Mark of the Fool

Chapter 902: An Eternal Opportunity

“Death’s not gonna take me until I’m damn good and ready for it,” Alexander Roth declared. “As a matter of fact, it won’t ever have me. I’ll have it when I decide it’s time. There’s too much I want to do, too many people I want to spend an eternity with—” He looked at Theresa. “—and too much I want to explore to just let my journey end, not until I decide it’s time to go to the after-world.”

He reached out, picking up a bottle. “So, full disclosure, I’ll be drinking mine.”

“So will I,” Theresa said, reaching for a bottle. “And Alex says that the elixir’s effects will be shared with Brutus.”

“But, the rest of you should think carefully,” Alex said. “Baelin said that immortality comes with its own challenges. It’s not a decision to be made lightly, but it’s one I’ve been thinking about for a long time. So I’m—”

“What in all the hells?” Cedric suddenly shouted. “What, y-just made a potion that let’s y’live forever? Back th’ hells up, that was th’ little project y’was talkin’ about?”

“Oh yeah,” Alex said. “I kept it under wraps for the most part. Baelin said that when a Proper Wizard is doing something like brewing an immortality serum, they tell as few people as possible. So yeah, I kinda kept it quiet.”

Drestra’s jaw was hanging open. “And you mean to just…give us an immortality elixir?”

Alex looked at her in surprise. “Yeah, why not? We all fought Uldar together. We earned this; I knew what I was going to do with Uldar’s divine essence, and I’d be a real piece of shit if I didn’t offer to share the spoils with everyone who fought the Ravener. I even have some extra essence left, in case any of you have loved ones you want to share immortality with. Understand, though, the supply is limited. After the divine essence is gone, if you want any immortality elixir for others you care about, you’re going to have to get your hands on more divine essence, or some golden apples, or the flames of a phoenix. I’ll happily brew it for you, though.”

“Wait, back up, how did you manage to make an elixir so easily?” Drestra’s voice crackled. “This just seems so…sudden.”

Alex smiled. “Not bragging but, I am a very good alchemist, but seriously, I couldn’t have done it without Baelin: he’s the one with the experience.” He thought back to the long hours he’d spent with the chancellor in the lab while he was also in Thameland helping with the clean up, and running his businesses in Generasi. Being in multiple places at once really had its benefits.

“Baelin said that the method we used was one he learned from one of his cabal members. Apparently, if you absorb divine essence—or divine breath, as it's called in some places—you grow closer to immortality and even gain unique powers based on the deific essence you take in.”

He tapped the side of the bottle of elixir he was holding. “We modified that method, though, making sure we removed all traces of the poison inside Uldar’s body, and at the same time, we distilled his deific energy down to its most basic state. Long story short: this potion will make it so that you’ll never die of old age—but there’s a warning that I’ll have to give you—and you’ll also have better senses, you’ll be a lot tougher, heal quicker from non-fatal wounds, and your body will just be stronger all-around. Expect to catch colds a lot less.”

Alex laughed, raising a finger. “But, about the ageing thing: from the moment you drink the elixir, you stop ageing. Which means anyone who’s not fully grown when they drink it, will never grow up. I have some essence set aside for Selina, for her to choose whether she wants to use it or not when she’s older, since there’s no way she’s touching it until she’s finished growing. Baelin told me stories about immortals being trapped in the bodies of children; things never ended well in those stories.”

An eerie silence filled the room.

Finally, Hart blew out a breath. “So…we choose whether or not we wanna become immortal and who we’d want to be immortal with? That’s heavy. Real heavy.”

“Which is why you don’t have to make a choice right this second. Your elixirs will always bewaiting for you until you either drink them, or die. There’ll always be time to make a firm decision,” Alex said soberly. “I want to give everyone a chance to think, to change their mind, to mull it over, and never feel pressured. Baelin warned me that eternal life has its downsides: you’ll watch people you know and love grow old and die, over and over again. Others will target you, looking to steal the secrets of your eternal life. It’s not for everybody, so even if you need decades to think about it…”

He raised his own elixir. “This stuff will reverse your ageing and regenerate your body to its peak of youth and health. You could sip it on your deathbed at the age of a hundred and be back in your twenties in a matter of seconds. Seriously, there’s no downside to waiting. Only choose to take it now if you’re one hundred percent sure.”

Silence lay heavy in the room.

“This is…a lot,” Merzhin said. “I might have something in mind, but I am sure most of us will need time to think—”

“Oh, I’m drinking mine right now!” Thundar snatched up his elixir and wrapped an arm around Drestra’s waist. “My partner’s going to live for thousands of years, I’d be pretty shit if I left her behind. Besides, there are so many planes I want to see. So much travelling and adventure ahead of me. Lots of fights in front of me, and they’ll be a lot easier if I’ve got a stronger, tougher body that’ll never slow down. Yeah, an eternity sounds pretty nice. And besides, you’re part of my cabal, Alex. Couldn’t exactly let you go on while your fearless cabal-leader withers, could I?”

Alex grinned at the smiling minotaur. “You’re the best, my man.”

“I know,” Thundar replied.

Drestra was looking up at her partner, her reptilian eyes very large indeed. She stood on her tiptoes, lifted her veil and pulled him down for a kiss.

“You’re sweet, Thundar,” she smiled, showing her rows of sharp teeth. “Very sweet. I knew I picked a good one in you.”

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She looked at Alex.

“As for me, I think I will take the elixir. What you said about choosing death and not having death choose you…I really liked that and I think I want that for myself, especially if I’m not alone. But, I won’t be drinking it today.”

The Sage of Thameland lifted a hand, flexing her fingers like a claw. “My true form still has more than a thousand years to go before I'm fully grown. I don’t want to stunt myself; when I am at the peak of my power, that’s when I’ll drink my elixir. The Crymlyn’s been flourishing since the war ended. Claygon’s Earth Tillers have made the swamps even more fertile, and there’s less tension between the witches and the rest of the kingdom. Mother says we’re going to have a new age of prosperity, and I want to witness it for generations.”

“Yes!” Thundar cried, lifting the Sage off the ground enthusiastically. “Thundar and Drestra! One thousand years and going! What a life I live!”

She laughed, kissing him again.

Alex smiled warmly.

Prince Khalik cleared his throat.

“I also intend to drink the elixir,” he said. “I have told you what my plans are for the future, and I would very much like all the time in the world to see them come to fruition and beyond. I would also like to spend an eternity with Sinope. Dryads live as long as their trees do. And so, I too, will be drinking mine. Will Najyah share the effects as well?”

Alex nodded. “She’s your familiar. Now, she won’t get as much power from it: blood familiars have a deeper connection to their masters, which is why Brutus will get so much more benefit. But, Najyah should live as long as you do and be tougher than she was before you took the elixir.”

“Glorious!” Prince Khalik’s eyes lit up as he stroked the eagle’s feathers. She nuzzled into his hand. “As for Sinope…” the prince continued. “I will have to discuss this with her.”

“Of course,” Alex said. “Like I said, she’s your loved one. The potion will be available for her.”

“Wonderful!” Prince Khalik went over to Alex and clapped him on the shoulder. “You are an emperor among men!”

“Keep those compliments coming,” Alex laughed.

“Do not!” Isolde quickly jumped in. “If I am going to spend eternity in this cabal, I would not have any of you any more smug than you already are. It would make eternal life feel like an endless march through the hells while I am wearing shoes made of broken glass!”

“Oh, thanks, Isolde.” Alex rolled his eyes. “So, I take it you’re planning on taking the elixir too?”

“Of course,” Isolde said. “One day I might seek to see the after-world…but I want many lifetimes in this one to learn as much as I can. The mysteries of the world and the planes call to me, and I shall need time to learn their secrets.”

“Aye, such a thing suits y’well.” Cedric grinned at her, showing his gold tooth. “I could sees y’becomin’ some livin’ legend for millennia! As for me, though…” He paused, looking at the elixir carefully. I dunno, I need time t’think about all o’ this. It’s a lot, an’ I dunno. I was a warrior just a few years ago, then I was a Hero, fightin’ t’kill the Ravener, an’ now there’s statues goin’ up all over Thameland honourin’ us, an’ now you’re tellin’ me I could live forever, if I wanted.”

He sighed. “Part o’ me jus’ wants t’say yes t’be wit’ Isolde forever an’ t’watch m’ clan prosper. They been doin’ real good after all t’ rebuildin’. They’re gonna b’ stronger than ever, I’m thinkin’, an’ I wanna see where they’ll b’ when th’ wee ones in th’ clan are all grey an’ hav’ their own grandkids…but do I wanna see it while still walkin’ the world, while I’m never changin’? I’m thinkin’ I needs t’be doin’ some long thinkin’ before I accept.”

Isolde kissed Cedric on the cheek. “That is one reason why I love you. You know when to think and when to act.”

He blushed. “Aye, thanks.” He looked at Hart. “How ‘bout you, big guy?”

Hart looked down at the elixir. “I’m going to think about it. All my life has been one big fight. First with the Ash Ravens, then as a Hero; fighting Ravener-spawn, demons, the hidden church, then the blasted Ravener. Now those fights are over, and I don’t know what I wanna do with myself. It’s been, uh, an adjustment. I think I want to live for a bit before I decide if I want to live forever. I’ll also want to see how things go with Tyris.”

“How are things with you two?” Khalik asked.

Hart grinned. “She’s passionate. Very passionate.”

Thundar shuddered.

The minotaur had told a story about what he’d seen when Tyris came back to the Research Castle after the final battle. Apparently, she’d leapt on Hart like a serpent, shoved her tongue down his throat and dragged him off for what she called a ‘Hero’s welcome.’

“So not much has changed there,” Thundar muttered.

“I’ll make sure some divine essence is put aside then,” Alex said. “In case things keep going well between you two, or if you just decide to do it.”

Alex turned to Bjorgrund, Merzhin and Grimloch.

“What about you three?” he asked.

“Yes,” Grimloch rumbled.

Silence stretched on.

“That’s it?”

“Does there need to be anything else?”

“Well,” Alex said. “It’s a big decision.”

To that, Grimloch grinned. “You told me that I could hunt, fight, grow stronger and kill forever. Decision made.”

Alex paused, wondering if maybe making the terrifying sharkman immortal was doing the world a disservice…

Before he could think about it further, Bjorgrund cleared his throat.

“I’m not quite fully grown yet, so I need time to think,” the young giant said. “And I’ll need to talk about it with my father. Life could change a lot. I think I need to learn more about my runes, about life and…how to live.”

“Sounds reasonable,” Alex said.

He turned to Merzhin.

“And you?”

The Saint paused before answering. “And here I thought I was the one who would be most sure, only to find myself the last one to answer.” His eyes were fixed on a bottle for a long time. “Truthfully, I…do not think I want to live forever. I doubt I’ll change my mind either.”

He smiled thinly. “I am the last Saint of Uldar…his symbol glows on my stomach. And my life was Uldar. I grew up praying to him, learning how to serve him and serving him with every fibre of my being. Now I serve Thameland, but…I feel like something of a relic from the past.”

“We might be able to find a way to alter your Mark,” Alex said. “It’d take time, but I have Kelda’s equipment…it’s possible.”

Merzhin shook his head. “Unlike you, I have done things that I regret. Things in Uldar’s name. I do not think I want to forget them, for to do so would be to erase the mistakes of my past. Without those mistakes guiding me, I could end up being a worse man in the future.”

“I think you’re being too harsh on yourself,” Alex said softly.

“Perhaps. Perhaps not. But I will need time to learn. Once Thameland has been rebuilt, I think I shall go on a journey of my own. I wish to learn how to live and what life is before I decide whether to live forever. Though, likely not. I think I would like to live out my natural time—experience it for what it is—and then move on to what comes next. I do not fear it.”

Alex was about to say something, but the sheer amount of conviction in the Saint’s voice stopped him.

In the end, it was Merzhin’s decision.

And he would respect that, while keeping the door open if he changed his mind.

“Then that’s it, then,” Alex said. “Looks like it’ll be me, Theresa, Khalik, Thundar, Isolde and Grimloch taking it now. Drestra’s gonna wait, and the rest of you…well, your elixir will be there for you, if you want it, like I said.”

He turned to his fiancee, his cabal-mates and Grimloch.

Then unstoppered his bottle.

The others took one and did the same.

Alex raised his elixir. “A toast. To life. Simply, to life.”

“To life!” the others said.

They all paused for a moment.

Alex considered the future ahead of him; all the people he would meet, all the journeys he would take, and the wonders he would see and experience. He looked at Theresa, and she smiled at him.

And he would experience all of it with his best friend.

His best friend who, by the end of next summer, would be his wife.

“By the Traveller, I’m lucky,” he whispered.

And together, they drank the elixir.