Chapter Fifty: A Little Chemistry

  The scent of herbs and aged parchment filled the air. Alice stepped into the room, her footsteps muffled by the worn stone floor. She glanced at Jace, her eyes gleaming with a shared understanding.

  “Do you have Dark Vision?” she asked softly, her voice barely a whisper.

  Jace nodded. “Yeah, I do.”

  “Best not to make too much light, then,” Alice replied. “We should just use our Dark Vision. Shouldn’t need a protection barrier.”

  They moved silently, their eyes adjusting to the shadows. The room was a maze of ancient bookshelves, tables cluttered with alchemical equipment, and mysterious jars filled with glowing substances. Alice led the way to a large wooden table in the center, her fingers brushing over the surface as she began to clear a space.

  “Let’s get this set up,” she murmured, her movements fluid and practiced. Jace followed her lead, setting out the ingredients with meticulous care. “Grab a small cauldron from the cupboard.” She pointed to a dark corner of the room.

  Opening the cupboard, Jace reached for an iron cauldron that had clearly seen better decades, but his fingers slipped, sending it clattering to the ground with a deafening crash. Both of them flinched at the noise, their bodies tense. Then, as the echo faded, they shared a quiet, conspiratorial laugh.

  “On second thought,” Alice said, her voice laced with amusement, “I think I’m going to set up a protective barrier. Luckily, it’s something I’ve been practicing.”

  She focused her mind, summoning a shimmering Sapphire Shard that glowed faintly in the dim light, casting an ethereal blue hue across her face. With her other hand, she conjured the Tome of Secrets, its cover adorned with intricate patterns. The book opened on its own, pages rustling as if alive, until it settled on one filled with intricate runes inked in bronze—a bronze-level spell. The versatility of her Affinity for Secrets was remarkable.

  “I’d use Veil of Shadows to conceal us, but it costs way too much Aether to sustain. This should be enough to mute the noise and light to outside observers.”

  Alice began to chant, her voice low and melodic, weaving through the silence. The air around them shimmered as lines of light formed in the air, twisting and curling like living things. They wrapped around her and Jace, forming a protective cocoon. The magic pulsed with a soft, rhythmic glow, each line of light imbued with ancient power.

  The barrier solidified, its surface reflecting their surroundings in a rippling, otherworldly sheen. Alice moved to the wall and ignited a gas lamp, bringing the room to life with a soft, warm light. The barrier dimmed the light and muffled the sounds from within, creating an isolated haven of tranquility.

  “This will dim sound and light to all outside,” Alice explained, her voice now at a normal volume. “It costs a little aether to keep up, but you’ll be doing most of the alchemy work here, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

  Jace looked at her, his eyes wide with admiration. “You know, your Affinity is absolutely overpowered, right?”

  Alice laughed, a light, musical sound. “Says the guy that can attack people’s souls.”

  He nodded, acknowledging her point, but still, a part of him was in awe of her abilities. Her magic might not have the singular destructive power of his, but its versatility and potential seemed limitless. As she continued to gather more spells and uncover hidden knowledge, her power would undoubtedly surpass them all.

  Jace sat across from her, watching as she measured a fine powder with the precision of a jeweler weighing gold. “Alright, Jace,” Alice said, her voice soft yet clear over the ambient noise. “Let’s start with the basics. We’re going to make a simple healing potion. You’ll need these ingredients.” She handed him a list, her handwriting neat and elegant.

  Flickering oil lamps cast dancing shadows on the stone walls, the light shifting like living creatures. Alice’s desk, however, was an island of order amidst the chaos, her meticulous notes spread out before her.

  She started pulling ingredients out of her inventory, one by one, laying them in front of Jace like she was dealing cards in a high-stakes poker game.

  “Dried elderflower,” she said, holding up a delicate bundle. “Soothing properties.”

  “Got it,” Jace nodded, his eyes scanning the list.

  “Mandrake root,” she continued, placing the gnarled piece beside the elderflower.

  “Essential,” Jace muttered, noting it down.

  “And a pinch of silver dust,” she added with a flourish, letting the sparkling powder trickle through her fingers.

  “Shiny,” he grinned.

  Then came the more exotic components. “One drop of phoenix sweat,” she said, holding up a tiny vial. “Life-giving energy.”

  Jace raised an eyebrow. “Phoenix sweat? Really?”

  “Yeah, and it’s a pain to collect,” she winked, setting it down carefully.

  “Midnight powder,” she said, producing a small, dark pouch. “Stabilizes the mixture, aligns it with lunar cycles.”

  “Very mystical,” Jace remarked, scribbling it down.

  “And finally,” she revealed a dark, glossy leaf. “A sprig of nightshade.”

  “Nightshade. Because why not?” Jace smirked, leaning back.

  Jace eyed his cooking equipment with the same skepticism he’d reserve for a used car salesman.

  Alice caught his hesitation and offered a reassuring smile. “Don’t sweat the equipment. Focus on the process.”

  She handed him the mandrake root. “First, grind this into a fine paste.”

  “Easy peasy.” Jace followed her instructions as best he could, his movements careful but awkward. Alice’s presence was both comforting and intimidating; she was so at ease in this environment.

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  “Now add the elderflower,” Alice instructed, her fingers deftly measuring out the dried petals. “Mix it thoroughly to activate its soothing properties.” She handed the bowl to Jace, their fingers brushing briefly. Her touch was cool, grounding him.

  Jace took the bowl, his grip a little too firm, causing some petals to flutter out. Alice’s eyebrow arched slightly, but she said nothing, her lips twitching into a small, amused smile.

  As he stirred, Alice explained the theory behind each step. “Elderflower promotes calm, and the mandrake root binds the magic. The silver dust enhances their effects.”

  Jace nodded, pouring the combining liquid into the mix slowly under her watchful eye. He felt the potion begin to thicken, its color shifting to a vibrant green, while tiny lumps started to form. “What’s next?”

  She hesitated. “I’m pretty sure it’s not supposed to do that,” she said, checking her notes.

  “Well, no turning back now,” he said.

  She shook her head and laughed softly. “Okay, now we need to add a drop of phoenix sweat.” She handed him the tiny vial, watching as he carefully added the drop. Then five more drops poured in, and a puff of yellow smoke emerged.

  “Next?” Jace asked again, his confidence growing. He knew he was doing terribly, but he still felt pleased with himself. You had to start somewhere.

  “Now we add the midnight powder,” she said. “Just a pinch. And then stir slowly.”

  Jace did his best, watching the potion’s color deepen, becoming more complex and turning slightly ruddy.

  Alice examined it closely before adding, “That’s definitely the wrong color.”

  “What do I do next?” he asked.

  Alice revealed a sprig of nightshade. “This balances the blend, making it powerful yet safe.”

  Jace added the sprig and stirred the potion one last time, its final hue a deep, shimmering burnt sienna.

  Alice smiled, choosing to just enjoy the ride as it was clear the potion had gone wrong long ago.

  “Now we heat it just enough to combine the elements without burning them,” Alice explained. “Watch the bubbles closely. Too much heat, and it’ll ruin your perfect... concoction.”

  Jace leaned over the small burner, adjusting the flame. The potion began to simmer, releasing a fragrant steam that mingled with the incense smoke. Soon, the room buzzed with the hiss and pop of bubbling potion, the air thick with the pungent aroma of strange herbs mingling with the metallic tang of rusting equipment.

  “Now, let it cool and pour it into the vial.”

  Jace followed her instructions, but as he poured, his hand wobbled, and a few drops splashed onto the table. Alice’s nose scrunched as she pressed her lips together to suppress a laugh.

  He secured the stopper on the small glass vial and held it up to the light, marveling at the way it caught the glow. Alice stepped closer, her eyes narrowing slightly as she inspected his work.

  “Well, you’ve made… something alright,” she said, her smile a mix of amusement and encouragement.

  “Thanks. Whatever I made, I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  She smiled, a hint of blush coloring her cheeks. Jace held the vial up to the light, the murky liquid inside shifting with a menacing shimmer.

  A prompt appeared as he inspected his creation.

  Item

  Terrible Potion of Sense Altering

  You have attempted to create a Potion of Minor Healing. You have failed.

  Instead, you’ve created this monstrosity. Imbibing this potion will cause unknown results. It may lead to serious side effects, including nausea, hallucinations, dizziness, heart palpitations, headaches, spontaneous laughter, spontaneous crying, severe paranoia, a profound sense of doom, and death. Also, perhaps none of those things will happen.

  He sighed, placing the vial back on the cluttered table. At least it was something. His alchemy skill had increased, a slight consolation for the grotesque concoction he had produced. He could still feel his unspent EXP pushing up against the borders of his mind, slowing his gains.

  The sudden creak of the door shattered the tranquility, sending a jolt of tension through the air. A figure stepped into the room, his silhouette sharp against the dim light.

  Jace’s head snapped up, heart pounding. A satyr stood in the doorway, horns curling above his head, eyes wide with shock.

  “Whoa!” the satyr yelped, voice high and trembling. “Didn’t expect anyone here.”

  There was a beat of silence, the kind that makes you acutely aware of how loud your breathing is. Alice’s eyes suddenly widened in recognition. “Wait, you’re Petrie, right? The teacher’s aide?”

  The satyr’s lips twitched into a nervous grin, his eyes doing a quick scan of the room like he was expecting someone to jump out and yell “Surprise.” He brushed off some imaginary dust from his vest and straightened up. “Assistant Archmage, actually.”

  Jace raised an eyebrow. “I remember you. We met outside the Archmage’s office. Don’t you mean, Assistant to the Archmage?”

  “Same thing,” Petrie muttered. He moved quickly to a cabinet, hands fumbling as he pulled out a small, intricately carved wooden box. “Anyway, you two need to take off. Professor Brutus Ironclad’s not exactly fond of uninvited guests in his Alchemy classroom.”

  Jace glanced at the satyr, suspicion flickering in his eyes. “Then what are you doing here?”

  “Official Assistant business,” Petrie replied quickly. “Now, you two better amscray before someone else finds you here. If he finds out you were here and I knew about it, I’d likely be baked into his next experiment or used as a test subject for one of his more eclectic artifacts.”

  Alice started, “Oh, I just thought he wouldn’t mind because Jace needed to catch up and—“

  Petrie chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Ironclad’s leniency is a myth, I’m afraid. Trust me, you don’t want to be on The Brute’s bad side.”

  Jace quickly began gathering their scattered equipment. “Thanks for the warning. We’re gone.”

  Jace and Alice gathered the last of their things and headed into the hall. Petrie, still jittery, nodded as he placed the wooden box under his arm. He hurried out of the room, locking it behind him, before disappearing down the corridor.

  Alice cringed as they walked, her confidence deflating. “I honestly thought Ironclad wouldn’t mind.”

  Jace shrugged, a grin tugging at his lips. “What’s life without a little adventure? No harm, no foul. Besides, it wouldn’t be my first time getting caught breaking and entering.”

  She gave him a sideways look. “You aren’t like a lot of the students here, you know that?”

  He flushed slightly before quickly changing the subject. “So, I guess that’s that for the lesson. Which sucks because I feel like I was just getting the hang of it.”

  “It doesn’t have to be,” she said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, I have my alchemy kit and the rest of the ingredients for a few more practice vials. All we need is a space.”

  “But what space would be open this time of night?”

  Alice glanced at Jace. “We could go to my dorm, but they’re throwing a party for the Fighters of Athena. They go pretty late, and it’s not really my scene, being a follower of Harpocrates—god of silence and all.”

  “Silence and parties -always a winning combo.”

  Jace was reminded once more of the odd pairings, gods who seemed like they should be under Hades’ banner. He wondered if he was being objective or if he was growing biased because Hades was his patron.

  An idea struck him—a solution, though not a comfortable one. But he didn’t want the night to end. He should have enough saved-up Society Points... He started pacing, wrestling with his internal debate, eyes flicking between possibilities like a frantic chess player.

  Shadow might not be thrilled, but I really need those potions.

  It’s not like we’re throwing a rave, right? Just a couple of nerds, getting some study done.

  But then again, having someone over makes me feel uncomfortable, and who knows how Shadow will handle it?

  He looked over his shoulder, catching Alice’s curious expression.

  Then again, Shadow managed to hide from me until I saw the dorm population count... so maybe it’ll be fine. Yeah, it’ll probably be fine. This is a normal thing. Why am I being weird about this?

  Or maybe it’ll be a disaster.

  Jason rubbed his temples. “Survival over comfort,” he muttered, trying to quiet his anxieties.

  Alice raised an eyebrow, a gentle smile playing on her lips. “Talking to yourself now?”

  Jace chuckled nervously. “Just thinking out loud. So, uh, my dorm could work,” he offered, his voice tentative.

  Alice’s face lit up with genuine excitement. “Great idea!” she exclaimed, her curiosity almost tangible. “Full disclosure, though—it’s a bit... different down there. A bit... zombie-esque.”

  Her eyes sparkled. “Rumors about The Fields Below have been going around, and I’ve been dying to see what it’s like down there. I’ve honestly been so curious.”

  Jace raised an eyebrow at her enthusiasm, but decided not to question it. “Well, okay then. So, that’s what we’re doing,” he said with a shrug.

  “Lead the way,” she gestured, her smile widening.