In the desolate expanse of the grey corporate suburb, Silas pedaled his bike. Heavy clouds loomed above him, threatening rain. The landscape appeared monotonous and bleak, yet few fragile flowers of vibrant colors fought to bloom, defying concrete and asphalt

The gray corporate suburb unfolded as Silas pedaled through, surrounded by clouds shaded a greyish blue and rectangular buildings. A few signs by buildings muted by time.

In this world where ancient secrets intertwined with modern existence, Silas glimpsed the hidden layers of reality. As a naturally born mage he had once apprenticed an alchemist, but as an adult he had worked for the mechanicae. The mystic arts were him still known despite primarily engaging in the mundane for the last span of years. It had been long since he had contact with the alchemist. In more recent years he had apprenticed among the mechanicae.

Silas felt the cool breeze on his face and the rhythmic motion of the pedals as he maneuvered his bike across the uneven asphalt road. The world seemed muted and lifeless, save for occasional bursts of brilliance that captured his attention. The sun fought against the stubborn clouds, trying to break through weak spots and casting an enchanting yet ordinary glimmer on the otherwise bleak surroundings.

Silas steered towards a small patch of green nestled between towering buildings, his intended destination now in sight. A modest lawn hid behind a mundane parking lot, its vibrant green contrasting the enveloping dullness of the company buildings.

As Silas was about to lock his bike, a peculiar piece of plastic detached from the chain lock, twirling in the air before landing gently in his bike basket. It seemed inconsequential, a mere ornament, so he tossed it in without much thought. After securing his bike, he walked towards the university building—a structure adorned with yellow glass facades.

Just as Silas reached the entrance, an elderly gentleman emerged, reminiscent of his father in some way. A brief movement was taken to wonder if the gentleman enjoyed his academic pursuits, as he seemed to be a quiet, diligent type.

Passing through the automatic doors, Silas turned sharply to the right, entering the door to his mechanicae association. "Hello," greeted Natalia, her enthusiastic voice breaking the silence. Adrian stood by the tall bar table, and Silas could not help but exclaim, "You are both here!" It was summer break, and classes were yet to commence. "Hi Silas," Adrian acknowledged his presence. Aware of his impending phone call, Silas notified them, "I might disappear momentarily," he notified them, his backpack slung off his shoulders as he settled on a tall stool, his legs dangling casually.

Having recently sent out several emails to student associations, scheduling their presentations in the grand auditoriums where new students would gather, Silas noted that the final association had just approved the proposed time slot. Adrian went to fetch lunch, and glancing at the clock, Silas realized there was still some time before his call.

Extracting a small blue rectangle from his pocket, Silas pressed a button on the side, activating his pocket assistant. "Hey Siri, set an alarm for thirteen seventeen," he commanded. The assistant dutifully confirmed the alarm time, ensuring he wouldn't forget his important call. With the alarm set, Silas reminded himself and Adrian of the impending phone call as a few drops of rain fell upon them.

Natalia came running from behind, her cheerful voice chiming in with a spirited 'Heyoooo!' as she veered off towards her dormitory room to retrieve her own lunch. As two men walked, the rain started to fall as a few sparse droplets.

At the supermarket, Silas grabbed a pack of apples and a frozen noodle dish, quickly seizing the opportunity before the alarm signaled his time for the phone call. With their provisions in hand, they made their way back to the association.

As Silas stood by the microwave, patiently waiting for his noodles to warm up, the rain outside intensified. The gentle pitter-patter of raindrops against the windows intertwined with the soft hum of the rotating microwave plate. Natalia's keystrokes on the keyboard struggled to compete with the rhythm of the rain outside as it grew in intensity. Silas quietly studied her face and the shape of her brow as she was fully immersed in her endeavor. He had provided her his old report on machine learning, but the assignments were of course reinvented each year.

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The alarm for Silas's call with the doctor interrupted the quiet hum of the microwave. He excused himself from the room and stepped outside, yearning for a moment of solitude.

Perching on a cold staircase ledge by a window, Silas dialed the doctor's number. "Hello, this is Silas. I have neglected to undergo a blood test, but there are a few other matters I would like to discuss," he stated softly as he idly swung his legs back and forth.

Modern doctors were typically trained in the academic world of the mechanicae. While alchemists ascribed significance to blood, viewing it as a symbol of vitality and transformative energies, mechanicae investigations focused on understanding its physiological functions and properties.

Within the laboratories of mechanicae, researchers meticulously analyzed the intricate composition of blood. By studying its components, such as nutrients, hormones, enzymes, and other factors, the mechanicae could explain to you the workings of the world.

"You see, I've been experiencing reoccring bleeding. I would like to know if I could be allowed to combine injections and gel." The doctor urged Silas to choose one treatment method.

Combining injections and gel in the context of medical treatment deviated from conventional practices.

"The gel worked well for me during the lockdown when my days were less hectic, but now that the world is reopening and my routine has become irregular in the summer. It also bothers me that I can feel it drop in my system every day." The rain continued its relentless descent as a purifying agent of the streets.

The changing tides of Silas life were amplified by the ebb and flow of the elixir coursing through his veins. The issue was achieving a steady state in administration, avoiding drops. It left him exhausted and devoid of energy. Achieving homeostasis when depending on an elixir was not an option. Homeostasis refers to the ability of an organism or a system to maintain internal stability and balance despite external changes. Homeostasis is primarily achieved through feedback mechanisms that involve three key components: receptores sensorii, nexus coordinantes, and effector respondentis cooporate to maintain balance.

Receptores sensorii in the body detect changes and relay this information to the nexus coordinantes. The nexus coordinantes receive the input, compare it to a set point or desired range, and send appropriate signals to effector respondentis that can bring about a response to counteract the changes. The nexus coordinantes are more intertwined with sense of self.

"With injections, I experienced a noticeable dip in the days leading up to the next dose, and during the first two weeks after the injection, it's a bit overwhelming. It significantly affects my mood. So, I wanted to the possibility of combining the two again." The doctor emphasized that Silas had to make a choice. "It worked for me best when I had a stash of gel that I could use towards the end of the injection cycle. I understand it's an unconventional approach, made possible only because I had leftovers from what I obtained abroad. What are the rules regarding this?" The rain created small puddles and floods, washing away the remnants of yesterday clinging to grainy asphalt streets outside.

As the call concluded, a sense of discontent gnawed at him, mingling with the steady rhythm of the rain. Would his return to using injections bring the stability he sought? Or would it come at the cost of his emotions being more erratic? The unconventional combination of injections and gel had provided a delicate balance in the past, but was not allowed and only possible because he had tampered with it outside of the system. He felt it was pointless to take more bloodsamples. He knew when the system of his body was unbalanced and did not require numbers for this.

Alchemists recognized that the transformative process involved not only external manipulation of substances but also inner alchemical work. This inner work encompassed the purification and refinement of the alchemist's own consciousness, the cultivation of spiritual awareness, and the alignment with the cosmic forces governing the universe.

Hence, the choice of blood or water as mediums of transmutation was not a matter of simple practicality but a reflection of the profound understanding alchemists possessed regarding the interconnectedness of matter, spirit, and the natural world. It signified their recognition of the subtle energetic currents flowing through all things and the potential for conscious transformation.

Alchemists recognized the dynamic nature of blood and its potential as a carrier of elemental energies. They understood the intricate pathways through which blood flowed, allowing substances and energies to reach specific tissues and organs. By harnessing this understanding, alchemists sought to utilize the power of blood as a conduit for transformative purposes.

Through their experiments and observations, alchemists had developed techniques to modify substances and infuse them into the bloodstream. They understood that by formulating compounds with specific properties, they could facilitate their absorption into the bloodstream and subsequent delivery to targeted tissues.

The mechanicae was a younger and more recent cult than the one of the alchemists. The alchymists preferred mages as their apprentices. As mages were much fewer in kind than the mundane folks the cult had shrunk in popularity. It was now taboo to practise and mention alchemy in the open as the mechanicae had partly gained cultural dominance.