Frosania was coming to an end. Amyra could feel it as she looked outside the window. From the position where she was, she could see the frost that hung tenaciously to the landscape for months was finally loosening its grip, revealing patches of green.
The syncing thwack of training swords echoed from the distant courtyard.
She inhaled to sigh, but the aroma of warm bread and honeyed fruits filled her nostrils.
Amyra picked up a piece of bread. It was toasted— the crispy crust made a noise to her touch. She started chewing on it slowly, noticing no more pain when she did. The ache in her jaw was completely healed.
She quickly grabbed the cup of water and drank some of it.
A glance at her arms caught her eye. No longer were they marred by the angry red gashes and bruises.
She sighed. Arzan had properly healed her, visiting every other day, pouring his magic onto her skin, making it smooth and unmarked.
A warm and heavy feeling settled in her chest. Gratitude. She was grateful that Arzan found her when he did. If not for him, there wouldn’t be a day that she would taste bread this fresh.
But, beneath the surface, a slight fear remained. It was the memories of the necromancer’s chilling touch.
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push the images away.
Despite her efforts, more images popped up of time before the necromancer found her. Those were even more grotesque and for a while, she heard painful screams in her ears.
The days of confinement, watching numerous deaths and finally running away only to get caught by another evil man.
"Stop!"
She shook her head, frowning and managing to end it.
When she opened her eyes, the urge to look around took over. She didn’t want to sit around only for those memories to haunt her again.
Amyra hasn’t been in the place for too long. Four walls, a plush bed, and a monotonous routine were her now reality.
Her hands itched for the door, to open it and walk around, but she paused.
Should I—maybe not? But what’s the harm if no one catches me, right?
Finally mustering up the courage, she opened it, reaching the corridor immediately. As she stepped outside, there was a staircase adjacent. Her one aim was not to get caught by a maid, guard or— worse, Arzan.
He might not even be here. He has his routine, I believe.
She took one step at a time, her bare feet cold against the floor. She walked gently, trying to not make any noise.
Taking the stairs to the ground floor, she decided to venture there first. As she reached it, she saw a door on the far side and stepped towards it.
The door opened to the outside.
The chilly air hit her in the face. She could see the estate, buildings, the courtyard and even the water fountain. It truly has been too long since she had been outside.
Unfamiliar faces were everywhere. Guards, staff and maids.
She waited until most of them passed and then made her way through the courtyard. Finding herself in a building adjacent to the one she was staying in, she stepped towards it, finding the whole thing exciting in her heart.
Fortunately, she found an open window and managed to climb through it.
Another corridor was upon her and she didn’t waste any time standing idle.
Tiptoeing her way quickly through different doors, she walked through large, polished oak doors. Adrenaline rushed to her body and she could hear her heart thrumming inside her chest.
She hid behind an oak door, peeking at what was beyond through the little space that was beneath the door and the wall.
It seemed like the kitchen.
Maids walked from left and right hurriedly. All of them were busy with their own duties.
Amyra remembered how Arzan once mentioned that even the maids knew who she was, and she could ask for anything from them.
But I can’t be seen...
She watched through the space for a few minutes. Spoons clattering, vegetables chopping, voices of maids talking to each other about the gossip in the city and the estate.
Amyra watched until one of the maids headed towards the door.
She instantly took it as an invitation to head towards the stairs that stood on the right side.
Her curiosity tugged at every corner of her being. Her feet were quick but silent. She passed walls of weaponaries and different frames on her way upstairs.
As she reached the top floor, she paused for a moment to catch her breath.
No one seemed to be around, but there was some sort of a noise echoing across the floor like someone was turning pages in a hurry.
Her eyes squinted in curiosity. The sound came behind the wooden doors... What is it?
She mulled over the fact that it could be a library.
Amyra’s shaky hands softly touched the door, trying to open it without making any squeaky noises.
It was a success. She was inside.
The wooden shelves garnered her attention. Tons of books were placed in them. She had been allowed to read and although they quelled her boredom, she had already finished with whatever was given to her.
So, this was a surprise.
Amyra’s brow furrowed. "Not bad?" she echoed a hint of hope in her voice.
"Not bad at all," Kai confirmed. "For a first try at a dragon, that is."
Amyra’s face immediately drained of colour. Her lips parted. Panic flooded her features as she sputtered, "But... but it was supposed to be a bunny!"
Kai froze, smiling wryly.
"Oh," his mouth opened to say something, something to make it better, but nothing came out.
Amyra kept looking at her creation before lowering her head and pouting at Kai.
***
"Nightshade petals, elder wood root, water of purity," Francis muttered, tracing his finger down the list. "These are readily available, Lord Arzan. Shops here are well-stocked with these things as a lot of them are used for cooking and other stuff too."
The list was kept on the table as Kai observed Francis slowly going through the items he mentioned.
He continued down the list, nodding in recognition at items like bat guano, brimstone powder, and vials of mercury. However, as his gaze reached the bottom, a frown creased his forehead.
"Glowstone dust? Blackwood beast scales? And what in the world is ’Void Pinch’? These... I haven’t encountered them before."
Kai winced internally as he realised what he had done. He’d gotten so caught up in translating the knowledge from his past life that he hadn’t considered the names might not translate directly.
Items might be known as something completely different or the monsters or plants they came from weren’t that common. After all, in thousands of years, the ecology has changed a lot.
He had made this mistake because, in the books he read, he recognised a lot of ingredients. A few had different names, but they had the same function.
Moreover, a lot of them were extremely rare and potent in his world. So, he had been excited to get his hands on them.
"Don’t worry about the specifics, Francis," he said, a touch of sheepishness creeping into his voice. "Just acquire what you can from the marketplace. Focus on the general descriptions— glowing dust from a luminous stone, tough scales from a large, winged creature, a rare herb with dark, almost inky flowers."
Francis nodded slowly, a hint of confusion flickering in his eyes. "Very well, Lord Arzan. I’ll do my best to find... whatever a ’Void Pinch’ might be."
Kai chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Let’s just say it’s not a common ingredient in here." He cleared his throat, changing the subject. "While you’re at the market, see if you can arrange a short patrol mission for the guards. Outside the city walls, of course. Tell them to focus on..." He paused, considering his options.
"Trolls," he finally decided. "And Emblem Elks, if they can find any. Their... byproducts will be helpful for certain potions."
Francis raised an eyebrow. "Emblem Elks, Lord Arzan? Those are quite rare and very aggressive. Are you sure?"
"Desperate times," Kai said his thoughts aloud. "Besides, the guards need some practice, and those creatures shouldn’t be too difficult for a well-coordinated squad."
"As you wish," Francis said, making a note on a separate parchment. "One more thing, Lord Arzan. I believe the leatherworker, Rosalind, is waiting outside. Would you like me to call her in?"
"Yes, sure," he said as Francis walked to tell a guard outside the door to call Rosalind.
Every noble had their own people to make clothes and armour. The City of Veralt was the same. Specific people mastered the making of specific things and exclusively worked for nobles.
Though today, he wasn’t looking to build leather armour.
Francis frowned as he returned. "I wonder, Lord Arzan..." he paused, glancing at his expressions. "Why do you need Rosalind?"
"Alchemy... it can be a messy business. Fumes, explosions, strange concoctions bubbling away— we can say that a lot of alchemists meet unfortunate ends thanks to their cauldrons bursting. That too, a lot of those deaths don’t even get out because it’s known as shameful."
Francis’s eyes widened. "Then surely, Lord Arzan, a protective suit is a necessity. We can’t put your life into any kind of danger," he said before putting a hand on his chin. "I believe something with reinforced stitching and a good hood to shield your face from those vapours would be a good fit."
Kai nodded. A slow smile spread across his face. "Precisely, that was my plan." he pointed at the parchments that were in front of them.
"I’ve only seen top alchemists make one of those protective suits. Apprentices and novices usually work... well, without them." Francis said hesitantly, "The dangers of alchemy simply haven’t crossed my mind, Lord Arzan."
Kai sighed, a wry smile playing on his lips. This world, it seemed, hadn’t quite grasped the full spectrum of risks associated with alchemical experimentation.
If he was right, most alchemist won’t even live too long spending their lives around the fumes. It was only by the end of the Golden era of magic that it had become a norm in alchemy with new apprentices giving suits of their own.
Even then, from what he knew, it was because a genius alchemist had died in an explosion at a young age, prompting the ruling of such a law.
"Think of it like a warrior going into battle without armour," he explained. "Sure, some might survive on luck and skill, but why tempt fate? A little protection goes a long way."
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation.
Kai gestured for the person to enter and as it opened, it revealed a middle-aged woman with a confident stride walking in.
Kai immediately noticed the callouses on her hands.
"Rosalind Tannery, at your service, Lord Arzan," she announced, bowing her head respectfully.
Kai nodded in return, appreciating the no-nonsense air about her.
"Rosalind," he began, gesturing to the parchments. "I have a request that’s a bit... unconventional. I need a protective suit made from tough leather, preferably reinforced at the seams. Think of something that could withstand minor explosions and shield the wearer from noxious fumes."
Rosalind’s eyes widened as she looked at the parchment.
The request was certainly out of the ordinary, but her curiosity seemed to be piqued. She unfolded the parchment and studied the rough sketch he had drawn. It was a hooded suit with gloves and boots.
"Interesting," she murmured, tracing the lines with a calloused finger. "I haven’t made anything quite like this before. But a challenge is always welcome. Tell me, Lord Arzan, what kind of movement do you expect in this suit? Will you be standing over a cauldron most of the time, or will there be a lot of bending and reaching?"
Kai tapped his chin thoughtfully. "A good mix of both, I suppose. I’ll need to be able to move freely, but also be protected if something goes... awry."
Rosalind nodded. "Leave it to me, Lord Arzan," she said. "I’ll craft a suit that’s both durable and allows for flexibility. Give me a few days, and I’ll have something you’ll be pleased with."
Kai returned a smile at those words.