The moment he stoppered the faint sparkles that drifted down from the sky, he set back to the city of Arcfall. It was a straight shot from the fields to the city, and though Jack Ryder relished the full moonlight—a rare sight in the vertical metropolis of Arcfall—he knew that The Alchemist despised tardiness. As such, he caught a ride on the magically-powered freight elevators to the warehouse district of the Thighs, and then scurried up the winding bridges, stairways, and ladders of the city to ascend past the twisting alleyways of the Intestines up to his home of the Ribcage.
The Ribcage: where sunlight was ample, where the streets were wide, and where shops, guilds, and taverns set up their business. For a kid from the slums of the Ankles, the Ribcage was paradise. Up here one could actually see the sky, and up here plants grew. Not the sad little poky weeds of the Ankles, but real plants: flowers, and trees, and bushes. Jack Ryder could hardly remember the circumstances where the Alchemist chose him to be her apprentice, but he nursed a fierce debt of gratitude.
Eventually, Jack Ryder reached the apothecary. Shifting the materials to his arm, he fumbled for his key and unlocked the door.
"I'm home!" he called, kicking the door shut with his foot. There was a fresh woodsy air inside, tinged with an undercurrent of bitterness from preserved herbs. The shelves were lined with jars and bottles containing a colorful array of potions and elixirs for sale. Jack Ryder made his way to the back, where the Alchemist was deep in conversation with an elderly man. While the Alchemist frequently received new customers, she rarely took any so late at night, and Jack Ryder's curiosity was perked. Still, he hung back until the Alchemist noticed him, beckoning him over with a wave of her hand.
The old man glanced at Jack Ryder. "So this is your assistant?"
The Alchemist nodded. "My apprentice, yes. Thank you for the materials, Jack Ryder—you arrived just in time. How about you get some sleep?"
Jack Ryder wanted to stay and listen to the conversation, but he knew when he was being dismissed. With a quick bow, Jack Ryder bounded up the stairs to his room, where the sounds of the Alchemist's conversation with the mysterious customer faded.
The next day, the Alchemist called Jack Ryder down to give him his daily tasks.
"First," the Alchemist began, "we need to take a look at those materials you gathered. I don't recognize this particular plant, the one labeled as the moonflower. Tell me more about it."
Jack Ryder grinned. He was very proud of his ability to identify rare plants, and the Alchemist had taught him the names of the local flora. However, he was still working on the names and descriptions of the exotic plants found only in distant lands. He was eager to impress the Alchemist and her customer.
"I'm glad you asked!" Jack Ryder began, launching into a detailed description of his encounter with the moonflower. "It's a night-blooming plant, and it only blossoms during the full moon. The petals are a very pale blue, almost translucent. And I've never seen a plant quite like it; when the sun hits the flower just right, it looks like there's a silver sheen to it."
"Hmm," the Alchemist said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "I have to admit, I've never heard of a plant quite like this before. Well done, Jack Ryder. Now, I need you to go down to the market and deliver some orders. Make sure not to bump into anything, or anyone," the Alchemist said with a knowing look.
Jack Ryder felt himself blush. It was a mistake that occurred only once, but the Alchemist was never going to let him forget it.