Fragments of Alchemy: The Code Keeper

An Emergency Meeting

The Alchemists and Chemists of Blackthorn and Burtree could always tell when the Keeper held an emergency meeting. It was easy to notice: The White Cloaks rushing to his chamber, the shifting in the guards on duty in the main corridor. It was obviously an important meeting this time, for ten Animarum had been summoned, and the guards on duty had been doubled.

Tenebrous stood by his desk, leaning on his gigantic book and scowling at the group of Alchemists the Keeper had invited through his door.

As the group of Alchemists passed, Tenebrous recognized Daquan Yuan, Bria Songwind, Bradley Atwood, Corwyn Crandle, Yuki Hayashi, and Hathor Osborne, all Keeper’s Astral Dreamers who worked in the Crystal Realm, studying the Infinimages to record prophecies in the Crystal Chronicles. He also recognized several Keeper’s Hands: Baxter Ward, Ainsworth Larkin, Stan Wald, and those new faces, Owen and Fiona Presten.

Tenebrous shuffled toward the door and waved his hand to wield his Kundalini with all his might. Slowly, the large oak door swung shut, giving the Keeper and the Animarum who worked for him some privacy. Tenebrous yawned and shuffled back to his desk.

Inside the Keeper’s Chamber, the Alchemists quickly gathered around the table shaped like a tree. There seemed to be several different arguments going on around the room as the Alchemists all took their seats around the table.

“There is no reason to change the plan,” Corwyn said loudly as he chose a little chair from the table and removed the Reduction Conversion, returning the chair to its original size. “It could be catastrophic to make such a monumentous change at this late hour. The only one who can make me change my mind is the Keeper.”

“I believe you mean monumental,” Hathor countered. “You’re making up words now. You are not inspiring confidence in yourself, Corwyn. You know your fate now, and it will affect the course of events in ways that even the Keeper cannot predict. You must consider allowing someone else to take your place.”

“If we swap Corwyn out for another Anima, who’s to say the change wouldn’t negatively affect the outcome?” Bria asked. “Wouldn’t it introduce too many variables? You know the more we change the future, the harder it gets to predict!”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the table, Owen was in a heated argument with Yuki and Daquan. “This is unacceptable,” Owen was saying. “I will not stand idly by while she is out there in danger without us!”

“I understand that you only have Althea’s best interest at heart,” Yuki said. “But you know you cannot possibly go against the Keeper’s directive. The ramifications would be catastrophic! There has to be some sort of compromise that we can reach.”

“I will not compromise with my daughter’s life!” Owen shouted. Beside him, Fiona touched his shoulder, urging him to calm down.

“You may not have a choice,” Daquan put in heatedly. “The Keeper will not simply change a plan that has been all but set in stone for years, not with such short notice! Not only would you be risking her life, but the entire world could be impacted by such a rash decision. Don’t you see that?”

“I agree with him, Owen,” Fiona said quickly. “We have to trust in the Keeper.”

The Keeper emerged from his private chambers and walked up to his chair, and the room instantly plunged into silence. The Keeper sat down and folded his hands together with his elbows on the table. “Owen, you first.” The Keeper gestured with his hand toward Owen.

“Keeper,” he said as he stood up. “I implore you to explain yourself. Why did we need to give Ally that purple scroll?”

The Keeper raised his eyebrows. “I take it that Althea has moved into her own private dorm. I understand how you feel, but you must understand that she is meant to be on her own. I promise it will only be for a short while. You of all people know that this was meant to be in order to fulfill the prophecy.”

“I refuse to let her be on her own,” Owen said. “I demand that you allow me to bring her home.”

“That is impossible,” the Keeper said. “I cannot allow you to see her right now.”

“Can we use the Vision Conversion to watch over her undetected, Keeper?” Fiona asked.

The Keeper shook his head. “It would change the course of actions considerably. If you remain patient and allow the events to unfold, then Thea will survive. I promise you. Remember our goal. If we fail to save the World from utter destruction, we will all die.”

Owen stood silently, pondering for a long moment. Finally, he said, “I understand, Keeper.” He sat back in his chair.

The Keeper nodded. “Now,” he said, turning to Corwyn. “I understand that you have glimpsed your future, Corwyn?”

The Anima nodded bravely. “It was unintentional, Keeper, I swear. But it cannot be helped. I saw my own death.”

Several Alchemists around the table spoke at once:

“He insists on accompanying us despite this knowledge!”

“If he tries to change the future to avoid his death, he could jeopardize the future of the entire world!”

“Who’s to say this wasn’t inevitable? What if this was meant to be?”

The Keeper held up his hand, and all the Alchemists fell silent. “Corwyn, I do not believe you were meant to know your fate,” the Keeper said softly. “I am truly sorry, but there is nothing I can do to save your life.”

Corwyn nodded bravely. “Then there is only one thing to be done,” he said, standing up to look about the room at all the watching Alchemists. “Keeper, you must extract my memories.”

The Keeper raised his eyebrows in surprise. “You would have me send you to your death, unwittingly no less?”

“If it’s what must be done to ensure the future remains intact, then I will gladly forget,” Corwyn said.

“That just might be the only way to keep the future from splintering down an alternate path. Bria and Ainsworth, I shall need to take your memories as well, as you will be accompanying us on our mission.” The Keeper stood, and Corwyn, Bria, and Ainsworth approached the top of the table and the Keeper’s chair. “Alchemists, I thank you for what you are about to do,” the Keeper said as he rifled about his pockets for a Component.

“Yes, Corwyn,” Owen put in. “Your sacrifice will never be forgotten!”

“Like branches on a tree,” the Keeper said.

“We grow in different directions,” all the Alchemists around the table said in unison.

“Yet our roots remain as one,” Corwyn, Bria, and Ainsworth said, and they all saluted the Keeper, placing their right fists over their hearts.

The Keeper nodded. “Please remove your Fortification Charms.”

Corwyn, Bria, and Ainsworth took off their necklaces, and the Keeper held up some green herbs. “Separo,” he said, and the three Alchemists stood with blank looks on their faces. “Everyone, please be sure to safeguard your Chimaeras,” the Keeper added as he took out another different Component. Everyone in the room brought their Chimaeras out of their pockets and held them behind their Fortification charms. The Keeper spoke the Word again to remove the memories of the three Alchemists’ Chimaeras too.

After a moment, the sheen in their eyes faded, and Corwyn blinked and looked about the room. “What’s happened?” he asked, turning to the Keeper.

“How did I get here?” Bria asked, looking about with concern.

“Why are we here?” Ainsworth asked in shock.

“You three asked me to help you forget something that could jeopardize our mission,” the Keeper explained. “I am hesitant to say more.”

“Ah. I see…” Ainsworth said, noticing his Fortification Charm in his hand. Bria nodded silently.

Corwyn said, “Say no more, Keeper. Whatever we needed to forget, it was for the greater good.”

They all put their necklaces back on.

The Keeper nodded and turned back to the rest of the Alchemists in the room. “Owen and Fiona, I urge you to give Thea some space right now.”

Owen and Fiona nodded.

“Let me remind you that altering the future could have a multitude of unforeseen consequences. I cannot guarantee your daughter’s life if you choose to intervene.”

“Yes, Keeper,” Fiona said. “We understand.”

Owen nodded begrudgingly.

The Keeper nodded. “I will speak with you tomorrow. You are all excused.”

“Yes, Keeper,” all the Animarum said in unison as they stood and saluted again, and the Alchemists quickly filed out of the Keeper’s Chamber.