“Alchemy is different... It doesn’t just amplify or add—it transforms... It takes what already exists and changes its very essence. A stone can become iron. A tree can become medicine. Even people… can become a better version of themselves.”

The Welton’s family dining room brimmed with a nostalgic energy. Its rustic charm is accentuated by the dim, flickering light of the cast-iron chandelier. The room was alive with the soft murmur of conversation. Clinking of utensils against earthenware plates fills the room as the conversation goes. Fire crackled in the hearth, casting playful shadows that seemed to dance to the rhythm of voices blending together in warm familiarity.

Eddie sat at his usual spot, his gaze drifting to the framed portrait above the hutch. He sees a younger version of himself smiling beside his parents. His thoughts were a jumble, caught somewhere between the present and the past. It felt surreal to have his aunt Catherine here after so long, joining them at the family table.

Across from Eddie sat Catherine. Her short, uneven red hair shimmered in the firelight, and her emerald green eyes—eerily similar to Eddie’s—sparkled with the humour that always seemed ready to burst into mischief.

“It’s been, what, fifteen years since I last came through Weshaven?” Catherine mused, leaning back in her chair and shooting Alyssa a playful glance. “Barely feels like a moment.”

Alyssa raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a smirk. “Fifteen years is hardly a moment, Cathy. Only an Elf like you would think that’s a short time.”

“Oh, come now, Ally.” Catherine replied with a mock huff. “You make it sound like I abandoned you!”

“You did!” Alyssa protested, folding her arms. “You vanished to chase adventure while I was stuck here, growing wrinkles and silver hair.” She gestured dramatically at herself before leaning forward with a grin. “Meanwhile, you look exactly the same as you did when I was twelve.”

“Perks of being the responsible older sister,” Catherine shot back with a wide smile.

“Responsible?” Alyssa laughed, the sound rich and familiar. “You call skipping town for years on end ‘responsible’? If memory serves, you’ve been running from responsibility for as long as I can remember.”

Catherine flashed a fond smile. “I wasn’t running. I was traveling. Learning. And teaching, thank you very much.”

“Oh, teaching?” Alyssa leaned in, clearly enjoying herself. “You mean picking up random kids off the streets and dragging them along on your whirlwind adventures?”

Robert, who had been listening with an amused expression, decided to interject. “Sounds familiar. Pretty sure I was one of those random kids once.”

“Exactly, Robert!” Catherine said breezily, though her smile widened. “They’re lucky to have me. My last student, for instance—a kid from the school somewhere in King’s Grave—turned out to be the princess of a royal family living there. She insisted on following me everywhere. ‘Teach me this, Master Catherine,’ ‘Show me that.’” Catherine mimicked the princess’s voice with exaggerated drama, throwing her arms in the air. “Honestly, she was so pushy.”

“And yet, you let her,” Alyssa said knowingly.

“Of course, I did,” Catherine admitted with a shrug. “She had potential. Couldn’t exactly say no, could I?”

Robert, who had been quietly enjoying their banter, chimed in. “So, what brings you to Weshaven this time, Catherine? We both know you don’t just pop in for family reunions.”

Catherine hesitated for a moment before smirking. “You know me too well. My last lead brought me here. I’m looking for… something.”

Robert immediately caught the evasive tone and leaned forward, her eyes narrowing playfully. “Something? That’s suspiciously vague, even for you.”

Catherine waved a hand, brushing off the comment. “Just something important. And, before you ask, yes, I made up some excuse to leave the princess behind. She’ll survive without me for a while.”

Alyssa shook her head, chuckling. “Still dodging your responsibilities, I see. Some things never change.”

“I call it delegating, Alyssa.” Catherine corrected, her grin brightening. “But I’ll have you know, I’m quite responsible when it counts.”

Alyssa snorted, leaning back in her chair. “Sure you are, Cathy. Sure you are.”

The warmth of their sisterly bond filled the room, their teasing banter weaving a tapestry of history and affection. Eddie watched the exchange with a small smile, realising just how much Catherine’s presence brought out a side of his mother he rarely saw—playful, nostalgic, and full of life.

“Aunt Catherine, Aunt Catherine!” Torrie piped, “What exactly did you teach the princess?” She said, breaking into the conversation. Leaning forward, her wide eyes brimming with curiosity.

“I was teacher her Alchemy,” Catherine said, her tone shifting into that of a natural tutor. “She had potential, even if she didn’t always have the patience.”

“Oooh, What’s Alchemy?” Torrie asked, her head tilting. “And what makes it different from other kinds of magic?”

The opportunity to teach shone in Catherine’s sparkling light blue eyes as she leaned back. “Ah, an excellent question! Let me explain. Let’s take Bardry for example, Bardry is about amplifying what already exists—like making a whisper echo like thunder, or turning a small flame into a roaring fire. Enchantments, on the other hand, infuse an object with something new—like making a sword unbreakable or a cloak resistant to flames.”

“Alchemy is different.” She leaned forward, eyes locking onto Torrie as she continued. “It doesn’t just amplify or add—it transforms. It takes what already exists and changes its very essence. A stone can become iron. A tree can become medicine. Even people… can become a better version of themselves.”

Catherine paused, letting the thought linger, then smiled. “Alchemy sees potential in everything and everyone. It believes that anything can become something else, something better, with the right understanding and effort.”

Catherine’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Talking about Alchemy, Torrie,” she said brightly, her light blue eyes landing warmly on Eddie. “Your big brother Edward was an exceptional Alchemist back at Aella, if I’m not mistaken.”

The room stilled. Torrie’s curiosity faded into quiet confusion, and Alyssa exchanged a quick glance with Robert, her expression unreadable. Even the crackle of the fireplace seemed to recede into the background.

Oblivious to the shift in atmosphere, Catherine continued, her tone full of admiration. “Your mother wrote me the sweetest letter years ago, detailing all your accomplishments. Winning the regional alchemy competitions, consistently ranking at the top of his class…” Catherine’s voice was filled with pride, her admiration genuine. “She even said the headmaster personally complimented his work! Quite the prodigy, weren’t you, Eddie?!”

Eddie’s gaze remained fixed on his plate, the stew untouched. The praise, though meant kindly, cut deeper than Catherine could have known.

The dining room fell silent. Torrie’s wide eyes darted between Eddie and Catherine, and Alyssa’s smile faltered, her hands tightening slightly around her fork. Robert cleared his throat, but even he seemed unsure of what to say.

Alyssa cleared her throat gently, reaching out to refill Catherine’s glass of water as if to shift the conversation. “Catherine, why don’t you tell us more about King’s Grave? The princess sounds like quite a handful,” she said, her tone light but pointed.

Catherine blinked, glancing between Eddie and her sister-in-law. Slowly, understanding dawned on her face. “Oh… of course,” she said quickly, adjusting her posture. “Well, the princess has been my most persistent student yet. She has this way of…”

The conversation shifted after that. It turns into lighter topics. Catherine’s latest travel destinations, stories of Torrie’s misadventures at school, and Mr Welton’s stubborn insistence on using outdated brewing methods. With each burst of laughter, the tension lessened.

With his appetite vanished, Eddie remained fixated on his plate. The warmth of the firelight on his face felt suffocating now. He clenched his fists under the table, willing himself not to react, but his pulse thundered in his ears.

Tonight, it felt like two Eddies were sitting at the table. One was the Eddie from the past, the eager apprentice who aspired to be worthy of his family’s legacy, of the alchemical tradition. The other was the present Eddie, who sat in silence. The one drifting through life without purpose. Chained to a destiny he could no longer bring himself to accept. Then came Catherine. Smiling at him with the same admiration and encouragement she’d always had. Unaware that the nephew she thought she knew was long gone.

“Eddie?” Catherine’s voice brought him back to the present, her eyes searching his face with gentle concern. “How have you been? It’s been so long… Oh, I was meaning to ask—do you still have that recommendation letter from the Sage’s Institute Scholarships? The one you got after winning that national alchemical competition in your second year at Aella? Are you thinking of taking the tests now that you’re in your twenties?”

The question struck Eddie like a blow, his pulse quickening. He forced his grip to stay loose around the spoon in his hand. Catherine didn’t know. She couldn’t know. To her, he was still the prodigy, the star student destined for greatness.

“Uh… yeah,” Eddie said after a beat too long, his voice steady but hollow. “I’m… considering it.”

Catherine’s face lit up with excitement, her smile wide and brimming with pride. “Oh, Eddie, that’s wonderful! Do you know which university you’re planning to apply to? Concordia? Pinesworth? Alikria?” Eagerly, she leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. “Or maybe Edenfield? I remember you talking about it so much when you were younger.”

Edenfield.