Eugene flinched at the loud noises coming from behind the enhanced wood. Nowadays the castle's laboratory had turned into the most dangerous place in the kingdom. Partially thanks to his own doing. But seriously, who could have known that Varian would - An explosion ripped through the ground and he rushed forward, pulling the heavy door open.

"Varian!?" He yelled. A wall of smoke hit him and the weird smell of burning chemicals instantly made his eyes water. His chest constricted in panic. "Varian! Are you all right?"

"Oh! Hi!" Varian's chipper voice greeted.

As the smoke slowly streamed out, Eugene's shoulders relaxed and he took another brave step inside the royal death trap.

The alchemist's head popped out of a giant tube and Ruddiger's followed shortly after. Both wore matching goggles. Both were covered in grease. Eugene smiled a sappy smile. The picture reminded him of the child he had been not so long ago.

"Still working on that thing I see." The face of the former thief made a complicated motion.

"Of course!" Varian climbed out of whatever the construction of metal and gears was supposed to be. He glared at it ever so slightly before pulling a couple of levers. "After all it's an assignment from the highest order."

Suddenly a nice breeze filled the room, gently guiding the leftover heat and foggy remains up in the air and outside through a vent. Eugene breathed in deep and Varian made his way back to his workbench.

"If I remember correctly the Captain of the Guards himself came crawling on his knees - you know literally begging for my help."

Varian laughed as the other half of team awesome rolled his eyes.

"Bloody aristocrats, man. Nothing but trouble." Eugene quipped and joined in.

"Tell me about it," Varian snickered as he started to tinker with what looked like a messed-up ball of wool only made out of bronze pipes instead of threads.

"How is it coming along?" Eugene asked kind of curious as the kid filled an ominous cheerfully bubbling liquid into it.

"Well, it's certainly a challenge."

A jet of flame shot up and Varian had the audacity to pout at it.

"We are facing some unexpected difficulties I'd say."

The metal changed into a bright orange ball that began melting. The explosion expert hurried to get his trusted sand bucket.

"But nothing I can't handle of course."

In time he emptied it over the fire, fully stifling it.

Eugene winced when the chunky monstrosity was tossed forcefully on a big pile of similar-looking failures. "Gosh, we need to get you another hobby," he muttered only half-jokingly.

Ruddiger squeaked concerned and Varian leaned down to give him a reassuring pat.

"Never mind. Next time it'll work. I am sure," he told his fluffy friend. "We just have to adjust - Oh! That might work!" Getting a couple of weird beakers filled with even stranger fluids the alchemist readied himself to start over again. "So what brings you here?" He questioned casually.

"Uhm," Eugene sighed. "Apparently it's kingdom evaluation time."

"Oh, already," Varian mused while measuring tiny green stones on a weird-looking scale.