The Alchemist's Practice Chapter 8

Edric went back to the York bank the following day, and, just as Kennard had said he would, there was a draft lease agreement ready and waiting for his review. The amount of money and land leased was to be negotiable. Edric left that business to Kennard's expertise, given his knowledge of banking, local trade, and income.

Edric may have grown up on his family farm, worked her fields, and accompanied his father when selling produce, but that was a long time past. He no longer remembered what he learned in those times and wouldn't know how much the land was worth, nor how much the locals would be willing to pay for it.

Edric also wanted to allow piecemeal leasing, should Kennard not be able to lease the whole of the farm. It would be lucrative but also expensive even for the next largest farm owner to take on as a whole.

Edric also took out some money, not of his father's leftover savings, but his own money held at the bank in Sybold. He left Sybold in a rush but thankfully didn't forget his personal bank seal. With a signature and a stamp, Kennard gave him the funds to serve him for the coming weeks while he waited for a buyer for the farm.

"So, you plan to stay until it's leased?" Kennard asked after their business was concluded.

The bank was empty and quiet, and the two of them sat in the side office room. The door was visible where Kennard sat on the other side of an ornate and clean wood desk, should anyone enter while they talked.

"I may have to return to Sybold if it doesn't sell promptly. I told my master that I would only be away a few months. I've spent about one of that already, and there's the trip back also. With how my master is, I wouldn't want to push far beyond that timeline I gave."

Kennard nodded but had a curious look on his face. When Edric pressed him, he waved it away. "I was merely thinking about the time you've been there. Alchemists study for seven years, prentice for two, and yet you've been in Sybold for, what, over ten now? Shouldn't you be done your apprenticeship?"

Edric couldn't help but chuckle at Kennard's speech. He was always straight and to the point when they were children, and it seemed nothing had changed.

"Well, living as a farmer for fourteen years didn't help, despite my mother's teaching. I had to catch up for two years to be on par with the other students before I could advance. I still have a little over half a year left to prentice."

Kennard poured some more tea for himself and Edric as they talked. The green herbal fragrance was pleasing to his senses, and the bitterness was a rich contrast on his tongue.

"I didn't have a chance to ask you more about your studies. You mentioned a bit of what you learned, but one thing I'm not familiar with is the difference between an Alchemist and a mage that can heal with magic." Kennard's face was once again calm, but his eyes were alight with wonder.

"Hmm," Edric said as he leaned back and took a drink of his tea again. "I suppose I've never thought too much on it. All alchemists know a big of magery. Some of our cures have magic imbued within them." Edric was silent for a moment as he thought about the question. "I would say the biggest difference is in the application and the ability. A mage can heal a wound with magic, but it takes great power to do so, and I've often seen that a mage is spent after healing even a minor wound."

"Like being exhausted after working the fields or running?"

Edric nodded and smiled. "Yes, exactly. And a wound is also something seen with the eyes. You can see the problem and how to fix it. But many ailments are beneath the surface and would be difficult to heal with magic. You could heal a rash with magic, but it would just return."

Kennard leaned back this time. "Ah," he said, "so a mage fixes that which is visible, at great cost to the healer, and the Alchemist fixes that which isn't visible, the source of the problem." Edric nodded and agreed with the overall statement. "So, why is so much education necessary?"

Edric laughed at the comment almost reflexively, and Kennard looked confused. "Sorry, it's just humorous. There are many ailments, and if they aren't treated properly, it can mean the difference between life and death." Edric paused for a moment as the confusion left Kennard's eyes. It seemed he appreciated the weight of the comment. "As you know, one must be certified as a healer, and the reason for that is because we pass on knowledge. Every procedure is tested, new methods tested, and records of the patient's recovery tested, so only the best ways to treat are done. Even after certification, an Alchemist must be retested every fifth year if they wish to keep their practice."

"Are there any examples you can think of that have recently changed in caring for patients?"

Edric couldn't help but become excited over the topic of discussion. After ten years of study, having one be curious about his chosen line of work was refreshing. In Sybold, anyone who wasn't already well versed in alchemy didn't care to talk about it. Most still seemed to hold a superstitious nature around it and around magic, even when living in the center of the arts itself.

But before Edric could talk about it further, the door opened, and one of the villagers entered. Edric's elation withered in an instant, as he knew Kennard would have to attend to them. Looking at Kennard, he, too, was visibly disappointed.

"We'll have to pick this up later," Kennard said, "I'm very intrigued."

"Perhaps next time, you can tell me more about what you've learned working with your father," Edric replied. He was trying to be courteous even though he didn't share much of an interest in banking.

Kennard gave a rare smile. "Perhaps," he replied. "Also, you should go to see Garrick. He was hesitant to bring up a small ailment he was having and feels the need to pester me about what he should do."

Edric laughed at Kennard's blunt nature again. "It wouldn't do to have a banker treating a sore, now would it?"

Kennard laughed as well. "No, no it wouldn't."

…

Edric entered Garrick's home, his parents' home truly, and took a seat in their parlour. His father went out to the fields to fetch him, and his mother immediately began busying herself in preparing something for their new guest.

Before long, Edric heard a whistling sound coming from outside the parlour, then pouring water, and a rattling of dishes. Garrick's mother, Cerelia, was in her withering years, unexpectedly having Garrick later in life. The tray she was carrying wobbled in her weak hands, and the teapot, glasses, and plates all chattered with each step threatening to topple over at any moment.

Edric jumped up and placed his hands under the tray. "I've got it, Missus Bachmeier," Edric said with a smile.

Cerelia smiled back and thanked Edric as she shuffled towards one of the seats in the parlour. Edric set the tray down, poured them both a cup of tea and handed one to Cerelia. The tea was black and bitter, but not a gentle bitterness like the green tea at the York's. Edric took a bite from one of the sweet biscuits Cerelia brought to offset the bitterness.

"Oh, thank you kindly. These old bones don't work like they used to," she said before taking a sip of her tea. Edric sat down and took a sip of his own. "Don't suppose you have something for that, do you?" She grinned, like she was jesting, but with a hint of truth to it that only the elderly had perfected.

Edric thought on the question for a moment. There was a new potion for the Withering, similar to a generic potion of strength. Still, it was dangerous if produced or taken improperly, and expensive as well. He didn't feel comfortable trying to make it without proper equipment.

"Oh, you silly boy," she said before he could reply. "Just a bit of humour." She smiled and sat back in her seat, and relaxed. "So, how go your studies, dear?"

Edric found his voice again. "Very well, actually. Soon I'll be a full Alchemist," he said.

Cerelia perked up and gave him a small clap of excitement. "Will you be Mayel's new healer?"

Edric chuckled nervously. He had been asked the question so many times now, but he still felt awkward in answering. He hadn't planned on being the healer for Mayel. In truth, he hadn't given much thought to what he would do after he was certified.

"I'm not sure," he said finally. "I haven't decided."

Cerelia looked a bit downcast as she nodded her head. "Used to have a healer, long time ago now," she said. "Name was Tam it was. Or was it Tem? Tim? No matter. He was a handsome man, tall and strong. Might have tried to wed him if old Alger hadn't offered me the bouquet."

Cerelia went on talking about the past at length, as most elders do. Edric wasn't sure what to say to add to the conversation, so he just listened to her stories. Cerelia seemed perfectly fine with doing all the talking for both of them.

When it came to a story of her lost in the woods, Garrick and Alger returned from the fields. Garrick popped his head through the open doorway to the parlour and greeted Edric with a wave before he went back to a washbasin at the entrance to wipe the sweat from his face.

Once he and Alger were clean, they entered the parlour, took seats, and had some tea. After the usual greetings and platitudes, Garrick asked, "So, what brings you here, Edric?"

Edric glanced from Garrick to Alger and Cerelia. "It was something of a private nature," he said after a brief pause.

"Is this about that rash wot my boy has on his crotch?" Alger said, nearly shouting the words.

Edric nearly spit out his tea which turned into a coughing fit as Garrick shouted, "Da!" Garrick rose from his seat and forced his parents out of the parlour.

Edric turned his face away to hide his laughter as he heard Alger saying, "You complain and scratch your privates so much I thought it wasn't no secret," as he was pushed out of the room.

Garrick returned and closed the doors on one side of the parlour. "Sorry about that," he said. His face was reddened beyond its normal, tanned complexion, and he tried to play off his embarrassment with a smile.

Edric had regained his composure by the time Garrick returned, and he was able to keep his face straight. "Well, to be truthful, that is why I'm here."

"It was Kennard, wasn't it? That louse." Garrick clenched his fist and looked away from Edric as he cursed, but his anger wore off quickly. "Yes, I have a rash. I'd rather not talk about it but seeing as you've been studying to be a healer, I thought you might help with it. I didn't want to bother you, though."

"It's no bother," Edric said immediately. "I can't promise I'll be able to help much, given that I'm away from the normal equipment and ingredients I'm used to, but I'll try."

Garrick nodded his head, still embarrassed but more willing to discuss his issues with his friend. Together, they went over the symptoms of his ailment. Though Garrick wouldn't show Edric the trouble area, that being far beyond embarrassing for him, he described it. By Edric's estimation, the rash was a common issue in that region with males, especially for hard workers who sweat a lot.

Edric flipped through his potion book to a few recipes that could treat such an issue. "Tomorrow, I'll see what I can find in town and have a look in the forest for ingredients if need be. I might have something by the end of the week."

"Thank you, Edric," Garrick said. "And can you not tell anyone about this? It's only my parents and Kennard who know."

Edric suppressed a small chuckle for his friend's sake. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about. It happens more often than you think," he said. "But I promise to not tell anyone. That's part of the Alchemist's Code of Conduct, actually. This conversation is just between you and me."

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I hope you enjoyed this chapter of The Alchemist's Practice. If you did, be sure to give it a heart at the bottom, and share it with friends. If you want to read more of my work, visit www.mcleansnovels.com.

This chapter ended up being a little longer than normal, and took a bit longer to write because of that. Starting to get into the meat of the story a bit, and that means I have to research medicine from hundreds of years ago.

Happy reading!