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Start reading now! Description: The memory of Alchemy has opened the door to Bella’s past, but she finds herself confused, unable to recall specific details about this complicated notion and how it affected her life. Tired of all the secrecy and deception that seems to be taking place around her, Bella just longs to be near her family again, without having to struggle with her memory. A new hypnotherapy session presents itself, and Bella isn’t sure if she can bear the too short moments she can spend with her family before being separated again. Created: June 11th 2008 Last Updated: July 20th 2008 Number of Entries: 168 Rating on TheSims2.com: 4.85   Welcome back, for a new chapter of The Fate of Alchemy. This is Chapter Six, so reading the first five is recommended, if you haven't. This chapter took over five months to get together, because of a coincidence of bad circumstances, and I appologize for it. I've longly explained this delay in my blog, so I won't do it again here, but let's just say I was very busy in my personnal life. So thanks for being patient while I made this chapter, and enjoy your read!   Black clouds surrounded her again, compressing her chest, suffocating her with their thickness and strength. Blood pumped rapidly through her veins, as she felt their pressure against her skin, screaming for the life inside of her. She could feel her body intensely vibrating, yet she knew she wasn’t moving, in fact, she was using every bit of concentration left in her not to move an inch; the feelings always went away as soon as she dared to even quiver. She was vividly aware of every single part of her body, alerted by her perceptions. Even though her eyelids were shut, she knew her eyes themselves were still working, and she felt as though she had shrunken back into her body, observing the back of her orbs from the inside. She was losing sense of perspective, and felt as though she were both very large and very small at the same time; it seemed space didn’t have a meaning anymore.   The pressure in her chest was so strong that it seemed to be causing her abdomen to contract autonomously. She strained to keep all her concentration, as beads of sweat started breaking out onto her forehead. The intensity was so strong, a headache was starting to come on, and she felt as if her brain itself was in pain. The contractions were only getting stronger, following the movements of the vibrations, and she wasn’t sure to hold much longer. In one final attempt, she put all her efforts into not thinking about the immense pain she was in, and to try to focus on getting out of here, but the physical reaction was too strong, and, without asking for her opinion, her body contracted and made her inhale a fresh gulp of air.   In the velocity of the movement, she sat up and choked. Tears streamed out of her strained eyes, and her nose started running. Bella wiped the cold sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand and shivered. “Damn it!” she whispered in anger and frustration, punching the mattress. For over a week, ever since she had remembered it, she had been trying to get some access back to Alchemy. Her memory was still weak, and Bella couldn’t remember much about it. Alchemy was a vague notion she only remembered as a whole general feeling. It was as though she was trying to remember a foreign language she had learned a long time ago, and hadn’t spoken in many years. For now, her main objective was to achieve the passage from the Physical World to the Dream World, which was the dimension Alchemy took place in.   One of the clearest things she could remember was that Alchemists were able to explore this parallel dimension, where all their power came from. Getting there consisted in consciously falling asleep, an exercise which required a great deal of concentration. Five years without any form of Alchemy in her life had greatly reduced Bella’s potential, and the lack of training and memory left her Alchemically invalid. Only a few days prior, Johnny had confirmed that the journal she had believed to be hers all these years was, in fact, a fake one, which had been printed to look like hers. Bella didn’t know what this meant exactly, but the only certainty she had for now, was that someone was lying to her in this town. She felt Alchemy would provide her with the answers she needed to understand what was going on, but she could not remember any of it precisely enough to obtain them. Projecting herself into the Dream World would allow her to explore this dimension of Alchemy and effectively regain her power.   The next morning, Bella was awoken, tickled by the warm sunlight penetrating through her drapes. She lay in bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling in contemplation. Each morning was the start of a new day in this prison she was unable to escape. Strangetown may have appeared like just a simple town in the middle of nowhere at first, but Bella could feel there was something more to this place than she was being let on. She thought of her family, back in Pleasantview and just wished she could be near them again. Every night she was unable to project into the Dream Dimension made her feel as though she was failing them. She just had to force herself to believe in a better tomorrow.   She got up and carried out her usual morning ritual, waking the twins, making breakfast, and getting ready for the day. Taking care of her girls and her association were the only things that had allowed her to keep sanity in the past days, as she struggled to remember this complicated notion that was Alchemy. However, that day was a Sunday, and so the association was closed. Instead, Jenny and she had made plans to go over to Ophelia’s house to help the young woman with her wedding plans. While she was figuring out that her journal was a fake and trying to remember what Alchemy was, it bemused Bella that things as normal as weddings still existed in the world. By late morning, Bella headed with her two daughters, glad to get her mind off the complicated parts of her life.   She arrived at Ophelia’s to find not only Jenny, but Jill and Olive Specter as well, along side the bride-to-be. Bella’s daughters were set in front of the television, and all five women retreated to the dining room. Within a dozen of minutes, they were immersed in Bridal magazines, menu ideas, music listings and many other paper sheets full of notes. The room was vibrant and loud, as they all enthusiastically gave their opinion on different matters and suggested ideas. “I want it to be a simple wedding, you know?” Ophelia said. “I don’t see the need to invite the whole town like some people do just because we all live close by. Aunt Olive, here, kindly accepted to host the wedding in her front yard, so that settles the matter of location.” “I want my Ophelia to get married in front of her parents.” Olive smiled, referring to the graves that lay in her yard, among which were Ophelia’s parents’.   Bella smiled at the elderly woman gazing fondly at her niece. She had only been around Olive a handful of times, but she found her to be very touching. With the years, she seemed to become more absent, as if she was slowly erasing herself from the world around her. Bella had decided not to tell Olive about Alchemy until she was sure it was necessary to do so. In her advanced age, Olive was often distracted or confused about certain things. She would sometimes forget what she was told or just not register it at all. She had lived in Strangetown her whole adult life, ever since the first settlers had arrived. Bella preferred to not disrupt the old woman’s mind and environment if it was possible. Were she to tell her about Alchemy, Bella wasn’t even sure Olive would understand it.   This was why her friends, who were usually so eager to know if she had achieved any progress, hadn’t asked her about Alchemy in Olive’s presence, and why they waited until she left the room to bring up the topic. It was near midday, and Olive offered to make the women lunch. “Are you going to find everything you need, in there?” Ophelia asked her aunt, as she headed towards the kitchen. “Ophelia, I may be old but I still remember how to get around a kitchen.” Olive replied in good spirit. “I’ll be fine, you girls keep on planning the big day.” she said smiling, before bustling off into the nearby kitchen. “Thanks.” Ophelia called after her.   Bella, who had been absent mindedly flipping through the pages of a magazine, was surprised to see the attention of the room suddenly turn towards her, as Olive left it. Ophelia, Jenny and Jill all moved their chairs closer to the table and leaned in towards Bella. “So, how’s it going with… Alchemy?” Ophelia asked her dubiously. Bella closed her magazine and laid it down on the table. “Well, there isn’t much new, I suppose.” she told them honestly. “I still can’t remember anything precise and I still haven’t been able to project in the…” Bella hesitated. “The Dream World?” Jenny suggested. “Well yes, that’s what it is basically, but I think it had a name. I don’t think we called it ‘the Dream World’, but that’s the best way I can call it for now.”   “How can you remember that you used to be an Alchemist, if you don’t even remember what Alchemy is?” Jill asked. “I don’t know; it’s so confusing. I know I used to practice Alchemy, but I only have a vague and general idea of it. There’s only one precise memory I have for now: that ceremony thing in my attic – and technically, that’s not even a memory, since I wasn’t there. I just don’t get it, and I really wish I could have more access to my memories at the hospital without letting Dr. Auster know what I’m remembering.” “But you told my brothers about Alchemy, and they’re your doctors too.” “Yes, but I trust all of you and I’m not saying I suspect Auster of anything, though he hasn’t ever been that friendly to me, but apparently, there’s someone at the hospital who wants to prevent me from remembering Alchemy, so I’m not exactly trusting hospital staff that I don’t personally know for now.” “Well, can’t you lie, and just make up memories to tell them?”   “Not really, no. Hypnotherapy is so emotional and personal; it’s always really obvious when I’m exploring memories which are of great importance to me. I get all upset and with all their sensors, the doctors can read whatever is going on in my head, in a way I can’t prevent. Sooner or later, they’d realize I’m lying. I’d have to make up a memory which would correspond exactly to what they were reading, which would be way too complicated. Since Hypnotherapy follows the same process as projecting in the Dream World, I think the best thing for me to do is to just remember how to do that, so I can explore my memories by myself, but it’s so hard and try I might, I’m just not able to do it again. These days I’m so frustrated by all the things in my life, which are too complicated for me to understand. A part of me wishes I had never remembered Alchemy, because then, I wouldn’t have to worry about it, but another part really wants to know more and I’m just stuck and confused.”   “If you want, I think my brothers would be more than willing to give you private hypnotherapy sessions. You could explore your memories outside of the hospital and that way, not have to lie.” “What do you mean? How would that work exactly?” “Well, my brothers studied their hypnotherapy technique in their lab for a long time, before they brought it to the hospital. They have all the equipment they need for it at home. Seeing your peculiar condition, I think they’d accept to help you out with extra sessions.” “That would be really great. I’d be so thankful.” “I’ll call them and set it up.” Jenny smiled. Bella appreciated how enthusiast her friends were about Alchemy, even though they had no idea what it was. If she was already confused about it, they could not understand it in the slightest of ways. Yet it was new and exciting, so no matter how little they understood it, they were very supportive and sincerely hoped Bella would be able to remember it all.   Since the kitchen was adjacent to the dining room, the women decided not to spend too much time discussing Alchemy, in case Olive realized they were no longer talking about the wedding plans. They cleared up the table of all their notes and set it for lunch. Olive served them with a spicy rice and black bean dish, she claimed was her specialty. As they ate, their conversation continued on the wedding topics. However, Bella’s mind lingered on Jenny’s offer, and she only absent mindedly listened to Ophelia’s lengthy description of her dress. Remembering her past and Alchemy was of utmost priority to her, and private sessions with Jenny’s brothers would allow that to happen with much more ease. In the end, she just longed to be near her family again, and not have to worry about anything complicated. Though she may not have remembered them fully, Bella was certain that they used to lead a simple and happy life.   By mid afternoon, they had covered many topics, and Olive was getting tired, paying less and less attention to what was going on, so Ophelia eventually decided to take her home, effectively ending their gathering. Bella took her daughters home, and spent the rest of the day doing some house chores, to get her mind of Alchemy. A part of her missed the days when she just didn’t remember anything and lived peacefully in Strangetown. She knew that was a weak way of thinking, but this work to regain her memory was long and painful. These days it was causing her more confusion than ever, and in a world where everything was so complicated, and nothing seemed to be what it was, Bella longed for peace and tranquility.   In the following week, Bella lived in the expectancy of her hypnotherapy sessions. Jenny called her on Monday to announce her brothers had accepted to see Bella privately, and that she could meet with them, as soon as the following Saturday. The five following days stretched out on what seemed to be an eternity of time, so Bella focused all her energy on her association to not lose her mind. It felt very bizarre, leading this double life, in which she was acting casually and pretending everything was fine on one side, and then trying to figure out something complex and just bizarre on another. At night, she continued to try to find her way back into the Dream World, but only found herself like a blind woman lost in the middle of nowhere, and trying to make it home.   Saturday brought a sudden relief for Bella, and she awoke knowing she was going to be able to explore her memories and learn more. Her session was planned for the early afternoon, and she was unable to get her mind off it all morning. She randomly roamed her house and constantly checked the time, wondering how much longer it could possibly take. She wondered how her daughters could remain unaware of everything going on in their very home and live such an innocent and normal life, while she had been in a haze of confusion for the last two months now. She took a bit of pride in thinking that at least she was able to provide them with a balanced life, and that her parenting skills remained good.   Bella’s impatience got the better of her, and she arrived at the Curious household fifteen minutes earlier than planned, to find the family still eating lunch. The Curious house had changed a lot since Bella had first seen it. The birth of two young children, and the arrival of Crystal’s female presence in the house, had called for major renovations. Pascal had sought Bella’s help for advice in creating a child friendly environment. She had helped them select new wall and floor patterns of better taste, with lesser contrast, and participated in rearranging the house layout, which had kept its modern style, but with a less aggressive appearance. How far all of this seemed now… Pascal invited Bella to sit down at the table while they finished eating, and so she chatted with them for a moment. The twins headed off to join Astra and Indra, who were playing in the living room.   “I just really wanted to thank you for allowing this to happen. It means a lot to me.” Bella told them. “Well, after Johnny told us he found your journal was a fake, it seemed only natural that we help you out, and explore what’s going on here.” “I still don’t understand how he realized it was fake, though. Aren’t all papers the same?” “Well, here in Strangetown, as you’ve noticed, there are no trees. So we don’t create paper the same way as in other places. Our paper is made from cactus fiber; since cactus grows so well here, it’s quite convenient and cheap. Cactus paper has a very recognizable texture and quality, especially for someone like Johnny who works in the chemistry building where it’s made.” “So there’s no mistaking it? My journal is a fake?” “I’m afraid we’re certain of that. Johnny’s tests not only proved the paper was of cactus origin, but that the ink was printed and not written onto it.”   Once their lunch was over, the brothers took Bella upstairs, where they had moved their laboratory, when they had reworked the place. This was the part of the house which had most kept the old design and appearance. On the first floor landing, Pascal and Vicund went through a door towards the rest of their lab, while Lazlo lead her through glass doors, out on the terrace, and into a small room, which was not connected to the rest of the house from the interior. In it, Bella recognized a chair very similar to the one she was used to laying in during hypnotherapy sessions, which was surrounded by many pieces of electronic equipment. She automatically sat on the hypnotherapy chair, and let Lazlo prepare her, by attaching multiple electrodes and the usual canulla. “We’re a bit less at ease here, than at the hospital.” he explained. “Pascal and Vicund will be reading your bio-feed in the other room, and I’ll be here to make sure you’re okay. You shouldn’t notice the difference.”   As she waited for the Hypnotherapy to begin, Bella already began relaxing her body and focusing her mind on what she had to do. Her goal today was to find something, anything, which could enlighten her about Alchemy, and make it all seem less confusing. If she could just explore a few memories which could help her understand her unusual and complicated past, she would already feel progress was being made. After a few minutes of going from one room to the other, Pascal announced they were finally ready to begin. Bella closed her eyes in anticipation, and soon heard Lazlo begin to count down from 10. They weren’t using headphones like usual, but he was just talking directly to her, and this somehow made Bella feel safer and calmer. She started feeling the effects of the drugs, and it was as though the veil was being lifted from in front of her eyes, already. She was able to find her bearings in the sensations, and before Lazlo had even reached 3, Bella was already far away.   Bella found herself drifting in dark clouds again, but it didn’t take long for her to awaken, fully conscious, in this place she knew was the Dream World. In instants she materialized the great white room and dashed towards the high iron staircase. On her first attempt, her rush made her forget her concentration, and after only a few steps, she stumbled backwards clumsily, pushed back by the force that didn’t want her climbing these stairs. Lazlo must have noticed the shock and surprise it caused in her, and he started giving her instructions of concentration and guided her back to a calm and concentrated state. On her second attempt, Bella stepped onto the staircase cautiously. She slowly walked up, and looked at where she was putting her feet, almost making sure she wasn’t going to trip. She moved higher and started to feel the growing repelling force. She double in attention, and took her time to take each step.   However, after almost ten minutes, Bella seemed no closer to the top of the stairs, and the effort of caution was exhausting her. Tired, she slowly let herself be pushed back down towards the bottom of the stairs, without letting herself fall. It took several minutes for her to gather her spirits and attempt a new ascension. On her third attempt, Bella stepped onto the staircase with prudence and determination. Instead of focusing on the steps, she concentrated her mind on her goal: being in her memories again. She decisively stepped forward and ignored as the growing force tried to push her back. She was determined not to go back down, and just went on forward, not allowing herself to even acknowledge the fact that her knees were awkwardly bending, as if undecided as to obey to her will, or to the stairs’ force. This ascension was her combat for her family, renewed at each hypnotherapy session; it was a fight she had won before and would not lose now.   As she felt herself tiring under the pressure the stairs were imposing, she pushed herself forward with a jump in a final attempt to escape this room and reach her family. Her feet left the support she was standing on and she felt herself floating. As the hard metallic surface of the stairs didn’t break her fall, she knew she had failed and that she was being thrown back down the stairs and that she would meet the white room’s ground with a crash in just seconds. The crash didn’t come. Bella found herself surrounded by the white light, stronger than ever, penetrating every single part of her being. She was flying through it at the speed of light, and soon her body only formed one with the light and she no longer existed as form, but only thought and mind. "Bring me to where I shall find the answers of my past." she thought, knowing that the light would obey her, would somehow understand her.   Several moments passed during which Bella continued to feel the speed of the light moving her to a new destination in her memory. Then, her body began to reform from the light and she could feel it weighing her down into a memory. The light started fading and she felt a hard surface softly appear beneath and behind her, with her legs hanging lower; she was sitting. The small sound of a bird chirping reached her ears, and a pleasant breeze reached her face, as she inhaled the smell of fresh grass. The light cleared and she found herself sitting on a wooden bench in a very green park, which bore a familiar look. The air was warm and Bella gazed as a few people walked around in the distance. Perhaps she could have gone to talk to them, had she wanted to, but Bella felt as though their presence here was usual and unimportant and that it was best not to bother them. They seemed so distant anyway, their voices just mixing in a blur of pleasant conversation and laughter from another time.   “So, you came back.” said a voice next to her, and Bella turned her head to suddenly realize she wasn’t alone. There, just next to her, was sitting Mortimer, her beloved husband. “Morti!” she cried out, embracing him, feeling so good to be in his presence again, for it felt so real, even if she was only meeting him in the world of her mind. “Hello, love.” he smiled, caressing her hair. “Were you able to find the answers you were looking for up there?” “Alchemy!” she blurted remembering what she was looking for in these memories, and he nodded. “Well, I’m not sure it was really an answer. I mean, I remember that it exists, but it’s all so confusing and I don’t remember any of it precisely.” “Look at you, all troubled.” Mortimer said, taking her in his arms. Again, Bella let herself be invaded by the love she felt for him. It was so good to be in his embrace, without worrying about what was going on in the outer world.   “I’m not sure how it’s supposed to help me come back home, but all it’s done is confuse me. I can’t remember what it is, but it’s just there in my brain in a mess, and I don’t know how to sort it out. I know it’s supposed to have meaning for me, but I just don’t know what it is and I’m tired of looking. I’ve had to explain that I am an Alchemist to my friends, without really knowing what it was, and I have to keep pretending I’m leading a normal life to the rest of the town, and to the girls, and I just can’t take it anymore!” she sobbed, letting out the frustration of the past weeks as he slowly rocked her. “Everyone is expecting me to find answers and to be strong, but I’m just so tired of being strong. I feel like the whole weight of the world is on my back and I just want to be weak and not have to worry about carrying it, without it crushing me. I don’t want to have to be the one everything depends on anymore. I’m all alone in this, and I don’t think I can do it without you.”   “You know you always have me with you in your heart.” Mortimer whispered. “Yes, it’s true, but my heart is weak and tired too from being alone and waiting to be near you again. I miss you, and I don’t know if I can keep leading this empty fight alone against my amnesia, if I can’t even be sure that it will lead me back to you.” “You can’t win if you don’t fight.” “Yes, but fighting can make me lose, and I feel on a losing trend here. It’s like when I started digging for answers, I forgot to keep track of the surface, and now I’m stuck in a hole, too deep for me to climb out of. Maybe if I keep digging, I’ll find a way out, but I’m afraid it’ll just doom me further.” She nestled her face on his shoulder, indulging herself in another moment of bliss and forgetfulness. Here in his arms it was difficult to remember why she had come to find out more about Alchemy. It was so much easier to just stay near him and not worry about anything complicated again.   “I don’t want to have to leave you again, to have to pursue these answers without knowing where they are, or how to look for them. You’re all I need, and if I can be here with you, why bother fighting to know more? Maybe happiness is just contenting myself with what I can have, and not continually searching for something better. If I can find happiness with you here, I don’t need to struggle with things I don’t understand.” “Well then just stay here. You don’t have to go anywhere.” “I wish you could mean what you’re saying. You know I can only be here for a little while before I have to go back there. Staying here is only something I can dream of.” “You’re very right about that. Except you’re forgetting where you are: in the world of dreams, precisely! If you dream of staying here forever, that is what you get.”   “You are master of your fate Bella, and you can choose where to go. Of course, you’ll only be living in memories, but with 45 years worth of memories to explore, I dare say you have quite a selection to choose from. You can relive any moment of our past, and only keep the best parts. No need to uselessly fill your head with things that are too complicated.” “You mean it? I can stay here with you and not worry about going back?” Bella asked, suddenly feeling a jolt of hope and opportunity. “Why, of course!” Mortimer said laughing, and standing. “Where shall I take you first? Your childhood? Thanksgiving dinner 1975? Or perhaps you would prefer to remember when you first met me.” he offered grandly, making Bella laugh. For the first time in long, she allowed herself to be amused. “Do I get to see our children, Morti? I miss them – and I haven’t seen them in such a long time.” “That you may, too. In fact, I think here comes Cassandra now.”   Mortimer gestured beyond in the distance, towards the rest of the park, and Bella turned her head to see a very young Cassandra making her way towards her. “Mommy!” She called as she hurried forward. Bella rose from the bench instantly and found herself with her daughter in her arms in just seconds. The world seemed to dissolve in this moment as they reunited, and everything around them turned to a soft and pleasant tone. Bella felt warm and complete and let herself believe that she was in fact in the actual presence of her family. Strangetown faded from her mind, and she opened her eyes again, to see Pleasantview and her kin only. “Let’s go home.” she told them, smiling.   It wouldn’t even have occurred to her that she was completely abandoning Strangetown behind and that there were people still waiting for her there, if Lazlo hadn’t intervened. He suddenly appeared before them, with a worried look on his face: “Bella, you’re losing consciousness. I need you to remember where you are and to find answers about Alchemy in your world.” he said. He looked so out of context in the peaceful environment of Pleasantview. Mortimer and Cassandra seemed not to notice him, and Bella wondered if she could just ignore him. “Bella, you’re falling into a dream state!” he warned “Remember what you’re experiencing is not real, and that you need to find answers from your past.” “No Lazlo… no more searching for answers.” she finally said. “Bella, remember why you came here! You need to explore your memories to sort out Alchemy.” “No, I’m here with my family, and I’ve had enough. We’re going home!”   With that, Bella took Mortimer by one hand, Cassandra by the other and together they marched off into the distance. They would lead a peaceful and happy life, without Alchemy, just exploring the different good moments of their past. Maybe it wasn’t real, but to Bella it was, and in the end, that was all that mattered. By living in the past, she would be able to experience the closest version of perfection she could ever find in life. It was like a second chance they had been given, to recreate a life, and maybe this time they would be able to make it right and not break apart. As she walked off with her family, Bella felt hopeful at the idea of a future together, for it was only in memories she could feel this happiness now.   After Bella went home, she continually lived with her family in the Goth manor again. Time had no more meaning, and she just incoherently mixed memories unconsciously, to enjoy a peaceful existence with them. She dreamed of all her children living together around the same age, even though in reality, their births were separated by numerous years. Cassandra played with her sisters, Iris and Hermione, even though she’d never really met them, while Alexander found comfort in his father’s presence. Bella enjoyed exploring different realities: in this world she was free to live moments over and over again, as if she had a remote control allowing her to go backwards and replay moments, experiencing them differently each time. She only skipped to the good parts, and put it in the order she pleased, having lunch with the whole family, and then eating dinner with a teenage Mortimer later on.   Meanwhile, in Strangetown, in another dimension, Bella’s friends were panicking as they found themselves unable to wake her up. They didn’t know what was preventing her from waking up, but they felt horribly powerless as they watched her in a near comatose state. The Curious brothers weren’t authorized to give their patients private hypnotherapy sessions, so, to make things worse, this incident needed to remain a secret. How long could something so obvious stay secret? – They wondered. They explained Bella’s absence by saying she was sick, hoping no one would ask too many questions. The Curiouses took care of her daughters. Nervous took time off work to see to it that the Youth Association stayed open, to cause minimal inconvenience, and Jenny said she was caring for Bella, and her medical opinion sufficed to convince everyone else of Bella’s condition. They all just prayed she would soon wake up.   The days passed and Bella continued to live in her ideal dream, ignoring the lingering thought in the back of her mind that this all was in her imagination. Deep down, she knew she was being weak, giving up on real life, but her exhaustion had gotten the better of her, and she couldn’t even bring herself to think about what she was really doing. She couldn’t even admit to herself that she felt a growing guilt of fleeing all her obligations, just to spend some time with her imaginary family. She just let the dream flow, staying just conscious enough to enjoy it passing by, without troubling herself with complex thoughts. It was easier for her to ignore her conscience and just pretend everything around her was real, rather than realize what the consequences of her weakness were.   Yet, as the days moved by, Bella found herself more and more troubled by her dream. One afternoon, as she was outside playing with a one-year old Alexander, she observed her environment, and wondered how it could all seem so real. She watched how every leaf, on every tree, gently floated in the wind and how every single blade of grass emerged from the ground with its own orientation towards the sky, how every single wooden tile that composed the exterior of her house had its own texture and precision. How could she be the one making all this up? It boggled her mind to just contemplate the idea that everything she had been living these past days was just the product of her imagination. As she observed her young son walking towards her, she couldn’t imagine how he could not be animated by his own will. "But Alexander is already fifteen." said a voice in her mind.   As if a light had been turned on in her previously dormant mind, Bella seemed to finally come to the realization that she was only living in the world of her imagination. She watched Alexander clumsily walking around the blanket they had lain out, exploring the nearby grass, possibly poking a small insect with a stick. He seemed so real, and this created a void in Bella’s heart, for she knew that no matter how real he looked, he remained a figment of her powerful imagination, and in the end, she was just a woman living alone in her thoughts. She suddenly felt very lonely in this world she was creating, subconsciously using pieces of her memory. A part of her considered waking up, and going back to Strangetown, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave the Pleasantview of her mind, for however fake it was, Bella still felt safer there, than back out in a place she didn’t understand. In this moment of confusion, she started to feel tears in her eyes.   She rose from the blanket, and headed inside the house, not wanting to cry in front of her son, no matter how unreal he may have been. Bella found refuge in the bathroom, which led off the manor foyer. She leaned on the porcelain sink for support and sobbed, not knowing what to believe, or what to do. “Troubled, love?” said Mortimer’s voice. Bella looked up to see her husband gazing at her from the other side of the mirror hung above the sink. “Morti, what shall I do?” she cried. “I thought you were happy staying here with us.”   “I thought so too, but I can’t help but think how none of this is real. I thought I could ignore these thoughts in my mind, but I just can’t. None of this is real! And I don’t understand how it all comes from my imagination! Look, this sink isn’t real, this mirror isn’t real, these walls and floors aren’t real; none of this is real!” Bella yelled gesturing all around her. “And so it isn’t.” Mortimer said calmly. Bella looked at him just in time to see his face disappear from the mirror. Quickly thereafter, the mirror disappeared. She looked out the window to see the trees and bushes disappearing too. A sudden anguish filled her, and she let out a cry of despair. What was happening? What had she done?   She stepped out of the bathroom to see the furniture of her home slowly disappearing, piece after piece. Gone were the seats from the living room! Gone were the stairs! Gone were the counters in the kitchen! “No, wait!” she screamed. “It’s real! I’ll believe it’s real! Don’t leave me! Morti!” she called out hopelessly. She clutched her head with her hands, trying to force her mind into recreating the entire world which lay before her just seconds ago. It was as if admitting that this life she was living was only imaginary had made it all vanish. And now she was seeing it disappear, Bella feared she would never be able to lay her eyes on the figures of her past again. Had she ruined all her chances at remembering anything from her old life?   Several minutes later, Bella found herself crying on her knees in the empty foyer of the Goth manor. The structure of the house had remained, like some kind of empty carcass of her past, an empty shell void of answers and meaning, standing in dead silence, for the birds no longer sang in her imagination, and the wind no longer blew through the small cracks of the house in her memory. She suddenly jumped as she heard noise before her and looked up to see Mortimer’s silhouette standing on the threshold of the house. “Some truths are painful, Bella.” he said. “Morti, what have I done?” “You’ve only allowed yourself to realize what you had been refusing to admit for the past days.” “I just wanted to spend a bit of time with all of you, forget the fact that we’re apart, but…” “It isn’t real.” he finished her sentence.   “No, it isn’t, and I can’t forget that. Even this, right here, this house and you, all of it is just in my head and I don’t get it! How can you not be real? How can you keep existing and talking to me, even if I know you’re just a dream?” “This house isn’t real, I’ll give you that – but I am.” “See, that’s just what I want you to say, but I know you’re not real!” “No Bella, I’m the only part of your world which you can claim was real all this time.” Bella hesitated as she looked into the eyes of the man she loved. Imaginary or not? How could she know if he was real or if this was just another one of her fantasies? “You’re telling me that you’re the real Mortimer, the one living in Pleasantview right now?” “Well, in a way, yes, but not exactly.” “Then who are you? What are you?”   “I’m the part of Mortimer’s soul which lives in you. That ceremony you saw in the attic of our home? You were able to remember it because I lived it, and from my memory, I could show it to you. You see, it is precisely because of it, that I’m here with you today. What we did there was create an Alchemical link between you and me. A part of me shall forever live in you, and a part of you shall forever live in me, unless that link is severed. It’s thanks to it that I can be here with you, and help you.” “So, you are real? You’ve known I’ve been here all these years?” “I’ve been with you all along, so I’ve known, but if you asked the Mortimer living in Pleasantview, he would have no memory of talking to you.”   “I don’t understand all of this.” “Of course you don’t, for you don’t remember anything about Alchemy.” “Then you need to tell me about it.” “I could tell you everything you used to know about Alchemy, but that wouldn’t mean you would remember it. No, the only way we can be sure you truly remember Alchemy is by having you explore your memories and relive the past, for it is only in memories you can truly find the answers you’re looking for.” “But I don’t even know how to do that. I haven’t a clue as to where to look for memories relating to Alchemy. I mean, I was able to explore a lot of memories in the past few days, but they sort of came naturally to me; I didn’t have to do anything. I don’t know how to consciously look for specific memories.” “Well, I suppose it’s lucky you have me, then.” Mortimer smiled. “I will go in your mind and find memories, which will help you remember Alchemy again. All you need to do is relive them.”   “How will you do that?” “I’ll worry about what to do. You just lie down.” “Right here?” He nodded. Bella laid herself on the wooden floor of the Goth manor foyer and watched Mortimer kneel beside her “When you wake up,” he said softly, “you will remember everything you need about Alchemy. In the meantime, I’ll take good care of you.” She smiled and closed her eyes, feeling safe with him. The situation itself was quite bizarre – it was like a hypnotherapy session within a hypnotherapy session, taking place in her empty old house, with her partly real husband. Nonetheless, Bella trusted Mortimer entirely and knew he would help her find what she had come for. Mortimer placed a finger on her forehead and the world around Bella seemed to slowly dissolve away and once again, she found herself in a sort of limbo, floating among dark clouds, feeling very peaceful.   For a few moments, she seemed to drift away, only semi-consciously, in this inexistent place. Then, the world around her shifted and materialized slowly in a memory. Bella looked around and saw she was sitting in a warm living room, on a comfortable old leather couch. Before her were a couple of armchairs and a circular coffee table, covered with candles and flowers in a vase. She turned around to see a Victorian loveseat beside an old wooden piano and a grand bookcase. The room was looking familiar and it occurred to Bella that it was the living room of the house she had lived in as a child. She looked down to suddenly realize she was indeed, only a little girl. It felt very curious indeed to find herself in such a small body again.   Through a large black arched door to her right, Bella could hear several voices, and could make out a few figures. She could hear what they were saying, but she wasn’t making much sense of it, nor did she care to. It was as though her mind too had regressed to a child form and she could only experience her environment the way she had in the state she was remembering. The people on the other side of the arch slowly began walking in. Bella recognized her parents Jocasta and Simis Bachelor, as they walked in first, smiling. A dozen of people entered the room behind them. Some looked quite familiar to her, but it was probably the first time she was seeing them as a child, so she couldn’t place an exact name on their faces. She could nonetheless see the Goth family – Mortimer, who was perhaps about ten years old, and his two parents, Cornelia and Gunther. Next to Mortimer, Bella could see her brother Michael, who was around the same age as the latter.   There they all were – the people who had been part of her world in the past, when she was only a child. Mortimer’s father came forwards, glancing back at Jocasta a moment. “Right, hello Bella.” he said, sitting next to her. “Hello.” she said, in a high-pitched voice which surprised her a moment. “We’re all here today, because we need to talk to you. You’re growing up now, and you’ll soon be old enough to do things like going to school. But before you do, we have a secret to share with you.” he finished in a low dramatic voice, making her laugh. “Actually, you already know it, but you just don’t know it’s a secret. In your life, you may have noticed your parents and brother are able to do certain things you can’t, certain things some people wouldn’t consider normal. We call all of this: Alchemy – have you already heard of Alchemy?” “Yes.” “Do you know what it is?”   She hesitated, not really sure she could find the words to describe Alchemy, even though she had an idea of what it was. “Sort of.” she answered, unsure. “It’s okay; you’re going to learn all about it in a few years. But right now, we need to make sure you’re not going to tell anyone about it. You see, a lot of people don’t understand what Alchemy is and so it scares them – and when people get scared, they can do some pretty bad things. So, it’s best if you just keep all our activities a secret. People don’t really believe Alchemy exists today, and us, Alchemists, have learned to keep it that way. Can we trust you to not tell anyone?” Bella nodded vigorously, wanting to show her enthusiasm and good will. “Well then, it looks like I can officially make you a part of our group, the Pleasant Alchemists. You will begin to learn a few things about Alchemy with your family, and in a few years, you will start receiving more advanced lessons. Congratulations Bella, you are now an Alchemist.”   Around the room, people smiled and applauded, looking proudly at Bella, the new member of their society. However, after a moment, they all seemed to freeze. It was as though time had suddenly stopped, and Bella was the only one who had escaped its capturing halt. She didn’t move an inch, however, not knowing what she was supposed to do. “The kitchen!” came a hiss from a woman in the room, who seemed to be doing her best not to move, despite her trying to communicate with Bella. “Go to the kitchen!” she continued. Bella hesitated, perplexed by the situation, but the woman’s glare made her decide to follow her order. She got up and left the room.   She could tell they had all frozen, because the memory she had been reliving had come to an end, but it was still bizarre to see a whole group of people, previously interacting together, suddenly stop all activity, as if turning to statues. Beyond the tall arch, Bella walked into the entrance hall of the house, with a set of stairs leading to the upper floors. As she rediscovered this house, it was as though she could instinctively tell where all the other rooms were, the whole layout reemerging in her mind. She crossed the entrance, into another room, a dining room, which she could remember was mostly used as a sewing room by her mother, then into a small square room, which held another set of stairs and opened on to the kitchen. The latter was a large spacious room, with many counters covered with baskets of bread and jars containing herbs and spices of all sorts.   In the center of the room was a long dark wooden table, which was also covered with many items, though the dining table lay further at the back of the room, near some windows, through which shone a golden light making the room so warm. Opposite the arch through which she had entered, Bella could see some white wood and glass doors, which led to a small greenhouse, in which the family used to grow many kinds of herbs and plants. As she laid her eyes on this room she hadn’t seen in many years, Bella could somewhat remember how active it used to be. It was one of the central rooms of the house, and Bella associated it with her mother, who had spent a great deal of time there, cooking something up. There was something so special about it all, which made Bella feel warm and safe.   Through the greenhouse doors emerged Jocasta, who was only poking her head out to look around the kitchen. “Bella, there you are! Come in here, I want to show you something.” she said, before going back into the greenhouse. Bella looked down to realize she seemed a bit older and taller than she had been in the last memory – perhaps by two or three years. She crossed the kitchen and pushed the door into the humid and hot room, where her mother was leaning on the counters, observing some of the plants growing on the shelves which climbed the windowed walls. The greenhouse was cluttered with many plants and gardening pots occupying almost every space offered by the floor, tables and shelves, so Bella had to step cautiously to reach her mother.   “Look how beautiful these flowers are! Do you know why we grow these plants Bella?” Jocasta asked, not looking away from the large red flowers she was delicately handling. “For Alchemy?” she guessed instantly. “Exactly, these plants have many different qualities, which, combined with a bit of Alchemy, can be very beneficial. Take these dahlias, for instance, brewed with crushed sunflower seeds, orange peel, holly extract and red berry juice, with a few right spells, they can create a strong vivifying drink.” Bella admired the red petals, which faded to yellow in the tips like fire, surrounding the dark fuzzy pollen at the center of the flower, and she could almost feel their strength and energy.   “Now, for an opposite effect,” Jocasta continued, walking along the shelves and stopping near some leafy green plants, with dark berries, “Belladonna berries contain a substance of strong soporific power. You can mix them with several ingredients to create a very relaxing potion, but you have to be careful when dosing the Belladonna juice – a too strong concentration of it will create a deadly poison.” “What other potions are there?” Bella asked, enthused by her first experience of learning in the greenhouse. “There are so many different ones, each with different effects and preparations. We don’t only use these plants for potions though – you can use them in lotions, or scents, or just use their fumes. There is so much for you to learn. Some people consider Herbalism to be a low branch of Alchemy, that it’s just some kind of cooking, but when you study it deeply and take the time to learn about it, nature can become a true ally of yours, stronger than some more volatile branches.”   She turned away from the Belladonna plant and kneeled next to Bella. “I’ll teach you what I can about the garden and plants, and I think you’ll like it. Nature in Alchemy is my specialty, but each person gains more or less interest in each branch, so maybe you’ll turn towards another part of Alchemy. I’ll just show you what I know in this area, and leave it up to you in your later teachings to decide how you want to deal with your own power.” Bella wasn’t sure she understood everything her mother was saying, but she felt in trust of her good will. “Can I try some of it?” she asked. “Sure, I was just making a potion – you can help. This one belongs to what we call emotional potions because it affects the mind and feelings, rather than the physical body. Come along, I’ll show you.” Jocasta led Bella back towards the kitchen, carrying some foreign plant along the way with her.   On the stove was a pot, in which were mixed several ingredients in a thick bubbling liquid texture. Jocasta mixed the whole with a wooden spoon a few times, gently bringing the bottom back up towards the surface. “This potion is especially helpful in dealing with emotions of anger, jealousy and hurt – always useful to have around in a tense situation. Just the fumes are calming.” she said deeply inhaling the heavy potion vapors over the large pot. “Now, we still have work to do. You can cut the ginger root.” she added, bringing Bella towards the long table, where lay a heap of dirty and bulky roots. “Ginger root is very useful in many mood altering potions. You need to cut it into little slices as long as the root is wide and this must be done very carefully, for if you cut it too thick, the ginger essence won’t have enough time to take in, and our potion will be much less powerful, but if it’s too thin, it’ll diffuse too quickly. You see, timing is everything in potion brewing.”   For the following minutes, Bella slowly cut the ginger roots, under the watchful eye of her mother. Jocasta guided her young daughter, helping her in this first experience in Herbal Alchemy, showing her the right and wrong. Bella felt as though she was split in two. One part of her was a little girl cutting roots, in oblivion about what would happen later in life, while another part was the adult woman living in Strangetown, trying to remember her past. So, while she was experiencing this memory as if it was the first time she was living it, she was also remembering many other things in an only semi-conscious state, in relation to what was going on around her. It was as if remembering this moment with her mother, where they had made a potion together brought back her knowledge of Herbal Alchemy in general, through the different emotions and sensations which linked these different memories together.   After several minutes of cutting the ginger root, the backdoor of the kitchen opened, and in came Bella’s brother, Michael, followed by Mortimer. It occurred to her that the two were around the same age – around thirteen years old in this case – and that they had been friends in their childhood. Because of this friendship, Mortimer had regularly been present in the Bachelor manor, throughout Bella’s childhood. He had been like a second older brother for her, but not in the same way as Michael. She had felt as though Mortimer understood her in ways her own brother did not, and Bella remembered that as a child, she had developed a crush for him. “Hi Mom!” Michael called, as he walked in, intending on passing through the kitchen and heading on to whatever he wanted to do with his friend. “Hi, Mrs. Bachelor.” Mortimer said, before adding, “Hi Bella, what are you making?” “An Ataraxia Potion – it calms anger.” she said slowly, remembering the name her mother had given her.   “Why? Did you get someone angry at you?” he teased. “No! I’m learning about Herbal Alchemy!” she protested, hoping to sound very serious. “When are you going to start your training?” he asked her. “Not for another few years.” Jocasta answered from over her brew. “Our Bella is still young.” “Mortimer, come on, let’s go!” Michael said, already halfway out the kitchen, clearly uninterested in the situation. Mortimer smiled back at Bella, before following Michael out of the room. She watched them as the climbed the stairs two by two and headed off towards Michael’s bedroom.   Something in the air seemed to shift ever so slightly and Bella could tell the memory itself had ended, even though nothing had changed in her environment. Her mother was still standing over the stove, mixing the potion. “Bella, come and taste this for me.” she called, and Bella came forward. Jocasta kneeled with a vail full of the thick potion, which had turned to a shade of blue, and tipped it into Bella’s mouth. The world around her slowly dissolved for a moment, before reforming again.   This time, Bella was in the sitting room of the Goth manor. She was now about ten years old, and the child part of her seemed more comfortable with Alchemy than she had previously been, even though she didn’t really know many precise things. At the time of this memory, Bella did not yet live in this house and was only there as a guest, and in fact, she wasn’t alone. The room was once again filled with the same people as before, the important members of the Pleasant Alchemists. Bella could feel they were all gathered there for an important reason – something in relation to her. The usual seats had been pushed back towards the walls and extra chairs had been brought to fit everyone in. Bella was sitting on the red loveseat, next to her mother and across from them was standing Gunther Goth, who had aged a bit, in front of his son. Mortimer was now a late adolescent, nearing adulthood and Bella admired his handsome face, showing hints of a growing beard he still wasn’t used to shaving properly.   Gunther took a step forward and the soft chatter around the room ceased as all eyes turned to him. “Thank you all for joining us today.” he began, addressing the room. “We are gathered here to confirm the nomination of Bella Bachelor, here present, to the status of Alchemical student.” Bella immediately noticed how this gathering had a much more formal tone than the last. When she was a little girl, Gunther had spoken to her directly and in a friendly manner. This time, the reunion of the Pleasant Alchemists had all the looks of a ceremony. She vaguely listened as Gunther mentioned different conventions in his speech and only paid attention fully, as he turned to talk to her.   “Bella, during your childhood, you experienced different forms of Alchemy at home, in a family context. You now have the possibility to receive a regular, strong and structured education in the Alchemical fields. At age five, you were sworn into Alchemical secrecy, and the Pleasant Alchemist society thanks you for your lasting discretion. On this day, we ask you to confirm this affirmation. Do you accept to keep the knowledge of your Alchemical teachings confined to the community in which they are given to you, and to respect the rule of Alchemical secrecy, dictating that you not speak of our craft to those who ignore it, as well as follow the rest of Alchemical code?” “Yes, I do.” Bella answered briefly, but clearly. “Are you willing to receive the teachings of Alchemy from a trained Alchemist to ensure you acquire a basic education in multiple branches of the craft, allowing you to further develop beyond the realms of the physical?” “Yes, I am.” Bella answered again.   “Do you swear to respect the master chosen for your education recognizing his higher authority and right over your learning, knowing his decisions and acts will always aim at perfecting your skills and knowledge?” “Yes, I do.” Bella answered for the third time. “Then I, Gunther Goth, head of the Pleasant Alchemical council, grant you, Bella Bachelor, the title of Alchemical student, and allow you to receive further teachings in the branches of Alchemy.” Everyone in the room applauded while Bella beamed, feeling happy to know she was finally on her way to learning the same things as her parents and brother, which she had been envying for so long. Now was left the question of who her teacher would be. Gunther returned by the fireplace and sat down on a nearby chair left vacant for him, while another man stood up and walked before Mortimer.   “Mortimer Goth, you have been chosen as the Alchemical Master of Bella Bachelor, by the Pleasant Alchemical Council. Do you accept this role of teacher?” he asked. “Yes, I do.” Mortimer affirmed. “Are you ready to share your knowledge about Alchemy with your student, giving her a basic and general education, initiating her to various branches of the science, beyond your own affinities?” “Yes, I am.” “Do you swear to act in your student’s best interest, always putting it first and to not abuse of your position of authority but to only use it, aiming to help her on a path of righteousness and intellect?” “Yes, I do.” “Then I, Sergei Victor, member of the high Pleasant Alchemical council, grant you, Mortimer Goth, the title of Alchemical Master, and ask you to teach your student, Bella Bachelor, the best way you know how.”   There was another round of applause, and Bella smiled radiantly, as Mortimer looked cheerily into her eyes. In any other situation, Gunther Goth, the head of the Alchemical council would have sworn in both student and master, but Bella knew that since Mortimer was his son, Alchemical code demanded that another Alchemist swear him in. Up to this moment, Bella had only learned Alchemy spontaneously in her family, when an opportunity had presented itself in their daily life. The passage to the rank of student meant she was now going to start leaning about it on a daily basis, during planned lessons with her teacher, Mortimer. It was tradition for an Alchemist, once fully trained, to take on a student and help him become a full Alchemist too. Mortimer was quite young, but he had already been confirmed as an Alchemist and Bella had been suspecting he would be her Master in the weeks preceding the ceremony.   It had been explained to Bella and Mortimer, a couple of years prior, that before Bella was born, an Alchemical Link had been established between them. At the time, an Oracle, an Alchemist who had very advanced skills in predicting the future, had announced to their families it was necessary to create this link. Oracles rarely gave reasons to explain their demands, but they were nonetheless to be obeyed – this, too, was part of Alchemical code. This strong link connected Bella and Mortimer’s souls, hence allowing them a strong understanding of one another, which was a very useful and important part of the relationship between Student and Master. Being taught about Alchemy by Mortimer just felt right to Bella.   After the ceremony, the Goths hosted a small reception to celebrate Bella’s studenthood. The Studentation Ceremony, as it was called, was one of the first important Alchemical rituals one went through in life. Everyone came to congratulate Bella and talk with her a bit, each giving a bit of advice on which branches to take interest in. The memory of the reception seemed to pass by in an accelerated haze, as though someone had pressed a “fast-forward” button. In her adult state, Bella imagined Mortimer was moving her mind to another memory, close-by in time. Indeed, as the reception came to an end, time seemed to slow back down to its usual pace and Bella found herself standing in the dining room of the Goth manor with Mortimer. The table, which had been pushed back against the wall, was covered with empty plates and dishes, left behind by the guests, who had now gone home. Mortimer asked Bella to follow him upstairs and took her up to the attic on the third floor.   It was late afternoon and the sun was shining through the cluttered room, in which Goths kept all their supplies for Alchemical activity. Bella could tell she was about to have her first lesson. Mortimer walked along to the far end of the room before turning back to face Bella. “Right, well I just thought it’d be good to mark your first day as a student with a lesson. We’re not going to get into anything too deep today, so it’s especially to get used to how all this works since it’s new for both of us. So do you have any questions about Alchemy, or how any of this is going to work? Is there anything you’re wondering about?” Bella took a moment to think, for it wasn’t easy to come up with a question off hand, without warning. Then, she remembered something which had been said during the ceremony.   “Your dad said Alchemy would teach me to go ‘beyond the realms of the Physical.’” she recalled, “I wasn’t exactly sure what he meant there.” “Well, we basically consider that anything related to Alchemy is not part of the physical world, the one we are in now, even though it can be expressed here. As you know, when you go to sleep at night, you leave your physical body here, and awaken in another place. For now, you haven’t had any real Alchemical training – that’s what I’m here for – so you dream when you go in that place. Do you know what dreams are?” Again, Bella hesitated a moment. “Michael said that you create the world of your dreams by yourself, that it’s just your imagination.”   “That’s a good way to put it. You see, dreaming is like putting paint on a canvas – you can put as much as you like, wherever your want. However, we prefer not to paint, because when you paint, you cover up the canvas, and create a subjective and personal image. With Alchemy you can learn to stop paining – or dreaming – and to just see the bare canvas for what it really is. This canvas is the same for everyone, so once you can see it, you can also see the other people who can see it, and communicate with them. It’s a whole other world, in which only Alchemists are awake. Do you understand?” “Sort of…” Bella hesitated. “The world in which you dream actually exists, and it’s from this world that Alchemy comes. You just have to learn to be there consciously. Do you know what we call this place?” “The Dream World?” Bella guessed skeptically.   “Well, that’s the name we tell children to use,” Mortimer smiled, “because it’s easy to remember, and it clearly shows the analogy between your dreams and this place. In truth, it’s quite a bad name, because the point of being in this place is, as I just said, to not dream. The real name Alchemists use for this other world is: the Hypnos.” “The Hypnos.” she repeated out loud, to affirm it, and in her adult state, Bella could indeed remember it as the correct word, the one she had been looking for. She turned to look out the window to her left and observed the large willow tree in the manor yard, its long branches slowly dancing in the wind. She focused on all the details to take in the reality of the world around her, imagining what it was like to exist in a whole other world, completely detached from this one.   Something shifted again, and Bella felt the memory end. She saw the sun suddenly set over Pleasantview, the darkness of night surrounding it. She turned back to the surrounding room and realized Mortimer was, again, a bit older, perhaps by one or two years. She too had grown into a pre-adolescent, entering puberty. They seemed to be starting a lesson again. “Okay, tonight, you’re going to start by reading up a bit about the Hypnos.” Mortimer said, laying out a thick leather bound book on the table, at the center of the room. “I had a long day at school!” Bella complained. She could tell her initial enthusiasm and desire to learn about Alchemy had decreased since before, and that Alchemical studies required a lot of hard work and effort as well. “You used to be impatient to learn about Hypnos.” Mortimer said, sounding surprised.   Bella could in fact remember that for the first couple years of her training, she had learned very basic things, and she had been asking to know more about this second dimension, which she still hadn’t been fully conscious in. “I know, but every time you make me read the big book, it’s complicated and I don’t get it.” she moaned. “Why can’t you just tell me what it’s like and I can learn from that?” “You have to go through some theoretical study – it’s the whole base of your later knowledge. I’ll tell you what: you read the text I picked out for you, and then we’ll talk about it, and I’ll help you understand it all.” Bella agreed to the deal and opened the dusty book to the page Mortimer indicated to begin reading. It was an ancient parchment page with some technical illustrations, entitled: “The Hypnos – Opening To Another Dimension”   ‘The Hypnos exists as a world completely detached from the one we are naturally conscious in from birth, the Physical. The Physical is indeed the lowest dimension in which the soul tr