I was assigned to work with Avery by her table. It was old, covered in chips and carvings of people’s names on the legs and edges (including hers, on the bottom left corner). On it sat all manner of crystal beakers and tubes, filled with liquids and flower petals, metals and precious jewels, acids and chemicals – cat hair and fishtails, too. A whizzing tube was connected to the beaker with bubbling navy blue liquid, the Bunsen burner’s green light blazing bright just beneath it.

“There we are,” she said, flipping the heavy textbook beside us to a recipe of some sort. “Alright, Lavy – let’s cut to the chase as to what we’re doing today.”

I watched as she worked first. She was a bit shorter than me and was of a stockier stature. She had pale milky-white skin, nearly the same color as the white scarf she donned – if it weren’t for the constant blush on her cheeks breaking the pattern. Her hair was also a pale shade of blonde, most of it was tucked behind her white scarf. Her green eyes were curious as she turned her gaze at me, probably noticing my lingering stare.

“We’ll be doing some synthesizing alchemy, very simple, to make this recipe here.” She pointed at the illustration on the page.

I squinted my eyes at the text beneath it. The alphabet they used looked like English, but was in some sort of wonky font. I had to slow down to read, nodding my head when she asked me to grab the first ingredient. Roses covered in mildew, or at least I hope it was what the book said. As I handed three stalks of them to her, she smiled approvingly and told me to help her pluck the petals.

At the very least I could read, that way they wouldn’t suspect me too much. I could just say I was never a quick reader, which was technically true. I didn’t exactly get the best education on Earth.

“So Lavy,” Avery said, trying to make some conversation. “How are you feeling today?”

“Better, thanks to you.” I said, genuinely thankful for her help, “I must’ve been a difficult patient for you.”

“Oh, not at all. If you’ve lived six hundred years as a healer, you’ll get what I mean – there’s some wild cases out there.” She laughed.

I tried my best to ignore the ‘six hundred years as a healer’ part.

“So you’re an alchemist and healer then?” I said, plucking the rose petals, trying to ignore all the stares from the people behind us.

“Part-time alchemist at the current moment, just doing my part to help the kingdom break the curse.”

I stared at the petals in my hands, “How do rose petals help break a curse?”

She regarded me with a bemused stare, “I take it you’ve never worked in alchemy then?”

I shook my head.

“These potions we make are stored there,” she tilted her head to the corner of the room, where a large stack of wooden crates stood, “We ship these to King Odette’s Three Towers, the wizard’s division. They’re in charge of the curse breaking, while we prepare the base ingredients. Like these potions. I think you’ll see what they do soon enough though, aren’t you supposed to go on a tour later?”

“Yes, I – ”

“Gotta be careful though,” a voice came from behind, mischievous and raspy. “They say that the curse happened because of the kings.”