Finn grinned and pointed towards me. “Would you believe I’m here to buy some stuff?”

I closed one of my eyes and feigned a yawn. Stalling for amusement was one of his hobbies, and ignoring him was the most effective way to force some answers from his mouth.

“I’m serious! Take this, for example.” He looked around and grabbed a metal box the length of his arm from the wall. “Whatever it is, it’ll allow me to get this junk off your shop!”

“Are you sure? I could imagine how a police officer would use a metal shield, but using its other function as a portable toilet isn’t very police-like, is it?”

“A portable toilet?” He looked at the box in his hands and found a switch below it. With a click, the sides of the metal box detached from their sockets, while its flat surface caved inside and turned into a rim, transforming the box into a four-legged metal toilet.

“You made this thing?” His eyes twitched as he stared at the toilet.

“Some campers might buy it, we never know.”

Finn sighed and lowered his back to scrutinise the metal toilet. “That head of yours would be really useful for catching criminals, don’t you think?”

“A shame, but I’m not interested, sadly.” I shook my head. “You haven’t answered my question. Why are you here, Finn? If it’s about the government schtick, my opinion hasn’t changed since last week.”

“I see. But worry not! I have an interesting proposition for you today!”

Coughing, he straightened his back and tried to put on a serious face. Too bad it only made him look like a teenager imitating an adult. He closed his eyes and pulled out an envelope from his pocket.

“Lylie Grottel. As the owner of Grottel’s Workshop, would you be willing to assist us in preparing for Reformation Day?” He presented the envelope between two palms, like a subject to their king.

In response, I replied in a deadpan tone. “I refuse.”

“Wait! Hear me out for a second here!” He ran and slammed the desk, forcing its wooden body to produce a terrible noise.

His brown eyes shone, and his voice rose in intensity.

“If you accept this, we will help you spread your brand all over the city! Think about it for a second, Lylie! People walking around the streets, eating snacks from their bowls, and noticing your logo imprinted everywhere they look!”

He turned his back towards me and spread his arms far and wide. “Not only will the government favour you, everyone will know that it was none other than the talented alchemist, Lylie Grottel, who helped assemble the birthday of their beloved nation!”

Finn clutched at his chest, while his right arm flailed through the air.

“Imagine! People flocking to your store to purchase these useless—I mean, wonderful works of art! Each and every passing day will see numerous new customers lining up outside your windows as they make their way down the street. Within a week, you’ll earn more than two million firas! Within a month, your reputation will spread to other cities, goading sponsors and alchemists alike to beg for a meeting with the famed alchemist! Fame, wealth, and a lot more! Everything will come to you if you accept this offer! Doesn’t fame sound great? Doesn’t wealth sound wonderful?”

He turned towards me and stretched his right hand with strange exuberance. “So, what do you think, owner of Grottel’s Workshop? This is the honour of a lifetime, a chance never before seen, and the key to success! Are you willing to accept the privilege of arranging the Reformation Day?”

Faced with his passionate gaze, the corner of my eye twitched. Slowly, I stretched my right palm forward, causing his passionate gaze to brighten, before freezing in disbelief as I swatted his sweaty palm away.

“I refuse.”

“Why?” He lashed at the table, slamming it with both his arms. It gave out under the unreasonable treatment and cracked through the middle. His face went red as I stared at him, unimpressed by his antics.

Maybe it was due to shame or indignance, but he inhaled deeply and put his palms on the table, gently this time.

He asked again. “Why?”

“You’ve known me for years now. I’m sure you’re aware of the reason why.” I crossed my arms. “The only benefits this would bring me are fame, cash, cash, and even more cash. Never mind the first one, the last three are something both of us are overflowing with.”

“Don’t be so materialistic now. Think about the government’s favour. Adding your name as one of the contributors to Kronasia’s Reformation Day will give you a free pass to anything you wish to do in the future. I don’t know about you, but it sounds enticing enough for someone like me.”

“Not interested. If anything, the only thing I might do in the future is inherit parts of my family’s company.”

He let out a weak chuckle, understanding what I meant immediately. Both of us are descendants of wealthy families. A word to our families and worldly possessions, such as wealth and fame, would come flooding in. It’s not as good as having the government’s green light, but it’s still a worthy comparison.

“I guess you’re right.” He smiled and stood straight, as if his previous distress was merely an act. “What about this, instead?” He held his hand out, showcasing the picture pinched between his fingers. My eyebrows drew together as I tried to understand what was in the photograph.

“What in the world is this?”

The picture contained what could have passed as a monstrosity. It was human flesh, undoubtedly, yet it resembled anything but a person.

It was a giant blob of organs and other matter, with multiple pupils, and limbs protruding from every corner of its shape. Blood poured from its orifices, pooling underneath the unholy thing.

“Just what…?” I said.

I’ve seen my fair share of monsters, but none were as unearthly as this thing. Finn smirked when he saw my reaction.

“Hear me out. This is one of the matters we’ve been dealing with. I’ll tell you everything if you’re willing to join us.” He shook the picture in his fingers, all the while wearing an annoying smirk.

Stolen story; please report.

I must admit, I was interested in knowing more about this monstrosity. This must have been the plan since the beginning, given his demeanour since earlier.

“I would have to refuse once again,” I said regretfully, but not yet convinced.

I raised my eyebrows as his smirk deepened. “Because of your experiments?” he said.

“They’re part of it. Along with my inability to stand boredom.”

“What?” He brought the photograph closer to my face, fiercely tapping the blob of flesh. “Are you seeing the same thing I’m seeing? We handle creatures like this often; what part of it looks boring to you?”

I shrugged. “It’s not like I’m interested in subduing creatures like that.”

He rolled his eyes and spoke mockingly. “Sure, sure. You definitely aren’t excited to know more about these guys. Then, let me give you an offer you wouldn’t possibly reject!”

In a second, he stored the envelope and the picture back in his pockets. He grinned and scanned our surroundings, as if searching for anyone eavesdropping on our conversation. After making sure only the two of us were there, he came beside me and whispered.

“You see, there’s a rumour going around the city that an Archmage is going to oversee the preparation for the event.”

I sharpened my ears in the middle of his sentence. An Archmage? Was he serious?

He must have noticed my astonishment as he pulled away and began his pitch.

“Rumours have it that the Archmage is someone from the Kronasian government. So, you know.” He licked his lips and whispered again. “We could make some space for the two of you to have a nice, long discussion about anything you want to discuss.”

I couldn’t help but flinch as his breath brushed my ear. A chance to talk with one of the strongest individuals on the planet? Only a moron would refuse this opportunity.

I bit my lower lip and let out a grunt.

This was a chance to solve the ruptures once and for all. After all, Archmages are known to possess otherworldly knowledge and intelligence. I’m required to be part of the government, though.

It’s either my independence or an opportunity to say goodbye to the ruptures. What a dilemma.

“You’re having problems, I see,” Finn nodded. “Then what about this? You don’t need to join us. All you need to do is help assemble the Reformation Day, got it?”

His words sealed the deal.

“I don’t need publicity, just give me at least thirty minutes with the Archmage,” I said.

“Deal!”

We shook hands. If Archmages were really as all-knowing as people say, perhaps they could enlighten me on resolving the ruptures.

“For a bonus, I’ll also tell you more about the picture when all is concluded. I’ll come to pick you up in two days. In the meantime, prepare some ideas you could present to the others. Preferably blueprints, as usual.”

“Got it,” he smirked.

He had almost made it to the door when he stopped in front of the bead curtain.

“Before I go,” he looked back and smiled, “how have you been?”

We stared at each other for a moment.

“Why would you ask? I’m doing just fine.”

“…Good, then.” He finally left the store and disappeared through the right side of the window, leaving the store silent except for the faint honks of vehicles.

I waited for a minute or two before slumping into the chair, gasping for breath, and pressing my hand to my palpitating chest.

What in the world just occurred?

The conversation between Finn and me replayed in my head, reminding me of the faint sense of dread which grew throughout the conversation.

Reformation Day is an event held annually on January 8th. It celebrates the downfall of the monarchy and, in turn, the birth of the Republic of Kronasia. If I recall correctly, this year would be their ninetieth anniversary.

And that was the problem. It was a tremendous event, huge to the point where not just anyone would be invited to contribute. And yet, he had practically begged for my help, even though the event would be held in just a week.

Just what forced the government to go to such lengths? Why not just ask their own alchemists? Kronasia is not a small country. There’s no way for them to not have hundreds, if not thousands, of alchemists working for them. So, out of everybody, why choose me?

Something tugged at the back of my mind as my breathing hastened.

Sure, I’ve somewhat made a name for myself in the two years I’ve stayed in their capital. But only to the extent of being an Adept while also being an excellent alchemist. Surely, other alchemists would be more than willing to comply with their requests. So, for what reason did Finn come here? And with merely a week’s notice?

Had they figured out that I had broken through and become a Magus? Was this a trap set up to coerce me into joining their ranks?

No, Magi are a crucial part of a country’s strength, both politically and literally. No country would be greedy enough to forcefully integrate a Magus into their own military. It would violate the terms of the United Nations’ Grand Pact. If they were caught doing so, then Kronasia should abandon the notion of trading with other nations.

The tug became stronger. What was it? What had I missed? Was it the fact that Finn didn’t seem as cheerful as usual? Wait, what if this wasn’t the government’s idea, but Finn’s? That would explain the brief gap between today and the reformation day. Also, what was that smile before he left? It was a smile he only wore when he was hiding something.

If that was the case, then what was Finn’s purpose in inviting me? Was someone forcing him to do so? Damn it, I didn’t have enough information to come up with anything!

Then I noticed something.

I was hyperventilating.

In a grunt of anger, I bit my tongue and forced myself to calm down. That was Finn, for God’s sake! It was none other than Finn himself! Even if he was hiding something, there was no way he would put me in harm’s way. If anything, he must have done it for my own sake.

Deep breaths in, deep breaths out.

With every deep breath, my heartbeat lowered steadily. It took me minutes before the alarm bells in my head disappeared and for the dull chest pain subsided.

A tired sigh resounded through the store.

If I couldn’t figure it out now, I would just have to figure it out later. There were still two days before Finn would come to pick me up. It was a shame, but for the time being, let’s take another shower and sleep.

***

Amidst the snow, a blond youth walked down the sidewalk with his hands in his pockets. He had a pile of snow on his head and shoulders, but he wasn’t using an umbrella. Occasionally, people came up and greeted him, at which he smiled and waved back.

After a few streets, he walked into a hotel and spoke with the receptionist.

“What can I do for you today, sir?”

“A single room, please,” he said.

“Would you like the regular type or the deluxe type?” the receptionist asked.

“I’ll take the deluxe one.”

“For how long would you like to stay?”

He pondered for a while before answering, “Two nights. Three days and two nights.”

Finn paid for the room and took the elevator to the second floor. He eventually found his room and had some difficulty with the key before finally entering.

After getting undressed, Finn entered the bathroom and exclaimed, “Hot water…hot water…there!”

He let the hot water flow until it filled half of the tub, then let the freezing water flow until it was almost full. Satisfied with the warmth, he submerged himself with a groan. While he relished in the comfort, he slowly drew something on the wall with a marker.

It wasn’t a drawing circle, but he was drawing something, nonetheless. The result was something that resembled a piece of paper, with the letters “Lylie Grottel” written on top.

Suddenly, the ink wriggled slightly. Under Finn’s scrutiny, the ink transformed into something until it finally turned into a physical object. He peeled it from the wall and flipped through it.

The document contained everything they knew about Lylie Grottel, including his birthplace, family, history, workshop, and everything they could scrape from the person known as Lylie Grottel.

Finn read the document from top to bottom, and soon enough, a sigh rang out in the bathroom. “Don’t make me regret this, Lylie,” he said. He watched as the paper turned to nothing and ruffled his hair.