OoC: Thanks for that save, RG. Your so cool! YOUR OUR HERO!!!Ok...al sarcasim aside. Thanks!

IC: "No booze stashed in every room, just down in the cellar." Sovelis said, smiling as if he knew what Arrika was thinking. "Just guard your thoughts. Bring up some mental walls. Thats what keeps those loose thoughts from drifting out. And...It makes it hard for me to read them. I'm a telepath, but not a very strong one."

Sitting on the workbench at the desk, Sovelis pulled several bottles of various liquids and powders, a small metal pot, and a wire stand for the pot, all out of the shelves above the desk.

"Alchemy isn't always about hand-claps and transmutation circles. Its the fundamental study of the elements in nature. In my world, it was the earliest form of a science that is called Chemistry." Sovelis said as he set the bottles on the desk, set the small pot on the wire frame, and placed a small fireball under the pot.

"Almost all of my books are from other worlds, ones I've scavanged or salvaged from ruins of old libraries, took many years to gather this many, and restore them as well. A few of these books are from Amestris, and about that form of Alchemy to boot. But I will not allow you to atempt any sort of transmutation. You don't understand the Laws of Alchemy like I do, and you aren't even trained!" the Tempest said as he poured all of the bottles into the pot, which began to fill the room with a lemon-smelling mist. "Alchemist in my world were intent upon discovering a material known as the Philosopher's Stone." he said as he pulled the fireball out from under the pot, and put it out with his hand. "They believed that with an equal amount of the elements of Fire, Water, Earth, and Air, plus several different metals being forged together in an equal amount as well, that one could forge a Philosopher's Stone, also know as the Crimson Elixir. The stone was fabled to be able to Transmute common metals such as lead into gold. It also was said to produce a liquid known as the Elixir of Life. The Elixir is a substance that could make you live forever, as long as you kept drinking it." Sovelis said. "And yes...I am an Alchemist."

Chemistry... I think I've heard Rhyss talk about that. It seemed so boring back then, but maybe I should have paid at least a little attention. And block my mind? How am I supposed to do that? Maybe if I just think of nothing... I should ask Seth later.
The thief listened to what Sovelis said and watched him with interest. "It all seems so complicated... but I thought alchemy was just about drawing the transmutation circle, making sure you had whatever it took to fulfill Equivalent Exchange, and then concentrating the energy between yourself and the circle? And why won't you let me try? I don't have any training now, but why don't you teach me how to do it? You said you're an alchemist, and you've hung around Edward Elric, so you must be really good at it."


(Thank you!)

"I'm an Alchemist, but I'm not all that great. My study of Amestris's Alchemy was to further amplify my on power, not to become a skillfull alchemist like either of the Elrics. I told you, I have MIXED Alchemy, Magic, and my own Tempest powers. I am not a true alchemist, although I can claim to know some about the subject." Sovelis pit his real hand in the pot, and pulled out a lemon, handing it to Arrika.

"Science isn't how this world works. And I am not able to teach you true Alchemy...only my variation of it." Sovelis said as hewalked over and pulled a large book off of the shelf.

Arrika sniffed the lemon. Didn't seem any different than a regular one you could buy at the market. "Well teach me your variation then! Anything, I don't care. I want to learn a different way to fight that doesn't include stabbing someone in the back." She stood on her toes to try to look at the cover of the book; even though Sovelis was shorter than the regular Hylian man he was still taller than her.
Hmmm... maybe I should try eating the lemon? Maybe he's turned it sweet instead of sour... Oh. Right. Block my mind. Umm.... How about if I think of a brick wall?

I'll teach you how to block your thoughts first...and I'm going to make you my second pupil. the Tempest said mentally, smiling at Arrika. And yes...it is a sweet lemon. I Alchemisized it. It should be a rather enjoyable fruit, if I could get my tree to grow them instead of taking time to sweeten them all, one at a time...

Sovelis also handed Arrika the book. "This ins't an actuall book. It is a database. A repository of knowledge. Simply ask it a question, and it will atempt to awnser you if it is posible. Although it is in the shape of a book, every page is blank. It will allow you to learn what you want to know..."

The 'book' looked brand knew. A black-leather bound book, about a foot tall, seven inches wide, and three inches thick. Their was no title, and as Sovelis had said...all of the pages were blank.

Arrika staggered at the weight of the book and looked at the Tempest with wide eyes. "Really? Woah, that's... awesome! and I'd hug you again, but this book is kind of heavy...." She said with a grin on her face. "Does it really know everything? Hmm... what should I ask it?"
I wonder... would it know what happened to Kobas?

"Okay, um, How long will it take me to learn everything Sovelis tries to teach me?"
That would really suck if I turned out to have no talent for magic... She thought nervously. "Wait, would your first pupil happen to be the girl who looks sorta like Kasei? I think I've seen you two before. You were in some sort of trance and muttering, 'Blood. So much blood' over and over again."

"I was mumbling? Hmm..." Sovelis rubbed his chin with his real hand. "I guess that I must have not gotten the circle corect..."

the book opened up, and a light seemed to glow from the pages as the figure of a person apeared. It was about 4 inches high, and compleatly featurless.

Hello, new user. Please state your name for all further Identification. I am Gamma. What would you like me to look like, and sound like? All you need to do is think of a person. the featureless figure said, its blank,smooth fave aiming up at Arrika.

"Woah. Definetely not expecting that...," Arrika, jumping a little as the book opened on its own. "Okay, I'm Arrika, and I want you to look like.... umm... Not Rhyss or Seth, they both annoy the hell out of me all the time... Uh... I would say Edward or Roy, but I've never seen them for real, so... Kobas!"

Arrika immediately thought of the older thief on a day 3 years ago.

Rhyss had just finished repairing a broken pictobox that Seth had picked up the day before.

"Done, hah, piece of cake!" The mage said triumphantly, waving it in the air at Kobas.

"Good. Now take my picture," Kobas said with a grin. "I've never had one before."

Rhyss fumbled with the pictobox, his hands shaking. An annoyed Seth snatched it back, saying, "I can do it better than you. And I found it, so I get to take the first picture! Make a really cool pose, Kobas, so we can pretend you're a model and sell it to those girls in town."

"Geez, all you think of is money, Seth!" Arrika said, but grinned anyway. It seemed like a good idea and they were all pretty low on rupees at the time.

Seth pressed the button, and the pictobox emitted a loud flash and started to smoke. The picture came out, but it was still gray and foggy.

"Drop the pictobox, Seth!" Kobas grabbed the picture out of the slot.

"What?" The green-haired thief's eyes widened as he foresaw what was going to happen.

BOOM!

The camera exploded, shooting wood and glass pieces everywhere. The smoke cleared to reveal Seth with a very dirty face. "What the-" Seth immediately went off on another rant and punched Rhyss.

"You did it on purpose!"

"No I didn't," Rhyss said, still laughing. Kobas chuckled and showed Arrika his picture:

The small figure of Kobas looked up at Arrika. The database can also change to any shape that you wish for it to become, such as a ring or a necklace. The preivious user chose a book-shape. And I cannot tell you how long it will take to learn from the Tempest. It all is up to you.

"It can't awnser questions about anything that isn't in its memory banks yet. It can tell you things about Hyrule, or Me...or my Order....But not where to find people...Unless it has a knoledge of that person's normal behavioral patterns, hang outs, ocupation, and some other things....Its complicated." Sovelis said as the small figure of Kobas looked at Sovelis.

The power cells are almost depleated. Will ou replace them?

"Damn! I forgot....Hold on a sec..." Sovelis grabbed one of the crystals from the display case, and handed it to the tiny thief.

Thank you. it said as the cube disapeared, and another one apeared in its hands. The crystal was dim, and looked like it was slightly burnt. Sovelis took it with his metal hand, and put it on the desk. It began to hiss as it burnt a small spot on the wood.

"Goddesses, this is amazing...." Arrika said, marveling how much the figure looked like Kobas. "I've never heard of magic like this... I wonder how much I would get if I sold it?" She muttered quietly. "Not like I would, it's way too cool..."

"That kind of defeats the coolness of it," said Arrika, "if all it can do is talk about Hyrule. I wanna know about other worlds and other people! But since it can talk about you, Sovelis... Okay, Gamma, exactly how old is Sovelis? He looks like a teenager, but I'm sure he's way older than that."

Actually madam, I have information on many hundreds of worlds, not just this one we are currently in. And the Tempest is currently Fifty-Seven years, One-hundred and thirty days old, Stanard years. Gamma said, smiling at the younk Sheikan who held the large book. and I have taken the liberty to check waht shape would suit you better for me to be, so I will become a rather, unnoticable bracelet.

The book immediatly changed shape, turning into a black, wide bracelet that had a hinge on one side, and a clasp on the other. The small figure of Kobas was still standing in front of Arrika's face, smilling at her.

"See. Looks can be decieving, Arrika. And it isn't Magic. Its Technology so far advance, that it seems to be a higher form of magic." Sovelis said as he sighed. "Maybe I should have put a lockdown on any information on me in there before I gave it to you...." he sighed as he looked up at the ceiling.

"57?? No way!" Arrika exclaimed. She looked in wonder at the bracelet. "This is nice- Not too flashy that someone would try to steal it, but still pretty. Oh yeah, could you not call me 'Madam'? It seems too formal."

Now that her hands were free she hugged the Tempest again. "That's for not killing me and letting me be your student," she said, smiling. Huh, I seem to be smiling at lot more lately.

Arrika looked slyly at the Tempest. "So... what secrets do you seem to be so keen on hiding from me?"

"You'll have to find that out on your own, Arrika." Sovelis said as he let her hug him. "Also...you'll need to ease up on your pilfering if you want me to teach you. I'll understand you uncontrolably stealing small things, such as a Hurdy Gurdy thats in your pocket, but large things like people's swords, or the Philosopher's Stone....Thats another story...."

Walking over to another door, Sovelis opened it up, and walked into a large and spacious hallway.

Arrika was stunned. Damn, I could have sworn he'd forgotten about the box... He's sharp.

She followed Sovelis into the hallway, peeling the lemon and taking a bite. Sovelis had been right; it was as sweet as an orange. The thief looked in awe at the high ceilings and highly embroidered rug on the carpet.

"You must be as rich as a king! How did you squeeze all this into your little house?" She said, then held out the Hurdy Gurdy box. "I'm sorry. I'll try not to steal anything that's yours from now on," she said.

Sovelis took the Hurdy Gurdy, and stashed it in the sleave of his robes. "I know how you can repay me for trying to steal form me." he said stopping in front of a door. "I need help putting a new front door in. This is the room where I keep spare furnature. Beds, chairs, cabinets, shelves, doors, and tables. Help me get a door, and I'll let it slide...THIS TIME." the Tempest said, his youthfull-looking face beeming at Arrika.





HORAH! I finally got an Image to post. 1 point for me!