Warrior of the Void Book 1, Chapter 20

Pushing the large door open, the scent of chemical cleaners hit her all at once. Pushing past it, she entered the Guild’s atrium and found herself both surprised and not. Just like with the Goldsmith and Weaver Guilds, the Guild’s front desk was immediately to her right as she stepped inside. Once again, it was on a raised platform with low tables, couches and seats sprinkled about. A lower section set to her left, this one filled with bizarre alchemical contraptions that a dozen or so men and women busied themselves around. A waiting room and workfloor, or exposition floor, all in one.

“Welcome to the Alchemist’s guild,” One of the two clerks at the desk called out to her, causing a few of the waiting patrons to turn towards, and dismiss her in the same heartbeat, “How may I help you?”

At this point the spiel was so mindless Muur barely even registered repeating it.

“Oh, uh, yes. Certainly– just…,” The white haired man at the counter rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward expression, “It might take a while? We– well, since one of your guildmasters came by yesterday and picked up last week’s complaints, we’ve not yet open this week’s collection? I have to ask though, did something happen? Normally the guild comes to collect the complaints on Lightsday. Not on Lightningsday– and that you’re coming in twice in a week…”

Shuffling, he leaned towards her, voice dropping to a whisper, “Does the Order of the Twins suspect someone is engaging in foul play?”

“No, no, they’re just sending me on errands to acquaint myself with the city. And, with the Guilds specifically, to encourage me to pick up a trade skill. I have some experience with labwork and given some events in the past,” A flick of her hair got the lizard wizard’s point across as to what exactly had happened, “I am more keen than most on making sure I have a supply of medicine on hand.”

“Aaaah, yeah that makes more sense,” The man’s coworker said with a nod. Just like him, she was a white haired hyur, a family member maybe? They both looked to be in their twenties, “More than this idiot’s conspiracy theories.” “Hey!” “They’re stupid and you know it. No one in the Guild would be dumb enough to synthesize drugs for the scorpions– moving on. While the idiot goes to gather the few complaints that arose, or didn’t get picked up yesterday, we’ve got something that might interest you if you’re thinking of picking up the alchemist’s trade.”

“I’d say I’m all ears, but well.” Muur tilted her head, letting her hair split around her horns to show a distinct lack of ears. “But please, go on.”

“One moment,” walking to the side of the desk, she pulled a wooden flap and squeezed out of her work station, followed by the other clerk, “Follow me please,” giving Muur a small beckoning wave, she quickly moved to the lower section of the floor and took the lizard to a small metal contraption, “So, in order to give any adventurer willing to join us a taste of what it means to be an alchemist, we set this alembic up.”

Pressing a button, she unlatched parts of the metal shell, revealing a mass of copper tubes, glassware and assorted lab tools, “Specifically, we have them do the single most important and crucial part of any alchemical concoction– and survival really,” Bending to the side, she pulled something out of a crate before offering to Muur what had to be the single filthiest water sample she’d ever seen in the form of a bottle, “Water purification! Most of the draughts and philters that we alchemists create require clean, drinkable water as a base. Any impurity is liable to ruin a potion, turning it into a poison– and I don’t think I need to explain why potable water’s important to an adventurer?”

“Not at all. If I wasn’t able to snap my fingers and make ice appear out of thin air, I may not be standing here. Still, redundancies are important, and I’m sure thaumaturgical ice is too aetherically charged to be safe to use the meltwater of in alchemy.” The lizard woman said as she settled herself in with the ease of years of familiarity, her tail curling securely around the water bottle in a scaly basket as she methodically checked and laid out her tools one by one. This may not be her university’s chemistry or biological labs, nor were there loathsome micropipettes strewn absolutely everywhere, but glassware was glassware no matter the world. Ah, there were the gloves, even if they were a bit too big the glossy finish on the leather said they had some sort of treatment.

Unlikely to be needed for a distilling procedure, but it paid to never get sloppy. Pity that there wasn’t any eye protection, but ah well. A safety squint it’d be this one time.

“Right, well there’s a step by step method engraved on the back of this part,” Rasping her knuckle against the section she’d pulled away, the woman began to walk off, “It’ll guide you through the alembic’s workings. I’d stay and show how it works in detail, but I have to man the desk. If you need help, feel free to come ask me though. Once you’re done, bring the water to me, and I’ll evaluate it.”

“Will do.” Muur said absentmindedly, having already slipped into her happy place.

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Figuring out the alembic took her a few tries - obviously just test-runs while it was empty - but soon enough, Muur had a bottle of clarified water and a beaker filled with a bunch of vile black goop. Whenever the light hit it just so, a thin yellow film was visible around the tar-like substance.

“May I see this?” The voice that came from behind her wasn’t the clerks. She knew it, but couldn’t place a face to it.

“Of course.” The lizard woman replied automatically, gently setting down both containers on the table and reflexively double checking that everything was in its proper place and state. That being, neatly arranged, turned off or covered up when applicable, and all around secure so a stray gesture or bump wouldn’t make a mess.

“Not bad,” The person declared after a thoughtful hum, little hands holding up the bottle, “It’s perfectly clear on the physical level. Less so on the aetherial one, but this alembic was never conceived with the aim to provide such an option. As it stands, I am doubtful accomplishing anything better with the tool given is possible, barring a stroke of luck at any rate.”

“And we’re here for reproducible effects, not flukes.” Muur replied as she finally turned to see the speaker, having her workstation in proper order now.

Who she found examining the bottle was the last Coco brother. The one who blew up at the rest and slammed the door on his way out, “To a degree, yes,” The lalafel said, pulling the bottle open and wetting his fingers before rubbing them. As if making sure that yes, this was indeed water, “Mass production is the goal for most concoctions, but some of them rely on being complete flukes…” Her face must’ve been a picture, given how he immediately commiserated, “They are a challenge to work with. But an interesting one?” He offered, sounding somewhat unsure of his words as he passed the water back.

“I suppose if it is less dumb luck and more artisanal work…” Muur muttered as she took the bottle in her tail, hands free to gesture at the gunk vial, “What sort of waste disposal does the Guild have going on?”

The man opened his mouth, only to pause. A dozen emotions flitted across his face in seconds, “Wooould you like to see for yourself?” Before eventually settling on this one, sounding even more awkward than before.

“Of course!” She replied brightly, taking the chance to learn from a senior and mend bridges with both hands. Even though her actual hands were busy cradling the foul byproduct of her distillation.

“Good to hear.” He said a smidge too quickly. 

“Erm, ser Cocobu–,” The clerk tried to speak up, but the lalafel waved her off.

“I’ll be showing her one of the working alcoves, there is nothing for you to worry yourself about.” The white haired woman seemed to want to say something, but eventually kept quiet and simply nodded, “This way please.” Hopping off of the stepladder he’d been standing on, he waddled over to a door in the back and quickly unlocked it.

“I have some familiarity with the disposal of chemical and biological hazardous byproducts, but I’m curious what is done about aetherically charged waste.” Muur commented as she obliged, plopping down the purified water on the clerk’s counter as she passed by.

“Oh, you can keep it if you wish.” The woman quickly said before Muur left with Cocobusi. Just like that, a sinuous tail snatched it up.