Crenhold Ambergris is a world-famous alchemist, living in the magical city of Mizfyre. One day he grudgingly accepts an apprentice in the form of Asphodel Pyx ("call me Pho, or Del, never the other one!) and from then on, things go from bad to worse, as Pyx's careless attitude towards the science of Alchemy yields many a surprising (and dangerous!) result.