Task

I tossed the notes to the table, making a wordless noise of frustration. I was in the alchemy lab trying to comprehend the alchemist’s notes on creating of the Potion of Youth for the king. I had found the notes easily enough—my host body was organized and kept things well-labeled—but even after an entire day studying them, even though they were written in my language, I was completely unable to comprehend them. It was like trying to read a very complex and technical physics article without ever having studied science. I just didn’t have the framework to understand it.

Kyn, the boy who looked just like my cousin, looked up at me in concern. He had been diligently stirring some chemicals into a pot, making a note about it every few minutes, but when I made my frustrated noise he put down the ladle. “Are you feeling all right, Master?” he asked.

Right. Master. This boy was my apprentice in alchemy. Or rather, he was my host body’s apprentice. Of course I couldn’t teach him anything; that was the problem. I had gotten by in the last few days by telling him to continue his studies on his own, which he had done obediently, but that wasn’t a permanent solution. Sooner or later he would turn to his “Master” for an answer to a problem and I would be unable to provide.

“Master?” he said again.

Right, I hadn’t responded. “I’m all right. Just at a bit of a dead end.”

He nodded seriously. “Can I help you?”

“You wouldn’t understand.” How could he understand that his supposed master had no knowledge of alchemy at all?

“I see.” He hesitated, looking like the cousin I knew with a face like he was about to ask his mother for some spending money. “Um, Master? If I can ask…now that you’ve set aside the other world project, what should I work on?”

I stood up. “I’m going to the library,” I informed him, aware that I hadn’t answered his question at all. Before he could give me more than a curious look I swept out.

The library was surprisingly small considering it was the only one in the entire palace. I had spent some time in it during my first few days, but never looking for something specific. Now, I hoped that it might have introductory books on alchemy so I could teach myself. Even if I taught myself the basics, I seriously doubted I could brew something as complicated-sounding as a Potion of Youth, but I had to try.

The library smelled musty as I entered. A single window let in the strong midday sun, shining down on a figure sitting at a table, reading. A moment later I realized it was Arnya. I planned to get my book without disturbing her, but when she heard my footsteps she looked up, smiled, and beckoned for me to sit beside her. I complied.

“I never got to thank you properly for releasing me, Rei,” she said. “Grandfather wasn’t too intimidating, I hope?”

I assured her he had been fine, then nodded at her book. “What are you reading?”

“A handbook on sword techniques.” She showed it to me. Hand drawn diagrams sat next to handwriting detailing the purpose of the various forms.

I recalled seeing her train with the guards. “I remember you said you want to be the greatest warrior in the land.”

“Actually, I truth be told, I wish to learn alchemy. I think I could use that to help the people best. But grandfather forbade it.” She put on an exaggerated imitation of the king’s booming voice. “It’s too dangerous! The Witch Hunters would hunt you down.” She shook her head. “As if they’d go after royalty in her own castle. But, well, forbidden is forbidden, so I study swordsmanship instead.”

“Bet that’s a good workout.”

She laughed a musical laugh. “I’ll say! The captain doesn’t make allowances that I’m a human or that I’m a woman. It wouldn’t be ladylike to tell you how many times I’ve been sick into the bushes after a day of training.”

I chuckled too. “I wouldn’t know.” One thing I did share with the court alchemist: we both had the out-of-shape body of a scrawny nerd who never exercised.

“So what brings you to the library, Rei? I rarely see you here.”

“I’m looking for books on alchemy.”

She looked surprised. “Well, they wouldn’t be here. Grandfather would never allow books on alchemy or on sorcery in a public place. Besides, I would think you’d have any such books.”

“I don’t have anything my collection for the problem I’m having.” That was technically true since the court alchemist didn’t keep any basic training manuals in his personal library.

“Hmm… have you tried relying on Kyn?” I shook my head. “He’s a good kid,” she continued. “I know you’re hard on him, but from the outside looking in, I think he’s good at what he does. He talks so much about how he admires you, you know.”

“How often do you talk with him?” I would think the princess didn’t interact with those of lower status or whatever.

“Rei, there are only a handful of humans in the castle. I hardly ever get to go out, other humans hardly ever come in for long, and the dogmen…well, I understand a bit of their language, and most of them understand enough of ours, but it’s not enough to really have a conversation.” My puzzlement must have shown because she continued “life here gets boring. So I try to chat to whoever is willing to.”

Ah. So that was why she had invited me to sit next to her and talk. I felt a twinge of…disappointment? I guess I had been hoping she’d wanted to talk to me because…

I didn’t let the thought finish as I stood up. “Well then, thank you for the lovely conversation, your highness,” I said, offering a bow that was only a little ironic, “but I should return to my apprentice.”

She smiled warmly, also rose to her feet, and executed a complex movement between a curtsey and a pirouette. “I thank you as well, alchemist, for the lovely discussion,” she said in a formal tone. In her normal voice, she added “you’re so much more talkative these days. It’s nice.”

My face going a little red at the compliment, I left the library and returned to the alchemy lab. As when I left, Kyn was hard at work. “Did you find what you needed, Master?” he said without looking up.

“I might have.” Arnya had suggested I rely on him, huh? It was worth a try at least.

“Kyn,” I called to the boy. “How do you feel about taking over brewing the king’s Potions of Youth?”

He looked up from his papers, shocked. “Do you really think I’m ready?”

“Um…I suppose I’m asking you to honestly evaluate your own abilities. Think of it as test.” I hoped the court alchemist had given him tests.

Kyn squared his shoulders. “Then, Master, honestly, yes. I can handle it. You’ve already taught me so much. I know all the basics of alchemy; in fact, other than you, I might be the best alchemist left alive in the kingdom!” He was getting heated. “Just show me the alchemical formula for the Potion of Youth and I swear, as your apprentice, that I will fulfill all your requirements!”

Great. All I needed to do was show him the recipe, huh? I’m sure this body’s owner knew it, but in the notes, I hadn’t seen directions on that potion. I couldn’t be certain, but from how the king had spoken in the throne room, it seemed like the Potion of Youth was rare or hard to brew. That was why he had taken him under his royal protection. Based on that, it wouldn’t surprise me if the alchemist had only kept the recipe in his head, not written down. After all, it was what I would have done.

“Kyn,” I said, another idea forming. “Remind me. Do we have any of the potion prepared now?”

He looked at me, confused. “Yes, Master. You created a gallon just before performing your experiment on contacting the other world. You said you wanted to have a stock in case anything went wrong, remember?”

Perfect. “Fetch it for me.” He nodded and entered a small closet, emerging with a covered bowl with arcane runes inscribed on the sides. I uncovered it to see a yellow liquid that glowed faintly and swirled in a spiral pattern, even though the bowl was still.

I pointed to the liquid. “There is your recipe.”

“What…do you mean?”

“Consider this a test of your abilities as an alchemist’s apprentice. You will use the potion here to reverse-engineer the recipe. You will have until this batch of potion runs out. If you fail…” I stopped, since I didn’t know how harsh of a master I was supposed to be. “Just don’t fail.”

Luckily, Kyn was already plenty spooked. “Master, I-I’ve never done anything like this before.”

“Don’t worry,” I said, putting confidence into my voice. “You are a wonderful student. I have nothing more to teach you that you can’t teach yourself.”

“But you said just a week ago that I was a terrible student and I hadn’t even grasped the basics of alchemy!”

“Uh, that was a metaphor.”

“A metaphor for what?”

I ruffled his hair affectionately. It was a gesture I made with my cousin, so seeing his face on this boy, looking so earnest, I couldn’t help myself. “Figuring that out will also be part of the lesson.” I smiled what I hoped was a reassuring grin. He returned the smile uncertainly but with determination in his eyes. I said “so, you’ll do it?”

Kyn squared his shoulders defiantly. “On my honor as an alchemist and as your apprentice, I will give it my all!”