hand was full of gifts.

Uncle Jacob who take them home wave his hand while galloping his horse and cart. " Don't forget to lock the door!" he then said.

Then after the long day, as usual, they cook their food together and eat dinner while having a story. Their dinner table is near a big wood window that shows them the beautiful scenery of the night sky. They always enjoy their time looking at it while imagining that some stars are home for another living thing.

But then she holds her hand tight who makes her turns to her. [ I have something to discuss with you.]

" Yes, sister, what is it?" she asked in confusion as maybe she kinda guessed that the discussion is quite heavy.

" Truthfully it is," she said but it was something she always thought for quite a long time.

[ You do know that the world is big right? There are so many things in this world that are beautiful.]

then Arisha nods. " Uncle Joseph said that there is a land that full with water, and land with full of ice."

[ Of course! If sister is not mistaken, there is also a dragon! Sister really one to see that one too!] even somehow she is skeptical about that, but, of course, she is excited to see one. [ There is also a place that you called an academy, you can study something there as a student. You can also meet many friends of the same age as you.]

and her smile somehow fades a little, but she tries not to show it to her. " Yes, but the academy is far from here. So I am okay."

You say that, but in the truth you always want it. Especially when in this village there is no villager with the same age as her. Every day she will just stay with her and most elder or adult like sister Anna. So, for Arisha the thought of meeting a friend is like a fancy wish she could imagine.

[ In the academy you can learn many things you know?]

" Yes, Sister Anna said that to me."

[ You still don't want it?]

and she shakes her head hard. " I am okay. I never wanted it in the first place." and she looks at Irisha in sad eyes. " Do you want me to go? I like living here you know, with you and the others."

and she smiles at her while standing up and comes to her seat. Put her hands in her cheeks and look her in the eyes. [ I am your sister, I know when you are lying to me.] she said. [ I know how much your eyes sparkle whenever you read a book about the outside world. I know ... because I always see you.]

Then, it becomes hard for Arisha to keep her smile as her sister already knew everything, so she opened her mouth and say " ... but, even though I like that does not mean that I have to! I already enjoy it enough by reading them in the book," she said and desperately trying to persuade her. " It is okay, sister. I really don't want it!"

[ Is it because I am deaf and mute?] asked her.

and Arisha suddenly frowning with tears coming from the edge of her eyes. "It's not a bad thing sister! It is not." and somehow cries in front of her, the tears that stream down her chubby cheeks that become reddish. The Arisha that always cheerful and full of smiles, cried so hard while talking about her. Arisha is a smart one, a quick-witted that understand the situation. Even the time where she at the age that could understand something and Irisha already created a good relationship with the villager, does not mean that the opinion of being mute and deaf is disappeared from people in the village. Maybe, Arisha already guessed what will happen if someone like her sister go outside the world. How harsh and how dangerous it would be. " So it is okay if we are living in this village forever. I am okay if I am not going to the academic. As long as I am with you..."

As long as I am with you. sure such a beautiful word that makes her smile.

[ Of course, I will be always with you.]

" But, it means you are going to the-"

[ And, I am not that weak Arisha.] she said. smiles so brightly after kissing her softly. [ I am strong. I am your strong sister that could do anything for you, so please don't worry. Also... truthfully just like you, I want to travel the world too, seeing something that I could not ever see. Seeing the beach, the mountain, the Elfian forest just like in the story...how beautiful they truly are is something I want to find out. Do not you want it too?] asked her. But, Arisha still hesitate as Irisha then pinched her cheeks. [ But, of course in the end the most thing that I ever wanted is to see you happy. So... it saddens me if you hold yourself like this. You don't have to worry about anything... just do what you want to do and I will be there with you too. So, my dear sister... do you want to go to see the world with me?] asked her while smiles at her warmly.

and Arisha who always looks at her straightly puts her head down while tears fall down to the chair. But in the second after that, she looks up with a big smile and hugs her. Of course, she could not hear anything but she knows her little sister is exciting. Then when she could see her sister's face, Arisha said.

[ Thank you sister! Thank youu! I really love you so muuuch!] and give her so many kisses.

***