The Road to Washi

It was time to makewashi, traditional Japanese paper. I was finally in a position where I could make it. Or rather, in a position where someone else—Lutz—would make it for me. As a part of his job, even. How wonderful.

On the way home from the interview with a merchant, I was practically skipping along the road with excitement. Mentally speaking, I felt like I could jump in the air and spin at least twice before landing like a figure skater.

“Eheheheh. Ahahah.”

“Myne, I get that you’re happy, but c’mon. Don’t get too excited. Do ya want to catch another fever?”

“How could I not be excited? I mean, we’re making paper here! Paper! I can make books with paper. Ahaha, yes!” How could I stay calm with books getting ever closer?

Lutz, watching me start to actually skip along the road, put his hands on his head and sighed. “...Myne, alright, we’re making paper. But how are we gonna do it? I’ve got no clue myself. Don’t we need tools or something? Is this gonna work?”

Lutz’s calm questions threw a bucket of cold water over my excitement. After returning to reality, I paled at the truth of my situation. I knew how to make washi, definitely. I even had vague recollections of what tools were involved. There was a book I read about disappearing crafts and all that. But I didn’t remember the exact details on how to make the tools to make paper. Without those tools, I had no way of making the paper itself.

...Guuuh, I have to start with making tools. Aaah! Once again, I know all but the most important things.

“Hey, Myne. You sure got quiet all of a sudden. Don’t tell me that you don’t actually know how to make paper.”

Lutz gave me a really uneasy look, so I hurriedly shook my head. “Don’t be silly. I definitely know how to make paper. I’ve been trying to make it for so long now. But I’m not strong enough to