“When he shall die,

Take him and cut him out in little stars,

And he will make the face of heaven so fine

That all the world will be in love with night

And pay no worship to the garish sun.”

- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

“I thought you would be contacting me.” Valeria Jangres looked sleep-deprived but collected with deep dark rings around her eyes.

Alyssa stood before her.

“What the heck happened to you?” The teacher looked her up and down. “Did the guard…? No, that was an illusion I sensed, wasn’t it? You were covering those up.” She motioned toward the black eye and the runes.

The girl nodded, “Teacher, I still need to use your laboratory. It is more urgent than ever.”

“Tell that to the damn guard. They ransacked my store broke my locks and...I don’t even know if something is still missing in some evidence chest somewhere. I have only begun to tidy up and the damage to my reputation...” She sighed. “Could you ask the princess for an endorsement? Pretty please?”

“Why did you return to the academy?” Alyssa looked curious.

“I had something to talk about with the magister and he with me.” She sighed, again. “So, you need the laboratory? Does it have something to do with you looking like the living dead? Just kidding, misery loves company they say. Give me a day, I will draft a note for you to skip school and free up my Tuesday. Does that work for you?“

Alyssa was stunned. “Thank you! Why are you doing this?”

“Looking the gift horse in the mouth?” She smirked, “It’s mostly that your friends rescued me too and if they try this shit with my students and me, I get angry and want to do the exact opposite of what I think they want. I was well known as a contrary bitch in the academy.” Seeing Alyssa a bit shocked she snickered, “and at the moment I can’t give a damn for decorum. So, you don’t tell my students I am a human being and I ready the lab for you. Deal?”

The white-haired girl gave a lop-sided smile and nodded, “Deal.”

“Glad to hear it. Say, they did something to you didn’t they? You are much more withdrawn even more so than the times when the other students spread some gossip again. If you want to talk sometimes or need some help, tell me. I might be a teacher for the free advertisement and connections but this does not mean I am no teacher.”

“I…” Alyssa hesitated. “...lost a lot of my vitality using the void and I truly need the potion. Before I have that I am unsure that I could even talk about anything of worth. Everything is so meaningless right now. I only know intellectually that I have to do something about that.”

“Do your friends know how bad it is?”

“Perhaps.” She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“Mh. I will bring you to the dorms and until we get that damn potion made you don’t leave the sight of one of your friends.”

Alyssa nodded, “Ah, I forget to mention, it will only be my friend Vanessa and perhaps Iseret or Alea. I cannot leave the academy grounds because of the incidents at the Norngrad Fortress.”

“That should be ok. But I truly wanted to ask you. Where and how did they vanish. My laboratory has no other exit for security reasons. It's really strange.” She eyed Alyssa critically. “Don’t worry I won’t hold it against you. Who was implicated by whom is a good and relatively pointless question and I can think of some reasons to harm my humble self so perhaps you were the innocent bystanders caught in the action...and perhaps it was two for the price of one. As long as nothing worse happens I count it as even. Iseret was the snake, pardon, the Keshian?”

“Yes. She is a maid…”

Valeria laughed heartily. “Yes, of course. And I am a butler. Don’t worry I will have the lab ready by Tuesday. But then you won't need to be excused so please diligently attend the lessons.” She grinned.

The alchemist escorted Alyssa back to the dorm and left her in Alea’s hands who was alarmed by the young woman’s warning. “Don’t let Alyssa leave your sight for long. She is unstable after whatever happened in the Fortress. Please be careful.”

Somewhere on the Academy Grounds

“Meow.”

“Up to your old tricks again, huh?” Mireille looked up at the tree with the feathered cat in the upper branches.

“Meeeeooooow” Semiramis mewled pitifully and looked helpless.

“You can fly, I have seen it you know?”

“Mrrrow.”

“Don’t think I won’t get you down but it will not be as entertaining as the last time.

The cat looked at her curiously and batted her paw in her direction.

Concentrating on the lightning in her body Mireille jumped and easily reached a thick branch in the middle of the tree.

“Meow.”

“Just you wait. I will fluff you until you purr.” Mireille vowed then jumped a bit higher.

Semiramis swished her tail excitedly and paced back and forth.

Calculating the distance Mireille jumped again and grabbed the feline from her perch. “Meeeeooow!”

Both plummeted back towards the earth but lightning coursed along her limbs and slowed her fall. She hit the ground with some left-over momentum causing her to kneel. Lightning arced away to the sides and burnt the ground in a circular pattern. The cat licked her hand and looked satisfied.

“Did you do this only to have me jump you around? You can fly Gesserach be damned.”

“Meow.”

“Why are you talking to the cat? Is that the one Professor Flammensiegel has adopted?” Paula waited with two practice weapons carried over her shoulder.

“Yes, this is Semiramis. Semiramis, this is Paula.” Mireille conscientiously introduced them to each other.

“Charmed.” Paula laughed, “Do you think we might hurry over to Sword One? I don’t like to be chewed out by Mrs. Julia.”

“Yes, let’s. Sorry kitten.” Mireille hugged the cat and then set her down gently.

The feline brushed along her legs with tail held high and then ran behind the next building.

“Good to see you can still smile. I did not expect you of all people to be so gloomy.” Paula kicked her feet as they were walking.

“It's my friend, Alyssa. She had some bad times and she worries me. I worry so much I don’t even have an appetite. Normally I can cheer her up whatever happens but the last weeks were bad, really bad.” She frowned.

“I hope she gets better. I did not know her but it seems I met her before class a few days ago. She was a bit sad looking and I gave her a candy. That made her feel better at least it looked that way. Later some of my friends warned me to be careful about her and other students were saying even worse things. No wonder she feels bad.”

“Thank you for that.” Mireille smiled then hesitated. “You might not happen to have some spare candy left?”

“You! What was that about having no appetite!?” Paula hit her on the upper arm and then laughed before scrounging a candy wrapped in cloth.

“Thanks!”

Norngrad Fortress, a Study.

The captain of Norngrad fortress frowned at the report. “We have two instances of unauthorized access recorded by divination wards. And one of them was the third story? How sure are you that those results are true and not only that way because we don’t usually activate the runes?”

“Very sure. But I cannot explain it, I’m stumped. The expenditure of keeping those runes active is costing too much, I recommend we report it but end the heightened state of alert.”

“Might as well.” The captain turned and looked outside at the deepening dusk. It was becoming a common occurrence to witness the sun only from inside the fortress.

The mage-guard hesitated and then asked, “Why was the heightened alert implemented at this time? I did not see anything explaining that.”

The captain sighed. “It came down from the palace. There was a communication from a royal knight warning us of possible security risks. What with the bluestone scandal and all we thought it prudent. Now I am not so sure…”

“What was the name of the knight?”

The captain raised an eyebrow in alarm. “Don’t think of getting me further into that mess. I was burned once already.”

“It’s just a hunch. If there are more problems in the future it would be good to have some more information.”

“Mh. It cannot hurt. It was the knight Halvar von Landesend.”

“Thank you. I will then be going.”

“Yes, hopefully, I can leave before the ninth bell.” The captain's frown deepened as he waved the mage-guard off.

Outside the smaller man in the robes of the magical corps sought out an empty office, no great feat at that time of day, and formed a rune sparrow. “Kestrel, I have news…”

After finishing the report the sparrow shot forth toward the palace and into the hands of a certain spy mistress working for the king.

Market Ward after nightfall

The moon hung full and close in a rare clear sky. Stars were dim and distant obscured by the light of the city. Vanessa breathed deeply and felt the tang of rust and coal at the back of her throat. Iseret looked at her and smiled hidden beneath a scarf wound protectively about her lower face. The nighttime streets were mostly deserted. Windows lit from within glowed softly. Smoke curled from chimneys before being dispersed by a stiff wind.

“What is it?” Vanessa looked at her companion having noticed her regard.

“Just looking at the most beautiful stars.”

Vanessa’s lambent blue eyes widened a bit then she turned her head in embarrassment. “How can you say that with a straight face?”

“I thought I could try being more honest with you.” Iseret calmly replied. “My life at least is too short for me to waste it carelessly.”

“And you want to say because I live longer I waste it more?”

“That is one interpretation.” Yellow eyes contained a silent smile.

“Let’s not talk about that now.” Vanessa fidgeted. “I have to concentrate for the potion to be of use. It is not every day that I brew such a potent elixir.”

They walked the rest of the way in silence. A carriage driven by an automaton clattered by clockwork rattling. An older man shivering in his heavy coat walked hastily down the street and passed them by. Distant music sounded from a tavern as one of the guests opened the door before fading again with its closing, the patron leaned against a nearby wall to relieve himself.

Vanessa wrinkled her nose and hastened her steps pulling Iseret with her. With a casual sort of normalcy, the taller woman linked her fingers with the vampire girls. Only when they reached the ‘Natural Remedies’ did Vanessa realize her predicament and quickly let go of the warm hand that fit so naturally in her own.

Valeria opened up after only two knocks and gestured them inside. “Good evening ladies.”

“Suilad.” (Greetings), Iseret nodded in greeting.

A man in his late thirties attired in chain and armed with both a wand and a short sword sat on a chair near the entrance.

“Don’t be alarmed, that is Markus. I employ him from time to time when I worry about ‘interruptions’. Do regard him as part of the furniture, he will not be coming with us into the laboratory.”

“Ladies.” The man lowered his head without letting them out of his sight then he turned toward Mrs. Jangres and shook his head. “Tsk. As bad-tempered as always. I don’t know why I put up with you.”

“Because of my winning personality and good looks of course.”

The mercenary chuckled and leaned back signaling his disinterest in further conversation.

The alchemist led them into the back room and pointed at a table. “That is all of my left-over ingredients. Ingredients that I had collected were missing. Did you take some with you when you fled?”

Vanessa nodded. “There was no time to sort it so I took it all. I would have compensated you regardless have no fear.”

“Oh that is not what I was talking about. Ms. Miner paid for that in full. If you need something more let me know. Do you need assistance with the process?”

“That would actually be appreciated. I had thought to enlist Alyssa’s or Alea’s help but both are otherwise detained.”

Speaking about the technicalities of the undertaking Iseret sat down in a corner and kept an eye out for trouble while taking the time to admire Vanessa’s focus and professionalism.

After hours of careful work extracting, boiling, and distilling- the finalized potion dripped from a pipe cooled by water and accumulated in a thick-walled glass vial. Each drop sizzled when hitting the surface and thick, heavy vapor swum on the surface of the slightly orange liquid. There was a glow inside caused by short-lived sparks that came and went over the course of a few seconds like fireflies winking in the woods at dusk.

They filled two vials with the concoction before the distillation vessel ran dry caked with a reddish crust.

“That is all we will get. And those were some exotic ingredients.” Valeria wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief. “Do you think it will be enough?”

“No, I don’t think so. I fear we will have to acquire more reagents and then create another batch. But for the moment it must suffice.” Vanessa looked regretful. “Before the Fortress, I would have been more positive but I was perhaps too naive.”

“I welcome your patronage but tell me in advance I have a business to run.” Valeria grinned to take the sting out of the comment.

“Noted. I thank you for the help. If there is anything I can do for you in the future please ask.”

“It was my pleasure. As I mentioned to Alyssa I hate being made a fool of. It will bring me satisfaction to hurt whatever or whoever planned that. Take that as my payment.”

“If you change your mind contact me. Thank you again and goodbye.”

“I will bring this to Alyssa. I think it would be best to take it as soon as possible?” Iseret looked at Vanessa questioningly.

“Yes, that would be best. Save the other vial for later or for Alea’s grandmother. Whoever needs it more urgently- I trust your judgment.”

Iseret smiled softly leaned down and kissed Vanessa’s cheek. Her smile turned more mischievous as she waved and left.

Vanessa looked conflicted touched her cheek and was lost in thought as a guardsman looked at her concernedly. “Miss? Are you alright?”

She came to and answered automatically. “Yes, everything’s fine. I was just thinking. Thank you!”

Wisteria Dorms

Back in the Wisteria Dorm Iseret softly shook Alyssa awake. Startled and with a strangled scream the sleeping girl woke up. Mireille blinked owlishly at the sudden intrusion and mumbled something still half-asleep.

Iseret carefully but insistently pulled Alyssa to a sitting position. “Vanessa and Mrs. Jangres brewed the potion for you. I have it with me and recommend you take it immediately. I worry that something might happen to delay or even prevent you from taking it.”

“Thank you. And when you see Vanessa thank her from me too.”

Alyssa took the offered potion looked at the gleaming liquid and then shrugged before opening the vial and drinking it down.

“That looks healthy.” Mireille yawned then pursed her mouth skeptically.

Warmth streamed into nearly frozen veins and lit her whole body from within. Parts of her, namely her left arm and face, began to hurt with pins and needles as if waking up after being deprived of blood for too long. Tears involuntarily fell from her right eye as she shuddered with the overwhelming sensations suddenly battering her. But it was merely a small fire burning in an arctic winter, hardly enough to know what you were missing.

Mireille hugged her from the side. “Everything ok with you?” She asked worriedly.

After the first surge had subsided Alyssa took a deep breath and gave a tentative smile. “That was really nice. I had feared the worst- But now I know that I was far from normal and am not nearly ‘cured’. I fear that I have to ask Vanessa to help me make another potion as soon as possible.”

“We foresaw that already. Preparation for that has begun.”

“Thank Meloris.”

“No, thank Nirileth!” Mireille grinned, teeth glowing in the dim light.

“Why is that?” Alyssa laughed.

“You are not even a bit religious and I really like my goddess. So she would have helped a lot more!”

Alyssa’s tears fell again as she hugged Mireille back. “Thank you all. I think this is the first time in days that I’m optimistic for the future again.”

Iseret drew back and smiled before silently opening the door and exiting the dorm.

Kadira was waiting for her report.