Journey of Becoming an Alchemist
Once upon a time, in the small kingdom of Lin aria, a young boy named Ethan lived. He dreamed of becoming an Alchemist, not only because of the mysteriousness revolving around it but also because it was a respected work throughout the kingdom. Ethan’s passion for Alchemy started when he found an old book filled with arcane symbols and mystic formulae at his grandpa's library. While Grandpa laughed it off as tales of folklore and fantasy, Ethan saw something more, a world beyond reality waiting to be discovered. Ethan’s journey to become an alchemist begun then.
Ethan devoted himself to studying the cryptic book, working in candlelight till late at night to understand the principles of alchemy. With time, he began to understand the basics; the symbols started to make sense, and the book in its old parchment seemed a little less complex and a little more inviting. He tried performing simple transmutations at first, like turning a piece of rock into a lump of gold or transforming a pot of water into wine. To his delight, he found that not only was alchemy real, but he could perform it!
His excitement peaked as he turned pages, his mind bubbling with creativity and curiosity. Yet, this sudden success also brought trouble. The transformations attracted attention, his secret wasn’t a secret anymore. Word spread about his mysterious abilities throughout the kingdom of Lin aria, reaching the ears of the cunning, power-hungry king.
One day, he was summoned to the court. Unsure of what was to come, he obeyed the king's command. The king stood tall on his throne, casting a long shadow that seemed to grow and swallow the grand court. With the glimmering eyes of greed and power, the king demanded, "Turn my possessions into gold! Make me the richest man that ever lived!”
Ethan knew that doing so was against the principles of Alchemy. The law of equivalent exchange - A fundamental rule indicating that something cannot be gained without losing something of equal value. Despite repeatedly refusing, the king didn’t back down; he was thrown into the palace dungeon.
There, in the depths of the cold, damp prison, a spark of hope ignited. A wise elder prisoner, sharing his cell, revealed himself as a retired Alchemist. He told Ethan about the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary alchemical tool said to bypass the law of equivalent exchange. Ethan sensing a way out, pleaded the elder alchemist to teach him the way to make the Philosopher's Stone.
With patience and countless trials alongside the wise elder, Ethan succeeded in creating a crude version of the Philosopher's Stone. But he was soon reminded of the laws he was bypassing. The creation of the Philosopher's Stone took a massive toll on his health, but it was a risk Ethan was willing to take.
With his time running out, Ethan finally carried out king’s order in front of entire court. Amidst the hushed gasps and enthralled stares, an ordinary stone turned into a golden statue. Overwhelmed by greed, the king ordered him to do the same to his belongings. But hiding his weakened state, Ethan used the Philosopher’s stone to turn not just the king’s belongings, but the inebriated king himself into a golden statue. With the king unable to harm anyone now, Ethan, using the last of his energy, turned the rusty jail bars into dust and freed not only himself but all the prisoners.
Ethan’s story spread through the kingdom, like the dawn’s light casting away darkness. The people rejoiced their newfound freedom, remembering Ethan as their hero. However, Ethan’s journey had taken a toll on him. The very faith in Alchemy that had given him strength was now eating him away. He had made his choice and paid the price - a usual tale of any Alchemist, albeit a young one. He breathed his last, leaving his legacy behind, disappearing just as the last of the golden glow faded from the king's statue.
Throughout time, Ethan lived on, as a legend among new Alchemists, a symbol of power, wisdom, sacrifice, and the irreversible consequences of the law of equivalent exchange. Even as decades turned to centuries, the tale of the courageous young Alchemist echoed in every corner of the kingdom.