The Alchemists and the Nine Realms: The Love Hypothesis

2 - Meet Jewel

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the rolling green hills beyond Corona's walls. 5-year-old Varian, a whirlwind of curiosity encased in a baggy tunic, skipped along the dirt path, his bright blue eyes scanning everything in sight. His backpack, overflowing with vials and strange contraptions, bounced rhythmically with each step.

Today, the call of the unknown was louder than usual. He'd already exhausted every nook and cranny within the kingdom walls, befriended all the stray mice he could find (much to his father's exasperation), and memorized every book in the Royal Library (twice). Today, adventure beckoned beyond the familiar stone archway guarding Corona's heart.

He reached the gate, casting a wary glance back at the guards. They were familiar; gruff Sergeant Fitz and the perpetually bored-looking Lars. Varian knew they found his fascination with the "wilderness" (as they called it) tiresome, but their half-hearted scoldings never deterred him for long. This time, he flashed them a mischievous grin and muttered a quick, "Just a quick peek, Sergeant!" before darting past them.

The world beyond the walls was a symphony of new sights and sounds. Lush meadows swayed in the breeze, dotted with wildflowers in every color imaginable. Birdsong filled the air, a joyous counterpoint to the chirping crickets hiding in the tall grass. Varian paused, a grin splitting his face. This was a whole new world to explore, a world teeming with possibilities waiting to be discovered.

He plunged into the meadow, his backpack bumping against his back as he hurried towards a particularly vibrant patch of bluebells. Crouching low, he examined a flower with wide, curious eyes. Was its blue pigment a natural dye? Could it be used to create a new type of ink? His mind buzzed with excitement, already crafting theories and experiments in his head.

Suddenly, a rustle in the bushes nearby sent a shiver down his spine. He froze, his heart hammering in his chest. Was it a rabbit? Perhaps a deer? Or something more... monstrous? He slowly reached into his backpack, pulling out a small, hand-made magnifying glass – a far cry from the more complex inventions he dreamed of creating someday. Hesitantly, he peered through the glass towards the source of the sound.

There, nestled among the leaves, was a pair of large, inquisitive eyes, staring back at him. Was it a... friend? Or foe? Varian held his breath, anticipation thrumming through him. Today, his explorations promised an even more thrilling discovery than he could have ever imagined.

Peering through the magnifying glass, Varian's first thought was a glint of amusement. It wasn't a fearsome beast, just a rather large, fluffy tail twitching nervously behind a bush. Curiosity won over caution, and he crept closer, heart still thumping a little wildly.

Pushing aside a branch, the picture that unfolded surprised him further. Curled up beneath the shrub was a girl, no older than him, her knees pulled tight to her chest. Her hair, a shade of light brown that almost seemed to shimmer in the fading sunlight, was a mess of tangles and leaves. The most striking feature, however, was her eyes. One, a bright, clear blue, mirrored the summer sky. The other, an eye-catching amber, seemed filled with a mixture of fear and defiance. Her skin, though pale, had a hint of rosy warmth clinging to her cheeks.

"Hello?" Varian's voice squeaked a little higher than intended. The girl flinched, pulling her knees even tighter. He took a slow step back, offering a hesitant smile. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm Varian."

Silence stretched between them, broken only by the chirping crickets. Slowly, the girl peeked out from behind her knees, her amber eye narrowed in suspicion. "Who are you?" her voice was barely a whisper, laced with an accent Varian couldn't quite place.

Varian straightened, puffing out his chest in an attempt to appear braver than he felt. "I'm Varian," he repeated, gesturing towards himself. "And this," he tapped his backpack with a grin, "is my lab on the go!"