The four guild members looked just as hard to read as before, and the guild master took a few moments to look at Kraghtol before he spoke.
“We have discussed the matter of your admission, Krasen of Caemdir, and we have decided to grant you the knowledge you are seeking. If you still desire to join the school, I offer to formally seal the education contract on behalf of the great Alchemists’ Guild of Wardenreach for you.”
Realization dawned slowly in Kraghtol. They had accepted him. He would become an alchemist, just as he had dreamed as a child. A huge smile spread across his face. This was it; his life had turned for the better.
“I would be honored to accept your offer, Mr. Virex. Thank you so much.”
His eyes searched for more official paperwork, like the before-mentioned contract, but found none. Instead, the guild members stood up from their seats and surrounded him. He had not noticed before, but etched into the polished stone floor was a large circle, centered about on the spot where he was standing, and one by one, the teachers moved candles to the outline of the circle, until a good dozen small flickering flames separated him and the guild master, who had entered the circle as well and stood right in front of him now, from the rest of the room. Apparently, his confusion was showing, and for a moment, an enigmatic smile flashed across his heavily tattooed face.
“Do not be afraid. This is how we form an alchemical contract.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as the old man poured a silvery liquid into the lines of the circle, while the elf was ignitingan incense burner that quickly filled the room with a sweet, exotic-smelling cloud.
“How does it work?”
“Perhaps at the end of your training, you will be able to explain how this works. If you are gifted enough, that is. For now, all you need to know is that an alchemical contract forms a permanent bond between two individuals, sealing an agreement between us. Know that in order to nullify this contract, we both have to agree. And if one of us should break it unilaterally, the alchemical backlash will most probably end the life of the one who did it. Do you understand?”
Kraghtol gulped. That sounded a lot more severe than he had expected. But he had already come this far.
“I understand. What do I need to do?”
The guild master gave him a moment to reconsider before going on.
“If you agree to become a student at the alchemists’ school in Winterstone, take my hand. You will agree to pay your student fees in total and on time, for as long as you wish to continue your studies. You will also agree never to share the secrets of our crafts with people outside of the guild, neither during your education nor after it — whether or not it was successful.”
Kraghtol nodded slowly. It was clear that this was standard wording, used for every student and refined over decades. He didn’t have any objections, either; he hadn’t even considered sharing alchemical secrets with anyone before now.
He reached out his hand, but apparently, the guild master hadn’t finished.
“I, on behalf of the Alchemists’ Guild of Wardenreach, agree to see that you are formally instructed in the alchemical craft to the best of your capabilities and character. You will be given access to the necessary amounts of ingredients, including Activator, to finish your studies as your teachers see fit. If, after your education you prove to be a capable alchemist, I agree to certify you as an official practitioner.”
Kraghtol nodded again, but Thalen still went on.
“We both agree that if you repeatedly fail to demonstrate your capabilities, or if the guild finds you in severe breach of its laws, the guild may expel you without further obligation. Even in this case, you remain bound by the agreement never to share alchemical secrets and cannot practice under the guild’s name, as you are uncertified.”
Kraghtol wasn’t sure how to feel about it. This part of the contract seemed a little one-sided, but then again, it wouldn’t matter. All he had to do now was to see his education through.
“I agree,” he said, as formally as he could.
And now, the guild master took his hand firmly. For a moment, nothing happened, until the dean entered the circle, sprinkling a sparkling silvery powder over their hands. Immediately, cold blue flames erupted and engulfed their hands. It was the same blue Kraghtol knew from both his potion and the clockwork. And as before, he could physically feel something happening. The flames traveled along their arms, momentarily engulfing his right shoulder, where he felt a sudden, piercing sensation. It lasted only for one moment before the pain, along with the flames, receded, and Virex let go of his hand.
“The contract is sealed. Do not worry. You will find a physical mark representing the contract on your body — on your shoulder if I saw it right — not unlike the ones on my face.”
Kraghtol inspected the other man’s face with renewed interest.
“You mean, these are…”
The same enigmatic smile as before crossed the guild master’s mouth.
“Most of them, yes. Many of these marks represent contracts I made with students, such as yourself. Most of them have already either graduated or aborted their education. The marks, however, stay, since the contract still stands, even after their training.”
There was a moment of silence until the other teachers started extinguishing the candles one by one.
“Now, all that’s left is to welcome you into the school. As per our agreement, you can start learning tomorrow, after paying the tuition fee to Mrs. Urdson. Work hard and make us proud, Krasen from Caemdir.”
Kraghtol’s head was still swimming when he walked the night streets back to his room. This had easily been the strangest day of his life. This morning, he had been down on his luck, rejected and homeless. And over the course of a single day, he had exchanged his body and his entire life with it. He had a place to stay, and he was closer to his childhood dream than he had ever been.
In the privacy of his own chamber, he disrobed and looked at the glyph-like mark, embedded in the rosy skin at the front of his right shoulder. Yes, they had accepted him,but…
