The Alchemist

"A Homonculus. That is impossible, Reynard!"

"Difficult. Not impossible, sir." Reynard replied calmly.

Reynard was a man of his tribe, the tribe of the Twin Goddesses. As were most of his people born under the moon of the elder sister, his hair was a light blue and his eyes were like ice. He adjusted his glasses, as they were hanging loosely on the bridge of his nose.

"If you can acquire a Mandrake root, the process described in the Book--" Reynard began.

"A section that is deemed forbidden! We do not make Homonculi, Reynard!" the man argued, attempting to quell his rage.

"Why is it forbidden, sir?" Reynard asked quietly.

"Because it is a power that our world is not ready to wield. Not yet." The man said, his tone final.

"I understand." Reynard said simply.

"Be gone then, and no more talk of these Homonculi, my pupil." The man commanded with a wave of his hand.

Reynard stood from his seating, adjusting his apprentice's robe slightly before leaving the chamber. We do not make Homonculi, Reynard! His master's words still rang in his ears, yet he was not convinced. A homonculi could be made, and due to his resourcefulness, Reynard knew exactly how it could be done. He tried to seek permission from his master, but to no avail.

It didn't matter. It was a formality anyway.

Reynard moved at a relaxed pace through the hall to his chamber. Other students and various servants, although scarce at this hour, busied themselves about their duties. He resisted rushing to his room, he didn't want any more attention than he usually recieved. Relax, there's plenty of time. he thought to himself.

His chamber, upon entering, was pitch black. Holding his staff aloft in his right hand, he waved his left around the room. Flames sprung to life in their sconces, illuminating the room. After checking the lock on his door, he rushed to his desk, making sure to carefully set his staff against the wall before taking a seat in a comfortable chair.

Upon the desk was an old book, tattered and worn. Sheafs of paper were stuffed haphazardly between various pages, giving the book an even more bedraggled appearance. Gingerly opening the tome, he leafed through the pages until arriving at the one which he saught. Along the top of the page, in the old language, was written the word Mandrake. Reynard afforded himself a grin as he set to work.

~~

The torch burst into flames, causing a young man to cough.

"Easy, Gideon. Don't die on me, now." Reynard said, handing the torch over.

Gideon took the torch meekly, his wrist and hands appearing frail as they emerge from the sleeve of his baggy robe. Gideon strengthened his grip by holding the torch with his other hand, holding it just high enough so he could see further without blinding himself.

"Are you sure about this, my friend?" Reynard asked, his voice slightly muffled by the mask he wore.

"If there's a possibility it can work, it should be worth the risk." Gideon replied, offering Reynard a meek smile.

Reynard nodded and turned, as he begun to walk he called out, "I'll leave it to you then."

Gideon nodded and proceeded down the tunnel, holding the torch with his rapidly draining strength. After what seemed like an eternity, he reached a large cavern. The roof had broken, so that moonlight shone inside. In the center of the moonlight, a clutter of various plants and vegetables were growing.

Gideon walked towards the cavern garden with determination. He secured the torch in a sconce near the entrance, and walked closer towards the moonlit garden. Upon arriving at the plant of his choice, he dropped to his knees and pulled a spade out from a pouch slung about his shoulders. As his vision became light, and his eyes became heavy he began to dig, dig, dig.

After some time, Gideon rose to his feet, taking a moment to drink some water from his flask. Getting a second wind, he walked away from his work and walked over to the torch hanging at the entrance. After one final swig, he poured the flask over the torch, dousing it.

With the cavern being illuminated by nothing but the moonlight, Gideon approached the site of his work, where he had dug. Falling to his knees, he looked into the sky, at the twin moons, "Thank you, Goddesses."

He then bowed his head, and reached for the plant... and pulled.

~~

Reynard stood on the hillside, with the cavern a good distance away. He watched the light flicker and glow within the mouth of the cave. He watched the light and shadows dance and move, jump and glide, until finally there was darkness. At that moment, a strange feeling gripped at Reynard. He clenched his jaw before approaching the cave.

Upon entering, he stared at the sight before him. Gideon was hunched over, bits of earth scattered about him. Reynard approached his friend, stopping a couple feet away. He glanced up at the twin moons, still visible from the opening, and gave a silent prayer. He then took his staff and prodded Gideon in the ribs. The frail figure moved aside with little resistance, and Reynard took a step back as he stared upon what he saw in cold horror.

Gideon's eyes and mouth hung wide open, staring at Reynard with a cold, unfeeling stare. Reynard, steeling himself, pulled a sack from his satchel and scooped up the plant Gideon had unearthed, stuffing it within the sack, and the sack within the satchel. Reynard then knelt before his friend, drawing a silver dagger from a sheath attached to the satchel. With a slice, Gideon's blood began to flow freely.

After taking a vial full of Gideon's blood, Reynard got to his feet swiftly, placing the vial carefully within it's place in the satchel. He turned, breathing heavily into the mask, Gideon at his back. Reynard took a step forward, and then stopped.

Reynard turned back to Gideon and knelt at his side. With a gloved hand, he closed Gideon's eyes and mouth, nodding another silent prayer to the Goddesses above. Reynard then stood to his feet, and gripping his staff firmly, he slammed the staff into the ground.

Gideon began to float, his arms hanging limply at his sides. Reynard turned to the exit and walked out silently, Gideon floating behind him. Once outside, Reynard slammed the staff again, this time, a large gap opening in the earth. Reynard raised his left hand towards Gideon, and then slowly lowered it. Gideon slowly lowering into the gap in line with Reynard's hand. Once inside, Reynard slammed the staff a final time, and the earth closed around Gideon. Thank you... my friend. Reynard thought to himself. He would not let his friend's sacrifice go to waste.

~~~~

Reynard stood before a large construct, about two feet taller than himself. It was fashioned out of a modified suit of armor that the guards wore, a balance between extravagent and competant. The chestpiece had been modified so it swung open like a door hinge in the center. The door was swung wide open, with runes etched into all the surfaces within the chamber.

Reynard dipped his gloved hands into a small container, and pulled out a bloodsoaked object. He then thrust the object within the chamber of the construct before withdrawing his hands and slamming the door shut with his elbow. He stood upon a stepladder and using his elbow, he swung upward the facecover for the helm of the construct. Using his bloody hands, he wrote a word in the old language on the inside of the helm. He stepped down from the stepladder, taking a moment to wash his hands and removed the gloves which he wore. Grabbing his staff in his right hand, and securing his ring on his left, he used the staff to close the faceguard of the helm, and with his left hand, he slammed down on the chest of the construct.

~~~~

Rain poured down violently from the stormy sky, causing the road to become muddy which in turn hindered the progress of the old carriage. As the muddy road turned to stone, the carriage approached a large open steel gate and a series of crimson banners. The carriage then proceeded through avenues of large buildings and pedestrians; bald beggars, plump merchants, and crimson-haired scaliwags.

The carriage stopped before a moderate sized building that looked to be in disrepair, but was solid. The driver hopped down from his seat at the front of the carriage and opened the door to the carriage with his left hand. "We're home, my friend."

A single light shone from within the dark confines of the carriage, and a meek voice called out, "Home?"

The driver took a step back from the carriage, standing beneath a covering that was erected in front of the entrance to the building. As the occupant of the carriage took his time to exit, the driver took a moment to remove his hat, shaking his blue hair free. Reynard looked up at the armored construct, with the two glowing eyes, and nodded. "Yes, Gideon. We're home."