• PM To Join • [Hopetoun] I'm Your Huckleberry

[Kisaik]

3rd of Ymiden 721


Only a few trials into Summer and out of his long rest, and already the tunawa was feeling much refreshed. He owed it in large part to Hopetoun's facilities, such as the Oases that Lady Vega had created, and of course through the grace of Ashan's blessing, which allowed plant life to flourish around him... which, incidentally, included himself! His joints weren't nearly as creaking as they had been, for the first few trials of his convalescence, and the abundance of food, insects, and other small edibles made recovery a near guarantee for Kisaik.

He'd asked after Professor Thetys, curious as to whether the alchemy genius was still around the settlement. But to call Hopetoun a settlement at this stage, with all the facilities popping up, with all the wealth and prosperity it enjoyed was almost inaccurate. It was really more of a town now. And they'd probably benefit from having one of their regular residents possessing an ability for alchemy. Kisaik had a mind to get back into the craft, having neglected that practice for so many arcs. He'd had a few flirtations with the practice in Desnind, but not much ever came of them, except for a spoiled surcoat that refused to acquire the durability of the stones of the forest. He wanted to resume his pursuit of alchemical knowledge and thought that a refresher or an advanced lesson from his friend Professor Thetys might be just the thing to get him going again.

Kisaik asked around and was directed to where Doran might be found. The tunawa proceeded on foot, as he was doing more often these days. He stretched his legs as he did so, utilizing his growth domain ability to make greater strides. As he went along, he popped a lemon candy into his mouth and began swishing it around. Sweets helped with the strain that the ability put on his body, he'd found, and eased his formerly creaky joints into the bargain.

Before long, Kisaik found his way to Doran, and waved a stretchy arm at him to get his attention, "Hail Professor Thetys! What a wonderful Summer day to greet you! How goes the alchemy?"

He gave the professor a moment to respond and then went on to state his intentions, as it was only polite not to waste the Professor's time with small talk when he had legitimate business with the man. "Say, I was wondering if we might have a lesson in alchemy... I must confess I haven't been as prolific in the pursuit of my craft since I met you in Viden. I've only had one experiment in that time, and that was a failure!"

Kisaik shrunk his legs back down to normal length, which for the tunawa made him a full ten inches tall, as he craned his neck to look up at the man. "So what do you say? Do you have time to refresh an old student's knowledge?"

[Doran]

The son of Ziell had been looking forward to his return to Faldrass, more than he had thought possible. He had thought that he could not be truly content in a place that was not covered with ice and snow throughout the arc; in Hopetoun, his former student Darius Baer’s settlement, he had found companionship though, and hope. Some of the memories of his previous stay in Scalvoris were still missing – he seemed to have been whisked away at one point – but that did not matter. For perhaps the first time in decades, he was absolutely convinced that everything would be alright. How could it not be?

In Viden, Doran normally wore elegant, bespoke suits, as was befitting of a high-ranking member of the Academy who lived among aristocrats. During his stays on the island of Faldrass, he had taken to wearing simpler clothes though, albeit they were still of very fine quality. This time, he was garbed in black pants and a white shirt, the sleeves of which were rolled up a bit as it was quite warm, and he had no interest in sweating any more than was absolutely necessary when he practiced his alchemy, or did anything else for that matter.

He had decided to leave the camp where Vega and Arlo had allowed him to stay again and set up a temporary workstation outside, so that he could breathe in the fresh, clean air and look at the sky. His goal for that trial was to make a tonic, with Rubrum Berry juice as the main ingredient, so that the people of Hopetoun would continue to be healthy.

Kisaik would find him there, carefully measuring deep red juice and pouring it into a bigger container. At first, it seemed as if the Mortalborn was entirely focused on his work, but when the Tunawa waved a hand, he immediately set both containers down and looked up. One of his dark eyebrows rose a fraction at the sight of Kisaik’s arm that was much longer than a normal Tunawa’s arm would be before he smiled at his former student.

He was happy to see him.

“Good trial, Kisaik”, he greeted him in a deep tone of voice, inclining his head fractionally, and continued, “The alchemy goes well. I’ve just been thinking about ways to make the lives of the settlers more pleasant and ensure that the remain healthy. Most of my work back home in Viden pertains to the analysis of magical artifacts as well as Blood Magic though”, he said with a hint of a smile, seeing no reason not to open about what he specialized in, in spite of what certain people thought.

Blood Magic was a science, and that was all there was to it in his opinion.

“Please sit down though”, he said to Kisaik as the Tunawa told him why he had been looking for him as it would not be polite to make him stand while they talked, and gestured towards the small table, and a chair (Kisaik would be free to choose where he took a seat). When Kisaik admitted that he wanted a lesson in alchemy, he inclined his head.

“I’ll teach you”, he decided, his tone of voice becoming more serious. No matter how much he liked Kisaik, and how happy he was too see him, he would always approach the matter of teaching alchemy in a professional manner. “But you have to answer three questions for me first. First of all, I would like to know why you have only conducted one experiment since our meeting in Viden. Secondly, I would like to know what that failed experiment was about, and why you think that it failed. And thirdly, and most importantly, I would like to know what you are interested in learning.”

“Would you be willing to answer those questions for me?” he asked and raised an eyebrow once more.

[Vega]

3rd Ymiden, 721

Vega was, at this point, half way through her pregnancy.

Not that she knew that, exactly, nor had she done the maths entirely, but the unmistakable bump was growing and Vega was carrying this child all at the front, it seemed. She delighted in it, in truth, and it brought her pleasure the kind of which she couldn't explain. She was excited at what was to come (though, the birth part was something she was just glossing over at this point) and there was a noticeable change in her. Vega was relaxed. She didn't wear a sword these trials - although she always carried her satchel with her - and she was simply more prone to taking it a bit easy.

It was most unlike her.

However, to-trial she had spotted that Doran was doing some alchemy work and she was making her way over to ask if he'd teach her some. She'd worked with him on a few things, now, on the docks and the beacon and he'd been amenable to the idea of teaching her - so she was going to ask. She saw, as she arrived, that Sir Chip was there. That was fine, because she knew that he wouldn't mind her asking - and if he was talking to Doran about something specific, she'd make herself scarce.

"Hello both," she said with a smile. "I'm right sorry to interrupt you, but I jus' wanted to check in an' ask if there were any chance I could join in here?" She smiled slightly, obviously feeling a little awkward at asking - but equally, feeling like she was at home enough that she could ask. "It's jus' that it seems like you're about to be teachin' , an' I'd love to be learnin' from you if I could?" That she said to Doran. He'd made her realise, after all, that not all learning has to be books and dry dusty tomes. She'd learned some history from him and it had been an absolute delight. "An' only if you don't mind, Sir Chip?"

If they were both happy, she'd sit herself down and get ready and pay attention. But equally, "But if it isn't convenient for someone else to join, I really don't mind and I can jog on till later. It's not a bother." And that, as they say, was that.

Boxcode: Thank you, Rose!

[Kisaik]

Although many seemed to presume Kisaik saw the world through rose-tinted glasses, and saw no evil nor gloom nor negativity, he wasn't blind to the darkness in the world. He remembered that the professor had been much harsher and perhaps negative in his thinking when he first met him. It was only when he donned the mirror pendant that allowed him to be understood and understand others that he was able to win the Professor over, and prove that he was worth teaching alchemy to. Something had changed in Professor Thetys since then, Kisaik couldn't quite put his finger on it. Although he never would've thought the professor was a bad man, he was much improved in his attitude. And Kisaik noticed that.

Kisaik listened to Doran telling him about the process of alchemy, and utilizing his education to improve the lot of those who needed his skills. That seemed a noble pursuit of alchemy, and was part of what interested the tunawa in the art and science of it to begin with. That and the ability to make magic, which he'd since acquired anyway. "It's always important to share our gifts and talents to improve the lot of those who need a hand up, so long as they're willing to help themselves up to it. As my grandpa says, it's no use pulling up that what's trying to drag you under." Kisaik didn't know if he agreed with the sentiment, to be honest, but he wanted to share some of his grandpa's wisdom such as it was. There was some sense to it, after all. "But the settlers seem like hardy folk, willing to help themselves. It's no harm to give them more of what helps them, that's my position!"

At this point, Vega arrived at the camp, and asked if she could come and learn under Doran with Kisaik. The tunawa was happy that Vega wanted to join in the lessons. It would make it a lot more fun, "You would be most welcome, Lady Vega. I think you have just the right kind of mind for alchemy, always thinking outside the norm is essential to one who would achieve greatness in alchemy!"

He patted the ground next to him, extending his arm enough to pat a portion of the ground a few feet from himself. Then he turned to Doran to address the questions, "Maybe you can help us with these questions, Lady Vega? I'll answer as best I can though..."

Thinking on it a moment, "Well, I've been very busy questing, looking for the place where my Magic Acorn wishes to be planted. I've only recently accomplished that task, and discovered that it wanted to be planted right here on Faldrass, in the garden of Saoire's Dream! As for the experiment, I was looking to turn a piece of fabric and enchant it with the strength and durability of stone... It only ended up making it brittle, however." Kisaik's face sunk slightly. "What I'm interested in learning? I thought perhaps since you're well known as a blood mage, you could begin teaching me some of that? But if that's too advanced for us, maybe you could start with simple wards? I've been trying to design a fire ward with no luck for a few years, so I could do alchemy more safely while using fire..."

[Doran]

“Your grandfather”, Doran decided as he listened to Kisaik speak and inclined his head fractionally. “Sounds like a wise man in my opinion. I would very much like to make his acquaintance one trial”, he added. Once upon a time, he might have wondered if an elderly Tunawa truly had anything worthwhile to share; as Kisaik had so astutely observed, he was much improved in his attitude though, and he thought more positively. He had to admit that he found his previous views hard to understand nowadays.

He had just posed his questions and was waiting for Kisaik’s answer when Vega approached them. He looked up at her – she looked well in his opinion – and smiled slightly. “Feel free. I offered to teach you alchemy when we worked on the Beacon, after all, didn’t I?” he remarked before he gestured for her to sit down and join them. He did not mind the interruption at all. On the contrary, he was looking forward to teaching Vega as well. When they had last worked together, he had wondered what she would make with alchemy – she was quite creative.

That was an important trait for an alchemist to have in his opinion.

Kisaik’s and Vega’s most likely vastly different levels of knowledge would constitute a bit of a challenge, but none that he wouldn’t be able to handle. Besides, there were some things that would be of use to alchemists of all levels of knowledge. Certain steps were the same, no matter if you made a piece of cloth as hard as stone or handled magic reagents. With that thought in mind, Doran turned back to Kisaik who had finally decided to answer. He had questions about what he heard, but he did not ask them until the Tunawa had finished speaking; interrupting someone was not acceptable in his opinion.

“What is the Magic Acorn and what grew from it, if you don’t mind me asking?” he wanted to know. It did most likely not have anything to do with alchemy, but he could not help but wonder about it, nevertheless, especially since Kisaik had planted it in a garden that likely belonged to an Immortal. “As for your piece of fabric ending up brittle, that’s a common risk when working with stone. Too much of a reagent or the wrong supplementary reagents can cause such an effect, for example”, he remarked – he said “for example” because he didn’t know what exactly had gone wrong in Kisaik’s case.

“We could actually do both”, he replied when Kisaik admitted to being both interested in blood magic and creating wards. “If I remember correctly, there are plants that possess a natural resistance to the elements here on Faldrass. I could show you how to transfer that property to other objects. As for blood magic”, he continued and furrowed his brow for a moment. “I can definitely share my knowledge in that regard with you. If you want to actually practice blood magic with me, we need mage blood though”, he pointed out, which was a resource that might be hard to acquire.

“One can also replicate blessing abilities with alchemy – I used Vega’s blood in order to put some of her Nalos abilities into the Beacon, for example – but that is the most advanced kind of alchemy”, he continued. He was loath to disappoint Kisaik who seemed so eager, but he refused to put him at risk by letting him try things that only the most skilled of alchemists usually succeeded at. He’d rather he lived a little longer.

Having said that, he turned to Faldrun’s daughter. “I don’t think that we ever talked about what exactly you want to learn. Is there a particular type of item that you want to learn how to make, and would you mind a bit more blood magic?” he asked and raised an eyebrow slightly – she had gotten a considerable dose of it the last time that he had visited, after all.

“When we alchemificated the Beacon”, he remembered, smiling slightly – he had grown quite fond of the word that Vega had invented, he had to admit. “You told me that you were hoping to learn some alchemy soon, but not if you possess any prior knowledge in that regard. Do you?” he wanted to know. Whether Vega possessed any prior knowledge was something that was important to find out in his opinion. A desire to learn didn’t necessarily mean that the prospective student didn’t know anything yet. Sometimes, they just wanted to learn more.

[Vega]

3rd Ymiden, 721

They were both happy for her to join and she smiled. "Thanks, both, I right appreciate it," she said. Then, she sat where Sir Chip patted and she lifted her head to look at Doran and listen to what he was saying. Sir Chip answered some of Doran's questions, and Vega listened intently to her fellow pupil. Sir Chip knew such a lot about such a lot of things that she was not at all surprised to learn that he had some previous alchemy experience. She made sure to listen closely to him, and his answers - as well as to Doran's explanation. Arlo would undoubtedly smile at the intense focus Vega had in this moment - it was the look she got when she was learning an instrument or developing a skill of any kind.

"You're more than welcome to take some of my blood, any time," she said to Doran. "Does blood magic work on Mortalborn stuff too? If it does, you're welcome to study mine for that." She nodded. "I'm the Mortalborn of Children, Rhythm an' Emotions." She had no secrets, Vega never did and she didn't ind sharing information with the two people here. "If it's any help, or of interest." Since an alchemist could replicate magic and immortal marks, Vega couldn't help but wonder.

But Doran's questions to her were both important ones and she considered them carefully. "Honestly, I've never considered if there's one thing I'd like to make. But, like, the ability to make one thing have the abilities or properties of somethin' else? I can think of a hundred uses for that. Like, makin' a blanket what's always warm, or a cloak what's always cool. But, honestly, I think it's got more uses than that," she was considering it as she spoke. "Like, a stable where the floor is always at the right temperature for the horse in it, or the wood that's hard like iron. But also, things like an ever-warm cookin' pot, or a flameless fire. " Vega seemed to be focused on temperatures, but she wasn't. "Or a tea what is the combination of lots of medicines, or a bandage what heals the wounds it covers. Because of my Daia blessin', I can make things an' put an emotion into them," she said - she was fairly sure they both knew that, but just in case. "I've been makin' bed stuff for the baby, with calmness in it. But a crib what rocks itself when the baby wakes up, or a sling for the baby what changes colour if the baby gets too hot or ill or somethin'." She shrugged slightly. "Or somethin' that keeps food fresh, or the horse's hay fresh, or somethin'."

Shaking her head, she answered Doran's next question. "I don't know nothin' about it no, other than what you've already showed me. But," she said softly. "if it is that, the ability to take one thing an' put it into somethin' else - how far does it go? Like, I've got these Warden of Lovalus abilities - I made that oasis, an' things like that." She frowned slightly. "Honestly, it feels like there's nothin' it can't do, given the right motivation an' skill. Is that right?" Vega's head was fair spinning with all the possibilities she was thinking of and she needed to consider that carefully. What were the boundaries, she wondered.

And, of course, "An' what are the dangers?"

Boxcode: Thank you, Rose!

[Kisaik]

"The magic acorn was a seed of a great tree that sadly died in the dungeon of Slag's Deep. There's a whole long story to go with it, and in fact, that led to the room where I first met Lady Vega!" Kisaik said and sighed again to remember the noble tree that had died to save their life. "Suffice to say, the tree guardian stood in defense of us, against a vile Sesserfiend. It died, but not before our companion, Thysbae brought the tunnel down on the Sessfiend's head. I looked in there, trying to find anything of the tree guardian to salvage. I stared directly into the Sesserfiend's eye and shook in my bark. But there shining before it was a bright magic acorn! I snatched it from his clutches before he could ruin that as well! Then our ally Special Assistant Sephira found a way for us to get out of Slag's Deep, and we found our way eventually to other rooms. One of which led me to meet Lady Vega and her spirit friend Chuckles."

Kisaik took a deep breath, after reciting the story of how he'd saved the magic acorn. "As for what the acorn is, it allowed speedy travel along with the underpinnings of Idalos, through the deep plant network that underpins everything. It allowed me to travel, as I was a plant, and emerge out of any plant that grows in the ground. It led me here, where I got stuck in a hot potato."

"I've since gifted the magic acorn to Saoire, and she honored me by planting it in her garden in Saoire's Dream, where it now stands as a tree, a monument of friendship between Tunawakind and her people."

But then, Kisaik was very silent, allowing Doran to speak and correct his earlier mistake with alchemy. He sat and listened, and waited for his turn to participate, as he knew Doran to be a very hands-on instructor from his prior experience.

Kisaik nodded as Doran related the dangers of Blood magic, even for expert alchemists. He was willing to take that for what it was worth, and allow that he should not try it, at least not yet.

He listened attentively as Vega spoke about the healing potential for alchemy. It seemed very like her to think of such an application, and he was glad she was there to elucidate her concerns. Then, the most peculiar thing she mentioned. And perhaps she'd told him before, in fact, he did seem to remember a certain watery dragon she carried with her, but when she said she was a Warden, he couldn't help but blurt out. "Oh! I'm a Warden of the First Tree and ol'Mudsy! Induk of the Mud Burho!" But then, Kisaik went silent, embarrassed slightly from his outburst.

Then he waited to hear what Doran said of her questions, as he wanted to give her the floor for the moment until he was sure exactly what he wanted to ask.

[Doran]

“It does“, Doran replied and inclined his head fractionally when Vega asked him if Blood Magic worked on Mortalborn stuff as well. “I’ve developed a technique that enables me to replicate Mortalborn abilities and put them into an item, just like your Nalos abilities, with relatively little risk”, he told her. He spoke in a calm tone of voice. He didn’t brag about what he was capable of; he was just stating a fact – instead of displaying what he considered to be a questionable kind of behavior, he preferred to focus on the lesson, and on teaching two people whose company he’d begun to value greatly.

Vega had asked a question, and he was glad to answer.

“It works similarly to replicating blessing abilities”, he explained and subsequently cast a glance at Kisaik as the Tunawa might be interested in his technique as well. “If I knew what kind of abilities you have, and how exactly they work, I would be able to replicate them by adding a few drops of blood to the alchemical mixture. I appreciate your offer”, he added with a slight smile because a Mortalborn willing to donate her blood was not something that should ever be taken for granted in his opinion.

It was something that would aid him greatly in his research, but that was a topic that was best discussed later on, after their lesson, in his opinion. For now, he decided to focus on teaching Vega and Kisaik, answering the questions that they had posed and listening to what they had to say. Vega immediately came up with a lot of interesting ideas which did not surprise him at the least. He would in fact have been more surprised if she had not had any ideas, or if she had come up with ideas that just wouldn’t work.

“A stable that is always the right temperature for the horse in it?” he asked and raised an eyebrow fractionally. “That is something that could be accomplished relatively easily, by imbuing the walls and the floor of the stable with green or orange sand and adding a trigger so that the effect only activates if the temperature rises above or drops below a certain point, for example. As for ever-warm cooking pots, I made a few pots like that for the people of Hopetoun during one of my visits in Ashan. I can ask if I can borrow one of them and show it to you”, he offered.

“All of the things that you proposed are definitely possible”, he told her, his tone of voice slightly excited now. “Daia has granted me the same ability. It would even be possible to put that particular ability into a ball of yarn”, he mused. “Almost everything is possible with alchemy, as long as you are sufficiently skilled, although I’m not sure if the abilities of the Champion of an Immortal could ever be replicated”, he admitted. There was also the question as to whether you should replicate a Champion’s abilities. Some Immortals might take issue with it, he realized, but some, like Xiur and Daia would likely be alright with it, provided that the blood was used for good, as had been the case with the Beacon that Vega and he had worked on the cycle before.

“As for the dangers of alchemy”, he continued, his tone of voice becoming more serious and matter-of-fact again. “If you make a mistake, or handle reagents that are too powerful, something called backlash can occur. Your potions could be ineffective at best or toxic at worst if something goes wrong. In the case of domain magic or divine reagents the risk of backlash is magnified though. If you try to replicate an offensive spell, you could be hit with said spell. There’s also a risk of suffering effects that are not unlike Overstepping in nature”, he explained. “For that reason, I usually ask that my students acquire a background in either medicine or chemistry before they begin to handle more potent reagents”, he told both Vega and Kisaik.

“Attunement also seems to offer a certain level of protection against backlash”, he added for the sake of completion.

A few moments later, when Kisaik told the story of the magic acorn, his eyes widened slightly, and he listened attentively, and with noticeable curiosity before he remarked, “I didn’t know that you knew Chuckles! Vega told me about him when we met last cycle. And did you really get stuck in a hot potato?” he wanted to know. “I’d very much like to know how you managed to escape from that hot potato”, he admitted. He had wanted to focus on the lesson, but in this case, his curiosity simply got the better of him. Besides, this was a different setting. This was not the Academy of Viden that was governed by strict rules. There was no reason why they shouldn’t touch upon other issues as well, if they were interesting, provided that nobody had a problem with it.

“Perhaps, we can meet again soon, and you could tell me more about Mudsy and the Mud Burho, and Vega, provided that she’s interested?” he wanted to know. He was slightly amused when Kisaik blurted out that he was a Warden as well, a Warden of the First Tree, to be exact. He did not mind the Tunawa’s outburst though; on the contrary, he was curious about what that particular bit meant. Before long, he focused on the matter of alchemy again though and subsequently turned to the daughter of Faldrun.

“You mentioned a couple of ideas to me, Vega, such as making a cloak that is always cool and a blanket that is always warm. I’d like you to decide on one of those items now, and then we’ll make it together. In my opinion, the best way to teach someone how to alchemificate an item is to actually alchemificate said item”, he remarked before he looked at Kisaik. “Afterwards, we could make that fire-ward that you haven’t been able to make, for example – simple items with a fire-ward ability are something that Vega should be able to make as well – before we talk about Blood Magic in more detail”, he proposed.

"Please also let me know if you have any questions", he added before he fell silent again and simply looked at his two students.

[Vega]

3rd Ymiden, 721

Vega grinned at Sir Chip. "Yeah, I'm a Warden of Lovalus. One of the very many reasons we get on so well, I reckon," she said and nodded her head. Doran seemed pleased at her offer of donating some of her blood, but he was focused on the lesson - both of those were good things, as far as Vega was concerned.

The idea of the stable intrigued Vega and it was a particular part of it which did. The notion of 'triggers'. That was fascinating, because it could be applied to so many things. Her mind reeled with possibilities at the thought of it. Of course, how flexible that was would depend on how broad a range "triggers" had. Could it be only temperature, she wondered, or only measurable things? What were the limits of a trigger? It was something which she stored in her mind to ask, when the moment was appropriate. First - before she allowed herself to go storming off on a tangent, she wanted to know the dangers.

Doran explained them, what they were and how they could be mitigated against and Vega nodded her head. "I don't know nothin' about chemistry, that sounds like the kind of subject that Boffins an' Big-Brains do, but I can do medicine alright." With a frown, she asked, " What's attunement?"

But then, he suggested that they make something, and Vega nodded. "I'd go with blouse what is always cool, if we could," she said. "When I punched Faldrun in the gob, he cursed me, an' I'm bakin' hot all the time. Runnin' a low-grade temperature kind of thing." She putted her hand against her shoulder, where her father's curse resided. "An' since I'm due to be heavily pregnant in Saun, I reckon anythin' what might help there, will be a big help." Considering it, she shrugged. "It don't have to be a blouse, but that's what touches the curse mark, is all." She waited while Sir Chip answered and then she raised her hand, unconsciously acting like a child in school.

"I've got a question, actually. You talked about triggers, an' explained how temperature could be. But what else could trigger somethin'?" She thought about it a moment. "Like, if you wanted somethin' to be triggered by a certain amount of light, or darkness, could that work? Or by movement around it?" the last one would be good for alarms and things, she thought. "Does it have to be somethin' measureable or could you have like, I dunno, clothes what became bandage-like, or protected against infection if there was blood on them, or stuff like that?"

It was intriguing, but she was considering it carefully. "An', not relevant right now, but do you know of a good book what I can learn chemistry from? I don't want to take risks, an' I figure if I go slow with this, I can make it as safe as possible."

But a blouse which helped to mitigate against her father's curse? That would be ideal and she'd love to learn about that - and a fire ward, too. Both sounded excellent and useful. "An' thanks, Doran. You're a peach." Apparently, that was a good thing.

Boxcode: Thank you, Rose!

[Kisaik]

Doran had a lot to say about alchemy. It always impressed Kisaik when someone could go on for long stretches of time, explaining such subjects to others. Of course, Kisaik himself probably could go on and on about what it meant to be a knight. Or about gardening, or any number of other subjects with which he was intimately acquainted.

They came to the subject of the dangers of alchemy soon enough. After some cursory explanation of what Blood Magic could do. What was possible through blood magic, and what wasn't. Medical knowledge, as well as science could mitigate the risks of backlash. As could, attunement. Kisaik's ears perked up at that, and he wondered as Vega did, what that might be.

Then, Doran addressed Kisaik more directly. He seemed surprised that Kisaik had heard of Chuckles. "Yes indeed, we met in the Trial of the Scared. During the Call. The same event where I acquired magic. And... where I got this." So saying, he drew a four to five-inch blade from his shadow. It was deadly sharp and made entirely of crystalline shadows. Kisaik was quite proud of it, and it was of course handy. "This is how I got free of the Faldrass potato prison that I emerged from."

Kisaik regarded his shadow sword, and wondered... "Do you think I can imbue this shadow sword with something through alchemy? Or do you figure it'd go back to being just its normal shadow swrod self when I return it to my shadow?"

When it came time for questions, Kisaik finally had one or two to ask. "I wonder, do the effects of alchemy treated items fade? And if so, would reagents be needed to refresh them occasionally?"

Having asked that, he listened to what Vega had to say. She wanted to make a blouse that was ever cool. That sounded like a fine idea to Kisaik, although he preferred the warm weather himself. Not everyone was the same, however, he had to concede. She also had a great question about how triggers worked. And Kisaik waited patiently for Doran's chance to answer.

Finally, she called Doran a Peach, which made Kisaik do a double-take. He almost wanted to reach out and poke Doran to make sure he hadn't become ripe, but that would've been rude. In the end, he chalked it up to big folk vernacular, and that it was a metaphorical peach. Either way, Kisaik waited patiently for Doran to continue with his lesson.