LILLA CURSED AT HERSELF. Her chalk broke into two again while she drew a magic circle on her desk. She breathed, relieving herself from stressing at work. The scent of old books and fresh herbs filled her nostrils before she continued scribbling again. Her workplace was filled with shelves of countless books, vials of chemicals, and bottled herbs. It was a cramped room but it had enough space for her to do her job properly.

Fifteen years ago, the royal alchemist found her at an orphanage in Cicero, the capital of the Mercurian Empire, and took her under his care to be his apprentice. He taught Lilla the methods of Alchemy, hoping that one day she would inherit his title. The position was offered to her twelve years after the alchemist stepped down and deemed her worthy of the seat at last.

Sealing the vials with corks, Lilla placed each of them in a small wooden chest and securely put it inside her bag full of other small bottles. She tidied herself first before proceeding to exit her workplace and to the palace halls. Growing up at the palace for fifteen years, she had the whole structure memorized like the back of her hand. Lilla reached the Crown Princess’ quarters and knocked. “Your Highness, I have brought your medications.”

“It’s just me in here, Lilla.” A sweet voice answered from the other side of the door.

Dropping the formalities, Lilla let herself in. The princess wore her nightgown while lying under the canopy of her bed. The sunlight washed the dimly-lit room, serving as its only source of illumination. Being the princess’ friend, Lilla was aware of whatever was bothering her first thing in the morning. She settled the medicine box on the nightstand before sitting on the side of the bed. “Lord Raegan, I assume?”

“Ugh, he won’t leave me alone!” Princess Kristen grunted as she heard her suitor’s name. It had been a week since the princess had broken up with her betrothed and son of Duke Ronan of Rivelmoore and it seemed like her supposedly soon-to-be Prince Consort did not want to accept her decision.

“Yeah, he’s been calling me regularly at work too ever since you broke up with him.” Lilla shrugged, brushing the inconvenience off. “Not that I’ve been having a lot of work lately.”

Kristen raised an eyebrow at her last statement. “Not a lot of work? Didn’t mother give you an assignment a week ago?”

“Dear, have you forgotten your talking to the youngest Royal Alchemist of the Empire? That was done the next day it was given.”

“Show off.” She rolled her eyes before returning to their initial topic. “So, what did he say?”

“Pretty much the same thing every day about how miserable he is.” Lilla could never understand how Kristen used to be so enamored with the man. Lord Raegan was not an evil person — at least Lilla wouldn’t put it that way — however, he was also not the most civilized and respectful noble she had been acquainted with. In fact, she was forced to summon what little patience she had whenever she conversed with him. “You should stop stressing yourself about him, Kris. I believe you have better matters to attend to as the heir to the throne. Shouldn’t you start with those?”

“And you?”

“Well, I’ll be on my morning stroll, I suppose?” She slipped her gloved hands inside the pockets of her blue cloak. The golden-winged staff surrounded by two snakes, the crest of Mercurius, emblazoned on her back as she headed to the door. “Should I call the maids to help you dress up?”

Princess Kristen shook her head and finally sat up. “I can manage on my own. Thanks as always, Lilla.”

“It is my pleasure, Your Royal Highness,” she responded nonchalantly before heading back to the hall outside.

Lilla headed to the West Wing where the Barracks and Royal Forge were stationed. Most of the western side of the Imperial Palace housed several craftsmen and soldiers. It was also the most boisterous area due to all the hammering and clashing of steel. Usually, she would not bother going to this part of the palace but she had to make a request to the gaffer for a specially designed flask.

The barracks were empty as Lilla expected; the soldiers would be at the palace grounds doing their morning drills. Some of the royal craftsmen were already up and about, working and tinkering on their stations. However, the gaffer did not seem to be awake yet.

“Pleasant morning to you, Lady Henbur.” The fox-eared apprentice of the Royal Engineer, Killian, approached her with a big grin on his face. “Looking for Old Laric?”

“Yes, can you give this to him?” She drew a folded parchment paper from the inside of her cloak and gave it to the young man. “It would be nice if he can finish it within a week.”

“I’ll be sure to convey your words to him, milady.” The two brown tails behind him wagged as he stared at her earnestly. “Can you come with me for a second?”

The alchemist wondered what Killian wanted to show her. Knowing him, it was probably another sketch of a weapon he invented which always ended up as a failure when tested. Nonetheless, his enthusiasm had never vanquished.

After a few walks behind the barracks, they stopped at the firing range, in front of a table full of screws, springs, metal plates, and other scrap materials; a bronze revolver lay in the middle of the mess. Compared to Killian’s previous works, this firearm did not appear extraordinary. Though compared to other guns, this had an empty glass capsule attached to its barrel connected by a small tube to the cylinder. Lilla waited for the apprentice to explain what she was supposed to look at.

“I was inspired by your studies, milady, so I thought about combining marksmanship and alchemy.” He then detached the glass capsule from the gun. It was about the size of a chicken egg. “You can load this small container with poisons, paralyzers, or any chemical of your choice and it would be carried by the bullets to be fired.”

“It seems to me that you’re just increasing my workload. Does it work?” She held the revolver, studying its visible parts. Lilla used to carry a similar weapon when her mentor brought her to gather alchemical ingredients in case they crossed paths with wild beasts. She has adequate knowledge of Mercurian gun production as well as how to handle one properly. Unlike other weapons made in their country, firearms were made with enchanted hardwood and not entirely molded with Aitherite alloy; instead, they were powered by Aitherite dust, turned to runes, in replacement of gunpowder.

“You can try it.” Killian handed over the glass capsule to her, visibly eager for the suggestion. “But please don’t blow up the firing range or the barracks or—”

“I get it.” She pulled out a small bottle with an aquamarine liquid inside and poured it into the capsule, making sure she was not spilling any of it.

“That is?”

Lilla picked up a round of six bullets from the table and loaded it all at once into the revolver’s cylinder. She raised her right arm and pulled the hammer down, gazing at the six targets on the field. Six targets, six bullets.

Her index finger held the trigger as she aimed at the first target with one hand. She fired, resulting in a loud bang. Swiftly she shifted to the other targets, releasing the remaining bullets. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.

All bullets hit the dead center of the targets from where ice crystals started sprouting. Frost covered the wooden objects and soon became frozen lotuses. The revolver’s mechanism appeared to be doing its purpose. Lilla returned the firearm back to the table after disarming it.

Killian’s jaw remained hanging for a short while before turning to her with amazement written all over his face. “That was amazing, Lady Henbur! I knew you are very skilled with guns! Of course, Lord Enkidu was your mentor!”

She flinched at the mention of the former royal alchemist’s name. She had been avoiding the subject since three years ago, prior to her mentor’s death. Memories of his last breath flashed over her head as Lilla squeezed her trembling hand. Attempting to veer the topic, she congratulated Killian for his brilliant modification of the revolvers. It was not a big innovation but definitely a start. “You should show the diagrams to the Royal Engineer. It could be a start of a new project. Who knows?”

“I’ll gladly hand this prototype to you once I perfected it. You have my gratitude, milady.”

* * * * *

Lilla spent the entire morning skimming through the letters that had piled up in her request box after the royal courier arrived. Luckily, she had stocks of most requested items and were just needed to be packed. The afternoon remained uneventful as usual with the regular scribbling on parchment and making sure her basic ingredients are complete.

Once everything was done, she decided to stroll around the city. Lilla went straight to the palace gates, which she regretted quite greatly. A raven-haired man seemed to be having problems with the guards, a gloomy and troubled expression was visible on his pale face. The alchemist sighed as she walked towards them.

“Lord Raegan? May I ask what business you have inside the palace?” She asked politely, not wanting to offend the already dispirited young noble.

“Lilla! I have to see Kristen but these guards wouldn’t let me in.” He spoke without any honorifics, not even a proper greeting. Lilla paid it no mind as she was already accustomed to his impudence.

“I believe the princess is busy with royal affairs, my lord,” She half-lied. Kristen did have royal affairs to attend to but she was not too busy to not accept visitors; the princess merely does not want to meet with her former lover.

“Do not lie to me, Lilla. I know that Kristen does not want to meet me.”

So why are you here? She could not help but think how much of a pushover Raegan is. Usually, she considered it nice when people do not give up easily but, in his case, it was rather problematic. “Well then, I apologize for not making it clear to you. Her Royal Highness does have work to do and I reckon that she does not want to meet her past lover.”

He winced at the words past lover, obviously distressed by it. “Could she at least tell me why?”

Lilla pitied the man. He knew very well why the princess decided to cut him off as a romantic partner but he doesn’t want to admit it. It was very sad listening to him blame himself during the first week of their separation. She even cheered him on about how he should take the matter to grow on his own without relying on the princess or anyone. She was taken aback when he started talking about how the princess kept ignoring his calls, letters, and gifts because of the reason that Kristen does not want to take responsibility for the pain she had brought upon him.

“Is she ignoring me to make herself feel better?” Lilla resisted rolling her eyes at his question. Why did she let him confide with her, to begin with? Lord Raegan is a complicated fragile man.

She inhaled deeply, finally deciding she had enough of his fits. “If you will excuse my words, Lord Sabin. You are being a huge bothe—”

“Lady Henbur! We need your aid at once!” An officer came running towards them from the direction of the barracks. He tried catching his breath first before continuing his words. “An armed warrior reportedly attacked the Town of Callisto this morning. Our soldiers believe he is of Nadian Origin and their spy.”

“And so? What do I need to do?”

“You will accompany Lieutenant General Erwood to Callisto immediately. He wishes you to prepare truth serums and paralyzers as soon as possible.”

Lilla frowned at the officer. “As soon as possible? Can’t the soldiers just force the answer out of him?”

“Well, about that, milady... The prisoner kept repeating how he is the king of a non-existent kingdom. It was a very absurd lie... either that or he is mentally ill.”

“I understand. I already have both potions at my workplace. Tell the lieutenant general that I will be ready to depart once I prepare my things.” Lilla thought it was a very nicely-timed reason to excuse herself from Lord Raegan. She curtsied at the nobleman before striding towards her tower.

Although Callisto was not a far town, the alchemist was rather excited to travel at last again. However, she was unaware of where this short travel will take her and how it will change the course of both her life and career.

Now, the king awaits the alchemist’s arrival.