Alchemical Magic

Chapter 4-2

I didn't produce the artifact, but then, I had a week to do so. Grandpa said he understood what my problem was and that we'd do some exercises to fix it.

As we headed for breakfast, attracted by the smells of pancakes (Bettie was feeling generous today, I guess), Major Craen was already sitting there, with half the pancakes piled on his plate, eyeing the rest. I quickly hurried to make sure I got some too. After some consideration, I gave some to Billie, while taking the rest.

Grandpa raised his eyebrows at this childish competition but said nothing. He was perfectly happy with his oatmeal (how can he eat that flavorless gunk? But whatever, they say it's healthy).

As I covered my pancakes in honey, the Major, who wanted to hog all the pancakes, had his revenge.

"I heard you challenged Professor Alarch to a duel," he said, cutting a big piece of pancake, dousing it in honey (after taking the honey right out of my hands), and smacking his lips as he ate it. "You are finally behaving like a proper darkie."

Grandpa stared at me disapprovingly.

"You didn't mention it earlier, Dana," he said, his disappointment clear. "You shouldn't challenge a Professor to a duel. You shouldn't challenge anybody to a duel."

"Professor Alarch said he'll wait until I get my mages' seal," I replied, "so I thought there was nothing to tell."

"You shouldn't forget to challenge him when you get your seal," the Major said. "Because otherwise, your word will mean nothing. What did he do, anyway?"

"He stared at my breasts inappropriately," I replied. "In class. In front of everybody. I couldn't let it slide."

"Can't you just report him to the Dean's office?" Grandpa asked.

I and the Major both stared at the clueless man. He didn't realize what nonsense he just said, because he returned our stares.

"What?" he said.

"That's not how things work for dark arall, Gramps," I replied. "I could do that, but then I'd show myself as the weakest in the totem pole. I showed Professor Alarch I will stand up for myself, but I also let him assert his authority. What you're suggesting does neither of those things; it humiliates him while showing me as a weak woman. And I'm not a woman. Not for these people, at least; I'm a mage."

"If I knew all it would take for you to realize that is staring at your boobs," the Major said, "I would have done that earlier."

This time it was Grandpa who gave the Major a look, while the Major shrugged and ate another bite of pancake.

"What?" he told Grandpa. "I think you've harmed Dana with your insistence on manners. And by introducing her to all your light friends, who have a different outlook on life than most darkies. She needs to see the world is harsher than that. She can't be an ordinary woman, who gets protection and deference, while her opinions are ignored. Dana is a mage and an alchemist. She needs to be assertive, and her opinion needs to be respected. And for that, they need to see her as a mage and an alchemist, not as a woman. And with you, she's even started wearing dresses!"

"That happened exactly twice," I pointed out, "for the ball and Grandpa's party. I haven't worn a dress since. And I'm not going to."

Was the Major right? Was I becoming softer, more feminine? I don't think so. I'm just not a hardass to those who treat me well. But then…

"But she won't get very far by being rude to people," Grandpa said.

The Major set aside his fork, and I sensed a fight would happen. A very polite fight, since Grandpa never went low, and the Major didn't like to look like a brazen i***t in comparison.

It was way overdue if you ask me, but the last thing I wanted was for it to happen in my presence.

"I won't be rude to people," I quickly said, placating Grandpa, and then saying something for the Major, "if they are polite to me. I can't be all manners with dark arall, Gramps; they think manners are a weakness. But if I show my strength first and then I'm polite, they'll think I'm a great person. Nobody likes a rude asshole, not even darkies."

That seemed to calm the Major.

"That's the reason I've been teaching you to fight," he said, "although you haven't done a very good job. You depend too much on the physical aspect of fighting. You need to think like a mage."

"I do my best," I said.

"Your best is not good enough to win in a magical duel," the Major said, "although I admire your guts. But don't do it again. I don't want to end up with an apprentice dying in a duel. Learn to fight first, then challenge people to duels. Trust me, there will be many assholes. Just keep your head down for the moment."

That was unexpected, coming from the Major. But then, he was a man full of contradictions.

I took the last bite of pancake, and, after dunking it with a sip of milky tea, checked my pocket watch.

"I have to go to class now," I said. "There are only fifteen minutes till my class."

"Is it that late already?" the Major asked, checking his watch. Then he stood up, walking toward the door with me. "Don't miss the training today. Unlike your grandpa, who's a softie, I won't let you skip my classes. Don't even think of fooling around with that boyfriend of yours today."

That's a pity. Fooling around with Jack was one of the few pleasures I had left after these two geezers took over my life.

I had to figure out a way how to get dates with my boyfriend back.

And alchemy.