Lilith, the Princess of Freedom, meets him in Aquaroya for dinner. "Well," she says. "Can you explain?"

Marc, Archangel of Trade, looks tired. He's looked that way for some time now, since alchemy had been discovered in the 1830s. It was still a new science in many ways, though it was rapidly settling into an old science. "No," he said.

"I wish you would, darling." She nods and smiles at the waiter as he came by with their dinners. "I've let this go for some time, but - equivalent trade? Really, it's fine in theory, but the way you practice it, it's more mine than yours."

He rubs his forehead, picks at the lamb on his plate. "I know what you mean. Something for something is - yes, it's important, yes, but, mm. If you don't give, it takes."

Lilith nods. "I noticed. And it's not mine, though I appreciate the thoughts that go with it. It's driving Hatiphas mad, you know, the way sorcery's been discarded for this magic science that works."

"Good." That drew a startled laugh from her, and he smiled in return. "But, Lil, the truth is..."

a door a sepiroth a new lucifer knowledge and corruption a smile showing teeth

"...I didn't come up with alchemy at all."