The Elixir of Eternity🔊

Once upon a time, in the early days of Constantinople, there lived a young and ambitious alchemist named Diemos. Diemos was deeply engrossed in the secrets of elements and the powers they concealed, particularly interested in unlocking the key to immortality.

Diemos spent days and nights relentlessly skulking in his chamber, surrounded by scrolls, unusual herbs, peculiar minerals, an array of alembics and retorts. His inquisitiveness and drive earned him respect among the city's scholars but also sea of rumors branding him as a hermit or a sorcerer.

One day, a cryptic parchment, an inheritance from his late mentor, caught his attention. It was a map, detailing a path to an ancient temple rumoured to house the Elixir of Eternity, a potion that granted everlasting life. The map was intricately designed, filled with obscure riddles and treacherous routes, leading to the heart of an uncharted island. Despite the perils, Diemos embarked upon this venture, awakened by the siren call of noble fame.

His odyssey began crossing tumultuous seas and climbing jagged cliffs, his courage and determination guiding him through. Struggling, he deciphered every riddle and bypassed every obstacle, his thirst for discovery amplifying with each step.

Upon reaching the island, Diemos came across a tribe, the guardians of the temple. They were the humble servants of the elixir and had lived geometrically in harmony with time. They saw his genuine passion, accepted his quest, and guided him towards the temple.

Inside the temple, amid decadent architecture, stood the sacred fountain carrying the Elixir of Eternity. Overwhelmed, with trembling hands, Diemos held his bottle and filled it with the mystical liquid. Just as he was about to savour his victory, the room resonated with a cryptic voice: 'Beware O Seeker, for eternal life is a double-edged sword, it can be the dawn of wisdom or the dusk of despair.'

Undeterred and resolute, Diemos returned to his city, his journey sculpting him into a wiser man. Upon reaching his chamber, he held the elixir, his eyes reflecting a cocktail of triumph and terror. The voice incessantly echoed in his mind, casting a web of doubts.

Contemplating about the infinite possibilities and consequences of eternal life, Diemos made a daunting choice. He donated the elixir to the scholars of Constantinople, entrusting them with the responsibility and the wisdom to use it for the betterment of humankind. Diemos chose to embrace life in its mortal and uncertain form, relishing every moment rather than clinging to it eternally.

Diemos passed away eventually, leaving an imperishable legacy behind. He might not have achieved immortality technically, but his name remained immortal in the annals of history, reminding us all about the deceptive charm of eternity and the beauty of the fleeting transience of life.

So here endeth the tale of Diemos, the alchemist who came closest to immortality but let it go, reminding us that life is not about the count of breaths we take but the moments that take our breath away.