The books are in Merchants Guild basement (to have access to this basement you need to belong to Merchants Guild - after Maria reputation restored) and is not Alchemy you'll learn but Traders Tongue.
The book for restore Marias reputation is in Malcom's house.
Cosmo is in Merchants Guild basement.
"What if you slept? And what if, in your sleep, you dreamed? And what if , in your dream, you went to heaven and there plucked a strange and beautiful flower? And what if, when you awoke, you had the flower in your hand? Ah, what then?"
©Coleridge
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