What a damn headache…
Sighing, Kai paid the stall vendor and took his grilled skewers. Tender meat and crunchy veggies exploded with juices; a slight peppy afterburn tingled his palate. His eyes closed as he chewed in pleasure, his woes momentarily forgotten.
“Hey! Get a move on!” A student in line behind him dragged him back to cruel reality.
“Sorry.” Kai apologized as he cleared his place in the queue.
Outside the shop’s alcove, the hallway stretched in both directions. He delved back into the buzz of the Wing Aurea, the smell of spices, and clamor of voices. Finding a discreet corner, he took a chilled glass from his ring to complement the skewers. His fingers wiped the condensation. He hummed a satisfied groan as the cold minty drink washed down his throat.
Muuch better.
First, the talk with Jolene, then a crazy aunt summoned him to the House of Mirrors. Drained and famished, he went to hunt for his dinner in consolation. The ground floor offered a surprising variety of on-the-go food, catering to busy students short on time and mesars for the overpriced restaurants on the upper levels.
He’d meant to explore each floor since the day he enrolled, but always ended up putting it off.
Too much stuff, and never enough time.
Dealing with unreasonable old mages always drove him to exhaustion. Katherine’s smooth face and mellow voice couldn’t fool him. The woman was old. Her purple eyes glinted like Virya’s, back when she used to prod him for amusing reactions. Clearly, another consummate witch.
Spirits, why can I never catch a break? Is being left alone too much to ask?
Close to 100 Favor wasn’t enough—the world must be biased against him. Maybe, once he evolved Hallowed Intuition, he could avoid more like…
Katherine? Aunty K? Crazy aunt?
Half his mind churned over the conversation as he chomped on his meat skewer. The more he mulled, the more his frown deepened. From her casual jabs to the bribes, veiled threats, and pointed concern for Dennie—he still had to get over that one—each word she uttered had been carefully studied.
Worse yet, Katherine had shown worrying knowledge of his actions at the party, even how close his Alchemy was to evolving. Those weren’t details one stumbled upon without an established network of informants. Who had spied on him? How long had they been watching him? Did she suspect any of his real secrets?
Elijah had assured him the House of Echoes wouldn’t breathe a word about him.
What if she has privileged access though? Could also be someone else spying… With the money she throws around, she could bribe half the people in the academy, which means everyone could be a suspect…
From the bag hanging on his wrist, the box of herbs bumped against his leg, its weight reduced to a fraction by the enchantments. Kai raked a hand through his hair. He didn’t like this one bit. Katherine seemed to know a troubling amount about him, and he nothing about her.
Who is she? And what does she want? What’s her relation with Alden?
From the House of Mirrors’ sweaty shuffling, she must hold some real power. She had to. If every Blackwood could throw a shop’s stock in herbs like change, he should just dig his own grave already. If only his classes had covered the internal power structure of the Great Houses—the actually useful part. But even among the rest, the Blackwoods were known to like their privacy.
As his teeth scraped along his last skewer, he found not a morsel left. The queue at the stall had grown too long to buy another. So he wiped his hands on a towel, reinforced his Shadow Veil and headed for the exit. Carrying the box of herbs made him feel like a thief with a suitcase full of money.
Students milled in the plaza outside Wing Aurea under the moons. No one stopped him. Resisting the urge to glance over his shoulder, he hurried along the well-lit paths.
The cool night steadied his bubbling mind.
It’d probably be wiser to send everything back…
No matter how Katherine presented it, such gifts had strings attached. Then again, it was a lot of Yellow herbs. Enough to breach level 100, and gain a dozen more levels simply through sheer quantity—more if he used them smartly. And it wouldn’t be too late to send them back after he used a few.
Will they even count them?
As his feet walked the trails, his mind split to consider each course of action. Upon entering his dorm lounge, he finally set on an ultimate decision.
Do I even need to care?
Whatever Katherine wanted, he lacked both the means and information to change it. So… why bother? He had enough on his plate without involving himself in her games. Who said ignoring problems or people couldn’t make them go away? As a firm believer in the scientific method, he ought to at least test the hypothesis. For science!
And I should probably speak with Alden…
Reaching their dorm room, Kai swiped his token and steeled himself for the conversation. “Hey—”
He took in the empty space; Alden had already retired. With a breath of mixed annoyance and relief, he went up to his door, hand poised to knock. Then he stopped.
What do I even ask him? Hmm, excuse me… by chance, did you unleash your crazy aunt on me?
Waiting for a good night’s sleep could only help.
I’m definitely not stalling.
The next morning, he woke to pitch dark outside. A fumble with his pocket watch told him the sun wouldn’t rise for another two hours. He tried to drift back to sleep, but one thought chased another until he grew restless. With a groan, he dragged himself from the warm covers, splashed his face with cold water, and began his morning routine.
Neither Rain nor Rob had returned last night. The first was expected, the latter less so, but his messy roommate had been elusive lately.
Brewing himself some tea, he got his breakfast. By the time his mug was clean and washed, dawn had yet to crest the horizon.
Another half an hour.
Simulating the coming conversation only increased his nerves. After ten rounds of pacing, Kai turned to the pantry for a battle plan.
Thank the Spirits for my memory skill.
He caught the door opening just as he finished his preparations. Laid out on the table was a bowl of yogurt topped with mixed berries and nuts with a drizzle of honey. Three bread slices rested on a plate, toasted to golden edges with a touch of butter, and a cup of steaming black tea with a long steep.
Entering the living room, Alden minutely slowed at the sight of him and the breakfast. “Is that… for me?”
“Yup. Your favorites, right?” Kai gestured, smiling. Nothing better than food to smooth a confrontation.
“They are.” His purple eyes narrowed as he approached the table. “Is everything okay?” His brows drew tight. “Do you need Master Etiman’s book back?”
“Huh— no. Keep it as long as you’d like. Can’t I just want to do something nice for my roommate?”
Alden cocked his head, considering the food and him for a moment. Then he answered. “No. That seems unlikely.”
Ouch.
“Okay, fine.” Kai took a seat. “I wanted to talk with you, Dennie.”
Alden froze up. His aristocratic composure cycled through small, quick changes: shock, wariness, annoyance, and finally resignation. With a sigh, he sank into an empty chair, shoulders almost slumping. “When did she contact you?”
Guess that spares me the long explanation. Is this… a usual occurrence for him?
“A courier found me yesterday after the meeting with my counselor. Your aunt Katherine wished to thank me for saving your life. She also sends you her well wishes.”
Jaw clenched, Alden scowled at his moonberries. Either he had hidden an incredible acting talent, or he’d had no idea of his aunt’s plans. “I do apologize, I didn't mean to drag you into our House affairs. I should’ve known she’d learn of what happened and come snooping. I’m sorry. Grandmother has a peculiar view of boundaries. I hope she didn’t make you too uncomfortable.”
“Uhm, well… If you mean bribes and threats, check on both.”
Alden hung his head, watching the wooden floorboard as if hoping they’d open and swallow him whole.
Feeling bad, Kai bumped his chair under the table. “Hey, it’s alright. It wasn’t that bad. And it’s not your fault. I think she was just messing with me for the most part.” He lifted the prepared box onto the table. “And she did saddle me with a boatload of herbs.”
Which explains why you never cared if I used your ingredients…
Alden glanced at the spatial box, with no hint of surprise. His shoulders fell lower; his mouth opened to speak, but he was unusually hesitant.
Kai took a second to interpret. “If you’re wondering whether she tried to bribe me to report on you. She did. And of course, I told her to sod off. Really, I don’t sell out for so little.” He snorted. “It’s insulting.”
“You…” Alden gaped at him, wide-eyed. “You swore at her?” His voice came out strangled, his milky skin somehow even paler.
Caught by his seriousness, Kai raised his hands. “Just joking! Mostly. I did tell her no, politely though. More or less.”
His roommate didn’t look entirely reassured. A heavy breath escaped him. “Bloody Moons.” He shook his head and stared at him with open intensity. “Thank you… for refusing, I mean.”
“Eh, it’s just common decency,” Kai averted his eyes, his hand on the smooth, enchanted box. “Ideas on how I can send this back?”
“Keep it.”
“I’m not sure I should.” He forced the words out. “It’s a lot.”
“Please, it’s the least we can do. It’d relieve me if you accepted it. Just… see it as compensation for the trouble."
Compensation, huh.
Yes, he could work with that. “If you really insist, I won’t refuse.” Kai rubbed his chin, his other hand dragging the box closer. “Though… What else should I expect from your aunt? Who is she, exactly?”
Alden’s relief twisted into a grimace. “Sorry, it’s… complicated. She’s technically my great aunt, though most of the family calls her grandmother. It depends on her moods and what she prefers that year. She probably won’t try anything else."
“Uhm, probably?” Kai returned the rather-not-reassured look.
“I’d tell her to leave you alone, but I can’t promise she’ll listen. And she might also take it as an invite to do the opposite.”
“Right.” Kai suppressed the impulse to bury his head in a pillow. An insistent worry gnawed at him. “You only answered half my question. Is she…”
Alden sighed. “The Blackwoods’ matriarch, yes.”
“Oh…”
Shit.
The thread of self-denial Kai’d clung to tore. Surely the matriarch of a Great House had more important tasks than haunting him. His mind sprang to replay their conversation. He hadn't been too rude, had he?
Virya did say my manners would be the end of me.
* * *
The scents of mortared herbal, loamy earth, and bitter sap wafted through the hall. Since last week, the latter part of Novice Herbal Alchemy had been reserved for open experimentation. Students clustered in small groups around their stations, poring over textbooks or their own projects if they could afford to bring the ingredients.
Dressed in faded indigo robes, Professor Myrlette drifted between the rows, a beacon of order against the threat of frothing cauldrons and burning potions. Wisps of mana darted to adjust a flame or soothe a bubbling concoction. Occasionally, she’d muttered corrections to salvage an impending disaster and plucked a foaming vial off a burner before it exploded.
“Interesting recipe, Mister Blackwood, Mister Veernon.” She glided past them with a tilt of approval. “Keep working on it.”
“Thank you, professor.” They echoed, not lifting their eyes from their tasks.
A spread of meaty pink leaves and gnarly bronze roots lined their station. Kai added a sectioned leaf to the mortar, while Alden carefully stirred the cauldron.
“Excuse me.” A girl approached their quiet corner, clutching a bundle of herbs. “Do you need another—”
“We’re full.” Alden’s frigid glance sent her retreating faster than a barking dog. His hands and mana continued to work uninterrupted.
“You must teach how you do that.”
Alden turned the icy stare on him.
“Ow!” Kai flinched back, feigning a shiver. “Yeah, exactly that!”
Expression flat, Alden rolled his eyes with a fractional movement.
“Wait, how did you do that? A skill?”
Rather than acknowledge him, Alden opted to reread the recipe beside the cauldron, but that was good too. They had resettled to a comfortable atmosphere. If anything, his roommate felt a smidge more open—broody scowls aside. Maybe it was guilt, but whatever it was had lowered his barriers.
“I contacted that supplier for the archipelago herbs,” Alden said without looking up.
“Oh? It worked out?”
“I placed a second order."
Reishi better thank me.
They fell into an easy rhythm of brewing and idle chatter. Kai was content to play assistant. When he got free personal tutoring, he'd be an idiot to do otherwise.
The leaf paste squelched in the mortar as he threaded his mana to control the moisture content. A quarter spoon of powdered reagent sent the mixture sizzling, shifting from dull pink to a luminous blueish-green. Across from him, Alden kept the cauldron at a simmer, stirring with ladle and mana.
Alchemy classes often filled the last block of the day, so students wouldn’t have to abandon a brew midway if they mistimed themselves. That had never happened with Alden. Today, they finished a batch of Verdant Renewal Draught with three minutes to spare.
Alden didn’t even hover at his shoulder as Kai sieved the pea-green mixture speckled with shimmering pink into a vial. “And done!”
A chime echoed in his mind.
*Ding*
Congratulations, Alchemy has reached lv100! Requisites for skill evolution met!
The scents of the classroom faded. Kai stilled, vial in hand, and opened the scroll notification.
Alchemy (lv100) ➔
As you reach the final milestone, you are presented with four choices to continue your path:
Alchemy – Advanced (lv1) — Stay the course and deepen your foundation. Improve your control, stability, and success rate across all alchemical processes.
Tester Alchemist (lv1) — You gain deeper insight into concoctions through personal use. Become able to tweak the potions you brew to be more suited and effective for you.
Herbal Alchemy (lv1) — Deepen your expertise and knowledge of plant and mushroom ingredients. You extract more potent effects, achieve higher yields and purity when working with such botanical materials.
Creative Alchemist (lv1) — Whenever creating or modifying a recipe, you may draw out deeper properties and traits from your ingredients. Your control over reactions becomes more precise, reducing impurities and fine-tuning mixtures with higher potency and consistency.
Phew! Got it. Though I didn’t even get to use the herb box…
“What is it?” Alden frowned at the vial of Verdant Renewal Draught he was holding. “The purity looks good for a first attempt.”
“Uh, no. I’m satisfied with that. I just evolved my skill.”
Alden blinked; the hint of a smile touched his lips before he schooled his composure. “I knew you were close, congratulations. Have you decided your path?”
“I have an idea.” Kai scanned his choices—one more than he’d expected. The limited time he’d dedicated to brewing lately made him forget he’d trained the skill for nearly ten years. He quickly jotted down his four choices. “I’m open to a second opinion though.”
The vanilla option was too broad for the time he could spare brewing, especially without the slew of supporting skills most potion experts relied upon.
Tester Alchemist was an unusual and curious path. Had he unlocked it from all the potions Dora made him drink, or because he brewed primarily for himself? Regardless, it shared the same issue as Creative Alchemist. They were paths for a full-time alchemist, and they’d require more time than he could give the craft to properly make them shine.
I can’t have everything. Especially once I reach Green.
“So, what do you think?” Kai looked at his personal consultant.
“Hmm, curious. I’ve never seen the Guide phrase those paths that way.” Alden gave the paper a thoughtful look before moving it over the burner. The fire consumed the paper. “You said you had an herbalism skill, right? You might be able to replace it if you take Herbal Alchemy. I imagine that’s your plan.”
“Yup, got it right! Almost sounds like you’re an expert, huh?”
Alden let out a breath, grabbed his textbook, and turned to leave.
“Hey, wait up!” Kai fumbled to gather his stuff. Steeling his heart, he made his choice. He couldn’t afford to become a jack of all trades in every field.
Are you sure you want to evolve Alchemy (lv100) into Herbal Alchemy (lv1)? Be Aware this choice is irreversible.
*Ding*
Congratulations, Alchemy (lv100) has successfully evolved into Herbal Alchemy (lv1)!