AMeetingOfMindsGillianAndTemnalGillian had her books and papers spread out on the library table in front of her, and was so deeply absorbed in her studies that she almost didn't hear the soft footsteps approaching. A voice, almost equally soft, spoke behind her. "Pardon me. Miss Talbot?" The speaker was a tall, slim -- man? The pitch of his voice suggested it, as did the cut of his school uniform. But his appearance was exotic: a face the color of ebony, hair the color of ivory tucked behind slightly pointed ears, eyes that glinted gold in the light of Gillian's reading lamp. "I'm sorry to disturb you," the stranger continued apologetically, "but I'm looking for The Six Keys of Eudoxus. Professor Hobbs said that you'd either have it, or know where to find it." Gillian recognized the title of one of the alchemical works she was using for her research. It took a moment for Gillian to move past how different this student was from anyone else she'd ever seen. She blinked. "Oh! Um...yes," she said, recovering. "It's in the alchemical section, third stack, twenty--" she paused as she counted under her breath, "--eighth book from the left on the bottom shelf. I'd be happy to show you, if you like?" "If you wouldn't mind. I'm still learning my way around," he explained, then with a slight smile added, "It's a fascinating maze, mind you, but a maze nonetheless." "Certainly, I'd be happy to." She closed her books, leaving them on the table except for one nondescript notebook which she tucked under her arm as she stood. "This way, please." As Gillian led the dark young student through the library, she looked at him over her shoulder and asked, "May I ask where you hail from, if that's not too personal of a question?" "Most recently, from the Ways of Chanicut," he replied, then added, "I'm a transfer student, if you hadn't guessed." Gillian stopped and turned around, eyes wide. "From Chaos? That's...I mean...well, to come all that way...from that Way..." She laughed, embarrassed, and straightened her glasses on her nose. "I grew up in Amber and I've never been further than ten miles from home. I'm...impressed. And a little envious," she admitted. "What are your Ways like?" "Mmm... variable," he replied with a slight smile, "like most of the Ways of Chaos, I believe. I found it quite bewildering when I first arrived." Gillian turned back around continued down the aisle. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be nosy--it isn't polite," she said, taking his vague answer as a sign that he didn't want to talk about his home. "I take it you're newly arrived? I would've seen you before otherwise. Everyone comes through the library at one time or another and I remember them all." "Given how exactly you described the location of Eudoxus, I guess that's not surprising," he mused. "But yes, I haven't been here long, and you probably would have met me sooner rather than later. A single building with this many books in it has an irresistible fascination." Gillian glanced at him over her shoulder, her expression mildly appraising. His smile turned rueful. "And if we're to talk of manners, I just realized I haven't introduced myself, which was rather rude since I'd already been given your name. I'm Temnal nov'dy Chanicut." He managed a slight bow despite the fact that they were both still on the move. She nodded. "Pleased to meet you. I'm Gillian Talbot of House Feldane. I work here in the library when I'm not in class, so feel free to ask me questions. "Ah...here we are." Gillian turned to her right and disappeared down an aisle that ran past a bookshelf with a plaque that read Alchemical Studies. Temnal made the turn right behind her, but by the time she reached the spot where the requested book was to be found, he had lagged behind, his attention obviously caught by the other volumes lining the shelves. She retrieved the requested book--a rather large tome, hefty enough that she needed both hands to hold it--and brought it back to Temnal. "Is this for a class?" she asked conversationally, "or independent research?" He relieved her of the book before saying apologetically, "Independent research, I'm afraid. I'm told I won't actually be able to take classes in alchemy until my second year. But I have some background in the subject, and if I purchase my own materials I didn't figure anyone would mind." Gillian dropped the notebook under her arm as she transferred the tome to Temnal and bent over to pick it up. She straightened and smiled. "I'm interested in alchemy, too. There's so much scope for the imagination... Is there a branch of alchemy that particularly interests you?" "Well... My foster sister would call it the esoteric branch," said Temnal. "That is, I already know something about procedures and what their outcome will be, but what I'm interested in is the 'why'. The spiritual component and how the various transmutations connect to the unseen world." "Have you read Zosimos of Panopolis?" she asked, her eyes shining behind her glasses as she warmed up to the subject. "He maintained that the external processes of metallic transmutation mirrored an inner process of purification and redemption. He wrote about a spiritual transformation, rather than a physical transformation of base metal into gold. Is that what you mean by 'spiritual component'?" "Yes, exactly!" Temnal replied. "Which is one reason why the transmutation process so often founders. In connection with that, though... Have you come upon any references to the Truesilver Transmutation?" Gillian screwed up her face, thinking. "Truesilver Transmutation.... Nothing with the prefix 'true,' comes to mind, and as for transmutation, only argentospoeia--the alchemical process of transmuting base metal into silver, of course. What is it?" "Perhaps you would call it the metaprocess of argentospoeia, for truesilver is that which does not tarnish," Temnal explained. "A philosophical silver, if you will," Gillian said, smiling, "like the pure 'philosophical gold' of the hidden sun. So why silver as your end result, if I may ask? The traditional end result sought is gold." "Perhaps because what I seek is the hidden moon," answered Temnal. Gillian narrowed her eyes. Was he teasing her, or just being secretive? "Are you pursuing your own path, your own Opus Magnum? But then your first stage would be seeking the Luna Niger, not the hidden moon," she teased back. "That would seem logical," he replied, with what appeared to be perfect seriousness. "As a start, anyway. As for the rest, I don't know if anyone has followed this path before, but the simple fact that I have come across references to the Truesilver Transmutation -- however few and fleeting -- would seem to indicate that I can't be the only one." She nodded. "I will watch for the reference for you, if you like," Gillian offered. "That would be very kind of you." "Is there anything else I can help you with?" Temnal's eyes strayed back to the shelves around them. "Well, since you're obviously familiar with both the library and the subject, I wonder if you could recommend, say..." He glanced at the large volume he was already clutching, then back to the shelves, as if assessing his carrying capacity. "...five of the books here that you think would be most worthwhile?" He smiled slightly. "That should keep me busy for the next few days, at least." "Is that including the one you're holding, or in addition to?" "In addition, I think... unless there's a particularly outsized one." Gillian chuckled and started back down the aisle. "Well, there's Zosimos of Panopolis that I mentioned earlier..." In the space of about as many minutes, Temnal had five more books. She smiled, lighting up her face. "Happy reading to you, Temnal. And it was nice to meet you." He smiled back, around the stack of books in his arms. "The pleasure is mine, Miss Talbot, and thank you. I'm sure you'll see me again." |
