Katherine stepped into the alchemy classroom, her eyes sweeping over the spacious room. Shelves lined the walls, packed with ingredients in glass bottles, powders in labeled pouches, and aged tomes that smelled faintly of herbs and old paper. The large wooden tables had various tools neatly arranged—mortars and pestles, burners, and glass flasks waiting to be used.
She took a deep breath. This was her first time attending an Alchemy class, and while she was eager to learn, her mind was still occupied with everything that had happened recently—Ruel's teasing, Adolfo's shocking revelation about her brother, and the letter from Aunt Yevon promising answers once she returned to Albania.
She sighed and took out her notebook, flipping it open to a blank page. At least this class would be a distraction.
Just as she was settling in, the classroom door slammed open.
"—I made it," a familiar voice panted.
