Inside a dimly lit room standing in front of a cauldron a young girl stood, infusing her mana into the cauldron to mix the ingredients together. The Girls red eyes reflected the green flame in the cauldron lighting up the room to reveal a middle aged man standing in the back, purple eyes affixed to every movement made ready to step in if there was any problem.

“Good, now add the silver herb until the flame turns orange and that should be everything, remember not to let up on the flame, keep it hot until it's all mixed and only then, slowly bring the temperature down.”

“Yes, teacher.”

Replaying almost by instinct, she begins to add the herb with one hand while keeping the mana circulating with the other, but it seemed this was too much for her to handle alone as the mana flow was now all coming from one side and with so many ingredients in the pot it was at risk from overheating.

Feeling the temperature in the room rise, the teacher was quick to leap into action, placing his hand on the other side of the pot and circulating his own mana to match his student, a feat not many could do.

“Katja, you still don’t know when to ask for help, an alchemist is a job for two people, never forget that.”

“Yes, teacher.”

Another answer by instinct, although he didn’t mind, he knew that she was focusing so much that she was short sighted, probably the only flaw in his student. He didn’t expect to find such a promising bud out in the sticks but nevertheless here he was, inside the counts house teaching their daughter. With her talent she would be able to break away from their house and become a full time alchemist in 2 years when she turns 18, since her parents are counts they’ll be able to relocate into the capital for a relaxing desk job leaving this city to be taken over by another count.

Seeing the process come to an end he was about to remind her about the flame but it seems she didn’t need reminding, turning the flame down gradually he begins to think she learnt from watching him. Looking at her now, he sees she has really grown up, no longer the child who would come to watch with curiosity now a fully fledged alchemist.

“good, a perfect healing potion if I do say so.”

“teacher there's no need for the false compliments.”

“No no, I’m being serious, next week we'll make the purple heart and once you've done that you will officially be an alchemist. When your parents get back, we’ll show them the fruits of your labour and they’re bound to accept my proposal. And in two years you’ll be a master alchemist like me.”

“I would love that.” The girl looks to her teacher, master alchemist gullveig, and flashes a wide smile not knowing that her parents wouldn’t return to give such a blessing.

pov: Joseph

Dragging the husk along the street we make it to the cafe in question, despite being so different they end up all looking the same, thinking back that Gullviegs was the only store that truly stood out.

Making our way inside a prim woman made her way over, rosy cheeks and a white dress complimenting her blond hair she introduced herself as Elaine.

“Hello young master, countess?” shooting a questioning look towards mother I can tell she has questions.

“Hi, Elaine, would you be able to provide me with your most private seats for myself and mother.” I feel her grip tighten at the end of that sentence but I continue to ignore it.

“O-Of course young master, so proper for somebody so young, follow me.”

Following behind we make it to the penthouse a table for two overlooking the city and despite it being open air, it still feels quite warm, perhaps sensing my confusion Elaine speaks up.

“This has been warded but wind magic to keep the heat in and the wind out allowing a view without any of the downsides, when you’re ready to order ring the bell on the table.”

Sitting down opposite my mother I took a second to take in the view of the city, the sun was setting, leaving an orange hue over the city. I could see everything in the south side of the city from here, and on the side I could see the blacksmith’s smoke billowing from the factory.

“Mother?”

Ellisating no reaction from her I can see she’s still in a daze, I don’t know what has knocked her so. Feeling like there is no other way to knock her out of this daze I prepare myself before I speak.

"M-mum?"

Finally getting a reaction from her I see her eyes open in surprise as she meets my eyes. Knowing I can't hide my face I just accept the situation I'm in, feeling like I've just betrayed my old mum, I know my face will be all sorts of messed up. I feel the most guilt for this person opposite me right now, I find it hard to accept her as my mum, it's why I've only been calling her mother, it's why I've been dreading the day when we're alone and everything comes crumbling down.

"What did you say just now?" Hearing the tremble in her voice doesn't help my situation at all, looking into her eyes I see the love there, just like mum. It's different, or maybe I'm different, too set in the past, unable to move on. Convincing myself that I'm not betraying my old mum, I'm just comforting my new one. I'm able to calm my emotions.

"Mum, can you explain what's wrong?"

Seeing the shock disappear from her eyes and its instead replaced with a warm look, I begin to relax under the look. "I've truly worried you child, guess I was just lost in the past there."

"When I was younger, there was an alchemist that moved into this city, he was brilliant, I would go to his shop whenever I was free to watch him work. Eventually I worked up the courage to ask him to teach me, obviously he refused at first but I am stubborn and persistent to say the least and after a couple private lessons he took me in as an official disciple."

Seeing the sadness return I can see she is forcing herself to tell this story, and the more I listen to her the more I see my mum in her actions.

"I was good at it, something I was proud of. Alchemy, I had talent, thought it was fate but fate said otherwise. During the war with Osoerde your grandparents died, leaving me with nothing, the duke came along with his bargaining. Abandon your nobility or take a suitable husband and govern the city. I had just lost my parents and he was asking me to choose between my future and their legacy. I wanted to be an alchemist but fate chose otherwise. I picked your father, I'm the one that forced him to marry me, forced him to sacrifice his future just like I did. He should hate me, but that fool doesn't, so that leaves me with nobody else to hate."

Seeing despair shade her face I can see she's just poured her heart out to me, probably told me things my siblings don't even know. Seeing the light of day disappear and the outside lamps turn on I feel like we've been sitting here for longer than I thought. I know I need to say something but the words are just getting caught in my throat. I feel like I'm looking into a mirror at this point, someone so caught up in their past they can't see the future.

With a new family, I smile as I meet her eyes, "Mum, we all make sacrifices for this city, we will be giving up some of our childhood for the betterment of this city. Is it right, no, would I change my position, maybe, but I can't. You talk of fate like you can change it, sometimes it's best to just go with the flow and come to love the things that come with it." Extending my hand to hold hers I see a smile creep onto her face. Why have I been so caught up in the past? Nobody ever gets a second chance in life. I should just accept it and live happily, with my new family and my new mum.

Looking behind my new mum feels like I see somebody standing there, a tough looking woman with black hair and eyes, looking to be in her late 50s. She smiles wholeheartedly before disappearing. Looking at my new mum I see her red eyes have been filled with tears that she is currently wiping away, "yes you're right Joseph, why should I think about what's done, I have a family that I love, what more could I ask for. You know what, I might just take up Alchemy again, I still remember my old ways."

I reach up to the glass lockheart that I'm currently wearing prepared to give it to her, after all, it was probably meant for her anyway. "No you keep it, it's something I need to overcome on my own. I'll be the one to return it, brand new as well." Seeing her smile now, I feel stupid, all this time I’ve been ignoring the best gift I could have got, a second chance. Looking out into the city I feel myself start to smile as well, this day has been a lot better than I thought.