Firebrand

Chapter 356: Blissful

Chapter 356: Blissful

Blissful

Happy to leave all entanglements with the Nine Lords behind, Martel went to his classes on Manday in good cheer. Learning runes, complex elemental magic, and alchemy was more than he ever imagined when he first set out from Engby, yet still it felt exactly like the life of a mage as he had envisioned on his journey to the Lyceum. The fact that he did well learning the runes, probably better than anyone else in the class, only improved his mood.

"By now you should be able to create some manner of effects with the rune of warning," Master Fenrick told them as his bespectacled eyes glanced over the students. "If any of you still have trouble, I recommend you practice on your own time. Meanwhile, we move on to the next useful rune." He held up a charcoal drawing of a symbol. Making sure everyone could see the rune unimpeded, the teacher placed his hand near it and spoke. "Hér."

As the sign glowed, his glasses flew off his head and appeared glued to the parchment with the rune. The acolytes laughed, and even Master Fenrick smiled as he grabbed his glasses, hanging awkwardly in the air, and returned them to his face. "The rune of attraction. Pulls objects towards itself. Might seem odd, but it has its uses. You all enjoy having water that runs up the pipes to the highest floors of your dormitory tower, I take it."

Martel could not quite see how this would be useful to him; he doubted that life in an army camp allowed for extensive pipework between tents. Still, better to learn than not, and at least it came easily to him. Studying the symbol as shown by Master Fenrick, he grabbed his own charcoal and began to draw it.

***

When the bell rang, Martel had made modest progress. He could channel his magic into the symbol; it glowed in response to his utterance of the commanding word. But nothing more happened. No movement to indicate attraction of any kind.

"Martel, do you have a moment?" Eleanor walked swiftly to reach him as he walked down the corridor, and he stopped to let her catch up. "I have something to ask you."

"Sure, what is it?"

"I am having trouble with the runes," she admitted.

"Really? I thought I saw yours glow."

She waved around the parchment in her hand with the symbol drawn on it. "A little, but nothing more happened."

"It didn't to me either. I don't think you're behind anyone else learning this."

"I am not ahead either," Eleanor remarked with a straight face, and Martel had to hide his smile; it was perhaps the most Eleanor thing she had ever said in such an offhanded manner. "And you have definitely advanced faster than me. I noticed that last fiveday."

"I guess I was fast to getting the rune of warning to work. But not this one – I'll have to practise on my own," Martel considered.

"Which is exactly what I wanted to ask about. Do you want to practise together? I have not been able to make the rune of warning work either. Since you have, maybe you can help me pass the final obstacle."

"Oh, certainly! You helped me so much with Archean, I'd be happy to do the same. Though I would do it even if you hadn't helped me," he hastily added, realising that he had implied his aid came at a price. "I'd do it no matter what."

She laughed a little. "I am glad. I thought we could do the same routine, actually. Solday afternoon in the library for a bell?" She gave an almost relieved smile; Martel was a little surprised to realise that her slow progress must have weighed on her.

"That sounds great. Let's do that." However much learning Archean had troubled Martel, he had still enjoyed those bells in Eleanor's company. It could only be better now that the subject of their studies was something where he had skill.

"Wonderful. I am visiting my sister tomorrow, but next Solday?"

"You have yourself a deal."

"Great." She gave a little wave with her fingers and walked away. Martel continued on his own path, not even aware of how much he smiled.

***

"Does something amuse you?" Mistress Rana stared at him with the stern expression that Mistress Juliana also wielded. As they stood in her laboratory, her domain of knowledge and surrounded by countless eerie ingredients of strange origin, it all increased the domineering effect she exerted.

"No." Martel wiped his face clean of any expression.

"Then you should not smile without reason. It makes you seem addled in the brain. Now, your last attempts at the blissful sleep potion did not go satisfactorily. You will try again today."

"Yes, mistress." This would be his third time; he still struggled to get the heat right. He thought about Julia, troubled by bad dreams with no other remedies than what he might procure. He had to apply himself this time that he might actually be able to help her.

"You know everything to do. Get to work."

Martel nodded and grabbed the ingredients laid ready.

***

Hours later, he could finish stirring. Mistress Rana did not aid him pouring the finished result, letting him practise handling both cauldron and liquid at the same time. It did not trouble him; as he tipped the container, he made sure to pull all the magic inside along with the simmering water and into the awaiting flacon.

Once done, the alchemist approached and scooped up the result of his work. She pressed her fingers around the glass bottle, examining the contents. It reminded Martel of the artefact merchant wearing magical items that he could not identify; he wondered if improving his skill at alchemy and sensing the efficacy of elixirs might also strengthen his ability to identify other kinds of magic.

"Not bad. Serviceable, I suppose." She handed the small potion over to Martel. "For next time you have a restless night."

"Thank you." He accepted the bottle, keeping his smile hidden; he already knew what he wanted to do with it.