The Understudy of an Alchemist

20. A Plan Short on Details

As night-time begins to fall, cloaking the dusk streaked sky into a pool of blackish ink; the temperature also drops sub standardly.

It brings me relief that I had accepted the gesture of the cloak after all; as I tighten it around my shoulders, shivering. The lantern that I am holding is somewhat producing heat, but not enough to become my source of warmth, unfortunately.

Never mind, I had more important things to worry about.

Sighing loudly as I locate my way through the courtyard, I am slightly amused to see my breath smoke out before me like a dragon's breath. It's not enough to lift me out of my arrow focused plan, however.

The remnants of the fight against Ruddiger are still scattered around the courtyard, the carnival from earlier is in shambles. Stepping over a mass of splintered wood planks and smashed glass, I pounder if what Varian said was true, that the rocks were taking over the outskirts of the kingdom.

And was Rapunzel responsible for the rock's presence? Had Varian truly known this all along, yet refused to tell me? Well that stung. It was still daunting how much he had distanced himself from me. My entire life was falling into tatters, and I could do nothing about it. Well, at least that was what my mother said, but I didn't believe it. I could do something. I could free Varian from this storm that he was in. I was certain of it.

I'm so lost in thought, that I barely notice what is approaching me, until it strikes my ankle; and when it does so, I recoil in surprise. It's..... an apple?? Then it hits me. There's a bite taken out of apple; which may not sound substantial, but it is to me, as it crashes upon me like a brick as I realise who eats apples.

Ruddiger.

The bite is small, so I can only hope that it means that the serum has worn off, because I don't see myself as an animal trainer. Cautiously, I bend down to pick up the apple, while doing so, I realise how much my hands are shaking. The feeling in my stomach is similar to butterflies, yet somehow worse. Butterflies having a boxing match? No, snakes. There are snakes in my stomach, having a boxing match.

I hadn't even noticed that I'd faded out for that moment, I was simply staring at the half eaten fruit in my hands, as if I thought that it would fix all my problems and untangle this massive ball of nerves that had settled inside me.

Sighing, I lower the apple from my face, and then I lower my body to the ground, crouching on top of the cobblestone, and then; my mouth drier than it'd ever been before, began to make clicking noises with my tongue.

"Here boy......" I coo loudly, clicking my tongue all while doing so, hoping to receive a response. "Here boy......" I repeat once more, the snake-boxing-match occurring within my stomach seemingly becoming more violent.

What if I didn't find him? Fearing the very idea of this, I exasperatedly call his name, fear coursing even faster through my veins. I stay crouching for several minutes after calling him, giving him time to I suppose, respond.

My eyes are fixated upon the apple cart, so when I see a flash of movement near the courtyard exit, my heart begins to pound a little faster. Rising to my feet, I begin to creep towards the entrance, calling his name once more, and this garners a response; a tail appears from behind an overturned milk crate, twitching in the still night air.

"Ruddiger?" I call, excitement overtaking my common sense. Quickening my place towards the crate outside the exit, I continue to make clicking noises, and finally, a familiar head pops into view. Excited, I call his name again, and finally see his face twitch in recognition.

Seeing his facial expression, I stop dead, and lower my back slightly, resting my hands upon my thighs. He knows me now, and so he comes scuttling over. As this occurs, another freezing cold breeze blows by, causing my shoulders to rise and hunch against my body, as I bite my lip in a way the combat the discomfort.