Chapter 3

Xerxes sat beside Eileen with the book between them while Aysu slept on Xerxes' lap. The recipes were strange, but they still had some familiarity with Eileen. With the help of Xerxes, she quickly saw the connections. Much to her displeasure, Clorince jumped in and out of their study time. It still wasn't fair how easy this stuff was to Clorince.

"This potion helps clean wounds," Eileen was pleased with herself after reading the first few indigents.

"Pretty much," Xerxes confirmed it. "Though truth be told, it's wise not to overuse it."

"Because it becomes…. ineffective?" Eileen wasn't sure about the answer.

"Right, we only used it occasionally," Xerxes said. "But it cleans up blood very well. I can't tell you how much I must use this stuff to clean my clothing."

The twins looked at him with horrifying confusion. Xerxes looked at both of them with a raised brow. This information was common knowledge to everyone back home. Households with women used it when it was the time of the month. Saya learned it from her mother at a young age. By proxy, he knew it too. It took him a while to realize why they gave him the look.

"While I was with the Qabal, we had to fight mostly in the Red Desert. One of our jobs was to keep the pilgrims safe during the yearly pilgrimage, like fighting off wild animals, bandits, and brigands. Some of us protect oases due to their importance," he said.

That was very true. Qabal used it a lot. Blood attracted wild animals who were eager for an easy meal. Thankfully, it had no smell compared to other potions. Or water if they overstayed in the desert and didn't drink enough.

"Still," Eileen felt uncomfortable.

"The information without context makes it sound worse," Clorince voiced Eileen's words.

"Yeah, what Clorince said."

At first, Xerxes didn't get it. In Valencia, the potion was extremely common. He knew the potion was considered extremely easy to learn and create. Women and the Qabal became masters. Both by blood removal and Qabal used it for certain wounds. Being out in the desert, where sand can and will get into everything and water is scarce, the potion will be used to clean out most wounds.

It still took him a good long while before it clicked. In Valencia, the potion primarily involved blood removal; here in Balenos, it isn't common knowledge or used in said manner. Xerxes gave an embarrassed chuckle. He doesn't know why, but he keeps forgetting that Balenos isn't like being back home or at a house of learning in Madiah. The latter is in the same cultural sphere as Valencia due to historical, religious, and geographical ties. At best, few outsiders have the cultural knowledge to tell Valencia and Madiah apart. Still, the vast majority don't know the difference.

"It isn't surprising that there is a cultural difference between us," Clorince finally spoke.

That comment felt like a slap in Eileen's face. Of course, her twin would pick up on that info. Now she sees it, too. Eileen felt stupid for not noticing it sooner. How could she compete with Clorince? Eileen knew she wasn't as clever or as bright as Clorince. But a small thought became quite loud.

"How does Valencians view alchemy?" Eileen asked.

Xerxes needed to think about it. What's common knowledge back home might not be known here. He told them that alchemy at home is similar to the rest of the world. The key difference is that it is a must-taught subject at home. Children learned the basics at home, such as family recipes and practical potions like healing potions or simple poultices. They have a House of Learning open to the public and have set times and dates to teach advanced alchemy. This was viewed as a fundamental right for everyone.

"That's amazing," Eileen smiled. "Did your mother teach you her family recipes?"

Xerxes said yes in a sense. A former governess who married into the nobility found his mother. The woman, Aylin, ardent Aalan, believed in helping the poor and those in need. Aylin had a daughter who needed a playmate. When they grew up, his mother would become a mix of a lady's maid and a lady-in-waiting. When they got to the manor, Aylin gave his mother the name of Roshan. What Aylin did was a common practice among the nobles. Many girls become servants, and some pay goes into their dowries.

Roshan received the same education as Daniya, which included etiquette, embroidery, calligraphy, poetry, history, geography, mathematics, and politics. Both girls were encouraged to study at the House of Learning.

They were closed until Daniya died unexpectedly. Aylin kept Roshan since she couldn't throw Daniya's friend onto the streets. Only when Marumin came to marry the king did Aylin let Roshan go to be the new queen's lady-in-waiting.

Of course, Xerxes couldn't tell Eileen or Clorince that. He couldn't tell them why, maybe because of the different cultures. Not once did he see a high-ranking family bringing in street urchins and treating them similarly back home.

Aysu gave a big yawn before looking around. She couldn't get on the table. She could jump onto the table, but Aysu is too small to jump. Looking around, she saw her two sisters and her dumb brother. Edan was playing with one of her sisters, a cream seal point, with a string. Of course, her dumb brother was trying to fight the string's shadow.

"I've heard about this," Edan said. "Each family has their recipes that get passed down. When your parents married, did they put all the recipes in one book or pick which one they put in?"

Xerxes hated how he phrased that. His parents never married, but he didn't want to tell them that. How his mother became pregnant with him wasn't something to talk about in polite company. However, Roshan did learn the family's recipes.

"Combining family recipes is very common," Xerxes truthfully said. "I do know that there are repeats in recipes at times, but it's up to the family who decide what they keep and don't."

Edan knew Xerxes was hiding something about his past. He cared deeply about his Valencian friend and knew when Xerxes was dishonest. Sure, they mess with each other and treat each other like brothers. And yes, they used Yaz to get back to each other. Edan is still mad about Xerxes giving Yaz enough coffee to kill a horse and giving her empty promises. But something told him this was a sensitive issue for Xerxes.

Edan refocused on the seal point kitten. Playful yet determined best describes the kitten, unlike her brother, who was shadowboxing the string's shadow. Earlier, he tried and failed and jumped onto Xerxes' lap. The sad thing was that the male kitten was on the armrest of the coach, and Xerxes was no more than four inches from the armrest.

"I can leave this book for you to read over," Xerxes said. "You just need to return to me."

"Thank you," Eileen smiled.

She hoped this wasn't Xerxes family recipe. Eileen feared ruining the book and him getting mad at her. Of course, Xerxes wouldn't tell her it was from the restricted area of the royal library.

"It is getting late," Edan said, amusingly watching the seal-point kitten try to murder the string. I guess you're going home, too?"

Xerxes nodded. "I have to go to the stables bright and early. Knowing Starlight, she may have injured a stable hand or two. She's very picky about who gets to take care of her."

Clorince tried to hold onto a laugh but failed a bit.

"I remember the last time you left her at a stable," she said. "Lorenzo warned a new stable hand not to go near her. Let's say he needed six of my potions and a week off to recover fully."

"What's up with you getting animals with egos bigger than Jardine's to love you?" Edan half-heartily joked but wanted to know how Xerxes did it.

With a heavy pause, a cracked smile, and a sound mixed between a chuckle and a sigh.

"I have no idea. Just be happy I don't have an elephant."

Edan laughed at that. He, too, was happy Xerxes didn't have an elephant. The amount of chaos that would bring. And poor Lorenzo would have to deal with a giant animal with a massive ego. Edan conveyed this to Xerxes. Both men laugh at the image. Eileen giggled at the thought, while Clorince didn't find the humor in it.

Both men said their farewells and went home. Xerxes felt the cool night air brush against his hair. It had a particular smell, which he grew accustomed to. It reminded him of Arehaza Town and Ancado Inner Harbor. A small bittersweet smile formed as Xerxes remembered the halcyon days of his childhood. He didn't notice when he reached the door of his home.

"I'm home," Xerxes said in a quiet, empty voice.

A/N: Thank you for reading, please R&R.