"Markus... Hey, Markus! Wake up!"

Markus groggily opened his eyes, blinking as he adjusted to the bright lights of the classroom. His friend, Ethan, was leaning over him with a concerned look on his face. "You really need to stop staying up so late," Ethan chided, "Mrs. Brownswood will notice."

Markus rubbed his eyes, trying to remember why he had been dreaming about saving the world from an alien invasion. "What time is it?" he mumbled, still half-asleep.

Ethan checked his watch. "Classes are almost over," he whispered urgently, glancing at Mrs. Brownswood who was writing something on the board. "Have you been gaming again last night? You missed most of the lecture."

Markus nodded sheepishly, not wanting to admit that he had been online until four in the morning. He didn't like feeling guilty about it, but his parents were always nagging him about doing better in school. Between school and pretending studying, there just wasn't enough time for everything else. And so he tried to get back some free time by playing video games when his parents were asleep. But today, it seemed, that plan hadn't worked out quite as well as he had hoped.

Markus stiffed a yawn. "Can't wait to get home," he muttered under his breath. At least then he could catch some sleep without worrying about getting caught.

Before their teacher finished dismissing them, though, she handed out another assignment.

"For your next assignment," Mrs. Brownswood said, "I want each of you to think about what kind of career you might be interested in pursuing once you graduate from high school. Then, I would like each of you to write a brief essay explaining why you chose that particular profession."

She passed around several sheets of paper containing instructions and examples of good essays. As everyone began excitedly talking, Markus felt his heart sink. This was going to take forever. He knew he should start thinking about what he wanted to do with his life, but every time he tried, nothing came to mind. There were so many options available; how was he supposed to choose just one?

"Hey so, Markus," Ethan nudged him, "What career are you gonna write about?"

He shrugged. "Not sure yet..."

"How about video game tester? You spend more time playing those things than anyone I know!"

"Come on, Ethan, be serious..." said Markus. The truth was, he had already looked into becoming a tester, but after reading countless articles and watching documentaries, he realized how difficult it was to make a living off of playing video games. Plus, there was no guarantee that he would even enjoy it as much when it became his full-time job. Besides, his parents would endlessly nag him about getting a real job. He didn't want to admit that he had actually considered such a path. People would view him as a deluded video game addict, which, well, wasn't entirely untrue.

"Well, how about you go check out those books on careers?" suggested Ethan as they walked in front of the school's library. "I remember liking them when I was a kid. They might a bit too juvenile for you now but just check them for inspiration."

With a sigh, Markus agreed. Maybe he could catch some sleep in the library and then brag about studying to his parents to keep them off his tail.

They exited the class. Markus bid Ethan goodbye, as his friend had to leave early for soccer practice. Deciding to explore the library alone, he entered the library, making his way towards the non-fiction section.

There were a bit too many students for him to discreetly find a place to snooze. Sighing, he made his way towards the series of books Ethan mentioned earlier; the "I Want to Be..." series of books. There was a full shelf dedicated to them, filled with titles ranging from "I Want to Be an Astronaut", "I Want to Be a Doctor", to "I Want to Be a Firefighter".

Most of them were pretty thick, which surprised Markus. Wasn't the intended audience kids? These looked like they contained far more information than any elementary student would ever need to know. Intrigued, he picked up a few randomly and flipped through them. They contained interviews with people working in various fields, descriptions of daily tasks, pros and cons of different jobs, and other useful information and trivia. It was clear that whoever wrote these books did extensive research.

Still, it didn't help making him feel even slightly less daunted about choosing a career. Instead, it only reminded him of how little he knew about anything beyond his immediate interests. Frustrated, he slumped down against the wall, closing his eyes and letting his head fall back. Just for a moment, he thought. Just long enough to gather his thoughts and figure out what he wanted to do with his life.

When he finally reopened his eyes, the sun had begun to set outside the window, casting long shadows across the floor. Damn! Had he really fallen asleep here? He quickly glanced around and listened carefully, hoping nobody had noticed him. Thankfully, it sounded like most students had left already. Feeling somewhat refreshed, if not a bit embarrassed, Markus resolved to give the book series a try. After all, it seemed like a lot of work went into creating them, so maybe they held valuable insights. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that finding his true calling wouldn't be as simple as skimming through a couple of books.

On a whim, (And more because Markus really wanted to go home and play video games) he decided to pick the thinnest book he could find, assuming it was probably the easiest read. He didn't even bother looking at its title before checking it out. The only thing on his mind as he exited the school was getting back home as soon as possible.

As Markus stepped through the door of his house, he immediately let out a sigh of relief. Finally, away from prying teachers and judgmental peers. He quickly made his way upstairs to his room, eager to shed his uniform and change into something more comfortable.

His room was a mess, reflecting his scattered mindset. Game cases, clothes, dirty dishes and random trinkets cluttered nearly every surface. He quickly tossed his backpack on his bed. He had plenty of time to deal with homework later. Right now, all he wanted to do was relax.

But before he could indulge in his usual evening routine, Markus heard footsteps walking up the stairs. He froze, holding his breath as his mother appeared in the doorway. She looked worried, her brow furrowed in concern.

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"Markus! What happened? Are you okay? Where were you?" she asked, clearly alarmed by his absence from home.

Markus swallowed hard, trying to come up with a plausible excuse. "Um, I was studying at school," he stammered, hoping that would suffice.

His mom raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Studying? That doesn't sound like you at all, dear. Tell me the truth."

"I am!" he protested weakly, realizing that he needed to come up with a better story. "I mean, I was studying in the library for an assignment. I just... lost track of the time. Sorry..."

His mom studied him for a moment longer before nodding slowly. "Alright, I believe you. You know, I was starting to seriously worry about your grades. It's good to see you putting in some effort for once."

Her words filled Markus with mixed emotions. On one hand, he felt a surge of pride knowing that his mom believed in him. On the other hand, he also felt a sense of guilt knowing that he had lied to her. Regardless, he knew that he could use this opportunity to his advantage. If his mom thought he was being responsible, maybe she would ease up on him about video games.

Determined to capitalize on this newfound support, Markus promised himself that he would at least read the first chapter of the book before giving in to his desire to play video games. After all, he owed it to his mom to show her that he was capable of changing.

Once his mom left, Markus wasted no time in retrieving the book from his bag. He settled onto his bed, determined to put in the necessary effort to discover his future career.

However, instead of a smiling veterinarian or a wise professor, the cover featured an illustration of a medieval man in robes surrounded by bubbling cauldrons and exotic ingredients. The title was "I Want to Be an Alchemist". Markus couldn't help but roll his eyes. Was this some sort of joke? Or perhaps a limited edition of the series?

Feeling increasingly annoyed, Markus flipped open to the middle of the book. To his surprise, he found dense text discussing the finer points of something called "simplified autosomatic unbalanced translocations", various pitfalls, and the scientific principles underlying the practice. The author seemed to assume that readers had prior knowledge of chemistry and biology, using technical terms and diagrams to explain intricate concepts.

Despite his initial skepticism, Markus found himself drawn into the material. The more he read, the more fascinated he became with the subject matter. Surely this was all a giant joke, right? What did... chromosomes had to do with alchemy?

Curiosity piqued, Markus went back to the first page. Maybe if he started from the beginning, he could find some clue indicating that this book was meant as a joke, that the profession was invented.

"The central principle of our Art, the Transmutation of metals and materials, has long been misunderstood and misrepresented," wrote the author, introducing the topic. "Many practitioners focus solely on the physical aspects of the process, neglecting the spiritual component. Others rely heavily on mystical rituals and incantations, disregarding the importance of scientific methodology."

Markus paused, staring blankly at the page. Alchemy... could it be possible? Could there really be a science behind it? Would he find how to turn lead into gold on page 34? He scoffed. As if!

Doubtful, but intrigued, Markus continued reading. Over the course of the next hour, he learned about ancient alchemists, their methods, theories, and achievements. He discovered that modern alchemy had been perfected as a science, and, as the book promised, "Anyone can learn it, given sufficient dedication and effort."

The first chapter was entirely dedicated about alchemical circles. According to the book, the precision of the alchemical circle plays a significant role in determining the quality of the output. An imprecise circle often resulted in junk products. The more precise the circle, the better the transformation. It explained the significance of geometry in alchemy and how every angle, radius, and circumference played a crucial part in achieving desired outcomes.

Markus couldn't help but want to try. And here, on the next page was a step-by-step guide on how to use an alchemical circle to alter a simple object. Still deeply skeptical, he hesitated. But curiosity got the best of him and he proceeded to grab a pencil and paper and drew the two circles according to the instruction provided.

While it involved a lot mentally, the only material he needed were two circles. The "Input Circle" and the "Output Circle". The Input Circle represented the raw material or the metal he wanted to alter. The Output Circle was used to represent the product he wished to achieve.

The book was precise in its distinction. Alteration, or, to alter, was the process to move and reconfigure what was already there. Iron would stay iron, wood would stay wood. He would only be changing its form or shape. Transmutation however, was turning one element into another. The fabled lead to gold for example, although the book went to great points that it was a particularly boring result compared to others that could be achieved.

After drawing the circles as per the instructions, Markus placed his pen inside the input circle. He wanted to alter the lead core into a ball outside the pencil. Nothing else would change. It was a beginner exercise really. The book assured him that if done correctly, the lead core would eventually become a small solid ball outside the pencil. He read and reread the instructions multiple times, making sure he understood everything perfectly.

Finally, with a deep breath, he closed the closed and began the process. Despite his doubts, Markus couldn't deny the excitement coursing through him. Whether this was all a big elaborate joke or not, he was enjoying himself immensely. And for the first time in months, he forgot about his gaming session. Exhaling a deep breath, he allowed himself to fully immerse in the task at hand. And then... he felt... something.

Or rather smell something. Something... disgusting. A putrid smell attacked his nostrils, causing him to recoil in shock. He stared at the pencil, expecting to see a ball of lead, but instead saw a dark, slimy substance seeping out of the tip. Disgusted, he dropped the pencil and retreated to the bathroom, running cold water over his hands to scrub away the unpleasant... well, the book called such failures "junk" or "recremental matter" but Markus had his own four-letters word for the stuff.

Still, something had happened. It might not have been what the book promised, but it definitely wasn't normal. And despite the stench, he couldn't help but want to continue experimenting. He should-

"Markus! Time for dinner!" his Mom yelled from downstairs.

Startled back to reality, Markus sighed and headed towards the kitchen. "Coming!" he shouted back, wiping his hands on a towel. He had forgotten all about his hunger, engrossed as he was in his newfound hobby. Even the stated unlimited promises of alchemy were powerless against his mother's lasagna.

As he ate, his mother kept glancing at him. "You seem happier today," she commented between forkfuls of pasta. "Is your assignment going well?"

Markus nodded enthusiastically, not wanting to reveal his secret to his mother. "Yeah, everything's fine. Just busy with my project."

His mother smiled, happy to hear that her son was finally taking his studies seriously. "That's terrific, sweetheart. Keep up the good work! I admit, I didn't really believe you when you told me that you were studying in the library. But I haven't heard any video game sounds coming from your room. Hopefully you'll keep that habit! Your father and I would be thrilled if we never have to yell at you to turn off the Xbox again."

Markus wondered about that. Gaming just hadn't crossed his mind at all since he started reading the book. Even now, he desperately wanted to rush upstairs and devour the rest of the chapters, but he knew he had to finish his dinner first. And besides, gaming could wait.

"Still," his mother continued, frowning this time. "I want you to clean your room. The smell is becoming unbearable. It smells like something died in there."

Markus winced, remembering the foul odor that had assaulted his senses earlier. "Yes, ma'am," he said quickly. This was a battle he was gladly willing to lose.