by C. E. Smith
James decided in that moment, with the conviction of the most devoted politician, that his brother Paxton was a selfish bugger. He’d have nothing to do with him. At least one son would make his father proud.
STEPPING OUT of the memory that made him the man he was today, that easy choice of choosing the blue chair and realizing his brother was no one to be proud of, James was surprised to have reached the gate. The old conductor seemed to recognize him despite the King’s uniform, and accepted the ticket bearing the Queen’s signature without question.
“Bon voyage, Captain Donnan. Good luck with whatever your mission is.” The conductor stepped aside as the clear pod with the large brass wheels sped up to the top of the monorail.
James inhaled deeply, prepared for the stomach jolt of a lifetime. He wasn’t looking forward to the future headache that was sure to come from this. The one likely to come when he was at the King’s Castle, desperately trying to avoid running into his brother.
The classes aren’t ever very large,” explained Aimon as he led Mimi and Bas down a golden hallway. “We prefer students to get individual attention. A complex art such as Alchemy, while important to our society, is very difficult to learn. Any more than fifteen students per class would make it difficult for them to master the art in only seven years. That’s why it’s so hard to get into this school. It’s not always about how much money the parents have. It’s about how skilled the students are in their placement testing. The placement test is incredibly challenging to both the physical and mental ability of each student. The reason it’s not about the family wealth is because my father believes knowledge shouldn’t only be for the wealthy, but for the students who crave it and deserve it.”
Mimi wished it was that way back home. There should be more scholarships, she thought to herself as she passed classrooms with green chalkboards and golden desks. On the walls were magnificent paintings framed in gold. Mimi noted with interest that the oil paintings of the floating island were in natural colors.
A few more turns of classrooms and gyms, and they entered a hall with only one room. The double doors to the room were not like the steam-powered sliding doors in the gym, but covered in stained glass like the entrance to the Academy. Instead of the symbols of Alchemy, the stained glass depicted a cherry blossom tree on a grass hill, with a tiny Yin-Yang symbol. Mimi smiled, feeling peace envelop her.
“This is the cafeteria,” Aimon said. “All the students eat their daily meals here. Except for on special holidays, when we gather in the Grand Hall. Sometimes there are school dances there as well. But this is the main dining area. It sometimes gets rowdy with all seven years dining together.”
Mimi smiled as she imagined all of the long tables filled with chatting students. She imagined herself sitting at one of the back tables, studying Alchemy and eating delicious meals. It was such a cool-looking space, with wide, tall windows stretching up to form a glass dome skylight. It was a welcome change for the eyes when everything else was made of gold, offering a complete 360° view of the city surrounding the school. From this point of view, Mimi thought the city looked much larger than when they were walking through it. She wanted to linger and admire the city view some more, but noticed Aimon had walked ahead of them. She and Bas followed.
Bas patted her on the back and whispered, “You did good back there, demanding for the test.”
Mimi was surprised by this comment, given his recent behavior. “Thanks. I told your dad I would try and I did.”
“Yes, he’d be proud.”
Being a people-pleaser at heart, Mimi loved to hear such compliments.
Aimon led them into a room that was like a den, office, and bedroom all in one. Peeking out from behind an Asian-style divider was a twin bed with bookshelves above it. The divider looked like a combination of rice paper and bamboo stalks. Another wall was lined with cherry bookshelves, with hundreds of books bound by leather on the shelves.
Crammed between the books were scrolls of parchment paper. Although Mimi felt an overwhelming desire to organize the shelves, she was almost salivating at the beauty of all the books. It was a library that would make any bookworm drool. Flanked next to the bookshelves, backed by the window, was a small couch perfect for an afternoon read.
In the center of the room was a wide, wooden desk on which sat a golden computer monitor. The desk looked messy, but Mimi had a hunch that there was a system to the piles of madness. The room was comforting to Mimi, warm and cozy, and she longed to spend all day exploring those handsome bookshelves.
Aimon’s voice pulled her from her bibliophile desire and back to reality. “This is my room. One of the perks of being the headmaster’s son is I don’t need a roommate. This is all mine.” He looked around the room with affection. “We should be safe here. I hate lying to my father and not telling him about visitors, but I don’t want to cross him with the news you are here, Bas.”
“Okay, seriously, what did you do?” Mimi asked Bas accusingly.
Bas looked away, ignoring her. Mimi folded her arms in disapproval. A knock sounded on the door, followed by two more quick knocks. A signal.
“Come in!” Aimon yelled.
There was a hiss of steam, and a whoosh as the door opened from the top. In walked Richie and Albert. Mimi’s younger brother was wearing a wide smile.
“Mimi! Even the pool is made of gold!” cried Albert.
“That’s cool,” she said with a smile, squeezing his shoulder. “Thank you for watching him,” she added to Richie.
Richie returned the smile, his eyes lingering on her. Mimi’s pleasure at being reunited with her brother as requested turned to embarrassment. What was he thinking, staring at her like that? He looked intense, like he was actually taking notice of her, thinking about her.
To her shock, Richie gave her a tiny wink, so quick she almost didn’t catch it. “That’s okay,” he said with a little laugh. “He’s cool. And it’s really cool to meet a pair of time travelers!”
Mimi peered at her brother, giving him a world-class older-sister accusatory glare.
“You told him we were from the past?” she asked Albert with great disapproval. “Bas said to keep that a secret!” Albert shook his head. “He said keep the Time Shifters a secret! Totally not the same thing!”
Mimi groaned at her brother’s big mouth, and turned to look at Bas for direction. The time traveler ran a hand over his spiky hair, looking uncomfortable. “Actually, most folks don’t ask what year I’m from. So it never really comes up if I’m a time traveler or not. But the Time Shifters are very much a secret.”
“So we’re both right?” asked Albert, as if he was disappointed there wasn’t a winner.
Bas nodded.
“What’s a Time Shifter?” asked Aimon curiously.
“Nothing!” said Bas, Mimi, and Albert all at once.
“Weren’t we getting dinner?” asked Richie impatiently, placing a hand over his growling stomach.
AS THEY sat down for dinner in the next room down the hall, Mimi noticed that Richie made a point to sit next to her. You’re reading into this, she reprimanded herself. She had never been an option or matter of interest before.
Bas took a seat at the end next to Richie, and Aimon and Albert sat across from them on the other side of the table.
“I took the liberty of calling for dinner while you were showing our time traveling guests around,” said Richie. Mimi noted his calm confidence, and the way his voice seemed to command attention without being demanding. She wished she had his ease and confidence.
“Thank you Richie, I just showed them the gym. Luckily Logan and Darcy were providing the perfect fighting demonstration during a friendly spar.”
“That was friendly?” asked Mimi.
“Those two finally get together?” asked Richie in a hopeful tone.
“No, it didn’t look like it,” replied Aimon, then smirked. “But I thought you had a date tonight, Richie, with Julia. Or was it with Betty? I can’t keep up wit
h all your girls, you know.”
Richie smiled. “I did have a date, but Betty asked for a raincheck since she wanted to spend the whole weekend studying.”
Mimi decided she liked this Betty.
The door swooshed upward with a hiss of steam and in strolled an old lady in a blue kimono, confirming the oriental flair Mimi had noted in the school. On the woman’s feet were wooden sandals that clanked loudly as she walked. She pushed a golden trolley cart toward the table. On the trolley was a tea set with a black kettle and a steaming silver dome covering a plate of food.
The old lady lifted the lid dramatically to reveal their dinner. As soon as Mimi saw the glazed carrots mixed with water chestnuts, baby corn, broccoli flowers, roasted chestnuts, and plump bits of chicken, her stomach growled. In under a minute, a plop of sticky rice was on her golden plate and covered with stir fry. Her golden chalice was filled to the brim with cold water. Mimi didn’t wait for an invitation to begin eating.
The others were quiet as they ate, lending truth to what Ursula was always saying about a good meal silencing mouths. As she chewed, Mimi became conscious that Richie was watching her. His eyes followed her fork to her mouth, and it made her shiver. Why was he watching her like that? What did she matter in his eyes?
“What?” she asked him.
“Well,” started Richie. He paused to take a bite of his food. “You don’t seem like the type Aimon normally hangs out with.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, he doesn’t have a lot of friends.”
“That’s shocking,” Mimi deadpanned.
That made Richie snicker, but she noticed that he didn’t argue or defend Aimon. Based on his earlier judgements of her, Mimi could see how he wouldn’t have many friends.
“I think the only reason he’s letting me taking a test to see if I can learn Alchemy is because he’s friends with Bas. Aimon said I have a weak vessel, and he doesn’t like me because of it,” she confessed.
“Mhmm,” was all Richie replied.
I might not be the strongest girl in school, but that doesn’t make me worthless. Mimi peered up at Aimon as she took another bite, and the disdain in his eyes made her hunch over in dismay. She suddenly didn’t feel hungry.
But then she felt another pair of eyes peering at her. She stared at Richie as he openly studied her.
“What are you staring at?” she hissed at him.
“I was wondering your clothing size.”
It was a creepy answer, but at least he was forthcoming. “I’m a large.”
“I’m sorry if I came across as…” he paused, as if searching for the right word, “weird or desperate, but I was just curious. A large is nothing to be ashamed of. Unlike Aimon, I believe a vessel is more complicated than what it shows on the outside. Because with the right determination, it doesn’t matter what you look like, you can do anything with the right training and gumption.”
“But it doesn’t matter what you think,” she said with slight regret. If Richie was the one making this decision, then she wouldn’t need to prove herself. “It’s Aimon who I need to impress.”
Richie tapped his chin thoughtfully, then gave a charming smile. It was a powerful smile that made Mimi almost forget he had the nerve to ask for her size. It was weird, but he was being nice to her, and she appreciated that.
“I might not be the one who has to make the decision; that right does belong to Aimon. But I bet you anything I can get Aimon to give you a couple of days to prepare for the test. I will find you a private room and train you myself. We can do it lockdown, boot-camp style and I’ll teach you the basics of Tai Chi. We will show Aimon that with the right training, you will make a great sister of Alchemy.”
“Why would you help me?” she asked.
“Because you’re gorgeous,” he answered without hesitation.
Mimi picked at the cashews on her plate with her fork. “I’m not gorgeous. I’m fat.”
Richie shook his head. “Beauty’s not always on the outside. You’ve got spunk. And I always root for the underdog if they’ve got spunk. You stood up to Aimon and demanded a test. Not many people have stood up to him. My gold is on you, kid.”
Her cheeks felt hot as he winked at her and she took another bite of her meal. Maybe he was right. Maybe she was the underdog of her own story. Mr. Barkley had said she couldn’t help others if she didn’t believe in herself. Maybe it was time she started to.
“You might have to help me with getting some confidence as a warrior,” she admitted. “But it’s a deal. If you can convince Aimon to give me time to prepare for the test, I’ll let you be the one who trains me for it. I think I can use all the help I can get.”
The wide grin he gave her made her whole body flush with heat. She took a sip of her cool water before adding, “Just so we are clear, I have a lot of catching up to do in learning Alchemy. So I won’t have time to worry about cute boys while training.”
Richie chuckled. “So you think I’m cute?”
Mimi blushed again but said nothing. She suddenly wasn’t sure she could learn Tai Chi from someone as charming and distracting as Richie.
“What are you two talking about?” Bas asked them in his posh British accent.
“Mimi’s blushing! Mimi’s got a boyfriend!” teased Albert, and he and Bas burst out laughing.
Mimi’s eyes shot daggers at her younger brother.
Aimon cleared his throat, interrupting the laughter. “Let us return to a professional state. Bas, you said you had something to turn into gold?”
Bas nodded. “That’s right. A brass trumpet. I reckon it won’t take but two days to cure.”
“Perhaps they should stay here, Aimon, in the Academy,” Richie jumped in. “I’m sure we can keep Bas hidden from your dad, and that will give Mimi a great opportunity to learn about Alchemy while this trumpet cures.”
Mimi nodded. Two days wasn’t much time to learn the basics of such a complicated skill, but it was a start. Beggars couldn’t be choosers.
Aimon scowled at Bas, then nodded. “Fine. For two days they can be our guests. But do stay out of trouble this time,” he said, making eye contact with Bas.
Mimi was dying to know what he had done. Bas was too good of a secret-keeper when it came to some things. As the conversation picked up again, she looked at Richie and whispered, “Thank you.”
“Thank me when it’s over, kid. Tai Chi is difficult. But I have faith in you. Our lock-down lesson will help. Just keep your spirits up and you’ll be good.”
Mimi smiled at him, and then turned to hear what Aimon was saying.
“Bas, this trumpet of yours, why do you wish for it to be turned into gold?” he was asking.
“Yep! My trumpet. Gift from Duke Ellington. And why not gold? Brass can be boring when most of your ship is made of it!”
Mimi scowled at Bas. “You use the word gift’ very loosely.” Tricking a trumpeter wasn’t the same as receiving a gift.
Bas chuckled nervously and touched his spiked hair. “Yeah, maybe I do.”
“Ship?” asked Richie.
“Never mind,” said Bas dismissively. Mimi knew they all had said too much, and was thankful they were in the company of trusted friends.
“Well what are we waiting for?” asked Albert excitedly. “I can’t wait to see this Alchemy stuff in action!”
Mimi stared at him. It seemed too educational to be Albert’s cup of tea. “You’re interested in Alchemy, Albert?”
“Yeah! I love that anime show with the two brothers who use Alchemy. I can’t wait to see if it’s anything like that!”
Mimi scoffed. “Albert, not everything is like television.”
“I know, Mimi, I know what fiction is. But how cool would it be if it was like Full Metal Alchemist?”
Mimi pressed her palm to her forehead. She was too tired and anxious to argue the ill-logic of her imaginative younger brother.
“Well I suppose now is as good time as any,” agreed Aimon.
“Yes!” cried Bas, who was as excited as Albert to see his trumpet turn from brass into gold.
Mimi wasn’t overly excited, too anxious to care about this little demonstration. Regardless, she followed the group, lingering behind to walk beside Richie.
Richie impressed her. He thought there was more to beauty than appearance, and that was something Mimi hadn’t heard from a guy in a long time, save her father. She was curious to know how Richie had become so much more mature, since Aimon’s opinion of her made it clear it wasn’t just an attitude of the time. Dying to know more but too timid to ask, Mimi remained silent.
The Academy was indeed a large one, and she had to admit she no longer had an idea where they were. Instead of trying to map out the Academy, she allowed herself to admire the occasional Oriental painting that hung on the golden walls. When they arrived at another room, Mimi hurried forward to stand between Bas and Albert.
“So how does Alchemy really work, then?” asked Mimi.
“Well,” said Aimon slowly, “I guess it’s sort of like photography, and sort of like cooking. It’s complicated and takes a few years to master and really understand. I started when I was young, but had the advantage of my father teaching me before I began my Academy lessons. There are many ingredients and powders, and I’m afraid I can’t explain it all in one night. But the object that is turned into gold basically must cure for a couple of days, at least forty-eight hours for best results. But just like it takes more than a night to explain the secrets of Alchemy, so it will take you longer than two days to prime yourself for my exam. Still, let me demonstrate to you the basic process of how it works, even if I don’t have the time to explain it as I go.”
Mimi folded her arms, having caught his slight toward her. She would be ready in two days. She wanted to start now, but paid attention as Aimon reached over his desk and grabbed a petri dish filled with shards of brass, a clear vial of metallic-looking liquid, and then another dozen vials containing various materials. She swallowed a dozen questions as he poured the ingredients into a black box.