"What's the name of the city again?" Neil asked, curiosity tingling in his voice.
"Velaris. It's quite vibrant and lively, isn't it?" Dove replied, admiration coloring his voice.
"I suppose it is. But are you absolutely sure we've come to the right place?" Neil questioned, skepticism lacing his tone.
"Yes, we have. Can't you trust me even a little?" Dove's voice held a touch of annoyance.
Neil took a step forward, brushing off Dove, who glared at him before ringing the bell to announce their presence.
The large wooden door creaked open, revealing a middle-aged maid of Hispanic descent. She welcomed them inside the study, where they would wait for Dove's godfather.
Neil's eyes scanned the unfamiliar surroundings. The room was grand, with lofty ceilings adorned with ornate stucco cornices. The air carried a faint scent of mustiness mingled with hints of obscure cookery, giving the place an otherworldly ambiance.
After a few minutes of exploring the room with his gaze, Neil felt Dove's pinch. Irritated, he was about to reprimand him when a man emerged from a door marked 'men's room' and made his way toward them. Even from a distance, Neil caught a whiff of a pungent ammoniacal smell.
The man shuffled around the perimeter of the room, his gaze fixed on the floor, before disappearing behind another door. Neil's curiosity piqued, he wondered about the purpose of the man's visit to the "little room" Dove mentioned earlier, filled with bottles and equipment, which served as the great alchemist's laboratory.
Upon returning to the study, the maid brought them two glasses of water and offered insight into the alchemist's eccentricities. "He spends his time in those little rooms, surrounded by bottles, lab equipment, and books. It becomes quite a task to clean up afterward. Esteban is responsible for providing him with rations, medicines, chemicals, and a monthly supply of books, but it never seems to be enough for him."
Dove's godfather finally emerged from the water closet, wiping his hands on a towel. The strong ammonia smell had subsided but still clung to him. He was short in stature but impeccably dressed, wearing a finely tailored suit. His face exuded intelligence and nobility, adorned with a well-trimmed beard and carefully styled hair.
A sudden blast of cool wind brushed past Neil's body, an unexpected chill on such a hot day. Its strangeness stirred a mix of aversion, distrust, and fear within Neil's heart.
"Godfather!" Dove exclaimed, jumping up slightly in his seat. The man greeted them with a warm smile and affectionately ruffled Dove's hair. A genuine smile appeared on Dove's face.
Dove pointed at Neil and encouraged him to step forward. "This is my friend Neil."
Neil raised an eyebrow at the introduction but decided not to address it. Instead, he cut to the chase. "We've encountered a problem and are in dire need of your expertise. Please, help us."
"I'll do my best," the man replied, his tone filled with sincerity.
The three of them settled around an old wooden table, and Dove began narrating their predicament to his godfather. The man listened attentively, his face maintaining a solemn expression throughout, never interrupting.
"I understand your desperation, my child, but I must remind you that I am an alchemist, not a sorcerer," the godfather responded, his voice tinged with gentle caution.
Dove nodded, his eyes filled with hope. "I know, Godfather, but you have studied ancient texts and delved into realms beyond ordinary understanding. If anyone can help us find a solution, it's you."
"Why don't you try searching the library? You might find something important regarding your quest," the godfather suggested, his eyes glinting with anticipation.
Dove glanced around the godfather's study, its walls lined with ancient tomes and mystical artifacts. The room emanated an air of wisdom and intrigue, but the answers they sought seemed to lie beyond its confines. With a nod of agreement, Dove turned towards the door, followed closely by Neil.
As they stepped into the corridor, the atmosphere changed. The scent of polished wood and incense filled their nostrils, and the soft glow of flickering candles illuminated their path. It was a grand estate, filled with secrets and whispers of forgotten tales.
Their footsteps echoed through the marbled hallway as they made their way toward the heart of the estateâthe library. The doors swung open, revealing a sight that left them in awe.
The library was a vast chamber, its high ceilings adorned with intricate wood moldings. Sunbeams filtered through the tall windows, casting a warm glow upon the polished mahogany furniture and the rows upon rows of towering bookshelves. The air carried a faint scent of aged parchment, mingling with the invigorating aroma of fresh air that wafted in through the open windows.
Dove and Neil stood at the threshold, momentarily stunned by the sheer magnitude of the library. It was a labyrinth of knowledge, a sanctuary of enlightenment. They exchanged a brief glance, their determination rekindled as they embarked on this new phase of their quest.
With each step, the sound of their footfalls on the wooden floor echoed through the vast expanse. The shelves stretched out before them, bearing the weight of centuries worth of wisdom and imagination. They navigated through the aisles, their eyes scanning the titles and their fingers gently tracing the spines of the books.
The library held a treasure trove of knowledge, its collection spanning the ages. Dusty tomes on alchemy, mysticism, and forgotten civilizations stood shoulder to shoulder with modern works on science and philosophy. It was a testament to the godfather's insatiable thirst for understanding and his unyielding pursuit of truth.
Dove and Neil felt a sense of reverence as they immersed themselves in the vast expanse of the library. Each book seemed to hold the potential to unlock a hidden secret or reveal a long-lost prophecy. They knew that within these walls lay the answers they soughtâthe key to their quest.
Side by side, they ventured deeper into the labyrinth of knowledge. The hours melted away as they combed through the shelves, occasionally pulling out a volume and flipping through its pages in search of clues. Their focus was unwavering, their determination unyielding.
Dove knew he was on the cusp of discovery. A glint of light caught his eye. Was that glass reflecting off light on the book's surface? Intrigued, Dove went closer to the shelf where the light seemed to be coming from and found the book. The musty smell drifted upward from the crinkling pages of the unusually heavy book.
"Legends and Tales of Cascadia." Neil read aloud in excitement. The brown leather cover acted as a frame for an etched glass rose.
With meticulous care, he opened the book, blowing gently to remove the gathered dust from the corners and using a quill to brush away the cobwebs. He perused the table of contents, and one particular legend caught his eye. He had heard the story of Delroy and Nazanin before, and he hoped to find answers within its pages.
Throughout the entire ordeal, Neil remained silent and observant, his gaze fixed on Dove, studying his every move.
"Neil, come here. I think I have something that might help you."
Neil stood up and walked briskly toward Dove, his eyes fixed on the page Dove was reading. They returned to their seats, resuming their previous positions on the chairs.
Neil settled into the heavy chair, observing Dove like a wary cat.
"What? A love story? How can this help?" He glanced down at the pages, snorting in disgust.
"Listen to me. First, Delroy and Nazanin's story is incredibly renowned in my culture. It's about silent desires that surpass their limits. The magic of love that consumes one's control, a love so deeply engraved in one's heart that it feels liberating, freeing oneself from inner demons when embraced in its arms."
Neil rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath. Dove took it as an invitation to continue speaking.
Octavius, once the prince of Cynthia, became renowned as Delroy after being taken hostage following the fourth war between Alynthi and Cascadia. There was a deep-rooted hatred between the kings of both kingdoms, a fact known far and wide. The king of Alynthi tortured Delroy for hours, seeking access to the classified ancient scriptures of Alynthi. Once satisfied with his knowledge, the king discarded Delroy. During his moments of suffering, Nazanin, the youngest daughter of the king, would secretly visit his chambers to care for him. An unbreakable bond formed between them, and they fell deeply in love.
Within a few weeks, another war erupted between Cascadia and Alynthi. Cascadia suffered defeat, leading to Delroy's return to his kingdom.
The young lovers continued their correspondence through letters. Eventually, they decided to defy their fears and marry. After numerous persuasive discussions with their parents, the kings finally agreed, and the announcement of their royal wedding was made.
However, the king of Alynthi, still bitter over his son's capture, instructed his loyal commander-in-chief to assassinate the princess of Cascadia on the day of the ceremony. As the young lovers exchanged their vows, the commander aimed his specially crafted arrows, dipped in a potent poison that guaranteed instant death.
Delroy, witnessing the imminent danger, selflessly sacrificed himself to save the princess. He died in Nazanin's arms, leaving the beautiful princess utterly heartbroken, bringing tears to the eyes of all who witnessed the tragedy.
Moved by Nazanin's act of love and loyalty, the royal alchemist of Cascadia devised a potion with the power to heal any woundâa potion that could bring Delroy back to life. At dawn the next morning, he resolved to administer the potion to the princess. However, upon visiting her chamber, he discovered that she had passed away in her sleep due to heart failure.
"Since then, the two kingdoms decided to honor the lovers and forged an alliance that remains unbroken to this day," Dove concluded.
Neil kept staring blankly at the ceiling. Only when he looked at Dove and saw his questioning expression did he realize he had stopped talking. He looked at him. "Okay, so what was the point of this romantic crap?"
"The next page contains the instructions to make the potion that the alchemist had devised. I saw the ingredients required and most of them are still available to us. We ought to bring those ingredients and make the potion. It could bring your loved one back," Dove said.
"Dove, you realize this is just a Cascadian myth, there's no guarantee that the spell would work," Neil scoffs and then rubbed his chin.
"I believe in them. All myths carry some truth and a hidden moral within. I think we should take a leap of faith," Dove said.
"What are the ingredients?" Neil asked, unable to hide his intrigue.
"The ingredients are leaves of a special herb: Rixentra Arcelium, a feather from the red Callyrx in the Ellesmore gardens, Argromonium sea salt, and baneberries from river Gantrick in Marren Eve's, the golden orange from the fields of Belrynna, Ophelium's tusk, and the flower petals of Dicentra Spectabilis from the kingdom Alynthi."
From the doorway, the alchemist spoke up. "If you want Rixentra Arcelium, you're in luck because I grow them here."
"And the other items? We have to acquire seven in total," Neil asked.
"I can mark the locations on the map where the items can be obtained. I'll also write the exact directions to reach them. However, these items are extremely rare, and the journey to obtain them is quite arduous. Are you sure you want to experience such hardships for a potion that may not even work?" the alchemist strolled in and ran his hand over the spines of the books, leaned against the wall, folded his arms, and peered at Neil.
"I'm prepared for this quest!" Dove said with confidence.
If it doesn't work, I can always kill you whenever I want," Neil mumbled, but seeing Dove's sincerity about the cause, he couldn't help but have some hope in his faith as well.
"But wait, there's one more thing, the potion will expire when the last shard falls. And there's also a small text at the bottom written in ancient Cascadian," Dove said.
Dove read the text while Neil asked the alchemist, "The last shard? What shards?" Dove spoke a moment later, "I think I have the answer."
He showed Neil the cover of the book, the glass painting that now had small cracks and crevices formed on its surface.
"The cracks, they weren't there before!" Neil blurted.
"I think our time has begun. We are forced to make a decision now. So what's it going to be, Neil? Are we making the potion or not?"
A/N
Hi thanks so much for the read! If you enjoyed please leave a vote or a comment that's the best way to support me! Thanks so much xx, Anne.