Pramanix the Prerita

[Code Name] Pramanix

[Gender] Female

[Combat Experience] Half a year

[Place of Birth] Kjerag

[Date of Birth] February 13

[Race] Feline

[Height] 161cm

[Infection Status]

Medical tests have confirmed that no infection is present.

[Physical Strength] Normal

[Mobility] Normal

[Physical Resilience] Standard

[Tactical Acumen] Excellent

[Combat Skill] Standard

[Originium Arts Assimilation] Outstanding

Pramanix, native of Kjerag and the Saintess of Karlan. She is the religious leader of Kjerag and plays an important role in its development and transformation. She is currently at work developing a basic education system in her homeland. Some reports claim that she successfully dispelled a looming Catastrophe in Kjerag.

Imaging tests reveal clear, normal outlines of internal organs, and no abnormal shadows have been detected. Originium granules have not been detected in the circulatory system and there is no sign of infection. At this time, this operator is believed to be non-infected.

[Cell-Originium Assimilation] 0%

Operator Pramanix shows no signs of Originium infection.

[Blood Originium-Crystal Density] 0.11u/L

Operator Pramanix rarely operates in high-Originium environments.

There have been no significant changes to Operator Pramanix's data since her previous checkup, even demonstrating a slight increase in physical ability and reaction times. This is likely a result of keeping up a regular schedule and daily morning exercise required by the Vine-Bead Court. Perhaps we can implement similar activities on Rhodes Island.

—Medical Department Notes

[Diary of a Vine-Bead Court Cleric]

Terran Calendar 1101

Winter, Kjerag.

The Saintess put forward a proposal to build schools across Kjerag and establish libraries that the Hall of Writings will gradually share its collection with.

It was considered unlikely to pass due to the opposition of conservative elders, but most of the conservative faction was sent to work in the fields for colluding with Elder Adso in the recent incident, and it passed with the support of the reformist faction.

By Kjeragandr, the old clerics will not recognize the Vine-Bead Court from this day forth. Perhaps all of Kjerag will become unrecognizable.

I did not choose a side in this, and there are many others like me. When we left the room, we looked at each other with the same question on our faces: Will it be a good thing?

[Excerpts from the Vine-Bead Court Letters, 1101-1102, Vol.2]

...I was young when I first came to the Vine-Bead Court, young enough to dream about the miracles depicted in the legends and scriptures coming true before my eyes. However, when I was dispatched to this remote town, I had to bow my head in humility and learn the wisdom of living in such a harsh environment from the locals, eating and living with them. I learned to mend clothes, repair windows, identify herbs, but I forgot how to dream... Indeed, I even forgot how to pray and serve Kjeragandr. She faded from my mind along with the words of the scriptures...

Until you sent those trucks and construction teams here. I never thought I would once again have the chance to sit in a warm room with the children, reading to them the ancient words of wisdom. For the first time, I saw something other than ignorance or mischief on their faces. It was a desire, a thirst for knowledge and the future.

Your workers repaired our houses, and built a school in the dilapidated temple. You delivered dictionaries, novels, even the latest books from abroad... You've shown the children and myself a dream, of a Kjerag that we've never seen before. This is the miracle of Kjeragandr, and the fruit of your love...

By Kjeragandr, Her most humble child remembers your kindness and prays for your health... For you, Saintess, I give my most sincere gratitude, not as a cleric in the field, but as a teacher in Kjerag.

With Elder Adso's fall from grace, it soon became apparent that the Saintess would become the Vine-Bead Court's sole decision-maker. It stood to reason that a single voice would speak for Kjerag from then on. The Saintess was Enciodes's sister, after all.

It is certainly true that the Saintess has grown closer to Enciodes than ever, but to everyone's surprise, the Vine-Bead Court and Karlan Trade soon got into a public feud over their joint school-building venture. A Vine-Bead Court cleric wrote to the newspapers, accusing Karlan Trade of delaying construction of the new schools and prioritizing other post-war rebuilding efforts. There were even anonymous tip-offs that Karlan Trade had, without communicating with the Saintess, reduced the priority of the school construction project.

Some have speculated that the Saintess actually wrote the strongly-worded letter herself under a pseudonym. At the very least, there is no doubt that she had at least tacitly approved of its publication, if not outright instructed it. As public discussion turned to the apparent discord between the two, the Silverashes' family dinner became the center of attention. On the day of the dinner, the Saintess showed no intention of leaving for Silverash Manor, until Enciodes personally drove to the Vine-Bead Court to request her attendance.

No one knows what the siblings discussed over dinner that night, but the construction teams that were previously working on Karlan Trade's factories showed up to the sites of the schools the following morning.

[Karlan Trade Construction Division Internal Memo]

In accordance with communication with the Vine-Bead Court and the Saintess's request, this team is hereby assigned to the Kjerag Basic Education Development Project for the next 6 months.

Current milestones are to complete repair work in rural regions on 11 temples designated by the Vine-Bead Court. Scope of work involves reinforcing and repainting the walls, and the provision of basic facilities and equipment necessary to operate a school.

After discussing with the Saintess, Karlan Trade has agreeded to provide all necessary funding for the project. Construction is expected to begin in October.

Note to all staff: Do not spread unsubstantiated rumors that the Saintess only agreed to attend dinner in exchange for expediting the school construction project.

Project Director Adler

[Health Examination Summary of Operator Pramanix]

Subject: Pramanix

Result: This examination included a number of extra items as Operator Pramanix already has a recent standard checkup on record. Results indicate that she is in good health, with all numbers within normal ranges. A slight improvement was noted in liver and kidney function, eyesight, reaction speed, and cardiorespiratory function.

Two issues were noted in advanced Originium Arts testing and brain imaging scans:

1. Pramanix has demonstrated a slight increase in Originium Arts Assimilation compared to when she first joined Rhodes Island;

2. Brain imaging scans reveal occasional irregularities in her brainwaves, briefly exhibiting slow delta waves characteristic of a slow-wave sleep state before returning to normal, while she remains lucid throughout the process. This unusual activity calls for long-term observation.

Supervisor: Warfarin

One week after receiving her health checkup report, Pramanix sent it to Astgenne. It did not take long for her to receive a long reply letter, despite Astgenne's busy research schedule.

The Liberi's letter filled an entire sheet with recent news about a similar case to Pramanix's: a group of field researchers who were rescued also demonstrated symptoms of amnesia and irregular brainwaves. The letter showed the care and concern of a friend, but also the unique excitement of a scientist.

Pramanix chuckled as she recalled the face of the young woman who sneaked into the Vine-Bead Court. The new head handmaiden questioningly poked her head out from behind a screen.

'Is there something on your mind, Saintess? The look on your face is... different from usual...'

'It's nothing.' Pramanix closed her eyes. 'It's just...'

A cool breeze blew in from the slightly ajar window on the other side. It was as though her friend was always there, the one whom she had spent so many days and nights with. She could feel her thoughts slowing down, as though drifting into a light sleep.

'I'm glad I still have all those precious memories.'

The Saintess dismissed the handmaiden, and sighed again in solitude. She touched her own forehead with her middle and ring fingers. Loss was a feeling she knew well, and she was acutely aware of how fragile and fleeting memory can be.

She had lost eternity... Would there come a day, then, when the people who walk the snow realm forget faith and goodness, forget the path from whence they came?

Will you ever wake up again... and what can I do until then?

Times may be changing in Kjerag, but the work of the Saintess goes on.

Pramanix spends about a third of her time in the deepest reaches of the Hall of Writings, translating scriptures that have yet to be deciphered.

An elder suggested it would be understandable to take some time off, given the present circumstances, but she declined, which earned her respect even amongst the stoic ascetics of the Vine-Bead Court.

She flips through the tomes like she has done countless times before, but now, her head handmaiden is no longer there to give her the correct answer. She must rely on herself.

[You have awakened me together. She said as She walked out from the water. I know you (crossed out) I saw that you have come from different places, and reached here after much hardship.]

I remember this passage about the first time she revealed herself to the people. Come to think of it, she appeared just as suddenly the first time we met. I should have realized she made no sound with her footsteps...

[Then She demonstrated her (left blank with the comment 'meaning unknown' next to it), and fruits and grain began to grow from the soil, and the people learned sweetness and satiation for the first time.]

I don't recognize this word. I'll have to discuss it with the other clerics later. Kjarr used to bring me candied fruits when I was in a bad mood. 'Eat something sweet, and you'll feel better!' She always said that.

[And thus it all began. She walked amongst the people, showered miracles upon them, and reconciled their differences. The three clans began to live upon this land, and so the land came to have a name.]

[She told the people: Remember that this is not eternal. When there is a name, there is a meeting, and each meeting must have a parting.]

The Saintess's fingertip lingered at the end of this line... You may look muddle-headed, but your mind is clearer than anyone else's. Taking me away from the memory before the words are said... what a cunning girl...

'Saintess!' Youthful voices broke Pramanix's reverie. A group of children dressed in simple, neat matching outfits were standing outside her door.

'The students you put into the schools. They take an annual field trip to the Vine-Bead Court, and they're waiting for an audience with you.' Her new head handmaiden reminded her. Pramanix nodded and walked towards the excited children.

One girl, however, stayed away from the crowd, hiding behind a tree in the distance.

'Saintess...' a boy whispered to the Saintess, 'She's really timid, and she's never left the village in her life...'

Pramanix approached the girl with a smile and extended her hand. After a moment of hesitation, the girl timidly took her hand. Pramanix felt the warmth of the girl's palm, and a tinge of nostalgia.

Is it you? No, but...

They are the future of Kjerag... I can feel you through them, and see their kind and pristine souls, just like yours.

Perhaps this is how Kjerag and I will remember you, Kjarr.

The temporary absence of some of the clerics and elders means that other clerics must step up to fill the vacancies in the central chapters, and the Vine-Bead Court has recruited a group of young people from both the clan domains and the Court's local chapters.

Two-thirds of them were assigned to basic tasks such as cleaning and organizing the scriptures, while the rest were assigned as assistants, to help the busiest clerics with their work.

Nine maidens of appropriate age were assigned to attend the Saintess, from which the new head handmaiden will be selected. The head handmaiden is customarily selected from the most experienced existing handmaidens, but with all of them already slated to teach in rural schools, the new head handmaiden will be selected from the new ones, at the Saintess's recommendation.

—Vine-Bead Court Personnel Memorandum

At first, I thought it wouldn't make much of a difference who had the job of head handmaiden. After all, no one can possibly compare to you.

So I simply picked the girl who looked the brightest. The idea was that I would have her start out doing simple tasks like putting away clothes and passing on messages, and slowly ease her into more advanced duties like managing the other handmaidens and coordinating different departments.

But she turns out to be even brighter than I expected. She is still young, but she is a quick learner with keen perception.

When I was her age, I still liked to sulk by climbing mountains... What did you think of me when you saw me back then? I should have asked.

But seeing her reminds me of the previous Saintesses I saw in the cave. Some of them were even younger than her.

When I'm gone and it's time to pick a new Saintess, will they still make such young girls walk the mountain path?

Never mind. I hope you'll like the way I changed Kjerag, the next time you wake up.

—Excerpt from Pramanix's diary

The Vine-Bead Court has announced that future Saintesses will no longer be chosen by trial, and the obligations and ordeals of the candidates be abolished. Future Saintesses will be picked from eligible volunteers based on character and aptitude, and raised in the Vine-Bead Court under the instruction of the incumbent Saintess, nurturing their learning of scripture, etiquette, and virtue.

—Front page of Kjerag Daily