Day 151 of Banishment: Gems (3)
The next day, day 158 of banishment.
Marylia was weaving threads dyed with natural plant dyes!
"These decorative cords are simple, but they have their charm, don't they?"
The threads in Marylia's hands gradually transformed into flat decorative cords, about the width of her little finger.
The threads were dyed with natural materials. From a certain tree bark, she obtained vibrant golden-brown threads. From the branches of trees waiting to bud, a red-tinged hue emerged. She dyed threads a bluish-purple using boiled-down berries and achieved a green color using dried leaves of the man-eater plant.
To fix the colors, she used lye. The ash produced daily in the hearth was mixed with hot water and left to settle. The clear liquid on top was used to soak the threads before immersing them in the dye. This process resulted in brighter, more distinct colors that were less prone to fading.
"Ehehe... I could do this forever."
Marylia chuckled softly, her hands moving at an incredible speed. Essentially, she tied single knots with seven threads, repeating the process. The patterns on the cords emerged based on the direction and order of the knots.
"Simple stripes are cute, but diamond patterns are lovely too. Hehe..."
Thinking about what patterns and colors would look beautiful brought her joy.
Creating something is fun, she realized once more on this island.
Moreover, the fact that her efforts yielded tangible results was enjoyable. After all, battling in Fractalia without recognition had been somewhat disheartening.
"This is so fun!"
With a gentle laugh, Marylia spent her time peacefully, enjoying the process of creating and savoring the joy it brought her.
Despite her serene mood, her hands moved at an astonishing speed. But even this rapid pace was enjoyable for Marylia!
The decorative cords were completed and tied around the wrists of the Terracotta Golems, adding an ornamental touch.
Even though strengthening the Terracotta Golems’ bodies didn't make a significant difference due to their fragile nature, Marylia was satisfied. The joy of creating made it a success in her eyes.
Most importantly, the golems seemed... happy? Of course, being golems, they shouldn't have self-awareness. But still, it somehow felt that way.
The next day, day 159 of banishment, Marylia resumed polishing gemstones.
"The quartz grinding board is unexpectedly excellent..."
Marylia was quite fond of the clay boards mixed with quartz powder. They were convenient and practical. Perhaps she should fire them to make them sturdier, though managing the temperature would be tricky to avoid melting the quartz.
"This agate is so beautiful..."
The stone she was polishing today was an agate found by the shore. It had a milky translucence with orange stripes, like molten patterns within it. Polishing it made the stripes more pronounced, and Marylia smiled brightly!
"This one will be for me."
While gifting it to a golem was an option, she wanted at least one for herself. After all, it was winter, a time for leisure and creativity!
After gemstone polishing, she spent the afternoon crafting a crochet hook.
"I'll repurpose this wire from a broken lantern that washed ashore... bend it a bit, and there we go."
Making a crochet hook was a simple process. A thin piece of wood could be carved into a hook at the end, or in this case, the wire was bent into shape, thanks to the fortunate find of debris.
"Let's try it out... Hmm, I see, it works like this."
Using the handmade crochet hook, Marylia started crocheting threads made from grass fibers.
Though it wasn’t smooth lace thread or a proper crochet hook, making it somewhat challenging to use, she quickly adapted. Soon, she successfully crocheted a lace-patterned trivet.
"Hehe. If I had yarn, I could knit a stole."
Unfortunately, the grass threads weren’t warm enough to make clothing. Still, they sufficed for crafting small items for daily life. Marylia pondered her next project, perhaps a bath mat, while continuing to work with the crochet hook.
On the 160th day of banishment, Marylia polished the agate to a smooth, oval shape by midday. In the afternoon, she encased the stone in grass threads, turning it into a necklace.
In Fractalia’s countryside, decorative items like this—stones wrapped in threaded designs—were common. Their rustic charm suited island life well.
"Securing the stone is quite tricky. Should I weave it loosely first and tighten it later...?"
The process proved surprisingly difficult. Marylia meticulously worked with the threads, ensuring the agate stayed secure within its woven frame. After much trial and error, she succeeded in encasing the stone entirely with grass threads.
On day 161, she added more intricate threadwork around the agate, shaping it into a necklace.
"A lace-like design would be cute. Hehe."
As she continued weaving, the agate necklace began to resemble a lace collar. Its simple yet elegant style complemented Marylia's plain linen chemise, adding a touch of charm.
"Hehe. Does it suit me?"
She twirled happily, wearing her new necklace.
"One must enjoy such things! Next, perhaps I’ll try shells..."
Having led an army, Marylia hadn’t indulged in adornments for a long time. Even during her time with the Ordeal family, her lifestyle had been far more frugal than other young ladies her age.
Now, for the first time on this deserted island, she was free to create and enjoy decorations as she pleased.
"Carved wood might be nice. Maybe I’ll embed stones into it next!"
Fueled by her growing enthusiasm, Marylia embraced her cozy winter crafting spree.
True to her word, day 162 was dedicated to woodworking.
"What should I make? Hmm, let’s start with a bracelet."
Excitedly, she began carving a piece of hardwood, likely oak.
"Of course, wood can be carved with metal tools. Fascinating!"
Having worked with hard stones like agate and jade recently, she marveled at how soft and easy wood was to carve.
Shaping and refining the wood into a bracelet, she decided to leave it as an open cuff with holes on each end for a tie, simplifying the size adjustment.
To finish, she polished the wood with oil. Plant-based oils were ideal for enhancing the wood’s durability and water resistance.
"Walnuts are rich in oil, aren’t they? Let’s use them."
Cracking open some walnuts, she rubbed them directly onto the wood, releasing the oil. She polished the surface with a cloth, revealing a glossy, richly grained finish.
The wooden bracelet turned out beautifully, and Marylia was thoroughly pleased!
However, on day 163 of banishment, she suffered from shoulder stiffness after spending the entire previous day crafting. She resolved to alternate tasks to avoid overworking herself.
By day 164, disaster struck.
"... Oh dear. The roof tiles cracked~”
Unexpectedly! Several roof tiles had broken!
What do you think about this chapter?
