The apprentices' overlapping encouragement lifted Rogers's spirits. He even felt an urge to set off for Free City.
But he had only angered Mr. Paul yesterday. Running off today seemed wrong. "I haven't told Mr. Paul yet..."
"We'll ask the tyrant for leave on your behalf!"
"That's right!"
"What's the difference between an Alchemy Apprentice without a dream and a salted fish?"
The apprentices thumped their chests and promised to take care of it.
Rogers mustered his courage and headed back for his machine. "I'm going to Free City right now. Wait for my good news!"
The moment he left, the Alchemy Apprentices doubled over laughing.
"Hahahahaha—"
"He actually believed us!"
"I'd love to see him cry when he gets turned down!"
The apprentices laughed their hearts out.
"What a bunch of little bastards..."
At the entrance to the Alchemy Room, Paul watched in silence. No one knew when he had arrived, but he made no move to stop them.
This was the first lesson every mage had to learn: the world was full of deceit and hostility. Trust nothing but magic.
Rogers ran back to his room and felt inexplicably relieved to find the machine still there, though no one would have stolen it.
He pulled the Biscuits Tin from under his bed. Evelyn gave a thumbs-up on the lid, beside the words "A sweetheart like me."
Rogers had eaten better Biscuits at the Town Chief's banquet, but that tin hadn't been nearly as useful.
Pressing Evelyn's "face," he opened the lid, tipped the money inside into his pocket, picked up the machine, and ran toward the wharf.
As he passed the brand-new Siltovis Station, he changed his mind. He had heard that the Magic-Powered Train could reach Free City in just one day, faster than a ship—though