CHAPTER 44 Wren
CHAPTER 44
Wren
‘The scales of alchemy are delicate, and a single misstep can upset the balance, unleashing forces beyond our control’
– Arcane Alchemy: Unveiling the Mysteries of Matter
D ESSA INVITED W REN and Zavier back to her dormitory, an invitation Zavier promptly declined. Wren, however, went with her, insisting that Cal remain guarding the door from the outside.
Dessa’s room was simple, and though she shared with three others, none of them were there. She reached under her bed and pulled out a bottle of wine with a grin. The action reminded Wren so much of Sam and Ida that it hurt, but for the first time, there was also a tentative spark of joy.
Dessa tossed several cushions onto the plush rug on the floor and settled herself there before pouring Wren a generous mug of wine.
Wren took it gratefully and seated herself on one of the pillows. ‘How do you find the dormitories?’ she asked, looking around at the charts pinned to the walls and the overflowing trunks.
‘They’re alright,’ Dessa replied, filling her own mug. ‘It’s a bit odd to put us in with people who are on different teams. There can be a bit of rivalry.’
‘Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.’ Wren took a sip of her wine. ‘This is good.’
‘The perks of being an alchemist, isn’t it? Perfecting the fermentation process.’
Wren snorted. ‘You sound like Kipp.’
‘Well...I have been spending a bit of time with him.’
‘Have you now?’
An ache bloomed in Wren’s chest as Dessa gave a coy smile that reminded her of Anya. ‘I’ll share if you do.’
‘I’ve got nothing to share.’ Wren’s cheeks heated, though she told herself it was from the wine.
‘Another time, then,’ Dessa said. ‘I actually wanted your thoughts on something...’ She reached for a large notebook and opened it, pushing it towards Wren. ‘I’ve been thinking about it since we saw that awful demonstration, but today’s design lesson prompted me...’
Wren surveyed the spread, seeing different sketches for something like the memory weave object they’d spent the last few hours drawing. Dessa had filled pages upon pages with rough plans, accompanied by precise handwriting.
‘My father suffers from a condition,’ Dessa told her. ‘He’s losing his memories. At first, I thought he was just being forgetful, but the healers say it’s a disease. One that slowly destroys memory and mental function. Some days he doesn’t even recognize me.’
‘I’m so sorry,’ Wren said. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to watch someone progressively forget their loved ones.
Dessa continued, ‘I was wondering if it might be possible to alter the design of the memory weave so that someone might be able to store and access memories of a different nature. So, rather than losing memories to a disease, you could store them for when you need them.’
Wren stared at her teammate’s sketches. ‘You should talk to Master Nyella,’ she said. ‘Though you’d have to address the issue with the tonic...’
Dessa nodded. ‘The pain? Definitely. Part of me suspects that it could be addressed relatively easily, but the masters haven’t done so because it adds an additional layer of suffering to the punishment.’
‘I suspected the same,’ Wren agreed, looking up to find Dessa watching her, eyes bright with hope. ‘It’s a good idea. It’s nice to see talent used for good for a change.’
Dessa smiled, reaching across to refill her mug. ‘From what I hear, you did plenty of that in the war.’
Wren’s blood ran cold. Dessa was wrong. Everything Wren had created, both during the war and since, had only caused destruction. When was the last time she had created anything of note that had healed? That had improved something in the world? Was that not what Farissa had been telling her for years? You took what you’d learned about preserving life and made it about revenge. About death.
Wren forced herself to swallow the lump in her throat. ‘I don’t like talking about the war, Dessa.’
‘So I’ve gathered,’ she replied. ‘But when you need to...I’ll be here.’
‘Why?’ Wren asked.
Dessa shrugged. ‘That’s what friends do. Besides, how else will I get all the Warsword gossip?’
Wren snorted. ‘Sounds like you already have a source for that.’
Dessa’s clear peal of laughter made Wren smile. And she realized it felt good, this easy camaraderie. Dangerous, but good.