Before the sun had even risen the next morning, Varian was getting the last of his bags tied down to Prometheus' pack saddle, the donkey looking balefully towards him as if to ask why he had been dragged out of his nice warm stable and loaded up with most of Varian's alchemy equipment. Not that Varian was in much better shape; his own backpack was practically overflowing with his gear, despite his attempts to only pack what he considered the essentials. Finally, as the first rays of dawn were beginning to peak over the eastern horizon, he stood before his home as he looked up at it for what would be the last time in many long months, trying not to let his doubt show. Quirin was fussing over Prometheus' packs, double and triple checking that each of them were properly fastened if only to delay Varian's inevitable departure. But he wasn't the only one.
'And you've got your map?' Rapunzel fretted, 'And your canteen is full? And your coin purse is secure? And-'
'I've got everything, Rapunzel,' he interrupted gently, 'You've all made sure of that.'
'You know us, Goggles,' Eugene replied, 'Gotta look out for you. We all know you have a tendency of getting... distracted.'
Varian shrugged, unable to argue with that. Rapunzel lunged forwards to pull him into a painfully tight hug and he grunted as he felt some of his joints pop.
'Make sure you try to write to us when you reach Bayangor's capital,' she insisted, 'And every kingdom you get to after that. I can't wait to hear all about what you end up doing.'
Next to her, Lance burst into tears, dragging Varian away from her into his own hug which was somehow even tighter.
'Make sure you look after yourself, V,' Kiera commented when it became apparent Lance wasn't going to be able to speak.
'And bring us back lots of treasure!' Catalina added excitedly.
'Sure thing,' he muttered, trying to ease Lance's hold on him.
'Okay, come on, buddy,' Eugene said, tugging him away.
'I... just can't... help it!' Lance sobbed, 'It feels like I'm losing my own kid!'
Varian ducked his head in embarrassment, as Eugene sighed, patting Lance's arm.
'I know. Deep breaths, buddy.'
As Rapunzel comforted Lance, Eugene looked Varian up and down as if assessing his appearance.
'Make sure you try to keep your hair in a somewhat presentable state,' he said, 'Remember, a man's appearance is the first thing people notice about him.'
Varian rolled his eyes but grinned, knowing this was just Eugene's way of looking out for him. The captain stepped forward and pulled him into his own hug.
'I'm really proud of you, kid,' he muttered into his ear, 'If you're ever feeling lost out there, just think of how far you've come.'
He finally stepped back, eyes bright with unshed tears and Varian took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. Now was the time for the hardest goodbye of all. With Rapunzel moving the others away to give them some privacy, Varian turned to his father who had finally turned away from Prometheus, eyes downcast.
'I... hoped that this day wouldn't ever come,' Quirin admitted, finally looking up, 'But here you are, all grown up, ready to take on the world.'
'Couldn't have done it without you,' Varian replied with a sad grin.
Quirin shook his head. 'Yes, you could have. I'm sorry for never believing in you when you were younger, the way a father always should. I let you down, son. Over and over again. You're only where you are today because you never let me or anyone else tell you how to live your life. And I couldn't be prouder of the man you've become.'
Varian's felt his heart swell as tears began to drip down his face. 'No, dad. I'm here because you supported me, no matter how badly I messed up. Everything you did was to try to protect me, even if I didn't see it at the time. And I suppose I didn't make your job any easier. How many times did my experiments almost kill me?'
Quirin barked a laugh. 'Far too many than I'd like to remember.'
But his face grew sombre again and he looked down at the satchel hanging from Varian's shoulder where Ulla's journal was safely tucked away, close at hand after last night's incident. Varian could see exactly what he was thinking and he stepped forwards, pressing his face into his dad's shoulder as he hugged him as tightly as he could.
'I'm coming back, dad,' he assured him quietly, 'I won't let you down. I promise.'
Quirin held him tightly, shaking slightly. 'You never could, son. I love you so much.'
He leaned back slightly, brushing Varian's tears from his cheek.
'I love you too, dad,' he mumbled.
They held each other for a long minute, trying to make the moment last as long as they could. But far too soon, Varian had to pull away and take up Prometheus' reins, Ruddiger chattering with excitement from the donkey's back.
'Good luck, Varian!' Rapunzel called as he started to walk towards the gap in Corona's wall.
'We're all rooting for you, kid!' Eugene added while Lance devolved into another fit of sobs.
Quirin was silent, watching Varian leave with a sad smile, feeling like a piece of his heart was leaving with him. He stayed at his post long after Varian had disappeared from sight.
Hugo leaned against the tree, flipping a small silver coin between his fingers as he watched the main road leading out of Corona, several days ahead of where he knew the young alchemist would be. When he heard the sound of heavy footsteps approaching him from behind, he didn't even bother to glance over, knowing exactly who it was.
'Jeez, Cyrus,' he muttered, 'You could alert a whole kingdom with how loudly you move.'
'Where is the journal?' Cyrus demanded, straight to the point as he always was.
'Come on, is that any way to greet me after the harrowing journey I've just undertaken?' Hugo asked, finally turning back to look up at the big man. Cyrus didn't even twitch at his tone, his dark eyes scanning Hugo's thin frame for any sign of what he was looking for.
'You don't have it,' he finally stated and Hugo sighed dramatically.
'You're no fun today. No, I don't have it. That little alchemist and his friends were more... tenacious than I thought they'd be.'
'Alchemist?' Cyrus asked, raising an eyebrow.
'Yeah, some farmboy kid,' Hugo replied, waving his hand dismissively. 'Of course, he's got nothing on me.'
'And yet, here you are, without the journal.'
Hugo glowered at Cyrus who's face held the barest shadow of a smirk.
'They surprised me, that's all,' Hugo retorted, 'But I won't let him do it again. He's leaving Corona right as we speak. Alone. It'll be a piece of cake to grab that book while he's on the road without his guard friends to help.'
'No,' Cyrus snapped back, 'You are to hold your position until Donella sends her orders. I'll have to tell her that you failed and she'll decide if it's worth sending you back out after that book.'
Hugo sighed, glowering at the man. He'd been hoping that he could recover from last night's less than stellar performance before word got back to Donella, but as always, Cyrus was a stickler for following her orders to the letter.
'So what, I just wait here and watch him as he goes on his merry way?' Hugo demanded, 'C'mon, Cyrus! You know I got this!'
'You are to watch and follow him without being detected,' Cyrus retorted firmly, 'I'll be back with your new orders soon. Do not engage, understand?'
Hugo huffed and nodded once, already turning away to watch the road again, his coin flicking in his hand. Only for Cyrus to lash out and catch it from the air, snatching it away as Hugo rounded on him again.
'Hey!'
'Payment for last night's failure,' Cyrus snapped back, pocketing the coin. 'You know the consequences for failing a mission.'
Hugo glared at him, sorely tempted to throw some kind of alchemy vial at him. But instead, he just turned away again, leaving the big man to retreat back into the forest. Only once he was sure he was gone did Hugo pull the small coin purse out of his pocket where he'd slipped it after stealing it from Cyrus' belt. One silver would be enough to get back to Donella, he was sure. If Hugo was to waste his time out here watching some farmboy trundle along to Bayangor for the next month, he needed some way to sustain himself.
'Your donation is much appreciated,' he muttered with a grin, counting out the gold before slipping away into the trees.
Varian was in remarkably high spirits over the next few weeks as he crossed Corona's furthest countryside, far beyond the walls surrounding the inner kingdom. He had only rarely travelled out this far, usually to source some alchemical material he couldn't get closer to home. The people and villages he passed were friendly enough, but he kept his identity a secret from everyone he exchanged brief greetings with. The royal guard was sparse out here, and people usually relied more on local militia to keep them safe from bandits and other criminals. He wouldn't put it past someone desperate enough to try to rob him or even try to kidnap him and use him for ransom if word got out about his title. So he was no more Varian, Royal Engineer of Corona. He was just Varian of Old Corona, traveller on his way to Bayangor's capital.
Despite these precautions, Varian was enjoying himself. Even if it was only early spring, the weather was pleasant and calm, the sun shining on his face as he led Prometheus east and eventually across the border with Bayangor. Well, it was more like the sun was shining on the top of his head as he slowly read through his mother's journal as they walked, steadily translating her code to reveal her own journey that she took from Nesdernia to Bayangor with her research partner, Donella. Varian could barely put it down, absolutely transfixed by the mental image he was getting of the woman in the pages. She was so lively, so enthusiastic and driven. Every barrier that stood before her she took as a challenge to be surmounted, never letting herself falter or surrender. Varian would regularly flip back to the inner cover of the journal to gaze at the family photo she'd drawn, staring down at the image of his mother as each new experience and character trait seemed to slot into place. No more was she just a stranger smiling out from a painting, but now a real person, someone who had sought to change the world, just as he did. Someone he was becoming proud to be the son of.
But it was during the third week of his travels that he had to learn the hard lesson of being aware of his surroundings while on the road.
Ruddiger chattered a warning from Prometheus' back and Varian ignored him, lost in the journal and assuming the raccoon was only looking for some kind of snack. When he chattered again more insistently, leaping onto Varian's shoulders and pawing at his face, he finally looked up and realised there was an overturned wagon lying across the road ahead of them, belongings scattered about and a man sitting back against one of the wheels, clutching at his side in clear pain.
'Are you okay?' Varian asked, quickly stowing the book and hurrying forwards.
'Thank the gods,' the man groaned back, face pale and sweaty, 'I feared no one would find me.'
'What happened?' Varian asked, crouching before him to search for his injury.
'Damn horse spooked at a snake. Broke his halter and tipped the wagon. Threw me off. Do you have any water?'
Varian nodded, reaching for his canteen, just as Ruddiger screeched on his shoulder, making him jump back with alarm and spin around. Four more men were stepping out onto the road behind Prometheus, swords drawn and grinning savagely. Movement from ahead of him made him look back to see the man rising to his feet, all signs of injury gone as he pulled a wicked looking dagger from his belt.
'Ah, I love bleeding hearts,' he sighed, 'Makes our job so much easier, right lads?'
The four men behind Varian laughed in agreement, moving ever closer while Prometheus brayed uncertainly.
'Now you're going to hand over everything you've got,' the man continued, 'Including that fancy belt of baubles you've got there.'
The man gestured to the bandolier Varian wore across his chest, covered with glowing orbs of alchemical solutions. He tried not to panic, cursing his stupidity as he looked back again to the men getting dangerously close to Prometheus' rear.
'R-right, no problem,' he stammered, not needing to pretend he was truly afraid. Yes, a plan was forming in his mind, but to execute it against five enemies might be tricker than he hoped. He slowly reached down to his belt where the clasp of the bandolier was and the man grinned but kept his dagger raised for any sign of danger. Varian's heart was hammering and he glanced at Ruddiger still on his shoulder from the corner of his eye. The raccoon's fur was standing entirely on end, making him look twice his size. He was ready to fight to protect Varian if it came down to it. And they were quickly approaching that point. Varian's hand brushed the buckle of his bandolier, but instead he pulled an orb full of his bubble trap solution away and spun around before anyone could react, throwing it straight at the man standing at the far left of the four. It exploded at his feet immediately, wrapping around him and the man next to him as they suddenly found themselves trapped within.
'What the-?' they demanded, but Varian was already moving.
'Ruddiger!' he shouted and the raccoon pounced on the man with the dagger, leaping straight at his face and beginning to claw at him with all the fury an eighteen pound raccoon could muster. The man fell back with a scream, dropping his weapon as he tried to pull Ruddiger free, but it was no easy task. Satisfied that he was suitably distracted, Varian spun back around and whistled sharply to Prometheus. And bless the old donkey, he reacted, braying and kicking out with his hind legs despite the heavy packs he bore, sending the man directly behind him flying back a good few yards. That only left the one man still standing, gaping at the rest of his companions who had gone down in less than ten seconds.
'You'll pay for that, kid!' he snarled, charging at Varian with sword raised. But Varian had already drawn the small bronze tube from his belt, twisting one end to activate it. It snapped open, extending to its full length of five feet, topped with a large ring covered with four more alchemy orbs of varying sizes and colours. Before the man could even stop his headlong charge, Varian swung the staff straight at his raised arm, pressing a small button in the side of the staff to activate the corresponding orb. A tiny needle pierced the orb filled with Flynnoleum right as the staff struck, raising a massive green explosion that had Varian skidding backwards several feet while the man went flying across the road into the trees nearby, green smoke rising from his charred shoulder.
By this time, the two men trapped in the bubbles had managed to pierce them with their swords and were now staring at the carnage Varian had wrought. They hesitated, and that was their mistake. Varian struck again, swinging his staff and releasing the pink orb which sailed towards them and exploded, this time fixing them in place with his signature sticky trap, their swords only getting stuck as they tried to cut through the substance.
'What is this stuff?' one of them barked and Varian smirked.
'Alchemy.'
Ruddiger screeched and he spun around, staff raised again to see the man had managed to wrench him off his face and toss him away where he staggered back to his feet, looking dazed.
'Ruddiger!' Varian called but kept his eyes on the man whose face was bleeding from the numerous scratches the raccoon had given him.
'I'm gonna make you pay for this, kid,' he snarled, taking up his dagger again. Or at least he tried to. Varian pulled another orb from his bandolier, this one a vibrant green again, and threw it at the man. But instead of a Flynnoleum explosion, this time every piece of metal on the man's body began to turn green and melt away into a puddle on the ground, including his dagger.
He gaped in shock, staring at what remained of his weapon moments before his belt fell loose and his trousers dropped to the ground.
'Argh, I'll kill you!' he snarled, charging towards Varian. He only made it two paces before Varian pulled a vial of pale green powder from the leather harness on his arm and uncorked it, blowing a small handful right in his face. At once, his eyes rolled back and he collapsed on the ground, snoring loudly with his trousers still around his ankles.
Varian quickly looked around, making sure no one else was attempting to approach. The man Prometheus had kicked was still groaning in the dirt some distance away, while the poor fool who had been hit with the Flynnoleum was staring about with unfocused eyes. The two men in the trap were continuing to struggle, but it was clear they weren't a threat. Varian nodded to himself, satisfied that his job was done, before picking up Prometheus' reins again and scooping Ruddiger back onto his shoulder.
'Hey, you can't just leave us here!' one of the trapped men shouted and Varian paused, looking back.
'Why not?' he retorted, 'You did just try to kill me and steal everything I have.'
'Please, we're sorry!' the second man shouted, 'We won't do it again to anyone else, promise!'
Varian rolled his eyes, seeing right through their words. But still, that trap would take days to break down on its own and he doubted anyone else would come along and help the would-be thieves. Would they survive exposure to the elements for that long? He finally sighed, removing the vial of yellow powder from his arm and and pouring a small amount into a spare cloth. Tying it up to keep from spilling, he tossed it back towards the men, just barely within reach if they stretched.
'That'll get you free,' he called, 'And don't let me hear about you trying this again with anyone else, got it? I've got ways of knowing.'
The men gulped, clearly believing him. That was one benefit of most people viewing alchemy as magic; they didn't know the actual limitations of it. If these thieves thought that Varian could return like some avenging angel the moment they stepped out of line, the less likely they'd be to try robbing someone else.
The men nodded, pale and terrified as Varian turned away again. The moment he started to walk, they strained and struggled to reach the pouch, no doubt trying to escape and get as far away from the alchemist as they could.
'Are you two okay?' he asked Ruddiger and Prometheus quietly and Ruddiger chattered happily, grooming himself to get his fur to lie flat again.
Prometheus brayed discontentedly and Varian stroked his muzzle with a grin. 'I know, you're far too old for any of this nonsense. But you were brilliant back there. No one will ever want to mess with you again.'
Prometheus seemed pleased at that, snorting and tossing his head back as if proud of his kick. Varian grinned, glancing down at his supplies to check what he needed to restock. He'd be busy at whatever camp he found for himself tonight. But he supposed he'd learned a very valuable lesson about travelling in an unfamiliar kingdom to always stay aware of his surroundings, no matter how calm and peaceful the day seemed.
Hugo stared at the carnage the alchemist had left behind, watching with amusement as the two thieves still tried to reach the pouch that could free them. He was confident his own alchemy was better, but at the same time, he couldn't help but be a little impressed at what he had been able to do in only the span of a few minutes. The kid didn't look all that impressive, standing a good few inches shorter than Hugo, but it seemed he packed quite the punch. And that green explosive had a kind of power Hugo had never seen before. He resolved that if Donella ever ordered him to try to fight that kid, he'd be far more prepared than those thieves had been. He wouldn't let himself be caught out, knowing all too well how deceiving appearances could be.