Darkness Within

CHAPTER THREE

The debate itself was centred more on Tessa than the project. She was one of the few Alchemists to have been brought in under the old Master, who was a populist, and, contrary to Guild tradition, had brought in potential Alchemists from the outlying slums of Korunnen. Of these prospects, only Tessa had made it to graduation, and the result of this was a lot more pressure than she thought she deserved.

“I wouldn’t call it like that, Master,” Tessa objected. “Such a material could have a never-ending range of practical applications – the amount of money the Tower could generate would only be limited by the creativity of those behind it!”

“I know your theories, Miss Silantia,” the Master murmured. “They hold, but just. That is why I haven’t stopped your experiments… until now. But last night’s occurrences require that I take action.”

Tessa gulped. What action?

“From now on, until further instruction, you are forbidden to take part in personal experiments. Instead, you shall focus on a task of my choosing, and report to me daily about your progress. Failure to obey will be met with expulsion. Am I clear?”

She nodded. Expulsion? That was scary. There was no life for her outside the Guild. No family, no friends, no money. She’d rather die than face leaving the Tower.

“What do I have to do?” she asked.

“You’ll find out soon enough.” The Master turned to the window. “It shouldn’t be too hard, I’d imagine. For now, carry on with your research as usual, someone will contact you with the details you need.”

Now dismissed, Tessa left the Master to contemplate the city and walked down the corridor to the staircase. Now more than ever she appreciated the beauty of the Tower, with its intricate patterns and designs, every little detail part of the greater scheme of things. Even the stairs, descending in a gentle spiral, were carefully built, each step of exactly the same size as the one before and after. It was a masterpiece of perfectionism.

I wonder what the Master wants me to do, she wondered as she made her way to her favourite haunt in the Tower: the library. It was the largest collection of books in the Empire, and second only the infamous collection on Westenisle, much of which had been stolen in raids on old Imperial lands before the Empire had even existed.

There was a reason she liked it. She didn’t need company, or idle chatter, as she pored over the near-endless piles of books; none of the wasted socialising that went on in the lower halls amongst the other Alchemists. She had no talent for words or the niceties of those born rich, so instead she focussed on work.

“Mistress Tessa,” the librarian, Gerald, said as she approached. “How may I help you today?”

Gerald – like the rest of the servants and servitors in the Tower – was a lot more easy-going and approachable than her colleagues. “Gerald,” she said, a half-smile encroaching on her face. “I need a copy of Hisbrandt’s Hydrocarbonic Theorem, if possible. And any other pertaining critical works, as well.”

Gerald bowed slightly. “As you wish, Mistress. The usual table?”

Tessa nodded and watched the librarian disappear amongst the shelves, looking for the books she’d asked for. He’d be back soon – he always was – so she took her seat and gathered her notes from the day before.

Her papers were covered in a thin, gel-like film, an invention of hers that kept them together and, more importantly, waterproof. As a novice she’d lost her notes dozens of times to endless pranks, most of them involving some liquid or another. When she invented this it had all stopped, at least for a while.