Who: Zach, Constance, and Adam
When: Early afternoon of January 8th, 2008.
Where: Constance and Adam's cottage.
What: Constance is getting weary and old, and she wants to talk to Zach about something very important: Adam needs a new alchemist.

The walk to his grandmother’s house was filled with dread. He couldn’t get the encounter with Dante off of his mind ever since it happened, but he didn’t believe the other guy. Dante was clearly crazy, a little too much off his rocker, and Zach didn’t know whether or not to tell his grandmother. Last he talked to her, she had resigned from her position on the Head Council. Did she even have any sway anymore? Well, he knew she was friends with Theora and Dylan, but he didn’t know how far that friendship extended. He knew Theora, to a degree, but he didn’t know Dylan at all.

His grandmother said the position took too much of a toll on her and she couldn’t deal properly with the responsibilities any longer. It wasn’t that she didn’t have the capabilities. Constance was one of the toughest people he had ever known. It was age, weariness, and tire with life. She wanted a break from it all at last, a retirement of sorts. There was only so much a person could take, and Zach watched as his grandmother just couldn’t take it anymore.

( “Zach,” his uncle said happily, enveloping him in a hug that Zach easily returned. )

Who: Aubert, Elijah, and little Constance
When: Autumn, 1940
Where: Alaska
What: Aubert and Elijah make a trip to share his alchemic knowledge and meet a young Constance

A journey to Alaska was the furthest thing from Elijah’s mind, but Aubert insisted on making the trip. There had been legends spread amongst the various tribes in the frozen North that spoke of people with powers to change ordinary items into jewels and sometimes gold. The older generation called it magic, but Aubert knew instantly that it was alchemy. It was the same gift that he had been given, and it was exciting news since the old Frenchman had never met another alchemist before in his entire life. He knew he could not pass on the opportunity to meet others like himself, and to share his knowledge with them.

“Allez, Elijah!” The old man yelled over the heavy winds that blew across the land they traveled. The cold bit against Elijah’s skin, but he could handle it without a problem. He was, however, worried about the old man that he was journeying with. Aubert was well over two-hundred years old now; carmot having kept him alive this entire time. But as the alchemist’s protector, Elijah could not help but feel worried about him. Elijah sought to ease the older man’s burden by carrying all of their supplies, along with the journals they had brought with them. The journals were, as Aubert said, “to spread the knowledge of alchemy to others.” It was the alchemist’s greatest wish – to have his legacy pass on to the next generation. It was the reason he had pushed Elijah to learn all of the formulas and laboratory techniques – he wanted something of his to live on into the future.

The pair reached a remote town in the Alaskan countryside, and entered the local tavern. The environment was warm, and welcoming despite the odd looks that were cast in the direction of the alchemist and elemental. Aubert immediately approached the bartender to ask questions about the local legends while Elijah seated himself at an empty table. Though Elijah had enhanced strength, the bags he had been carrying had become heavy over the past few hours they had walked. He relaxed into the wooden chair, slouching a bit as he waited for Aubert. Elijah smiled at the other patrons in the tavern, glad for the respite from his travels with his alchemist.