Golden sunlight poured in through the windows of the Belbuk’s Cabin. The living room was washed in the warm rays of morning.

Luke woke up first. He rolled off of the floor trying not to wake Ash. Luke picked up Eins from the blanket bed in the corner and carried the dog’s still sleepy body into the kitchen.

Luke filled the stove with wood. He picked up Eins and pumped the dog like a bellows until a small blue flame appeared at the front of its snout. Luke used Eins to light the stove then set the dog down on the counter.

Luke got to work preparing breakfast.

#

Ash wandered in as Luke was finishing the bacon.

“Coffee?” he asked.

Luke pointed with his elbow to a pot on the stove. Ash poured two cups of coffee and sat down at the kitchen table.

#

Luke and Ash ate in the quiet morning silence.

Luke wiped his hands on a dish towel. “I’m going out to feed the chickens and then get started on the dailies.”

“You’re still doing those?” Ash asked in between bites.

“I made a promise. It was part of the condition for Belbuk allowing us to stay here.”

“Yeah but she’s not here right now.”

“That’s not important.”

*Ring*Ring*

*Sigh* Luke stood up from the table. He picked up a wooden tray with toast, eggs, bacon, and a cup of coffee on it.

Ash put a hand on his arm to stop him.

“I’ll take care of that. And feeding the chickens. You go finish your dailies. I’m going to be out of the cabin for a while.” Ash said.

“Are you making more charcoal?” Luke asked.

“Yes.”

“Will you be back for lunch?”

“Not if I can help it.”

#

Ash carried the wooden tray out of the kitchen. He walked to the stairs. Eins padded along behind him.

A spiral staircase in the corner of the cabin led up to the second floor. At the top of the stairs there was a small landing with a bay window and a door that led to Belbuk’s study/bedroom. A cot had been set up in front of the bay window. Dozens of pillows and several quilts were heaped up on the cot. Ave was burrowed down in the middle like an owl. Only her bandaged foot was visible sticking out of the pile. A small metal bell sat on a stool next to the cot.

Ash set the wooden tray down on top of the stool. Eins jumped up on the cot and curled up in the middle of the pile of quilts.

“Is there coffee?” Ave’s voice was muffled by the blankets.

“Yes.” Ash replied.

“Sugar?”

*Sigh* “Two cubes.” Ash started sneaking back down the stairs.

“Milk?”

“There is… ah…”

Ash walked down the stairs. He collected a milk bottle from the kitchen. He walked back to the second floor and placed the bottle on the stool.

“Toast?” Ave asked.

“Right there on the tray.”

*Rustle*Rustle*

“Is there pepper?” Ave asked.

*Groan*

Ash walked down the stairs. He retrieved the pepper shaker from the kitchen. He walked back to the second floor and placed the pepper on the stool.

“Salt?” Ave asked.

“I brought that too.” Ash produced a salt shaker from behind his back and put it on the stool.

“Jam?”

*Groooan*

Ash stomped down the stairs. He retrieved the jam from the kitchen. He stalked back to the second floor and plopped the jam jar onto the stool.

“Will there be anything else?” Ash crossed his arms.

“Hmmm…” Ave mumbled from inside her quilt cocoon.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Great. Because I have to go feed the chickens. Luke will be back after he’s done with dailies. I’m going out to the forest.”

Ash turned and walked back down the stairs.

#

Ash stood in the yard in front of the Cabin. He held out his hand and summoned. A rain of soybeans scattered themselves across the hen pecked grass in front of the chicken coop. The chickens let out a *Cluck*Cluck* that he hoped signaled appreciation.

One of the bay windows *Creaked* open.

“What’s for lunch?” Ave shouted down into the yard.

“Ask Luke!” Ash mumbled afterwards. “Everyone always complains when I make lunch.”

Ash finished feeding the chickens and then strode away into the woods.

#

Ave peeked her head out of the blanket fortress. She gazed out the window at the sky.

Eins rolled over on Ave’s stomach. The dog opened its mouth and lolled out its tongue. Ave broke a piece of bacon in half. She ate one half and fed the other half to Eins.

#

Belbuk hiked up the path leading to her Cabin. She adjusted her wide brimmed hat.

“It’s hot today.” She squinted. “I can see smoke from the chimney. I guess they’re still squating on my floor.”

#

Beluk kicked open the door to her Cabin.

“I’m home.” she shouted.

*Silence*

“Ungrateful freeloaders.” she grumbled.

Belbuk put down her traveling pack. She walked up the stairs to the second floor landing.

*Sigh* “You shouldn’t let your dog get on the furniture. You’ll spoil it.” she said.

Eins yawned from the peak of the pillow pile.

Ave shifted under the quilts. “Did you bring it?”

Belbuk tossed a package of rectangular pieces of fabric onto the quilt pyramid. A single hand slipped out from under the covers and pulled the package into the depths.

Belbuk tapped her foot on the floor. “Think that maybe you’ll get up today? Take a walk? *Sniff* Or a bath. By the way, how have you been going to the bathroom? I don’t see any buckets up here.”

Ave rolled over under her blankets. Eins yawned again.

“Gods I hate children.” Belbuk retreated to her room.

#

The sun ticked across the sky til noon.

Luke strolled back into the Cabin and into the kitchen. After a few minutes of preparation he climbed up the stairs.

“Ave? Are you up? I brought you some lunch. Oh? Master Belbuk you’re back.” Luke peeked into Belbuk’s room.

The second floor room had south facing windows. Bookshelves had been built into the walls. In addition to books a variety of beakers, bottles, and bowls lined the shelves.

“Don’t call me that.” Belbuk replied.

“Right. As you wish. Have you eaten? Shall I bring you some lunch?” Luke asked.

“No need. I’ll eat later.” Belbuk was seated at her desk. She filled an alembic with a clear liquid. “Where’s my copy of Zeno’s Mushroom Encyclopedia?”

“I think it’s downstairs.” Luke replied.

“Make sure that you return it.”

“I will.” Luke paced around the room. *Soft Whistle* “Have you… given any thought to what I asked you before?”

“There’s no such thing as Demon Lords.” Belbuk said tersely.

“Right. You made that very clear. And, about the other thing?”

“I’m not making you my apprentice.”

“Come on. Please.” Luke pleaded. “I promise that I’ll make you proud.”

“I don’t want to be proud of you. I want you to leave. Remember when I said you all could stay one night.”

“Yeah.”

“It’s been two weeks.”

“Ave is still injured.”

“Your friend Ave is sulking. My bay window is starting to smell like sadness and dog turds.” Belbuk twisted her braid around her hand.

“I told you Eins is very well… trained. He’s housebroken.” Luke raised his eyebrows.

“My house is going to be broken if you four keep using it like your personal vacation home.”

“Isn’t it a vacation home?”

“That’s not the point!”

“That’s why you should train me. If you teach me Alchemy I can help out more around the cabin.” Luke pleaded from across the desk at Belbuk.

“What is this world where you’re begging more than the dog does.” Belbuk shook her head.

“Please, please, please.” Luke begged.

Belbuk held up a hand. “Listen. I’m not going to…”

“...hhhnnn… …hhhnnnKKK…”

Belbuk stopped what she was doing.

“Was that you?” She said.

“Huh?” Luke asked.

“That noise. That wasn’t you?” Belbuk held perfectly still.

*In the Distance* “.... nnnhhhKKK…”

“Damn it!” Belbuk yelled. “I knew it was too good to be true.” She leapt up out of her seat and ran to the corner of her room. Belbuk frantically started digging through her supplies.

“Here!” She shouted at Luke and thrust a box into his arms. “Carry this.”

“What is it?” Luke asked in confusion.

“Alchemical reagents.” Belbuk grabbed some more bottles.

“Does this mean you’re going to teach me Alchemy?”

“What? Nnn… yes. Sure. It’s time for your first lesson. Take one of these.” She jammed a crosse under Luke’s arm.

Belbuk ran out of the room. “Let’s go! Front of the cabin. Now.”

Luke hustled down the stairs after her.

#

Ash walked up the path to the Cabin. He wiped some sweat off of his forehead and some twigs out of his hair.

*fffsss…*

“What the…”

*Ka-BOOM*

A patch of grass to the left of the path exploded. Ash ducked and rolled for cover. Dirt and rocks rained down on him.

“What is happening!” he screamed.

“Ash is that you?” Luke shouted down the hill.

“Yes it’s me! What is going on!?” Ash yelled.

“Get up here quick.”

Ash ran up the hill to the Cabin. He collapsed on the ground when he reached the front porch.

Luke was standing in front of the Cabin with a crosse in his hands. Belbuk was next to him rummaging through a large box filled with glass vials.

“Can you still see the smoke?” She asked.

“Yes.” Luke replied. “There’s a crater in your front yard now.”

“It’s fine. Use that to find your range. Make your next shot with the same power and it should land in the same area.” Belbuk held up one of the vials for examination.

“What are you two doing!?” Ash panted.

“Alchemy.” Belbuk replied.

“That was an explosive.”

“Like I said. Alchemy.”

“... hhhooonnnkkk…”

Belbuk stood up. “Here it comes.”