Kiryu labs was different. The terronous aether sang in the air, along 
with the Aeronous. There was something...more here. Something 
he hadn't felt in a long time. "Ahh...Adebeyo, you would have 
appreciated this..." 


Arturo stepped up, attempting to be helpful, "Master...?" He held a 
small notebook along with a very old pen that Ruslav had given him 
a few months ago. The apprentice alchemist had taken to using it for 
everything. 


"Nothing, Arturo. Simply commenting on the flows in this area. 
Concentrate..." His hands swept in front of him for a moment, as he 
drew them in to shaper focus. 


"|...0h, oh! | hadn't ever felt...something like this, in the Foundation." 
The young man's eyes opened wider, and his feet, shod in the same 
purple as his Master slipped a few inches forward. 


Ruslav smiled, the light from his deepset eyes a rare treasure on his 
face. "Now, we find this Kiryu." 


A head poked out from a nearby door. "I'm sorry, did you ask for 
me?" Dr. Mark Kiryu's head was half visible out of his office door. "I 
heard my name." 


Ruslav shuffled forward on silent steps. "Da, | am looking for 
researcher Kiryu. | have an item | need assistance with. | was given 
information that you are the person to talk to." 


Mark stood up from the office chair, and walked out to greet the pair 
of alchemists. He surreptitiously took in the badge on Ruslav's 
chest, and held out his hand. "Director Diaghilev. It's good to meet 
you, I'm Director Kiryu. This is Kiryu labs, I'll help however | can. Is 
the item logged as anomalous?" 


Ruslav nodded, reaching back to unhook the heavy cast iron cage 
from Arturo's pack. "Da, all alchemic creatures are considered 
anomalous at this time. We came across these in Macedonia, and 
needed assistance." 


Mark cocked his head to one side, "I...apologize, Director. I'm not 
familiar with Alchemy, or these...creatures? And, this may just be 
my own ignorance, but | don't see anything." To his credit, Dr. Kiryu 
kept a straight face the entire time. 


Ruslav clucked his tongue, "Of course, my apologies. They are not 
visible to the naked eye usually. Arturo, will you please reveal them 
for the Director?" 


Arturo nodded, and gently lowered his pack, stepping forward, and 
drawing his half-finished marble and ebonite crozier, "Of course, 
Elder. Director, if you could take a step back?" 


Mark nodded, and held his chin in one hand, his eyes narrowing 
slightly, "Is this..." 


Ruslav nodded, "Alchemy, yes," he turned to Arturo, "Take the 
aeronous...yes, like that, now the igneous..." 


Arturo's hands slowly moved in a circle, as the crozier spun a figure 
eight in the air. The fourth language flowed from his lips, as he 
recited the proper formula. The air around the cage shimmered, and 
several small creatures came in to view. Smaller than a thumbnail, 
the tiny butterflies were made of different materials. Some were tiny 
crystalline things, others were made of fire or water. 


"Alchemical butterflies. Lepidoptraetheia. | need assistance creating 
a more permanent containment vessel, and figuring out how to care 
for them. The alchemy | can handle, the butterflies," Ruslav's voice 
rumbled off, as he looked at Mark significantly. 


"| think, you may have the wrong person. I'm Dr. Kiryu, but 
researcher Kiryu is the one with the butterfly affinity. Can you wait 
here a moment?" Ruslav nodded, and Mark stepped away, turning 
down the hallway to the left, to Room 205, and knocked. A hollow 
boom could be heard from the depths of the labs. Ruslav's eyebrow 
raised as the igneous aether swirled. 


Dr. Kiryu and a young woman came around the corner. She was 
smoking slightly, and wearing a heavy silver colored suit of some 
kind of fire-resistant material. Ruslav's robes contained several of 
the same properties, but didn't have that industrial chic about them. 


"These are the two alchemists, Zyn. | think they need your help.” Dr. 
Kiryu waved her forward, and nodded at the two alchemists. "If you'll 
forgive me, | have to get back to work. You know where my office is, 
and Zyn is at your disposal." He gave them a curt nod, and walked 
back in to his office, closing the door most of the way. 


The young woman in front of them was wearing a fireproof suit, and 
held the helmet of the suit under one arm. "Hi, I'm Zyn. Did you two 
need help with something...?" She couldn't help but be a little off-put 
by the two men in robes. She eyed Arturo especially suspiciously, 
holding a marble and rubber mace in his hand. 


Ruslav took a step forward, and held out one heavily scarred hand. 
"Da, | am Ruslav Diaghilev, Director of the Alchemy Division. | was 
told you were the expert if | had a butterfly that needed studying." 


The twinkle in Zyn's eye told him everything he needed to know. 
...-Elders Diaghilev and P. Flamel will be in charge of further review of 
Alchemic creature lore in the future. An official reprimand has been issued 
for Alchemist Ledenoff found at... 


-Excerpt, College of Alchemists literature review, 1752 


A few minutes later, Zyn, Ruslav, and Arturo stood in Room 217. 
"So, tell me once more, they're made up of...?" 


Ruslav nodded, his hands moving in slow circles. "Aether. The fabric 
of the energies that make up atoms and molecules. Cut and tie 


everything together and apart. Mostly. Alchemists can manipulate 
these, but there are also several creatures in this world, and others, 
which can interact with them. These Lepidoptraetheia are one of 
them." 


He reached his hand out, and a small butterfly composed of ice, and 
tiny drifts of snow alighted on his finger. "They collect excess aether 
from plants and animals for sustenance. Their bodies are less... 
physical, and more manifestations of what they eat. This one, is not 
literally ice, for example. It is made of a combination of Aeronous 
and Aequeous aethers. Your eyes and mind simply interpret these 


as ‘ice’. 


Zyn leaned in, and stared at the tiny creature. "Amazing. | had no 
idea this all even existed." She turned her hand over, a slow smile 
creeping across her face as the tiny creature which appeared to be 
made up of slightly dusty winds swirling around her fingertip crawled 
to her palm, and lifted off to the side of the cage in silent flight. 


Ruslav nodded, "That is by intention, researcher. It goes without 
saying that the things you work on with us, are confidential." He 
closed his hands, and the flow of air around the three of them slowly 
tightened until they were in a personal soundproof bubble of air. 


"Of course," she nodded, reaching out with a match to feed a tiny 
butterfly made of dancing flames. "So, how can | help you all?" The 
tiny butterfly alighted on the match, and the bright flame at the end 
petered out as the butterfly sucked away the aether of the miniature 
fire. 


Ruslav's hands returned to the cage, the two dozen or so butterflies 
circling the area inside. "We are...unaware of how to care for these 
creatures, long term. Several have been dying, and others keep 
appearing, and we cannot determine why. We've tried all of the 
alchemic means at our disposal." He looked across at Zyn, and 
smiled very slightly, "So we naturally assumed it must be something 
more basic. Adebeyo and | have no idea how to care for butterflies, 
and Arturo prefers cats." 


Arturo leaned back against a nearby table, idly trying to gather 
enough aether together to ruffle the linen skirt on a nearby lab table. 


"Cats are the best. Fish are second best." 


Ruslav waved a hand idly at Arturo, a familiar gesture of concession. 
Zyn leaned back and looked at the ceiling, before returning to look 
down at the cage, a thought striking. "How long have you had 
them?" 


Ruslav rotated the cage a few times, summoning the tenebrous 
aether to feed some of the butterflies made of shadows and 
negative space. "Six weeks. Some more, some less." 


"That'd do it. Butterflies only live about two weeks. What do they 
look like as caterpillars?" she replied, idly reaching in to the cage. 
The two alchemists were uncharacteristically quiet as Zyn raised an 
eyebrow at the two of them. 


Arturo and Ruslav exchanged a sheepish glance. "We...had not 
considered this. | had never encountered Lepidoptraetheia as 
anything other than this form." Ruslav's voice rumbled in 
embarrassment. 


Zyn waved a hand, "So, the key is to find the eggs and the 
caterpillars." She reached forward, and closed the cage door, lifting 
the bottom up slightly. "| don't know where they'd keep them. They 
don't exist in our dimension right?" 


Ruslav waved a hand non-committedly, "Without going through 
significant training and instruction, yes. | do not really...Arm..." 


Arturo stepped forward, and raised his hands. He spoke quietly in 
the fifth language, and his hands exuded a soft glow, as the 
tenebrous aethers were washed away by the luxorous aether. 
Several small caterpillars could be seen among the tiny rocks and 
twigs at the bottom of the cage. 


Ruslav's voice rumbled out in a pleased noise, "Of course. They 
were hiding in the tenebrous. Arturo, that was very good thinking. 
They live off of the luxorous aether, until they're adults. | wonder 
how they determine which aether they'll subsist on as adults..." The 
light winked out as the tiny caterpillars eagerly gathered up the 
energies. 


Zyn smiled at the two alchemists, "This was fascinating. I'm glad | 
could help." She crossed her arms in front of her, and looked up at 
the clock, not realizing how quickly time had passed with the two 
strange men in robes. 


Ruslav raised an eyebrow, feeling an opportunity at hand, "Miss 
Kiryu, are you interested in being involved in the containment project 
for these creatures?" 


...Lepidoptraetheia. These creatures present as small butterflies to the third 
eye. They are non-harmtul, and consume small bits of extraneous aether. 
They are useful as cleaning aids after excess aether flows, and can be 
found... 


-Excerpt, Alchemical Creatures, R. Diaghilev, 1774 (Revised) 


"| get the theory, but I'm not getting the practice. What exactly 
should | be doing?" The three weeks of training Researcher Kiryu 
had passed quickly, and she'd been insistent on learning everything 
needed to care for the Lepidoptraetheia. 


"Bring your hands in front of you. Do not visualize the flows. Feel the 
flows. They are all around us. They are not visible, but tangible. Do 
you feel them?" Ruslav's voice flowed in a familiar cadence of 
teaching a novice the basics of Alchemy. They had gone over them 
for three weeks now, but isolating Luxorous aether flows was 
difficult, and took intense concentration. 


"| feel them, but what do | do? How do | get the one | want?" Zyn's 
hands shook slightly, as she concentrated, small beads of sweat 
forming on her forhead, as the Aether flows sluggishly responded to 
her will. 


"Yes. Like that. It is not...a mechanical thing. It is a matter of will, 
and focus. You have the ability within you, now pull the flows apart, 
and let the luxorous flow through your hands. It's lighter than the 
others. Less...weighty." Ruslav stood behind the young researcher, 
his arms folded, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. 


Several minutes passed, and the room grew several degrees colder, 
but nothing happened between Zyn's hands. 


Arturo glanced over at Ruslav with a questioning look from the 
corner. Sensing his attention, Ruslav nodded ever so slightly to the 
young Alchemist. Arturo concentrated, and nudged a stream of 
aether closer to Zyn, picking it apart slightly. Light gathered in her 
hands, like a blob of particularly viscous jelly. 


Her eyes went wide, as the flows gathered stronger, and poured out 
from her outstretched hands, in a soft white beam of light. The 
caterpillars at the bottom of the cage drew towards her, and eagerly 
ate up the flows of energy she poured through the fine mesh. 


"|- this isn't...l have no idea how I'm doing this, but I'm doing it!" She 
laughed under her breath, unable to believe the frankly impossible 
sight in her own hands. "This feels like magic." 


Ruslav took a step forward, and cupped his hand, making a quick 
circular motion with his wrist. A small globe of water happily sloshed 
around between his fingertips. "Alchemists have always had a flair 
for the dramatic, but it is science, | assure you, Miss Kiryu. 
Repetition and experimentation." 


The light faded out from her hands, as she leaned back, exhausted. 
"Well, whatever this is, it's pretty crazy. | didn't expect to be able to 
turn my hands in to a flashlight." 


Ruslav smiled, and collapsed the small ball of water, returning it to 
its component Aethers. "You would have been far more impressed 
several centuries ago. Alchemy was...different then. Alas, needs 

must, and times change.” Ruslav held out his hand towards Arturo. 


Arturo rose from the chair, and crossed the room, handing Ruslav 
his cold iron crozier. "Researcher, your help these last few weeks 

have been invaluable. I'm sorry to say that we've been called back 
to Site-82 for another project." 


Zyn slumped slightly, frowning, "That's unfortunate. | really enjoyed 
watching these little guys mature. The metamorphosis process for 
these creatures is fascinating. | hope my research notes helped." 


Ruslav smiled at her, and his heavy-lidded eyes bored in to hers, 
"They did, | have more than enough to update the texts. On a 


slightly more important note, you have the required aptitudes to 
come assist us at Site-82 if you wish. Those with the necessary 
alchemic aptitude are rare to say the least. | could speak with your 
Director for transfer to the Alchemy department. Should you desire 
it." 


The air hung heavy with expectation, as a sad smile spread over 
Zyn's face, "I really appreciate that, Director, but my place is here. 
Everything you've taught me has been fascinating, but the work 
goes on so to speak. If | have time, I'll be sure to pop over to Site-82 
to visit when | get the chance." 


Ruslav smiled slightly, and nodded. "| assumed as much, however, 
it does not hurt to try. You are a brilliant young researcher. Do not 
give up that curiosity, and if you ever have questions about 
Alchemy, or change your mind, you know where to find us." 


The alchemists gathered their belongings, and clipped the heavy 
cage back to Arturo's pack. A final sweep of the lab confirmed they 
had everything, and Ruslav ducked in to the Director's office to say 
his farewells. As they headed through the door, Arturo turned to 
wave goodbye to Zyn one last time before ducking through the door. 


Zyn smiled, and returned to the research lab, to tidy up her notes, 
and get back to work on the latest containment project. She 
gathered together the loose sheets, slapped them in a manila with a 
quick jot of a label, and filed them in her little cabinet in the corner. 


Just before she pulled out the next set of files, she stopped, and 
stared down at her hands. She closed her eyes, and concentrated, 
feeling the flows of the Aethers around her. As she opened her 
eyes, a small spark of light winked in to existence on her fingertip, 
for just a moment. She grinned to herself, and pulled out the next set 
of files. 


...Lepidoptraetheia. (Lepidopterus Alchemica zyneria) These creatures 
present as small butterflies to the third eye, and as small caterpillars in the 
larval stage. The luxorous aether can be used to reveal this form...... 


-Excerpt, Alchemical Creatures, R. Diaghilev; Zyn Kiryu (Credited Co- 
Author), 2017 (Revised Second Edition) 


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