Reverse Chronicles

Addiction

Three organizations dominate and balance the power in Toulse: the Alchemy Institute, the Merchants Guild, and the Council.

The Alchemy Institute of Toulse is the foundation of the alchemy in the city and the region, rivalling that of the Alchemy Society in Syracre. It has a great influence over alchemy shops, magic equipment forgers, and the city’s education system.

The Merchants Guild is part of the seven merchant guilds in Caldia. It establishes and creates policies and rules for merchants and buyers, both to protect and regulate them.

The Council is the city’s governing power. Like the four-magistrate system in Lyane, the Council is composed of four magistrates from different fields. The first magistrate is a member of the Merchants Guild and helps create the decisions regarding commerce and business in the city. The second one is an elementalist who is in charge of the city’s environmental, agriculture, and mining policies. The third is an alchemist. The last, the leader of the Council, is a Knight Commander, who is in charge of the city’s peace and both domestic and foreign military matters.

“We must warn the Council of the institute’s behavior,” Keith suggests. “You two must go to the city hall and tell them of the events that transpired. I will try to figure out the ingredients of the tonic and concoct an antidote for it.”

Is there even an antidote for energy drinks?

“We will do just that,” Franz looks at me and seems to wait for me to exit the room. “Let’s go!” I follow him and we exit the inn.

“Excuse me, where is the city hall?” I ask a stranger who is selling augmenting jewels in front of the inn.

“The city hall is the fancy-looking building the three blocks from here,” he points to the direction of the city hall. “You won’t miss it.”

“Thank you, good sir!” Franz and I continue on our path to the city hall.

The structure of the building reminds me of Buckingham palace in London. Not only is it close to a river, the architecture and the form are too similar. There are four guards stationed by the entrance. They all have swords. They placed it in front of them putting their two hands on top of the handle and the hilt.

We ask them if it was alright to come inside, but there was no answer. We got inside the city hall without any trouble. Inside is a reception hall that had a beautiful chandelier hanging from the ceiling. It is crowded with a lot of people carrying a mountain of papers moving in and out of the halls and into the doors. There is a receptionist, which we approached.

“Good morning,” Franz opens the conversation, “can we request an audience with one of the magistrates?”

“Yes, yes? No, no, you can’t,” he answers. “The magistrates are busy. There is no way you can request an audience with them. Not now, not ever!”

“What about the magistrate for military matters?” I ask.

“Magistrate Saint-Amour is in Syracre in an important summons. That is why we are swamped as of the moment. The other three are taking magistrate Saint-Amour’s responsibilities in the meantime. You cannot bother them with anymore.”

“But we have something important to tell them,” Franz insists.

“If it is something important, then they already know. You don’t have to tell them. Trust me!” He shakes his head and continues writing on a piece of paper. “If you don’t have any more concerns, you may leave.”

“We can’t leave now,” Franz reiterates. “We have to tell them something and it affects a lot of people in the city.”

“If that’s the case, then, trust me they would already know!” He grabs a bottle of Tonic of Energy from under the desk and drinks it.

Oh no! The city hall is also dependent on the tonic.

“Franz,” I grab his arm. “I think we should go.” I signal him that we should leave.

We exit the city hall.

“What was that about?” he asks.

“That was the tonic that we talked about.”

“Then, that means…”

“Yes, the people in city hall are susceptible to Headmaster Mathieuss’s mind control. We must go back to the inn.”

In the inn, Keith examines the tonic. He has already written some of the probable ingredients of the tonic. We tell him the what happened in city hall and our failure made his eyes brim with more passion.

“Leave it to me, I will create the antidote.” Keith continues his quest.

“What should we do in the meantime?” I ask. “Is there any way that we can help you?”

“Actually, I need more herbs. They are selling herbs in the institute. Go buy me some samples of each herb.”

We did as we were asked. We buy a sample of each herb and brought them to Keith. Inside our room, he inspected the properties of the tonic and each herb. I spent some time with Zealle, feeding him and discovering. Franz invited me to practice and I accepted. We sparred until night came.

Although it is night, the city is as busy as the day. The movement of people are incessant. It truly is the city that never rests.

When we reached our room, we see Keith sleeping on the floor. Inside the vial in front of him is a blue liquid. Franz carries Keith over to his bed. He looks truly tired, but his face was at peace. He slept peace. We also called it a day.

“Where is it?” Keith’s shout bolts me out of bed.

“What? Why? What happened?” I see him looking for something in every nook and cranny.

“The antidote, it disappeared!” He is shaken.

Franz and I helps him search for it. Under the table, where I last saw the vial with the blue liquid was a note.

                There is also a conspiracy going on in this city. Because you acted, we finally noticed. Rest assured, we will make sure that the antidote reaches everyone in the city.

                Go to the top floor of the tallest tower of the institute as soon as you read this note. Mathieuss’s motive must be revealed to the Council.

-          Kate

At once, we went to the institute. The alchemist is still at his lecture from the day we listened. The air is busy as it always has. We look for a map of the institute and search for the tower. The passage that leads to the tallest tower is in the herb garden maze. The herb garden maze could be accessed from the west wing of the building, which is off limits to outsiders.

The stairs to the west wing are guarded by alchemists who kept a watchful eye to everyone in the hall. We tried to go to that location, but we were blocked over and over again. With no other choice, we exited the institute and flew to the herb garden.

“This is against the rules!” Franz whispers. “We could be sent to jail.”

“Now is not the to be good and law abiding,” Keith tells him. “We have to get to that tower.”

“Guys,” I pinch their shoulders as a guard walked by. They became quiet as soon as they saw the guard. We hid and let the guard walk away.

We move stealthily to the passage of the tallest tower. It is at the end of the herb garden maze. Thankfully, Keith’s Levitate allowed us to quickly find our way around the maze. Finally, we reach the passage.

What awaited us is a long spiraling staircase that led all the way up.

“We don’t have time for this,” Keith cast Levitate and flew us to the top.

In front of us is a door. It was a simple wooden door, a contrast from the extravagant designs that can be observed in the institute proper. The door leads to Headmaster Matthieuss’s office, where he sat behind a high table overlooking everything in the office.

“Can I help you with something?” he notices us enter and asks.

“We have to know something,” Keith stepped forward. “Why are you mind-controlling the people of this city?”

“Mind-control? Unfortunately, I do not know what you are referring to,” Mattheiuss answers.

“This tonic,” Keith grabs a bottle of Tonic of Energy from his sack, “it is very addicting and makes those who consume it greatly dependent on this liquid. Too dependent, even to the point of obeying the commands of those who manufacture this liquid.”

“Well, well,” Mathieuss smiles, “so you found out! I commend you for your great insight. It seems outsiders have a keen eye, after all.”

“Why are you doing this?” Franz asks.

“Why? You ask?” He stands up from his chair and reaches for his staff. “For control, of course. For years, Mysinda, a nation smaller and poorer than Caldia, has surpassed our magical might and the Council of the seven cities did nothing to fix this. Thus, I must take control of this city and eventually all of Caldia. Long have the headmasters and headmistresses of Mysindian schools laughed at me, but now with the Tonic of Energy, I will make them eat their words. If you stand in my way, then you will die.” He points his staff towards us and casts a spell that created a large magic circle above, in front, behind, and below us. There was no way to escape.

“Your lives will be a steppingstone for my plans!”

“Not so fast,” a man from outside crawled into the room from the window.

“You, impossible! I have received word that you are in Syracre,” Matthieuss is flabbergasted.

“I was, but I received a tip from a friend. So, I rushed home and now I find this and hear your plans.”

“I will obliterate you, Saint-Amour! If it’s the last thing I do.” He activates the spell and a bright flash blinds me.

“Stay awake,” a voice whispers in my head. I open my eyes and find myself safe from the spell. “For your act of treason, I, Rolande Saint-Amour, military magistrate of Toulse, arrest you.”

Mathieuss suddenly drops on the floor.

“No! My ambitions will not end here,” he faints.

“I have to thank you,” magistrate Saint-Amour jumps from the window. “Kate told me about you three. Thanks to you, there is an antidote for the tonic addiction crisis. If there is something that I can help you with, do not hesitate to ask. I have to go now,” he grabs unconscious Mathieuss from the floor. “Go to my office if you need anything.” He jumps from the window.

Suddenly, a large explosion resonated throughout. There is a blue mist that was descending on the city. As soon as people got into contact with the mist, they fell asleep, except for us and others who did not drink the Tonic of Energy. Finally, the busy streets rested.