Marin straightened the page before he closed the book, careful not to wrinkle its contents. Its title was proudly displayed on a worn leather cover: 'Seven Titans, One future; a brief history of the world before the first Eclipse.' But there was nothing brief about the 700 pages of dense historical text. Slogging through it all before he was meant to return it was going to be a challenge. He took solace in the fact that little of it was going to be new information, so perhaps he could get away with employing a few speed reading tricks. Then he might have time left over for books that actually sparked his interest. Marin pondered for a moment about whether he'd seen anything else recently that was worth checking out here, but he'd just about had his fair share of non-fiction for the time being. The Venshale College of Medicine's library was renowned for its extensive collection of scientific literature, but it offered little else.

The oval room's walls were lined top to bottom with books, spiralling stairs leading to further heights with bridges spanning between nearby shelves, a network of woven nets to catch the fall of stray books obscuring the ceiling. And in the middle of the room were rows of tables, at which students sat reading. The library was quiet but for the shuffling of feet and turning of pages, much the way Marin preferred it. Still, it seemed his peers at the table were less than worried to disturb the peace.

"I just don't get why we have to learn this stuff," Said a young man with a bored expression, flipping the cover of his book shut with little care. "Every child and their dog knows the gist of it."

"Yeah, I mean," A young woman said as she toyed with the silver rings matching the colour of her eyes on her index finger. "I didn't come here to learn theology. I'd have joined the wardens if I wanted that."

"We'll be working with some priests," Marin spoke in a low voice.

"Doesn't make it any less boring." The young man rubbed his eyes. "I wish we'd get on with the actual courses. They've been postponing full-body dissection for a whole semester now."

"I heard they've got a shortage of bodies..." A sly smile crept on the young woman's face. "Because Dhitrin's cult has been raising them all for a skeletal army!"

"No talking in the library." A woman passed them by, her long, stark blonde hair tied together with a string of pearls each the size of a pea. A strong odour of mothballs hung around her in a cloud, the normally snugly fitting clothing that predominated the city's fashion hanging loose around her shoulders.

All three held their tongues at her command, waiting until she had left immediate earshot to try again; as none dared to call headmaster Navesk on a bluff. Young as she was to inherit the role from her late grandfather, it had become quite clear she had taken to it with the utmost seriousness. A mischievous grin spread on the young woman's face, stifling a laugh as she mocked her mannerisms before stuffing her own book in her backpack.

"Guess we better leave before she expels us," She muttered, the barest of effort spared to comply with the request for silence. "You coming with me to the park, Kal? I've been dying to try that new bakery that opened up, I heard they make the best cinnamon custard tarts."

"See you tomorrow," Marin interjected with a quick goodbye before standing up from the table and pulling a beige, waist-length shawl over his shoulders as he took his leave.

"Bye Marin!" The young woman gave him a cheerful wave.

"Huh? Oh, see you around. But yeah, sure, where was it again?" The young man responded.

Their voices trailed off as the distance between them grew. There was a time where Marin's classmates would bother asking him to join them on social outings. But he'd had to reject them one too many times, so eventually the invitations dwindled into non-existence. He'd figured that perhaps it was for the better, as he would have to continue to blow them off. His afternoons were spent either catching up on studies or working, and today was no exception.

This time of day the halls of the college were still packed with students wandering its premises. Many had come from various far corners of Haven to attend its most prestigious medical school, in the grand duchy of Venshale. Moving away and settling in another city-state required no small amount of effort and money, meaning that many of the attendees came from some manner of wealth. Exceptions remained in the form of those referenced with study grants from other institutions dotted across the map, or those lucky enough to have lived here all their lives. Marin belonged to the latter-most, so securing a spot in a caravan and finding housing had been no issue. Even so, tuition still was. With a single mother whose salary had to support not just the two of them, but her in-laws as well, he had to pay his own way through college. So far he had just been able to scrape together enough for the past two years, courtesy of Dr Sujin Sohn for hiring him as an assistant in his shop.

The deadline to enrol in the courses for year three loomed ever closer with each passing day, as evidenced by the burning sun casting its light through the university's tall, iron framed windows - crawling closer to the horizon with each second, the days were getting shorter. Soon the final bell would toll, and all the people remaining inside would be corralled out the doors. Up until a short time ago students were allowed access to the building until the late hours of the night, but with one of the lecture halls undergoing construction after supposedly having flooded over no one was permitted to remain after the last class was dismissed.

Once outside he crossed the high bridge drawn over the city's second ring canal, stilt-like pillars holding it aloft from an indiscernible depth beneath brackish water. Straight paths and clear-cut corners of glistening limestone led towards a courtyard, architecture mirroring its twin building across the road; the city's hospital. Towering and spindly, with many spires to which screeching seagulls were returning to roost for the night, their imposing silhouettes framed by the open sky and dunes of the nearby coastline. Down below in the canal workers were securing the building's structural integrity too.

A gentle breeze lined with the crisp saline scent of the ocean blew past as Marin joined the crowded streets, where now many more than within the college building wore shawls like his own - A common garment worn by the locals that was often accessorized by tying paraphernalia into its ends such as beads, shells and good luck charms, or by pressing fresh flowers onto their fabric. Marin had braided the ends of his with dried switchgrass and purple beads.

Borders of shore juniper and sea holly were planted between the roads and canal that snaked through the city's streets. Five circled through the city, dividing it in its different districts. Marin followed the flow of water until he found the main road that encouraged its weary travellers towards the market district. There the storefronts still had their doors wide open, all close-knit together. The slim buildings had to compete for advertisement space, and as such utilised their height to attract customers. Elaborate lanterns in a myriad of colours cast the otherwise pearly white streets of Venshale in vibrant lights, carrying long flags embellished with their names and unique motifs. And somewhere tucked between them was Dr Sohn's apothecary. Had Marin not memorised the route by heart, one would still recognise it among the dozens by how its top floor was fashioned into a greenhouse; a glass roof, wide windows, and a plethora of plants peeked through.

The bell chimed with his entry through the front door, instantly his nose was hit with the dizzying smell of herbal concoctions. A haphazard array of potions stacked on shelves lining every wall and wicker baskets hanging from the ceiling housing leafy vines - to the untrained eye it may seem utter chaos, but in time Marin had come to learn the method behind the madness. In force of habit he opened his mouth to greet his boss, but he changed his mind before his tongue had followed through when he heard an irate woman shout a litany of complaints.

"It's absurd!" She called out, index finger stabbing into the counter as she stared at Dr Sohn incredulously. She wore long boots pulled taut around her thighs, and an intricate braid of knots that kept her long hair tied to her scalp; the custom hairstyle for seafarers and dockworkers in Venshale. "How do you expect to run a business like this!?"

"I sincerely apologise," Dr Sohn attempted to placate the angry customer. "And I appreciate you bringing this to my attention. I assure you that it won't happen again-"

"It had better not!"

As the one-sided argument went on, Marin quietly slipped past Dr Sohn and moved to the door nestled between the wall and the counter. He decided that he'd best let his boss get on with the woes of customer service, while he started with his own duties. A spiral staircase laid hidden behind the door, from which one could travel up towards the greenhouse, and downwards to the living space Dr Sohn shared with his daughter Hana. He skipped over the 4th and 7th step, and each that he took upward distanced him from the chemical scents of the apothecary until they were drowned out by those of fresh herbs and sweet flowers. Inside were planters, boxes, and pots, covering almost every inch of the floor in a maze-like manner. Daylight poured into the room for as long as the sun shone, with wooden canopies and other more intricate installations to regulate how much each individual plant received lest they shrivel and die.

Marin grabbed a grass stained apron to don from the nearby chair and dumped his carried belongings on top. With one foot he slid a bucket of supplies closer, while he brushed back his hair in an attempt to fix his ponytail. Wild and wavy dark auburn hair, he sometimes ended up having to redo it several times a day. Even now as he attempted to tame them did he feel some locks slipping from his grasp. But it would have to do. He put on a pair of thick working gloves and took the bucket to start making his rounds.

He stopped at the first planter and checked its soil before he did the flowering nightshades themselves, letting his gloved fingers trail over their soft leaves. He searched for blemishes, drying, bitemarks from intruding insects, or anything else out of the ordinary. Finding nothing of note, he scribbled a mark on the clipboard at the planter box's base, indicating that everything seemed to be in order, before moving on.

Next was the lavender, their pleasant aroma alone earning them a place amongst his favourite plants. Marin went over each one with diligence, until he noticed that the ones in the back appeared to be drying out. He bent down to look under the planter, and saw a loose board half hanging down at the far end. Ducking underneath and laying down on his back, he looked up at its bottom to determine what the cause was. It simply seemed to have slipped out of place somehow, with no splintered remains of wood to be seen. He moved it back before getting up to his feet. Then he glanced over his shoulder at the door. The shouting continued.

Keeping his eyes fixed on the door, he slid off his right glove and let the uncovered hand reach out to the plants in the back. With one gentle touch and the will to make it happen, a soft white light emitted from the palm of his hand, basking his skin in an ethereal glow. Within mere moments, the dried out buds regained their vibrant colour. And as soon as the magic faded, Marin retrieved his hand and quickly put the glove back on. He made a similar note on the clipboard as he had the previous one.

"Min!"

As soon as Marin lifted the pencil, the door swung open. A young girl with big eyes and jet black hair came running in, little boots pitter-pattering as she wiped a besmirched hand on her dress, holding a sheet of paper in the other.

Marin jolted at the sudden sound, freezing for a moment as if he'd been caught in the act of something nefarious. "Oh, hi, what do you have there?" He asked with a smile when his nerves settled upon seeing it was only Hana.

"Look-" The toddler held up the paper triumphantly, displaying a big black blob out of which poked two straight lines. "I drawn a bird!"

"It looks really good, is that the beak?" He pointed at the lines.

"No," She giggled, "they are wings!"

"Oh, yeah, I see it now." However could he have been so silly to see otherwise, he thought. "It's beautiful."

She plopped herself down beneath one of the planters with a bright smile and started humming a tune, turning over the page to start drawing on its blank backside with a piece of charcoal that had all but ruined her clothes and left stains on her hands. Hana often came up to the greenhouse while he was working. Which was not surprising given how she must be getting lonely with her father working most of the day. He could sympathise with her; Dr Sohn was a single father to Hana, his late wife Sanne having gone missing not long after she was born during an expedition led by the Wardens of the Waking Woods. She was never found, as was the case with most people untrained to navigate Haven's treacherous wilderness. Shortly after that Dr Sohn decided to hire help caring for his greenhouse, as any work he didn't have to do was time he could spend with his child. Marin had jumped on the opportunity the second he saw it, as it allowed him to play to his strengths while gaining valuable experience in the world of medicine.

Slowly, he got lost in the routine of work as he moved from one planter box to the next. Checking the soil, the plants, pruning, watering, making sure that they were all healthy enough for Dr Sohn's remedies. He lost track of time for a while with Hana's scribbling and humming filling the silence, drowning out the incessant white noise in the back of his mind. It had gotten easier to ignore. Until he felt something drop on the top of his head. Small, cold, gone as soon as he'd felt something. Marin looked up at the ceiling, the blinding sun sinking ever further in the late afternoon. And then it happened again. He barely saw it but when it hit his forehead and he felt it slither down the side of his face he knew it was water. The skies were a clear blue, with no clouds in sight. Old superstition made him turn way his gaze quickly when he spotted the distant, radiant star. Enohr's prison was the furthest away yet still it was blindingly bright. And to look straight at it was to invite misfortune in your life, or at least that's what they said. But it was already too late for that, as he saw the discoloured specks appear in his eyes not a moment later.

But his thoughts derailed when Dr Sohn joined them in the greenhouse; A middle aged man with a loose ponytail, receding hairline combed back to keep the jet black hair from the kindly smile he always carried on his face. As soon as he'd stepped inside, Hana jumped up from the ground and bounded over to, him.

"Papa!" She ran in for a hug.

Dr Sohn scooped her up in his arms with a loud huff, noting the black smears of coal on her hands only when it was already too late. "How'd you-? Oh sod it, never mind." Noting the still half-filled glass bottle he had in his hand, he cut himself off and walked over to a cabinet leaning against the wall, sliding it in a box on one of the shelves.

"Is everything okay?" Marin asked carefully.

"Yeah, yeah, everything's alright," Dr Sohn responded, his words leaving his lips at their usual nigh frenzied speed as he closed the cabinet door, scratching his head as he scoured his memory for whatever else it was he had to do. "Right, yes." He opened the cabinet again and reached for another bottle on the bottom shelf, which he handed to Marin. "Sorry it's a day late."

"Don't worry." Marin took it from his hands and walked over to his bag, hung on the coat hangers. "I still had some left."

"Ah, that's good, that's good." Dr Sohn stood there aimlessly as he continued to get his mental ducks in a row. It was something he did often when not badgered at the counter. Just how in the world he was able to conjure such a professional front when dealing with people without ever falling apart at the seams was beyond Mairn's comprehension. Truly a terrifying skill.

"Although..." He continued after a moment of silence. "You might want to be careful with it."

"How so?" Marin's brow furrowed as he wrapped the glass bottle in a cloth to prevent it from smashing at the slightest bump.

"Ah well, you see... That lady from earlier," He said with a grimace, "it seems the sleeping tonic she got worked, in her words, too well." Dr Sohn shifted Hana in his grasp, who leaned her head against his shoulder with a content smile. "She admitted that she may have mixed it with some brandy before bed just to get the terrible flavour drowned out, which was not advisable, but it also should not have caused her to be dead asleep for over 14 hours. She overslept for work, which is why she was so..."

"Pissed?"

Dr Sohn nodded. "She got my apologies and a refund. I have no idea why the effect was so potent..." Trailing off, he walked over to the valerian plants and checked the clipboard. "But yes I'm rather stumped and if you do notice oddities or overwhelming effects let me know immediately."

"I will." A smile flashed across his face. "Though I doubt I'd complain about it."

Dr Sohn burst out a chuckle. "I'm serious, Marin," He emphasised, though unable to hide the laugh. "This is about the fifth time I've gotten this sort of complaint in the past few weeks."

Alright," Marin said, walking over to the last planter he'd been checking before his work was interrupted. It had been a joke only in part, as Dr Sohn likely knew. But he was fully aware that even the most potent of concoctions could never turn the soft arms and muffin top he despised so much into abs of steel.

Dr Sohn glanced at a couple clipboards, until eventually he put Hana back on the ground. "Oof, you're getting far too big for this sweetheart. How about you go get yourself a snack, just go careful on the stairs, okay?"

"Snack!" She exclaimed with excitement. "Can I have biscuits?"

"Yes, one biscuit and a fruit, okay?" Dr Sohn kissed her on the top of her head.

"Okay!" Hana zoomed off, small hand grabbing onto the railing as she lowered herself down step by step.

Dr Sohn watched his daughter take the first few steps with care, making sure that she was using the railing and taking it slowly. When he was sure that she would be alright, he puffed a long breath over his lips. He stood there quietly, leaving Marin to wonder if there was something else that he felt he needed to discuss. Surely enough, after a few more moments, Dr Sohn spoke up again.

"Say, Marin..." He seemed reluctant to bring it up, whatever it was. "Would you have any clue as to why this is happening?"

As he was about to snip a dead leaf from a peppermint plant, he paused. His own thoughts trailed off, until he found himself glancing at the hale and healthy lavender. He bit the inside of his cheek. "... No."

"Nothing at all?"

"I don't really know enough about alchemy to say for sure..." One snip with the scissors, a shrivelled leaf now in his hands.

"On the other hand there have been compliments about it, too," A sudden shift in Dr Sohn's tone had Marin suspect what ulterior motives he might have for asking. "I've had this place for over 10 years and never received this many in such a short time."

"That's... I'm glad to hear that." Marin hadn't realised complaints and compliments had become such a regular occurrence. Had he known, he might have started to question whether his meddling had something to do with it sooner.

The older man folded his hands together in front of his face, index fingers tapping against his chin. "I guess what I'm trying to say is... I know you're eager to learn and I respect that about you. But if you have at all been... Experimenting with some of the things I've shown you, then that's commendable but I would like to know about it."

"... I haven't been making any potions and selling them in your shop, if that's what you're getting at, sir."

He sighed again, a more placid undertone in his words with his next attempt to continue the inquiry, which to Marin was starting to seem more like an interrogation, "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to accuse you of anything, I just want to understand what's-"

But he was rudely interrupted by the sound of the apothecary's front door opening, the jingle of the bell snapping away his attention. Maybe Dr Sohn might have decided it could wait, as he didn't seem inclined to meet whomever had entered. But then he heard Hana's distressed voice calling for him from down below.

"Papa!?"

Followed by another booming voice, "Wardens of the Waking Woods. Anyone in?"

Dr Sohn's eyes widened, instantly forgetting whatever it was he'd been about to say. He turned around and hurried down the stairs.

A terrible sense of foreboding crept its way up Marin's spine. The Wardens of the Waking Woods were the church of worship to Mepheia, whose priests spread her teachings - be that through art, magic, or both - and whose templars protected the realm from the influence of the other Titans. What business could they possibly have with Dr Sohn?

Marin followed him, unable to ignore the implications their presence brought. There before the counter stood three wardens, clad in leather armour and chain shirts, over which they wore white tabards with black floral lining. At the head of the group stood a well put together man, seemingly in his late thirties with a polite smile that failed to reach his eyes, hand placed on the hilt of his sword. His hair slicked back and the faint shade of a stubble starting beneath chiselled cheekbones, not a single hair on his head was out of place. The other two templars stood a few feet behind him, both much younger, each with a polearm in hand. One had short, straw blonde hair and a summer's tan, his blocky jaw made even fiercer by the way he clenched it. The other had hair a pale dove plaited in a braid and tawny beige skin reminiscent of the nearby coastline's sandy beaches. Her big amber eyes darted between her superior and apothecary's workers, her posture tense as she repeatedly lifted a hand to cover her mouth and nose.

"Good afternoon." Dr Sohn approached the wardens from behind the counter with Marin in tow. Hana immediately attached herself to his leg. "How can I help you?"

"Afternoon," The eldest templars spoke up in an affable tone. "I'm captain Hemlock of the wardens. You are doctor Sujin Sohn?"

"Yes, I am," He replied. "... Are you here on official business?"

"I'm afraid we are."

Dr Sohn nodded, his lips pressed together in a thin line. He put a hand on Hana's head to try and get her attention. "Hey, sweetheart. Papa needs to talk to these people about some grown-up things. Can you wait downstairs?"

She seemed reluctant to let go. But when she stared at the wardens and caught the eye of captain Hemlock, she hurried to the safety of home in a fright.

"What a sweet girl," Captain Hemlock said, "Your daughter?"

"Yes, she is," Dr Sohn replied with increasing unease. "So what is it you're here for, wardens?"

"Some serious allegations have been made against you, and we are required to investigate," The captain elaborated.

Marin's breath caught in his throat.

"And what might those be?" Dr Sohn's hands tensed.

"You have been accused of conspiring with the circle of learning. I'm sure you understand the gravity of such claims."

The circle of learning - the cult of Readros, Titan of disease and medicine. In ancient history he was once revered as a scholar, a teacher, and keeper of knowledge. But now, he and his cult were feared for those very same tenets now twisted in their singularly selfish desire to learn more. Terrifying tales of chimaeras were abundant, creatures composed of mutilated animal corpses, as were stories of deadly maladies spread to communities just to see if they could be cured. Marin looked at Dr Sohn, at the petrified expression on his face. This had to be a mistake.

"If you could come along quietly, that would make it easier for all of us, I'm sure," Captain Hemlock said.

"I-, I can't just leave, my daughter-"

"Someone else will have to look after her for the time being," The captain interrupted him. "If you have nothing to hide, then it should be over soon. Though if we do find evidence of magic in your shop, as has been tipped, then perhaps... You might want to look for alternative arrangements for her." As he continued to speak, his cordial tone and smile never once seemed to drop.

"No, wait-" The words had escaped Marin before he realised he'd raised his voice. Suddenly all eyes were on him, and he could feel himself clamming up instantly.

"As I said, whether this is all a misunderstanding or not will soon come to light," he reiterated to Marin, before turning his attention back to Dr Sohn. "So please come along, doctor."

They'd find magic. Because of his own meddling, Marin knew that they'd find what they're looking for. Would it be enough to convict Dr Sohn of crimes he didn't commit? Would they know the nature of the magic used wasn't aligned with Readros'? Or would they simply fail to care? He'd spent so long trying to hide it, but in that moment, as he watched how Dr Sohn walked around the counter to give himself up to the templars, he couldn't stand by and watch it happen.

"Wait!" He repeated, as once more all present turned to him in surprise. "It's me."

Captain Hemlock moved closer to the counter, eyes fixed on Marin. "You're confessing to conspiring with the circle of learning?"

Dr Sohn stared at him wide eyed. "Marin, don't do anything rash now-"

"No." Words came stumbling across his tongue. His frantic gaze slid along each person in the room with dread bubbling up in his chest. But it was too late for regrets. "It's-... it's not what it looks like."

One eyebrow tentatively raised, captain Hemlock looked Marin up and down. "What's your name?"

"He's got nothing to do with this." Dr Sohn tried once more to turn the templars' attention away from him, and to give Marin another chance to back down.

"Marin Reyner." But he did not take it, and answered with a lump in his throat.

Well then, Mr. Reyner," The captain said, "do tell, what should we think suspiciously potent remedies coming from this apothecary look like?"

He'd tried to avoid looking him in the eyes, but when Marin finally did, he saw that the man's smile was all but gone.

"As I'm sure you're well aware, magic doesn't just happen." The captain put the palms of his hands on the counter, leaning forward ever so slightly. "And any magic cast by anyone but the priests of Mepheia is punishable by law. So consider your next words very carefully when I ask again; What am I looking at?"v

"Mepheia's dreamer."

The words rolled off his tongue with an acrid taste clinging to his lips. He'd never spoken them aloud before, and had wanted to do so only when the next Eclipse was drawing near. Until such a time there was no need for a dreamer to save the day, after all. Until such a time he could have lived his own life. All of that now snow in the sun, melting away before his eyes, as each warden's expression changed to shock.

"I'm Mepheia's dreamer."