Chapter 1

Tw: mentions of suicide


It was common for alchemists to aim for a master work. Normally the ultimate goal was the philosophers stone, which could turn lead into gold. But the man had completed the master work long ago.

After understanding the wisdom of the emerald tablet, or also called Tabula Smaragdina, he felt like life had ended. What was the point of continuing, if there were no more mysteries to uncover. He could die in this moment and it wouldn’t change a thing.

Due to his philosophical dilemma he had even contemplated suicide but that seemed like the wrong thing to do. There must have been more to life that what he had done so far. Was there even a purpose to life? After understanding ancient wisdom, alchemy and the secrets of transmutation, what else was out there?

Somehow he felt like the legendary Dr. Faustus, whom had turned to the occult and even the devil on his pursuit of knowledge. But the man here had no desire to do so, instead he had shifted his focus on something else – the pleasures of life.

The Epicurean philosophy had helped the man, and it was simple, he should aim of a happy and tranquil life through the attainment of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. But that was easier said than done.

He found out that there are two types of pleasure. One was derived from satisfying desires, like eating when hungry or drinking when thirsty, it came from fulfilling physical desires. The other one came from a state of satisfaction, where no desires or pains disrupt one's peace. Epicurus considered the latter one to be of higher quality. Epicureanism focuses on moderation and achieving a state of tranquility.

But the man was an eccentric, he could never be satisfied with moderation. Moderation equaled mediocracy in his mind. Whenever he wanted to do something, he always aimed for the best possible outcome. If he wanted to become an alchemist, he would become the best one. And now if he wanted to experience the pleasures human life had to offer, he wouldn’t stop at moderation.

So now here we are, with some ominous purple elixir brewing in the background. It smelled like vanilla and cherries. His lean, almost sickly skinny body moved surprisingly elegantly through the laboratory. He seemed to be in a good mood, after the years of unfulfillment. In the back, on a large wooden table scrolls and papyri were laid out, some contained symbols and frantic written ones, ways to turn lead into gold. And newly added, ways to enhance pleasures.

When the man had thought of ways to life a hedonistic life, he thought of alcohol, drugs, sex and food. Since he was rather eccentric, and prone to extremes, he had ruled out alcohol and drugs. Sexual activities were on his mind sometimes, but he needed two for that and he figured that asking his apprentice would be a bit unprofessional. So the only viable option was food.

Cooking wasn’t his strongest skill, despite his chemical knowledge, he knew at what temperature proteins denature, which salts are safe for consumption and what herbs heal all sorts of illness. Yet whatever he had cooked, always tasted off.

Hence he turned away from cooking and back to alchemy. He wanted to make a potion, a potion that would make him feel as if he had ate a wonderful meal or two. For that the alchemist had combined many ingredients, some more rare and extravagant, others common and unassuming.

The purple liquid stopped brewing, then he stirred it a bit, the scent got more and more intense, almost seductively sweet.

He poured it into a crystal glass commonly used for tea. After swinging it around in the glass, like some expansive wine, he took a sip. The man, normally avoidant of all pleasures that didn’t involve academics, had to suppress a moan when the flavor had hit him. After finishing the small amount of the potion he had poured, he had to sit down for a moment, he felt full – pleasantly so. His flat stomach had curved out, almost as if he was bloated.

Was that it? Pleasant fullness.. but he could do more, achieve more and find the ultimate pleasure in his pursuit of a new hedonistic lifestyle.



AN: The picture is from pintrest. I hope you enjoy reading this one. More chapters will be added soon