Ethan Wright and the Alchemist's Order, (Book 2) (2 page)

Ethan studied the gears on the wall and those that ran through the floor next to him. He followed their path and found a manual release lever which had been previously overlooked; he quickly began to give orders. “Availia, go to that wall and pull the lever. Stanley, you do the same on the other wall for that pendulum,” shouted Ethan, pointing to the opposite wall.

Availia and Stanley pulled the levers up and down. The locking mechanism held the main gear in place after it
CLICKED
and the fused mass moved slightly. They repeated the procedure but the massive stones stopped moving. Ethan pulled the lever closest to him, which disengaged the automatic gearing. The pendulum popped free on one side but stuck again when he let go. He looked across the room and an identical release lever came into view.

“You have to hit those levers at the same time, Ethan — Availia and I have to hold these in place or the pendulums will fall,” exclaimed Stanley.

“I know! I can’t trigger both releases at the same time!” shouted Ethan. He looked around. He saw the stones on the floor that the professor had dropped, looked back across the room at the other lever, and finally at the table next to him. He picked up the bow from the table, kicked the lever back with his foot and held it in place.

Stanley nodded. “Yes … that could work, Ethan!”

“Hurry, Ethan!” yelled Availia while holding down her lever.

Ethan grabbed an arrow and jammed it into the nock point of the bowstring. He pulled it back and aimed for the lever across the room. He released, and the arrow flew low and glanced off the floor, bouncing against the wall.

“I don’t think I can hit it,” exclaimed Ethan.

“Take your time and breathe,” said Stanley coolly. “It’s all in the release. Hold steady and just let the arrow fly.”

Ethan nodded and grabbed another arrow. He reinforced his hold on the lever with his foot. He nocked the arrow, took aim and drew in a deep breath. He relaxed his hand until it felt like he would lose grip of the string, and then released. The arrow launched flat and shot through the room, striking the lever dead center. A loud
POP
echoed through the room. The two stone pendulums were sundered with a
CRACK
. The locking mechanism caught the gears, holding the stones apart just enough to see the hardened alchemy cloak that had shielded Edison and Auren.

Ethan ran up to the circles etched onto the floor and stuck his head between the pendulums. The cloak unfurled back behind the portly professor.

“AND ANOTHER THING!” yelled the red-faced man. “What were you thinking? Walking between two giant stones that are meant to CRASH INTO EACH OTHER?! I mean look at these! You’re lucky I wore my cloak today!” hollered Edison as he pulled his glasses from his pocket. “Bloody glasses are bent,” he added as he huffed and walked out from between the two masses of stone.

“I … I didn’t think it was working — just wanted to make sure I passed,” explained Auren as he started to follow Edison out.

“No, no, Auren — grab your life stone while you’re in there. We may as well get something out of this mess — an Oroborus’ chance we’ll be able to create another life stone with this pendulum. Do you know how difficult it is to get fifty tons of stone in here?!” complained Edison, brushing the dust off his cloak.

Auren grabbed his life stone and stepped out from between the crumbled remains of the pendulum. Looking embarrassed, he held it out to Edison, who snatched it from Auren’s hand. Edison bent his spectacles mostly straight and placed them crookedly on the tip of his nose.

“Hmm … looks a little misshapen — should work just the same I’d imagine,” said Edison, calming his temper. “Um … good job then, Auren,” he added as more stone flaked off the pendulum. Edison, not losing his temper often, began to feel rather ashamed for yelling at his student. “Auren and I owe you three a debt of gratitude. How on earth did you manage to get this contraption open? It takes
four
people to open it manually.”

Availia and Stanley pointed over to the arrow that was stuck in the lever across the room. Edison looked at the arrow and then over to Ethan who was still holding the bow. He smiled.

“Good under pressure though, aren’t you now,” winked Edison.

Ethan held the bow close to his chest and smiled.

***

The smells of meat pie and sausage wafted through the air of the market district. Vendor carts bustled more busily since the Curse of Silence had ended. More and more people were using Wegnel’s services again, and once-dilapidated shops were now restored and filled with customers. Lippy’s was even advertising their new Lippy’s Little Lovable Lime Lava Licorice on a banner hanging outside the shop. Auren shoved the remainders of a pumpkin spice cake in his mouth. He quickly wiped the traces of cream and fig from his chin while joining his classmates in front of Wegnel’s hut, where Edison was having them gather.

“Remember now, next year we are integrating cats into our regimen. I believe you have an alpha at home, Ethan … so if you can bring him that would work out perfectly. We are going to work on our alchemy tracking skills, and cats are very useful in these types of tasks.”

“Any reason we aren’t using a dog? The Guard uses really scary wardogs … that would be so wicked to have our own,” Auren offered.

“A wardog? Clumsy creatures, Auren — not good for alchemy at all,” snorted Edison. “Can anyone tell me why alchemists use cats and the Guard prefers to use dogs?” challenged Edison.

Stanley quickly spoke up. “Cats, well the right kind of cat is precise, nimble, and in tune with items that have alchemical properties associated with them—”

“They are also stubborn and lazy,” mumbled Auren quietly.

“… and if trained properly, they can be an asset to any alchemist in a variety of tasks,” added Stanley.

“Correct,” replied Edison, pleased. “And dogs?”

Stanley wavered. “Um….”

“Dogs are extremely loyal,” answered Availia. “The Guard prefers them for use in intimidation tactics and occasionally for attacking an enemy.”

Edison nodded. “Correct — dogs will blindly follow a command that can even lead to an opponent’s death. And in the Guard, historically that is … that has been considered useful at times.” Edison shook his head. “The kind of assistance we will be needing is with improvement of our alchemy skills, Auren, which is why we will be using cats.” Edison smiled and continued. “I would also like us to enter in the Summer Sword competition, as that will attract more willing students into the alchemy academy. Do we have any volunteers? Or is there any of you that feel strongly about which of us should enter?” asked the history professor.

Ethan, Auren and Stanley all immediately pointed at Availia.

“She
is
best,” smiled Stanley.

“Gives us a pretty darn good shot at winning too — wouldn’t that be somethin’? An alchemy squad beating a guard squad at their own game,” added Ethan, excitedly.

“And give Marcus the wallopin’ he deserves,” muttered Auren.

“How about it, Availia?” asked Edison, politely.

Availia nodded. “Yeah, I’ll do it. Can we only enter one? I mean, I don’t want to go by myself. Can I have a training partner or something?”

“Well, every squad under a professor may only enter one student, and yes, you can have a training partner,” explained Edison.

“I’ll be your training partner,” volunteered Stanley. “I … really don’t have anywhere to go this summer — besides, should be a good match.”

“It’s settled then. I will have you entered and Stanley will assist me in your preparation,” replied Edison. “One last thing before everyone’s off for the summer. Since we are intending to grow the school — you know … no sense in having just four students. I was approved to bring in a new professor.”

“A
new
professor?”

“Yes, only four students per professor allowed — even in alchemy. He is a friend of mine — known him for years. He is an extremely talented alchemist and I am sure he will add some new perspective on your training — as well as bring in four new students in the next Selectus. I have a lot of research to do,” giggled Edison. “I mean, ultimately the selections are his … but, I
may
have some insight to offer.”

“Can’t wait to meet him,” said Ethan, smiling.

“Yeah! He could teach me some new spin moves!” exclaimed Auren.

Availia and Stanley said their goodbyes and walked back toward the academy. Ethan and Auren started to head inside the hut, but Edison held Ethan back.

“Do you mind if I borrow your alchemy jacket? I want to check the mending process,” asked Edison.

“Um … yeah, no problem,” answered Ethan, taking off his jacket and handing it over to Edison. “See you in one and thirty days, Edison.” He followed Auren inside and moments later, a flash of light shot through the windows.

“See you in thirty and one, my boy,” whispered Edison, now standing alone in the market district. He turned and walked past Lippy’s and down the cobblestone street. He entered a dimly lit building with a faded and battered sign that read
The Antediluvian
. One of the few shops that had not recently received a facelift, the dank and musty building was unkempt and did not inspire upstanding patrons to enter.

“I didn’t think I’d see
you
in here again — at least not after you spent all your retirement on those silly jackets,” said a voice from the corner of the shop.

“A wise investment in some talented students, wouldn’t you agree?” argued Edison, having a seat across from the voice whose face was hidden in shadow.

“I have to admit, I’m not sold on the Orobori,” the figure said, referring to Ethan. “I rather like the one who can’t die though — interested in keeping an eye on his career in alchemy.”

“Indeed,” replied Edison. “What do you make of this then?” he asked, placing Ethan’s alchemy jacket on the counter. “It’s Ethan’s.”

The man leaned forward and revealed his face in the light. A scar ran down the side of his narrow visage. Experience nestled itself inside the wrinkles that ran across his forehead. He examined the damaged sleeve and in a raspy voice he grated, “don’t do repairs. Heck, you
can’t
repair these things … they repair themselves — you oughtta know that, Edison.”

“I wasn’t interested in the healing process, but rather this,” he replied, flipping the jacket over to reveal the stripe down the center.

“Yeah … and? One stripe means he’s a level one alchemist — pretty low for a kid that’s been practicing for a year and is supposed to be some miracle brat … don’t you think?” muttered the man.

“Look more closely,” insisted Edison, looking rather pleased with himself.

The man stared at Edison for a second and then set the jacket back onto the counter. “Hope you’re not wasting my time — I
do
expect to get paid for this,” he griped. He pulled out a magnifying glass and held the jacket in the light. He held it close and then further back, much like Edison had earlier. “Well … I’ll be….”

“More than one line then?”

“A lot more. There are so many, that … they sorta blend together. I don’t know how accurate these jackets are … and if you’re here lookin’ for a refund … you know this
alchemy level
garbage is a new feature for these jackets. There’s no guarantees on this.”

“No, no — no refund needed. But just out of curiosity … what level
is
Ethan?”

“I dunno … why don’t you count ‘em?” groused the man.

Edison reached into his pocket and placed a couple coins on the counter. “Because my eyesight is terrible, and that’s what I’m paying
you
for.”

“Fine, fine,” grumbled the man as he seized the coins and stashed them behind the counter. He took a small needle from a drawer and started counting.

“Are you up to twenty? How many is that now?” asked Edison, fidgeting with his spectacles.

“Shut up already, Edison — you’ll make me lose track.”

“Yes, alright,” muttered the professor.

The man put the needle and the magnifying glass down. “About sixty,” he stated.

“Sixty?!” exclaimed Edison. “Wait … you mean ‘about sixty’? Or exactly sixty?”

“I counted fifty-nine, but sixty sounded nicer … so I rounded up, if that’s
okay
with you,” said the man smartly.

“A level fifty-nine … that is the highest I have ever heard,” mumbled Edison to himself. He leaned back in his chair, relieved that Ethan was not a level one, but shocked at the level the jacket inferred he was. “You know my visits require discretion, as always.”

“Of course,” said the man as he held out his hand, “and I get a little extra … as always.”

Edison sighed, reached into his pocket, and handed the man a few more coins. They were quickly snatched, and the salesman leaned back in his chair. Edison had the feeling the man was satisfied, although his face was covered in shadow again.

“You gonna tell him?” asked the man.

“Well … no … I don’t rightly know if I should, at least … not yet,” explained Edison, picking up the jacket. “Hypothetically speaking, if people found out how much power he had, he would be feared by many in the city … or the Castellan might try and use him as a weapon.”

“With that much power, he could kill someone, or himself — wonder if you had that much power, if you could kill a boy who can’t die … just, you know … hypothetically speaking.”

Chapter 2
The Death of an Alchemist

The hut looked more disorganized than usual. Wegnel had quite an array of broken gadgets strewn about his shelves, and a very peculiar device on the table next to the magic chair Ethan had just traveled through. He thought Wegnel’s ramblings, however, were as long and drawn out as ever.

“So, Ethan, here to get your cat finally, eh? I’ve been telling you for years, well not years, but as long as you and I have talked about cats, and especially
your
cat — he is a special one isn’t he?”

“Yeah, Wegnel,” answered Ethan quickly, to get a word in.

“If you insert that alpha into any kind of feline pack, it would most certainly be leader, and in your case, it’s going to lead your alchemy squad, is it not?” rambled Wegnel, his wrinkles bulging against his beady eyes.