Toku sat under the tree in the middle of the town square. Although the sun was bright, the tree offered him enough shade so that his eyes were not too overwhelmed. He noted with satisfaction that his eyes were becoming more accustomed to the daylight.

Still, he thought, I don't think I'll ever be able to be in the sun without this veil or something like it.

All the same, his heart knew the joy of the upper world, and he was not willing to give that up for all the pain he had so far gone through.

From his spot under the tree, Toku could see the life of the town spilling out before him. Women were running and bumping between the stalls of the nearby marketplace. Importantly dressed businessmen peaked their heads out of offices and storefronts only to rush headlong into the street traffic, as if their business was much more important than their lives. Carts and horse-drawn carriages zoomed through the crowded street. All the traffic and activity reminded Toku of home and the great Crossroads. But even the massive expanse of that great ceiling was nothing compared to the blue dome under which he now sat.

I'm not going to get home just sitting here! Theodora's out working. It's time I did some work of my own.

Standing, Toku took one more look at his surroundings. Sitting on a bench in front of a bustling knick-knack shop was a tired old man perhaps waiting for his wife to return from her shopping. He had a kind glint in his eyes that seemed inviting to Toku, and he seemed to be enjoying the comings and goings of the crowd just as Toku had been moments before.

With resolution, Toku walked carefully from his hideout underneath the tree, across the street, and to the old man's bench. Aside from the blinding his eyes took from the direct sunlight, Toku made it to the bench unscathed, though he did get yelled at by a rather rude cart driver. Finding the shade once again, Toku plopped himself on the bench next to the old man.

“Hey there, young fella.”

Toku had expected to start the conversation up himself, so he was not a little surprised when the man immediately began chatting away.

“My old lady's there shopping. Only don't tell her I called her old. She still thinks she's a young spring hen, you know. And she always does this to me—leaves me bored on a bench while she goes and spends all my money. Well, I guess she deserves it after being married to an old grump like me for so long. So, is that some new fashion from the city or something? My wife'll want to be caught up to date on things like that,” the man asked, pointing to the cap and veil over Toku's eyes.

“Oh...uh...yeah. They're very popular where I come from. I bet everyone starts wearing them soon. Did you mention the city? Do you know much about it? I'm traveling there.”

“You don't say? Traveling to the city, are you? Well, that's good for a boy your age. Of course, I'm pretty much through with journeys now at my age. but, I've seen a thing or two with these old eyes. And let me tell you, seeing the King in the City was one of the highlights,” the old man smiled warmly.

“Yessir. So, do you know how far the City is from here? And to get there do we just...”

“Sure, sure,” the old man interrupted, enjoying the sport of a conversation partner. “Yeah, you're just two days away now. Of course, with your young legs, you could probably make it in one day, but then you'd be missing all the scenery. Take my advice, if you can—enjoy the journey. In my experience, the journey is usually worlds better than the destination.” The old man paused and closed his eyes, as if he had just said something very profound. “Do you ever read books about the destination? No! Of course not. Books are always about the journey because that's what's interesting. You know...”

“Er...yessir. And you said we could get to the City by...”

“Sure, sure. You just take this road here right out of town. Now if you keep following it, it'll take you straight to the King's front door. But, you should really take some time to visit this great restaurant I know of. It's a little out of the way, but you'll never have a better...”

The friendly old man continued talking and Toku continued to nod politely. The good news was that the City was closer. Still, the needed to find this Alchemist character. And if his experience with the King of the Lower Kingdom was anything to go by, they would not have any luck at all seeing the King of the Upper Kingdom without some sort of appointment.

Just as the old man began what must amount to a rather lengthy monologue about a great vineyard he had known many years ago, Toku saw Theodora running up the street and stopping at his tree, looking about. Politely taking his leave of the old man, who continued to talk even as Toku walked away from the bench, Toku yelled across the road, hoping to be heard above the din of the passing town. Spotting Toku in the shade of the shops, Theodora ran over to him, nearly getting mowed down by a herd of businessmen in somber suits in the process.

Theodora wasted no time and grabbed Toku, dragging him with her to the other side of the busy street.

“Come on! We have a job to do,” she exclaimed, excitedly.

“What job?”

“I need you to do more alchemy. Do you think you can?”

“Well, I should be able to. But we'll need to get some equipment,” Toku answered, wondering just what exactly he would have to do.

“Don't worry, I think I already have everything. Listen, we might have a chance at getting in to this party today.”

“A party? Why would we want to go to a party. After all, I just got more directions to the city. We're almost there!”

“That's great!” said Theodora. “But, this party could be important. There's a chance the Alchemist might be there. Or...at least someone who knows him.”

“Really?!” Toku yelled, shocked at their luck. “Let's get going, then! What do I have to do?”

Theodora held out her hand in which she held a small bit of the flour she had saved from the floor of the bakery.

“Can you make it?” she asked.

Toku looked down at the flour. He took a small bit and examined it. With a sigh he looked back up at Theodora.

“I was afraid you would want me to do something like this. I can't.”

“What? Why? You made the medicine!” said Theodora.

“Well...yes, I did. But truthfully, I just got lucky. In reality, these kind of transformation reactions are extremely difficult. I've only done one or two in my life. The only reason I even tried making the medicine was because it was a very simple compound. I didn't have to do too much tinkering with the atoms. But this. Flour. It's too complex. It's too much. I don't think my master could even make this. Well...unless he had a lot of time. Think about it, if alchemy could make something like this so easily, the Lower Kingdom wouldn't have any problems at all, would it?”

“But, this could be our only chance to get into this party! It's our best opportunity to meet the Alchemist. Look, I know you have it in you. Just try!” Theodora pleaded.

“What do you mean you know I have it in me? Up until yesterday you didn't even know alchemy existed. Look, I'm sorry. I can't do it, okay?!”

If Toku sounds harsh to you, dear reader, do not judge him too harshly. It was a hard blow to take, having such hope placed upon him by someone he was growing to respect more and more, only to fall short. Failing yourself is one thing. Failing a friend is entirely worse.

Theodora, though hurt by Toku's tone, understood all this immediately.

“I'm sorry, Toku. I don't know much about alchemy, you're right. But what little I do know about it, I learned from watching you. Will you just try? I...I just have this feeling that this is what we're supposed to do. I can't explain it. If it doesn't work, we'll just forget about it. No worries, nothing lost. Okay?”

Theodora's gentle tone soothed Toku's feelings.

“Okay. I'll try. But I won't be able to do it. It's too complex.”

“I know. That's okay. I just want to see you try,” and Theodora's smile was all it took.

Using a pot and other pieces of cookware Theodora had thought to grab from the bakery, Toku readied himself to attempt another difficult alchemical transformation. With a brief examination of the flour Toku quickly came to the conclusion that it would not matter what he tried to use as a base material. The flour was too complex to make any difference whether he started with carbon, like he had with the medicine, or with dirt. The work involved would be the same.

And so, dirt is exactly what he used—or sand, actually. Dumping a good handful of the sand that seemed to be plentiful in this area into the bowl alongside the flour, Toku once again breathed deeply and entered into the alchemical trance. Closer and closer he zoomed his mind into the substances makeup. Soon he saw large chains of molecules zipping about. Further in he moved. Now the atoms were vibrating and bending on their invisible leashes. Further in...further in.

Sweat stood out on Toku's forehead. Theodora looked on anxiously. Toku's face was flushed with concentration. Harder and harder he tried. He had to go further in. He had to be able to break the bonds...move electrons. His mind strained with effort. He edged a little closer. The atoms were growing enormous in his mind. But he could not see past them. Never had he tried to see so far in to the building blocks of life. Matter and energy collided around him. This inner universe was full of power, tightly controlled. He felt that his mind would break with the pressures he was trying to exert. It was too much. He had to let go! He could not go any further in!

Then, with a suddenness that startled the young alchemist, he broke through. He felt heat flush around him for only a moment, and then with a small plop, almost like a pebble dropped onto the surface of a pond, his mind flowed freely and easily. Into the atom he delved. The electrons danced and arched, popping in and out of time and space. Protons and neutrons huddled together, as if terrified of their freedom. He found he could delved even further. Everything flowed and moved together, and he was a part of it. And, like a small ant building a fortress grain by grain, Toku shifted and moved the atoms about, taking from them as he needed. In his mind, time seemed to have stopped, and all this he did without the need for rest. Energy flowed all around him, and as atoms were broken and pieced back together, he fed off of their energy himself, and it made him stronger.

Even from Theodora's perspective, she perceived when Toku broke through the barrier, even if she could not have known what was happening. One moment it looked as if Toku would have to stop—he was moaning and his face was white with the effort. And then, the next moment, his color returned, and peace flowed over his entire body. To her eyes, Toku's work was a matter of about ten minutes. Slowly but surely the sand in the bowl became a gleaming fine, white powder.

When he was finished, Toku slowly drew back from the alchemical trance, allowing his senses to readjust. He breathed out slowly, as if releasing any pent-up energy, and he slowly opened his eyes.

“I did it.” Toku almost whispered the sentence.

“You did it.” Theodora confirmed, smiling broadly.

“I think just one more batch should do it,” said Theodora.

Toku and Theodora had spent the rest of the morning making flour. Even with Toku's newfound ability, the going had been slow, and it was now well after noon.

Toku looked up at Theodora. He felt exhausted now. The past several reactions had each become much more difficult. He wasn't breaking through the barrier quite so easily anymore. Each reaction took more energy from him now, instead of giving energy back to him.

“Okay. Just one more,” Toku said, partly to Theodora and partly to himself.

“Are you alright?” Theodora asked, noticing the signs of exertion returning to Toku's face.

“Yeah. I'm fine. Come on, put some more sand in the bowl.”

One last time Toku settled into his meditative state. Once again his mind filled with the atoms and molecules of the sand and flour. But this time he was having difficulty focusing. Everything blurred before him. He felt like his mind could not keep up with the activity before him. Atoms raced along invisible tracks. Electrons jumped and turned.

Toku pushed hard against the invisible barrier. Like the first time, he felt like his mind was becoming overpowered. It was too difficult. He expected the plop to happen at any time. He continued to push. The atoms and molecules slowed down slightly. He felt as if they were starting to come into focus once again. A little more...

“Just a little more,” Toku whispered to himself. “Just a little...just a little...little...Ahhh!”

The pain was excruciating. It shot up from his leg and filled his lungs with fire. His mind filled with flames and his vision began to burn. Just as it had in Aleric's lab only a few days ago, the edges of his consciousness became wreathed in fire. Pain was erupting all around, and the universe seemed to be screaming at him to stop. Molecules disintegrated in brilliant flashes of light.

He had to stop the flames! They were too hot...they were burning away everything. His own brain was on fire!

And then, with a suddenness that seemed to answer Toku's desperate need, his vision was swept away in a torrent of water. He felt something break, like a rock wall, and then the sweeping, powerful water flooded his mind. The flames were instantly quenched, but the flood carried Toku's consciousness with it. Deep down Toku sank into the cool, dark, black of oblivion. Now, for the third time Toku laid unconscious on the ground.

Toku awoke suddenly, choking and sputtering. He was drenched with cold water!

“Gah! Ahg! What's...”

“Oh, thank goodness! You're awake! Are you alright? What happened?” Theodora's figure huddled over Toku like a protective mother, but all her questions made Toku's head spin. Unable to comprehend all that she was saying, his mind settled on the one question he had for himself:

“Ugh! Why am I all wet?”

“I didn't know what to do!” Theodora answered, guiltily. “You passed out, and when you wouldn't wake up the only thing I could think of to do was to throw water on you.”

“Oh. Right.” The memory of the flames and his vision slowly seeped back into Toku's consciousness. “Thanks. Now I guess it all makes a little more sense.”

“Yeah, I'm sorry,” Theodora said, not knowing that Toku was speaking of his vision. “Anyway, aside from being all wet, are you okay? What happened? I feel terrible!”

Toku took a moment to perform an inventory on himself, shaking his head clear and moving his limbs each in turn.

“I think I'm okay now. I guess I just pushed everything a bit far. I was starting to feel tired before the last transformation. I should have stopped.”

“Oh! I'm so sorry! I never should have made you push yourself so hard. I noticed that you were getting tired. But, everything seemed to be going so smoothly. I just didn't know!” Theodora looked sincerely remorseful, as if everything that had ever gone wrong in the world had been her fault, alone.

Although he knew it was rude, Toku could not help but laugh at the thought of this almost angelic girl feeling so guilty.

“Wha-what are you laughing for? Are you really alright?” asked Theodora, more worried than ever.

Toku burst out laughing once more. “I-I-I'm sorry....” he finally managed to say, his belly still shaking with laughter. “N-n-no...really...I-I'm...fine! It wasn't your fault at all. Really! Still, if it's all the same to you, I'd rather not try again. Do you think we have enough flour to use, anyway?”

“Of course you're not trying again! This will be plenty,” Theodora emphatically replied. “But...are you really sure you're alright?”

“I'm fine! Really! You don't have to keep on asking me. I'm fine...” Toku said, both to reassure Theodora and himself.

But, Theodora must have sensed some insecurity behind Toku's confident answer, for from then on she became all the more watchful over him—looking for the faintest sign of the strange look that had come into his eyes just before he had passed out. “Water,” he had said. It was this request that had given her the idea to fetch a bucket of water in the first place.