Eventually they come upon one of the more rich houses in the neighbourhood. Skye quietly enters the front door, opening it for Marian.

There is a tall blonde woman waiting in the entrance hall. She pauses and looks at them both.

"Spencer, where have you been? Who is your guest?"

"I'm Marian Yashagoro. The Rising Life Alchemist. I spoke with your child for a bit, and was quite impressed."

She throws her son a look, composes herself a little, and nods to the Alchemist.

"My name is Doctor Olivia Avery Moran. Welcome to my home. What has my child been telling you?"

"Asking questions, mostly. The highest calling of an alchemist is to know the right ones, after all. Answers are easy enough after that."

She does not look impressed.

"Has he indeed." She crosses her hands together, and very pointedly does not invite the Alchemist further inside her home. "Thank you for returning him. He has a habit of getting into places he shouldn't. Especially with his questions."

"I will be taking this one as my apprentice, actually."

...this gets a pause out of her.

"Will you now. What authority do you have to do that?"

"Wartime Recruitment Act. Of course, no matter how clever, your child is woefully unprepared for the state alchemist entrance exams, so I will handle the education requirements."

"You're just going to take him away and teach him. With no incentive or reward for yourself?" She sounds very doubtful.

"Clever apprentices are few and far between, and much of my work is repetitive. I don't want someone who won't question it if a mark is slightly off. I'm sure you understand how it is in research."

She hums, if still a little unimpressed, but also with understanding.

"He is clever, I will give him that. His other faults... will be your problem now. Take him. I expect weekly reports of his progress."

"Very well." Then, to the child: "Anything of yours you wish to collect?"

Skye considers for a moment. Does she have anything that she can't live without?

No. She shakes her head.

"Very well. Do you have an objection to us moving on now?" she asks the mother.

"No. Be quick about it. I have guests coming over for supper."

"Then I won't hold you. Come, child." And she turns.

Skye is... stuck. Looking up at her mother. Was that it?

That is, indeed, it. She leaves the room to make her point.

Marian walks around, so she's in the child's line of sight. "You're my apprentice now, alright? There's quite a lot to learn, so we best get started soon."

Skye stares at Marian for a moment, she's scared. But... she needs to leave. Needs to learn more. Help people.

She nods and walks forward. "I'm ready."

"Good. Now, come along." And she leads her apprentice out of the house, and back towards the bed and breakfast.

Once they're sufficiently distant, between groups of people so she won't be overheard: "I can't say I approve of that woman."

"Most people are scared of her."

"I have quite a bit more power than her. Though I imagine she's a big fish in this tiny little pond."

Skye nods. "The world is bigger than she chooses to believe."

"Precisely. And more marvelous. Do you know much of alchemy already?"