The Alchemists

Finland felt at a loss because it had been five years since Jean last came to celebrate the Christmas holidays with her family. In the past, every Christmas and end of the year, Lauriel and Jean would join the Schneider family, hurrying over from wherever they were to celebrate the holiday with them.

However, for the past five years, Jean always only apologized and said that he couldn't leave his family behind.

"Why don't you bring Marion and Jean-Marie here?" Finland asked one time. "You know I miss you so much ... I also really want to meet Jean-Marie."

"I'm sorry, but Marion is still recovering. I can't leave her," Jean replied apologetically. "I promise, once we can travel, we will visit you."

But then five years passed and that promise was never kept. Finland felt even sadder. Maybe this was how it would always feel like when losing friends because they would be starting a new life with their spouses.

She could not help but recall when Jean still had a relationship with Billie Yves. Back then, he still had time and space in his heart for his best friend. But now that he got married to Marion, his priority naturally became his wife, especially now that they had a child together.

Entering the sixth year, Finland looked sadly at the invitation in her hand. She did not know whether to send it or not. She had no idea whether he would meet them for their year-end holidays.

"Hmm ... there's nothing else we can do," Caspar tod her when Finland complained to him. "Do you still remember when we just got married? At that time, you had to prioritize me and our children, more than Jean, even though you have been friends with him for much longer. He needed time to adjust to his position as an outsider. Remember, before we were married... he was an insider in your life. It's not been easy for him. You must be feeling the same now, right?"

Finland bit her lower lip. She realized, of course, Jean must have felt the same way when Finland got married and built a family with Caspar. He must have struggled a lot in searching for his place so as to not cause awkwardness between them as friends.

Finland remembered the process had not been easy. Lauriel's presence between them helped with the adjustment since he too was an 'outsider' in the Schneider family.

Finland didn't expect for it to feel very painful, losing a friend who used to be so close to her and always sharing in her happiness and sorrows ...

She was not jealous of Marion, absolutely not. But she really missed her best friend. When she heard that Jean got married, her chest became a little tight because she was not invited. It was painful not to be there on her friend's big day.

But then she remembered, 27 years ago, she also married Caspar in secret and did not invite Jean. It might have been due to Caspar's identity as the Alchemist clan leader which had to be kept a secret, still, Finland felt like karma was now knocking on her door.

She could only accept everything with a heavy heart and hope that one day, she would be able to meet Jean again.

***

"Dad ... I want to go to New York next week," London said suddenly. He just arrived with Rune after spending a week at Aldebar's place. He had been his uncle's guinea pig for his latest potion invention. "Hi, Mom."

He kissed Finland on both cheeks and hugged her before taking a seat on the sofa. The young man was now 23 years old and his handsome face was very similar to Caspar. He was only slightly taller than his father. If they walked along together in the city, other people would certainly think they were siblings.

"Why do you want to go to New York?" Finland asked with interest, "Are you going alone or is Rune coming too?"

Rune emerged from behind the door and immediately rushed towards Finland. He then laid on the couch with his head on his mother's lap.

"Gosh ... what happened to you?" Finland was surprised after seeing that Rune's face was filled with weird brown spots.

"Uhh ... this is caused by one of Uncle Aldebar's new potions. He said the spots will disappear after a week. You should have seen my face three days ago ... Well, I looked like a cheetah." Rune answered nonchalantly.

"Wait ... what?" Finland covered her lips in astonishment, "What did your uncle just make?"

"He was testing a potion aimed to improve human's ability according to the animals they choose. Last week, I told my uncle that I wanted to be as fast as a cheetah. He gave me a cheetah potion ... After consuming it, I turned out this way." Rune pointed a finger to the guy sitting next to Finland. "London wanted to have a sharp sense of hearing," he said.

The mother turned her head to one side and saw that her older son now had longer and pointed ears.

"Wait ... it will not be permanent, right?" Finland asked worriedly. "What's with those ears?"

"Cat ears, from one of the animals that have the sharpest hearing," answered London, laughing. "Take it easy, Mom. This is still in a preliminary trial, we have been given a very low dose."

Aishh ... Finland really wanted to smack that eccentric brother-in-law of hers for always conducting weird experiments. After all, out of the 10 new potions or machines that he would invent every year, 9 of them would have no real use whatsoever for sure.

"Hmm .. okay. Just tell Aldebar to watch out if all of that becomes permanent. I will lock up his lab and throw the keys to the Bermuda Triangle," Finland snorted.

After checking that her two children were still physically healthy, she then sat down and asked them to tell more about what they did at Aldebar's place.