Chapter 014

Surprise

“You can do better, Alevier!” came Jarkiso’s voice from behind him. But he could not afford to look back, he was busy gasping for air and forcing his body to take another step on the empty streets of southern Ambrosio. No, Ambrosio was not a ghost city, in fact, it was one of the most populous cities in the kingdom of Ozyandous, it was just that no one usually came out of their warm and cosy houses at four on a cold autumn morning.

As he took another step towards the edge of the city, the welcoming site of the academy and the Kokru hills came into Alevier’s view. His heart ached in his chest, a drop of sweat trickled down his cheek but, he kept moving on - just a little more and he would have completed today’s goal. He planned on stopping at the edge of the hill’s slope but he ended up clumsily stumbling on his foot, and his weary body did little to react. He closed his eyes as he fell on his face, he could not tense his body for his muscles denied any more effort. Thus, his heavy body collapsed but, a soft hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder and prevented him from falling.

Alevier turned his head to look at his saviour - a smiling, red-faced Cale.

“W-watch your foot,” she panted as she helped him regain his balance.

He hated being a burden to someone else.

After catching his breath, he said, “Ah, sorry for the inconvenience.”

For some reason, he felt more tired today. His vision was blurry and his head, heavy. His breakfast planned on retracing its path out of his mouth hence making him all the more nauseous. He really should have not stolen from the kitchen before going for training. Life sucks.

“It’s… it's okay,” replied Cale. A second later, Jarkiso stepped out of thin air in front of the duo. He looked towards Alevier before turning toward her.

“Why did you help him?” he asked.

Cale frowned, “So I should have let him fall?”

“Yes.”

“What? Why would you want that?” snapped Cale. Well, Alevier would have not minded if he’d have fallen, he would have got a few seconds to relax on the ground that way. Moreover, he was tired, so he was not affected by Jarkiso’s words.

“So he could learn to pick himself up,” said Jarkiso as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Seriously?” Cale complained while Alevier relaxed for the next round of exercise which would come as soon as this conversation was over.

Jarkiso sighed and thought how children these days don’t understand how lucky they are when they hurt themselves while training - that way they would learn from their mistakes for one does not get a second chance on a battlefield.

“Anyway, begin with the push-ups,” said Jarkiso as if nothing happened. “We still have a lot to do!”

Cale tried to protest, “But-”

“No buts,” Jarkiso cut her off. “Let’s go.”

Alevier looked into Jarkiso’s resolute eyes. What has to be done has to be done and he really wanted to be done with today’s exercise as quickly as possible. He fell on the ground and silently began with the push-ups, unaffected by Cale’s surprised look.

* * *

“Are you alright, Alevier?” asked Methra as she shook his shoulder. He had been sitting in a daze for some time now.

Alevier blinked his eyes and looked around. Ah yes, he was in the alchemy labs, it was ten in the morning and the lesson had begun not long ago. It was a good thing that he did not wake up in the hospital after Jarkiso's training. He shook his head and looked back at Methra.

“Uh professor, I think I was just a bit sleepy,” he replied with a smile.

“You should sleep on time then. I believe you are staying up all night to cover whatever you had missed, is that so?” she asked. “If that is the case then don’t do it, it is bad for your health.”

“Okay, professor. Sorry for spacing out,” he said. Despite his answer, he intended to continue with his all-night study sessions - he had a habit of sleeping less, it was only today he lost his concentration on what his teacher was teaching. Something was strange, maybe it was because of the daily workout? Whatever the case, he should focus on his lessons now, he can think over it later.

“So class we had finished our first chapter - ‘Measurements and Basic Transmutations’ yesterday,” said Methra as she walked around the lab. “So we will begin with our second chapter that is Acids, Bases and Salts.”

The students sighed, that damn chapter had been taught to them in their 1st year as well as their 2nd year. Just how many times will they teach it?

“However,” said Methra firmly, all the low whispers that were waltzing around the students ceased. “That is a very boring chapter and I believe that you all know it well enough already. I have seen your previous year’s answer sheets. You all know the basics very well. 3rd-year’s ‘Acids, Bases and Salts’ isn’t really difficult - you just have a few more reactions and properties. So don’t be salty for I would like to start with a much exciting chapter - Pyroalchemic and Cryoalchemic substances !”

The class's mood took a u-turn and the students burst into cheers. Pyroalchemic and Cryoalchemic substances - if their seniors were not tricking them - was a euphemism for Explosive Alchemy. After all, every alchemist worth his gold should know how to blow up a thing or two.

“So, let’s begin!” exclaimed Methra. “Since your textbook only covers this chapter superficially, I will need to teach you the small bits and safety measures so you make the required substances while not having blown your head off. So pay attention.”

Methra conjured a black screen in front of the class using an illusion spell.

“So we are going to make Primagtrinitrotoluene or simply PMNT. It is nicknamed ‘The Woe of Yshban’,” said Methra as words appeared on the screen in white letters. “Can anyone tell me the reason behind its nickname?”

A number of students raised their hand desperate to answer - all of them wanted to be viewed as good students in front of their teacher.

Methra gestured a student to answer.

The student got up to answer, “It was first produced when the Syothaos empire still existed, around the time Yshbaninan invaders began their conquest on the Bulavtos continent. The Yshbans brought with them new types of spell formulae which made their spellcasting mediums more efficient and along with their large forces they rapidly captured the coastal cities which were unable to defend against their brutal assault.“

Alevier raised an eyebrow. It was more like the Syothese used their coastal cities as cannon fodder to test their opponent’s strength - those heartless bastards didn’t take over the whole Bulavtos continent for nothing.

“However, it was this certain substance which turned the tide of the battle when Syothese invented mines using it. The Syothaos empire lured the invaders into the minefields. Since PMNT was rather undetectable by most scrying spells of that time, the Yshbans advanced with full force into the mainland only to be devastated by the traps left by the Syothese. After suffering some major casualties, the Yshban invaders were forced to retreat. Since the invasion failed precisely because of PMNT, it was nicknamed 'The Woe of Yshban'.”

“Exactly,” clapped Methra. "Sit down, please. So class, that is the story behind this substance's other name. Did you all know that the Syosh Crater was a result of this substance detonating in large quantities?”

An expression of awe was plastered on each student’s face, except for one - Alevier, who was expressionlessly staring at the screen. But Methra thought that he was just studying what was written on the screen so she did not point him out.

“Okay, although PMNT is popularly used as a military grade explosive, we are not here to make bombs,” said Methra. “We will learn its uses as a powerful impulse provider and as a generator of charge transfer salts which are difficult to make through simple transmutation spells.”

On the screen, she drew the structure of PMNT. Since magical spectroscopy and high-magnifying spells were invented almost a century ago, the structure of molecules was no mystery to the people of this era. Such knowledge was common - as common as a student’s suffering.

(AN: Only read the next paragraph if you are not disgusted/scared of chemistry.)

“Note this down,” she ordered. “Although the structure of PMNT is very similar to trinitrotoluene, there is a mana-rich, semi-stable primer spell model in the benzene ring and that is precisely the thing which sets the two apart. That spell model almost doubles its heat of detonation while not changing its activation energy. And it has been speculated that the cloud of negatively charged particles - which have been discovered last year and have been named electrons - tend to mask the presence of the spell model thus, a lot of scrying spells identify it as a simple salt or as a biomolecule.”

She proceeded to explain PMNT’s structure and physical properties which were rather boring yet, the students managed to not get distracted for they were eagerly waiting when their teacher would ask them to synthesize that certain substance. Unfortunately, time did not permit it and the bell rang signalling the end of the lesson.

Thus, the exciting class ended in unexpected disappointment but, disappointment was Alevier’s close friend so he did not mind. Thus, the day went on...

* * *

There was a major difference between Ambrosio during early morning and Ambrosio during the evening. The city was brimming with life and activity - even though the sky was dull, the streets were lit bright with the magical lamp posts. There was not a single house whose windows were dark, each family was at their dinner table cheerfully chewing on the food rewarded to them after a long hard day.

While some people liked to relax in their house during an autumn evening, some chose to wander the crowded markets of Ambrosio. Stalls were set up and shops were open; at every third shop or so, you could see a person loudly bargaining with a merchant. There was much noise in the air but, the lovely smell of the delicious food the street vendors cooked made this atmosphere enjoyable.

Alas! The same air could not be found in a less-crowded street. This street was not dark or dangerous, in fact, it was the widest and the most brightly lit one. However, the shops and the restaurants that this street housed were fortified against the hoards of common people - fortified by the price of their goods and services.

You could show this price to a normal resident of Ambrosio and he would laugh his head off asking you what gibberish is it, and if you would tell him that this is the price of a meal at the famous Frodo Restaurant, he would ask you if all the money earn by him, his father and his grandfather could amount to a single meal?

So yeah, this street - nicknamed the Gold Street of Ambrosio - was reserved for the rich for no commoner would like to embarrass himself by entering this place and laugh wryly at his lack of wealth. Therefore, it struck Alevier as awkward when Jaysaun walked into the Gold Street, making him stop in his tracks.

“What is it, Alevier?” asked Jaysaun when he noticed his friend had stopped in his tracks.

“Where are we going?”

“To the Zian Restaurant,” said Jaysaun in a matter-of-factly tone.

Alevier gave him a sad expression. “I don’t think I will be able to afford a meal there.”

“Who said you are going to pay anything?” smiled Jaysaun.

“Wait, so you have enough money to get us both a meal?”

“Duh. I am the son of the finance minister of the state, what do you expect? Of course, I am filthy rich,” Jaysaun puffed out his chest and laughed. “Come on now, Sinchiya would be waiting for us along with a surprise for you!”

Alevier inwardly snorted. He would have spent this money on alchemic supplies instead of treating a friend with an expensive meal. Guess Jaysaun was more generous than him.

While Jaysaun confidently strode forward, Alevier meekly followed behind him. Maybe it was because Jaysaun was wearing a more-casual attire than Alevier who was nervously dressed up.

It took them a short walk to reach the Zian Restaurant. In Alevier’s opinion, this restaurant was nothing short of fancy - one could see its great interior through the large glass panes which constituted most of its facade. At the entrance, a grey-haired man in a black suit was standing, his posture strict and straight. Alevier would have mistaken him for a life-like statue had he not greeted the duo when they approached him.

“Good evening gentlemen,” he said rather politely.

“Good evening Mr Getter, how are you doing?” replied Jaysaun cheerfully.

The man smiled. “Mr Lumious, I do not intend to be rude but while I am at work please keep our conversations formal - it does not seem proper to other customers.”

“Ah okay. Sorry for that,” said Jaysaun. “So, can you check our reservations.”

“Sure,” the man took out a pocket watch from his coat and flipped it open. After a short moment of scrutinizing, the man closed it and slid it back in his coat.

“A table for four, reserved from six in the evening to twelve at night,” he said. “I will have one of our waiters guide you there.”

Getter turned and a small ring of a bell was heard. A waiter hastened over to the entrance - he was a dark young man clad in a neat uniform and however nervous his face was, his demeanour was graceful.

“Setinio would please guide our customers to table nineteen,” said Getter.

“Yes sir,” responded the young man. He turned towards Alevier and Jaysaun. “Gentlemen would you please follow me.”

“Lead the way,” said Jaysaun.

The duo followed Setinio into the lavish restaurant.

Alevier could have described the whole restaurant with one word - rich. The whole interior was decorated with golden magical lights placed on the silver-white walls which had some detailed carving on them. A golden chandelier hung from the impressively painted ceiling which depicted a man extending his arm towards a golden apple which hung from a green tree.

A sweet melody played in the background. The music was gentle, like the fragrance of lavenders which wafted into Alevier’s nose. However, he knew that this was not lavender - it was the smell of an anti-anxiety potion which was popularly used as a room freshener in noble households, so it was obvious that this potion was difficult to make and expensive to buy thus, it only spoke of how costly this place was.

Damn.

“Here is your table, sir,” said the waiter as he showed them to a dining table next to the wall with a pair of chairs on either side - the table was clad in spotless white tablecloth with golden embroidery, upon it was a slim vase of flowers and four plates along with a set of silver spoons and forks for each. Now Alevier seriously needed more synonyms of fancy to describe this whole place.

Sinchiya was sitting at the table with the chair next to her empty. She wore a green dress which matched with her long green hair which was tied into a bun, but she left her bangs hanging from the sides.

“Oh, you two are here,” she said coolly. “Take a seat.”

Jaysaun rolled his eyes as he sat down opposite to Sinchiya while Alevier sat next to him.

“Yeah, it is totally like you own this place,” said Jaysaun sarcastically.

“It’s a matter of choice, it would take one message to my father for him to buy this place,” Sinchiya snickered. “You aren’t the only one with a rich father.”

Jaysaun humphed.

“Talking about rich, Alevier is dressed much better than you,” said Sinchiya. “I mean, coming in a lousy sweater with a pair of worn out trousers isn’t really befitting of the son of a minister.”

“Oh come on! I had this custom made for myself!”

“Yes, I know, your choice is terrible,” giggled Sinchiya. “Honestly, Alevier looks so much smarter than you in his grey waistcoat. Jay, you really don’t leave any chance to embarrass me, do you?”

Sinchiya looked at Alevier who felt a bit happy and a bit awkward at being called smart.

“Eh- what?” asked Alevier.

“A lady just complimented you, aren’t you supposed to do the same as a gesture of politeness?” asked Sinchiya.

Alevier could almost hear Jaysaun scoffing at the word 'lady'.

“I am not used to praised by beautiful women. Moreover, I am afraid that acclaiming your gorgeous dress would be a call for war against my friend right here,” said Alevier.

Sinchiya laughed in a ladylike manner while Jaysaun lightly punched him in the shoulder.

“Damn you. Stealing all that smoothness from me,” chuckled Jaysaun.

“By the way,” said Alevier. “Why are there four seats? Don’t tell me the surprise you mentioned is a person.”

“Oh, he guessed it correct,” said Sinchiya. “You lost the bet Jaysaun.”

“Man! Curse my luck - Al, you have to be so smart, don’t you?” sighed Jaysaun. “Yeah, someone will be joining us.”

“Who is it?” asked Alevier, his gut was telling him that something was wrong.

“You remember when you were at the hospital and I informed you about the three new transfer students?”

“No,“ he said bluntly. ”It did not matter much to me so I must have not paid much attention to it.”

“Well, guess what? Two of them are girls-”

Alevier jumped in in seat, he did not need to hear Sinchiya’s next words.

“-And one of them will be joining us!” exclaimed Jaysaun.

Okay wish granted: Jaysaun completed her sentence. However, it did not change the feeling of something terrible coming up which haunted Alevier’s mind.

“...Don’t tell me that by ‘surprise’ you meant that you are setting me up with her,” Alevier asked wide-eyed.

“That is half-correct. You will be setting her yourself, I and Sinchiya are here just to help. Just keep calm, you can do it!”

“Hell no, I cannot and I won’t!” Alevier protested.

“I am going to push you out of your sad and lonely zone, come what may,” said Jaysaun with a wide grin. “Sinchiya, when will she arrive.”

“She had arrived with me, however, she had gone to the restroom a while ago. She should be coming any second now - ah, there she is,” said Sinchiya gesturing towards someone approaching from behind Alevier.

Alevier tired to get up to leave but Jaysaun used his strength to plant him down.

“You aren’t going anywhere, you block of ice,” laughed Jaysaun, the expression of schadenfreude vivid on his face.

Alevier panicked and desperately moved in his seat only to have Jaysaun conjure thin chains of light that wounded round his legs to keep him down.

“How the hell?”

“You can’t escape!” giggled Jaysaun as he played with a wand in his hand.

Alevier really needed to leave, he knew that if he did not then something disastrous will happen. But these forsaken chains, why are they so strong? He desperately struggled but in the end, he was too late.

“Hello!” said a sweet female voice.

There was no escaping trouble now.