Two Weeks Later

10 mL Chimera venom

25 mL Curall suspension

5 sprigs of Hensley

…

The list went on.

I held the flask by a pair of tongs as I swirled it over the small fire on my bench. I must have looked like a mess. My hair was definitely disheveled, and I didn’t remember having shaved for the past two weeks. My last bath was nothing more than a memory.

Essence flowed from me as I completed the last steps in the crafting of this poison. I sent a silent prayer to Orianna, this had to work.

A flare within the poison responded, then faded. I held my breath, waiting for the telltale flash of essence falling out of the solution. Nothing came.

Ever so carefully, I set the flask down, leaned back, and let out a groan.

Step one down.

Next, I took my third sample of the creature which was dwelling within Megaine and dropped a small amount of the stuff on it. The hiss and writhing in the flask let me know that it had worked. I held my breath, now was the moment of truth.

Drawing a weave of magic around myself, I carefully reached out towards the essence which I had infused within the brew. There is a certain level of resonance between myself and the things I create, to the point where I can pick up on certain attributes. In this case, I was trying to get a feel for how it would affect a human.

I felt my stomach muscles cramp, and a cold sweat broke out across my body. I bent forward, suddenly glad that I had not taken any meals today. In moments, the sensation was gone, and I sucked in a few breaths. Carefully setting down the vial, I rested my head on the bench before me.

Success.

It was strange, the only thing I really felt after these two grueling weeks was a sense of emptiness. My skills as an alchemist and mage had been pushed to their limits in the production of this single vial. In truth, it was probably my greatest accomplishment to date. I had learned a great deal of things, and wasted a great deal of Tylee’s gold, in the production of this poison.

Time passed, and I finally gathered the strength to pull myself up. Before standing, I removed my personal alchemical grimoire and copied the recipe into it. The book would resist destruction far better than a loose sheaf of paper, and the thought of losing even a small portion of this knowledge was enough to bring me close to tears.

Standing, I groaned. I had awoken before sunrise, and it was swiftly approaching the fifth hour of the afternoon. Every muscle in my boy ached from my poor posture and the surprising amount of physical activity required of an actively working alchemist.

I unsteadily limped to the window and threw it open. Fresh air blasted inwards, and I breathed deeply. As I gazed out towards the Eastern edge of the city, I heard a soft knocking come at the door.

“Yes?” I called.

“Master Dyre,” Came the diffident voice of Bertram, “The Lady Arefina wishes to know if you will be present for dinner.”

I sniffed under my arm, my nose wrinkling at the stench, “There wouldn’t happen to be an open bath somewhere?”

I heard a muffled chuckle from the other side of the door, “I have taken the liberty of having the bath warmed for you.”

I strode over to the door and opened it. Based on the expression which briefly flitted over Bertram’s face, I looked, and smelled, as bad as I had imagined.

“Lead the way then sir,” I said with more energy than I really felt, “I’m afraid that I am hardly fit to be in the Lady’s company right now.”

Bertram nodded warily. He and the servants had grown used to me, but they still regarded me with a level of wariness. The few wicks among the staff had identified me as a great soul, which made them uncomfortable with the amount of familiarity I showed them. The truth was, I had worked in a lot of positions in my former life which were very similar to those which these people possessed. I honestly felt more in common with them than I did with my fellow mages.

Bertram led me to a downstairs room. The bath itself was a small pool connected to a surprisingly complicated series of pipes. The magic of Esturia was magnificent in many ways, but it would take a truly decadent family to waste essence on something as simple as heating water. Instead, there was a central chamber which had a very primitive boiler, no more than a copper vessel with a fire under it, which provided hot water to the house.

It was still an outrageous luxury to me, who had gotten used to taking sponge baths, or the occasional dip in a river. To those who knew me on Esturia, I was considered somewhat of a clean freak. I had tried to explain germ theory to some of the people with whom I interacted, but Laurel was the only one whom I felt had really understood my explanation of the origin of disease. She had started smelling better the next day.

Thoughts of Laurel dominated my mind as I sank into the warm pool. I wondered how she and the other residents of Vern were doing in my absence. I had thought to send a letter back to them as soon as classes had started, but that had been curtailed by my sudden pseudo-kidnapping by Tylee.

At length, I left the bath, feeling like a new man. A thoughtfully provided razor had smoothed out my face, and Bertram had even offered to cut my hair. I had turned him down, opting instead to bind it back in a tail. I was never certain when I would have the services of a barber and didn’t want to have to maintain a short cut myself. My hair had a tendency to take on the very unflattering aspects of a mushroom if kept at a moderate length, so long hair had become my style.

Washed, shaved, and dressed, I stepped from the bathroom feeling like a completely new man.

“You clean up well.” Tylee noted as I exited.

I jumped slightly, “Have you been waiting for me?”

“You may escort me to the dining room.” She said, ignoring my question.

Tylee, wearing loose pants and a tunic, hardly looked like someone who needed escorting.

“Are you sure that you won’t be the one escorting me?” I asked warily, holding out an arm to her.

She smiled at that, “Even the first lady allows the prince of blades to have the illusion of being her protector, though she is the more powerful of the two.”

I grunted at that as she took my arm, “At least the prince of blades has a respected affinity.”

Tylee gave my arm a squeeze, “I value your affinity and talents above those of many of the great souls whom I know Ethan.”

“Alchemists are useful,” I said, walking beside her, “But the prince could still take me apart with one arm tied behind his back. Something about the benefits of being a hydromancer.”

“Lord Kellen would not have the capacity to heal my sister.” She said simply, “Nor would he have been able to save me on the road to Whelden.”

I shrugged, “Like I said, I’m useful. That doesn’t mean that I’m worth much in a fight.”

I helped her into her chair as she spoke, “Have you made any progress today?”

I seated myself to her left, the place for a guest who did not share the blood of the family.

“Yes.” I said simply as our food was brought out.

Dinner tonight was chicken in some kind of tangy sauce, alongside a violently orange grain which resembled rice, but tasted more like a yam. As usual, I declined wine, opting instead to have my purification tankard brought to me so I could have water.

After taking a few bites, Tylee turned to me, “Would you care to elaborate?”

“I think I have a way to heal your sister.” I said.

Tylee’s chair skidded backwards, “We must go now.”

I held up a hand, “Just a moment my lady. I need to eat first, then talk to you about what exactly I need for the procedure.”

She paused, then scooted her chair forward, “I am listening.”

“There are two ways that this is going to go.” I said, “The poison that I have prepared is going to either have a prolonged effect, or one that will act very quickly. In either case, your sister will be bedridden for another month at least.”

“In the first case, you will need to administer the poison on a daily basis according to some instructions I will leave,” I explained, “It is going to hurt her, and will definitely make her more sick than she is. Stomach cramping with either vomiting or diarrhea, I am not sure which, along with profuse sweating. You will need to get as much sweet, salty water into her as you can.”

“In the second case,” I continued, “The parasite will react violently to the cure. If it does so, I am going to have to draw it out and contain it somehow, or it will kill her.”

She nodded somberly, “I understand the gravity of your situation. What will you require.”

“This is going to be the hardest part,” I said, “I will need you to keep yourself, and everyone else, out of the room while I am performing the treatment.”

“Why?” She asked instantly.

“Because I am going to need to concentrate very hard at weaving the proper magic to draw it out,” I half-lied, “And I can’t afford to have anybody in the room disrupting that concentration. A single mistake could spell her death.”

Her gaze was flat as she looked upon me, “I apologize if you believe that I am a hindrance, but I will insist on being present. This sounds as if it will be dangerous. I cannot protect you or my sister while being barred from the room.”

“That’s the thing Tylee,” I argued, “There is nothing that you can do. And honestly, having someone in there with a great soul could prove as much of a hindrance as a help.”

“Why?”

I sighed, “Because, if I can lure the parasite out, I have a feeling that it is going to be angry. I’ve conducted a few experiments with my samples. If it is placed under stress, it actively starts looking for a host. I don’t want to pull this thing from your sister, only to have it infect you.”

The other part of this was that I was almost certain that I would need to use some white magic to entice the creature. If that happened, I didn’t want Tylee there to observe my power. The woman was a staunch friend, but I didn’t want to test the strength of her loyalty towards me against that of her devotion to the teachings of the church. Namely, the one which required that all white mages be turned over to them.

Tylee remained silent, her eyes searching mine. I tried to look as open as possible. I’m not sure if I succeeded, but I saw the moment when the fight went out of her.

“You’re sure this will work?” She asked.

“As sure as I can be,” I said, “I can do it after dinner. I just needed to prepare myself, and a meal and a bath are about as good a preparation as I can think of.”

I quickly finished my dinner and pushed my chair back, Tylee did not interrupt my task.

“Ethan.” She said as I rose.

I paused, looking at her questioningly.

“I hope that one day you will stop lying to me out of misplaced fear.” She said, then rose, “Come, let us go.”

Tylee escorted me to my lab, where I picked up several pieces of equipment along with the poison, then up to Megaine’s room. Vesk was waiting there, as per his usual orders. I swear that man didn’t sleep or eat.

“Lady,” He said, then turned a hot gaze on me, “Master alchemist.”

“Enough.” Tylee said, “I will be remaining out here. Vesk, you and I will prevent others from entering my sister’s chambers.”

The big man regarded me hotly, but only nodded his assent to his mistress. I ignored him and entered the room where my patient lay.

“Good evening Lady Arefina.” I greeted my patient.

As per usual, she ignored me. I guess it technically doesn’t count as ignoring if she can’t really perceive me. Still, I made the effort. It made me feel a little better.

I laid out a large flask and stoppers, the vessel that I would use to try and contain the parasite if it did indeed come out. I had commissioned the piece to have a second opening, much like a vacuum flask, so that I could push white magic into the vessel in a way that would keep me farther from its actual entry point.

Second, I withdrew a scalpel I had made myself. Sharp as a razor, it had yet to dull, despite my having used it several times. Last of all, I drew on a pair of linen gloves and covered my face as well as I could. I assumed that the parasite could only enter through broken skin or orifices, so I had made sure to cover myself as much as possible.

Uncapping the poison, I raised the woman up and poured a moderate dose into her mouth, then held her mouth shut and massaged her throat until she swallowed it. Stepping back, I capped the poison and placed it out of the way.

That accomplished, I ignited as much white magic as I dared sustain and let it suffuse the outer limits of her circulatory system. The poison would take some time to enter her body, and I wanted the parasite as diffuse as possible before it got hit.

I felt those tendrils reaching, this time from every corner. I brought the flow of white magic to a mere trickle, yet the creature persisted. It appeared to hunger after white magic as much as humans did.

I felt the first drop of poison in Megaine’s blood as a shock. By connecting myself with her, I had also connected myself to the parasite. It sensed the attack, and I felt a primitive sort of confusion wash through Megaine’s body.

I pulled back, then watched carefully. Tylee’s sister remained still as the grave, the only hint of life being the rise and fall of her chest. Ten minutes passed, then twenty. Finally, I started reaching out again.

Megaine’s eyes opened for the first time since I had seen her, causing me to freeze.

“That tasted awful.” She said flatly, “Master Dyre.”

I took an unconscious step back, “Lady Arefina?”

She tried to sit up, only to fall back, clutching her chest. I darted forward, checking her carotid pulse. Her heart was hammering. Watching helplessly, I wondered if I had just killed Tylee’s sister. I would have immediately fired up more white magic if I had thought it would help, rather than hurt her chances of surviving. Instead, I was forced to watch and wait.

Remarkably, her pulse slowed and her eyes opened once again. Their cerulean depths regarded me with all the frigidity of a mountain spring.

“It is not dead.” She said, “It is… hiding.”

“Oh.” I said, “Can you tell where?”

She closed her eyes and I felt a faint surge of power. She grimaced.

“Everywhere.” She said.

I tried the alignment spell. As soon as the magic touched her, I felt a deep hollowness open up inside my belly. Doubling over, I groaned as that hunger spread, as if a billion tiny mouths were chewing away at every cell of my body. Opening my eyes, I looked into Megaine’s and realized something that she had known since the day she had started her hopeless attempts to slow the progress of the disease.

She was going to die.

She had been holding out, hoping for a miracle. It seemed that I had delivered that, though it was a bitter one at best. The poison had hurt the parasite, but not killed it. As long as we kept a decent amount of the stuff flowing through her veins, it would keep the creature out of her circulatory system. It had split itself and fled into the farthest corners of her body. It was slowly but surely draining her, though it would never have the capacity to do as it had before.

“How are your essence reserves?” I asked suddenly.

She looked inward once again before opening her eyes and looking at me, “Dropping slower than before, but still draining. With proper supplementation, I should survive for another two months. It has steadily been leeching my essence from the moment I was infected, the consumption growing larger as time passed. Soon, its rate of extraction will outpace any method of replacement.”

This was completely beyond anything I had prepared for. Tylee had asked for my help, and I had failed to deliver. Worse yet, I had caused something in the parasite to change. Megaine was awake, but that was about all that could be said for the woman’s health.

“Can I try examining you?” I asked.

She nodded in assent and I did a basic physical exam on her. I worked as professionally as possible, but her severe gaze on me made me slightly jumpy. As I had suspected, there was nothing wrong with her body. When I was done, she made a twirling gesture with her finger. I obliged her by standing to face the door. The rustle of sheets and soft padding of feet let me know that she was moving.

“You are rather bold Master Dyre.” She commented, the sound of a drawer opening indicating her intent, “To speak as freely as you do with my sister.”

“Bold enough to tell you that you should still be in bed.” I replied.

“I am dying Ethan,” She said, my name harsh on her lips, “The only difference is that now I can expend the last of my days for the sake of my family, rather than as an invalid. For that, I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life.”

She didn’t elaborate on how short that life would be. I shouldn’t have been surprised at the bitterness in her voice.

“Button me up.” She demanded, stepping in front of me, the back of a simple blue and white dress laying open before me.

I obeyed without comment as she held her long hair before herself. When I finished, she turned to face me.

“You will pretend that you were able to cure me.” She said, it was not request.

“I can’t do that to Tyle-“ I started.

“Forget your foolish belief that you can save the world,” She cut me off, “There are many things that I need to do before I accept the embrace of the goddess. If she believes that I am half as weak as I am, Tylee will not permit me to do what is necessary. She could not stop me, but her efforts would harm her future irrevocably.”

Her eyes flashed dangerously as she looked into my eyes, “If I can do as much, it should not be a difficult thing to ask of you. Do what is necessary Ethan Dyre, or I will tell my sister that you are a rogue white mage.”

I stepped back in shock.

“I have been meditating, not sleeping.” She said, closing the gap between us, “I know what it feels like to be touched by white magic. We both have secrets Ethan. I will keep yours if you will keep mine.”

She loomed over me, despite that fact that I was actually taller than her. I had thought Tylee was a formidable person. Megaine Arefina was a true monster.

I nodded my assent. She watched me for a short while, then nodded in return.

“When I am gone,” She said, “Comfort my sister.”

“I won’t stop looking for a cure.” I shot back.

She shook her head and I saw a note of sadness creep past her icy calm, “You may do as you wish Ethan, but know that I will not wait patiently in bed for you to bring me salvation. You have bought me time, and I do not intend to waste it on something as frivolous as hope for a second miracle.”

She turned and swept out of the room. As joyous cries filled the manor, I felt a deep sense of emptiness. Of that night, I remember two things in particular. Tylee, after lavishing her sister with attention, found me in a corner. I guiltily turned my eyes away from hers. I can only assume that she didn’t see the lie in me because of her own joy.

She gave me a hug that would have crushed one of the mundane servants, leaving me gasping. Stepping back, she held my hands and finally managed to get our gazes to meet.

“Thank you, friend Ethan.” She whispered, her eyes lit from within, “I will always treasure you for this.”

I felt wretched. Tylee’s joy was a fraud, and so was I.

Before the night wound down, I remember meeting Megaine’s eyes one last time. She had answered my occasional looks with a level gaze. This last time though, she dipped her head slightly in acknowledgement.

When I returned to my room, the last sample of the parasite that I had collected and any notes not already transcribed into my grimoire were gone, along with any lingering hope I had of saving Tylee’s sister.

I did not sleep that night.