Chapter 1
*This story is filled with many spelling mistakes and sentence structure issues. And is only just the draft of this story, this book will be going through many updates as it is written but I want to share the story with you as I write it. Please note that the chapters will and may be changed as the story goes through its course hope you guys can still like the work anyway and I hope to have many chapters to offer.*
Do you, you know how hard it is to— W- Whoa!!”
Crash!!
“Oh, my! Kai! Are you okay?”
I quickly stepped down from my stool and rushed over to Kai putting my hand on his shoulder helping him sit up. My red hair falling to the side as I leaned over.
Kai looked at me his cell of her eyes watering as he set up. One of his eyes closed as if to ease the pain.
“Y-Yea… I think.” He said as he winced rubbing his lower back.
I watched as Kai struggled to make his way back to his seat. His messy black hair falling over his eyes as he stared at the ground.
Hmm…. I wonder were everyone is.
I looked around the library. The large row of books circling around us, only two large windows across from each other dividing the rows. A small grand staircase a few feet leading to the second floor. I desk sitting neatly on a small ramp by the entrance. Thea’s check book and quill lying neatly on the centre of the desk.
“I am never doing that a gain” Kai said sitting down.
“Don’t you find it strange that nobody’s come to the library today? Not even Thea is here and she’s usually always here.” I said moving towards the table.
Kai said nothing as he stretched, glancing around the empty library the silence echoing.
“I guess… But I mean it’s Thea she kind of gets here when she gets here,” Kai said glancing back at the book. “When has Thea ever have the correct schedule? She opens the library at noon yet is never in at noon.”
I guess he has a point but it’s still weird, Thea is never this late even to Thea standards.
“Come one Alice you know we need to get this project finished anyway so who cares if the library is empty, we came here because it would be empty. If everyone came to the library now, we would never get our project done.” Kai said.
He’s got a point, it’s already difficult as it is to figure out potions when there are so many idiots running around interfering with my concentration.
“If you can figure out this potion, I promise I’ll take you to the bakery that just opened the other day.” Kai said nudging the book towards me.
Damn… He knows my weaknesses.
“Fine.” I said plopping down on the wooden chair scooting it closer to the table.
Kai grinned at me then opened is book and began reading.
I slipped a few strands of hair behind my ears moving away from my face as I glanced at the book I had open.
Hmm… according to this book to make a potion of healing…. You would need…. Sage, Mint and…Wait what is this?
I’ve heard there are many rare plants outside of the city but I’ve never heard of this one.
How are you even supposed to make a really good Healing potion?
“You know I haven’t been able to figure out what I’m looking for.” Kai said as he pushed the book and dropped his head on the table with a small thud.
I turned my attention to him, his eyes staring at the mahogany table as he pouted annoyed. I chuckled a bit as I glanced at the book that was partially covered by his hair.
“Have you ever heard of this before?” Asked sliding my book over to him.
Kai lifted his head then looked at me still pouting before reluctantly grabbing the book and glancing down at the paper.
“Honey kissed Herb? Grows in blessed grounds…? Never heard of it, I’ve never heard of anything going on blessed soil… I don’t even think we actually have blessed grounds to begin with.” He said perplexed as he picked up the book and studied the image of the herb.
“Do you think it even grows here? I’ve never heard Thea talk about it before.” I said.
“Apparently, it’s some sort of healing potion… You brew it in the cauldrons,” Kai said as he flipped the page then flipped it back after scanning the backside. “I’ve never heard of it even my father who was a renowned healer has never mentioned this before.
I bit my lip as I stared at the strange -looking flower, even on parchment the flowers seemed to shimmer in colours almost like it wasn’t drawn on paper.
It’s such a pretty flower and the detail is insane; I know magic can be intriguing but I didn’t think they could make artwork look like it’s real.
“Do you think I should give it a try? I mean Thea said to make a healing potion she didn’t say how the healing potion would function.” I said taking my book back.
Kai looked at me hesitantly then back at the flower. I could see his eye narrowing as if he was looking at something vicious on the page.
“I guess there’s no harm in trying, the point of learning potions is to experiment so… And Thea once said the best way to advance in potion making is to try everything.” Kai said sighing.
“Hmm.”
I stared at the potion, the pretty flower sparkling on the page almost like it was ready to pop out of it.
“But how am I going to make a potion for strength I can’t find it in any of the books.” Kai said grunting. “It would be a lot easier if she asked me something simpler like… How to make a potion for flight or something.”
“Is there even a potion for that?” I asked.
“Not that I can remember,” Kai said in a mumble as his face was pressed into the desk again “I swear Thea is trying to get me expelled.” Kai said turning his head to face me.
His cheek’s mushed on the desk his eyes half closed as he looked at me. His silver eye gleaming off the candlelight.
A potion for strength…hmm…?
I stared blankly at the flower when an image of a glass bottle with a yellow liquid swirled around in my mind.
The bottle looked beautiful, almost magical. Shimmering light surrounded it as it hovered in my mind. The swirl of the liquid inside entrancing me.
“Try… Buffroot, grounded bear claw magic powder and add water.”
“Huh? What.... Alice....ALICE!”
Kai said loudly. I jumped startled as I turned my attention to Kai who looked at me confused and slightly worried.
“What?” I said blinking a few times.
“Buff root? Grounded bear claw? Magic powder? And water? What are you talking about?” Kai asked.
Huh? What is he talking about? Who said that?
I looked around to see if Thea was in the library but all I could see was the candle that we lit still illuminating the space.
“Why are you looking confused? You just stared at a book and listed some ingredients. Buffroot, grounded bear claw, magic powder and water...”
“I did?” I asked confused.
“You did what exactly are these ingredients to?”
I looked at him confused when the flash of the yellow glass bottle illuminated in my mind almost like a picture.
“It’s the ingredients to strength potion.” I said hesitantly.
But where exactly did I see that? Can I even tell him where I’ve seen it? Would he believe me if I told him that it just popped into my head for some reason?
“It just came to me.” I said truthfully biting my lower lip in fear as I looked at his sceptical expression.
“A potion for strength?”
I nodded nervously as I glanced back at the book, the shimmering flower seeming to catch my attention again.
Why am I so attracted to this flower? Is it because it’s pretty or is it because it looks so real?
Kai rose to his feet questionably and moved to the back of the library. I looked at him for a moment confused, I then followed him hesitantly as he moved towards the cauldron.
“What are you doing?” I asked feeling wary as I looked around the library as if people had entered.
“I’m putting what you said to the test,” he said as he opened the lid to the cauldron. Revealing the murky grey colour inside.
“Do we even have Buffroot? I’ve never heard of grounded bear claw either.” I said.
“And I’ve never heard of using magic powder? Thea’s never said something before about it even Roslyn a year III student has never mentioned it before.” Kai said.
“Roslyn?” I asked confused.
Kai smiled at me with a mischievous grin.
“Yeah, sylphs sister… The one with the long silver hair… The one that everyone calls the potions master even though she is only a III year” Kai said sounding impressed.
“Oh, her… I kinda forgot that she was considered a potions master even though she’s only three years ahead of us.” I confessed.
“Yeah, a lot of people kind of forget… Especially if you’re a year I or a year II student. First years and second years don’t normally interact with III years often.” He said.
I never understood that, if you are a year I or a year II you were in your own click and you can’t interact with year III or higher because you were not smart enough to talk to somebody of such high ranking. It’s such a stupid thing everyone’s created.
“Do you think we should talk to Thea about it? What if it’s something that is dangerous? We could destroy the library from doing the potion… Probably.”
Kai sighed reluctantly putting the lid back on the cauldron and folding his arms. I looked sheepishly down at the ground putting my hands in front of me as if Kai was a stranger.
“Yeah, were going to have to talk to Thea she’s going to have to test this potion you mentioned and see what happens, worse comes to worse it’s a good potion and we have to go hunt those ingredients you listed down.” Kai said putting his hand on my shoulder.
“I’d be more worried about that grounded bear claw, to get a bear claw I’m pretty sure you’d have to… ugh… Kill a bear.” I said disgusted and slightly afraid.
I’m not exactly equipped in combat if I were to go up against a bear it would eat me alive. Our safest bet would be to find a warrior and see if they will hunt for us.
“Don’t look so scared, you forget I am a student warrior and I am well-versed against fighting big things, do you remember that thing I fought during training last year? It wasn’t exactly a bear but it could sure as hell passes one.
“Kai… That thing was massive it was more dangerous than a bear could—”
“Then why are you worried? If that thing was more dangerous than a bear then that bear would be nothing to me.” Kai said grinning.
I would have more faith in him if it wasn’t for the fact that that victory did not come at a very big cost. It took Gizzda for ever to heal him… And he still struggles with back pain to this day, no amount of healing is going to fix that.
“Can you stop having that look please?” Kai asked.
“What look?” I asked nervously as I tried to give my best nonaffected expression I could muster.
“The look that says you have zero faith in me. That was a year ago Alice my injuries are no longer there… Except for maybe the scar but that’s about it.”
I frowned as I turned away and walked back towards the table where our books were. I plopped down and close the book with the flower, sighing heavily.
It’s like he doesn’t care that it bothers me… He wouldn’t have gotten injured if it wasn’t for me.
“Alice…”
“Kai …”
“Alice, It’s Not your fault I was not being smart and it could have led to more people being hurt.”
I fidgeted with my hands, looking down at the ground. I know what Kai means but I still feel reasonable for his injury.
“I—”
“What are you to doing in here?”
I turned my head to see Thea moving to her big desk. Her long auburn hair tied back and a long ponytail, that made its way down her lower back. She wore a white button-down shirt with a black skirt and shiny doll shoes. Her big blue eyes looking at us for a moment.
“We came her to do research on potions.” Kai said gesturing to the stack of books.
“Are you now?” Thea asked as she sat down in her chair grabbing her quill.
“Yeah, we are though—”
“Though we had a problem.” Kai said interrupting me.
Thea looked at us confused for a long moment then put her quill down and slowly rose from her seat.
“A problem? what kind?” Thea asked as she made her way towards us. The sound of her shoes clicking on the hardwood as she walked.
“Well for one… You know how hard it is to find a potion for strength when there are literally almost none in any of the books.” Kai stated as a picked up a book as if to prove a point.
Thea stopped in front of us glancing at the mess that we created then smiled mischievously at Kai as if expecting this from him.
“That’s why I had you do it,” Thea stated as she folded her arms. “You’re a very clever boy Kai and I know you have parents that work in potions… Finding a potion for strength shouldn’t be difficult.”
“That’s what I thought but none of my parents know how to make one nor do any of their books say how to make one.” Kai remarked.
“Hmm…” Thea said as she nodded.
“Are you sure there is a potion for strength?” I asked feeling nervous for some reason.
“There is… But there’s only one that exists at least as of right now.” Thea said.
Only one! Does that happen to involve Buffroot?
“Just one?” Kai asked surprised.
“Yes, there is only one way to make a strength potion, the fact that you haven’t discovered how to make it yet is surprising.” Thea added as she grabbed his book and started scanning through the pages.
I scanned the library; large bookshelves filled the walls leaving gaps for the big massive windows on either side allowing sunlight to bleed in.
I hummed to myself as I slowly moved away from the table and towards the bookshelves across from us. Two more tables with rows of chairs around it lined perfectly from each other down the row towards the next set of books.
I made my way to the bookshelves slipping past some of the chairs and reading the titles, searching for anything about potions. I sighed when I got to the very end of the rows stopping at the stairs just before the second floor.
Not a single book about potions… It’s like somebody just took out all the books on potions and—
“And you haven’t checked any of the other books?” Thea asked breaking the long silence.
I turned towards them as Thea put the book down. Kai looked around the library then back at Thea.
“Not all of them but… A good chunk of them down here, we haven’t exactly checked the second floor yet.” He said.
“And there aren’t any over here I just checked most of them.” I said.
Thea looked perplexed then scanned the library. I watched her head move slowly around the books even looking back at her desk.
I looked at the stairs that led to the second floor debating whether or not I should check there but that would be a much longer search.
The second floor is much bigger than down here there could be books on potions there as well but… It would take hours even days just to go through all books.
“Thea… We didn’t exactly find any potions for strength but…” Kai looked thoughtful as he planned his thoughts thoroughly. Almost like he wasn’t sure if he wanted Thea to know. “Alice found a potion for strength… The thing is we don’t know if it’s usable or even possible.”
Thea looked at me with curious eyes. I slowly nodded and made my way back to the table, my heart pounding in my chest as I plopped down on the chair.
“Yes, I did it asked for quite unusual ingredient list,” I said.
Thea looked thoughtful than grabbed a chair from the other table placing it down in front of us.
“Okay, what did the strength potion require, and where did you get this information? If there aren’t any books on them then where did you discover this?”
I looked at her nervously fidgeting with my fingers as I tried to calm my nerves. I quickly glanced at Kai who nodded.
“It kind of came to me.” I said slowly. Stroking a clump of my hair.
“It came to?” Thea asked intrigued as she turned her body to me putting her full attention on me.
I kept playing with my hair nervously as I took slow deep breaths to calm myself.
I don’t know why I’m so nervous it’s not like she’s mad at me or going to lecture me. I didn’t do anything wrong right?
“Yes, I was looking at this book and looking at a pretty flower that just pops out at me and… This potion popped up in my mind, it was in a glass bottle filled with yellow liquids, and the ingredients just kind of came to me.” I confessed.
Kai nodded confirming what I was saying then grabbed a piece of paper and started scribbling something on it.
“The ingredients that she listed seemed unusual to me I was going to test it but we don’t have any of the ingredients and you’ve never mentioned any of them before so… We thought we would tell you and see if it was safe to experiment,” Kai said sliding over the paper to Thea.
