Eternal life - Giangio/Paracelsus Backstory
Sometimes he still woke up in fear.
Skin clammy from sweat. The feeling of her bubbling hot skin under his fingers and the urge to run away strongly pulsing in every vein.
But it was all nothing more than a faint, ghostly memory when he put on his gloves, grabbed a piece of chalk and went back to his studies. Numbers and equations filling his mind, not leaving space for anything as unimportant as his past.
He didn't like when it got interrupted but he was a polite person. So, he didn't send his professor away when he knocked against his door and announced someone would like to meet him but nodded acknowledging.
Another one of those leaders of some kind of organisation that was attempting impossible things in alchemy and wanted his intelligence. It wasn't the first and surely wouldn't be the last.
He didn’t like the idea of being trapped in their limits and ideas of life but he would listen like he had done with the others before and politely decline. It was the most efficient way of handling them. He had learnt.
Not seeing the need to interrupt his studies for it he continued to work as the door behind him opened a second time that day and the announced person stepped inside. Their steps were lighter than he had expected and they didn't immediately speak but seemed to quietely watch him instead.
Curiosity getting the better of him he stopped and turned around after all.
"You're a woman." The observation left his mouth quicker than he could think of it. That was new.
"And you're not even an adult. I would say we are both equally surprised by the other's presence." She replied, amusement strong in her voice and her gaze moved from the chalkboard to him. Violet eyes looking directly at him in a way no one had ever before.
It send a shiver down his spine.
"I heard you managed to make lead to gold." She said matter-of-factly.
"Yes, a year ago with sixteen." He replied knowing the song and dance by now. It was always the first thing they said.
"The youngest I have met so far... but you surely heard that many times by now."
He nodded unimpressed. That was also something they always seem to say and expect him to take as a compliment. However, it was a merely a fact, nothing else.
"Then lets not talk about the past. What are you working on?" She continued and gestured towards his equations.
"Medicine." He replied dutiful like usually but instead of shutting down the question it only made her laugh. His eye twitched.
"Oh please- thats your hobby. Let me repeat my question, what are you working on?"
He hesitated but then admitted: "A philosopher's stone."
"Mmh ambitious." She hummed and a smile danced over her lips that didn't make her seem any less intimidating. It fascinated him. "How is it coming along?"
A bitter taste filled his mouth and he had control his expression to not let his shame surface. "Not well."
"I figured. Its not an easy task. Immortality is fragile." She stepped over to him. "I can help you if you wish. I have mentored many before you."
"And succeeded." He mumbled once again speaking before thinking. She seemed to have that effect on him. Terrifying.
The woman just smiled and nodded unbothered. "You can see that, right? You have an eye for things like this. I like that about you... I have succeed four times. Myself and three students. I can make you succeed as well."
"And what do you get in return?" He said. Nothing was for free, he knew this well and all the others who had come before had wanted something too. She wouldn't be any different.
"Loyalty to our course." Her answer was simple. He frowned.
"Our ambition is a world free of pain and death. That doesn't sound bad, does it?" She titled her head and her smile suddenly got sharper as if she knew about the fear, the sickness, the bubbling hot skin under his fingers. He swallowed feeling himself caving in.
Immortality. What a promise.
She offered him her hand and he barely hesitated.
"Now what do you say, Phillippus- Would you like eternal life?"
Just a little something I have been writing whenever I felt like it. There are more drabbles and I will post them in time. Hope you like it!
