Chapter 6: Eclipse

Eclipse gently shut the door behind her, careful not to rattle the delicate glass perched on the wooden shelves. Mr. Zelione’s apothecary always carried a mystical aura, with the lanterns flickering and the cauldrons bubbling in the background. The room was thick with hundreds of floral scents, each trying to overpower one another, and the wooden planks of the floor creaked as she walked along them.

She walked through one of the familiar rows of bookshelves, skimming through titles on the spines as she passed by.

“Brewing for Beginners,” “A Guide to Elixirs,” “Mystical Remedies for All.” I’ve probably read some of these books myself.

It was certainly possible, as she was secretly interested in the subject herself. Brewing and chemistry weren’t typically futures for children of politicians, but Eclipse couldn't imagine herself willingly submitting to her parents' planned career for her. A court lady or a councilwoman, and nothing less of the two.

But science was her true calling, and even if she wouldn't be able to pursue it, at least she could learn what she could.

Eclipse eventually made her way towards the counter in the back of the shop where Mr. Zelione usually resided. Her eyes wandered the room, searching for any trace of the apothecary.

Instead, she found a boy, around her own age, aggressively wiping off the black cauldrons with a wet cloth.

Well, if it isn’t Arcturus Sarir...

Mr. Zelione’s apprentice was always working when Eclipse came in for her mother’s requests. He was an odd boy, thin and frail, and always seemed to talk a lot when Eclipse was around—though, not to her. It was strange, to say the least. For the number of times she had visited the apothecary, she knew very little of the distinguished master’s apprentice.

As he continued to scrub those cauldrons, she watched him silently, waiting to see if he would ever notice her presence.

Why so frustrated? she thought with a stifled snicker.

He eventually turned around, his brown eyes widening as he jumped in surprise.

“Hello, Arcturus. I’m sorry for startling you,” she said with a laugh. “Would you happen to know where Mr. Zelione is?”

“Uh…I…erm…yes, yes of course!” he managed to let out. She watched as he awkwardly shuffled over towards a door in the back, but stopped midway before turning around.

“But why would you need Mr. Zelione if you have me?” he said with a sudden, confident smile, a strange replacement to the jittery expression moments earlier.

Eclipse raised an eyebrow, slightly confused. “I’d rather talk to the master.”

“I’m sure I’m more than capable of assisting you. What can I do for you?”

Eclipse played along with his act. “Well,” she said as she slowly inched closer to him, almost leaning over the counter. “I’m here for a very special order.”

His expression was uncertain, but nonetheless, he listened closely.

Then her eyes suddenly lit up like a madman, allowing her lips to curve into an eerie smile. “I need a poison, the strongest you’ve got! Preferably one that kills. You see, I’ve grown rather tired of some of our councilmen, you know how it is. So, how much will that be?”

Arcturus’s face turned a ghostly pale, blankly staring at her. “Uh, miss…I don’t think we sell—”

Eclipse cut him off, letting another laugh out.

“I’m only joking!” she said through her fervent chortles. “I only came to purchase my mother’s remedy, like all my other visits.”

His face began to gain color again as he breathed in, Eclipse still chuckling to herself at his alarmed expression. At that moment, the apothecary himself emerged from the back room, carrying a pile of wooden crates in his arms.

“Why, if it isn’t Eclipse Soleil! How are you this fine morning, my child?”

“Very well, Mr. Zelione,” she returned with a bright smile. “I apologize for not being able to visit often. I rarely get time out of the house as it is.”

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about me. I have Arcturus here for that. You’ve come for your mother’s elixir, I assume?”

“You know me too well, sir.”

Mr. Zelione set the crates on the floor, and bent down to check the shelves beneath the countertop. His eyes skimmed through the compartments, searching for a vial of Metarone.

“Well,” he said, defeated, “it seems we are sold out. I suppose I’ll have to make more. I apologize, Eclipse.”

“Oh, that’s fine, I’m in no hurry.”

Mr. Zelione and Arcturus began to gather the different ingredients for the remedy, breaking off in seperate directions. Arcturus climbed up the ladder and sorted through the various flower petals while the old man gathered herbs and liquids that were closer to the ground.

Windroot, Adril, Olumric dust, Cavern Sage. Eclipse recognized some of the herbs from her books. She supposed she could even make it from her own memory, considering how familiar she was with the remedy.

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Just as Mr. Zelione reached his hand to light the cauldron, a bell began to ring violently, echoing from the side of the counter.

“Ah, that would be the Alemletra for our earlier customer. I forgot I was working on that.” Mr. Zelione silenced the bell timer and made his way to the cauldron at the far edge. He immediately began stirring the mixture inside.

“I’m sorry, Eclipse. Alemletra requires my full attention in order to get it just right. I won’t be able to brew your remedy until this is finished.”

“I can do it!” Arcturus suddenly piped in. With how quiet he had been, Eclipse had forgotten he was in the room. Eclipse exchanged a fleeting look with Mr. Zelione, and could tell he had the same, skeptical thoughts.

“I can do it, sir,” Arcturus repeated, seeming to notice their concerned expressions, “I know the recipe perfectly well, and I’ve helped you make it multiple times. I’m sure I can do it easily.”

“But Arcturus, you’ve never brewed an elixir on your own, and I’m not sure if you’re quite ready…”

“Please, sir. Just give me one chance,” Arcturus stared at his master, his eyes pleading. “I promise, I won't disappoint you.”

Mr. Zelione looked long at his desperate face, and finally gave in.

“Very well, then,” he sighed, clearly too tired to hold him off any longer.

Arcturus’s face lit up like the sun, and he swiftly went to work. Eclipse crept forward to keep a watchful eye on him, silently critiquing his every move. She wasn’t sure whether she should trust his skill—he was just an apprentice after all. Although she and her mother weren’t on the best terms, she certainly wouldn’t wish for her to be poisoned or even die at the hands of a clumsy boy.

“You do know what you’re doing, correct?” she asked with obvious concern.

“Of course I do,” he said as he forcefully chopped the Windroot. His elbow knocked over a nearby vial, causing a loud thud against the table. Mr. Zelione frantically glanced back in alarm, while Arcturus chuckled nervously.

Eclipse only stared in disbelief.

Stars help him, for his own sake.

Arcturus mixed the herbs together. “Ah, well, that was just a slight mistake.”

She watched him pour the liquids into the boiling cauldron, stirring softly as he went. Then he added the crushed herbs to the mixture, attentive to not leave a single flake behind. If she remembered correctly, he was now on to dissolving the leaves. Eclipse knew this stage was the most important, and he could burn the ingredients in seconds if he wasn’t careful. She noticed his eyes fixed attentively on the elixir, carrying the same professional look she saw in Mr. Zelione many times before.

Surprisingly, Arcturus was able to confidently complete the most difficult stage with ease, and began to stir again, letting out a quiet sigh of relief. He quickly added in a few pinches of Olumric Dust, and although it was a swift estimate, he seemed satisfied with the amounts. Perhaps he did know what he was doing.

Then Eclipse noticed the purple vial sitting at the side of his cauldron.

“Is there Cavern Sage in this recipe?” she asked, alarm lacing her voice. She knew perfectly well that it was the most crucial ingredient.

“Why, yes there is. You seem to be well educated in elixirs. Maybe you would consider joining us?” he teased, oblivious to the worry in her voice.

Eclipse didn’t have time for his games. “Well, doesn’t the Cavern Sage go into the cauldron before you add the Olumric Dust?”

At that note, he stopped stirring. His eyes were struck with fear as he slowly looked down into the bubbling elixir.

A thunderous boom erupted from the cauldron, small purple flakes dispersing with it and falling gracefully through the air like an amethyst mist. Eclipse looked down at her shirt and dusted a few of them off. Arcturus in particular was almost completely covered in them, slowly turning around and revealing his look of quiet shock.

Eclipse couldn’t help herself. Her chiming laughter broke through the silence. Arcturus stood speechless, still trying to process what had happened. Even Mr. Zelione began to let out a small chuckle, somehow clean of the purple flakes that now drifted down and onto the ground.

“I’m so sorry about the mess, sir,” Arcturus finally said. “I’ll clean it up right away.” If Eclipse knew any better, it seemed that he was more disappointed rather than afraid of his master’s reaction.

“Oh, go get yourself cleaned up first. Don’t worry about the mess,” Mr. Zelione said sympathetically. The two of them watched quietly as Arcturus staggered over to the back room, trying to rid himself of the flakes as he left behind a small trail. Mr. Zelione finished the Alemletra and started pouring it into separate bottles.

“Poor Arcturus. Always looking to prove himself to others, but doesn’t even realize his own abilities,” the old apothecary murmured.

Eclipse said nothing, glancing back at the older man.

“But perhaps it’s my fault. I rarely give him a chance to discover it on his own.”

“He did fairly well, actually,” Eclipse replied, “before his little mishap, of course. His techniques were quite advanced.”

Mr. Zelione left the bottled vials, grabbing a broom leaning against the wall and began to gently sweep the floor.

“You know, I’ve never seen him so eager to brew an elixir before,” he said with a hint of a smile. “Usually with other customers, he doesn’t plead as desperately. He must have taken a bit of a liking for you.”

“Is that so?” she said carefully, a little confused.

“But more importantly, his heart is in the right place. Perhaps you should get to know him.”

She blinked. “What are you suggesting—”

At that moment, Arcturus entered the room again, his clothing and apron cleaned of the flakes. Eclipse quickly looked down, trying not to give him any hint that they were talking behind his back.

“I’m afraid that was the last of the Windroot, sir.”

“Ah, well that’s unfortunate. We need that if we are to make the Metarone.”

“Shall I go out to get more? What about the mess?”

“I told you not to worry about the mess. You go on now.”

As Arcturus treaded towards the front door, Mr. Zelione glanced at Eclipse, “Oh, and take Eclipse with you,” he called nonchalantly.

She shot him a confused look. “What? Why?” she whispered frantically.

Mr. Zelione only gave her a knowing smirk in return.

“I’m sure she’d like to wander the village at this lovely time. Besides, she has no business here without her elixir.”

“Um…yes, sir,” Arcturus mumbled, his hand already pressed against the door.

Eclipse rolled her eyes and shot Mr. Zelione one last look. She reluctantly left him to his sweeping, his bespeckled eyes twinkling as the two stepped out of his shop.