Read the first two chapters of Infinity Alchemist, the YA fantasy debut from award-winning author Kacen Callender.
. And if you’ve read any of them, then you already know why the prospect of this particular author turning their talents to the world of fantasy is so exciting.is Callendar’s YA fantasy debut and it’s a big swing—the story of three young alchemists who set out on a quest for unimaginable power, and find something a lot like love and family along the way.
The snow began to fall faster, then— hard enough that Ramsay had to shield her eyes from the ice that stung her cheeks. The world became a white blur. The snow turned red. It fell to the ground, drops spreading like blots of ink. The blood dripped from Amelia’s cheeks. Her smile faded as the screams began.Ash was lost in thought, as usual, when he saw the alchemist he wanted to meet. Gresham Hain strode through the beige stone corridor with purpose, surrounded by a group of chattering scribes.
Ash gave what he hoped was a charming, sheepish grin worthy of forgiveness. That grin, plus his floppy brown curls and big brown eyes, had gotten him out of trouble before once or twice. “Saw that, did you?” It wasn’t quite that they eyed Ash like he was mud tracked onto expensive rugs, or that they insulted him in the halls, though that did happen, too, a whispered sneer about the state of his clothes and hair, and oh, yes, the one girl who had laughingly said that Ash would be cute, if he wasn’t so short and didn’t smell like fertilizer. It was more that, for the most part, they didn’t even look at him at all.
The barrow squeaked as Ash pushed it along the path lined by buildings, toward the campus gardens and the glass greenhouse. Ash’s stomach grumbled as he entered. He couldn’t help it—he was often hungry, especially after practicing alchemy. Ash and Frank kept their tools hung up and leaning against the far wall, and long tables held pots of seedlings that were Ash’s babies, cared for until he planted them in the ground. Ash exchanged the wheelbarrow and gloves for a rusting watering can.
Legally, however—the House Alexander had created the law almost a century before that only licensed alchemists were allowed to practice energy of the higher tiers. The first tier was legal for all—it was the energy of existence, of breathing and blinking and feeling, not something any human could really help. The second, the tier of channeling more energy past a standard measured point, was still legal without a license, too.
Ash hesitated. He knew firsthand how cruel the students of Lancaster could be when they were bored, and even worse was that, no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn’t fight back— not if he wanted to keep his job. But Ash had already pissed Frank off enough for the day, so he took a deep breath as he walked to the spider plant on the fireplace’s mantel, raising the watering can above his head with trembling arms.
He was repeating lines from a text Ash ha read a year or so ago now, by another scholar whose name Ash was forgetting. Ash slowly lowered the watering can as he listened. The brown-haired boy sneered from the couch. “Listening in on conversations isn’t exactly a part of your job description, is it?”“I’m the groundskeeper’s assistant,” he said more loudly, ignoring the small voice that whispered at him to stop. “I’m not a servant. And even if I was . . .”
The yellow-haired boy nodded slowly, eyeing him. Ash stared back, unable to hide the anger that smoldered through him, even as he was afraid that the boy would, on a whim, decide to alert the college and have him fired. Luckily it seemed to be too much effort for the student, maybe already bored with Ash’s presence. He sat back down on the couch with another lazy gesture. “You’re dismissed.”
And there were the plants themselves: ferns and clusters of snake plants and hanging vines from the top of the shelves. Ash knew from Frank that Thorne didn’t want anyone to come into his office at all, but that the professor so often traveled away from campus impromptu that someone was needed to look after the plants while he was away.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Marvel's Infinity Collar Is the 1 Weapon Equal to Thanos' Infinity GauntletInfinity Collar: the 1 weapon equal to Thanos' Gauntlet.
Read more »
Sign a tribute to late assistant fire chief in MontgomeryWhen Montgomery officials held a dedication earlier this month to honor former Assistant Fire Chief James Touvell, who died last year, it was the first time in the history of the village a street sign was erected to commemorate the legacy of a community member.
Read more »
Tab Ramos hired as assistant coach of New England Revolution after Bruce Arena departureFormer U.S. star midfielder Tab Ramos was hired as an assistant coach by the New England Revolution, whose staff has been in transition.
Read more »
N.J. state champion, Princeton assistant Joe Dubuque promoted to head wrestling coachJoe Dubuque takes over for Chris Ayres, who left to become the head coach at Stanford.
Read more »
LAPD assistant chief put on leave for alleged stalkingAn LAPD assistant chief is placed on leave after being accused of stalking by an officer he was romantically involved with, Police Chief Michel Moore said.
Read more »