The news of the fire had hit quite close to home to many who had heard about it in the local papers. Many men and women died within the alchemy lab, and worst of all, was a friend.
Tithe was a young man who spent his life wanting to help others. The young half-elf had spent the early years of his life studying alchemy alongside Owen and another friend of theirs. One he was planning to visit before beginning his long journey from the city.
He stared at himself in the mirror of the dorm room he had spent the past six years of his life in. It was a mixed bag of emotions. After all, graduating and moving on to his life's ambition was something anyone should be excited about.
Excitement was the last thing Tithe was feeling. His eyes hung heavy in his head and if anyone with a lack of sleep carried bags under their eyes, he carried rucksacks. It had been hard to sleep at all since the news came in.
Owen was dead.
The man he spent six years studying with. The man he would take every Monday afternoon to go out to dinner with, and invite over to meet his family on holidays was gone in the blink of an eye.
He had only left for his internship a few months prior and he was ecstatic for him to get a position in such a prestigious lab. So far the cause of the fire had been unidentified but the list of victims was only growing as the bodies were identified.
It was sobering. Brushing his long black hair out of his eyes he turned and picked up the sack that contained the last of his personal belongings. It was time to go visit Desmond.
Standing by the door he stared over his room one last time, reminiscing about the time he spent here. The desk sitting under the window that he spent nights pulling his hair out at before exams. Nights close to tears when the workload became so overwhelming, and nights that he simply mentally shut down while staring at recipes.
The mini cauldron to the left in the corner with a ventilation shaft above it where he created some of the most disgusting failures in mankind's history. A stain still burned into the wall from the time he tried to one up Owen and Desmond by making his invisibility potion extra potent by adding an extra helping of the eld root. After all, if it was what made the potion work, more of it should make it more potent.
Well, it was… Then the cauldron almost exploded and singed the walls, along with splashing Tithe with a boiling potion which was incredibly difficult for the staff to treat him for since it also turned him invisible for three days.
Finally was the bed that he spent most nights getting into far later than was healthy for any student, but such was student life in such a prestigious academy.
He would miss it but it was something that he couldn’t focus too hard on anymore. With one final glance around his room he mentally said goodbye, throwing his cloak on and departing for the last time.
Leaving the dorm he met with many other students in the halls who had graduated alongside him, and others who were here to move into the dorm rooms they were vacating. A young orc woman seemed to be moving into his room who he shared a nod with. “Best of luck in the years to come.” He said, offering a handshake before he left.
He had always towered over most, but passing the teenagers all coming for their first year made him feel like a titan. More than two heads taller than most, his slender and rather thin body made him look like some form of skeleton that hid beneath a cloak.
“Good morning, Tithe,” one of the teachers he studied under said as he passed in the hall. The hunched ratling was his restorative potions teacher and one he spent many a night speaking with in the dining hall on his theories of how to apply potions.
“Good morning Cheddar,” he responded, a hint of sorrow in his tone.
“It is always sad to say goodbye to such talented students,” the old rat said, leaning on his cane that helped with his bad back from when he was an adventurer. “Plus, what happened with Owen is a damn shame. He had a very promising career ahead of him.”
“Owen was a good friend... It seems Desmond has taken the news harder than I. He has locked himself away in his family home on the other side of the city.” Tithe explained. Taking these final moments to take in not only the atmosphere of what he once called home, but the sights. It was hard to find another school of such prestige, or even architecture as it was built only a few decades after the creation of the spire according to historical documents.
The professor nodded as he thought about it and said “I imagine you are going to visit him before you set off from the city?”
“Correct,” Tithe responded briefly.
“Then I will not keep you any longer,” his professor responded, hobbling down the hallway towards the kitchens before he turned back and said “I do hope you come and visit us if you are ever in the city again.”
“I’ll be sure to bring stories of my travels!” Tithe called out with a wave. “Now,” He said, steeling himself and approaching the exit.
Passing through the stone arch ways he entered the grounds where he was almost blinded by the sun shining down onto him. The grounds were large and covered in flowers. To the left of the entrance a large hedge maze known for new students to get lost in within the first month of study, not knowing the hedge was made out of the same magical construct that living fauna were trimmed from and while it was not dangerous or hostile, it certainly had a sense of humour and enjoyed changing the pathways behind people until around midday and then once again every four hours until midnight the staff would come around and save anyone trapped inside.
To the right was the orchard where said living plants were housed, a large sprawling herbarium filled to the brim with various animals, all created out of plants where students could spend time feeding them various potions they had created as long as the staff approved it for consumption.
Owen hardly even knew about the place in the first year as he was often held up in his room, being one of the very few to not be trapped in the maze at the same time because he spent the year locked in his room making potions.
It took quite a lot of effort for Desmond and Tithe to coax him out for a party, and then they just clicked, then feeding the plants at night became almost a tradition for the two. Tithe on the other hand spent at least a few days a week coming out to feed the plants, he had specialised in the preservation of plants and crops after all.
Walking past the main gates down the cobblestone path in the centre he entered the city and made his way to the train station nearby. It was sad that now he had to pay full price for his train tickets given he was no longer a student. It wasn’t all too bad as he planned to travel within the city. He was going to Desmond's apartment which was only a few stops away.
Passing through the city he watched out the window as the stores and buildings passed him by, everyone had been recovering from the war and it showed in the increased prices and the builders lining the streets helping fill holes and fix broken windows.
The new king had been putting out all the stops by providing builders for those within the city who had suffered from the war. It helped keep people happy and when it came to being the new king, people being happy was what he needed.
That wasn’t what mattered right now as he exited the train at midtown, where most of the apartment complexes had been built during the economic boom following the recent decades interest in studying alchemy along with the influx of young people who wanted to be trained as knights within the castle walls. That was until the war of course. The cost of land, and even the buildings themselves had plummeted within the capital.
He approached the apartment block that he had visited over his years of training, and one that certainly had seen the tolls of the war during the recent attacks on the capital before the new king had taken over.
Once a proud structure towering over the bustling streets of the capital, the apartment building now stood as a grim testament to the toll of war. Its once grand facade, adorned with stone gargoyles and paintings along the wall, was now marred by the scars of battle—deep gouges where magic had rented the stone and charred patches where flames had wiped away traces of the children's art. The windows, once sparkling with enchanted glass, were now shattered and replaced with simple regular glass, their frames warped and twisted.
Inside, the corridors echoed with the ghosts of the past. Paint peeled from the walls in long, curling strips, revealing the bare stone beneath. The scent of mildew and decay permeated the air, mingling with the faint aroma of stale magic—a lingering reminder of spells cast in desperation. Doors hung off their hinges, some splintered and broken, others barricaded with whatever furniture could be salvaged. It seemed many had no desire to return to their apartments once the war had ended.
Reception seemed to be functioning at the moment as a dwarf manned the station, giving Tithe a nod as he entered and when asked if Demond was still here he was motioned to head upstairs by the dwarf. “Don’t mind the mess, like everyone else we are recovering.”
It made Tithe realise just how privileged that they had been within the academy walls as the invading army had refused to attack hospitals and places of learning. It had them quite detached from the horrors of what had been happening to everyone else within the city, even if they could hear it and offer shelter to those who fled to them.
Knocking on the door to his friend's apartment he heard a large amount of clattering inside, followed by some scurrying which was then soon ended by unceremonious silence which left Tithe feeling quite confused.
“Demond?,” he eventually called out with another knock on the wooden door “I came to see you before I head off.”
At that, the movement and clatters were heard once more and the door slowly opened. All Tithe could see was the singular blue eye staring out at him through the crack that was covered by greasy strands of blonde hair.
Once eyes were laid upon him the door opened and Desmond backed away to let him inside. The elf was quite pale and wore his robes half open as if a set of pyjamas on a day one would consider staying in bed until nightfall.
Inside Desmond’s apartment, the air was thick with the scent of herbs and incense, mingling with the acrid tang of alchemical reagents. Piles of books and scrolls littered every surface, their pages yellowed with age and stained with spilled potions.
Desmond himself had a slender frame that seemed almost frail beneath the weight of his burdens. His once vibrant eyes, now held a haunted look, as if they had seen far too much for one so young. Dark circles ringed his eyes, testament to the countless sleepless nights spent poring over dusty tomes and brewing arcane concoctions in the dim light of his laboratory that seemed common for any alchemist to have.
It seemed he almost mirrored Tithe in that sense as both had spent many nights in recent times sleepless, worried and afraid. Though Desmond seemed different to what Tithe remembered. He was shifting, fidgety and his eyes darted about the room as if watching the very shadows for a threat.
“I came to see how you were doing…,” Tithe finally mustered the ability to say, watching the shadows at the same time to see if they truly were in danger or if his friend had succumbed to some form of paranoia.
It seemed to be the latter as Desmond finally snapped out of his frantic twitching and said “As good as one can be… Given the circumstances…”
He walked deeper into the dirty and dank apartment with a motion to follow. He had tea in the small kitchen area, a room over where a cauldron sat atop a stove alongside a small cast iron skillet that he most likely used to prepare meals. Though the state of the skillet itself implied his cooking skills were leagues behind his alchemy skills.
Tithe found himself stepping over scrapped projects and wrappers from various foods; he finally sat at the kitchen table, noting that every window within the apartment was closed over and covered so no natural light could enter.
“You seem like a mess,” Tithe finally said as he leaned on one arm, using the other to motion around the room “You are living like a hermit.”
Again, Desmond seemed far too afraid of his own shadow to respond at first. Holding the kettle he had prepared he poured a mug of tea for his friend and sat across from him once he seemed satisfied with whatever he was thinking about.
It was cold, but Tithe was not about to complain about the hospitality of a friend who was also battling with intense feelings of loss. In their silence, only the crackling of the fire and the bubbling of the cauldron in the room next to them was audible.
It would have been calming, if not for the state of the room. Add some rain outside and it would have been the perfect setting for a cosy night's reading. At least… That’s what Tithe would have liked.
Instead, the two sat here awkwardly staring between the cold mugs of tea and one another. It carried some heavy implications for Tithe. Thinking back on the time they all spent together… Were they truly friends?
There wasn’t a time in the past that Tithe could recall where he and Desmond spent time together without Owen. He seemed to be the glue that held the friendship together. At least, that’s what it seemed like at the moment.
“You look like you are preparing for another war.” Tithe eventually said, breaking the long and awkward silence.
“Oh, no, no.” Desmond began, staring around at the runes he had written along the walls and slight barricade he had placed in front of the door. “This was set up during the war, I assure you.” He then quickly drank his cold tea which caused him to shudder at the sensation, the passage of time something he had not taken into account.
“I supposed you must have had to spend your summers somewhere…” Tithe responded, always wondering where he got off to when the others lived on campus. Hard to believe why anyone would actively move out into a war zone, even if his family owned this apartment.
The silence returned, this time as Desmond took the cups of cold tea and tossed them into the sink. “Allow me to make a new batch.” He stated.
He kept his back to Tithe as he rinsed the kettle, and eventually Tithe spoke again “I know we haven’t spent much time together without Owen, but if you want to get anything off your chest, feel free.”
Desmond froze, the mere mention of his name seemed to be enough to cause a gut wrenching reaction. He gripped the kettle and shivered for a brief moment, all the while keeping his back to Tithe.
Seeing this, Tithe had little time to think and simply continued speaking “He was a close friend to both of us. I am sure his death is painful but trying to deal with the grief alone could be dangerous.”
Desmond looked back at him once he heard that and said “I am capable of handling myself” tersely, placing the kettle back onto the stove heavily.
It left the air heavy between them as Tithe didn’t feel he wanted to reply to such a bleak statement that only served as proof of his original thoughts. Desmond returned to the kettle once more and kept his attention on the water. “I’m sorry…” He began, his voice raspy as he struggled for words. “I am glad you worry enough to try to comfort me. I just do not know what to do right now.” As he spoke he ran his finger along some runes that had been drawn atop the table to create a small fire atop the stove which soon began to boil the water within the kettle. “I would like to be alone, if that is not too much to ask.”
“No, I understand.” Tithe responded, hiding the feeling of dejection. Standing from the table he bowed his head and said “If you need anything before I leave the city, do feel free to contact me before tomorrow afternoon.”
“That's right…” Desmond muttered as he stared at the flame. “I got so caught up in my work, I forgot this is where we planned to part ways…”
Tithe was then escorted to the door and with one final, sorrowful farewell he exited back into the hall without so much as a goodbye. His chest hurt once the door closed behind him, feeling like it had locked away any chance of remaining friends with Desmond. As much as it hurt, Tithe knew that whether they were friends or not didn’t matter come tomorrow, so he had to prepare.
Exiting the apartment building he almost bumped into a short human that was standing by the door. “O…Oh, I am terribly sorry, sir!” Tithe stammered, catching himself from falling over the man.
The portly human seemed unphased and even laughed off the stumbling with a wave of his hand “Think nothing of it, boy.” He responded.
Finally catching his balance and breath Tithe was able to take a proper look at the sturdy man and noticed he was in a rather regal set of robes, ones he had recognised from his years in college as advisors who would often come to the college to speak with the headmaster and professors.
“You must be Tithe, yes?” The man asked as he placed his hands behind his back, linking both within his thick sleeves.
Like anyone, Tithe thought what would someone of his stature want with him, so he plainly asked “I am, is there something you need from me?”
The balding man nodded again and slightly turned to nod his head towards a car that sat nearby, his facial hair swinging with the motion as the beard and mustache reached far down his face. A new invention that only the richest of the rich or royalty ever had the privilege of ever seeing the inside of. “I can assure you it is nothing threatening, young man.” He chuckled, his mustache twitching with each laugh as he approached and stepped into the back seat. “Do come along, we must not dally!”
It was a shock of course, one that left Tithe standing on the spot contemplating what in the world this could have meant until the next reminder snapped him out of his thoughts and he quickly approached the metal vehicle.
Setting himself into the back seat with the advisor sitting next to him he closed the door a tad bit too hard which got him a glare from the orc driver who looked over his shoulder. “Now, now,” the man said with a wave “Do take us to the castle, please.”
“The castle?” Tithe thought, unable to place any reason why anyone at the castle would want to talk to him of all people. There were far more promising alchemists in the academy and many who got far higher grades than he did. All and all, he was nothing but average.
The sound of the engine took Tithe off guard when the driver placed his hand atop a crystal that lay at arms level. He seemed to be channelling mana directly into it similar to a train and after enough was absorbed the car began to move.
“First time seeing a car, son?” The man asked, clearly enjoying the gasps and attempts to hold onto anything to keep himself still.
“Can’t say I have ever had the money to get near something like a carriage, let alone a car, sir.” Tithe responded briefly, finally relaxing once the ride proved to be far smoother than he could have imagined.
Pulling away from the housing district of the second layer of the city they passed the college once more which, next to the hospital, were the only areas to show minimal damage from the assaults.
It seemed they were heading further into the capital which again left Tithe confused, enough so that he finally asked “What would someone so prestigious want with me, sir?” As he turned his attention from the window, back to the noble.
“Well, the king has requested an audience with many students who have graduated from the academy. Promising youth is something that we need to nurture after all.” The nobleman explained, reaching into the pocket of his fancy robes to remove a pipe that he slowly filled with a purple dust that shimmered beautifully when he lit it with a flame from the tip of his finger. “Do you smoke?” He asked as he rolled down the window to allow the fruity smelling fumes to escape.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
“No, sir.” Tithe responded quickly, more enamoured by the powder he asked “Was that powder made with some kind of mixture from a dried pixie plum?”
The man laughed jovially in response and said “Leave it to a graduate alchemist to be so interested in the contents of a pipe.” Taking a long puff he blew it out the window once more where the smell left Tithe confused, partly leaving him with a sour feeling in his stomach as it reminded him that Owen would have been able to identify every ingredient from smell alone.
“But yes, yes it is,” the man finally continued once he was done. “It is a pixie plum tobacco that is quite popular in the southern continents. I collect a box every time I visit my family.”
It wasn’t Tithe's place to discuss the health implications of smoking such substances so he simply responded “It has a very unique shimmer when it is burnt. It can also be used in some fireworks for its hue.” He turned his attention back to the window where they passed the gates that allowed them into the centre of the city.
This was where most of the destruction was focused after all so there were many builders with giant animals fed through pure magical proteins to make them larger and stronger so they could pull carriages. An Ox that towered three times larger than its counterparts pulled a carriage that contained enough bricks to build a house across the large open fields towards the destroyed walls and horses twice the size and strength of those pulling a carriage dragged ploughs through the ruined fields.
Things were getting back on track, slowly but surely and Tithe couldn’t help but feel optimistic for the future of the kingdom under their new king. That was of course, providing this meeting would let him see the new king's true nature.
“Aye, boy.” The man said while watching him stare at the fields “I feel we are going to be okay after all.”
It was strange… It sounded like he had the same worries at first that Tithe did given the nature of his response. In a clarifying, and humanising moment for the royal he stated “Many of us in the council were unsure what to think of the new king at first but I dare say we are going to recover.”
Staring out into the distance the castle itself was viewable on the horizon, seeming like they were quite a ways away. “We will be there in about twenty minutes,” his host said when he noticed his staring.
“No intention to be rude, sir but I doubt it would take twenty minutes to get from here all the way to the castle given the speed we are going at from the school district.” Tithe responded, unsure if the noble was trying to test him.
He laughed in response and nodded “Of course not, but we still must pass through the checkpoints before we may enter the castle.”
As he explained, they approached the castle. There was a large frontal gate that the car ultimately had to line up with other carriages that were being examined and questioned by the guards.
Many were coming and going at the moment, mostly carriages filled to the brim with crafting and building supplies that were being delivered to the various stations throughout the farmlands. It was important to get the crops planted as soon as possible after all.
When the guards approached the car, the nobleman lowered the window and said “Good afternoon to you, Jeffrey.” As he produced a card that the guard took and examined “Another student being delivered for the meeting,” the noble explained.
The guard nodded and handed the card back, walking around and opening the trunk of the car to examine the contents before he made his way to the side Tithe was on and motioned for him to lower the window.
It took him a moment to figure out how to lower the window but when he did the guard asked “Name and occupation.”
He thought the nobleman's explanation would be more than enough but he said “Tithe Lowe, I just graduated from the alchemy college.”
The guard nodded and opened his notepad and took notes. “Tithe Lowe… Registered alchemist…” He mumbled. Snapping the notebook shut he said “Alright then, have a pleasant visit and respect the castle rules.”
“Thank you, Jeffrey.” The noble said with a wave.
The guard tipped his helmet to him and motioned for the gates to be opened and they were allowed past the first checkpoint. The process remained the same at the second checkpoint, the check of the car was a tad more thorough. They removed each item from the trunk and ran a hand held device that was a small cube containing a blue crystal over them.
They were used to detect mana within an object and the glow would determine how much mana. Each item scanned was compared to a chart that the guards had, but what was on the chart was out of Tithe's view.
The walls here had been in much better condition but they were still not fully fixed, signs of a harsh battle having been fought showed around the gate where the gate itself had been clearly knocked down and recently been rebuilt.
On the other side and approaching the final checkpoint was where everything was far stricter, this time they were moved out of the car so they could be pat down and scanned with the same device.
The advisor seemed to have quite a mana signature given the crystal was bright enough even Tithe could see it from the other side of the car when scanned. Tithe himself however left a faint glow when he was scanned which the guards assured him was the average.
The guards returned once they had come to a conclusion and the one who had scanned him with the orb brought a medallion out of a pouch he wore around the belt holding his armour together.
The coin itself was made of what seemed to be copper but they heated it so the brass formed by the zinc migrated to the surface layer of the copper so it gave the illusion of being gold. In the centre of the coin was a portion of a ruby that had been cut into a diamond shape which pierced through both sides of the coin and atop the face the symbol of the kingdom's knights raising their lances in solidarity to the king where the spears met just above the gem.
“Take this and keep it on your person at all times throughout your trip.” The soldier explained while holding the coin out to him, using another hand to point at the crystal “If you ever feel in danger within the castle grounds use this to call on any guards who are nearby.”
It was obvious someone would ask what in the world would cause someone to feel unsafe within the castle, so the guard continued before he could even ask “We have many folk coming here due to the new king. Some are disgruntled, some are impatient, and others are members of the king's personal family. Assassins may wander the halls, so all students have been given access to these coins just in case something happens.”
“Of course, thank you.” Tithe responded as he took the coin and bowed his head once more. Placing the coin into his pocket he returned to the car.
The castle entrance past the gates stood as a solid reminder of the horrors of the war. What was once a beautiful garden dedicated to several living plants that entertained guests from all over stood as a barren graveyard of wilted leaves and abandoned roots that were all being replaced and replanted by a group of exhausted looking botanists.
The pathway itself had chunks blown out of it that were stained by the residue of fireballs and blizzard spells and the castle doors showed they withstood the initial attack with the resilience that only the best of blacksmiths could offer..
No matter how much scrubbing they did, the smell of bloodshed and death permeated the area. The noble exited the vehicle once they pulled up at the foot of the steps leading upwards to the double doors that once drove back the invaders.
“This way, sir,” he stated.
Tithe exited the vehicle and left the comfort of the leather seats behind, closing the door with the same force as before that caused the Orc in front to shoot him a glare fit only for those who had trampled upon his personal orchard.
Passing the decayed plants left a sour feeling in the pit of his stomach. He had spent many a night debating over an ale with his friends the idea of were the plants truly alive or something that acted out of a desire for mana.
Though such a thing could be said for everyone, he was always on the side that the plants could feel pain given they would shrivel and shiver in the winter months, or even gag at the notion of a sub par potion being fed into their soil.
Such a thought process would naturally turn to the sorrow one would feel for those who lost their lives to the hands of the invaders. They certainly would feel the horrors of pain and death, nothing as superficial as if they could or not.
Entering through the double doors left them in a long and large hallway that looked like it would lead directly to the throne room if followed directly. Several offshoots existed on either side that had many servants rushing through carrying various supplies and meals.
He was led into a side room near the audience chamber and was told “Now please, wait here until your turn to speak with the king.”
The room was full of students for the most part, along with a few doctors from what he could tell by their uniforms, some common folk bearing gifts and an incredibly annoyed looking merchant who stood grumbling to his servant who was carrying all of his belongings.
“Another student!?” The noble merchant asked as he stormed over to the advisor “I have been waiting here for almost an hour now and you keep bringing in students?” He was visibly agitated in front of the crowd. From what Tithe knew, based on the symbol of a tortoise with the world on its back, spilling water into the cosmos he was from the prominent family of merchants, known for supplying the rich with some rare and exotic artefacts but recently they had been branching off into politics.
The advisor seemed unphased by the accusatory remarks and loud gestures, simply asking the man “Do you think you are worth more than the others within this room?”
“Of course I am!,” the man spat in response, visibly recoiling at the idea of being compared to such commoners. “I provide this country with stability and wealth, I provide an advantageous relationship with the rest of the world!”
Again, the advisor seemed unphased. Standing with his hands behind his back wrapped up in his sleeves he nodded and asked “Tell me, how do you make a loaf of bread?”
The question seemed to take the man back as he froze for a moment and asked “What does that have to do with this?”
The advisor smiled at him and brought a hand forward to one of the common folk and asked “Tell me kind sir, do you know how to make a loaf of bread.”
“W..well, yes, sir.” The man awkwardly responded, sitting upright and explaining over the course of a minute how to create a loaf of bread from scratch.
The noble was getting more agitated with such a question, but then the advisor pointed to a red potion hanging off of the bag that his servant carried. “Now tell me, do you know what that is?”
The merchant scoffed at the notion and said “Of course I know my own possessions. That is a healing potion.”
“Of course you do, sir. Now, can you tell me how it is made?”
Once he hesitated the question was turned to Tithe who had just come in with him “Now son, could you tell me how it was made?”
“I can, sir.” Tithe responded nervously, but staring at the bottle he continued “But that isn’t a health potion. It is too low quality so it would classify as a regeneration potion which while the name implies heals a wound slowly over time, isn’t as potent and can’t cure wounds as severe as a real health potion.”
The noble was visibly furious to be upstaged by a student but before he could open his mouth, the advisor continued “You see, sir. There is more to this world than material wealth and talking to other countries. We need those who can bake our bread. We need those who can brew our potions. We need those who can tend to our sick and injured.” Motioning around the room he stepped back and said “Everyone in here is worth far more than you. If I needed somebody to sit at a desk and take bribes, I could ask my toddler to do so.”
Red was not the colour to describe the merchant's face. He looked ready to assault the advisor, but anyone would know that was a bad idea. Again, before he could reply with some form of witty retort he no doubt was preparing the advisor stated “Now sit down, and wait your turn like everybody else.”
The merchant had no response other than fixing his suit and returning to his seat. Publicly humiliated, his gaze turned to everyone around him and anyone he caught staring received what could only be described as a threat through stare alone.
Tithe avoided eye contact and watched his peers one by one get called to the throne room. It seemed each meeting was about ten minutes long but given the amount of those ahead of him he felt that it was appropriate to use the restroom, having been travelling all day without break.
It took directions from a servant to find the bathroom where he took a stall and for the moment simply collected his thoughts as he finished his business. That was when the door to the bathroom opened and he heard a familiar voice.
The merchant from outside walked in with his servant and said “What absolute imbeciles, thinking they could make a fool of me,” quietly as the door closed behind them.
“Quite unruly, sir,” the servant, tithe assumed responded.
Creeping up to the door he peeked out through the small gap between the door and the lock to see the servant had placed his large back upon the sink. “They will regret messing with me.” The merchant scowled.
Watching intently, Tithe noticed as he removed an ornamental dagger out from within a secret compartment hidden in the lining of the bag. The rest of the interaction may have been silent but the dagger was handed to the servant who swiftly hid it up his sleeve and placed the bag back on his back.
He was unsure what they planned to do with a hidden weapon, it would have been stupid to attack the king in such a public place but the thought wandered that perhaps the kind old advisor who had taken him here was the target.
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out the coin and stared at it for a moment before he decided to press upon the crystal which caused it to glow a light red and start to beep. In a quick panic he moved his other hand back and flushed the toilet, stuffing the coin back into his pocket in hopes the guards would be here soon.
He knew it would be suspicious if he stayed in the stall so he opened it up and stepped out, feigning shock seeing the two and saying “Oh, hello sir.” Awkwardly, attempting to get to the sink to wash his hands.
The middle aged merchant stared at him with fire in his eyes that could rival the flames of psychopomps and stated “You little rat, what are you doing in here?!” He demanded, as if it was unusual for someone to use the restroom.
“Um… Using the toilet?” He asked, attempting to turn on the tap before his arm was grabbed by the servant.
“Don’t play coy.” He said harshly “I heard that beep from within the stall. You called on the guards.”
The merchant stepped in close enough to almost press his nose against Tithes and said “I could ruin both you and your family you little shit.” Aggressively shoving him against the wall once the servant released his grip “You are going to tell the guards when they arrive that this was an accidental use of the coin. If you do not then I will ensure that both you and your family rot in a ditch before the morning sun rises.”
He hardly had any time to think of what to do but the threat was a very serious one from a man with such leverage in the political world. “Do you understand?,” he asked, using his arm against Tithe’s throat to keep him pinned to the wall.
Hearing the guards approach, Tithe only had once choice which was to nod his head and clasp at his throat for air once the man stepped away. “I am glad we came to an understanding,” he stated as he used one hand to fix his hair and the other stuffed into his pocket.
The guards were approaching rapidly once the door was opened and they stepped outside, surrounding the three as one asked “Had something happened?”
Tithe was unsure how to react as he could feel the glare of the merchant on his back and the weight of his threat hanging heavy on his shoulders like a backpack that carried far too many implications.
He thought briefly of how his family would cope if such a thing were to happen, would they be able to fend for themselves… Would they even know danger was coming?
Of course they would, they could handle themselves as well as any. Steeling himself and his resolve he turned and pointed directly at the servant “He has a blade hidden up his left sleeve. I saw them remove it from a hidden compartment within the backpack.”
“Is this true?” The guard yelled as the four of them all drew their swords and surrounded the group. They hardly had any time to react as the servant was then shoved up against the wall and his body searched by two of the guards.
Tithe could feel the animosity from the merchant, a silent swear that he and his family would rue this day. That was until one of the guards said “The kids right, he has a dagger on him”
“I’m not a kid…” Tithe quietly mumbled with a hint of embarrassment before the weight of the situation hit him in the gut once more.
“Take them to the dungeons.” The first guard commanded and once the merchant and his servant were dragged off screaming some sort of “Do you not know who I am!?” in several different ways
The last guard left turned to face Tithe and ask “are you alright?”
“I am fine.” Tithe assured, stepping away from the bathroom door to let some onlookers who were clearly waiting to enter pass.
“Well you potentially saved someone's life today, boy. Take pride in that.” The guard said, bumping the back of his fist against Tithe’s chest “The kingdom needs more like you.”
“I’m not a child…” He repeated awkwardly, but the guard was already gone and he was free to return to the waiting room where the wait continued.
Finally it came to his turn where the same advisor that came for him entered the room and said “Ah, Tithe. This way if you would.”
With that they were into the walk towards the audience chamber. “Now, the previous student is still within the chamber but I would like to ask you a few questions before we enter,” he explained as they began up the long set of steps that led to the entrance.
“Of course, ask away,” Tithe responded. After everything that had happened so far today he was unsure what was going to happen here.
“Well, firstly could you tell me a bit about your family?,” he asked.
A common question he assumed which was easy to answer “Well my family are hunters. None of them cared much for alchemy and they live off the land in our home town.”
“I see, I see,” he responded at first, taking out a small pad he had taken some notes of his answer in “Then, tell me of your ambitions.”
“Well…” He paused again before he placed them into words “I wish to simply travel the world and help cure the blights and famines that are hurting smaller towns and villages since the war began.”
Again, notes taken and the man nodded “A very noble ambition,” he said in a coy fashion. “When did you start studying?”
“About six years ago. Started in the spring when I got to the dorms. Had to argue my dad into the ground that Alchemy was worth studying instead of hunting,” Tithe explained, chuckling fondly at the memory despite it sounding more on the harsh side.
Standing outside the chamber's massive doors they turned to face each other. “Final question.”
Tithe was quick to take note of the change in the nobles demeanour, his shoulders tensing as he held his hands behind his back. “Say you are visiting a small town with your wife and daughter. Suddenly the townsfolk take both of your family members hostage and you only have time to save one of them. Who do you choose?”
It was like mental whiplash, such simple questions into a hypothetical over who he loved most. Tithe could hardly even begin to fathom the idea of such a situation. “What would I do in that situation?,” he thought, again and again. Any form of possibility slipping through his mind at a speed he could barely grasp.
Finally, he stared down at the old man and simply said “I am sorry to say that I frankly… Don’t know. Family is important. While I would love to have some heroic answer to how I would save the day, at best I think I would die trying to save both. It’s hard to think what I would actually do in the panic of the situation until it arises.”
“I see. Wait here” The man responded one more time before he pushed open one of the large doors with surprising ease and stepped inside, closing it behind him.
The silence became quite disturbing as he was left to wait for what he could assume was about ten minutes. Soon thereafter the door opened again and one of his classmates left the room. Though they only shared a brief wave before Tithe was called inside.
Bracing himself he walked forward through the door and into the throne room. For how regal the rest of the castle was, it was oddly bare in there. A large stone room with the throne situated at the far end at the top of a short flight of stairs so the king could have those speaking looking up to him as they bowed.
The windows in the room that led to the gardens were of the same stained glass nature of those outside with shards of them missing and currently in the process of being replaced but it seemed those working on that had been sent home, or elsewhere for now.
The throne itself had the back shattered and along the outer edges part of an ancient scripture that was dedicated to the worship of the All-Mother and a smaller throne on either side for the queen and resident prince.
The king however took up the centre throne and more, a large muscular man who brandished a set of fur armour and a large axe that may have been the size of Tithe sat against the back wall. The king himself was so large the throne could only hold a portion of him. When he was told the man was giant… Well he didn’t think to take it literally as he must have been nearly ten feet tall. “So you are Tithe, correct?” He asked in a deep and commanding voice. What Tithe expected of the human who simply stormed the capital and declared himself king.
“I am, sire.” He responded, getting onto one knee when he reached the end of the carpet at the bottom of the staircase. It was still hard to believe the previous king was such a meek and plump man compared to what one could only call a mountain that sat above him.
With his focus finally shifting from the king, the advisor stood to his left with a few others that he could only assume were in a similar position. On the right though, was the merchant from outside that had threatened his life.
Tithe’s heart sank. Suddenly everything rushed back to his head and he thought “Have I upset a family member of the king?”
His face turning pale was duly noted by the king who laughed heartily and slapped the arm of the broken throne. “No need to worry, boy.” Raising his hand to the merchant who bowed in return and removed the large coat he was wearing and a wig which seemed to be used to hide his identity.
“Did you like my acting?” The secondary advisor asked with a wide grin, showing that under those fancy robes he wore the same uniform as everyone standing on the left, revealing him as another one of the king's men.
“I… I don’t understand.” Tithe finally managed to squeeze out through his confusion.
The king watched him closely for a few moments, judging his body language before he finally spoke “I am sorry, subterfuge is not something I condone but my advisers insisted on doing this show.”
The once merchant now adviser bowed to Tithe deeply and explained “Allow me to explain. With the new king attaining the throne, personally vetting everyone in the way he sees fit would cause these meetings to take up to hours each. With how many people wish to, and need to see the king we needed a bit of a smarter solution.”
At that, another was willing to step in and allowed the previous to return to the line. The advisor that had collected him explained “so, we had the waiting room developed, along with the coin. In witnessing what you thought would be an attack within the castle and reporting it to the guards you proved that even under threat of violence, you did the right thing.”
Again, Tithe was almost speechless. Almost. “So anyone who didn’t report seeing him in the bathroom was suspicious?”
“Not entirely,” the balding noble began, “there were many actors, so to say, placed around the castle. All with plots of their own. Anyone who saw the plot and was threatened by an actor and did not report the crime would be under suspicion. Then came the questions I asked you on the way here. A man who was being deceitful would need time to create an alibi with the first questions I asked, but would have an answer for the final question prepared. Whereas, you didn’t even give me a solid answer. Something expected from an honest man in a horrid situation.”
Finally, with their explanation aside, they bowed and the King took his spot in the centre of the spotlight by standing from his throne. His figure was as imposing as it was chiselled. He could easily snap Tithe like a twig, which made his oddly calm and seemingly kind demeanour even more unnerving.
“I have been informed by the college of Alchemy that you told them, during your exit interview with the headmaster, that you stated you wish to travel the world fixing the ills of both the land and the people who are less fortunate.” The King said as he walked down the steps until he towered over the kneeled Tithe. Offering a hand to him so he could rise “That is a noble ambition, son. As the new king of these lands, I would like to endorse such a kind hearted journey.”
It was a shock, no, a punch in the gut? A slap in the face? It felt like all forms of whiplash at once. He simply stared at the extended hand for a moment before the King shook it slightly to encourage him.
At that he quickly took the King's hand which dwarfed his, looking almost like a child's hand next to their fathers who worked in the mines. A gritty, scarred and worn hand that had seen many battles holding the soft and tiny hand of a scholar who had not once seen a true battlefield in his life outside of news publications. The king gently took his hand and lifted Tithe so he could stand, still almost half the King's height so he was forced to look upwards at him.
“It.. Is an hour, sir, that you would consider me for such a boon.” He responded, not wanting to spit into the hand that would feed him after all… Or crush his head like a grape.
“I can sense the hesitation, son.” He assured Tithe before he walked back up the staircase to take his seat once more. “It is not purely for the benefit of a kind soul. When it comes to cleaning up after a war, there are many places the reach of the kingdom simply misses. We do not have the money to afford to send aid to everyone.”
He looked about at his advisers who all quickly nodded when it came to the notion of budgeting. “But… We do have enough to sponsor those who are willing to heal the world.” His attention turned back to Tithe. “In providing you with what we can, and you living your dream in the name of the kingdom, it will spread a positive outlook to the kingdom as well. So we both benefit.”
It made sense, the war was still raging on in other parts of the seven kingdoms until total control was going to be his. Tithe still struggled to articulate himself, but he bowed his head again. “I humbly accept your offer, sire.”