//------------------------------// // Prologue: Beginning // Story: The Prince of Alchemists - Chronicles of Talos // by DeLoreanTM //------------------------------// “Again Prince, now what is the composition of soil?” The displeased Griffon, the much younger of the two that were loitering about, simply kicked the dirt circle with frustration. He gave a huff to blow out the long feathers that slid over his face and wondered with all the curiosity of a thousand scholars why such a technique had to be made. There was nothing fun about it, just endless shapes within shapes and weird looking scribbles. Prince Talos was merely at the dawn of his tenth year, born and raised in the Royal family and already he believed everyone plotted against him to steal his happiness. He hadn’t a single companion his age and was surrounded since the day he was born by military officials and other such individuals of great importance. It was bad enough that they forced him to draw dirt circles all day long; he would be at least satisfied with his despair if they explained why he had to perform such a tedious task. “Prince, I have asked you a question. Answer it with a straight face.” His teacher spat. Talos would only roll his eyes at the old hoot, if he got angry about him it would only be his loss. “Good soil will have an estimated composition of approximately 25 percent air, 25 percent water, 5 percent of organic matter which includes organisms and other biomass and roughly 41 percent mineral which varies according to different locations.” He gave his old teacher a tired look, “can I go home now?” His teacher stood silent for a while, before sadness crept on his face with unnatural reaction which always made the Prince’s face grow red with annoyance. He always gave Talos that look whenever he answered and it began to infuriate him out more than those talk sessions with his father, like he had answered incorrectly or was doing something completely wrong. He did everything his teacher asked him to do and so much more. To study about the chemical composition of everyday things around him took less than 4 hours to fully memorize and he alone was the youngest fledgling to memorize the runic function. Talos remembered his father saying how previous students had failed to even comprehend that alone, so why did he always look like he’d failed him? “Very well, you deserve some rest for your work today young Prince. But before you leave you must answer a final revision question if I may, just so I know for sure that you have the concept grasped.” Talos could only sigh and slumped his body over the oak tree behind him. Knowing all the knowledge in the world wouldn't convince him, not even being his little prodigy deterred him. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and staring at the sky. Talos looked too, as if there was something to see. There was nothing but the sight of the old oak trees in the royal gardens, their crimson leaves fluttering against that azure sky. “Explain to me Prince, the Law of Equivalent Exchange.” Talos stopped to think about that one, not because the question was difficult but it was rather, easy. He felt as if it was some form of trick question, but the question was straight forward and quite blatantly clear. Even the most thick-headed alchemist knew that rule, the one rule that governed the process of alchemy. He learned that year ago “The law of Equivalent Exchange dictates that matter cannot be created nor can it be destroyed into elemental-nonexistence. It also restricts matter from being created without sacrificing something of a similar makeup or property. In short the Law of Equivalent Exchange is that in order to gain something, something of equal value must be lost or destroyed.” This was all too easy; perhaps alchemists were overrated scientists after all. He squatted down onto the grassy field, thinking hard about this revered alchemical law. Talos was never really satisfied in hearing that alchemy was an all-powerful art, like it gave the user complete control of the universe. His teacher had always told him that everything in the universe was alchemically mouldable, as anything composed of the elements could be deconstructed into simpler forms and rearranged but that clearly wasn’t the case. If he recalled correctly, there was something in the universe that alchemy could not create. There was no documentation of alchemy ever creating life. “Could I ask you something?” Talos queried. “Anything my Prince.” “You always said that I could do anything within the law of Equivalent Exchange with alchemy.” He began to draw several chemical symbols, water and salt being the most recognizable to his teacher, “Living beings, their bodies are just bags of water aren’t they? Why has no one ever tried creating life? You know, reincarna-“ “-It is against ethics and morality itself.” His teacher interrupted quickly. “You will have to ask somebody else Young Prince for a full explanation.” He turned his look away from Talos, who only narrowed his expression to one of suspicion. Talos began to quickly question why every alchemist he asked always avoided this particular question. Was it possible? If so, why was everyone forbidden to speak of it? If it was as dark as they made it out to be, wasn’t in the interest of the nation for Griffons to know about it? “You seem to think that my father would care about ethics.” Talos replied rather coldly. A sigh escaped from Archimedes, the fledgling showed so much darkness for someone so young. He’d seen him grow since he was born, the pour soul never knowing his mother and living out his life within the confines of castle walls of the imperial palace. He was intelligent, blessed with an unnatural amount of aptitude but for all that was worth, the Prince never showed anything to live for than just that alone. He never smiled nor laughed and buried his head in alchemical textbooks under the watchful eye of the guard. He had a knack for trying to disregard rules as inquisitive minds rarely relented towards authority that withheld knowledge. Perhaps he was the fool to believe that Talos would not be interested sooner or later.Archimedes leaned in towards the Prince, looking around him for any unwanted spectators. Already Archimedes had doubts whether he was doing the right thing, knowledge like this could lead him astray. “Prince Talos, what you are looking for is something that yields dangerous consequences. Will you promise me that by your blood you will not look any further into this if I tell you?” Talos nodded. “Very well, for it seems that you will not let go until this matter is settled” he yearned, softly clapping. “Living transmutation, like all others, falls under the law of equivalent exchange. The ritual of living transmutation is merely more than just the deconstruction and the reconstruction of the physical. Something else is also transmuted, and that is the soul.” He gave Talos a grave look, “under the laws of equivalent exchange, what do you think the user should pay in order to make a soul?” This caught the Prince’s attention. The physical seemed simple, he gave him that, but it never came across him that a soul would be necessary. Then it came to him: a soul was a concept, something born out of consciousness that was given a label. I think, therefore I am and this kind of statement was born from the highly advanced brain, something that could be reproduced with alchemy. He secretly grinned to himself, laughing where no one could hear him. He was only eight years old, and just there he had figured out what countless other scientists and philosophers had failed to answer, or just too cowardly to even try. Spirits and souls; there was no proof such a thing existed, the mysterious element which all alchemists could not figure out was not real at all, what utter stupidity. “A soul must be priceless according to only known theories of philosophy. It is impossible to bring a soul back from the dead if souls have no cost in the flow of the world” He replied half-heartedly. His lies aside, there was no chance an introverted mind like his teacher’s would understand his conclusions for the matter. Archimedes for once, smiled as if the dog had finally been given his treat. “That is absolutely correct young Prince; living transmutation is unmanageable due to this law. I myself have never heard much of it and definitely have never performed anything to do with it, so my knowledge about it is limited so I am sorry I cannot provide you with further details.” He bowed respectfully, “But I hope I have convinced you that it is foolish to even think that such a thing is possible.” Prince Talos just stared into deep space, and after a few minutes of silence spoke. “Yeah, you got me.” The simple truth was that Talos had already known that. In fact, he had already begun researching living transmutation long before, when he got bored with inanimate construction. Suddenly a gust of wind announced the presence of a new player, with wings beating fervently a broad masculine figure landed with gentle manifestation, his palace armour clanking all the way through. Beneath his visor lie eyes that shone with a blazing crimson tint, his groomed black feathers radiating an aura of elitist status. He wasted no time at all lowering himself to his superiors, addressing the two with a voice to gentle to match his war-like stature. “Forgive me for intruding on your personal lessons Prince Talos, but her highness has wished to see you and has asked me to forward a request if that would be alright with you.” Talos’s eyes widened, “she’s here? I thought she was hospitalized.” “It took her a solid fifteen minutes to persuade the doctors, she insisted on seeing you outside, the doctors says she’ll be fine as long as it’s not for prolonged hours.” His sister had come to see him, and in her bed-ridden state. Talos didn’t know whether to cry or smile but one thing he knew for sure, he wanted to see her too. “Yes, I would like to see her.” The guard smiled and gave him a nod before taking flight once more and speeding into the distance. A few minutes later, the same guard appeared, supporting a female Griffon with a simple platinum chest piece around her neck who walked with heavy steps. Her eyes were dull, paled to the point you could not tell if she was blind while her brown feathers shed periodically by her side. The 56th heir to the throne of the Griffon Kingdoms and first-born child to his majesty Emperor Clawdus, pulling a wooden trolley beside her that carried her life-support. Talos wasted no time to run for her, spreading his wings and gliding gently towards her as they embraced in each other’s arms. Reaching for his pipe, he exhaled a puff of smoke, content at watching the two from a distance, watching as they conversed in words he could not hear. What those words were, he did not know. The old alchemist never experienced having a brother or sister, but words alone that could change the Talos into a normal child qualified more than enough to be magic. He took a gander at the young fledgling before him, quite different from the narcissistic prodigy that once stood in his place. That was what his sister meant to him. He smiled with naivety whenever she was around; acting as if he was freed from chains he could not see. He had seen them talk before; more or less always it was her sister lying down with Talos at her side, but you could never paint such happiness as he expressed, for that was the smile of being acknowledged and to be loved. His smile quickly faltered at the thought of her highness. Sickened by a disease since she hatched, she only became feebler as time progressed. Griffon medicinal practices, even Equestrian doctors for that matter, could not treat her ailment and as a result she slowly wasted away in her chambers with no friends or family. Talos changed that, and he brought her happiness as she did to him and forged a bond inseparable by nature and it was by this act she begged him to do whatever he could do to sustain her dying form with alchemy. It was miraculous to Archimedes how her eyes, who once embraced fate, now tried so desperately to cling onto whatever life she had left in her to see her brother, even if was just to see him grow older for just one day. He sighed, fuming the exhaust of his pipe. Talos had no clue that she kept her sickness hidden from him, and for his attendants to do the same. She was too caring, just as she always was. Archimedes was an old bird, and for years as the chief alchemist of the Royal household he would always hoot the same message at her highness to tell him the truth. He wasn’t somebody you could fool for long, yet somehow Talos had already past eight years without realizing. Whether or not he chose not to believe it was entirely up to speculation. There was no doubt in his mind that her visit had reason for being out of place: she wanted to see her brother one last time should the experiment fail. But still, it was crucial that Talos was to be brought back into reality from his utopian world; lest his ever-soaring heart be shattered forever. To no avail, she always gave him the same answer. “I want him to be happy when I am here, worrying does nobody any good.” He was an alchemist, he believed in the theory of Equivalent Exchange and that if one was to gain something that something of equal value must be taken. It was law that governed the universe and impossible to violate, Archimedes knew this and never questioned it. But every time he looked at those two, how could one not think that law was so inexplicable cruel? They gained happiness that would only last for so long, how could her precious soul be only worth that? He refused to believe it so, and so agreed to an experimental medical transmutation In his train of thoughts, it became shattered as he noticed the two walking towards him. He shelved his feelings away and masked himself with a smile, bowing down graciously before the Royal family. “It is good to see you out of internment, Princess Talia.” Her worn face replied with a smirk, her wings spreading across her brother. “It is good to see you as well grand alchemist, you fare much better in sunlight than in the light of the dingy hospital rooms.” She said cheekily. Archimedes chuckled, “I am glad such rooms have not extinguished your sense of humour.” Talos tugged at the Princess’s side with a pout face, “enough walk with this old geezer Tal, you said you wanted to see some alchemy remember? I practised a lot more since last time.” His sister smiled at her brother’s enthusiasm, “Of course Talos, you know how much I love seeing your alchemy. As long as you keep it simple this time, it took father forever to get those ceramics fixed last time.” She giggled, thinking back on the accident at the harbour. Talos wasted no time at all, instantly getting onto all fours and already clawing at the dirt with fervent ferocity. He forced himself to slow down in order to get his basics straightened out first. First there needed to be a circle, in which to act as the sort of channel to turn the earth’s energies to your own needs and to tap into the cyclical flow of the world. He circled his claw around skilfully until he got a circle of a desirable shape and began to think. There has to be a rune, something to shape the energy into changing the material. He traced out a simple hexagram, tracing it deeply into the dirt and getting the sides to perfectly touch the edge of the circle. The shape represented control over the four classic elements of fire, water, earth and air and though he didn’t need anything to do with fire, water or air, he believed that showing off never hurt anyone. Now this was a complete - albeit basic- transmutations circle, one that was ready to start the process of Equivalent Exchange and where the real fun began. He connected himself with the circle, placing his claws on the circle and feeling the gist of the dirt within it. This art was so much more than changing the shape of a material into something new; he needed to understand the composition of dirt in order to change it, both chemically and physically. The materials that he had in mind would need to be broken down from the minerals within the soil: tiny fragments of quartz and clay so small it was almost impossible to see with the naked eye. At the thought, the circle began to glow with a blue tinge, coupled with sparkling blue electricity that emanated from the edge: alchemical reactions. He could feel the composition of the dirt being rearranged until he was left with something malleable, something he could use to reconstruct it. A simple shape, a griffon would have to do. He felt himself guiding the malleable, deconstructed mineral into its new form and pictured himself. When the shape had been created, he felt his connection to the earth severed and the light fade away. “Excellent, and might I add the craftsmanship is exquisite young prince.” Archimedes complimented. Talos opened his eyes to see that within his dirt circle was a small clay pendant with an intricate design carved in it, a shape that resembled a heart. Around the statue the dirt had caved in, supposedly due to the absence of some soil being turned into water, oxygen or biomass due to extraction. It was in a way a very simple example of Equivalent exchange, as soil had been sacrificed in order to make something new: the clay pendant. “Look,” Talos went and picked up the pendant, handing it to his sister. It was basic, just as she’d asked, but he alchemically carved their names onto it for extra measure. “this is just something I’ll throw away later, it’s a bit dirty since it’s made out of clay, but maybe next time I can get something like iron to make a-“ Talos’s words trailed off as he noticed his sister looked like she was on the verge of tears. “What’s wrong, don’t you like it? I can make something else if you want.” He felt a surge of guilt for his stupidity gifting his sister with a piece of clay; he might as well have given her stones. “That’s not it,” she sniffed. Her brother always brought her gifts made from alchemy; ever since he could start drawing transmutation circles he insistently gave her statues and various forms of art. Despite the quality, many of his gifts were derived from stones or cheap metals but nevertheless she always kept his precious gifts close to her at hospital, with the other gifts stored away in the bottom drawer. Rummaging through happy memories, she dried her tears from notice. “I didn’t think you would improve so fast; I guess you are a prodigy after all.” She admitted quietly. “This looks beautiful Talos, it reminds me of you. Do you mind I keep it?” she asked. In his talons was a mere clay object with a ring around the top for a strong to be attached. She was given gifts of precious jewels which had been handcrafted by merchants that travelled the eastern sea to get here, not to mention her platinum necklace– a sanctified relic that had been handed down to each heir of the throne since the days of ancient times. It was absolutely priceless in terms of value and in design. His clay piece was nothing compared to those, but she was reminded of what the value of a gift truly was. Houses of nobility always gave her gifts of gold and silver, encrusted with rare jewels and fragmented with the incense that reminded her of faraway lands of the desert oasis and calm seaside; it was surprising to realize how worthless they all were. All of them were delivered by faceless servants and unheard whispers, and in the end she was left alone day after day. Her only birthdays were attended by Talos, who always went out of his way to go visit her. He skipped lessons, ran away from his room at night and even drugged a bodyguard using alchemy to talk to her, discuss personal things that Talos never showed to anyone else. He gave her a gift that was much more than shiny stones or meaningless crafts: he gave her the gift to understand what life was truly meant for, a life with others whom you cared for. “Sure I guess.” With a nod she promptly unclicked the mechanism which held the platinum locket on her chest, which was not taken to lightly by the palace guard. “With all due respect you highness, the locket should not be removed under any circumstances.” This was certainly true, for the relic not only symbolized the great wealth of the nation but also signified the stability of the Royal household, even in mythology it had the ability to ward off civil war. There was a law for the heir to wear the relic, from birth to ascension which could not be challenged except by the permission from the emperor’s direct word. “Talia, I thought you weren’t supposed to remove that.” Her brother whispered. She laughed weakly, twirling the crafted piece of metal in her claws. “And I wasn’t supposed to be here in the first place too. I’m sure they’ll let me wear this one after they see how beautiful it is Talos, I didn’t like the necklace that much anyway.” She assured. She motioned her guard to take the platinum locket, which he complied with hesitant expression. Her brother’s eyes lit up with that statement. “Do you really mean that Talia?” “Of course I do, I would never lie to you.” She smiled warmly. The rest of the day seemed like a dream, sitting by her sister in the open fields of the garden as sunset loomed overhead. They talked a lot, thinking about the past and present, but mostly on the future and all the beautiful possibilities that would soon arrive. It was a timeless place at that moment, the moment of stillness in the moment of when the dew struck the water’s surface, memories rippling in both their minds. She would scold him to make some friends, and the Prince would complain that military training was boring but in the end, there was always laughter to be shared among them. Others changed the world you viewed the world, and Talos, for the longest time, felt safe. As her brother's eyes closed with slumber, the sister whispered in a voice so calm and serene. Talos, half asleep, heard the voice in his dreams, and possibly the last words she would ever speak to him. "I hope we may see each other one day." And so she slept too, among chalky mauve clouds which promised a peaceful night.