A fantasy tale of schoolgirls, smugglers, alchemists, pirates, queer attack, bellwitches, ancient necromancy, gender outlaws, fascists, smoldering romance, trans sisterhood, intrigue, smut, spies, knife girls, mysterious resonances, herbalists, spirit magic, loyalties put to the test, and some other stuff...

Eli—or Ellie, as she would like to be called, someday—is a young alchemy student from a bleak border town of a fascist empire. When she realizes that the socially sanitized alchemy being taught to her at University could be jailbroken and made to serve more subversive purposes, she faces a choice between safety and her own embodiment.

Like every child of Opali, Mila chose her gender. City of bells, pirates and rebels, Opali stands beyond the Imperiat’s reach and in defiance of its control. Stigmatized for a violation committed by her father, Mila nurtures a broken dream that will lead her to the very gates of her people's ancient enemy in search of what she needs.

For as long as she can remember, Roxa has been training to be a secret operative and sworn blade of the Duchy of Waterfalls, a mountain fastness to the north of the Imperiat. Her mother, the Countess Monir, renown as a sorcerer and a diplomat without peer, has just accepted a post in the Imperial Capital, and Roxa sees an opportunity to finally escape her mother’s shadow and choose her own path—if war and treachery don't fuck it up for her, first.

By day, Aralia Cordivar is a technocrat, alchemist, and University researcher without peer. By night she plays the game of masks and knives. If she can keep the secrets of her past buried just a little longer, she may be able to finally achieve her agenda.

All their paths and wits and secrets and lies will intertwine at Harmine University, deep within the Imperiat, where the powerful prey on the vulnerable and loyalties are traded like coin.

[This story contains sexual content and is meant only for those who are 18 or older.]

[This story is a trans story. It is also a lesbian romance story with (mostly but not only) lesbian smut and sexual content. The sexual content is absent from most of the first twelve chapters and then picks up very abruptly after that. Themes that run through this story, including some of the sexual content, are: power exchange, sex across a power differential, ambiguous consent or ambiguous ability to consent, and other such ethically dicey situationships. If that isn’t something you are comfortable with, this story may not be for you. I will put content warnings at the beginnings of chapters.]

[Anyway, this story has been so much fun to write and I hope you enjoy reading it. I was heavily influenced and inspired by amazing trans author Casey Plett and the queer fantasy marvel that is The Traitor Baru Cormorant, by Seth Dickinson. I highly recommend both.]

Genre

AdventureDramaFantasyGender BenderGirls LoveRomanceSchool LifeSlice of LifeSmut

Tags

Alchemy Appearance Changes BDSM Caring Protagonist Character Growth Cute Protagonist Determined Protagonist Female Protagonist Forced Living Arrangements Girl's Love Subplot Magic Maids Modern Fantasy Naive Protagonist Power Couple Power Struggle R-18 Transgender

Table of Contents 84

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Chapter 82, or the Path of Masks and KnivesFeb 18, 2026
Chapter 81, or Fragile FaithJan 2, 2026
Chapter 80, Leverage Comes LooseNov 18, 2025
Chapter 79, Peril For BluffNov 17, 2025
Chapter 78, or Girls Win AgainAug 19, 2025
Chapter 77, or Gotcha!Aug 7, 2025
Chapter 76, or The Tangled WebsMay 9, 2025
Chapter 75, or PeriscopingApr 22, 2025
Chapter 74, or Soft PowerMar 20, 2025
Chapter 73, or ‘Well, Bother To You’Mar 20, 2025
Chapter 72, or Means are EndsMar 13, 2025
Chapter 71, or Running Up Visible Risks to Avoid Unseen PricesJan 10, 2025
Chapter 70, or Arctic CheckmateJan 2, 2025
Chapter 69, or Basically ForeplayDec 14, 2024
Chapter 68, or Unending, Unceasing, Wildly Powerful and Very, Very SaltyNov 16, 2024

Reviews 7

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DungeonEnvy

Status: chapter nine

Dec 26, 2022

It's only nine chapters in and I'm already completely captivated by the setting and characters. Queer alchemists in university? Trans drama? You love to see it and I can't wait to see where the story goes. The trio of protagonists are all caught in their own tangle of cultural and social obligations while trying to navigate queerness in an environment that is VERY threatening to their existence. How far can you push yourself to fight against a fascist regime? How can you open yourself up to other people when doing so risks your life?It's all fantastic drama fuel and I can't wait to see how these characters interact

4 Likes · Like

pinkbun42

Status: --

Nov 24, 2023

There's a lot of stories on Scribblehub about an egg receiving a miracle transition, and having to figure themself out from there. They are fun and sweet and fluffy wish fulfillment, and are nice to read.

THIS is a story about trans people fighting and risking it all to pursue transition in secret in the heart of a fascist empire. It is so good and SO well written! The characters and the intrigue and the stress of them doing everything they can to survive as themselves in such a hostile environment is all so engrossing! I love this story, it has absolutely sucked me in!

3 Likes · Like

beelzeboob

Status: chapter 12

Jan 17, 2023

I am hesitant to write a review before I've read more of this story, BUT I'm all caught up on the Scribblehub and can't wait to head over to patreon to read more!! I'm so glad I started reading this - it feels deeply right to read such relatable characters, with their own flaws and dreams and desires caught up in an intricate dance. I'm excited to learn more about the alchemies/magics of this world, and to get propelled along in the unfolding complexities of the political landscape..! And of course it helps that the writing is so good! Such engaging prose, convincing dialogue, three dimensional characters, and honestly beautiful descriptions of settings.

3 Likes · Like

loonylovegood

Status: c10

Jan 17, 2023

I'm so in love with this story I never want it to end! The prose is absolutely entrancing and I am madly in love with all three of the main characters already <3 This is truly smut for the soul!

3 Likes · Like

Gabinomicon

Status: chapter 77, or gotcha!

Sep 13, 2025

I love this series. It's such a heartfelt celebration of antifascist trans people, the characters are all so real and interesting, and the story and setting are really compelling. And the s*x is pretty good too

2 Likes · Like

ktfh

Status: chapter 21 (on patreon)

Feb 4, 2023

i love how she rly seamlessly blends direct smut with trans homily with getting a little silly w it with aesthetically pleasing world-building with imagining new ways to relate or new ways to think about how we already do relating and surrounding that in the comforting strangeness of fantasy. Also the sentences are so pleasing to read!+

also besides just apprciating on a craft level how she does smut, its really hot ;P + I learn new things about whats hot to me + im not even mad when a chapter doesnt get really explicit, unlike a lot of fics where I kind of usually am like this is cute but ultimately I dont like the writing enough to invest if I dont get to get off

2 Likes · Like

someshi

Status: chapter 78, or girls win again

Nov 11, 2025

Amazing world-building, beautiful prose especially when describing the shared experiences and sisterhood of trans women. I also love how there's third wave feminist or postcolonial/postmodern expressions describing the violence of control, rigidity and structure, juxtaposed with the freeing power of agency and choosing a mode of becoming. And somehow it has lots of great smut too. Just excellent on all fronts!

1 Likes · Like