Kim counted cobblestones as he walked. Not intentionally - his mind just did that sometimes. Seventeen across on this street. Twenty-three on the last one. The numbers helped steady his nerves, gave him something to focus on besides the shadows that seemed to move when he wasn't looking directly at them.

The night air bit at his face. Clean streets, he thought. Too clean. The usual litter and debris had been swept away for the Crown Prince's visit, leaving the cobblestones eerily pristine in the lamplight. Everything looked wrong without its normal layer of city grime.

A cat darted across his path.

Kim jumped.

"Argh!"

Then immediately felt foolish.

His hands wouldn't stop shaking. He shoved them into his pockets, fingers brushing against the folded documents. The paper felt like it was burning through his coat.

Twenty-nine cobblestones across here.

A couple walked past, laughing about something. Kim pressed himself against a wall to let them pass, heart hammering. Just normal people, enjoying a normal evening. Not everyone was out to-

He cut that thought off. Paranoia wouldn't help. Though maybe a little paranoia was warranted, given what he'd learned about his funders. About what they'd planned to do with his work.

The Royal Quarter loomed ahead, its white stone walls gleaming under enchanted lamps. Thirty-two cobblestones across. Guards in polished armor stood at attention, their faces impassive behind their helmets.

And behind them... Kim swallowed hard. The other guards. The ones that didn't move. Didn't speak. Just... watched. Their black armor seemed to drink in the light, making them look like holes cut into the night itself. Imperial Shadows, some called them. The Crown Prince's personal guard.

"State your business," one of the regular guards said as Kim approached.

"I need to see Prince Kalyon." Kim's voice cracked. He cleared his throat. "It's urgent."

"The hour is late. Return tomorrow-"

"Please." Kim stepped forward. The guards tensed. "Tell him Professor Amadeus Kim is here. He knows me. We're..." Friends felt too presumptuous suddenly. "We've worked together. For years. Please. It's important."

The guard studied him for a long moment. One of the Shadows turned its head slightly - the smallest movement, but it made Kim's skin crawl.

"Wait here."

Kim counted cobblestones while they verified his identity. Forty-seven across at the gate. The numbers weren't helping anymore. His mind kept spinning back to his laboratory, to the remains of his life's work scattered across the floor. Twenty-three years of research. Gone. Because he'd been too blind to see how it was being twisted.

"Professor?"

Kim looked up. A different guard had returned.

"His Highness will see you. Follow me."

They led him through torch-lit corridors, past tapestries and suits of armor. Two of the Shadows fell into step behind them, their footsteps making no sound on the stone floor. Kim tried not to think about them. Tried not to imagine what they might do if they knew what he carried.

More corridors. More turns. Kim lost count of the cobblestones.

Finally, they stopped before an ornate door. The guard knocked twice.

"Enter."

The door swung open, and there was Kalyon, bent over a desk covered in papers. He looked up, and Kim nearly collapsed with relief at the familiar face.

"Amadeus?" The prince's brow furrowed with concern. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Kalyon looked exactly as Kim remembered - those striking blue eyes, dark raven hair, and that carefully trimmed beard he'd started wearing in recent years. Twelve years Kim's junior, but you wouldn't know it from the way he carried himself. Even hunched over his desk like this, there was something quietly regal about him.

Strange to think that once upon a time, this man had just been an eager young noble who'd spend hours in Kim's laboratory, pestering him with questions about magical theory. Kim hadn't even known he was speaking to the future Crown Prince until the announcement was made. Now, fifteen years later...

"Amadeus?" Kalyon stood, concern etching deeper lines in his face. "Sit down before you fall down. When was the last time you slept?"

Kim tried to remember. Had it been four hours ago? Six? Everything before the golem's visit felt like one long blur.

"Here." Kalyon was already moving to a cabinet near his desk. "You look like you could use this."

He pulled out a dark bottle, its surface covered in spiraling runes that pulsed with a soft purple light. The cork came free with a soft pop that seemed to release the scent of summer flowers.

"Moonbloom wine," Kalyon explained, pouring two glasses. "From the floating vineyards of Celestia. They say the grapes absorb starlight, and the wine soothes troubled minds." He handed one to Kim. "From my private collection."

Kim wasn't much of a wine person - most of it just tasted like spoiled grape juice to him - but he took the glass gratefully. His hands were still shaking. He drained half of it in one swallow.

Oh.

This... this wasn't like any wine he'd tasted before. It was summer afternoon naps and cool morning breezes. Warm blankets on cold days. The satisfaction of solving a particularly tricky equation.

He finished the rest in another gulp.

"Careful there." Kalyon chuckled, taking a measured sip from his own glass. "This isn't tavern swill. One glass of this could buy a small house in the merchant district."

And yet he'd opened it without hesitation, just because Kim looked troubled. That was Kalyon all over - the same generosity he'd shown as a young man, always ready to share whatever he had. Even now, as Crown Prince, that hadn't changed.

"Thank you," Kim said quietly. "I needed that."

"I can see that." Kalyon set his glass down, all traces of humor falling away. "What's happened, Amadeus? I haven't seen you this shaken since that time you accidentally turned half your laboratory staff into geese."

"That was an accident! And I turned them back!" The protest came automatically, but Kim's heart wasn't in it. The wine had steadied his hands, but the weight of what he carried still pressed down on him. "I... I need your help, Kalyon. And what I'm about to tell you... it's going to sound impossible. Terrible. But I can prove every word."

Kalyon studied him for a long moment, then reached for the bottle again.

"I think," he said carefully, "we're both going to need another glass for this conversation."

Kim told him everything.

The project, the breakthroughs, the funding that had seemed so legitimate. His voice grew stronger as he laid out the evidence, spreading ledgers and letters across Kalyon's desk. Guild seals, merchant stamps, trading contracts - all leading back to names and organizations that made his blood run cold.

Kalyon listened intently, asking sharp questions that cut straight to the heart of things. Though not a mage himself, he'd always had an almost academic passion for magical theory - now that same analytical mind picked apart the conspiracy thread by thread.

"And this merchant seal here," Kalyon tapped one of the letters, "you're certain it connects to those 'Children of the Moon' you talked about?"

"The markings match their known trading houses." Kim's hands shook slightly as he pulled out another parchment. "And look at the timing of these shipments. Every major breakthrough, every advancement - gold and resources moved through these same channels."

Something flickered across Kalyon's face - so brief Kim almost missed it. Anger? No, something else. The prince took another slow sip of wine, his eyes never leaving the papers.

"They played me for a fool," Kim said bitterly. "All these years, thinking I was working for the betterment of the Empire, and instead..." He gestured helplessly at the evidence. "They were going to turn it into a weapon. Something that could kill millions. Maybe more. Definitely more."

"And you destroyed the prototype?" Kalyon's voice was carefully neutral.

"Yes. Completely. There's nothing left for them to steal or replicate." Kim leaned forward. "But that's not enough. These people, these organizations - they need to be stopped. Arrested. Their whole network torn apart before they can try again with someone else's research."

Kalyon stood abruptly, walking to the window. His shoulders were tense under his formal robes.

"This is... troubling," he said finally. "Very troubling. Foreign powers and criminal enterprises, operating so boldly within our borders..." He took another drink, longer this time. "You did the right thing coming to me, Amadeus."

"I knew you'd understand." Relief flooded through Kim. "You've always cared about doing what's right. Even back when you were just that eager young noble pestering me about theoretical magic."

A small smile touched Kalyon's lips, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Those were simpler times, weren't they?"

"They were." Kim straightened. "So what's our next step? The Imperial Guard could-"

"Let me handle this." Kalyon's voice had an edge to it now. "This level of conspiracy... we need to move carefully. One wrong step could send them all scurrying back into their holes."

He returned to his desk, rifling through the documents with clear agitation. His movements were sharp, precise - almost angry. Kim watched him with growing concern. He'd never seen Kalyon this unsettled.

"You're worried," Kim said softly.

"Of course I'm worried." Kalyon knocked back the rest of his wine. "This goes deeper than you realize, Amadeus. The implications..." He shook his head. "I'll need time to verify everything. To make sure we have an airtight case before we move."

"But-"

"Trust me." Kalyon's blue eyes locked onto his. "I will see justice done. You have my word."

The intensity in his voice was reassuring. This was why Kim had come to him - because Kalyon had always been someone who fought for what was right. Someone who cared about more than just power and politics.

"Thank you," Kim said. "I knew I could count on you."

Something passed across Kalyon's face - too quick to read. He poured himself another glass of wine, his movements controlled but somehow tense.

"You should get some rest," he said. "You look exhausted. I'll have guards escort you home."

"But shouldn't we-"

"Rest, Amadeus. You've done your part. Let me handle things from here."

Kim wanted to argue, but exhaustion was starting to crash over him in waves. Maybe it was the wine. Maybe it was the weight finally lifting from his shoulders. Either way, his eyes felt heavy.

"You're right," he admitted. "I haven't slept since..." He couldn't even remember.

Everything would be alright now. Kalyon would handle it. Justice would be done.

Kim pushed himself to his feet, muscles protesting after sitting so long. "I'll be counting on you then, Your Highness."

"Before you go." Kalyon's voice was casual. Too casual. "Who gave you these documents?"

Kim hesitated. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me." The prince's smile was gentle, encouraging. The same smile he'd worn when asking about magical theorems years ago.

"It was... a golem."

"A golem?" Kalyon's eyebrows rose.

"See? You don't believe me."

"No, no. Please, explain." Kalyon leaned forward.

"I don't know much about whoever was controlling it. They just... appeared." Kim shrugged helplessly. "Left the documents, warned me about the project."

Kalyon pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a long breath. Not worry - annoyance?

Kim laughed. "You know what's funny? You look more inconvenienced than concerned." He shook his head, still chuckling. "I just handed you a conspiracy that could shake the Empire. Solving this, exposing these people - it would make you a hero. Even as Crown Prince, that kind of popularity would be invaluable, and yet..."

Kalyon's eyes snapped to his, a flash of something dangerous there and gone so fast Kim almost missed it. The laughter died in his throat.

Wait.

The pieces were there, scattered in his mind like puzzle fragments. Years of casual conversations. Of sharing breakthroughs over wine. Of Kalyon's endless fascination with his work...

That merchant at the prince's 20th birthday celebration. What was his name? Kim had forgotten, but he remembered the way the man had smiled, had mentioned knowing someone who'd be interested in funding magical research. Had introduced him to Fox just a week later.

Fox, who'd always seemed to know exactly what direction to push their research. Who'd asked such specific questions about applications Kim hadn't even considered yet.

The same questions Kalyon had asked, years earlier, presented as mere intellectual curiosity.

Oh.

Oh no.

Kim's throat went dry. His heart started hammering against his ribs, thoughts scattering like startled birds. "Y-you're right," he managed, voice steadier than he felt. "I should get some rest."

The prince didn't look like his old friend anymore. He looked like what he truly was - a lion who'd been playing with his food for years.

Stay calm. Stay calm. His hands were trembling. He forced them still.

"G-goodnight, Your Highness." Kim turned toward the door, pulse thundering in his ears. Just a few steps. Just-

"Stop."

Kalyon's voice had changed. It was hard to explain, but the most poetic, and easy way was that it felt like the warmth was gone

Kim's hand froze on the door handle.

"You know," Kalyon said conversationally, "I always admired how quick your mind was. How you could take scattered pieces of information and assemble them into a coherent whole." The sound of wine being poured. "It's part of what made you such a valuable asset."

Kim's fingers tightened on the handle. His thoughts raced, analyzing options, calculating odds. The guards outside. The distance to the window. The drop to the courtyard below.

"Though I must admit," Kalyon continued, "I had hoped you wouldn't put it together quite so... obviously. Your face has always been an open book, old friend."

The last two words dripped with mockery. Kim's shoulders tensed.

"Turn around, Amadeus."

He didn't want to. Every instinct screamed at him to run. But where could he go? What could he do?

Slowly, feeling like a puppet on strings, Kim turned.

Kalyon was still sitting at his desk, wine glass in hand. But his eyes... his eyes were different now. No more pretense of warmth. No more fake concern.

Just cold, calculating interest.

Like a researcher watching an experiment unfold.

"I think we should talk a bit more." The prince said.

I've been such a fool.

For years, he'd been such a perfect, blind fool.

*****

Phew. Focus. Focus.

Adom rubbed his palms together, too aware of how clammy they felt. He'd thought these kinds of sensations were behind him by now. Apparently not. His fingers drummed against his leg as he stared at the circles drawn on the table, hyper-conscious of the presence behind him. Amazing how the weight of someone's attention could make even the simplest task feel like defusing a bomb.

Alchemy, as any alchemist could tell you, was all about understanding. Not just knowing - actually understanding. The difference between reading about swimming and actually getting in the water, so to speak. And right now, Adom was definitely in the deep end.

It didn't help that elemental essences were tricky things to work with. Raw mana was straightforward enough - pure magical energy, like white light. But essences? Those were trickier.

They were mana that had been filtered, transformed into specialized forms that resonated with specific aspects of nature. Like that white light passing through different colored glasses, each essence had its own 'flavor' of magical energy. Water essence spoke to water, air essence to air, and so on.

Which was exactly why alchemists used them instead of raw mana. You could technically hammer a nail with a rock, but wouldn't you rather use a hammer?

He stared at the clear water in the beaker, fingers hovering over the chalk circles he'd drawn. Three circles surrounded the main one, not five - no need for unnecessary elements in this transformation.

The runes were precise - he'd made sure of that. One wrong line, one wobbly curve, and instead of sweet water, he might end up with something that could melt through the floor. Again.

"Take your time," Professor Mirwen said from somewhere behind him. "The water isn't going anywhere."

Right. No pressure. Just trying to convince water molecules to fundamentally change their nature while one of the academy's most respected alchemists watched his every move. Simple.

Adom adjusted his glasses, activating Riddler's Bane. He did not really need to adjust them to use the artifact, but somehow, it became a habit.

The world shifted, magical currents becoming visible. The water wasn't just water anymore - it was a dance of molecules, a symphony of hydrogen and oxygen bonds waiting to be conducted. Through the artifact's lens, he could see how the molecular bonds vibrated, how they might be... persuaded to change.

"Remember," Professor Mirwen's voice carried that teaching tone he'd come to recognize, "what elements do you actually need for this transformation? Many students make the mistake of using all five elements for every change."

Adom nodded, studying the circles he'd drawn. Water essence in the first circle - that was obvious. You needed water to change water, establish a connection with the substance's fundamental nature. Air essence in the second - to alter how the molecules would interact with taste buds, carry the sweetness. And mana in the third, to power and stabilize the change.

No fire needed - he wasn't trying to heat or excite the molecules. No earth either - this wasn't about physical stability. Sweet water was still water, just... friendlier to the tongue.

He touched the water circle first. This was the trickiest part - using water essence to change water itself. Like trying to paint water with water. But it wasn't about adding more water - it was about reshaping what was already there, encouraging new patterns to form.

Through Riddler's Bane, he could see the molecular bonds shifting, becoming more receptive to change. The liquid in the beaker rippled slightly.

Air essence next. This wasn't about adding air to water - that would just make bubbles. Instead, he guided the essence to alter how the water molecules would interact with taste buds. It was like teaching the water to speak a new language, one that would say "sweet" instead of "neutral" when it met the tongue.

The liquid began to shimmer faintly as the changes took hold.

Finally, mana. Not too much - this wasn't some grand transformation requiring vast power. Just enough to bind the changes, make them permanent. Like setting a painting after the colors were perfect.

The water cleared, looking deceptively ordinary. That was good - sweet water shouldn't look different from regular water. The change was subtle, internal.

Professor Mirwen stepped forward, her rings catching the light as she reached for the beaker. Adom held his breath as she dipped one finger into the liquid, then brought it to her lips.

Time seemed to stretch. She didn't immediately spit it out - that was good. She wasn't turning purple or growing extra limbs - even better. But her expression remained neutral, unreadable.

Adom's palms were sweating. He'd checked and double-checked every step, balanced each essence carefully, followed every law to the letter. But alchemy was finicky. One microscopic mistake in how the molecules were arranged...

Finally, Professor Mirwen smiled.

"Perfect. Clean, sweet, with no artificial aftertaste." She set the beaker down with a satisfied nod. "And more importantly, you understood exactly what elements were needed - no more, no less. That's the mark of a true alchemist in training."

A long breath escaped Adom as his shoulders relaxed. He hadn't realized how tense he'd been until the moment passed.

"That was amazing!" Mia's voice came from behind him, followed by the sound of her stool scraping against the floor as she stood. "The molecular manipulation was so precise."

"Thanks," Adom said, turning to face her. "That book you recommended in the library really helped."

Mia waved her hand dismissively. "Oh please, that was just a book. You managed to grasp advanced molecular manipulation in what, one week? That's not the book - that's talent."

"You're one to talk," Professor Mirwen said with a smile as she carefully placed the beaker back on the testing station. "If I recall correctly, you mastered this particular transformation in just a week as well, Miss Storm. It's refreshing to have two students who grasp these concepts so naturally. Makes teaching advanced classes much more interesting."

Adom shifted uncomfortably in his chair, forcing a polite smile. "I just... have a knack for understanding mana, I suppose."

The special course wrapped up without ceremony.