The Blood Alchemist

The Journey Begins

I watch as my mother walks away, the guards following her closely. I'm not sure why I feel so confused. I think back on her words. Take care of your new friend, but don't forget to also make sure you come back. What an odd thing to say. I mean, I do have a tendency to get into trouble, but this shouldn't be that much trouble. Unless Olivia's mother was completely wrong about the Blood Alchemist.

Turning, I find Olivia glaring at Clyde. "Do you want a hand?" He asks her, as I approach.

Olivia reaches up, firmly gripping the saddle before pulling herself up to place one foot in the stirrup. I can now see why Clyde was doubtful. The height difference between Olivia and her horse is enough to be slightly problematic. She lets herself fall down enough for the ball of her free foot to reach the ground. Pushing off with her foot, she pulls herself up again, managing to get enough clearance to swing herself up into the saddle.

From her new perch, she glares down at him. "No."

"Are you going to want a hand getting down?" Clyde asks.

"If I can get up, I can get down."

"Really?" Clyde sounds doubtful. "Care to demonstrate?"

Still glaring at Clyde, Olivia rises in the saddle, swinging her leg back over. It lands on the ground, but her other foot isn't as keen to follow; it's caught in the stirrup. That wouldn't have been an issue if she was still holding the saddle as she had been when she mounted but seeing as she's not, it causes her to lose her balance.

I easily catch her. "What an astounding demonstration," I can't help the amusement tinting my voice.

"Shut up," she growls at me as she struggles to get her foot free of the stirrup.

I laugh as Clyde sighs, moving to help her get her foot free. "I would suggest you wait until one of us have dismounted before trying to dismount in the future until you can figure out how to do it without getting stuck."

"Though the entertainment would be appreciated," I comment as she pushes off me to her feet.

"I will leave you behind," she warns as she prepares to remount her horse.

I walk over to mine, easily mounting it. I guide it gently closer to Olivia, glancing down at the map she's holding. She carefully studies it, tapping the red dot. I trace my eyes over the space between Lautus and Azymus and the city the red dot sits on. I recognize the name of some of the cities near to us, but the further out they get, the less I know.

Reaching out, I tap Verlon. "We should go through Verlon."

"No," Clyde puts in, "That's a bad idea."

"No," I counter, "It's a good idea. In Verlon, no one will care who we are. We can pass through unnoticed and get everything we need."

"It's a city of thieves," the disdain is clear in his voice. "We should go through Fortol."

"And if we're spotted, we'll have to jump through all their hoops of formality."

"We stick to the outskirts. I can go in and get supplies while you two stay outside the city."

"I defiantly didn't expect you to be the one to suggest we split up, but that doesn't change the fact that splitting up is just about as good as an idea as going through Verlon. We might as well go through Verlon and stick together."

Clyde stares at me. "You honestly think going through a town of thieves together is the same as splitting up in a town known for being by the book."

"Since the goal is to move fast and not be seen, no. Not when you put it that way. It's a better idea. There will be too many questions if we go through Fortol, even if we split up and you go in alone."