I snorted at that.

  Chapter 8 - A Potion for Your Thoughts

  Rizal became quiet after our discussion of legendary classes. He didn’t say another word as we flew back to town on his larger cloud spell. He never asked me why I hid my identity as a dragon or pried into my life. He obviously had some insights which I had not hesitated to share with him, but it seemed that my very nature raised questions for him to ponder—or perhaps gave him some inspiration. If only more humans were like him, I wouldn’t have to hide in this tiny body all the time.

  He would make a good tutor. I was more than happy to learn from him. Now, though, I needed to think about what he had said. That was how I found myself walking around the campus of the university. Other humans, as always seemed to be the case, were everywhere. They scurried about, running from place to place in their short lives. It almost reminded me of an ant nest, so much busy work.

  Today, though, it felt odd. Perhaps it was the sharp contrast this bustling about had to the training I had just undergone. The storm had been powerful, violent even. It was certainly loud, yet there had been a natural flow to it. There was something I could predict about it.

  Even after all of these months amongst them, humans were still an oddity to me. Other beings, in general, were so odd. It was as though my own self was too big to have room in my world for the rest of them.

  I blame the distraction of my thoughts for not realizing that I was being stalked. Well, perhaps ‘stalked’ wasn’t the right word, but it was certainly more than a casual brush by. One of the things that I had learned as a way of surviving around all these humans was how to discern when they were not paying me any attention. They would walk by, oblivious to my glory, caught up in their own miserable little lives.

  This was different. This time, a human had sought me out and I was so distracted that I didn’t even realize it, until she spoke.

  “A potion for your thoughts?”

  I heard the words, but they were just so much more background noise.

  Then that same voice came again. “I know I’m not some pretty young thing like your friend, but surely you can spare some time for an old woman?”

  I turned my head this time and saw the alchemist, Cassandra. She was walking along beside me. It disturbed me a bit that I had been so distracted that I’d let her this close. She could have attacked. There was no way I’d ever let another dragon get this close to me unawares, but humans became just background noise. It was a bad habit. Most of them might be pathetically weak, but as I had seen, there were some with a bit of a bite to them.

  “What does that mean?” I replied.

  She laughed. It wasn’t a mocking sound, like I often heard from Modessa as she interacted with people. Nor was it the guileless cheerful mirth I heard from Cami. No, this was a rich and pure tone. It almost struck me as the type of laughter that I might expect from an elder. She was probably a few years older than me, but not that much older.

  “Most young men around the university seem to be focused on one of two things,” the alchemist replied. “Either they are pursuing their studies and trying to prove themselves or they are chasing after some pretty, young girl. Often it’s both at the same time.”

  “No… no, thank you. I know now all I ever want to know about hu… err… about mating rituals. I wondered what you meant by ‘a potion for your thoughts’.”

  “Ah, that...” She shrugged. “It’s an old alchemist’s joke.”

  I stopped walking then as I turned to fully face her. Despite looking so old, she was rather spry for a human. I took this as proof she was likely high leveled. She didn’t seem to falter as she, too, came to a stop and looked up at me. She had to be on the shorter side for a human, so I was forced to look down at her. “I simply don’t understand it. Are you trying to buy my secrets from me?”

  She grinned. “Why? Have you got some juicy secrets?”

  My expression grew grim and she must have noticed. “No, no…” She chuckled. “It’s a harmless expression. Didn’t your grandmother ever say, ‘A penny for your thoughts?’ I know mine sure did.”

  Grandmother… I understood what the term meant, but the idea that I would have had physical interaction with either my sire’s or my mother’s mother was bizarre.

  “I never knew her,” I muttered. A part of me wondered if extended family relationships weren’t what made humans both so odd and yet more powerful than they should have been.

  “Well then, I’m sorry about that, lad. Us old folk do have something worth hearing from time to time. A penny is an old term for a copper bit. It isn’t worth that much, but it’s a way of asking someone what they’re thinking. Alchemists just switched it to say a potion, but I suppose as I explain it, that it isn’t very funny.”

  I wondered for a second if this was some sort of subtle attack. Was she trying to read my mind? I quickly discarded such thoughts. This human was one of the few who I’d enjoyed interacting with up to this point. That, and I was interested in learning from her.

  “I want to learn alchemy. I have uses for it.”

  Her laughter became a bit giddy at that point. It reminded me of the joy which Cami expressed at times. “I’ve never heard it stated quite so bluntly, my boy, but I suppose no one really starts studying anything here unless they have a use for it… at least not at your age. As you get older, you might find that sometimes you’ll pursue a field of study simply because you’re curious about it.”

  I stared at her for a moment, searching for any double meaning in her words. Curiosity had brought me to where I was, after all. Being honest with myself, it was what kept me here.

  “You don’t have to look at me like I’m going to bite you. I gave that up a long time ago. Granted, I understand your interaction with professors here may not have been the best of late.”

  “You know about that?”

  She grinned. “I expect everyone knows about it, although some of the rumors flying about are completely off the handle. It isn’t every day, every year, or even every decade that a professor—in this case, the headmaster no less—attempts to restrain a pair of students with magic. Oh, it’s happened in the past, but I don’t think that a pair of mentors and their party members ever attacked the offending professor… certainly not on the quad.”

  I didn’t say anything as I processed her words. This changed things. I wasn’t quite sure how, but if I was already known for having fought the headmaster, then things might become more complicated.

  “Oh, don’t worry, Tolston’s spell knocked out most of the students. The professors all know, or have a very good idea, about what actually happened—as well as, perhaps, a number of adventurers who live on or around the university. Anyone who is above level ten, that is. Anyone below that was probably knocked out by his spell.” She tapped her chin. “Who would have expected the man to apply a legendary perk to a sleep spell?”

  My ears pricked up at mention of a legendary perk. What was she talking about?

  “Anyway, most of the students have heard stories about what happened. The stories are generally incorrect, and some of the wilder rumors are that you and your friend attacked the headmaster and fought him to a standstill until some adventurers broke it up. You may have noticed how many of the students keep staring at you whenever they think you aren’t looking. They all want to ask you about it, but you have something of a reputation for being unapproachable.”

  Now that she mentioned it, I had noticed that something felt off about the humans I’d walked amongst here at the university today. My fellow students had been unusually quiet around me. Normally, they’d be walking from place to place in small groups chattering incessantly, but not today.

  Now that I was aware of it, it disturbed me even more. I really had been lost in thought. I needed to take better precautions than this. My mind raced, trying to understand what I had learned.

  I wanted to master the storm, and I wanted to evolve my mind, I just wasn’t sure what that might mean. Or what I needed to do next. Two positive interactions back-to-back with humans were also likely throwing me off.

  “So, what do you want for your instruction?” I asked.

  She laughed again. “Nico, you are a sheer delight. It’s almost like you grew up in a cave on some mountainside. You are both blunt and oblivious at the same time.”

  How did she know that? Had I been that obvious that this human knew about me already?

  She shook her head as I glowered at her. “No, I’m not insulting you. Actually, it’s quite refreshing.” She paused, studying me. “I just haven’t figured you out yet. You may be the most interesting student that has come through the gates of this university in some time.”

  I puffed up my chest before I caught myself. No simple praise was going to throw me off my game. I had to be smarter than that. At the same time, a sickening awareness of how easily I had been swayed in the past hit me. Even Tolston’s gold, as delightful as that quantity sounded, had to be seen for what it was.

  It was time to leave the nest—and with it, my foolishness. I determined then and there to be wiser in my dealings with humans, to be less swayed by my ego, and more aware of what was happening around me.

  If only it were as simple as willing such to be so.

  When I didn’t say anything, she continued, “Your mentor has already worked it out with me, and the headmaster approved. You’ll be joining me for some alchemy this semester. Tolston expects you to jump straight into my fall class, which will be over in a month. We are already preparing for end of semester exams.”

  I snorted. What use had I for their exams?

  “That wouldn’t be of any use to you,” she admitted, “and would only distract the other students. So, what I’m proposing is individualized one-on-one training until the spring semester. Then, you can join in the regular class.”

  “Good, I have no use for a class full of hum… other people.” I caught myself, but realized that I was going to have to stay vigilant.

  I could see one day revealing my true nature to Cassandra, but not yet. I liked her, but I had already taken too big of a chance with Rizal. It had paid off, and I still believed it was the right decision, but I needed to be more deliberate.

  “No,” she agreed, “you do seem to be more of a loner. Although, that Camille girl is quite fetching. I can see why you enjoy being around her.”

  Really? I groaned. “It isn’t like that. Why does everyone assume I am trying to mate with her?”

  “I don’t think anyone would put it quite like that, but that is what most young men think about around young, beautiful women. Is it not?” She quirked an eyebrow at me, frowning. “Never mind, though. You’ve made yourself clear. I won’t push the issue. So tell me, what use do you have for alchemy?”

  “Three things, really. Much of my fighting style relies upon physical contact. I’ve heard that potions can be made which can enhance the body on a temporary basis. That sounds like it could be very useful in combat.”

  Cassandra nodded. “Oh, so a booster, then. Okay, I can work with that. It wasn’t ever my primary area of interest in alchemy, but I certainly know plenty of recipes. Many people scoff at alchemy for boosting stats and abilities because the boosts are only temporary. What they forget, though, is that unlike enchantments which will most commonly only have a flat effect, potions can have both flat bonuses or percent based bonuses since they work on the body of the one consuming it. Yes, I know there are rare enchantments which are percentage based, as well, but those are few and far between… not to mention excessively expensive.”

  I thought about what she’d said. That made sense. It also gave me a new perspective on the value of the belt I had received from Forlay’s King. He really had gone all out to earn my favor.

  “And the second and third reason?” she asked.

  “Oh yes, um… I was wondering if alchemy could be used to carry out… uh… some pranks.” I struggled for an appropriate way to express my desire to use alchemy to torment Modessa.

  Clarissa giggled, “Now, I really know we are going to get along. I won’t help you poison anyone, but yes… alchemy can definitely help you get revenge on a rival. Imagine giving them a case of gas so bad that they can’t be in polite society for a couple of days.”

  Cassandra rubbed her hands together as she spoke. She clearly liked the idea. And here I’d been worried about her reaction.

  She asked, “And the third reason?”

  “Oh yes, is it true that alchemy can be used to turn lesser metals into gold?”

  She smiled.

  Interlude 2 – Working Meditation

  It had been difficult for Cami with Nico gone. She could feel him training and knew that he was growing, but she couldn’t do anything like that herself—well, other than some sparring with Modessa and some further practice on her shadow magic. But more than anything, she’d been trying to sit down and simply meditate. Both Modessa and Lisella always made it look so easy. For Cami, though, her mind just kept drifting to other subjects

  It dawned on her that working meditation would probably be the best thing for her. She quickly gathered her things and moved from her room in the dorms to Daggin’s workshop. The half-dwarf was only too happy to see her. He made room for her to work at the forge and he summoned Nico’s other minion, Rubin, the enchanter.

  Hmm… when did she start thinking of the two of them first and foremost as Nico’s minions? That was rather odd. Even considering it now, she was pleased that they had made the wise decision to become his minions. It helped her companion, and it helped them. To her, it represented a perfect symbiotic relationship.

  Well, perhaps not perfect… perfect was what she had with Nico. But it was definitely an advantageous relationship. Bearing that in mind, she reached another conclusion—she needed to help Nico find more minions. The weight of that decision settled onto her. It wasn’t that she felt like they’d be taking advantage of anyone. It was more like that she needed to protect Nico, by making sure that he only got quality minions.

  Cami examined her feelings about why she had pushed so hard against Nico taking Modessa or even Lisella, as his minions. Modessa was her minion, but if she thought about it long enough, Cami realized that she didn’t completely trust Modessa. Modessa was very much what Miseria had called her: a broken child. In some ways, Cami thought of her as a sister. But Modessa was more like that sister who had her own agenda, and who was always trying to get you to do what she wanted.

  As for signing Lisella up to be a minion, Cami tried to tell herself that it wouldn’t work because of what she saw as the priestess’ divided loyalties. Cami believed that Lisella already wanted what was best for Nico, even if she had a bit of a patronizing way of thinking she knew what that was. Older people did that a lot and Lisella was already past thirty. That wasn’t much younger than Cami’s mother.

  Still, if she was being honest with herself, Cami realized it was mostly because she didn’t like the way that Lisella looked at Nico. It had been painful for Cami to realize how oblivious Nico was to her own feelings for him. He had absolutely no concept of romance with a human. But how could he?

  It was small comfort that Lisella’s attentions had first been the ones so summarily dismissed.

  Cami never forgot for a single instant that Nico was a dragon. But their bond made her see him as a person, a being, not a body. She had hoped he would come to see her in the same way. It didn’t hurt that his human form was incredibly attractive, but she’d pushed that away.

  With Lisella, she didn’t believe that the woman had completely ruled out having that type of relationship with Nico. If the priestess thought that it would be of some benefit to Forlay or to the church of Miseria, who knew what she would do? And Lisella clearly hadn’t come to terms with just how different Nico’s way of thinking was.

  This was far more complicated than it should be. Cami swung the hammer, working the metal some more. She liked this. It freed her mind. She was a woman now, and while she might not have any intentions of getting married, what would be the harm in letting some of the many boys—or rather, the young men who constantly sent her gifts and letters—take her out?

  Some of them were even nobles. Since Cami had been declared to be a true dragon rider, there had even been proposals of courtship. Most of those were fielded and immediately shut down by Modessa, but a few notes had found their way into her room. It was nice to be pursued and thought of as a beauty.

  No. She shook her head. She couldn’t get distracted. Something of a fun diversion might be alright, but nothing serious. She needed to keep her focus. Power was the goal. She wanted to be Nico’s partner, after all.

  ___________________________

  Modessa paced in her room. She hated this feeling. It was this very feeling which had pushed her to work so hard. She never wanted to feel helpless. No, she never wanted to feel… lesser.