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The Heirloom

> “Take it back. It’s yours. They are meant to be yours.”

The curtains diffused the morning light, creating a warm ambiance in the cosy living room of the Welton household. The house was quieter than usual—no bustling activity from the apothecary or the usual scent of herbal potions drifting from the brewing room. The brewing room was locked tight. Their mother hadn’t returned yet, not since she left with Catherine and their father early that morning. The usual hum of the apothecary was absent, leaving only the two of the siblings in the house for the moment.

Torrie, full of restless energy, had set up camp in the living room, her school textbooks spread across the coffee table. The diagrams of elemental states and transmutation arrays lay open before her, an ambitious look in her eyes. Though distracted, Eddie agreed to help her practice while lounging on the couch.

Gripping her wand tight, Torrie focused on the textbook, her brow furrowed in thought. Eddie, however, couldn’t quite focus on her. He glanced out the window, glimpsing the harbour in the distance, then looked back at his younger sister, his gaze softening despite himself.

“Okay,” Torrie said, brushing her brunette hair out of her face. “So I set up the transmutation circle, and then I just focus on turning the copper into vapor, right?”

Eddie nodded. “Right, but you have to maintain stability. If you lose control for a second, the copper will either explode into shards or escape as gas, and we’ll both get yelled at for making the living room smell like burnt metal.”

Torrie wrinkled her nose. “Noted. No instability.”

She gripped her school-issued wand, but Eddie reached out, stopping her. “Hold on.”

“What?”

“I suggest you use the ring instead, remember? The one i gave you a few years back?” He gestured to her necklace, where a silver ring with intricate jade inlays hung from a delicate chain.

With a blink, Torrie’s hand flew to the ring hanging from her necklace. “Your ring?”

“Yeah,” Eddie said, leaning forward. “Trust me, that wand they gave you at Aella is garbage for anything precise. They’ve been using the same model even back when i was still there. That ring”—he pointed at the ring—“Is far stronger. You’ll have better control.”

Torrie hesitated, her fingers brushing the cool metal of the ring. “But—”

“No buts,” Eddie interrupted, his expression neutral, though his tone softened. “I gave it to you for a reason. It’s yours now. Besides, it’s not doing you any good hanging around your neck, is it?”

Torrie studied him for a moment, then slipped the ring off the chain and onto her finger. It felt heavier than her wand, its surface smooth and comforting against her skin. “Okay,” she said, giving him a small smile. “If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure,” Eddie said, leaning back and gesturing to the array she had drawn. “Now, let’s start.”

As she focused on the transmutation circle, the ring glowed faintly in Torrie’s adjusting grip. She muttered the incantation under her breath, her free hand hovering over the copper sample in the centre of the array. The surrounding air grew warmer, a faint hum filling the room.

The copper block gleamed under the glass container, its edges sharp and flawless. Torrie’s jade ring, on her finger, cast a green glow on the transmutation circle, its runes pulsing with her magic.

Eddie leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, watching every detail. Torrie’s face was a mask of deep concentration, her brows furrowed, and her breathing steady as she guided the spell. Slowly, the edges of the copper began to lose their definition, softening as it started to disintegrate into a delicate vapor.

“Steady,” Eddie warned, leaning forward, his sharp eyes watching every movement.

The copper began to shift, its solid surface shimmering as it broke apart. Silver vapor rose, curling in the air.

Torrie was focused, her brow furrowed, lips pressed into a thin line. The copper began to lose its sharp edges, softening as it transitioned into a shimmering gas. The mist rose, spiralling upward and collecting inside the glass container above.

Eddie could feel the tension in the room like a storm cloud ready to burst. The process was delicate. Too fast, and the transformation would destabilise; too slow, and the reaction would fail. Torrie’s grip on the jade ring tightened, her magic flowing, but Eddie knew her too well.

He saw it before it happened: the slight twitch in her fingers, the way her shoulders tensed.

Impatience.

The first pop echoed like a firecracker. A small section of the copper disintegrated too fast, releasing a sharp burst of gas. Eddie tensed but said nothing. He knew better than to break her concentration outright. Unconsciously, he moved his hand towards her wand, which lay beside him on the table, his fingers brushing against the wood.

Another pop. This one louder. The green glow of the transmutation circle flickered as Torrie’s focus wavered.

Eddie tensed, but he said nothing. Giving her a warning now risks breaking her concentration. Instead, his hand gripped the wand tight, fingers brushing against the familiar school-issued wand lying on the table.

Just in case.

The green glow of the ring began to waver, the runes on the transmutation circle flickering. Torrie’s breathing hitched, and Eddie saw the strain in her shoulders.

“Torrie,” Eddie said quietly, his voice low and steady. “Slow down. Just breathe.”

Her jaw tightened, her lips pressing into a thin line. Eddie recognised the signs—she was trying, but his words had only added to the mounting pressure.

The process grew more chaotic. The copper’s edges popped and cracked, the disintegration now uneven and unpredictable.

“Torrie—” Eddie started, but it was too late.

The copper block exploded with a sharp crack, its fragments, and a cloud of shimmering, toxic metal gas swirling inside the glass container. The glow of the transmutation circle sputtered out, and Torrie stumbled back, her concentration shattered.

Stolen novel; please report.

Eddie didn’t hesitate. His hand darted for the wand, and in one fluid motion, he had it gripped. His body moved on instinct, years of suppressed training kicking in.

The gas swirled, threatening to spread into the room. Eddie’s mind focused like a razor’s edge, his free hand tracing a smaller transmutation circle in the air. He directed the spell through the wand, his magic surging forward with an intensity he hadn’t felt in years.

The swirling vapor responded to his command, the green glow of Torrie’s ring now mingling with a faint blue light emanating from the wand. The gas coalesced, drawn upward and forced into the glass container. Eddie’s focus didn’t waver, even as sweat beaded on his brow.

“Almost… there…” he muttered through gritted teeth.

With a sharp flick of his wrist, the bottom of the container glowed red-hot, the glass softening and sealing shut. The toxic gas was now trapped, swirling inside the newly-formed ampoule.

Eddie exhaled, his hand trembling as he set the wand down.

Torrie collapsed onto the couch, her face pale, and her breathing ragged. Eddie slumped into the armchair across from her, his chest heaving. The room was heavy with the acrid scent of metal and the tension of what had just happened.

“That…” Torrie gasped, clutching the ring on her finger. “That was insane.”

Eddie gave a weak laugh, rubbing his face with both hands. “You’re telling me.” He leaned his head back, staring at the ceiling. “We’re not doing that again in the living room. Ever.”

“But we did it!” Torrie said, beaming.

Eddie laughed as he panted for breath. “Not bad though, for someone who almost turned the house into a chemical hazard.”

Torrie laughed, carefully sealing the flask. “Admit it—you were impressed.”

“Sure,” Eddie said, leaning back with a faint smile. “Just don’t tell Mom and Dad we were doing a transmutation in the living room, or we’ll both be in trouble.”

-o-

The living room was a mess. Fine copper dust glittered on the floor like tiny flecks of gold, and the air was thick with the acrid stench of burnt metal. Eddie had already flung the wide window open, letting the cold evening air rush in. He grabbed the old fan from the corner and turned it on, the blades creaking as they started to spin.

Torrie was on her knees, sweeping up the scattered remnants of their experiment with a dustpan and broom. She wrinkled her nose, her face scrunching up in exaggerated disgust.

“It smells like we roasted a bunch of coins in here,” she said, glaring at Eddie as if it were somehow his fault.

“You’re the one who rushed it,” Eddie shot back, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips as he tossed a damp cloth at her.

Torrie caught it mid-air and stuck out her tongue. “You’re the one who jinxed me! All that hovering and ‘steady your magic’ stuff—what was I supposed to do? Meditate?”

“You were supposed to focus,” Eddie retorted, folding his arms as he leaned against the wall. “Not blow up half the living room.”

Torrie grinned as she resumed sweeping. “You’re just mad because you had to play hero with my wand. Admit it—you miss this stuff. Alchemy. Magic. The chaos.”

Eddie chuckled under his breath but didn’t answer. Instead, he grabbed another cloth and started wiping down the table. The silence between them lingered for a moment, broken only by the soft hum of the fan and the rustling of Torrie’s broom.

Then Torrie spoke, her tone more curious than teasing. “Hey, Eddie…”

“Hmm?”

“Why’d you give me the ring?”

Eddie froze mid-swipe. The question hung in the air like a weight, heavier than the smell of burnt copper. He set the cloth down, avoiding Torrie’s gaze.

“You never told me,” she continued, her voice quieter now. “I mean, it’s your family’s heirloom, right? From your real family.”

Eddie exhaled, his hand tightening around the edge of the table. “Yeah, it is.”

Torrie stopped sweeping, leaning on the broom as she watched him. “So why me? I’m not exactly… careful with stuff like that.”

Eddie continued wiping down the table, the copper dust clinging to the cloth. Torrie was perched on the armrest of the couch, still fiddling with the jade-silver ring. She twirled it around her finger, her gaze thoughtful.

Eddie glanced at the silver-jade ring on Torrie’s finger as she turned it, the green stone catching the light.

“You’ll use them more than I will,” he said, his tone casual, though there was an edge of finality to it.

“So… you gave it to me because I’d use it more than you do?” she asked, breaking the silence.

Eddie nodded, not looking up. “Yeah. You’re in Aella Academy now, just starting out. You’ll need all the help you can get.”

Torrie tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. “But why don’t you need it?”

The question was so simple, so direct, that it caught Eddie off guard. His hand froze mid-swipe, and for a moment, he just stared at the damp cloth in his hand, as though it held the answer.

Torrie leaned forward, her tone still curious but now laced with something deeper. “What do you mean, Eddie? Why don’t you use it anymore?”

Eddie set the cloth down and straightened, his shoulders tense. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, the words sticking in his throat.

“I just… don’t, alright?” he finally said, his voice quieter than usual.

Torrie frowned, unsatisfied. “That’s not an answer.”

Eddie ran a hand through his silver hair, the gesture betraying his frustration. “It’s complicated, Torrie.”

“Then uncomplicate it,” she shot back, her tone sharper now. “You were amazing at Alchemy. Everyone at Aella Academy said so. You had that scholarship and everything! So why—” She stopped herself, hesitating. Then, softer, “Why don’t you want to do Alchemy anymore?”

The room felt smaller, the air heavier, even with the window open and the fan whirring. Eddie leaned back against the table, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Torrie… I don’t think you’d understand,” he said finally, his voice low.

Torrie stood, her expression a mix of defiance and hurt. “Try me.”

Eddie hesitated, his eyes darting to the floor as if the answer might be written there.

After a moment, he managed a half-hearted smile. “It’s because I’m focusing on potion-making now. You know, that doesn’t really use magic much.”

Torrie raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “Really? Potion-making doesn’t use magic much?”

Eddie chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, it’s true. You don’t need fancy spells for chopping herbs or boiling cauldrons, you know?”

Torrie crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. “Eddie, you’re terrible at lying. You know that, right?”

Before she could press further, the front door creaked open.

“Eddie?” Markus called from the doorway.

He stepped inside, holding the edge of the doorframe with one hand and looking flustered. “Do you have the key to the shop? It’s opening time, and I can’t find it anywhere.”

Relieved, Eddie slumped his shoulders, then straightened, taking the opportunity. “Oh, uh, yeah, I think I’ve got it.” He patted his pockets with exaggerated enthusiasm, already making his way toward the door. “Let me check.”

Torrie watched him go, her eyes narrowing. “Eddie…” she started, but he cut her off.

“I’ll be right back!” he said over his shoulder, his tone too bright, too eager. “Markus and I need to get the storefront sorted.”

Eddie was just about to step out the door, a mix of relief and escape flooding through him, when Torrie’s voice cut through the air.

“Eddie!”

He froze, his hand on the doorframe, the cool wood under his fingertips feeling heavier than before. He turned back to see her standing in the doorway, holding something in her hand.

Torrie’s fingers were wrapped around the chains, and Eddie’s heirloom ring—engraved with symbols of his family—rested on top. She was offering it back to him, the delicate metal glinting in the light.

“Here,” Torrie said, her voice small but firm. “Take it back. It’s yours. They are meant to be yours.”

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Torrie’s eyes were steady, piercing his green eyes, as though trying to read something he wasn’t saying. Eddie felt a strange knot tighten in his chest. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words stuck in his throat.

Then, with a deep breath, he smiled—a soft, forced thing that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“No,” Eddie said quietly, his voice almost lost in the air between them. “Keep it. It’s better suited for you than me.”

Torrie’s brows furrowed, a flash of confusion in her expression. She didn’t argue, as if accepting the weight of his decision. Slowly, she closed her fingers around the ring once more, her grip firm and determined.

Eddie gave her one last glance, a final, fleeting look that held everything they both left unsaid, then turned away, slipping out the door and into the early morning light.

He walked, his steps quick and purposeful, as if the moment with Torrie had never happened. As he passed the familiar sights of Weshaven, his thoughts shifted back to his routine—The Apothecary, his work, the things that didn’t ask him to explain anything.

The weight of the ring was no longer in his pocket, but he could still feel it, a reminder he had left behind.

And just like that, he lost himself in the rhythm of his day.