During the Middle Ages, when mythical beings such as dragons were feared— there was a friar covertly turned alchemist by the name of Luminus Vitalos. Luminus Vitalos would tiptoe silently past the detection of the other friars in the monastery (or more properly referred to as the friary), who’d spend their nights chanting in Latin.. Only if they knew of his exploits would they have him hung by the noose—vilified as a charlatan..
Although this meant the rather grave possibility of being paid a visit by the grim reaper, the mere chance of acquiring the Philosopher’s Stone— which could transform base metals into gold and produce the Elixir of Life, was worth the steep price of Luminius’ life, especially if his life could be prolonged by a sip of this Elixir—or be extended eternally. Not even the prospect of the king’s wrath could stop him……in the event, he’d debase the land’s currency by somehow succeeding in transmuting such base metals into gold.
Truth be told— the above objectives, which were what all other alchemists of his day pursued relentlessly, were secondary to Luminus’ true magnum opus…or great life’s work..which had been slightly refined—true to the spirit of the liquids he distilled and salts he crystallized..
Luminus Vitalos crept through a maze of secret passageways to arrive in a cellar of only which he and a few mice knew..
Once he crossed the labyrinth…he hunched in his chair….ignoring the collection of the finest materials he accumulated over the course of 17 years from lands far and wide—consisting of prized herbs, stones, salts, pigments, chemicals—mercury, sulfur, and arsenic—, oils and of course, metals upon metals—most prominently among them being lead…
These ingredients—a collection of the rarest and ordinary— were bundled in satchets in bowls and filled in flasks. They sat beside the scale he’d used countless times to weigh and measure contents before stirring up mysterious concoctions in cauldrons of various sizes. All of his recipes were derived from notebooks and books filled with riddles….that only few could decipher…
He’d concoct his own recipes, studying the particle of each ingredient… breaking them down to their very essence.. (or rudimentary form..), examining to see which could possibly form the elusive powder.. known as the Philosopher’s Stone— though the Philosopher’s Stone was strangely not an actual stone—but an ingredient that legend said was…so unremarkable that it was oft taken for granted in daily life—though could transmute ordinary metals into gold and heal the body of all illnesses… and better yet, grant immortality..
This could all be achieved by bringing the elements of Earth, fire, air and water existing in all forms of matter—especially in the specific ingredients the alchemists used—into balance… which would then reunite matter with its divine or original form to attain perfection..
As mentioned, finding the secret ingredient of the Philosopher’s Stone was the pursuit of every alchemist…far and wide…and it was his own—-until one day his scope broadened—or he reached the very essence— or true spirit of Alchemy—his Magnum Opus was then transmuted—right after receiving a letter—enclosed with it a golden thread.
His eyes now fell upon that thread, as he recalled the events related to its discovery… as well the Manual with the gold-leafed pages that lay before him.. and the singular page that had arrived right beside the thread.