Day 56 in the secret realm
The Alchemy Tower stood apart from the academy's main complex—a slender spire of crystal and metal that caught the artificial light and scattered it into rainbows. Nova approached its entrance with measured steps, his mismatched eyes scanning the structure with quiet assessment.
Wealth, he noted. The alchemy department has funding the combat departments lack. Pills sell for fortunes.
The doors slid open at his approach, revealing a interior that smelled of herbs and minerals and something sharper beneath—the chemical tang of refining processes. Students moved through the halls with purpose, their uniforms marking them as everything from Class D to Class A.
Nova followed the signs toward the tutoring office.
Alchemy Tower — Tutoring Office
The office was small—a desk, two chairs, shelves lined with reference texts and sample pills. A receptionist glanced up as Nova entered, her eyes flickering briefly to his mismatched orbs before settling into professional neutrality.
"Help you?"
"Private tutoring. Alchemy." Nova placed his student crystal on the desk. "Katherine is the instructor?"
The receptionist tapped the crystal, checking his information. "Nova Almond. Class C. Rank 48." Her eyebrows rose slightly. "You've been climbing fast."
"I've been busy."
"She's available now, actually. Three hundred points per hour. Minimum two hours per session." The receptionist paused. "You understand she's a third-year? Her teaching style is... direct."
"I prefer direct."
"Then you'll get along fine." The receptionist gestured toward a corridor. "Room 47. Third floor. She's expecting you."
Nova retrieved his crystal and walked toward the corridor.
Alchemy Tower — Room 47
The door was slightly ajar.
Nova pushed it open and stepped inside.
The room was a private laboratory—workbenches lined with equipment, shelves stocked with herbs and completed pills, a large window overlooking the floating islands below. Sunlight—artificial, but convincing—streamed through the crystal panes, illuminating everything in warm gold.
And at the center of it all, studying a bubbling concoction with intense focus, stood a girl.
She was beautiful.
Golden hair cascaded past her shoulders, catching the light like spun sunlight. Her features were delicate yet strong, her skin flawless, her lips curved in concentration.
She wore the uniform of a third-year Class A student, but it seemed almost insulting on her—like dressing a goddess in mortal clothes.
Nova's All-Seeing Eye activated instinctively.
TARGET: KATHERINE
RACE: Half-Angel, Half-Human (Nephilim)
AGE: 17
CULTIVATION: 3rd Order, 2nd Rank
SUPERPOWERS: Light Manipulation (S-Rank), Fire Manipulation (A-Rank)
BLOODLINE: Angelic (Dormant — 23% activation)
CLASS: A (Rank 7 overall)
Nova froze.
Half-Angel. Nephilim. On Earth?
Angels were beings of the higher planes—creatures of light and order, rarely interacting with mortal worlds. Their offspring with humans were almost legendary, appearing once in millennia, always marked for greatness.
And one was standing in front of him, stirring a cauldron like an ordinary student.
His shock must have shown on his face, because Katherine looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Katherine's lips curved into a smile—warm, amused, and slightly teasing.
"First time seeing a beautiful woman?" she asked. "Or did the smell of the herbs knock you senseless?"
Nova blinked, recovering.
"The herbs," he said flatly. "Definitely the herbs."
Katherine laughed—a genuine sound, bright and musical. "Smooth recovery. I'm impressed." She set down her stirring rod and crossed to him, extending a hand. "Katherine. Third-year, alchemy assistant, and apparently your tutor for today."
Nova took her hand. Her skin was warm, almost glowing. "Nova. Second-year, Class C, and apparently in need of alchemy lessons."
"Class C?" Katherine's eyebrows rose. "Your cultivation is 2nd Order, 7th Rank. That's Class A territory. Why are you still in C?"
"Rankings aren't just about cultivation. I haven't done enough missions."
"Missions you can fix. Rankings you can climb." She released his hand, studying him with new interest. "But you're here for alchemy, not life advice. What do you want to learn?"
Nova considered his answer carefully.
"Basics," he said. "I've made some F-grade pills on my own. Recovery pills. But I need to go further. I need to make stronger pills with better quality."
"Show me."
He pulled out one of his Recovery Pills—standard quality, perfectly formed. Katherine took it, examining it with professional interest.
"Not bad," she admitted. "Consistent shape, proper density, decent potency. Who taught you?"
"No one. Self-taught from a journal."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Self-taught? And you produced this?" She looked at him with new respect. "You have talent, Nova. It may still be raw, unrefined, but it's real."
"I know. That's why I'm here."
Katherine laughed again. "Confident. I like that." She gestured toward a workbench. "Sit. Let's see what you can really do."
Alchemy Lab - Later in the day
Nova worked through the basic formula under Katherine's watchful eye.
Grinding. Measuring. Mixing. Heating. Each step precise, controlled, efficient. The All-Seeing Eye guided his hands, showing him exactly when the mixture reached optimal consistency, exactly when the temperature needed adjustment.
Katherine watched in silence, her expression shifting from casual interest to genuine surprise.
When the pill emerged—perfect, standard quality, exactly as intended—she picked it up and examined it closely.
"You've done this before."
"Many times. Just not with supervision."
"This is better than many second-year alchemy students produce." She set the pill down, facing him fully. "Why do you really need a tutor? You clearly have talent. A journal to guide you. What's missing?"
Nova met her eyes.
"I need to go faster. Stronger pills. Higher grades. I have rare herbs—things most alchemists never see. But I don't know how to use them properly. One mistake could destroy years of growth."
Katherine studied him for a long moment.
"What kind of rare herbs?"
He hesitated. Trust was dangerous. But Katherine—something about her felt different. The angel bloodline, perhaps. Beings of light were incapable of certain kinds of deceit.
"Bloodline herbs," he said carefully. "Meridian expanders. One epic-grade specimen I haven't identified."
Katherine's eyes widened. "Epic-grade? Those don't grow on Earth. They're not supposed to, anyway."
"They don't. I found them somewhere else."
She didn't ask where. Smart woman.
"Alright," she said finally. "I'll teach you. But not here—not with basic formulas. If you have epic-grade herbs, you need to understand advanced principles before you touch them. Theory first. Practice second. Agreed?"
Nova nodded. "Agreed."
Katherine smiled—brighter than before, warming the entire room.
"Good. Then let's begin."
Two hours passed like minutes.
Katherine was an excellent teacher—patient but demanding, explaining concepts clearly while pushing him to understand the underlying principles. She didn't treat him like a beginner, didn't slow down for his sake. She assumed he could keep up.
He could.
By the end of the session, Nova understood more about alchemy than he'd learned from weeks of studying Nora's journal. The All-Seeing Eye absorbed the information, filing it away for future use.
Katherine leaned against her workbench, watching him pack his materials.
"You're quiet good at this, Nova."
"How so?"
"You learn faster than anyone I've taught. Your control is precise—almost mechanical. And your eyes—" She tilted her head. "They're not just for show, are they? Do you possess an eye bloodline?."
Nova said nothing.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to pry." She pushed off the bench, crossing to him. "Same time tomorrow?"
"Same time."
"Good." She extended her hand. "Welcome to alchemy, Nova. Try not to blow anything up."
He took her hand. "No promises."
She laughed—that bright, musical sound—and he found himself almost smiling.
Nova walked through the tower's halls, his mind racing.
*Katherine. Half-Angel. 3rd Order, 2nd Rank. Light and Fire.*
Why was she here? On Earth, of all places? Angels belonged to higher planes, to cosmic battles, to realms beyond mortal comprehension. Their offspring should be the same—destined for greatness, for wars against darkness, for ascension beyond petty academies.
Yet here she was. Teaching alchemy to a Class C student.
She's hiding, he realized. Just like me.
He reached the entrance and paused, looking back at the tower's gleaming spire.
An ally, he thought. Or a danger.
Time would tell.
Nova's Room — 1:47 PM
Priscilla was waiting.
She sat on his bed, her legs crossed, her expression a mixture of curiosity and something else—jealousy, maybe. She'd heard where he'd been.
"The alchemy department?" she asked as he entered. "You didn't mention you were going."
"I didn't know until this morning." He sat beside her. "Found a tutor. Third-year. Good teacher."
"A girl?"
Nova glanced at her. "Yes."
Priscilla's jaw tightened slightly. "Pretty?"
"Very." He didn't see the point in lying. "Also deadly, if her cultivation is any indication. And completely focused on alchemy."
Priscilla studied him for a moment, then relaxed slightly. "You're not good at lying, you know. If there was something to hide, I'd know."
Nova almost smiled. If only you knew half of what I hide.
"I'm not hiding anything," he said. "Just learning to make better pills. For both of us."
That softened her completely. She leaned against him, her head on his shoulder.
"I know. I trust you."
You shouldn't, he thought. Not completely.
But he held her anyway.
Nova's Room — 10:47 PM
Priscilla slept.
Nova sat at his desk, reviewing the alchemy notes Katherine had given him. The All-Seeing Eye scanned each page, memorizing formulas, techniques, principles.
She's good, he admitted. Better than good. With her help, I could become a real alchemist.
But beneath that thought, another lurked.
Katherine. Nephilim. What are you doing here?
He didn't have an answer.