There was nowhere more interesting than a large public library for someone who is so thirsty for knowledge. Two friends met there, and ever since then they made sure to examine each row of books for something interesting.

Sometimes one of them would stray too deep into the library, and it would be nearly impossible for the other to find them until they reemerge. Sometimes they do leave without the other, but it was just how they were. They knew what it was like to be so engrossed.

Aubrey watched his redheaded friend, Val, gesture at the opposite side of the library informing him that this is where she'd want to go. Giving her a wave, he went on his way to the far back of the library where he was hoping that he'd find something of interest.

There was nothing unusual about it, they've done this many times, and even when he stood in the dimmer part of the library where it smelled more prominently of dust and old books, Aubrey didn't feel nervous. Not even when everything became suddenly quiet as if he accidently went into another realm.

It was all quite relaxing to him, but sadly he found himself growing disappointed with each passing minute the more titles he read.

"Nothing." He huffed in disappointment as he crossed his arms.

None of the books caught his attention. They were all about topics he had no interest in, or ones he already knew a lot about. Being an avid reader can sometimes have its own downsides when one runs out of things to read, and Aubrey found himself unable to find anything.

It almost made him want to turn around and leave, but he still had a sliver of hope that maybe – if he looked hard enough – he'd find something.

But then an old black tattered book caught his interest. It had no title and the name of the author wasn't anywhere on display. It made his curiosity get the better of him when he reached out for it, and he inhaled in anticipation as he opened it and looked through its content. It wasn't what he had expected.

His whole body deflated in a renewed disappointment when he realized that it really wasn't anything interesting, just a book about the art of making wands.

Wands which are a rarely used instrument and had very specific uses. Uses that were just as dull as reading a book about how they're made.

With a disgruntled sound, Aubrey found himself returning the book where it once was before he frowned. Something wasn't quite right. A sudden feeling of discomfort and fear started to rise in him as he felt his hairs sticking up, and he felt like there was something else there with him. Something ominous.

It was only when he turned his head to peer behind him did he find himself looking someone in the eye.

"Hello." That person greeted casually, and Aubrey didn't know what to think as he let out a surprised sound when he stepped away. They were too close.

Aubrey felt wary as the person approached him. "Uh, hi?"

"Stay still, I wanna tell you something." For some reason Aubrey didn't move when he was told that as he wondered just what that person wanted from him. He blamed his curiosity for his lack of caution when he allowed that person to lean down and whisper something in his ear.

He didn't know exactly what that person said to him, but he did know that he found himself tied up to a chair with two people staring down at him with no memory of how he got there. Another guy was sitting in the back looking very nervous.

The two standing before him were a very tall old lady next to a taller guy next to her. Something about them made Aubrey lean back in his chair unhappy about this whole situation he found himself in. Everything about them was intimidating, and he wondered why everyone was so tall when the guy in the back stood up to approach the old lady.

At least he looked normal.

"I never agreed to this." The nervous guy said eyeing Aubrey with concern.

The old lady scoffed at that. "I don't really care."

"You never do." The other guy hummed, and Aubrey recognized that he was the one who approached him in the library. He seemed a lot more relaxed and unconcerned than the others while the old lady scrutinized him with a thoughtful look on her face.

Looking around, he realized that he was in a cottage filled with so many things that piqued his interest, and while he was undoubtedly kidnapped, he found himself not caring much about that detail when he saw the bubbling cauldron and the suspicious-looking potions.

"You're an alchemist." Aubrey blurted out looking up at the old lady with eyes filled with wonder and interest. That made her frown at him at the unexpected, but true, remark.

There was a reason for his excitement. Not many people delved into alchemy due to how difficult and inconvenient it was. It's easier for spellcasters to cast their spells and move on rather than look for ingredients and mix potions, but alchemy was more than just potions. It allowed for many other applications and unique transmutations not too dissimilar to science.

In fact, it is science. A magical branch of it.

And this woman, whoever she was, seemed like she had a vast experience.

"You're not going to ask why you're here?" She asked with mild curiosity as she leaned over at him holding the back of his chair to support herself. If Aubrey wasn't so fascinated, he'd be terrified. "For all you know we cou-"

He didn't even listen to her words when he cut her off. "Are you willing to teach me? Please?"

This surprised her more than it annoyed her as she narrowed her eyes at him, and the tall guy behind her snorted trying to hold back a laugh. "Teach you?"

"Yes." He nodded his head eyeing everything excitedly. "You clearly know what you're doing."

The way she slowly leaned back in a moment of consideration made the tall guy behind her instantly stop and knit his eyebrows looking like he wasn't too fond of the idea, while the other one just sat in silence observing the whole thing with bewilderment.

"You're not actually going to-"

But the old lady waved her hand and the ropes that were tying Aubrey to the chair instantly fell to the ground. His flattery worked. "I always wanted a student."

The tall guy kept his frown. "You never sai-"

"I don't tell you everything, you useless thing." She spat at him giving him a glare when she turned around. "He'll be my student starting now."

Aubrey couldn't believe how easily it was to get a mentor as he looked around the place with a grin on his face. The nervous guy looked like he wanted to tell him to run away, but he didn't care. Not when he finally found someone so experienced.

Aubrey dabbled in alchemy before, but now it seems like he has an opportunity to venture further into it with someone guiding him. That's when he realized that he was taken here against his will and decided to finally inquire about that, almost as an afterthought.

"Why was I brought here?"

The tall guy gave him a flat look. "A little bit late to be asking that, don't you think?"

He did have a point, and Aubrey found himself pursing his lips with a shrug feeling a little dumb. The old lady didn't take too kindly to her apprentice being talked to like that, and she instantly made one of the books fly towards that guy's head making him let out a pained groan after it hit him.

"You, shut up." She told him before she turned to the other guy. "And you, get out. I want you here tomorrow."

The guy didn't look like he liked any of this, but he still walked out of the door before the old lady turned to him.

"We know about you, Whitlock." Aubrey sat up in surprise at the mention of his family name, and he felt like he shouldn't have been so lax at the beginning. After all, they brought him here for a reason. "And we know that you can't cast any spells."

"How..." He found himself asking, speechless.

His family crest wasn't on his person, and there was nobody else other than his family who knew his secret. To be born into a powerful family only to be unable to cast any spells was something unheard of, it just didn't happen. Not even to regular families. This was a well-kept secret of his, but somehow this old lady and – what seemed to be – her helper knew.

That's why he was excited about alchemy. There's no real need for magic in alchemy.

But should he trust this crazy old lady and her definitely suspicious helper?

Maybe it was unwise, but when she smiled slyly at him, he found himself not really minding it all that much. Something about her just made him intrigued. His heart skipped a beat when she crossed her arms looking smug, almost arrogant, as she answered him.

"I have my ways."

Aubrey grinned up at her not caring about how she knew about his inability to cast spells or who he was, all he cared about was how amazing she seemed to be. She might be odd, but He absolutely loved her.

And to the chagrin of her helper, Aubrey found himself a mentor.