This Ascent to Divinity is Lewder Than Expected

6.63 – Extraction I

Zoey didn't have to stand outside Rosalie's room for long as the two sisters had their private conversation, but even a few minutes felt torturous when she didn't know what was happening inside. When Rosalie emerged and invited her back in, she was immensely relieved to find Rosalie seeming calm and Charlotte, while still eying her, not as aggressively as before.

"So, uh," Zoey said. "Everything cleared up?"

Rosalie nodded, and Charlotte pursed her lips.

"I won't fault you for mistaking us," she said. "It's reasonable, all things considered." Dryly, she said, "It's happened enough by people other than you, who should've known better. We do look rather similar."

"It's still my bad," Zoey said. "Sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

Charlotte sniffed.

From there, they made less hostile introductions. Charlotte didn't stay long; she'd only stopped by to say hello to her sister, and, having recently returned from a shard, wished to retire to her room and rest.

Afterward, Rosalie explained that their private conversation had gone well enough, and that Charlotte wouldn't be giving them away to Enzo. Zoey breathed a sigh of relief.

"Just be more observant, next time," Rosalie said dryly. "That could've gone badly." She poked her on the shoulder. "Since when have I worn my hair in a bun?"

"Thought you were trying something new," Zoey said with a blush. "And I will be, promise."

Zoey had only visited Rosalie's room to catch her up on her meeting with Enzo, so after that, she departed with a goodbye.

Her next stop was Sabina's workshop. Or rather, the d'Celestin's workshop, which Sabina was using until she could set up her own again. Arriving, Zoey found the space empty except for her tall, antlered alchemy teacher, who glanced up upon her entering. She didn't seem to be busy, instead having been holding a clipboard and studying what she had written there.

"Zoey," she greeted. "How can I help you?"

"Nothing urgent. Have news on the temple, spoke with Enzo. Also, I finally have a free moment, so …" she shrugged. "You know."

Sabina's lips quirked up. "I've been blessed with the privilege of making my extraction, have I?" She nodded, pleased, before Zoey could be embarrassed and protest that it wasn't like that. "Good," she said. "How long of a free moment? As I've mentioned, giving away rewards is not how one inspires a student. You have time for a quiz?"

"I'm in no rush," Zoey said, trying and failing to stop the grin.

Sabina nodded and began collecting her things. Zoey was confused briefly until she remembered that while her quizzes with Sabina were sometimes held in the workshop, this wasn't their workshop, and there was more than a possibility of one of the other alchemists wandering in.

Amusedly, Zoey thought, getting caught with her alchemy teacher undressed and 'making extractions' might actually have been preferable to the disaster with Charlotte. While it'd have been a minor scandal, what Zoey really needed to worry about was Rosalie's reputation—and the extent of their relationship. But especially as news of her temple came out, it would almost be expected for Zoey and her allies, barring Rosalie, to get into certain indiscreet scenarios.

Or maybe she was already making excuses for future-Zoey.

After Sabina had collected her supplies and cleaned what she'd used—which Zoey of course helped with, as the studious disciple she was—she walked them back to her room. She continued studying the clipboard as they went, surprisingly unaffected by the lack of visual coordination, walking in a straight line and at a decent pace despite being distracted. Zoey didn't interrupt her; she could tell when the other woman had taken an interest in something. Undoubtedly, she was studying the results of her most recent batches of potions and running that internal calculus on what changes she would make next. Or perhaps theorizing new recipes.

There was something deeply attractive, Zoey thought, about seeing a woman in her element. In much the same way as she couldn't help but admire Rosalie and Delta when they were treating a fight seriously, seeing Sabina study her clipboard with a calm, thoughtful expression had Zoey discreetly stealing glances with equally as much interest. Sure, there were less twisting, lithe bodies involved than when one of her teammates was dueling an opponent, but Zoey honestly wouldn't say it was any less eye-grabbing watching the dedicated alchemist purse her lips as she studied her notes.

Arriving at Sabina's room, she lowered the clipboard. "I've been seeing good results, recently," she said. "The idea that an alchemist is only as good as her tools is, frankly, a blasphemous claim, but I must admit it has been a treat using the d'Celestins' personal facility." She hummed. "I'm excited for us to open this business of yours in earnest. There are new toys I would like to add to my collection, after seeing what the d'Celestins have." She paused, and her lips twitched. "And other toys too," she said calmly. "Once money is no longer a factor, I imagine my mentorship over you can be expanded in all sorts of interesting ways."

Say one thing for Sabina, she knew how to fluster her in a few short, mildly spoken sentences. She tried not to let her mind run too wild at what sorts of expensive 'toys' Sabina might buy once they were pulling in profits from their joint alchemy venture.

"I look forward to it," Zoey managed to say with a straight face.

"I'm sure you are."

Now inside Sabina's room, and thus with privacy, the antlered woman gestured for Zoey to sit. Zoey did so.

"You've been keeping up with your studies?" she asked.

"Best I can," Zoey said. "And I mean that. But, well, you know how things are."

"Mm. You have other responsibilities. And with the particular persuasion your alchemy rune is taking, study is less necessary than for some alchemists." She leveled a stern look on Zoey, which, uh, probably shouldn't make her stomach flip quite as strongly as it did. "But I still expect my student to be giving it her best. So I won't hear any excuses."

"Right. Yep. And I have been reading, when I can," Zoey said. "Cross my heart."

"Our quiz results will verify the validity of those claims." Sabina sat on the corner of her bed, a few feet away. Already, Zoey could feel herself stirring in anticipation, thanks to the repeated conditioning. Even without a hint of sexual innuendo in Sabina's voice or even flirtation in her eyes, Zoey's heart rate was picking up, her body responding. Because she knew how these quizzes went.  Sabina would open with a few freebie questions—though they'd been growing less free, over time, with her expectations rising—and soon enough, she would start granting 'rewards.'

Did she have anything specific planned for this extraction?

Even if she didn't, even if this quiz was an identical repeat of last time, Zoey was more than looking forward to it. But Zoey doubted it would be a repeat. Sabina, again, was a generous teacher.

"First question," Sabina said. "Infusion versus decoction. Explain the differences."

Zoey raised an eyebrow.

"Reminders of the fundamentals are important," Sabina tutted. "Repetition is the basis of learning. It's not disrespectful to prompt you for a description of simple terminology."

She was right, of course.

"In reagent making," Zoey said. "Infusion is creating a reagent by boiling something in water, to make it fuse and create a solution, usually consuming the original ingredient. Decoction, however, is the process of extracting via the process of boiling, specifically some sub-part or element of what is being boiled—the reagent is what is extracted. Similar, but not the same."

Sabina nodded. She followed up with the second question without pause. "Why is silver commonly used in purification potions?"

"Because silver is associated with purity," Zoey said.

This time, Sabina raised an eyebrow.

"It's true," Zoey said defensively. "It's recursive, I know, but that's the full and complete answer. Are you asking why silver is associated with purity? Does the origination behind a sympathetic connection matter?"

"Not from a practical standpoint," Sabina admitted. "Still, understanding one sympathy might give insight into another. So the 'why' certainly has a purpose. Nevertheless, you are correct. I would accept such an answer, if that's all you have to say."

Zoey would hardly back down from the implicit challenge. She considered. "Well, it doesn't tarnish or corrode easily compared to other metals, and since it's valuable, the connection to the concept of purity is even stronger. Plus, weapons made from silver have known properties for being effective against undead or abomination-type monsters, and killing undead implies purity—though that might just be feeding back in on itself again, and not an intrinsic characteristic." It was hard to tell what was 'magic' and what was 'natural,' in these discussions. She frowned. "So I guess the first part is the largest factor."

"A sufficient answer. I would also have mentioned silver's association with the moon, a celestial body linked to cycles of purification and renewal." She inclined her head. "Which is also recursive. Most descriptions of sympathy tend to be. I simply wanted to hear what insight you had to offer."

Sabina stood.

"As a reward," she said easily. "Would you prefer me to remove my top, or my bottom?"

Ah. So it was starting. Zoey shifted in her seat, a grin rising to her lips.

"Top," Zoey said. "Definitely the top."