Chapter 274- A helping hand

A helping hand

The weary door from the silent hall creaked open to the concoction room. The scent of medicinal herbs, potions, and lingering smoke greeted the fifteen-year-old boy as his eyes blinked naturally to regain focus. Worn tables and the familiar apparatuses saturated from the ages of countless preparations came into view. On a low stool next to a candlelit table sat the sole occupant who previously instructed him to enter.

Her brownish hair reached down to below her neck in a short hairstyle. As he watched, she dusted a strand behind a round freckled face. Her appearance seemed average with a face that would blend in well with the masses. On closer scrutiny, however, it held a shine and smoothness similar to that of a newborn baby.

She wore a gray robe under a black cloak which appeared at first glance to meld her figure into the shadows. With her elbow and hand resting on the tabletop, she seemed lost in thought as if oblivious as to the greatness of the concoction room used only by high ranking Alchemists.

"Erin Willows, correct?"

The girl asked after snapping out of her reverie.

"Yes, Lady, I mean Grandmaster Sue."

The younger boy replied as he hastily corrected his words. He bowed his golden thatched head with respect before this girl. Alchemists owned a respected history shorter only to the Tower Mages. Limerock and Frost City often argued as to which city produced the first alchemist. This concoction room had witnessed centuries of use by skilled alchemists.

The mere fact as to this girl being the first female to even dare set foot in it, testified as to her standing in the Guild.

The boy kept his hands clasped within his sleeves while waiting for the impending curses or punishment. Alchemists guarded their hard-earned titles like fighting hounds. His back remained straight as a spear while watching the girl hop off the wooden stool. One word from her and the pair of guards standing outside would haul him away.

Surprisingly, his fears did not materialize. Under the artificial lighting, he spotted what looked like curious eyes on a cheerful face. The girl approached and surveyed him before nodding. The smile grew wider as she then spoke.

"You're younger and shorter than me, so you should call me older sister. You can call me grandmaster when we have company. Otherwise, I can't guarantee your safety in the presence of those two old men. Grandmaster Bing might appear like a harmless old man but he possesses a streak of vindictiveness against those who belittle alchemists."

Erin Willows remained rooted while staring at the explanation from the girl walking back to the long counter. Coming from a noble family, the turmoil in his mind since being chosen as an assistant increased on hearing this greeting.

Did any hidden enemies of his house plot a plan against them?

Did someone pull strings so as to have him fail miserably?

The overly friendly greeting puzzled him enough for him to become distraught.

A wrong reply here against this high ranking girl could lead to expulsion from the guild. With his poor performance as a newbie, the guild wouldn't think twice to boot him out. For his almost ruined house, the alchemist guild served as the last straw and opportunity.

His ailing grandfather, the patriarch of his house, spent their remaining wealth and exhausted his old favors to enroll him into the Alchemist Guild. Since he was a baby, his father, was assigned to the northern battlements and never returned. His cousins were all younger and knew not of the intricacies of noble families. When young masters of his generation spent frivolously and enjoyed their life in Frost City, he crawled under a mountain of responsibility.

Having to question every greeting and gesture burdened his mind and tore his focus away from studying. No one knew how heartwrenching it was to witness the decay of a House during their own generation. Since being notified about this task, he questioned the reason.

As he contemplated how to reply to the girl and extricate himself from the assistant position, a bubbling laugh rang out. Blinking, he noticed the chuckling girl who had reseated herself.

"Are you thinking as to why you were summoned as my particular assistant?"

Grandmaster Sue asked. Without waiting for any visible confirmation, she continued while watching him with her innocent brown eyes.

"It was because I asked for you."

The lean boy raised an eyebrow on hearing the revelation. Looks, talent, or alchemy experience, he excelled at none. Shameful as he felt to admit it, among his generation of young masters hailing from Frost City, he probably ranked at the bottom. He watched the girl wave him over while pointing to a nearby stool.

Sighing, he plodded over and then sat. If the enemies of his house had restarted their efforts to topple them, then they truly had risen in status. This was a matter for his grandfather and the elders and not something for him to handle. Invoking talents such as this girl required no small favor.

The girl leaned closer while casting a genuine smile.

"You probably want to know why I ignored the geniuses and picked someone like you, right?"

Seeing the slight nod, the girl whispered.

"If my idea proves correct, then this experiment will create a method to increase the Military advantage in the North Pass. It will also generate heaps of gold for the Guild. By participating and gaining first-hand knowledge, your position and ease of climbing the ranks of the guild are set in stone. Why do you think you received this opportunity?"

Listening to the girl, his mind searched and found no answer. If Grandmaster Sue wanted to boot him out of the guild, she would not need to resort to underhanded methods. He answered in the best manner befitting a noble upbringing.

"Grandmaster Sue is most wise. This novice can think of no reason."

"Heh, heh, nice reply. To answer your question, it's because you belong to House Willows."

Startled, the boy stiffened as the girl continued.

"For now, let's just say that House Willows and Grandmaster Sue are tied by fate. Think of us like family."

"Family?"

"Correct. So forget whatever troubles you have and use this chance. This pill will ensure you hold a solid foundation in the Guild. Soon your house will become free from worry..."

***

The heightening creak froze the man's heart as the door opened. The welcome light invading this perpetually dark and seemingly isolated confine caused his eyes to water. Like a discovered spring, it wept down and through the unkempt beard. Blocking the heavenly light, he curled and hugged his soiled clothes. Visible grime pasted to his body while an ungodly smell churned from it.

Today his burly jailer wore a face more serious than usual. During this brief period of light, the man had spent the time conversing briefly with this member of the gang. At first, the warden remained silent but eventually replied with more than grunts. Trapped in darkness, this individual became a beacon of survival.

Sitting on the ground, the man waited for the hulking frame to push the tray of thin gruel and water towards him. As the man graciously slurped this sparse meal, he glanced at the figure leaning on the doorway. Thoughts of bolting through with his weakened body had long fled. With a sigh, the warden broke the silence first.

"Ursus, things are not looking good, I'm afraid. I just overheard a piece of bad news from the boss."

"What do you mean?"

The man asked while lowering the wooden bowl from his cracked lips.

"Our man finally spotted your friend leaving the merchant House of Gofart since he left us. He spent some serious coins at the general store before hightailing it out of the East Gate."

"What?!"

The bowl clattered to the floor while spilling its precious contents. The realization of this message generated a look of horror on the man's face. How long had he endured while waiting? Waiting for the hopeful new where his ransom was paid. He froze with eyes locked on the pitying face of his only contact over the past few days.

"Didn't I tell you the guy left here with a smirk on his face? In my position, why would I lie? I'm sorry Ursus..."

"Why? How could he? I treated him like a brother."

The man shouted before his throat gave out into a croak. He slammed his fist into the floor with no regard for the splashing gruel. The guard at the door could only pity the man with a few words.

"Fellows like that will only band together in good times. Now that your life is on the line, look how easy it is to bail."

The muscled man thumped his fist into his chest while continuing.

"You need real friends Ursus, like my brothers. Twice I got caught by a rival gang and thought the end had come. Only for my brothers to cut their way through the slums and rescue me. Look, I still have the scars to show for it. Did you know how my Boss got the scar on his face?"

The crouching man shook his head while watching the prideful look from behind his glazed eyes. His jailer smirked while continuing his story.

"He got it while rescuing me himself. Can you imagine your fat merchant boss battling his way through the slums to rescue you? Well, my boss did it for me. Remember when I told you that if I and my friends ended up in your position we would be begging for our captors to release not us but our friends instead."

As the man slumped on the floor while processing the news, the outer door banged open. Not long after, a scar-faced man arrived at the doorway. The jailer quickly exited and returned with a three-legged stool for his visiting Boss to sit.

"Ursus, born as a commoner and living eight houses inside Knuckle Lane near the East Gate. A wife called Gina and a small son named Juss. Your old man carts away refuse during the night for House Gofart. So do you but you also earn coins on the side by carrying out little thuggery tasks for them."

The scar-faced boss stated. Glaring at the man he continued.

"Your friend Rudd is a little wilder. He frequents the tavern on Gill Street and has a sly reputation. He spends most of his time fawning at the heels of his master. After entering the merchant house he finally exited tonight. He didn't waste time in scurrying out the city. Too bad for him, we caught him before the East Gate."

Snorting, the boss glanced at the man and then turned his eyes towards the dark ceiling.

"I pity you, Ursus. When we questioned your friend, Rudd, he finally broke down. Not only did both him and your master abandon you but they even plotted against you."

"What... how?"

The man barely mustered a question on hearing the tale.

"It seems as if one of those young masters from the House had an urge. Rudd admitted to even sending a message to your wife for her to visit the servant entrance of House Gofart. I won't say more."

"Those bastards! Nooo! My poor wife, how could they?"

The man wailed. He understood very well the meaning of the boss's words. Even if his wife survived the ordeal, she would become a broken woman. Only now he recalled the words of his old man who warned him about following the robes of those young masters. Sobbing, in the midst of anger and sadness, heavenly words descended to his ears.

"Hmph, in your next life, try and pick better companions. As for your wife, I sent one of my boys to your house. I've already relocated your family inside the slums where your ungrateful boss can't find them. I hate those types of people the most so consider this a favor. Little Tuck, see he has a quick death."

The Boss sighed while rising from the stool.

The jailer called Little Tuck locked eyes with the tearful but grateful prisoner before turning to his boss.

The scar-faced boss obviously knew his companions well since he picked up on the hesitation.

"What is it, Little Tuck? Out with it, we've been through thick and thin so many times that I know you have something on your mind."

Little Tuck glanced at the sentenced captive while speaking.

"Boss, sorry for stepping out of line but can't we let this man go?"

****