Chapter 204 - Now we're even

Alchemy.

A subject that Leviticus was very fascinated with. It is a branch of magic that deals with equivalent exchange; it is also the ancient forerunner of mediums, based on the supposed transformation of mana to gems. It is concerned particularly with attempts to convert minerals or mana or to find a universal elixir, or in this case, a gem.

It is the branch of magic that was quite more intriguing than the rest, in Leviticus' case. Mediums of magics are usually created from seeds that materialize one's personality, origin, and mana. That was the textbook and general explanation about the mediums.

But alchemy gives another definition.

Alchemy is primarily concerned with how rather than why. It explains how mediums are created from mana and how it forms particularly. Alchemy also explains how incantations are created and how hexes correlate with words. Rather than giving a one-liner explanation about things, alchemy explores the tiniest of the details.

It was regarded as one of the most crucial subjects in magic, given the fact that alchemy relates the mages to their very own origin.

Leviticus had a staff with a significantly uncommon gem, yet still researchable. He had already found the information he needed thanks to the magicians in his country. He was the prince, and that title gave convenience. Leviticus knew the attributes of many gems and their magical correlation, so he was quite adept in predicting what type of magic people would most likely use. 

However…

"What an unusual gem." Leviticus murmured as he walks to the aisle of bookshelves towering above him. He was looking for Goldenfag and Folkmanor's books, which tackled many unusual things. Leviticus assumed that they would have a say on Faustina's gem, as well.

That odd, broken gem.

It was cyan in color, which isn't typically seen in staves. A cyan-colored gem—even Leviticus hasn't seen such a thing in books of minerals that he had studied back in Atziluth. He wondered what they meant, and at some point, Leviticus wondered if it is some kind of a foreign element that is yet to be found. But that was odd. If it was indeed a new gem, then it will need extensive studies. 

"A broken gem… huh."

Why was it broken, anyway? Leviticus wondered. Another pressing issue about Faustina's peculiar staff was how the gem was broken as well. He wasn't sure if there's a staff with a broken gem on history—or he wasn't just looking hard enough. 

Well, Leviticus ought to cut himself some slack.

There was no way a mage would be able to break their gem—it's like breaking mana, which is practically impossible in itself.

Leviticus was able to find Folkmanor's books easily about alchemy. He used wind magic to have them come down to him. The books weren't dusty at all, although they looked quite hidden atop the bookshelf.

'Thanks to magic,' Leviticus said on the back of his mind as he opens the book.

'My observation in Alchemy is like this—there is always a meaning behind how things work as they are. It's comparable to a machine; an automated object that moves on gears, something that I have seen in that world. You remove a gear, and it loses its purpose. Once that purpose is nowhere to be found, the entire machine collapses. And when it collapses, it becomes dysfunctional. That is how alchemy works—which is a step by step mechanism. Once you remove or fail to deliver a certain chant or spell adequately, the magic stops at a certain percentage which will not be resumed again. That is how alchemy works, yet not what alchemy is. Alchemy is precisely what makes magic—magic.'

Leviticus felt as if his head was spinning around. This was the problem for both Folkmanor and Goldenfag. They use jargons that only they could understand. Many scholars have tried to interpret what these two philosophers are pertaining to, but they could only come up with vague conclusions. Sometimes Leviticus wondered if they are actually from another world of some sort.

Leviticus then headed further into the library in search of Goldenfag, which isn't much further from the philosopher Folkmanor. 

**

Faustina stared at the pair of amethyst eyes looking at her. 

And in a split second, she remembers someone else.

Why was he remembering him?

The king.

"Then this is another secret that we'll share, huh?" Ezekiel exclaimed as he lets out a light chuckle. He drew away from her when the fireflies stopped passing by.

"What are you doing here…?" Faustina asked, not knowing how to address him. "…Lord Ezekiel?"

Ezekiel smiled. "But I am not exactly a noble, Lady Faustina."

Faustina parted her lips as she blushed. 

"Just Ezekiel," he says. "And I'm here because of a secret business. Hm… let's say I'm here as a form of rebellion to my mother."

Faustina blinked. Rebellion?

"Just a teenager in a rebellious phase. Don't think of too much about it." Ezekiel then scanned Faustina—who was wearing only a dress that feels below her knee. She was wearing a scarf, but that didn't hide the blades of her shoulder or her well-defined collarbone. 

Ezekiel then smoothed the wrinkles on Faustina's clothes, doing so to cover the areas he had seen. "What about you? What are you doing here, so late at night?"

Faustina stared at Ezekiel, who was smiling at her with his usual, gentle smile. Suddenly she recalls that moment—when he came to help her in the capital. "Lady Faustina?"

"Um… I'm… I came here to research about alchemy." Faustina said.

Ezekiel then looked at her; and at this certain point, Faustina was thinking of what he would ask and how she would answer. She already formulated several answers that wouldn't sound too suspicious, considering he was the schoolmistress's son.

"I see,"

"Yes, the reason why I came here is that there's limited info—wait, what?"

Ezekiel smiled. "Don't worry. There's no need to be nervous. Students often come here to search for extensive information given that dormitory libraries don't provide much."

"Oh…" 

Faustina wanted to hit herself. She had to calm her nerves, or she'll look more suspicious than she should have been! 

"Can you tell me what type of book you're searching for?" Ezekiel asked. "I may be able to provide assistance since I have been a frequent visitor to this library when I was a kid. Oh… I mean my whole life," he chuckles.

"There, you finally smiled," Ezekiel exclaimed.

Faustina blinked.

She had inevitably smiled.

"So, how about I help you in exchange for keeping me, coming here, as a secret?" Ezekiel proposed. 

Faustina worriedly stared at Ezekiel. "It's alright. Don't you have any other matters to attend to? I don't want to take your time, after all…" She knew that pushing Ezekiel away and declining his offer would be rude, and also would garner even more suspicion. If she would turn him down, then she should do it the gentlest way possible. "Besides… you sneaked all the way here. If you would waste that precious time on me, then…"

Ezekiel chuckled as he twirls Faustina's long, grey-colored hair in his fingers.

"Who said it's a waste of time?" He then smiles. 

Ezekiel was always smiling, and he was gentle with many people. He possessed the attributes that a gentleman would—a mage would. He was the type of person that was fit to harbor the title as the next schoolmaster of the academy. Mages said being the schoolmaster was equal to being a 'king'; considering that schoolmasters not only manage the academy but also the entirety of the country as well. 

"…you're very thoughtful, Ezekiel," Faustina exclaimed, which then brought a slight surprise in Ezekiel. "But it's really alright. I can search for it on my own." Faustina said with a smile.

Ezekiel's amethyst blue eyes slowly narrowed as he lowered his gaze.

"Do you find my presence unpleasant?"

Faustina blinked.

"If so, I apologize if I acted quite too casual and too familiar with you." Ezekiel smiled. 

"Um… that's not…" Faustina blushed. "It's not that I find you unpleasant or because you acted too casual with me,"

Ezekiel then lifted his gaze. "Then what is it?"

Faustina bit her lips. She couldn't just say, 'hey, it's because you might find something suspicious and report it back to your mother!' 

Yes. She couldn't exactly say those words. "Um… I…"

Ezekiel's expression got grim again as he observes Faustina struggle on her words.

He smiled gently afterward. "It's alright. I won't force you to say anything," he says with a gentle smile. "Just don't forget to keep this a secret, alright?"

Ezekiel then turned away from her and began to amble away. Faustina bit her lips as she clenched her fist.

"U-um!" She exclaimed. "I'm here for an alchemy book… a-about mediums of magic!"

Ezekiel then stopped as he turned towards Faustina, his expression painted with first—surprise, and then transitioned to a gentle one as he chuckles.

"I see," Ezekiel exclaims. "That's what I thought."

Suddenly a book from above magically drifted towards Faustina. 

"I got that the moment I saw you," Ezekiel smiled. "With that, we're even, aren't we?" 

And with that,

He was gone.