AK - The Alchemy Kingdom

Year 5, Spring, Second Month, First Week.

“Sir, shadow two sent a report. The Kingdom’s forces are moving towards the visitor’s group...”

Lew instinctively interrupted his secretary without taking his eyes out of the magic tool:

“So, they’re trying to get information out of group or mix up with them to slip in…”

The dutiful secretary ignored his boss breach of decorum, which he had painstakingly drilled into the heads of his subordinates, and continued the report:

“No, Sir. They didn’t contact the group. Instead, they’re following the group up close without revealing their presence.”

The confused Minister finally focused on the report and considered the situation for a few seconds before voicing his guess.

“Hm… They must be trying to see how the group gets in…”

The secretary waited for any follow up order but nothing came, so she asked:

“Sir, should we cancel the reception at the lake’s border?”

The Minister stared at a close door with a complicated expression for a few seconds before answering:

“No, proceed as planned… We should take this opportunity to deal with some unfinished business… Let’s plan a diversion…”

***

Entering the second month of spring, all the traces of winter had completely vanished. With all the nourishment provided by the melting snow, the trees, the flowers, the earth, everything in nature was booming with vitality. Although Mason had earned a couple of kicks from his employers due to his daydreaming, he couldn’t keep himself from admiring the beautiful scenery.

Magic energy had created everything, but when unrestrained and in high levels, it acted like poison to living beings. Nonetheless, all things that could adapt and grow fast enough to resist its influence, bloomed stronger and more magnificent than any other. These were the words the young and sheepish boy would use to describe the forest’s flora, strong and magnificent. Few could thoroughly admire such a hostile environment, but Mason was different than most. He had grown up learning how to observe and enjoy the smallest things in a world of magic.

While most of his friends dreamt of being a Mage, he dreamt of freedom and transforming his reality through work and persistence. When his father got sick and he had to start scavenging outside the city to survive, he didn’t complain. The only brief time he hated life was when his older brother died attacked by a beast while they try to escape back to the Path. The pain of losing a son almost killed his parents, but they survived, probably because they couldn’t bear to leave him alone.

However, instead of giving up, Mason transformed this tragedy in his fuel to fight for a better life for his parents. He would do it, for both himself and his brother. So, he became of porter. Like most of the commoners’ children who were left with no choice but to scavenger outside the cities and luckily didn’t die, he joined an Adventurer group as a porter.

If one was to travel in time to find the origin of this practice, which was so common amongst the starving citizens, they would probably find out that it began less by chance and more because it was encouraged by the ruling class. After all, how else would they get servants capable of resisting magic poisoning? Initially, they must have forced children into exposure to get the resistance, but somewhere along the way they realized that leaving them to starve and creating a demand for wild goods would do the trick too.

Unfortunately, like Mason’s brother, most of the children send to gather things in the wild ended up dying. Not that the Mages would care about it. Unless it caused a shortage of servants, they would just treat it as population control.

Mason knew that his current position wasn’t in any way result of his choice, but even so, he decided to make the best of it. He was allowed to see amazing things and he could earn enough to maintain his family, if he survived, of course. So, he ignored the mistreatment and happily did his job. The boy couldn’t wait to see what the famous AP really looked like.

***

The sound Commander ignored the complaints and continued to follow the group while maintaining the Sound Inspection, carefully analyzing all sounds created by the Adventurers and their surroundings. Although he could use the spell in a two kilometers radius, he decided to stay as close as he could without being noticed. They were already dealing with too many strange events, so he couldn’t overestimate his abilities.

Unfortunately, the other Mages, more specifically the wind Mages, thought it was beneath them to follow a group of Adventurers. They wanted to approach the group and demand cooperation, but the sound Commander rejected the idea. He was used to doing this kind of job under Whispert, so he just ignored them.

Since they were getting close to the lake, the sound Mage increased the precision of the spell to avoid missing anything, being extra careful wouldn’t hurt. However, something suddenly startled him, more precisely, the sound of steps coming from another direction. The visible change in the Mage’s expression coupled with an abrupt turn to the south got the others attention.

The six Mages all readied their spells to attack anything that appeared. It took only a couple of minutes for the sound Mages to uncover the unknown group’s numbers, 16 people coming towards them. Usually, the Mages would act nonchalantly, but the recent events had put them on edge, so the next ten minutes were filled with tense anticipation and preparation of their strongest spells. Soon, figures appeared from amongst the trees.

“That’s… It’s one of ours, he’s one of our Mages!”

One of the less experienced wind Invokers couldn’t contain her shock and surprise. The Commanders frowned and exchanged confused expressions. The approaching figures stopped as soon as they realized the threatening spells, they wouldn’t dare to move forward. The sound Commander focused on inspecting the unexpected figures but failed to notice anything amiss.

The Commanders ordered the wind Invoker, who had spoken earlier, to move forward and confirm the identity of the Mage she recognized. After they got her confirmation, the situation became even more strange as the others identified themselves as Mercenaries or people working under the new Wind Lord.

But then, realization struck the sound Commander. He hastily turned towards the lake’s direction and launched the Sound Inspection to check on the Adventurers. As the feedback returned to his ears, his expression turned even darker. He couldn’t locate them any longer.

***

“Sir, shadow two reported that the plan was successful. The new group is on its way here.”

Lew acknowledged the report and turned to Anya.

“Are you sure they won’t be a problem?”

“I’m… They said the oath themselves and probably don’t even remember what happened here.”

“How’s that possible?”

“Alchemy…”

***

Mason didn’t know where to look, everything seemed worthy of his attention. Although he had never travel on a boat, he could tell this wasn’t common. He wondered if the young man, who identified himself as Ben, was actually a Mage. Otherwise, how could the boat move so fast without any apparent effort?

While the other passengers shared the same bewilderment as the boy, they were more afraid and hesitant than amused by the situation. Unlike the boy, they knew too well of the dangers that could be lurking under the waters and how unexplainable the self-moving boat was. Surprisingly, they didn’t even consider that Ben could be responsible for it, a clear testament of how the noble image of a Mage was thoroughly engraved on their minds.

The Adventurers only breathed again when they finally saw the island. They were so anxious that when the boat was close enough, they jumped out of it before Ben could even ask them to exit orderly. Mason, on the other hand, enjoyed the trip until its last moments. When he stepped into AP, he felt an indescribable feeling that the place would forever change his life.