Secrets of an Alchemist

The Eye of Pincosta: Part 3

(With each new chapter, I get more and more excited for yall to see what I have in store for the Great Tree (I hope you like it as much as I do haha). Also I threw a Trolls reference in here for fun, see if you can spot it!)

(Chapter warnings: uhh near death but this is TTS, when does that not happen, small dirty joke (nothing toooo bad haha), non-consensual sedation (I guess??))

"Varian!" Rapunzel yelled, watching helplessly over her shoulder as their log fell into the rushing waters below.

After a moment's delay, there was a response from far below.

"I'm okay!" The mist from the water receded enough for Rapunzel to see Varian, back seemingly stuck to the rock their log had been balanced on. Small yellow particles floated around near his shoulders and sides. His voice became nervous as he called up once again. "Well, for now! I'm not sure how long the gravity-changing powder will last with all this mist!" Rapunzel nodded, dragging herself to the ledge Stalyan was still clinging to the side of, looking mostly unfazed.

Rapunzel cupped her hands around her mouth, calling back. "If I throw you a strand of my hair, could you neutralize the powder with one hand and grab it with the other so I can pull you up?"

"I don't really have another option!" Varian joked, his voice then becoming serious. "Yes, throw it!" He withdrew a green orb from his pocket, holding it at the ready with his left hand. Rapunzel wound up, then tossed a loop of her hair with all her might, which Varian caught. In the blink of an eye, he had neutralized the solution and begun swinging towards the rock wall below Rapunzel. "Ow," was all he said as his back hit the wall, though he held on.

"Sorry," Rapunzel apologized sheepishly, pulling him up.

"Don't be," Varian reassured her. "I'd be dead otherwise." Rapunzel scooped him up into a hug, causing Stalyan to gag dramatically.

"If you're done almost dying, Blueberry Boy, I suggest we get a move on," Stalyan snapped, reaching for the last stone to pull herself onto the ledge. The stone suddenly cracked and, with a scream, Stalyan began plummeting backwards, barely catching herself on a flimsy tree branch below.

"Hang on!" Rapunzel shouted, breaking free from her hug and tossing a loop of hair up to the tree above her. After quickly making sure it was secure, she stepped off the side. She descended quickly, reaching Stalyan just in time to catch her hand as the branch snapped. "Gotcha." Varian cheered from above. Rapunzel gently let go of her hair, allowing herself and Stalyan to drop onto the sand below.

"Be down in a second!" Varian called down. In a moment, he had slid down Rapunzel's hair and landed next to them. He picked up Rapunzel's frying pan and Stalyan's flask - which had fallen nearby during the chaos - and handed each of them to their respective owners. "What was that about almost dying?" Varian let slip when giving Stalyan her flask back. She merely rolled her eyes, though she looked... strangely less irritated than she had previously. Rapunzel quickly did up her hair again, shooting Varian a sly smile as she did. He returned it.

"G-Goodberry's tents," Stalyan observed in shock, looking at the colorful structures not too far ahead of them. "I- I can't believe it!"

"What are we waiting for? Come on!" Rapunzel exclaimed excitedly, running ahead. Varian, smile still on his face, followed swiftly behind, adrenaline having swept away his tiredness for the time being.

🧪

The three walked at a brisk pace, approaching a large tent with two guards standing in front. As they neared, the two hulking men stood.

"Closed," one murmured. "Unless you've got tickets."

Wow, lots of soft-spoken big men in these parts, apparently, noticed Varian, recalling the thug from the tavern.