The Alchemist ✰〘 Varian One-Shots 〙

✰25.1 Corona City

Time travel AU where Varian somehow ends up in 2021 (No virus allowed in this AU, I get to make the rules here 👁️👄👁️) (Y/n) is in college, but is one of those whiz kids who goes at 17.

Enjoy

-------

I trudged through the lamplit streets of Corona, on my way back from the University archival research center. I always thought it would be fun to study abroad and see the world. Don't get me wrong, I love the sunny weather and beautiful architecture; but the amount of time it takes to walk from the palace archives, to the mainland where I lived was very lengthy.

It's surprising to think that a few hundred years ago, the island was the central hub for business and development. Nowadays it's just a pretty tourist trap, with the real city developing on the other side of the bridge. I suppose it only made sense, considering the size of the island - the population outgrew it eventually.

I pulled my phone from my bag and pressed the home button, illuminating my face in a cool light. No new texts, no emails, no nothing. I suppose that's what you get when you leave high school early on a scholarship program and travel halfway across the globe. No friends, just studying.

Yawning, I shrugged my shoulders back in an attempt to lighten the load of my schoolbag. No use, there was about 6 textbooks shoved into it. Tonight was gonna be awful. It was already 11pm, and I still had to write a 2000 word essay on the history of Coronan monarchy.

In frustration, I kicked an empty can sideways into a dingy ally-way. It didn't do much help though, and I ended up feeling bad for contributing to global warming. Sighing, I trudged into the shadows and picked up the drink can with a tissue (you never know where litter has been, you don't want to catch a disease from it).

"Okay, I get that this is meant to be a historical city... But would a trashcan hurt?" I complained under my breath while I scanned around for somewhere to dispose of the rubbish. Suddenly, a rustling came from behind me. I dropped the can in surprise and gave a small yelp. Running into the light and safety of the main cobbled street, I pulled out my phone, switching on the flashlight.

"I have a weapon!" I called out, stretching the truth. Did a thermal coffee flask count as a weapon? The shuffling continued and grew louder. Just as I was about to turn on my heel and sprint away, a small figure emerged from the dark.

"Oh thank jelly beans, it's just a raccoon." I sighed, relaxing myself. "Wait, raccoon?" my body tensed again. It was common knowledge that all raccoons in Corona died out in the 1918 raccoon flu! "This is incredible! You're a miracle!" I exclaimed, nearing the wild animal. He looked so healthy and un-diseased (admittedly very cute as well).

The creature stared at me in surprise. To be fair, I was fan-girling over vermin. "I have to bring you to the zoological department in CCU." I squealed, pulling out my phone to contact someone who could help me. I didn't really want to try pick up the animal myself, he could still have remnants of raccoon flu.

I scrolled through my contacts and searched for the right number. Aunt (A/n), Boring kid from calculus, Pizza plac-

"Hello?" a voice spoke out of nowhere, causing me to hit a number by accident. I cried out in fear, stumbling back onto the curbside. A figure emerged from the shadows slowly, heavy footsteps following.

"Who... Who's there?!" I stuttered out, hand placed over my flask in self-defense. Then the person stepped into the warm light of the street lamps. A teenage boy with a mop of messy black hair emerged, with a non-threatening frown plastered on his face. He was wearing strange clothes, like something out of a historical drama - only more... science-y?