"It's... only kind of a science," Skuld began, debating how to explain. "It's also part... I guess you could call it magic. Not everyone can do it, and what works for one person might not for another. The arrays are the same, but the way a person calls the power to them can't be explained too well." She wasn't even sure how humans learned it; for her it was kind of instinctive.

She was looking at the Bride thoughtfully, and a little puzzled. What did this have to do with anything? If she didn't believe... well, Skuld didn't like that, but she was supposed to help the woman out anyway. It didn't matter if she thought alchemy was fake; she'd see later it wasn't. If she wanted proof, though, that would have to wait.