CONTENT WARNING: None to my knowledge
Owen
The magic school students are making decent progress in their alchemical studies.
I have explained the rough history of alchemy and the nature of archaic alchemical texts being written almost entirely in cryptic language and symbolism...and how this allowed them to elude the spying eyes of those who didn't trust them, as well as potential copycats.
Alchemy is a precursor to our modern science, and in our case, it is a middle ground where science meets magic, and both of those schools of study have been hindered by the likes of multiple groups over the course of history - namely by the witchfinders and the Jacobans.
Matis is a curious young fellow. He can be a little clumsy at times, but I like his attitude and he keeps everyone in good spirits. He seems to think he asks too many questions, and underestimates just how willing I am to talk endlessly about anything related to either medicine or alchemy.
Gracelyn is a keen listener and a capable alchemist. She's made considerable progress, though she grants most of her success to the 'support and advice' of her rat familiar, Mr. Nibblesworth, and claims she can only make a successful potion if he is sitting on her shoulder.
Today, we are making a potion meant to enhance the workings of the brain. It is a simple recipe that only requires parsley and a specific species of frog. Not a particularly pleasant-tasting potion, but at least the parsley offsets the taste a little.
I don't even need to say anything - the students take care of cleaning the mixture with the Katharis spell for me. The students do well to assist me when I need it, and I'm more than grateful for it. People are entirely incorrect when they say the younger generations have no empathy. It turns out that, when you treat them like human beings with thoughts and needs, they are more than willing to repay the favour.
Yeong-mi seems to enjoy alchemy more than she does casting magic. She's also the only person in the group willing to taste-test. I told her I would happily do it, but she insists on it.
She may be the only person known to man who considers spotted dirt frog to be at all bearable to the palate.
The students are a wonderful bunch, and I'm grateful to have the opportunity to teach them. I feel some of them are still on-edge with me due to what happened with Eduardo, but none of them have any reason to be.
Áine has been unusually reclusive as of late. She's completely fixated on teaching, and whilst there are worse pursuits to be consumed by, she doesn't have much time for anything or anyone else. She hasn't spoken much about either Róisín or Reynold since Reynold left, and doesn't say much when I ask about them.
* * *
Just as I'm planning some more lessons for the week, Xander enters. Xander and I have struck up something of a friendship. I've almost come to tolerate his playful ribbing about my social stature.
"You know, after so many years of looking after patients, it still feels a little strange to be on the other side of such things - but I'm more than appreciative of you and everyone here and the way you've accommodated me.
I once read a pamphlet in the coffeehouse about an old healed bone found during a dig, and scientists believed it to be over ten-thousand years old. The author claimed it to be one of the first signs of a true civilisation, and said that kind of compassion is what separates us from the animals. To think that, back then, someone would spend their precious energy and resources on taking care of someone else...it seems like nothing, but I bet it meant everything - just as it does now."
A cold, swirling feeling in my chest makes me feel uncomfortable, and even the hot tea won't make it subside.
"I know many people see me these days as some kind of hero, but I ought to explain that it hasn't always been the case.
I haven't always been wholly compassionate. I cared for my patients, but I cared little for the working people or the people who couldn't afford my cures. I was unkind to my younger brother. I followed in my father's footsteps for nearly thirty years until a herbalist showed everyone - including myself - my father's true colours."
Xander chuckles in his throat. "Well, I would throw you in a cauldron and light the fire and force you to recite your sins to me as you boil to death, but alas, I'm not a Jacoban. We all regret our actions at some point in our lives, Owen. I'm sure every adult in this settlement has made mistakes. You chose to do something about it. Billions aside, for someone of your stature to risk deeply upsetting his father, losing his lifelong career, ruining his reputation amongst the rich folk and even risking his life? Neither Charm or Viridis families have done a single thing for the witches down on the ground."
"If it weren't for a woman named Katlego Anansi, I fear nothing would have changed. My father stole her livelihood from her - claimed she was 'competition' even though she sold her herbal remedies cheaply. Forced an apothecary to sell her contaminated herbs, who lated took his own life. Had Katlego exiled, saying she'd intentionally poisoned customers so they'd buy her remedies. She eventually went back to Henford, and from what I hear, did her part to dismantle Volpe's reputation as well."
Without Katlego, I don't think there'd be much of an uprising against witchfinders at all. It is Kat's determination for goodness and her steel spirit that allowed her stand in the faces of people that could have easily had her killed given half the chance, and it didn't stop her. The townspeople falling for Samuel's lies didn't stop her. Samuel didn't stop her. Volpe didn't stop her - and she did it all without doing any physical harm whatsoever. The Annorins had spent centuries getting what they wanted from indirectly spilling the blood of others...moreso directly from myself and Uncle Jonah.
"One moment- Katlego? That name sounds familiar."
"I'm sure it does. She's well-respected among magic-folk-"
"No, no! I was talking with Tsuna some days ago whilst out fishing and she mentioned a Katlego being back in Glimmerbrook."
She's back? If so, that's excellent news- but I fear what it may have been that brought her back.
"And you're certain?"
"Certain. Tsuna seemed strangely apologetic about it, actually... Anyhow, I wanted to check in on you - I suppose I have a lot of questions about the nature of your...whatever it is...if you don't mind my asking."
Well, he's out of luck. I'm only a little less in-the-dark as everyone else is about it, and becoming my own case study has taught me nothing particularly useful.
"I've only ever met two other people with similar symptoms, unfortunately. I'm not entirely sure if it's a bad stroke of luck or if it's caused by having not used my magic enough in my younger years, and now it is overpowering to me to use it too often. One of those people was in a similar situation. My mother and I practiced a little before she died, and after that, my father didn't want me practicing magic at all."
"Why not? Not even in secret?"
"You know as well as I do that bloodline families only care about keeping up appearances. They consider their lives more precious than that of their ancestors. Either way, I'm not going to worry unecessarily. All of you are understanding despite the vagueness of it all- I couldn't ask for more."
"I considered calling it Annorin's Syndrome - short and sweet, and not too magical at a glance. Trouble is, it seems a little egotistical to name a medical condition after yourself when you're no longer a physician."
"I'm sure you can think of something else. There's quite a few bloodline casters in Glimmerbrook; you never know who might benefit from knowing that they're unwell, and that there's not something wrong with them as spellcasters," Xander explains. "I've known people in the past who struggled with their magic, went through the Rite of Dissolution to be rid of it entirely, and some even lost their lives as a result."
I hear stories about the Rite of Dissolution all of the time - the removal of one's biological magic. Magic is so tied to the blood of a spellcaster that it's more often fatal than not. I would never give up my magic for anything, no matter how persecuted it may be.
"We don't know who's doing it, but I believe someone in Glimmerbrook has been performing the Rite for many years now."
"Why would a town almost entirely populated by spellcasters have someone performing the Rite? Are you sure it isn't someone outside of Glimmerbrook?"
"Not in the slightest," Xander says. "Over the years, plenty have come and gone - but not everyone said their goodbyes. We had people go missing from this settlement some time before you and Áine arrived - none of them came back..."
Katlego
In spite of the horrific cold, Glimmerbrook at least looks beautiful this time of year. That said, I long for the Spring. I think we all do.
I tell them the stories of helping to take down Volpe and managing to, once again, humiliate a rich man in front of his former supporters. It fills me with a sense of pride talking about it again.
A voice calls through the trees and enters through the gate. Tsuna immediately becomes protective...that is, until she moves out of the shadows of the trees.
Is that Clara? She's come back after two months missing? She looks dishevelled, as if all the light has left her eyes. When she speaks, it is monotone and airy, as if she'd had all the personality sucked out of her. What happened to her?
"Everyone, it is good to see you. It is good to see that you are back, Katlego. If you're wondering where I've been, I...I underwent the Rite of Dissolution, at my own choice."
"What? Why? Clara, magic is our your blood and our soul! Why would you get rid of it?"
I could never! No matter how much they try to come for me, magic is as much a part of me as my brain and my heart. I could never let it go.
"Jemima...It was her choice also. She did not survive. I buried her discreetly. I know the witchfinders will come for us eventually, and so I had my magic taken from me. Now, I do not feel much of anything. I feel as if I have no reason to fear anything. Tsuna, I apologise. You only let those with magic into your settlement, so I understand completely if you do not wish to let me return. I only wished to tell you of what happened to me and to apologise."
There's nothing behind her voice. Magic was a part of her. Without it, she's a shell of her former self. All eyes turn to Tsuna.
"Tsuna, please, let Clara back in. She did what she did out of fear. Even without magic, she's still a target."
"Clara has been one of our witches for years. Please, Tsuna, let her back. This is the fault of the witchfinders, not of Clara."
Tsuna's expression is painted with a silent fury. Emerald looks to Tsuna, flickering her tongue in her direction.
"Who did this to you, Clara?"
"I said I would not tell-"
"It doesn't matter what you said. I'm not having anyone else die nor have their magic taken from them. I will ask again - who took your magic from you?"
Clara nods, closing her eyes.
"Evadne Charm. She's been doing this for years."
Evadne Charm? The woman who lives in the large building not too far from here? What would a magic-user want with taking others' magic from them? Bloodline casters were no strangers to letting their ancestors suffer in their place, but what possible benefit could this have? A woman who formerly had magic would still be seen as a witch in the eyes of your garden-variety witchfinder.
I rarely see Ellie so disgusted.
"That snobby so-and-so-! What does she get out of taking others' magic away from them?!"
"Clara, I will allow you in this settlement in spite of you no longer having magic. I've heard all I needed to hear."
Tsuna marches off towards the gate.
