I must act as Elixir now. Raymond spoke to himself when he got to know further flights were canceled. They'll kill him if I don’t do my job as Elixir of Life. I've failed God and I've disappointed him. I've embarrassed him and I've failed her too.

I've let the faith fail.

I've failed the resurrection. I've failed on divine duty.

Now there was sole way which could save O'Connell. This way wasn’t pleasant thing for both of them but he had to do his duty as elixir. He had to postpone O'Connell's death somehow which appeared inevitable.

He took the telephone receiver and called O'Connell, "I've disappointed you. I want you to meet me in your house. I think by now you already know where I can be."

Raymond was pleased to hear they were already on the way.

"When you come here, I might have left this house. But you will find someone else in this place instead. He shall not be Raymond but will be a guinea pig who did his task with pride. You'll find someone dead in here but you'll never see me again."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"What? Who're you killing in my house?" O'Connell panicked.

"I am doing my duty. Come her as quick as possible or Aitóuntes may get you in the meantime. If you come here, I will make sure you'll live longer."

"Whoever is there with you, please spare his life. Don’t kill him."

"I'm sorry but whether you will like it or not but I must do it. Don’t worry; I shall be long gone by the time you reach here."

"Don’t do it!" he screamed but his voice sounded sleepy.

"He may not be fully dead until you come here. He may have left some life within him at the time. If you are in hurry then you may avoid his death…"

"Raymond! Don’t disappear. I may die if you go." O'Connell pleaded in sedated voice.

"Trust me. If you make it to here well and alive then no matter wherever you shall be in future, you'll live."

Raymond took a sip of wine and stared at the liquid acid next to Gin's bottle. Gin was for him and the acid was for someone who was going to die tonight. He clutched the acid bottle and left his seat.

I've killed O'Connell. Someone else will lose his life tonight. And his life would not go in vain…