The Alchemist #4, page 5
“No, I’m not asking about that. From beasts, aristocrats gain not only strength but also something deeper. It’s called the bestial essence. I believe it’s not just from beasts; at least half comes from personal power, intoxicating, continuous conflicts, and bloody centuries through which aristocratic families have persisted. It would be fine, but often, especially in youth, as an aristocrat’s potential emerges, their strength intensifies, and many lose control. They become overly aggressive, unable to restrain their instincts. Tell me, in Barsukov’s case, did you consider stopping or did you move toward your goal, despite the obstacles?”
“I understand what you mean. Yes, in the last six months, I’ve noticed some reactions that aren’t typical for me.”
“How well do you control yourself?”
“I thought I had it under control, but... perhaps I’ve just been fortunate not to encounter a situation where I could lose control until… that incident in the forest and the Barsukov’s case.”
“I see.” She nodded thoughtfully. “For some, this process escalates gradually. For others, it’s sporadic. Have you experienced any outbursts of unwarranted aggression, anger, or hatred?”
“I don’t know. Something like that, I guess.”
True enough, I typically approached things with a cool head.
“Alright then. It’s true that there’s always a risk of losing control. It’s our mistake that we didn’t think about it in time,” she continued. “Usually aristocrats, especially from old families, undergo special training aimed at mastering their instincts. The training is rigorous and incredibly challenging. But it’s necessary.”
“So... why are you telling me this? Will I have to go through it? Will it help?”
“Yes, I have mostly everything ready to introduce you to our specialist,” she said. “I think after you return from your trip, in a week or two. You’ll need to spend about a month in the wilderness, completely cut off from civilization.”
“That sounds... Categorical.”
Spending a whole month away from life wasn’t exactly what I had in mind anytime soon.
“If you don’t grasp the gravity of it, I can give you a history lesson,” she remarked. “About how young men from aristocratic families once razed entire villages. They tortured, killed, beheaded, impaled, and incited wars…”
“Maybe they were simply bad people?”
“And are you good?” She tilted her head to the side.
What an unpleasant question. I had just recently killed quite a lot of people. So, who was I to judge those young, mad aristocrats?
“It’s bad if you still don’t realize how serious this is...” Olga began, but I raised my hand.
“I understand. And I agree. I just don’t know how to manage everything. My schedule is already too tight.”
“We’ll find a way,” she assured me.
Chapter 5
SEASIDE
“I envy you,” Matvey said as he accompanied me. “Just make sure you don’t mess up.”
“It’s a vacation, how can I mess up?” I replied.
“You’ll find a way,” he said confidently.
“Thanks, buddy...”
Having said goodbye, I made my way through the rest of the Lyceum park alone, entered the main building, strolled through empty corridors until I reached the central portal room. About ten minutes later, Nastya Sofo arrived.
“Oh, hi!” She waved at me, standing next to the analyzers that were still there. “Are you the first one here?”
“Did you notice that Walkers are always late? It’s like their common trait.” I asked, still lost in thought.
“Hah, it seems so. Do you think they’ll teleport us together?” She winked at me. “Or you’ll have to wait?”
I just shrugged. I didn’t know if a young Walker was actually capable of something like that. Dragging two people through space was quite a task, but on the other hand, the portal room should make this task easier. The original plan was that Catherine would drop Nastya and me off at her house by the sea. Or to be more precise, this was Olga’s house, or perhaps her late husband’s. I didn’t even know why I was suddenly thinking about that.
The others would arrive as they pleased — some by conventional means, some were Walkers themselves, and others, like us, would be transported by Catherine or other Walkers. I wasn’t even sure who would be there.
While we were waiting for Catherine, we discussed the exams and how I skipped the speech at the official end of the finals. Nastya was bombarding me with questions, and I did my best to avoid answering them. My chosen strategy was to question her back, thus I learned that she appeared to be at the top of our class.
Nastya was in a playful mood and didn’t miss the chance to jab at me by saying that I should catch up next year.
I just gave her a sly smile and answered listlessly:
“Starting first doesn’t mean much — what really counts is who finishes first.” She just laughed at my wisdom.
As for me, I still wasn’t very enthusiastic because a month of my life would be practically lost. And in the remaining month, I would have to work like crazy. This bothered me so much that I considered taking all my alchemy notebooks on this trip, but I resisted. I took only a few. After all, I needed to rest, and with a difficult time ahead, it was better to recharge my energy properly.
After studying Walkers for so long, I could sense when one was nearby. It wasn’t exactly a sound, but a subtle awareness. Initially, I felt it, and then my amulet slightly twitched, imperceptibly to others, signaling that a Walker had appeared nearby. Another function I added to the device after my kidnapping.
The Walker turned out to be Catherine. Who else would be here at this time? Although actually, there could be a lot of people. The school year was over, but the Lyceum with its many departments continued to operate.
“Hello!” Catherine greeted us.
At the Lyceum, I was used to seeing all students in suits. Not necessarily strict — often youthful and casual — but suits nonetheless. Trousers or skirts, shirts, and jackets were the standard attire. Now, of course, both girls were dressed differently. Nastya wore light pants made of seemingly weightless black fabric and a white blouse. She had a small backpack slung over her shoulder, somehow managing to pack all her belongings into it. I had a backpack too, but it was bigger. Nastya also held a hat in her hands.
Catherine was dressed... in short shorts and a loose-fitting blouse. These shorts, or rather, her bare legs, caught my attention. I was so accustomed to the formal style within the Lyceum walls that seeing her in such casual clothing threw me off. So, I paused for a few seconds, a bit caught off guard.
“Edgar?” Catherine raised an eyebrow after hugging Nastya.
“Hello,” I said, embarrassed.
“Ready?” she asked.
She smiled, Nastya glanced at me, and I silently hoped that I hadn’t been too obvious in staring at Catherine’s legs.
“Certainly!” Nastya answered, perhaps a bit too cheerfully.
The situation felt awkward, and not just because of this moment. It seemed to me that Nastya was generally tense. It was barely noticeable, but I could feel it. And if she was, I wouldn’t be surprised. I was a little nervous myself. After all, I had received an invitation to join a closed circle of high-ranking aristocrats.
“Then, may I have your hands?” Catherine asked.
As soon as I touched Catherine’s palm, darkness fell around me. There was a sudden explosion of sensation in my stomach, and then, as if in slow motion, we showed up in a completely new location. A warm wind blew, carrying the smell of salt. In the distance, the cries of birds could be heard. Blinking, I saw seagulls flying above.
We found ourselves near a large white house, with a giant green lawn and a gazebo. Rows of flower beds lined the stone paths. More trees surrounded us, and I thought I saw fruits on them.
“You’re the first to arrive. Let’s go; I’ll show you the house and your rooms,” Catherine said, giving us a minute to adapt.
After the teleportation, my brain felt strange. It was as if it had been tricked and wasn’t happy about it. One moment, there was one scene in front of me, and then it abruptly changed to something completely different. Usually, I was teleported over short distances, which happened too quickly, but this time it took about three long seconds. Already on the other side, I withdrew into myself, no longer conscious of anyone nearby. I needed to remember everything — energy flows, my own feelings — there was no way I wouldn’t analyze it later.
I could say one thing for sure. Not only had the duration of teleportation depended on distance, which was an unexpected discovery, considering those Walkers with portals, but there was something else. Some other idea that I couldn’t grasp yet. Anyway, I found this spatial jump experience rather interesting. Not just a breakdown of space but rather movement through it. It turned out this was how it worked for some Walkers.
Nastya swayed, even more than I did. Catherine held her by the elbow. I wanted to help, but I didn’t have time and wasn’t sure if my coordination was intact. The ground seemed to shake slightly underfoot. I noticed that Catherine seemed perfectly fine; this was normal for her. She knew well how a long teleportation affected unprepared people and gave us a minute to recover.
Offering to show us the house, Catherine led us along the path to the building.
“This is the main building where we will live,” she explained. “Over there,” she pointed to the houses nearby, “is the house for the servants and guards.”
The mansion stood on a hill. As we went up the stairs, I turned around and... saw the sea.
At first, I didn’t immediately realize what it was. I saw a dark blue stripe, and only after a few seconds did I discern the details: how the waves swayed, how they were framed by caps of sea foam.
Holy shit.
An actual sea!
The spectacle impressed me so much that I stopped and lagged behind the girls. I returned to reality after Catherine called my name several times.
“Edgar?
“He seems stunned,” Nastya noted.
“And not because of our beauty, but because of the view,” Catherine snorted.
“What? I’m here,” I said, reluctantly taking my eyes off the sea. “I just never saw...”
“You’ve never seen the sea?” the girls were surprised in unison.
I nodded and turned my gaze back to the sea. It was breathtaking.
“I’ll take you to get a closer look,” said Catherine. “But maybe we could at least leave our backpacks at the house first?”
“Yes, of course,” I answered slowly.
In my old world, the sea was gone before I had a chance to see it. It was sad that someone could destroy such greatness and beauty.
I caught up with the girls, and soon we reached the house. Catherine showed us around, pointing out the common room, the dining room, and then took us to the second floor.
“Ed, if you like the sea so much, you should have a room with a view.” Catherine delighted me. “Do you guys need separate rooms?”
Nastya blushed, Catherine looked at us with a grin, and I didn’t immediately realize what she was talking about.
“Um...” I managed to utter…
“We are not a couple,” Nastya responded quickly. “What kind of question is that?”
“I’m just kidding.” Catherine giggled. “We’re on vacation, let’s avoid all these...” she twirled her hand, “complications. And there were rumors about you two after that gift.”
“About you too.” Nastya retorted.
Now Catherine blushed. She straightened up slightly and raised her chin a little.
“People talk too much,” she replied with an indeterminate tone.
“So what about the rooms?” I interrupted the emerging tension.
Understanding hidden meanings and women’s conversations was definitely not my strong suit.
“Yours is this one.” Catherine showed. “Nastya, yours is there...”
The girls continued down the corridor, and I entered my room, where I threw my backpack on the floor and hurried to the window. I stood there, admiring the view, until Catherine came back in.
“Have you really never seen the sea before?” she asked.
“Yes,” I answered, feeling my throat constrict.
“So, what do you see?”
I felt Catherine come up and stand next to me. She smelled fresh — not like the sea, but still pleasant.
“Opportunities and risks.”
“I thought you’d say something about beauty.”
“I see beauty. Both yours and of the sea…”
I didn’t know why I blurted that out. The charm of the moment gave way to awkwardness. We, or rather I, were saved by Nastya, who came up and knocked on the door.
“Are you ready?”
“Let’s go,” Catherine answered a bit too quickly. Just a bit, but I noticed. “It’s time, Edgar, for you to get to know the sea better.”
***
“Don’t you think this is strange?” Catherine quietly asked Nastya.
The two girls moved away from Edgar, who stood barefoot at the shoreline, watching the waves touch his feet.
“That he’s never seen the sea?” Nastya asked.
“I’m talking about something else... It seems…”
“What?” Nastya turned and looked at her.
“Doesn’t matter. I can’t formulate it,” she said, changing the subject.
They both looked at Edgar. So serious and thoughtful. He didn’t look happy, not like someone enjoying beauty.
He looked like someone making an important decision.
***
Up close, the sea was even more awe-inspiring. Cold, strong, seemingly endless. The girls, sensing my mood, stepped aside and let me be by myself. Or maybe it was simpler — they didn’t like the sight of my gloomy face, so they moved further along the coastline.
To reach this spot, we had descended stone steps, just a five-minute walk from the house. Aristocrats certainly lived well.
About an hour later, other guests arrived, a moment I nearly missed until they called for me. The first to join us was Alexander Filinov. The grandson of Ignat Filinov, the Emperor’s advisor, that very old man who had once interrogated me. It wasn’t for nothing that I had researched the Medvedev clan to understand who they were related to. The Medvedevs were both a surname and a clan name encompassing several powerful families, including the Filinovs.
When it came to his appearance, Alexander didn’t particularly stand out. I had time to take a look at him chatting with Catherine and Nastya outside the house as I ascended the steps from the sea. Dark-haired, slender, and tall, he wore a polo-collared T-shirt and shorts. His danger index was thirty-seven, potentially rising to sixty-six. I had refined my assessment system to determine a person’s potential value as I figured out how both figures were actually connected. A small achievement of mine I made during one of my research nights.
Other than his high potential strength as a demon, I could sense some ancestral gift simmering beneath the surface. He also exhibited typical traits of a powerful aristocrat: he was a Walker and a demon — a complete package.
“Edgar?” Alexander greeted me as I approached. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I hope only good things,” I replied, shaking his hand.
“Both the good and the bad, to be honest.” He looked into my eyes, which confused me a little.
True, I had my hands full this year. But what exactly did he know?
“Maybe we should go inside?” Catherine intervened in the conversation.
More precisely, it was I who intervened by approaching them. She seemed intent on diffusing any tension after an awkward remark.
“A bit later. I have to go pick up a girl,” Alexander replied. “Ladies…”
With a crash, he disappeared and returned about ten minutes later, accompanied by a certain Aglaya. They hadn’t mentioned her last name, leaving me in the dark about her identity. Her danger index was twenty-seven, with a potential rating of fifty. Besides that, she was beautiful. I even found myself pondering who was cuter between her and Nastya. Catherine possessed a different kind of charm — more reserved and regal, yet equally endearing.
It brought a simple, rugged satisfaction to see Nastya wearing the bracelet I had given her. I was gripped by a curiosity to check the artifact, to see how it worked after some time.
When Nastya and Aglaya struck up a conversation, it was like adding gasoline to a fire. Two social butterflies together could spark lively discussions. I was in their company, and yet I delved into myself to study the artifact and see if it needed its adjustments. It functioned rather flawlessly, which reassured me and brought a sense of satisfaction. Lost in thought, I actually missed how the girls transitioned to the topic of the very bracelet. Suddenly Nastya’s pointed finger was directed towards me.
“Did you make this yourself?” Aglaya asked in surprise.
“Cool, isn’t it?” Alexander chimed in from behind the bar, mixing cocktails for everyone.
Although there were servants around, Catherine had instructed Alexander to handle the drinks himself. He complied without complaint, focusing on the task. They were non-alcoholic for now, but I suspected that would change as the evening progressed.
“How can I get one?” Aglaya inquired eagerly.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible.” I smiled. “I made this especially for Nastya.”
“And there’s absolutely no chance?” Aglaya pressed with a hint of disappointment in her voice.
How did she manage to do this? She just pouted her lips, and I found myself almost wanting to make her a bracelet too.
Alexander chuckled quietly. The girls were looking at me, and from my vantage point, I could see his knowing smile. I hoped it was understanding rather than mockery.
“Just wait until your birthday and ask Edgar to surprise you.” Nastya shared the recipe, laughing and glancing in my direction.
“Does that work?” Catherine inquired, rejoining the conversation after briefly stepping away, presumably to give instructions to the servants.
