Carne Village, two weeks after the Zuranon Disaster
Nfirea Barreare sat at a table in the laboratory of his pharmacy in E-Rantel. The afternoon light of that day filtered in and warmed the top of his head, his bangs partially obscuring his vision as he worked.
That was okay. His fingers worked along anyways even without direct line of sight.
Herbs were crushed. Chemicals extracted and mixed carefully according to their measurements. Beakers bubbled and sizzled as medicine was finely crafted and catered to their future users for whatever needs they would fill.
The work day was admittedly slow, as the master pharmacist only had a few orders to fill that day and then he could relax.
Beneath his bangs were a special pair of goggles he'd fashioned for his more volatile mixtures, to ensure that none of the ingredients would accidentally harm his eyes. He also wore his customary apron and a pair of thin gloves so that he didn't stain his skin or clothes.
While he worked on creating the new batch of medicine for his client, his grandmother, Lizzie Barreare, was off to the side of the table asserting various items for their laboratory.
Both worked in a comfortable silence as the day wore on, with the clacking of various instruments being their primary source of communication. Such days were a rarity, so the peace was greatly appreciated.
"Making sure everything is mixing well there, Nfirea?" Grandma Lizzie asked, breaking the silence. She looked over at him with a smile as she stopped in her sorting.
The alchemist looked up from his work and returned the gesture. "Yeah, this batch is just about done. Once I deliver the salve to the customer, we can take the rest of the day off."
"Sounds like a plan to me. Good thing too, cause I have some news to share with you anyways," she replied, her smile growing even wider.
The elderly Barreare then pulled out the sales catalogue notebook she always kept in her back pocket, flipping it open to land on the page she was attempting to show Nfirea.
It was catalogued for that day's date, with the name of the customer and their specific order just beneath. This Nfirea knew quite well, being that he was working on it right that moment.
However, the technical details weren't what got Nfirea's attention, but rather the sizable number that was scribbled off to the side, underlined and circled with exclamation points.
Nfirea's eyes widened with excitement. "Wait! Did we really hit our millionth customer today? I didn't even realize!"
"That's right, my boy," Grandma Lizzie said with a chuckle. "We finally hit the big one, I'd say that calls for a celebration, don't you think?"
The younger alchemist nodded along with glee as he temporarily stopped tending his mixture. "Yeah! Once I finish up with this, I'll go out and get some groceries to make our favorite dinner! Business was good, so I think we could indulge just this once for our big milestone."
"Of course dear. Just make sure you deliver that mixture first, wouldn't want any angry customers now for our big day, would we?"
"I understand. Is there anything you'll need while I'm out of the Pharmacy for a bit?"
The elder Barreare tapped her chin in mock thought. "Only your cooking skills and the food. Actually, I take that back. Just make sure you come back before they get me."
Nfirea was just about to respond when the last part of her sentence registered to him. "W-what? Before who gets you? Who are you talking about-"
Then he blinked, greeted by the pitch blackness of the Pharmacy. His arms were laden high with groceries for their special dinner, to celebrate their millionth customer just that afternoon.
"Grandmother, I'm home!" He shouted into the darkness of his home. Usually by this point in the evening, the lanterns would be open and blazing with light to shoo away the shadows. They were instead shuttered and cold to the touch.
"Grandmother?" He tried again, but the silence dragged on, piercing Nfirea's heart with unease when his grandma didn't respond. He set the groceries down on the nearby counter.
He reached for a lantern, getting ready to light his path and help him find out where his grandmother was when his hand stopped.
Despite his best efforts, it refused to move any further, and a dark pit formed within the base of his stomach. It proceeded to completely fall into the soles of his feet when he heard a loud CRASH.
The palms of his hands grew clammy, and a steady stream of sweat streaked its way down his left temple. For a reason he was only vaguely aware of, the corners of his eyes welled up with hot tears.
I've been here before, Nfirea thought, his limbs trembling as the sense of Deja Vu continued to shroud him in its chilling grasp.
He attempted to move, to step away from the lantern to ascertain what was going on, but his feet stubbornly refused to obey him. His arm remained where it was, forever outstretched to reach the lantern before him.
Shuffling feet dragged across the floor behind him, heavy thumping accompanying the noise. The wooden panels creaked and groaned with the weight of something heavy being dragged around.
It sounded almost like a sack of meat, with the way the cloth scraped and caught on the seams, and with the tearing that ripped through the nighttime ambience.
Tears furiously poured down his cheeks as more and more memories began to resurface, the haunting sound of feminine laughter and elderly rasping assaulting his sense of hearing.
A scream tried to leap unbidden from Nfirea's throat, but it was so constricted with his fear and sorrow that he could scarcely manage a whimper in its place. Some of his tears reached his mouth and tainted his pallet with salt.
The source of the dragging reached its crescendo when it reached its place to his right, still barely out of sight as his skin crawled with the sensation of something damp and frosty cold gripping his wrist.
Lips, chapped and dry from the decay of death itself, pressed gently against his ear lobe and whispered, "Seems you made it back home in time, my boy. Now we can really get started.
The handles of a pair of stiletto blades obscured his vision, bringing into full view the rotting, maggot-infested view of his beloved grandmother.
One stiletto was embedded into each eye, blood pouring from the grievous wounds and dripping onto the floor below. Grandma Lizzie savagely grinned at him with her exposed lower jaw.
"Won't you be a dear and help me? The city won't burn itself into the ground now, will it? Come now, it'll be fun."
Previously faint, feminine laughter roared even louder now, blaring at him from all angles and mocking him for his weakness. Whatever force previously held him in place let him go and allowed him to fall to his knees before the cadaver of Grandma Lizzie.
Both hands flew up to the sides of his head and he cradled himself, a scream finally letting loose as the full weight of his memories came back and slammed into him.
He could recall vividly the blood-red eyes that glowed viciously in the dark, owned by a seductive but cruel beast who reveled in his anguish. The shadowy monster who's talons pierced into his flesh and took him hostage, whisking him away to his own unconsciousness.
The smell of mildew and mold greeted him, clogging up his nostrils and permitting nothing else to enter. His clothes were sheared from his pitiful form and replaced by a thin veil to have all his shame on full display.
There was the tinkling of precious jewelry placed upon his tousled head, his eyes weeping crimson lifeblood as overwhelming power flowed into him. A storm of lights and mystical energy battered at him, stripped him of his very identity as his abductors played with his state of mind.
But worst of all were the emerald eyes in the dark, with the shimmering fangs of a serpent. They watched on with amusement as his mind slipped further and further into madness.
And as it stared at him, he felt only…the cold. The freezing touch of oblivion as he understood it. His skin was numb to everything, his senses muted to all but his own thoughts and what he saw in his mind's eye
It was so vast and ancient and malevolent that Nfirea wanted to sink into the earth that very moment, to hide away forever in the hopes it would never, ever find him again.
To him, it spoke only three phrases, and then disappeared into the walls of his confinement.
FEED ME. NURTURE ME. REBUILD ME.
His forehead burned white hot as the last of his consciousness evaporated, leaving him all alone in the darkness.
He woke up screaming, clutching the edges of his bed spread as his throat grew hoarse from the outburst. The throbbing in his forehead was pounding, a hammer smashing away at him and prolonging his pain.
Suddenly, he shut his mouth, breathing heavily as sweat slicked his skin and left him feeling like he'd just run through a storm. He took a quick survey of his surroundings, to ensure that he wasn't back in the darkness of that cave.
A window nearby had its curtain closed, but the faint light that shined through indicated early morning. Furniture dotted the room as well, consisting of two chairs, a small table, and a wash basin.
There was a closet nearby where his spare clothes were hung up, as well as a nightstand and spare lantern. The flame inside flickered warmly, providing a sense of security that Nifrea wasn't aware that a lantern could have.
Nifrea checked under his sheets to make sure he hadn't made a "mess" down there from his terror, as he noted that ever since the incident at E-Rantel he was more likely to do it.
Thankfully, he was completely clean, his night clothes unsullied from his trauma. He let loose a sigh of relief as he allowed his arms to fall and bring the sheet back down on him.
A pair of feet bounded down the hall, his door slamming open as another individual entered his room, likely to investigate his screaming bout only moments prior.
It was Enri, who's beautiful, fair complexion and blond, braided hair always brightened his day. She was dressed in her usual attire of modest, woolen clothes.
Her chocolate brown eyes stared deeply at him in concern, holding the doorknob tightly enough that her entire arm flexed with force.
"Nfirea? Are you okay? What happened? Did you have another nightmare again?" She called to him in worry, passing the threshold of his room and coming to sit down beside him on the side of the bed.
His face burned up in a blush, mostly covered by his bangs when he titled his head downward and meekly nodded.
He felt like a child with how he was acting, and the old him would have done everything in his power to portray himself as the manly image he hoped others saw him as, even if only for Enri's sake.
His blush blazed into a full inferno when he felt the girl's calloused hand rest against his forehead, her humming in thought.
"You seem warm," the mid teen girl said matter of factly, "You might be coming down with a cold, but I think we still have medicine from what you brought with you when Aria and Cerise came, right?"
Again, he nodded, inadvertently recalling the day in question that his crush was alluding, nearly two weeks ago.
Shortly after the destruction of E-Rantel, the displaced citizens had been placed into a sort of "medical" camp where the surviving adventurers did their best to take care of the people and reunite them with their living families.
For people like Nfirea, who had no living family left, he was given the option to leave and seek asylum elsewhere if he so wished, though he was not-so-subtly implored to remain behind by Pluton Ainzach himself so that he could put his alchemical knowledge to good use.
In the back of his mind, the alchemist knew he should have stayed, if only to alleviate the suffering brought on by Negative Energy Sickness. But the horror of what he endured was too great to bear, and he wanted to get as far away from the destroyed city as possible.
As it turned out, part of an adventuring group who christened themselves "The Argonauts" were willing to take him to wherever he pleased. Supposedly there were more, but they had left to either do as they wished or catch up with another adventuring team bound for Re-Estize.
Either way, the two women, one dressed in a massive fur cloak and wolfish skull and the other wearing a forest-green cloak and eye patch, took up the responsibility of transporting him to Carne Village.
It was the only place he could think of really where he still had someone alive that he cared for, and deeply at that. Yet in his shattered psyche, he half-expected the place to be leveled to the ground and annihilated much like his original home.
To his surprise and relief, not only was Carne Village still standing, but it had grown to nearly twice its size since he last saw it. A myriad of faces greeted him in that quaint place, with Enri chief among them.
After settling into a spare room that Enri and Nemu had in their own home, he was quickly brought up to speed as to what happened after he last visited.
Needless to say, he was stunned into quietude, and all the new faces made much more sense when put into context.
Mages… all the way from the Slane Theocracy? And they almost killed everyone. Almost killed Enri and Nemu…
The thought made him clench his fists, though he quickly relaxed as Enri pulled away and continued to stare at him in concern.
"Do you need anything right now? Are you hungry at all, or thirsty? I'm sure we have something in the kitchen if you are," she asked him.
Nfirea shook his head. "No. No, I'm fine. I just need to get up and get ready for the day is all. I'll be good as new then."
He even tried to give her a smile, to truly show that he would be okay and that he could handle himself, nightmares or not.
Evidently it was not convincing enough, as Enri's frown deepened. She did not push him for more details, but instead remained by his side on the bed.
The master alchemist noticed the hand she used to check his temperature was close to his own, and the urge to grab and hold it flared up inside of him.
As he was debating on whether or not he should go for it, a loud banging from the front door resounded throughout the house. It almost sounded like someone was trying to smash the door down from how heavy the force was.
The village girl sighed. "Looks like duty calls. I'll go see what's going on and then maybe we can have breakfast together."
"Yeah. Yeah, that sounds good to me."
She left him then, trailing her hand across the sheets and getting up. Her own footfall striking as easily as hammers on the forge.
Once the door closed completely behind her, Nfirea threw off the sheets and hurried over to the nightstand and then the closet, grabbing his clothing and amenities to get ready for the day.
He didn't have much, on account of most of his belongings burning up alongside his pharmacy and home in the ensuing chaos of E-Rantel, but he did have the essentials at least.
A quick combing of his hair, face wash from the basin, and a change of clothes later, he was more or less back to how he usually looked, checking over himself to make sure he didn't look at all disheveled.
He walked out of his room then. Making his way to the kitchen where he saw Nemu and Enri were seated and tucking into their meals. A fresh, steaming plate of what looked to be potatoes, bacon, and eggs lay waiting for him as well.
It took him a moment, but while he sat down, he noticed a fourth presence sitting at the table with them.
He was an older man, his goatee and mustache thoroughly grayed out and his hair shaved down into a flat top style. One of his eyes was scarred, leaving the pupil significantly duller than his other, which was aqua blue.
Despite his advanced age, he was bulky and powerful, fit to be engaged more in arena fighting than village life. The man had his hands folded politely in front of him, with his plate of food set off to the side.
His one good eye locked on to Nfirea with an intensity that made the younger man squirm. He was also wearing field pants and a sleeveless tunic to proudly show off his bulging biceps.
Nfirea was surprised to see Rowan, the Sunlight Scripture's de-facto captain, here so early. There was nothing to his recollection that Enri needed to do with the grizzled man, unless his mind was skipping out on a detail or two.
Enri and Rowan worked closely with one another to help manage the village and ensure everything continued to run as smoothly as possible. At first, their closeness incited jealousy in him, but it quickly faded over time once he realized their relationship was strictly professional.
Today, however, things felt differently. He got the distinct impression that Rowan wasn't here for Enri at all, but rather him. The meticulous eye of the captain watched him, seemingly analyzing him and everything he did.
He picked at his food, taking small bites of the simple but delicious breakfast that Enri made for him. It wasn't that he had no appetite, quite the opposite, but the constant studying by Rowan unsettled him more than he'd like to admit.
After a few more bites, he set his fork aside and dared to meet the captain's eyes, mimicking his posture in a pseudo act of defiance. The aura the mage gave off was still non-hostile, but now when Nfirea looked into Rowan's eye, he could see a flint of satisfaction reflected in the shining surface.
"I trust you are doing well, Master Barreare?" Rowan started courteously enough, flashing the younger man a smile. "I see you've settled in nicely with the future chieftain and her sister here."
Enri balked at that. "Rowan, we've discussed this already! I don't think I'm fit to be chieftain, nor am I sure I would even have the time. I know what they said, Chief Haru and his wife do a fine job already of keeping the village in top shape."
"You and I both know it's already in your future," the Theocracy mage countered, "The villagers have all agreed that you've done a lot of good work handling things around here. Though I'm not an official leader for my people, they adhere to much the same sentiment."
Despite himself, Nfirea couldn't help but to also interject. "Yeah. The people look up to and respect you Enri. You work well with Rowan and the others, and you make sure everyone gets along at least, if you won't give yourself the credit for everything else."
"Master Barreare's got a point," Rowan said with an approving glance. "However, as much as we could talk about this all day, I am here for a very different reason. One that involves you specifically, Barreare."
He pointed to himself, as if unsure who Rowan was addressing. "Me? What could you possibly need me for? I'm not any good at leadership positions, and I don't have any interest in doing so."
"I can assure you, Master Barreare, that is not my reason for coming here. Rather, we need your particular set of skills. And we need them quickly."
Nfirea pondered that, before quickly coming to the realization of what the de-facto captain wanted and why he specifically sought out the alchemist. A pang of annoyance was swiftly buried beneath his apathy.
"I don't have any of my previous equipment, nor any of my old supplies," he said in a tired monotone. "Your current set-ups are adequate, but not complete. Most of everything I had was lost in the destruction of E-Rantel. I just want to rest and not, well, do anything right now."
"I understand you've lost much. I imagine that you'd like nothing more than to distance yourself from anything that reminds you of your old life, but this is merely a safety precaution. While we have our crude facilities to manage for now, it would set my mind at ease to have professionally made potions in our emergency storage.
"Even still, I just want some more time to process everything, and to be able to come to terms with what's happened. I want to get over my own struggles before I start working again."
"I understand this as well. But I promise you that what I want will only benefit everyone, and make sure that they stay safe if things do go south. Please, all I ask is that you hear me out at the very least."
He inclined his head in thought, noting the carefully chosen wording of the captain in front of him and how he implored the alchemist to consider his plea.
Truth be told, he would love nothing more than to be able to apply his craft again in a way that mattered. While there were certainly a decent amount of healers among the former Slane Theocracy agents that resided in the village, they had their limits, and would need a secondary source of healing once the first grew too tired.
But matters were not so simple for Nfirea. He understood these concerns, and he knew that he should be contributing more to the village other than moping around as he was.
Physically, he was nothing to write home about, even if some of the manual chores he was able to do, like splitting logs or carrying supplies around the village, helped to strengthen him.
Nor did he have any marvelous speed or endurance to call his own. Really, all he had was his own magical potency and alchemical knowledge. While both could get him far back in E-Rantel, he figured it could get him even further in Carne.
If nothing else at least, it would certainly elevate him in the eyes of Enri, and alleviate her of some of her daily worries. She constantly told him that it was okay that he rest and recover from his ordeal, but now he was beginning to wonder just how long that would last.
It was time he started to do something, even if it had only been a couple of weeks. The nightmares would never stop if he sat alone and allowed them to plague his mind anymore. If he didn't, he feared he'd slip into a pit of madness he could never crawl out of.
What sealed his decision was the soft touch of Enri's hand grabbing his own, making his head snap up and look her in the eye.
Nothing but concern etched her features. "It's just a thought, but I know that what you're dealing with isn't easy, and we shouldn't rush you to do anything you're not ready to do on your own. Right, Rowan?"
Rowan's jaw locked, and he nodded sagely. "Yes, of course. I don't mean to push. I only wish to help you out as I know how to. From my experience, sometimes just being able to get out of the house can jumpstart the journey to healing."
While he would never admit it, Nfirea made a slight show of thinking about it more so that he could savor Enri holding his hand in comfort. Then he gently pulled away so that he could properly answer the mage's request.
"Okay. I'll hear you out. What do you need me to do?"
Relief washed over the captain's stony visage, and he unclasped his hands to palm the table.
"Thank you, Master Barreare, I appreciate your time and willingness to hear me. What I ask for is simple, and should only take a day at most to complete. Maybe two, since the distance is somewhat great."
Then the mage launched into a full explanation of what he desired and what would have to be accomplished to achieve his results. His points were prim and punctual, giving exactly the right amount of information needed to detail the finer points without overloading the stressed alchemist.
The precision with which he spoke, as well as how well he conveyed the info, spoke of many years of giving condensed but useful reports to superior officers. It was, Nfirea imagined, how he spoke after a mission to the previous captain of the Sunlight Scripture.
Once he finished, Rowan said no more, allowing Nfirea to digest the information he was granted and mull over.
"So you just need me to help gather and identify useful plants in the Forest of Tob?" Was what he summed up everything he'd been told to be.
The de-facto captain spread his hands. "Like I said, this is simple but vital work, and something that I believe you would be best suited for, since this was your livelihood. My mages do the best we can, but they're not pharmacists. We need someone to teach us so we can do the work when you're not around."
"Is there any specific spot you want to visit? Or do you have any specific types of potions that you're hoping to make beyond standard healing potions?"
"In that regard, you'll be our guide, and hopefully be able to teach us how to do it ourselves so you won't even need to leave. My people will act as your bodyguards, and ensure nothing within the Forest so much as lays a scratch on you."
"And the necessary equipment? Even if we get everything we need, I still need a place to work. Something a little better than what you have at the moment."
Rowan held up a hand. "Leave that to me and the others. We'll make sure you have proper equipment. All we ask you to worry about is whether or not we can find the necessary herbs in the forest."
With that, the mage got up, not even finishing his plate of food. "I would say that we should move out by the end of the week, so that we can get our affairs out of the way in the village first."
"Sounds good to me too. I'll see you then," Nfirea replied.
The captain's hand shot out to initiate a crisp handshake, which the alchemist reciprocated. His own hand was much smaller compared to the mage's and was nearly crushed in its iron grip.
A small testament to the man's physical strength, and Nfirea suspected that he wasn't even trying to do anything like intentionally crush his offered limb.
What he also suspected was that it wouldn't actually take an entire week to prepare for a trip into the forest, but that rather the time was meant as a gesture of good faith from the mage to the alchemist.
Afterall, Nfirea wanted more time to rest and recover from his "wounds", and while he was still accompanying the Sunlight Scripture on their mission, his request was granted.
Now I feel like the one who was just granted leave from the army. What a turn of events.
He chucked internally to himself at that, finishing up the rest of his own food and also standing up from the table.
"I think I want to go out for a walk and get some fresh air. Would you and Nemu…like to come with me?" He asked hopefully.
To his disappointment, Enri shook her head. "I'm sorry but I can't. I need to go and meet up with Jugem and the rest of the Goblin Troop. I'm sure Nemu would love to come with you though."
"Yeah, I can do that. Ready to go, Nemu?"
The little girl had finished her food long ago it seemed, merely watching the adults talk amongst themselves. She had an inquisitive look on her face as she nodded and hopped down from her chair.
All three exited the house at once, letting the morning rays warm them up to prepare for their respective days.
Enri and Nemu's house was situated close to the longhouse of Carne Village, where official business between the respective leaders of the village and outsiders would occur. Of the many renovations to be done, the longhouse was among the first.
A fork in the path ahead of them allowed Enri, Nfirea and Nemu to go their separate ways. The village chieftain-to-be went down the path that led directly to the Goblin and Theocracy barracks, where the respective groups resided in a tense sort of peace.
The Slane Theocracy's distrust and even outright hatred of anything non-human was scarcely disguised, but being that they were under "house arrest" as Nfirea was told, they made peace with their humanoid neighbors.
That didn't mean that some of the members between each group didn't forge actual friendships however. On more than one occasion, the alchemist had witnessed how some members would spend time together out of their own free will, without so much as a hint of hostility.
The path that the small child and Barreare took led down a path that some in a larger city would refer to as a "residential district", where citizens lived in their own homes and spent their days as they wished.
While Carne Village had grown significantly larger with the help of the Theocracy mages and their summons, as well as the Goblin Troop, it was nowhere close to being an actual city. Nfirea would consider it more like a town, though it still hadn't quite reached that point.
Some of the housing that was destroyed in Carne's initial assault was well under way in their construction, with the more completed homes even getting a fresh coat of paint from their owners to differentiate themselves.
Villager, mage, and Goblin all worked together in a surprising display of community and selflessness, ensuring that none was left to fend for themselves or having to take care of their affairs alone.
As the unlikely duo traversed the not-quite-town, Nemu was skipping and humming a merry tune to herself, mostly enjoying her day with the alchemist.
Suddenly she stopped, grasping at Nfirea's hand and holding it as she looked up at him. The move somewhat startled the young man, but he recovered quickly enough.
"When are you gonna marry my sister?" She asked him innocently with eyes almost too big for her face.
That caught him off guard, His face burning up in a blush as he used his free hand to rub the back of his neck and looked away.
"W-well, it's complicated. I l-like her a lot, and I-I can't-I don't have the means to provide for her! I'm dealing with a-a lot right now, and I won't dump-I can't let her deal with everything I-I'm going through."
Nemu tilted her head. "She has to deal with a lot too. She's always busy with her re-sponsi-bili-ties," she said, sounding out the last word. "Plus she's hurting too. Me too, ever since Mama and Papa had to go away."
"Y-yeah… I remember I was told about that," Nfirea admitted, stopping and kneeling down to the younger girl's level. "I don't know if I ever told you this properly, but I'm really sorry to hear what happened to your parents. It's good to know Enri has taken such good care of you."
Nemu sniffled a bit, but she proved her resilience by not crying outright. "But she gets really lonely. Sometimes I see her sitting by the window at night and just looking out. I think she wants someone to help her not be alone anymore."
"She has you, doesn't she? I'm sure you're all she needs."
The alchemist made a move to stand up, but the younger girl stubbornly held onto his hand and made him continue to kneel. She glared at him with a ferocity he scarcely thought a girl of her age could muster.
"No! It has to be you! I've seen how you look at each other! I want my big sis happy, and I think you can do it," Nemu declared, crossing her arms after she let go of his hand.
Her words struck at him in a way he hadn't considered before, and while he knew he shouldn't exactly be taking the advice of a child, she made sense, somewhat.
In his mind, he knew that he wanted nothing more than to sweep Enri off her feet and declare his undying love for her, like something out of the romance novels his grandmother used to read in her spare time.
On the other hand, he also knew what he said to be true. He was in no position to make a move of any kind, financially or mentally. He had nothing to offer her for a comfortable life.
Maybe once I've gotten over everything that's happened, I can do something then. But not right now.
So he settled on a compromise instead, rather than try to argue directly with the stubborn child.
"I'll say something to her after I come back from my trip at the end of the week," he told her, "I'll even make sure to bring her some flowers to really seal the deal. Sound good?"
Nemu had to think about that, scrunching up her face adorably. After a moment, she finally nodded her head with a large smile on her face.
The former pharmacist chuckled and ruffled her hair, before he stood up fully and the two resumed their walk throughout Carne.
Nfirea and Nemu eventually passed by a large storage house, more like a glorified barn, that was being loaded with supplies like food and building materials, manned by a former mage woman with a notepad in hand and her blond locks dangling across her shoulders.
Like many of the mages, she had foregone the outfit of her previous Scripture, wearing simple woolen clothing like the other villagers. However, she had a picture of a bright red mask with green highlights painted on the front of her tunic.
He recognized her as Aeliana, the second-in-command of the former Sunlight Scripture. She was an eccentric but steadfast woman who, once one got used to her quirks, was quite pleasant and easy to talk to.
Already the alchemist could hear her yelling at some of her compatriots working in the store house, directing them on where they could set down specific crates or admonishing them for some mistake they made along the way.
The commotion drew both Nfirea and Nemu closer, if only to see what was going on and watch the experienced woman thrive in her own element. She was currently distracted, looking down at the thick binder she always carried.
As soon as they both got close enough, she spoke to them both without so much as looking up from her papers, scribbling furiously as she spoke.
"Oh? Lillian? Adrian? Glad to see you're here. Do you mind helping some of the others with the crates of preserved foods? They keep smashing into some of the others with how heavy the boxes are and I don't want a repeat of last week."
Nfirea took a moment to process that. 'Um, actually we're not Lillian or Adrian. It's Nfirea, and Enri's little sister, Nemu. We just saw you over here and thought we'd come over to say hello and see how you were doing."
At that, Aeliana finally peered up from her notes, her rare, green eyes widening in slight panic.
"Oh, did I assume again? My apologies, Mister Nfirea and Miss Nemu. I was expecting someone else. A pleasure to see the two of you."
The worker stuck her writing utensil into the crook of her ear and extended a hand, to which she shook vigorously of both the alchemist and younger child.
"I'm doing well, thank you. At least, as well as I can when I'm running around like a mad-woman trying to get everything sorted for Haru and Rowan," She stated with military crispness.
"Good to see we're all in good hands," Nfirea replied, "I'm sorry we haven't gotten to talk more. I guess I've been… preoccupied."
Aeliana brushed aside a small curl of her hair. "I wouldn't really worry about it, Nfirea. Astonishing, really what the human mind is able to accomplish when put under so much duress. Sometimes, I can't help but wonder if people like you are superhuman"
"How so?"
"You don't exactly know much about mind magic, nor do you really have anything to help you manipulate your memories. The fact that you can properly function despite the memories and trauma is quite indicative that you are more than meets the eye."
That indirect compliment brightened Nfirea's mood a bit more. He gave her a rare, gratified smile, which she returned earnestly.
"Now that you mentioned it, how do you manage to keep up with all the numbers of your job? I can't imagine having to keep track of so many numbers if they're not related to medical work, " Nfirea finally said, not wanting to end the conversation prematurely.
His interest prompted an excited smile from Aeliana, who promptly grabbed her utensil from her ear and began tapping her binder.
"You see," she began, "before I ended up here in Carne, I was in charge of logistics and handling for the scripture, which pretty much meant I was in charge of making sure everything is recorded and logged. Of course, this is a lot of technical data that I'm dealing with, so I find it's best to-"
And on Aeliana prattled, Nfirea leaning in closer to listen to what the woman had to say about her work and how she performed it.
In some ways, it was not much different from his old line of work, where he constantly had to keep track of supplies needed for his potions and medicines for clients, only he had to manage the pharmacy, and he had his Grandma Lizzie there to help him too.
Most of the info, however, completely flew over his head as the manager began to delve into topics of distribution and economics, as if she was presenting findings on a city rather than a small town.
Strangely, her talking dumbed down into white noise for him, his peripheral consciousness working overtime to allow him to nod and smile whenever appropriate. As she kept talking and rattling information off at him, however, Nfirea's skin began to prickle with goosebumps.
Suddenly, he could hear his own breathing, and the way his heart beat regularly against his rib cage as it pumped life fluid through his veins. When he chanced a look at himself, his skin seemed to be draining of blood, rather than being flush with it.
His eyes darted around as small amounts of sweat built up, searching for the source of his immediate anxiety. His breathing quickened as he was now frantically eyeballing the area around him.
Aeliana didn't seem to be paying attention to him anymore, as she was off in her own little world describing her job to the alchemist. It was only when he realized this that he saw the source of his panic.
Off to the side of the store house, he could see Nemu, sweet, adorable, innocent Nemu, speaking with someone who was hiding around the corner of the building.
Much of the figure's form was obscured, but from what he could make out, hair that would absorb the light of stars hid her face, save for the twitching, blinding eyes that poked out of the sheen.
The left arm was curled around the edge, the hand tensed up into a claw with talon-like nails digging into the wood. Pearly-white teeth grinned at the little girl, moving up and down in a motion he recognized as it speaking to her.
Its papery skin contrasted with the dress it wore, complimenting the wall of hair that drifted down to approximately its middle back.
Both the little girl and… thing spoke to one another, with the smaller child not even appearing frightened by the spectral visitor. If anything, they seemed to be enjoying one another's company.
Every instinct within Nfirea's body roared at him to charge towards the perceived threat, placing himself directly between the two and ensuring that whatever it was, that it wouldn't drag away Nemu or harm her in any way.
Just as he was about to, though, the creature looked up and met his eyes. He froze in his tracks before he could even take the next step.
His body temperature dropped below zero, an involuntary shiver running up his spine. His teeth chattered as his eyes were glued to the being in front of him, watching him as intently as he was Nemu.
There were no words. There was no sound. There was only the motion of the teeth as they grinned and mouthed "found you".
One moment he saw that, and then the next he was laying on the ground, fully on his back and sprawled out. His breathing was irregular now, and his heart tried to clobber its way out of his body and run as far away as possible.
Eyes that blurred barely perceived the figures crouched over him. Ringing ears drowned out the sea of voices that called out to him, asking him if he was alright, and what had happened.
Several pairs of hands patted him down, checking his vitals most likely. One pair with a cloth wiped away at his cheeks. When they pressed down, he could feel the moisture absorbing into his skin, revealing he'd been crying.
Everything rushed back to him then, causing him to sit up and accidentally bonk heads with the one directly above him. The person cried out in pain and backed away, giving him much needed air.
The quick motions upset his stomach, to which he turned to his side and promptly vomited up the breakfast that Enri made for him. The other people who gathered around him let out groans of disgust and scampered off.
His back was soothingly rubbed in small circles while a voice behind him told him to "let it all out. Calm down and come back to us."
After some time, his senses gradually returned back to his control, granting him some sense of normalcy. When his stomach finished unraveling itself from its knots, he managed to move without triggering another reaction.
Several of the Slane Theocracy mages had rushed over to see what was going on, as had some of the passing villagers. All gave him glances of wariness and general concern.
He tried to speak, only for his voice to crack and him to have a coughing fit. He hacked himself hoarse, but when he tried to talk again, he could manage much better.
"W-what happened to me?" He asked, dazed and monotone. He chanced a look at where he saw the figure earlier, only to see that it was gone.
Nemu was beside Aeliana, clutching at her shirt as the mage rubbed her forehead where she'd been bumped.
"You Re-Estize citizens sure do have sturdy bodies. I'm not sure what happened. One moment we were discussing the logistics of my job, and the next you collapsed on the ground, completely blacked out," Aeliana said.
"How long?" He replied, almost afraid to hear the answer. Rather than the magic caster in front of him answering, it was one of the ones off to the side.
"Looked like maybe a few seconds," he answered in a gruff tone, "Even still, scared me shitless when Ol' Aeliana here started shouting for help. Everyone else too."
Many of the others grumbled in agreement, but stuck around to check up on the alchemist anyways. Those who were healers knelt down and waved their magic infused limbs around his body, which helped to quell the aches in his body.
The villagers who stopped by were hurried away, citing that the area was "contaminated" and needed to be cleaned. An excuse, most likely, to make sure Nfirea wouldn't be too crowded.
Several times Nfirea made an attempt to leave, but each time was shut down and told to stay put while someone else went to retrieve Enri.
While they waited, Nfirea focused his attention on Nemu, who still clung to the pants of Aeliana and watched him with doe eyes.
"W-who was that woman you were talking to, Nemu?" He croaked out, his voice cracking.
The little girl blinked once at him. "Oh, her? She was really nice. Said she wanted to talk to me and ask me a question. She was real quiet, and I couldn't see her face."
"Except for her eyes and teeth?"
"Yeah! Did you see her too?"
As they spoke with one another, the pharmacist carefully gauged the mages' reactions to what he and the little girl were discussing.
For the first part, they were mostly confused at first, their gazes flickering between the two as they discussed the apparition. Then they grew more alarmed, many of them glancing all around at their immediate surroundings.
Aeliana in particular looked horrified, burning holes into the side of the store house where Nfirea saw the figure. She immediately cut off both of them.
"I need you both to go home, now. Everyone else, we need to be on high alert and scouting the perimeter of this village yesterday!"
The mages jumped into action at their superior's words, forming up behind her and activating their magic. Rings of runes floated above their palms as they spun in place.
"I want two of you to escort Nfirea and Nemu back to their homes. I don't want a full scale panic so don't ring the alarm bell yet. I do want to get Rowan and other able bodied people to scout around. We need to find the hole in our security and patch it up," Aeliana commanded.
"Yes ma'am!" all the mages resounded at once, mingling with each other to form a well oiled machine. As specified, two of them broke off from the main group and planted themselves on either side of the duo.
Without another word, all four slowly but steadily marched back to Enri's home, keeping an eye out for the apparition again in case it chose to lunge out and attack.
Thankfully, no such thing occurred, and they made it back to the house without incident. Both mages waited just outside the entrance as they gently nudged the alchemist and child inside.
"Don't come out until we give the all-clear," said one of the men, who had blond hair cropped close to his scalp and with a semi-permanent scowl. "We'll keep you two safe, you can count on us!"
Nfirea didn't say anything, only giving the men a somber "okay" in response as the door was shut behind the unlikely duo.
Nemu simply made her way back to her room, humming along the way with a noticeable skip to her step. She disappeared down the hallway, to which Nfirea heard her door open and close with only a squeak.
The alchemist slumped into a chair at the dining room table, resting his head into the crook of his arms. He clutched the table surface as he tried to calm himself down.
Now that he had a chance to sit down alone with his thoughts, he couldn't help but to reflect on how he acted out there. He felt like he'd been a spectator to his own breakdown, seeing everything with a detached, almost-uninterested lens.
I go out for a walk, and suddenly I'm vomiting and see monsters hiding behind every corner. What an excellent start to my day.
He buried his head deeper into his arms with a pathetic-sounding whimper. If nothing else, he was thankful that nobody had to see him continue to delve further into his self-pity. Collapsing once in broad daylight with an audience was enough.
It was peaceful, Enri's house. Despite all the turmoil and agony that he was sure that his love-interest had suffered, there was no residual misery in the walls of her home.
That helped to alleviate Nfirea's own despair, knowing that someone had suffered almost just as much as he had and that they still came out all the stronger for it.
But what did that say about him specifically? Was he just that weak that he was near the point of hysteria? Could it be possible that he'd reached his breaking point and was beyond saving?
His more logical side argued that no, he was still capable of recovering. Matters like his took time to heal and restore themselves, even if the circumstances were more dire in his original situation.
Another, far darker and cruel side whispered insidiously in his ear. It claimed that he was just as feeble as he thought, if not more so. In fact, he was not even worth the effort of preserving.
You had a hand in destroying an entire city. Your power was used to annihilate so many innocent lives. Do they not deserve reparation? Do they not deserve justice through your own suffering?
A bird cawed at him from the window sill, capturing his attention and making his head snap to its location. For a brief moment, his self-loathing dissipated as he focused on the minuscule animal.
Like all birds, it was a fragile, small creature. It bounced from one foot to the next, cawing at Nfirea in its native tone and serenading him with its arrival.
Beady eyes stared into his own, the arrival tilting its head as if awaiting the alchemist's reply to an unspoken question.
Before he could answer, the bird hopped down from its perch, landing directly on the table in front of him. It tweeted again, coming at the alchemist with a confident strut.
It's midnight-black head bobbed in greeting, nestling itself in between Nfirea's smooth hands and cawing contently.
The innocent actions caused the pharmacist to smile as he gently stroked the bird's back, even laughing brokenly when it kept making its noises of enjoyment.
"Hey little guy," he called out to his new friend, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out with others of your kind?"
When he looked at the small bird, which he identified as a surprisingly undersized crow, he noticed a bright-red collar wrapped around its neck, like something that a dog would wear.
He also found that the feathers of the bird didn't quite feel like, well, feathers. Their texture was more crinkly than bristly like a crow's plumage ought to feel. They also weren't as oily as typical.
The bird's nestling became more insistent, wiggling its beak past Nfirea's forefinger and thumb. It continued up until its collar was firmly between both fingers.
It's neck twisted a full ninety degrees with an audible SNAP. Nfirea's eyes widened and he cried out, thinking that the bird had inadvertently killed itself in its quest for cuddles.
Instead, the body seemed to flatten, the feathers smoothing out into a single, homogenous surface of black-stained parchment. The collar followed much the same process, only it was circular in shape and waxier.
In the span of a second, the bird had completely transformed into an envelope, Nfirea holding the wax seal open and a white letter popping out the top. He blinked slowly, turning over the envelope in his hands.
He carefully thumbed the edges of the piece he held, noting that it and the bird felt exactly the same. The fact that he could feel the envelope meant that it was not a figment of his imagination, and that he hadn't accidentally killed the harmless animal.
Once he assessed that he wasn't having another moment of madness, he slid out the letter, watching as the golden ink glittered against the white plane upon which it was set against.
Enclosed within the letter's contents were as follows:
Master Barreare,
My associates and I have been keeping a close eye on you and your progress for some time now, as well as your incredible prowess regarding any and all subjects in alchemy. However, we believe that we can further enhance your abilities and knowledge to even greater heights.
Which is why it is with the highest distinction that I, Secretorum Hermetis, cordially invite you to attend my private academy as my personal apprentice. I implore you to consider this decision, especially as we delve into the arts of topics such as the Orb of Knowledge, the Emerald Tablets, the Philosopher's Stone, and the Magnum Opus.
We understand that you have undergone much sorrow and loss in such a short time, but we believe that we have the means and tools to help you recover and get back on the road to alchemical mastery.
Once you are ready, merely pack your belongings and state the phrase "Truth! Certainty! That in which there is no doubt," to the envelope. It will lead you directly towards my associates and I.
Signed,
The Hermetic Order.
There were no other identifying marks found anywhere on the letter itself, and when Nfirea pulled down on the wax seal to see which sigil had been inscribed, there was some sort of tentacled creature staring right back at him.
He dropped the envelope and letter back down on the table, staring at it and pondering what he had just read.
The Hermetic Order? I've never even heard of them before, but they somehow know about me? They know about what I went through? How? I would think I'd know if I was being watched.
He chuckled mirthlessly to himself, wiping his brow of any remaining sweat he might have had from earlier.
What am I thinking? Of course I wouldn't know, just like how I didn't know with those cultists and woman. Besides, why reach out to me now? Rather than before?
Already he was making his mind up about the "invitation" he'd been sent. There was no way in a thousand years he'd ever leave. Why should he?
Even though he was still dealing with his issues, he knew that he had people who cared for him in Carne Village. After everything he'd endured, he couldn't possibly imagine leaving them, or her, behind.
"The Hermetic Order", whoever they were, hadn't cared enough to reach out to him previously when he was a fully established and famous alchemist in E-Rantel.
So was it the fact that he survived his ordeal that made him worthy of attention? His part in bringing about the downfall of his home city? What if the very reason they wanted him was to do it all over again?
The sound of the door slamming open interrupted his thoughts, and then a pair of strong, familiar arms wrapped around his shoulders and crushed him with a tight hug.
"I heard what happened from the others," Enri stated with alarm, turning him around to face her. "Did you get hurt? How're you feeling right now? Do you need me to get you some water?"
She assaulted Nfirea with a barrage of questions that made his head spin. At one point, he physically had to grab her shoulders to make her stop when it became apparent that she wouldn't anytime soon.
"I-I'm okay," he muttered weakly, his face burning as he looked down. "I don't know what came over me, b-but I'm okay now."
"You're not doing a very good job of convincing me that you're better. If anything, you look like you're about to throw up," she said, crossing both arms.
"I just had a bad moment is all. But I did see something I need to tell you about. Nemu saw it too."
Nfirea quickly recounted his and Nemu's encounter with the seeming apparition, which disappeared in a blink of an eye once it saw him.
While he explained everything that happened leading up to him returning back to the house, the door slammed open again, Rowan and Aeliana coming on through to stand before both villagers.
Both former scripture members glanced at one another as the alchemist retold his versions of events. They remained patiently quiet until there was nothing left to be said on Nfirea's part.
"We found no evidence of someone breaking and entering into the village," the muscular mage reported. "Likely whatever Master Barreare and little Nemu saw fled as soon as it felt it was in danger."
"I don't think so, Captain Rowan," Aeliana butted in, using the man's unofficial title. "From what Nfirea says, it willingly made eye contact and said 'found you' to him. Whatever it was, it had an agenda."
The de-facto leader sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Indeed, and just when I thought we were finally on the road to progress… Young man, what's with the letter on the table there?"
"Oh? You mean this one right here? It came to me in the form of a bird and delivered this letter to me," Nfirea said, scooping up the envelope and parchment addressed to him.
He handed it off to the two mages, both of them carefully inspecting the piece and turning it over from one side to another. Rowan glanced at the actual letter itself, Aeliana's eyebrows raising higher and higher as she studied the piece of paper.
"You said a bird brought this to you?" The woman asked while she took the paper for herself and meticulously studied the wording.
Nfirea shook his head. "No, the letter itself was a bird. It came to the windowsill and was wearing a collar. When I pulled on it, it transformed into the letter you see before you."
Both mages looked up from the letter at that, sharing a look that seemingly conveyed an entire conversation between themselves. The pharmacist imagined it went something like this:
A letter that used to be a bird? What kind of magic is able to accomplish that?
I can't even begin to imagine. Even back home, the most convoluted magic was never used for something like this.
Better to leave that be for now. We have more important matters to address with Master Barreare.
Rowan returned back to the real world first, his eyes narrowed in thought. He clicked his tongue before he put forth another question.
"What exactly does this letter say? I don't recognize the mark on this at all, and I certainly have never heard of a message being transferred like this before."
Nfirea blinked, not comprehending what the de-facto captain was asking for a moment. "What do you mean 'what does the letter say?' It's right there in front of you. I didn't think the handwriting was that bad."
"Nfirea," Aeliana started gently, "there's nothing written on the letter at all."
"What?! Let me see that real quick!"
He quickly snatched the piece from their hands, rereading the message over and over again. The golden calligraphy openly mocked him with its over-the-top penmanship and writing material. It might as well have been real liquid gold with how exquisite it was.
"It's all here," Nfirea confirmed, thumbing the page. "Nothing is out of the ordinary, and I can read it just fine. Maybe it's some kind of hidden message?"
"Perhaps," Rowan answered, his frown deepening. "Whoever sent you this letter obviously only wants you to make sense of the contents. The method of travel, as well as its camouflage abilities, means that your sender is either very wealthy or very powerful. Maybe both."
"The apparition could be tied to it," Aeliana speculated, "it doesn't seem a coincidence that it shows up this day and then Nfirea received this."
Enri, who'd remained quiet but steadily close to the former pharmacist, stood up. Her strong arms dragged Nfirea with a squeak.
"This is very concerning, and something that we'll need to deal with as soon as possible," she said kindly, "but I'd like to make sure Nfirea is alright and that he gets rest again after what he just went through. I don't think he needs to be answering any more questions."
She, not so subtly, steered the alchemist along to the hallway, his feet barely leaving the ground as he scrambled to keep up with his would-be love.
Aeliana herself moved to intercept the young man and woman. "Miss Enri, with all due respect, we seem to have experienced a major security breach. We need to gather as much info as we possibly can, and if Nfirea can help us with that, then surely he could stay for just a few more questions."
The younger woman's smile grew slightly more sour as she looked at her superior. "And I understand that, but right now he's dealing with a lot of stress. You're already having him come along for your trip into the forest at the end of the week. He needs to prepare for that too."
There was an underlying tension that Nfirea didn't quite understand brewing in the room, and sparks of electricity appeared to run up and down his skin as he unwillingly immersed himself into it.
It was finally broken when Rowan laid a mighty hand on the smaller woman's shoulder, causing her to look back and disengage.
"You're right, Miss Enri," he said in a disarming tone. "We can't glean much more I'm afraid. We'll do what we can and make sure the village doesn't fall into a panic, you have my word."
The would-be chief nodded, Nfirea helplessly being pulled along back into the same room he'd woken up in only earlier that day.
Before he knew it, he was tucked into his bed with the curtains drawn to shut out the blazing sun. The sound of people rushing about outside as they went about their daily lives, surprisingly, was just as soothing as the nighttime ambience which helped him sleep.
"You need some water and a nap," His love interest declared, procuring a glass she had picked up while the alchemist wasn't looking. She set it down on his night stand. "I'll make sure no one bothers you for the rest of the day, and talk to Rowan about this trip of his he talked about."
"Enri-," Nfirea started, only to be quickly cut-off by the much more dominant woman.
"Nfirea, I know what you're trying to do, and I don't think you're mentally ready yet to do anything like what Rowan wants," Enri said, crossing her arms. "It's only been two weeks, and I know these sorts of wounds don't heal quickly or easily. I want you to feel better before you go out and do something like this."
It was simple enough logic, following along with that. Nfirea already reasoned out in his head that while he might've been acting irrationally, he still didn't think it was right that he was essentially leeching off of the village just so he could wallow in his own self pity.
Worse still, Nfirea was doing it in front of the absolute last person he wanted to see him like this in the world. He could only imagine what was going through her head at times like this. Seeing him so weak and vulnerable as he was right now.
Her hand slipped into his, grasping it tightly and giving him a reassuring squeeze.
"Please," Enri said, pleading with him, "Just stay home and get better, for me at least if not yourself. I promise you'll have all the time in the world to get back to work. But not now. Not like this."
Warm brown eyes met Nfirea's, displaying such deep compassion and sorrow for him it stole his breath away. The longer he matched her gaze, the more his chest constricted and breathing halted.
For the briefest of moments, he half wondered if she would reach in and kiss him, the way she looked at him in that timespan. A silly fantasy to be sure, but one he was happy to entertain.
Unfortunately, she let go of him and broke eye contact, going back to the door and grasping the edge. He was almost sure it was imagination, but he thought he saw the lightest shade of rose dusting on her beautiful features.
"I'll be checking up on you in a few hours," she said softly, "Just make sure you rest."
And then she was gone, leaving the last Barreare alone with his own mind and demons to struggle with. He contemplated opening the curtains just so he could see the village outside and feel less alone.
At least I have my lantern, Nfirea oddly joked to himself, watching as the tiny flame flickered and danced just for him within the metallic confinement that housed it.
He reached for the glass of water that'd be left for him, downing it in two, hearty gulps
But he decided on the path suggested to him instead, and closed his eyes to enter an uneasy slumber.
He was sitting at a table, cutting up and crushing the necessary herbs for his latest batch of medicine ordered just that afternoon.
An apron and pair of goggles, along with his usual gloves, sat upon his figure to provide as much ample protection as possible from his most volatile of concoctions. Various beakers and tubes bubbled and simmered with alchemical properties all along the table's surface.
The smell of smoke wafted from his kitchen, where his grandma Lizzie was making lunch for the two of them. He was sure that whatever she prepared would quell the rumbling his stomach had for sure.
Oh! And the very same order he was making was their one-millionth! He'd have to go out and get the supplies needed to make their favorite dinner to celebrate. He imagined he'd be back by nightfall, just in time to-
"Stop it. You're going through the motions again and it's driving me nuts."
The sudden voice of his grandmother startled Nfirea more than he cared to admit, making him accidentally drop the clamps he was using to try and grab a boiling beaker.
Thankfully there was nothing in its grip, and it clattered harmlessly against the ground.
Nfirea whirled around to see his grandmother sitting in a chair, with the back facing towards him and the elder Barreare leaning against it for balance. He clutched the part of his chest just above his heart, the organ beating incessantly against his sternum.
"G-grandma? I thought you were in the kitchen! Weren't you making lunch just about right now?" The pharmacist said with a gasp. He brushed his bangs slightly so that he could see his relative better.
"Kitchen? Why would you think…Ah, never mind that. Instead, let's focus on something else, shall we?" Grandma Lizzie said, leaning over with a conspiratorial smile.
The smell of smoke grew stronger in Nfirea's nostrils, this time from his beakers. He tried to match his grandmother's smile, but found it wavering from the sheer intensity of her own grin.
"F-focus on what? Aren't we supposed to be working on this customer's order? That seems like the only thing that we can 'focus' on."
Grandma Lizzie's smile grew even wider, slightly showing off her molars. "Ah, but weren't you just asking why I wasn't in the kitchen?"
That threw the younger alchemist for a loop, struggling with his thoughts. "I-well-I thought you-You were supposed to be in the kitchen, but we have an order. Our millionth order! This is an important day for us!"
"Hmmm…and tell me, what are we gonna have for dinner? I'm pretty hungry, so I'd 'preciate something to tide me over for a bit."
"Our favorite dinner of course! What we always have whenever there's something to be celebrated!"
"And that would be…?"
Nfirea moved to answer, but his mind drew a complete blank. The very name of the recipe was just on the tip of his tongue too! But it stubbornly remained buried in his sub consciousness, suffocated by the overwhelming smoky haze that invaded his sense of smell.
His eyes burned and he began coughing as the smoke entered his lungs. He waved it away, but it continued to persist despite his efforts. Eventually it was clouding his vision all together as fire crackled around him.
Knees buckled, and then he fell down before his grandmother onto all fours. The change in position granted him a brief respite, and allowed him a clear view of the source of such smoke and debris.
The pharmacy was ablaze. Years of memories and timber hungrily being consumed by the inferno that surrounded him. The warmth tickled at his flesh and gnawed away at everything he held dear.
Flames jumped from counter to counter, smashing important equipment worth more than anything Nfirea would ever make on his own in several lifetimes. Some that had been passed down along generations of Barreares.
And all the while Grandma Lizzie sat in her backwards facing chair, staring down at him with a look of pity and dark amusement. Part of her headband, faithfully pulling her own hair out of her eyes, had its edges set on fire.
"Comforting, isn't it?" Grandma Lizzie asked him, "To know that everything that could ever hold you back is gone, and nothin' will be able to hold you down. A shame though what you had to lose to get here. For that, I'm really sorry."
"Grandma, what are you talking about?!" Nfirea shouted over the roar of the blaze in near hysterics. "We need to get out of here! Something must have gone wrong with the lab! We still have time to save ourselves!"
His pleas fell on deaf ears, for she kept on like nothing was happening. "We tend to hold on to what we once had. What we used to believe to be true and what we believed to be universal. It's only when we realize, once everything's taken away, how much we're being held back."
"Grandma, please!"
The alit headband spread its burning venom to the rest of the elder Barreare's skull, catching her entire head on fire. Her eyes, once so full of jubilant life and ancient wisdom, were as black as soot.
"Not everyone is strong enough to endure these changes. I can think of only one who fits that bill," she continued, her voice growing raspier, "The question is, are you?"
She reached out to Nfirea then, the tips of her fingers infected by the smoldering flames. Out of desperation, the pharmacist grabbed the offered hand and held it close to his cheek.
Tears hotter than even the burning pharmacy tore their way down his cheeks. "Please… I can't do this without you! I-I don't think I'm strong enough! I can't even walk without passing out from the nightmares. Oh, the waking nightmares…"
A head tilt was all he got for his open display of grief. "We all have nightmares, kid. Monsters waiting for us in the dark, even when we're huddled around a campfire. Makes you long for something better, don't it?"
Nfirea bobbed his head furiously in agreement. "Ye-yeah! I wish I could be back h-home! I wish I c-could've been able to save you! I w-wish I could've fought back and warned the others about what was coming!"
Grandma Lizzie hummed an unfamiliar tune. "Wishes can only get you so far. You can wish all you want for what once was. But I think I'd rather wish for something better, wouldn't you agree?"
Memory after memory slammed into his psyche, producing a never ending cascade of physical misery. The man in the crimson robes. His feminine accomplice with her jabbing stilettos and sneering laughter.
The emerald eyes leering at him as if he were no more than a journeyman's tool. Something to propel along a design he couldn't possibly fathom.
Yet in these constant reminders of his failures, he did find solace in his grandmother's words. He was able to calm down, and force himself to speak more coherently than before.
"Yes. I wish I could move on. I want to be better, for Enri at least. I don't want to feel like this anymore. I want to fix myself and be better than I was."
By that point, the fire had completely engulfed his beloved grandmother, her bones glowing through her melted skin. But she was still smiling, though not as cruelly as before.
"I'd say that's the first step. Oh, look at that. Come on, let's go and watch the new day together, shall we?"
Then the roof caved in, allowing light more blinding than the inferno to pass through, and herald the coming of the day for both Barreares. Nfirea stood up, removing his grandmother's hand from his cheek.
He held on with all his might, resolving never to let go of her memory. Not ever again. The sunlight fully swallowed them both.