I was a priest in the city-state era

Chapter 14 My Invention Shocks the Princess
After Luoy and others returned to the temple, Luoy began to direct six male servants to burn firewood in the square around the altar and use a bronze tripod to boil materials for making paper.

The process of ancient papermaking can be roughly summarized into four steps.

The first step is to separate the raw materials, that is, to degumming the raw materials in the lye by retting or steaming, and dispersing them into fibers.

The second step is beating, which is to cut off the fibers by cutting and pounding, and make the fibers become pulp.

The third step is to make a paper pulp, which is to make the pulp into a slurry, and then use a paper scoop to scoop the pulp, so that the pulp is interwoven into a thin sheet of wet paper on the scoop.

The fourth step is to dry or air-dry the wet paper, and peel it off to become paper.

The process of making paper obviously cannot be completed in a day, so Roy's focus is to direct six maids to make toothpaste and candles.

It is said that in primitive times, people have already begun to apply animal fat or beeswax to bark or wood chips to make torches.

The grease and bark stored in the warehouses of the Athenian tribes were the materials used to make torches.

Roy directed two maids to twist cotton thread into candle wicks and make ten candles before sunset.

The other four maids also made toothpaste in the clay bowl.

sunset.

Looking at his masterpiece in the afterglow of the setting sun, Roy couldn't help feeling a little surprised.

Originally, Roy only knew some principles, and it was impossible to invent these things directly.

However, the blessing [Increased Wisdom] bestowed on Roy by Goddess Metis seems to have really improved Roy's wisdom, allowing Roy to master the details of inventing these things without a teacher.

"Priest Roy!"

Just when Roy was excited with two candles, Procne brought Philomela to Roy and said.

"Now that night is falling, my sister and I should go home. After we go back, we will ask the servants to bring you some food and water."

"You're leaving now—"

Although Roy never thought of keeping Procne and Philomela to spend the night with her, Roy still hoped that they could stay for a while.

After all, in this era, there is no entertainment at night.

Roy also hopes that someone will chat with him to relieve boredom and pass the night.

Although he felt a little bit reluctant, Roy still picked up four candles and put them in Procne's hands and said.

"You take these candles home, and you can light them in your room at night. I'll show you how to use them."

After speaking, Roy picked up a candle and lit it on the firewood under the bronze tripod.

After the light of the candle illuminated the surrounding space, everyone's eyes widened in shock as they watched the candle flame trembling in the breeze.

"This candle - truly amazing!"

Philomela said with wide-eyed eyes.

"Priest Loi, you are worthy of being the priest of the Goddess of Wisdom."

Originally, in this era, lighting at night could only continue to burn wood.

Now a small candle, slow burning fat can light.

Roy said to Procne with a confident smile.

"Princess Procne! Take the candle back and show it to Chief Pandion. I believe that Chief Pandion will fully support me in making candles in large quantities after seeing the value of candles."

Procne nodded, his eyes full of surprise.

"Priest Loy! Since the candle you invented can really illuminate, is the toothpaste you invented really better than tooth powder?"

Roy handed two bowls of toothpaste to Procne and said.

"Whether the toothpaste I invented is good or not, you will know after using it tomorrow. If you think it is good, we will collect horsetail hair to make a toothbrush tomorrow. Horsetail hair is a good thing, not only can be used to make toothbrushes, wait for my paper It can also be made into a brush to write with horsetail hair."

"Words? Priest Loi, can you write the hieroglyphs used by people in the Near East?"

Looking at Procne's eyes full of curiosity, Roy shook his head and said.

"I can't write pictographs, I can write Chinese characters. It is a more advanced script than pictographs. If you want to learn, I can teach you how to write."

Procne hesitated for a moment, finally nodded and said.

"I want to learn to write Chinese characters from you."

Philomela teased Procne at this moment.

"Sister! My mother usually taught us that if we can learn how to weave and cook, we can be good wives."

"We are the daughters of the chief. Even if we get married in the future, there will be servants serving us. We don't need to cook and weave by ourselves. Anyway, we will have a lot of time, and I want to learn more knowledge."

After responding to his sister, Procne said to Roy.

"Priest Luoy, my sister and I will come over early tomorrow morning."

"Then see you tomorrow!"

Roy said goodbye to Procne and Philomela with a smile, and then watched the two leave.

After the figures of Procne and Philomela disappeared from the end of his eyes, Roy looked at the six male servants and six female servants around him and said.

"Princess Procne will send food and water soon. After you fill your stomachs, go to the wooden house to rest! There are two candles here, take them back and light them."

Passing two candles to a manservant and a maidservant, Roy ordered to the manservants.

"For everyone's safety at night, the six of you should be divided into two groups. Three of you will keep watch in the first half of the night, and the remaining three will watch in the second half of the night. If you don't strictly follow my orders, I will punish you as you should."

After speaking, Roy returned to the stone house with the lit candle and two spare candles.

Putting the burning candles on the stone table, Roy lay on the stone bed, thinking about his future life.

"Although I am alone, my invention can improve the strength of the Athenian tribe. After I have the authority that a priest should have in the Athenian tribe, my life will definitely get better and better."

The current Roy certainly never thought that after he had the authority that a priest should have, he would pose a threat to Pandion's ruling authority.

After all, in this era, only the leader [king] or their family members can serve as priests, because the authority of the priest will threaten the rule of the leader [king].

Not long after, someone knocked on the wooden door of the stone house.

Then, a maid said outside the door.

"Master, Princess Procne has sent food and water."

"Bring in food and water!"

As one of the maids opened the door, the remaining five maids came in with one carrying bread, one carrying oatmeal, one holding a jug, one carrying barbecue, and one carrying fruit.

Roy walked to the stone table and sat down, seeing the six maids who wanted to serve him with food, Roy immediately waved to stop them.

"You can just put down the food, I don't need you to take care of my own hands and feet. Now you are all hungry, sit down and eat with me!"

Hearing what Roy said, the six maids said with terrified expressions.

"Master! We are maids, so we cannot enjoy food with the master."

"Now that the leader of Pandion gave you to me, do you really treat me as your master? Then can I order you as your master?"

"The master can order us to do anything, even if it is night service, we cannot refuse."

"Then I order you to eat with me now!"

Roy said in an undeniable tone.

"You guys are watching, I don't have the appetite to eat at all."

(End of this chapter)