Chapter 39
The Elixir Of Life
As the golden hues of morning painted the skies of Mandrake, Adom set forth on a crucial errand to the royal apothecary. His stride was purposeful, his mind set on acquiring the Elixir of Life, a rare concoction rumored to possess rejuvenating powers beyond the ken of ordinary potions. Alongside this fabled elixir, he intended to stock up on various other potions, preparing for the perils that awaited in the depths of the uncharted dungeons he planned to explore.
Mandrake's streets were bustling with life, the city awakening to another day of commerce and magic. Sorcerers and commoners alike thronged the marketplaces, their conversations a vibrant tapestry of the day's gossip and news. Adom, blending into the crowd, made his way through the winding streets, his senses attuned to the ebb and flow of Essentia around him.
As he neared the heart of the city, a towering structure caught his eye—the Information Tower of Mandrake. A marvel of magical engineering, its large screens displaying news from across the realm. Today, however, the usual stream of announcements and advertisements was overshadowed by a peculiar piece of news that seemed to captivate the onlookers.
The screen flickered to life, showcasing a serene image of Atlas's landscapes. "Good morning Mandrake! I'm Halex Taylor, welcoming you to the start of your day here on Sunrise News. We've got all the latest headlines, weather, and traffic updates to get your day started right." the announcer's voice echoed, calm and measured, "we bring to your attention a phenomenon that has been observed since yesterday—a significant disturbance in the Essentia flow across the world, with an unusual concentration here in Atlas."
The news, presented with the casualness of a weather forecast, spoke of a ripple in the magical fabric that sustained their world. The phenomenon, reminiscent of an event four years prior, when rumors about a dragon were circulating, was depicted not as a harbinger of doom but as an intriguing anomaly, a puzzle for the magical community to ponder. Around Adom, the crowd's reactions were mixed. Some passersby shrugged off the news, accustomed to the peculiarities that often accompanied a world infused with magic. Others, however, voiced their concerns, their words tinged with apprehension. "It's those new machines," an elderly man grumbled, his voice carrying over the din of the market. "Ever since they've been introduced, polluting our skies and lands, the balance of Essentia has been off."
As the news of the deadly fight in the alley behind the Assos Adventurer's Guild, earlier in the morning, unfolded on the information tower, murmurs and speculations swirled among the crowd. Adom, now a mere observer amidst the gathering, could feel the tension and fear that gripped the onlookers. "It's probably those gangs again," someone whispered, their voice laced with a mix of fear and resignation. Another chimed in, "Mandrake's becoming so dangerous because of those thugs."
The details of the incident were chilling: a wolf beastkin found dead, and the bloody remains of a gargoyle were splattered everywhere, surrounded by used bullets and traces of powerful fire magic. The investigators suggested that the magic was potent enough to have incinerated any additional victims, leaving nothing but ashes in its wake.
Adom felt an uncomfortable knot in his stomach as he listened. The mention of fire magic and bullets too closely mirrored the events he had just been part of. His mind raced, analyzing every moment of the confrontation, wondering if there was any trace, any evidence that could link him to the scene. The thought of being connected to such a violent event, even in self-defense, was disconcerting. He rapidly left.
Continuing his stroll towards the royal apothecary, Adom felt a peculiar silence in his mind, a quietude that was unusual during his waking hours. It dawned on him that Bennu, his usually talkative companion, had been unusually silent. Concerned, he reached out mentally, "Bennu, everything alright?"
After a moment, he felt a reluctant stirring in the bond they shared, followed by a sleepy murmur. "Mmm... sleeping," came Bennu's groggy reply, tinged with the unmistakable tone of a toddler roused from a deep nap, irked at the interruption.
Adom couldn't help but chuckle softly, the sound blending into the morning hum of the marketplace. The realization that Bennu, despite his formidable essence and the bond they shared, was still very much a fledgling, needing rest as any young creature would, filled him with an endearing warmth. "Of course, you're still just a baby, in a manner of speaking. Get your rest," he whispered through their bond, a smile playing on his lips.
Bennu's response was nothing more than a soft hum, a testament to his tired state, much like a child clinging to the last vestiges of sleep, unwilling to face the day just yet. Adom, respecting the little one's need for rest, gently withdrew his mental touch, letting Bennu drift back into slumber.
"Sleep well, Bennu. I'll come get you when it's time to visit Mr. Biggins," Adom thought.
As Adom approached the Royal Apothecary of Mandrake, the magnificence of the establishment unfolded before him like a tapestry of ancient and modern sorcery interwoven with unparalleled skill. Standing as a testament to the pinnacle of magical and alchemical advancements, the apothecary was not just a store but a marvel that transcended the boundaries of the eight continents. Its reputation was unmatched, hailed as a beacon of healing and mystical knowledge, where the rarest potions and elixirs were crafted with precision and profound magical understanding.
The Royal Apothecary was a labyrinthine expanse of shelves and cabinets, each brimming with vials and bottles that glowed with the contained magic. The air was thick with the scent of herbs, minerals, and the indefinable essence of potent magic. It was a place where time seemed to stand still, and the outside world's troubles faded into insignificance.
Among its many treasures, the Elixir of Life stood out as one of the most sought-after concoctions. However, what truly elevated its value to astronomical heights was not merely its name or the legends surrounding it but one of its core ingredients—the moonflower.
The moonflower, a rarity among the flora of the eight continents, was the cornerstone of the Elixir's potent effects. This elusive bloom was found in very specific locations around the world and only graced the land with its presence once every few decades. Its scarcity was a significant factor contributing to the Elixir's exorbitant cost, with a single moonflower capable of fetching upwards of 150 thousand cauris on the open market.
Atreden, a nation blessed with the largest known deposits of moonflower, had built much of its wealth on the trade of this precious plant. The moonflower's blooming cycle was a celebrated event in Atreden, drawing alchemists, healers, and collectors from across the world, all hoping to procure this key ingredient for their elixirs and potions. This trade had cemented Atreden's place as one of the wealthiest and most influential nations, its economy thriving on the back of this single, remarkable plant.
For Adom, acquiring a moonflower was neither feasible nor practical, given the timing and his current location far from Atreden. The Elixir of Life, therefore, presented a more accessible alternative, albeit an expensive one. The Elixir, while shrouded in tales of miraculous healing powers, was grounded in a complex alchemical process that leveraged the moonflower's unique properties in conjunction with other rare ingredients.
The Elixir of Life worked by amplifying the body's natural regenerative capabilities. At its core, it was a sophisticated blend of alchemical science and magical infusion, utilizing the moonflower's essence to catalyze a series of reactions within the body that accelerated healing and bolstered the immune system. This made it an invaluable treatment for a wide range of ailments and injuries, capable of significantly reducing recovery times and improving the overall vitality of the user.
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However, the Elixir's effectiveness was not without limits. While it could heal severe wounds and combat numerous diseases, it was not a panacea. The most serious conditions required continuous treatment, necessitating regular doses of the Elixir—a prohibitively expensive regimen for all but the wealthiest individuals.
One of the Elixir's most remarkable features was its universal compatibility. Through a delicate balance of alchemical processes and magical enchantments, the Elixir was formulated to be effective across all known species, adjusting its potency and effects to match the biological and magical constitution of the consumer. This universal application was made possible by the inclusion of adaptogenic compounds and a series of finely tuned enchantments that ensured the Elixir's harmonious interaction with diverse physiological systems.
Creating the Elixir of Life was a task that demanded unparalleled expertise in both alchemy and magic. The precise timing, the purity of ingredients, and the intricate layering of magical enchantments made its production a feat accomplished by only the most skilled alchemists. The moonflower's rarity and the complexity of the Elixir's formulation contributed to its status as one of the most valuable and revered potions in the magical world.
Adom's plan, inspired by a memory from 15 years in the future, revolved around an ingenious application of the Elixir of Life by a battlefield alchemist during the war. The alchemist, faced with a dire shortage of the Elixir and an overwhelming number of wounded soldiers, made a daring decision. He set aside a third of the remaining Elixir supply to embark on a series of experiments amidst the chaos of war.
The process he undertook was both radical and grounded in a deep understanding of alchemy and pharmacology. Recognizing the Elixir's base components, especially the moonflower essence, as the key to its potent effects, the alchemist sought to amplify these properties while extending the Elixir's volume.
Step 1: Extraction and Amplification He began by carefully extracting the active magical compounds from the Elixir, isolating them using a complex distillation process that involved a series of enchanted alembics and crucibles. Each piece of apparatus was specifically designed to handle the volatile and potent nature of the Elixir's components without degrading their efficacy.
Step 2: Molecular Duplication Using a technique akin to magical catalysis, the alchemist then initiated a molecular duplication process. This involved introducing a substrate— a magically inert compound that closely resembled the molecular structure of the moonflower essence. By carefully applying a precise sequence of enchantments, he encouraged the active compounds to bind to the substrates, effectively doubling the quantity of the active agent without diluting its potency.
Step 3: Stabilization and Reintegration The newly duplicated compounds were unstable and required immediate stabilization. This was achieved through the introduction of stabilizing agents, extracted from various flora and fauna, known for their ability to bind and calm volatile magical energies. Once stabilized, the compounds were meticulously reintegrated into the diluted Elixir base, ensuring an even distribution of the active agents.
Step 4: Potency Calibration The final step involved a delicate calibration of potency. The alchemist employed a series of diagnostic spells to measure the Elixir's magical concentration and adjust it to match the original's healing properties as closely as possible. This involved minor adjustments to the Elixir's magical matrix, fine-tuning the balance between the active ingredients and the stabilizing agents.
The result of this arduous process was a derivative of the Elixir of Life that retained 96% of the original's potency but significantly increased in volume. This innovative approach allowed the limited supply of the Elixir to be extended, providing much-needed relief to the wounded soldiers on the battlefield.
Adom, who in the past had studied this process in depth, saw in it, then, a potential solution to slow down his own illness. The irony was not lost on him that the very man who had devised this life-saving technique had perished due to a shortage of the very elixir he had sought to replicate. Shot in the chest, the alchemist's demise underscored the brutal reality of war and the precious value of every drop of the Elixir.
All these efforts were to prevent the story of Aroth, the future Orc Lord of the Ka'ui tribe, whose tale was a poignant reminder of how individual pain could cascade into cataclysmic events. Aroth, known as the Dragonbane, was a figure of immense strength and influence, whose path to vengeance was paved by the indifference and cruelty of those who could have aided him in his darkest hour.
Adom's memory vividly recalled, a year from now, around the same time as the unfortunate demise of Adom's parents, the day Aroth, in a desperate attempt to save his dying daughter, stepped out of the seclusion of the Ka'ui forests and into the heart of Mandrake. Clutching his ailing child, he sought the expertise of Mandrake's renowned alchemists, only to be met with scorn and mockery. His plea for the Elixir of Life, a potion within their means to provide, was dismissed, turning his hope into ash. The illness that ravaged his daughter, known as Frostwither, was a cruel affliction that slowly leeched the warmth of life, yet it was not beyond cure. This could have easily been prevented even then. Regular doses of the Elixir of Life could have reversed her fate, but the opportunity was callously denied.
This rejection fueled a deep-seated vengeance within Aroth, marking a turning point that would later bring Atlas and its allies to their knees. When the Tygris invasion began, Aroth's retribution was merciless. The very forests that had once secluded the Ka'ui orcs became the passageway for Tygris troops, leading to the fall of Mandrake and untold devastation across the continent. Aroth, at the helm of this betrayal, was driven not by allegiance to Tygris but by a personal vendetta against those who had let his daughter perish.
Adom's intention was to alter this grim narrative by forging an alliance with Aroth before these events could unfold. By replicating the alchemist's process to extend the Elixir of Life, Adom planned to offer Aroth a chance to save his daughter, thus averting the future Lord's path of vengeance. The Ka'ui orcs, known for their unwavering sense of honor in repaying debts, would become invaluable allies rather than formidable foes, and undoubtedly help Adom to make it out the dungeon and the forest without too much trouble.
The stakes were high, and Adom was acutely aware of the delicate balance of actions and consequences. Aroth's ascension to become the Orc Lord and his subsequent acts of vengeance, including the pivotal role in the Blood Night battle where thousands of people fell, including Mia, were etched in history with blood and sorrow. Adom's strategy was not just a bid for survival but a calculated move to prevent the cascading tragedies that stemmed from a single, preventable death. This was now all possible due to the unexpected money he recently received.
As Adom stepped into the Royal Apothecary of Mandrake, the atmosphere was immediately imposing. Alchemists, revered for their intricate knowledge and mastery over the mystical and material, were known to carry an air of superiority, and the one who greeted Adom was no exception. The alchemist's eyes scanned Adom from head to toe, a gesture that unsettled him, but he was determined not to let it deter his purpose.
"Are you lost, child? This is not a place for little boys. Go back," the alchemist's voice dripped with condescension, a tone that Adom had become all too familiar with in his past life. His experiences with alchemists had left a sour taste, their pretentiousness and superiority complex clashing with his own values.
A surge of anger bubbled within Adom, memories of past grievances with alchemists fueling his irritation. Under his breath, he muttered a curse, barely keeping his composure. "You fucking..." The alchemist raised an eyebrow, his sharp gaze piercing. "What did you say?" he inquired, a hint of challenge in his tone.
Adom caught himself, realizing the futility of succumbing to anger. He was here on a mission, one far too important to be jeopardized by a clash of egos. "I am not lost," Adom replied with a forced calmness, his smile strained. "I am looking for some potions and an elixir."
The alchemist scrutinized Adom once more, then, with a sigh that seemed to carry a mix of haughtiness and genuine concern, he advised, "Whatever money you think you've earned with your little side jobs, I'd suggest you not waste your time here. This place caters to a clientele that appreciates the quality—and can afford it. Perhaps you should look in 'lesser' stores for what you need."
The tone was patronizing, yet Adom sensed no real malice behind the words. The alchemist was merely expressing a deeply ingrained belief in the exclusivity of his craft and the wares of the Royal Apothecary. It was an attitude born of a culture that placed immense value on the prestige of alchemy, often at the expense of humility.
Adom took a deep breath, channeling his frustration into determination. He knew the value of what he sought, and the importance of his mission far outweighed the sting of the alchemist's dismissive attitude.