Peter and the Heart of Alchemy (War of Contractia Book 5)

by Tj Dixon

“I was cursed. Someone tried to kill me.” Midori tells me and I blink in shock and horror.

  Suddenly there is a loud voice filling my head. It is a bit like when Peter contacts me with the queen’s gift, but this is much louder and is a young woman. Midori looks like she hears it too.

  “Nobody is allowed to leave the academy building until further notice. This applies to all teachers, students, slaves and anyone else currently in the academy.” It says and then disappears.

  “Please, use your ice magic.” Midori pleads.

  “You’re sure?” I ask dubiously. Midori nods. I frown and cover the walls with ice. Even with my uniform on I shiver at the cold. Midori must feel it much worse and her shivering is clearly intensifying.

  “Thank you.” Midori whispers.

  “This is crazy. You’ll die of the cold if we keep this up.”

  “No. I’ll be fine.” Midori whispers.

  “What is this curse you were talking about?”

  “When I hit the tree I was cursed.”

  “But if it was a curse, didn’t Rin’s mother remove the curse?” I ask.

  “Yes, but using dimensional magic made the aftereffects much worse. Great timing to have a port barrier test...” Midori groans.

  “Yeah, great timing…”

  “So why aren’t we allowed leave the academy?” Midori asks.

  “I don’t know any more than you do. It’s not like you’d be leaving the academy anyway.”

  “Do you think the academy is under attack?” Midori asks and she sounds scared.

  “As if anyone would be able to threaten an Academy of Contractia? At least this side of Portalis, anyway.”

  “What if Portalis has fallen?”

  “That would mean someone beating the queen. She’s there, remember?”

  “Yeah… I suppose that’s impossible.” Midori nods but then she winces.

  “You don’t have to move or talk if it hurts. Just let me know if you want me to get rid of this wretched ice.” I tell her quickly.

  “Don’t get rid of it!” Midori protests and winces again.

  “Fine, I’ll only remove it if you ask me to.” I tell her hurriedly.

  “I need to sleep.” Midori whispers.

  “Then try to get to sleep, but if you need anything just let me know.” I tell Midori and pull the curtain across our window to darken the room a little. Sleeping in a bright room is difficult. I use earth magic on the curtain to block out as much of the light as possible. It is fairly dark now. I take off my shoes and get into my own bed with my uniform still on.

  Under the covers I am a bit warmer, but I am still cold. Looking at poor Midori shivering away though, I really can’t feel sorry for myself. I feel scared for her. Is this really going to help her? I also feel guilty. If I hadn’t overtaken her whilst she was distracted she would never have hit that tree. She wouldn’t have been cursed like this.

  Time passes slowly but eventually Midori is asleep. I can’t let myself fall asleep of course, because I need to maintain the ice magic and make sure Midori is ok. Despite the temperature remaining icy Midori doesn’t look cold now that she’s asleep. I still feel the cold but she looks comfortable.

  With nothing to do except maintain the ice magic and watch Midori in this dark gloom I find myself constantly checking the dimensional time keeper. The morning eventually ends and my chilled boredom, guilt and fear are interrupted by a knock on the door.

  I get up not bothering to put my shoes on and open the door slightly and very quietly. Tabi, Mirai, Peter and Rin are all standing there. I squeeze through the door, making sure they don’t see Midori. Especially making sure Peter doesn’t.

  “How’s Midori?” Peter asks once the door is closed.

  “She’s asleep right now. I hope that Silmarion knows what she’s talking about though.” I answer.

  “You can trust Silmarion on this. She always knows what she’s talking about.” Rin tells me confidently.

  “So how long will it take for Midori to recover?” I ask Rin.

  “Hopefully she’ll be better by tonight.” Rin tells me and I pray she is correct. “Do you want help? Since it is ice magic I could take your place for a while so you can rest your power and get out of the cold for a while.”

  “No. Midori trusted me. I’ll stay with her for as long as it takes for her to recover.” I tell Rin firmly.

  “Ok, but let us know if it gets too much for you.” Rin tells me and she sounds kind as she says it. I’m so used to her ordering us around and telling us off that it seems weird for her to sound so kind. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” I tell her quickly.

  “Ok.” Rin says sounding a bit confused.

  “Anyway, thanks, but I’ll be alright. I’d better go back. I’d hate for her to wake and find I’m not there.” I tell Rin. I look at Tabi, Mirai and finally Peter with a small smile before opening the door and sliding back inside.

  “Tomo?” Midori asks and I realise that she did wake up whilst I was gone. Another case of bad timing.

  “Peter and…” I start to say but Midori’s face lights up.

  “Is Peter here?” Midori asks. The door is still open but her voice is little more than a whisper so I doubt he heard her.

  “He’s outside, but…”

  “Can I see him?” Midori asks enthusiastically despite her weak voice.

  “He can’t see you looking like that.” I remind Midori. She looks at me pleadingly so I remind her. “You’re only in your underwear and you don’t exactly look at your best right now either. You’re covered in sweat despite how cold this room is. You wouldn’t want Peter to see your scar either.”

  “I know, but…” She says looking at me with desperate eyes.

  “I suppose you could see him as long as he doesn’t see you.” I tell her with a frown. She nods and winces. “Fine, I’ll tell him to come in but to look away from you.”

  “Thanks Tomo.” Midori whispers. I look at her and shake my head before sliding outside again. Since I hadn’t shut the door everyone is still waiting there.

  “Peter, she wants to see you.” I tell him reluctantly.

  “I don’t mind seeing Midori.” He tells me, sounding confused.

  “She can see you, but you can’t see her.” I tell him firmly. He looks at me confused. “She wouldn’t want you to see her like this.”

  “Oh, ok.” Peter says still sounding a bit confused.

  “So you can come in, but make sure to look away from Midori. Just look in that direction.”

  “Ok.” Peter says and follows me inside, but making sure to keep his gaze on the door and the wall.

  “Peter.” Midori whispers with a smile on her face.

  “Midori…” Peter answers seeming unsure what to say to her.

  “I’m sorry.” Midori whispers and Peter goes stiff all of a sudden.

  “Sorry? Why? You haven’t done anything wrong.” Peter says, sounding rather shocked.

  “I made you worry.”

  “Of course I’d worry, but that’s not your fault.” Peter tells her.

  “I hit the tree because I was reckless.”

  “We all get reckless sometimes. Rin’s always telling me I’ve been reckless.” Peter tells Midori. I grin, because I imagine Rin generally has good reason to tell Peter that.

  “I’m glad you came here.” Midori whispers.

  “I hope you’re feeling better soon.”

  “I’ve got to, because we have a date.” Midori tells Peter.

  “I hope you feel better much sooner than that!”

  “I will do, because I don’t want to worry you any more than I have.”

  “You can worry me as much as you want. I just want you to get better.” Peter tells her.

  “Could you come closer?” Midori asks.

  “Yes, if you want me to.” Peter says and looks at me. I frown and take his hand. I lead him backwards so he is closer to Midori without his having to turn to face her. I stop just before w
e reach her bed.

  “Is this ok?” I ask Midori.

  “Closer?” Midori asks hopefully. I frown but lead Peter right up to Midori’s bed. “Thank you Tomo. Peter, can I, can I, hold your hand?”

  “Sure.” Peter says and holds out his hand. Midori grasps it weakly.

  “You…? You haven’t already, decided, have you?”

  “Decided?” Peter asks sounding worried.

  “Which of us…” Midori whispers and Peter frowns even more now.

  “That I’ll marry?” He asks. Midori nods even though he can’t see her and then she winces in pain.

  “Yes.” Midori whispers.

  “No. I haven’t chosen.” Peter tells her firmly.

  “I have a chance?” Midori whispers.

  “Yes. Of course.”

  “I’m relieved.” Midori whispers. They stay like that, holding hands in silence. After a few minutes Midori’s hand falls to her bed. She’s fast asleep again.

  “You’d better go.” I tell Peter. He nods and ports out.

  I get back into bed and wait as time passes so slowly again. I struggle to stay awake but somehow I manage to. It seems like forever but eventually there is another knock on the door. I get up and rub my eyes. I open the door slightly and see Silmarion standing there.

  “I’m here to check on Midori.” She tells me in her emotionless voice and pushes the door wide open. Her lack of emotion when Midori is suffering like this really makes me angry but I force myself to remain calm. She strolls in as if she owns the place and walks straight up to Midori. I close the door behind her so at least nobody else can see Midori looking like this.

  “So how much longer do we need to keep this up?” I ask Silmarion with a tired shiver. Silmarion places her hand over Midori’s forehead.

  “You can remove the ice, but she needs to stay like this tonight, so don’t let her get dressed or under the covers. Also don’t use any fire magic. The room needs to stay cold.” Silmarion tells me and I quickly remove the ice. “I’ll be back to check on Midori in the morning before lessons. Midori could burst into flames during the night if her condition worsens, so make sure to watch her all night. I would help, but I am too busy right now, so you should ask a friend or two for help. If you let me know who they are I will make sure that they also don’t need to attend lessons tomorrow. Midori should also avoid dimensional magic for a week or two if possible, but at the very least for the next few days. Even being ported in the next day or two could make this worse or bring it back.”

  “I guess she’ll have to put off her date.” I frown.

  “Peter?” Silmarion asks curiously.

  “Yes.” I shrug.

  “She’ll have an interesting life if she chooses him as a partner.” Silmarion tells me.

  “He’s the one who needs to choose her.” I smile weakly.

  “Regardless, don’t forget that you can’t leave the academy.” Silmarion reminds me.

  “Why is that, anyway?” I ask.

  “It seems the whole forest is cursed.” Silmarion tells me and I blink in shock.

  “The whole forest?” Midori whispers and we both turn to see her sitting up.

  “Yes.” Silmarion tells her.

  “So it wasn’t me they were targeting?” Midori whispers.

  “It could have been anyone.” Silmarion nods.

  “At least we’re not under attack.” I tell Midori. She smiles weakly.

  “I’ll see you both in the morning.” Silmarion tells us and for the first time there is a hint of emotion in her voice. Fear. Although only a hint, after her complete lack of emotions it is enough to leave me worried. Then she ports away.

  “Thank you, Tomo.” Midori whispers.

  “Don’t worry about it. You’d do the same for me.” I remind her and she smiles weakly.

  The morning… It seems so far away. It isn’t as cold now the ice is gone but it is still cold. This room never was as warm as you’d expect an enchanted room to be. In the summer it will actually be quite pleasant, but now it is almost winter. I don’t know if I’ll last until morning so I’m going to need to ask for help. I’m sure both Tabi and Mirai would be happy to help.

  “I’m just going to port over to Tabi and Mirai. I’m not sure I’d last the whole night on my own.” I tell Midori who smiles weakly and nods, before wincing at the pain. I port outside Tabi and Mirai’s room and quickly knock. The door opens almost immediately. Tabi and Mirai are both sitting on their beds facing each other, still in uniform, but as the door opens they both get up.

  “How’s Midori?” Tabi asks as I enter the room.

  “A little better, but I need some help watching over her tonight. She could burst into flames so I can’t afford to fall asleep.” I tell Tabi tiredly. It has been a long day already.

  “We’ll take it in turns.” Mirai suggests.

  “I’ll take the first watch. You get some sleep in my bed.” Tabi tells me and I blink in surprise at her offer. I’m about to refuse but I am so tired that I can’t.

  “Thank you.” I tell Tabi and rub my eyes in a combination of tiredness and emotion.

  “Don’t worry about it.” Tabi smiles. “I’ll port back here halfway through the night and Mirai can take my place.”

  “No. I should…” I start to protest but Tabi shakes her head.

  “You looked after Midori all day today.” Tabi reminds me.

  “I know, but…”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Tabi says with a smile and then ports away.

  “Are you ok?” Mirai asks me.

  “Just exhausted and frozen, though I’m starting to warm up now. I really could use the rest even if I don’t have any lessons tomorrow. You don’t need to attend tomorrow’s lessons either, as long as we let Silmarion know you were helping tonight.”

  “That’s a relief.” Mirai admits.

  “I’m going to take Tabi up on her offer and use her bed. It’s this one, right?”

  “Yes. I’d better get some sleep too if I’m going to be up later.” Mirai tells me and starts unbuttoning her shirt. I look down at my uniform. I don’t have any pyjamas here, but it is much warmer in here than in my room. I left my shoes in my room but even in my socks my own floor was freezing. Here I suspect my feet will be warm even when I take my socks off.

  “Your heat enchantment works much better than our room’s.” I tell Mirai as I start to take my own clothes off too.

  “It’s going to be a pain in the summer though.”

  “I suppose it’s just as well ours isn’t too effective right now. Midori needs the cold.” I admit. We both finish getting undressed. Mirai gets into her pyjamas but I just get into bed. Despite the time, I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

  I wake to find the room bathed in moonlight. I feel refreshed but it takes a moment to remember why I’m not in my own room. As I remember the pain Midori is going through my own heart tightens. Tears swell up in my eyes but I force them back and wipe my eyes.

  Tabi is now on Mirai’s bed, fast asleep. Mirai is gone and must be with Midori. I check the dimensional time keeper and realise it is almost morning. I quietly get up and enjoy the warmth for a few moments before quickly washing myself and my clothes with water magic. I then put my clothes back on and port back to my room.

  It is as chilly as I expected and Mirai looks as tired as I felt earlier. Sitting on my bed with my duvet wrapped around her for warmth she looks at me confused. I take a quick look at Midori and see she is asleep so I walk over to Mirai as quietly as possible.

  “I’ll take over now. Get some rest.” I whisper to Mirai.

  “Thank you.” She whispers back and then ports away.

  I sit on my bed and wrap the duvet around me again. It really isn’t long before morning though. It doesn’t feel like much time has passed when the sun comes up. A few minutes later there is a knock on the door. I open it with magic and see Silmarion standing there. Silmarion walks straight over to Midori who still seems to be
asleep. Silmarion places a hand over her forehead.

  “Much better. She’ll not be herself today and could get a little violent, but as long as she doesn’t use any dimensional magic, or have any used on her, she’ll be fine by tonight. Not that she’ll be able to use magic until she has almost fully recovered, but even when she can she should avoid dimensional magic. You can warm this room up now and put her under the covers, but we’ll need to restrain her. I may as well do it now.” Silmarion says without even a trace of emotion as leathery straps appear over Midori’s forehead, wrists and ankles. I don’t even sense the earth magic but that is obviously what it is.

  “Are those really necessary?” I ask dubiously.

  “Yes. They’re to protect her from herself, as much as to protect you from her. Don’t remove them. I’ll be back tonight to make sure she’s safe before I remove them.” Silmarion tells me.

  “This just feels weird.”

  “It is simply necessary. You don’t look like you were up all night, so who helped you last night?” Silmarion asks me in her emotionless voice.

  “Oh, Tabi and Mirai from…”

  “3D and 3C. They sit next to you and Midori. It is always good to have friends you can rely on. Just keep her warm today, but not too hot, and of course make sure she remains restrained until I return.” Silmarion says as emotionless as ever and then ports away.

  I get up and put Midori’s duvet over her. I then mix wind and fire magic to warm the air a little. It isn’t going to last but my mana seems to be back to normal. After using ice magic all day yesterday, getting some sleep last night really helped. Of course using ice magic all yesterday it is rather ironic to now need to use fire magic all day today. At least I can count on Tabi and Mirai to help out if I need their help. The time passes slowly until Midori wakes.

  “Tomo…?” Midori asks, sounding perfectly normal but a bit annoyed.

  “Midori, how are you feeling?”

  “I’m feeling fine, so how about removing these things?” Midori asks sounding rather irritated.

  “I can’t. Silmarion insisted on leaving them there.” I tell Midori.

  “If you’re my friend you’ll remove them.” Midori tells me coldly.

  “Of course I’m your friend.” I say, a little stunned that she would say something like that after everything we’ve been through together and after having just helped her whilst she was so ill. Maybe Silmarion is right. Maybe Midori really isn’t herself.