The next morning I found Tylee waiting for me at the breakfast table. I was pleasantly surprised to find that bacon, eggs, and even the venerable art of making toast were all parts of a nutritious, if prohibitively expensive Esturian breakfast. Staying in the house of a noble had some perks which I was growing used to. I was not sure how I felt about that.

“Somebody took the parasite,” I told her, sitting down, “And my notes.”

Tylee paused, then set down her fork, “What?!”

“Last night I went to my room and found them missing,” I explained, “Somebody in your household is not entirely loyal.”

Something very dangerous flashed in Tylee’s eyes, “I will make sure to find this traitor, and question them personally.”

“No need to bother sister.” Megaine said, interrupting us as she stepped into the dining room, “I have already dismissed several members of the staff. They are being searched right now.”

Tylee turned her hot gaze on Megaine, “You will soon regain your title as the daughter-heir, but until then, I would appreciate it if you would refrain from issuing orders which should be reserved for me alone.”

Megaine did not respond. Instead, she marched up to stand beside her sister. She slid a piece of paper she had been carrying in her hands over in front of me. I glanced down at it, then felt understanding settle in.

“Are you prepared to witness this?” Megaine asked me, “As a representative of the Alchemists’ Guild?”

I sighed, “Yes.”

Without further ado, Megain dropped to a knee before her sister.

“No!” Tylee tried to interrupt her.

“I hereby renounce my right to claim leadership of the house of Arefina,” Megaine said formally, pushing through her sister’s continued complaints, “I swear upon my power and my life, that I will faithfully uphold you, Tylee Arefina, as the future lawful head of our house. In life or in death, I will serve my kin.”

A servant appeared next to me with a quill and ink. I glanced at Tylee, who had a pained expression on her face. She was looking down at her sister with eyes that held betrayal. Tylee had wanted to heal her sister for many reasons. But one of the most important ones, was the fact that she would have been able to pass the title of daughter-heir on to her sister.

That was impossible now.

I signed the document and handed it to the servant. He bowed and left. Probably to get copies.

Megaine seated herself opposite me, taking the position on Tylee’s right.

“Master Dyre,” She said, “While it has been lovely having you with us, I believe that you have studies to attend to?”

“I think the issue with the parasite is a little more pressing.” I pointed out.

“Oh,” Megaine said, raising an eyebrow at me, “You are a spy then?”

I grimaced, “No.”

“Then I think, at least for now, it would be best if you continued your work on becoming an alchemico,” She said, “Arefina will need strong allies to rely on in the future. An alchemist of your caliber is already a potent force, but an alchemico of the collegium…”

“Tylee?” I asked.

Tylee turned her gaze on me, still in a mild daze from the events of moments before, “Yes, I believe that that is probably for the best right now.”

XXXXXX

Set aside by the Arefinas for now, I decided that my best course of action would be to try attending the collegium. You know, the reason why I came here in the first place. For those of you pursuing higher education, I strongly encourage you to show up for classes with small lecture halls. The professors notice when you have been absent.

“Master Dyre,” Alchemico Byar addressed me, “Would you care to share the insights you discovered from your reading of Binzhamin’s Alchemy Basics?”

I had made sure to find a spot in the middle of the class. If you are in any academic situation where you fear the ire of your instructor, the middle is your best bet. They can see you in the front row, and the back row is always composed of those would rather not be there, or who are likely to cause trouble. Sometimes both.

I stood from the bench which I shared with four other students, and their looks told me that they were all glad to have been spared the hawk-eyed gaze of their instructor.

“Alchemico,” I said levelly, my recent experience having robbed me of any diffidence, “I am afraid that I was unable to finish the assigned text.”

I heard sniggering from somewhere behind me and fought to keep my face under control. The majority of the students here were the younger progeny of nobility who did not possess great souls. Many of whom I was certain had never seen the inside of an alchemist’s shop.

In short, because of where I was from, I had been placed in the amateur class. No, that wasn’t right. I had been placed in the remedial class for amateurs. I was far more humiliated by this insult than I was by the fact that somebody was laughing at my discomfort. Of course, it all paled in comparison to the weight that settled on my heart when I remembered what Megaine’s fate would be.

“It appears as if you have had a week to peruse the library Master Dyre,” The man said, his gaze sharpening, “Am I to assume that you are not actually interested in the study of alchemy?”

I looked deep into his eyes and felt only coldness in my heart. The man was a firebrother at least, as indicated by the creeping halo of red which was slowly invading his otherwise brown eyes. Instead of the contempt I expected, I saw that this man was challenging me for a reason other than to humiliate me. I decided to take a gamble on him.

“To be honest Alchemico,” I responded, relishing the chance to lash out at something, even if it was just a long dead alchemico, “Binzhamin’s analysis of the fundamentals of alchemy is deeply flawed. I stopped reading three weeks ago when he claimed that a sufficient dose of curall alone could serve as a universal curative. In my experience, curall is definitely an essential component of every curative we make, but its properties alone would not be able to produce an efficacious cure for monster poison.”

The auditorium was deathly quiet. Watching Alchemico Byar, I saw his stern gaze morph into a beaming smile.

“Thank you, Master Dyre,” He said, “You may be seated. The rest of you should take heed of Master Dyre’s words…”

I sighed as the lecture continued, and the students near me edged away slightly. I had been attending classes for less than an hour, and I was already being singled out by my fellow students. After class was finished, Alchemico Byar motioned for me to approach his dais. I did so hesitantly.

“Alchemico?” I asked.

“I’ve been waiting a whole week waiting to see if anyone else would read that waste of paper,” He said, his tone conversational, “I was convinced that I would have to wait even longer before anybody noticed that Binzhamin probably had more money than brains. Nobody outside of this room bothers to even crack the spine of that windbag’s work.”

I blinked in confusion, “Then why have us read it?”

He chuckled, “That’s the secret. Fundamentals of Alchemy isn’t a class for teaching alchemy. It’s a gate through which all of our hopeful alchemicos must pass. 90% of your class will be continuing on in the apprentice track. They are here because they couldn’t get a master to take them on for one reason or another and they had the money to pay. Members of branch noble houses mostly. Few of them will ever make it past journeyman status, but the college always needs more brewers.”

“You do know that I had a letter of recommendation from my master, right?” I asked, feeling a little irked.

He chuckled, “At least half of the class also have recommendations. Some people don’t understand that you can’t buy your way to the top of the collegia. Well, I guess that’s not true, but you can’t do it by bribing a master alchemist.”

“So…” My brain scrambled, “Binzhamin’s book is just there to make sure that we actually know alchemy?”

He snapped his fingers, “You’re a sharp one. Though you’ve adequately removed that hurdle for your classmates with your words. I had assumed that you were some kind of delinquent after you failed to show for your first week. Now I see that I was wrong. Any particular reason why you couldn’t make it?”

I shrugged, “I accidentally killed someone with alchemy.”

Alchemico Byar’s eyebrows rose, “It was nobody important I hope.”

“She’s not dead yet,” I said, “But she will be soon. It’s okay, she was going to die anyway. She can move around now at least. For all that that is worth.”

“In any case,” He said, “Now that you’ve proven that you’re not a complete dunce, I would like to invite you to attend the theory of alchemy class.”

I raised an eyebrow, “Really?”

He nodded, “And don’t worry about coming back to this horse and duck show. By now, there is not likely to be any more future alchemicos hiding amongst your peers. I’ll be starting with real fundamentals. You’re clearly beyond that.”

Alchemico Byar gave me the details of where the real class met. I thanked him and left, but not before he handed me a short reading list, which he assured me was filled with books that would actually help me with my alchemical understanding. I hoped that they would distract me or give me some insight on how to cure Megaine. I had not yet given up hope in that direction, even if she had.

The only other class that I had for the first four weeks of my time at the Collegia was practical alchemy. Alchemica Thyrra was a harsh taskmistress, but I did learn several more variations on the minor strength and agility elixirs. On one particular day, I felt bold enough to get her attention as she passed by.

“Alchemica?” I asked the petite, elderly woman.

She turned towards me. Her green eyes were shot through with veins of blue, indicating a life spent with a modest water affinity.

“Master Dyre?” She addressed me.

“I was wondering if you could explain to me why it is that we have so many recipes for elixirs that are essentially the same thing.” I said, “A level one elixir is a level one elixir no matter what. How can we get the same results from such a wide array of ingredients?”

She rubbed her chin as she regarded me, “I see that Byar has been putting ideas in your head in that advanced theory class.”

I gave her a weak grin, “Alchemico Byar is quite exuberant in his lectures.”

She snorted, “Byar is obsessed with theory at the expense of practicality. His theories are quite lovely to listen to, but at the end of the day, your job is to make elixirs, potions, curatives, and the occasional poison, all which will ensure that essence continues to flow into the kingdom.”

“But if we could-“ I tried.

She cut me off with a slash of her open hand through the air, “Save your theories for Byar. Here, I intend to teach you the best techniques for brewing.”

She stepped up to my table and looked down at the flask of finished product. Leaning down, she sniffed it, then used a finger to withdraw a drop and taste it. Looking up at me, she gave me a grudging nod.

“You are a talented alchemist Master Dyre,” She said, “Your status as a gray mage is apparent in all that you do, but you still lack a mastery of many of the basics. How many measures of essence did you use in this?”

“Two.” I replied instantly.

She nodded, “I could do it with one and a half.”

I blinked in surprise, “How?”

She reached out to my bench and picked up a helsblood root, “Why does helsblood only grow in the broken lands?”

“Because that is where there is sufficient magic for it to develop properly.” I responded.

“Does this leaf contain essence?” She asked, holding it out to me.

Warily, I took the leaf and examined it, “Theoretically?”

She shook her head sadly, “You and your theories. Just put it against your forehead.”

I made sure to keep it far from there, “It’s unpurified!”

She snorted, “A little recreational essence never hurt anyone.”

I shook my head vehemently, “I disagree Alchemica, respectfully. I have seen plenty of babblers.”

She grunted something and swiped the leaf from my hands, bringing it to her own forehead. I watched in sick fascination as a look of ecstasy washed over her face for a moment. When her eyes opened, there was faint purple hue to her sclerae, which faded quickly.

“Stop wasting the intrinsic power inside of your materials alchemist.” She instructed me, “When you can do the things I teach, exactly as I teach them, you will be able to squeeze the last drop out of everything which you lay hands upon. You’re not some two-bit herbalist, you’re an alchemist!”

I lowered my head and nodded, “Yes Alchemica.”

She made a disgruntled noise in the back of her throat and moved on. I redoubled my efforts.

I continued my work with inscription and enchanting, along with my work on Tylee’s sword, although that was usually done during the time which I spent working with Derrick at his forge. In all honesty, I had forgotten what I had told Tylee about bringing the blade to me once a week. Apparently, she had not.

In the past week I had grown to love blacksmithing. It seemed that the more I sweated, the more I was able to forget the eyes of the dead woman in the Arefina household.

“There’s a girl here to see you Ethan.” Derrick yelled from the front.

I quenched the latest in a long line of horseshoes which I had been working and stepped out into the main shop.

“Master Dyre!” Raila called over the sound of Derrick’s hammer, “Lady Arefina sent me with this!”

She held a long, wrapped bundle in her arms. A bundle which hummed as soon as I laid eyes on it. It must have been an inaudible hum, because Raila did not react to it.

I held out my hands, “I can take it. Should be ready in a half hour.”

She shook her head, “I’m afraid I was instructed to keep it in my sight at all times.”

I sighed, “Tylee realizes that I am the only one who will be handling it, right?”

“My lady has become especially protective of this weapon,” Raila confided, leaning in close, “She keeps it next to her bed.”

I sighed, “Warrior-nuns…”

“What was that?” Raila asked.

“Any messages for me?” I asked, taking the sword bundle from her hands.

“Lady Megaine sends her regards,” Raila said, “And wants you to keep your nose out of house business. She will inform you when your services are required.”

“Of course.” I grumbled.

This was not the first time I had received such a message. Megaine was scheming, and it was apparent that she thought I would only be in the way right now. I had already tried to pick up leads at the Adventurers’ Guild, but to no avail. Nobody had heard of the strange parasite that had infected Megaine. I had not given up my search yet, but I had hit a wall.

I stepped into the back of the shop and began the work of caring for the blade. At this point, the act was almost a formality. I had done this twice while staying at the Arefina estate, and the song of the blade was just as strong as I could remember it being there. I wondered briefly if the magic were sinking in more permanently.

“Who’s your girlfriend?” Came an inquisitive voice.

“I think you’re supposed to be helping your mother, Miriam.” I muttered over the scrape of the blade across stone.

“The shop’s dead and I’m bored.” The girl complained, then noticed the silence of my companion.

My back was turned, but I could practically smell the wicked gleam in her eyes.

“You’re not really his girlfriend, are you?” I heard Miriam ask.

“Of course not!” Raila responded indignantly, though I could tell she had been surprised by the question by the slight rise in her voice.

I sighed, “Could you go bother someone else? Raila works hard enough for the Arefinas, she doesn’t need you pestering her.”

“Arefina…” Miriam mused, then brightened, “That white-haired lady who came by the other week and kidnapped you!”

“I wasn’t kidnapped!” I growled, “I was helping a friend!”

“Mom says that boys can’t be friends with pretty girls.” Miriam said definitively.

“I’m certain she said that to keep you from spending the night at Herschel’s house.” I noted dryly, pushing magic into Tylee’s sword.

“Take that back!” Miriam yelled.

I tested the edge of the blade, then moved to the small bench Derrick had set up for me. I removed some oils which I had been experimenting with. I hesitated with the selection for a moment, then chose one which I had infused with ruklik cerebrospinal fluid. Rukliks, as far as I could tell, were some form of burrowing rodent which had been Awakened into a horror that had a tendency to pull whole adventurers through the ground before ravaging them.

“Are you ignoring me?” Miriam spoke from behind me.

“I’m working,” I said absently, “Your mother loves you very much and doesn’t want to see your heart broken by someone like Herschel. He just wants to know what it would be like to kiss you. His thoughts might even extend to something more… invasive. As someone who used to be a teenage boy, I can attest that the possibility is more than likely.”

A click of teeth preceded a prolonged silence from the girl. I had chosen Ruklik oil because of its affinity for geomancy. Tylee was a powerful geomancer, and my working theory was that if I could put a weapon into her hands which was designed to handle her full strength, she would be a nigh unstoppable force.

Of course, I still barely understood the process which the blade was undergoing while in my care.

My work with the blade was quickly finished and I turned to find Miriam and Raila talking quietly in a corner of my small workspace. I shrugged and moved to return the sword to the maid. She accepted it, and was about to sheathe it when Derrick walked in.

“May I take a look at that?” He asked.

Raila glanced at me and, after receiving a nod of confirmation, held the weapon out to him. We followed Derrick out to the main area. He took a few experimental swings and nodded thoughtfully.

“It’s an excellent weapon for a geomancer,” He noted, “A bit too heavy for anyone else, but with great strength, it would be deadly.”

“It’s not finished yet.” I said, listening to the blade’s passage through the air.

“Oh?” He asked, “What else do you have in mind for it?”

I shrugged, “I’m not quite sure, but I still feel like there is something missing.”

“It’s as fine a weapon as I have ever seen,” Derrick said, “But I only forge blades, I don’t enchant them. I’ll leave that to your expert opinion.”

He handed the weapon to Raila, who paid him several silvers. She gave me a one-handed curtsey and departed. I couldn’t blame her for wanting to get away quickly. Miriam watched her speculatively, but before I could think about that, I felt Derrick’s large hand drop onto my shoulder.

“How is your own forging going?” He asked.

As promised, Derrick had been teaching me the art of bladecraft before my little hiatus, and ever since then. While I was making some headway, the weapons I was producing were… lackluster. Although I had made a knife which I felt was passable.

I retrieved the knife and showed it to him.

He looked it over, then rapped his anvil with the blunt end a few times, “Looks decent, though I really think you should work with some steel instead of this iron. This is likely to break under stress.”

“Iron is much cheaper,” I pointed out, “I also want to formulate my own steel recipe. I’ve been experimenting with some alchemical techniques and ingredients. The results are promising so far.”

Derrick nodded thoughtfully, then handed the knife back, “That should be good enough as a personal blade, although it’s a little long for such.”

“I like long knives.” I replied, then went back to work.

I don’t think Derrick was entirely convinced by that, but he let it lie. I knew there was someone out there who was infecting great souls with a parasite. Having a knife at hand made me feel a little safer, though it probably shouldn’t have.