Elestryll's Alchemy Training

[Elestryll Du'laine]

Mid-morning of Brightening 10, Cycle 2 of Immanis
Season of Spring, Era II
Era XI Post Fractum

Elestryll walked up the cobblestone path to the alchemists home. Today was the day he would begin his training in the alchemical arts. He would learn a trade, and his training would be an outlet for his emotions. Hopefully by throwing himself into his studies, he would be able to move on. He knew that he would never be fully over losing his beloved, but, he also knew that he had to move past that grief.

Upon reaching the door, he knocked, as he had the day before. And, as the day before, the young woman answered and once again led him to the alchemists workroom. He stood silently, waiting for the alchemist to begin his lessons.

[Peach]

How many of those plagued by unquenchable emotion allowed themselves to melt into one aspect of their lives, using it as a cure for past wrongs? It was not surprising that so many masters were recluse, seemingly stoic and unfeeling to the rest of the world. They had begun their trade for the singular reason of allowing that intangible sensation to vanish, or at least had their early eagerness replaced by a more mortal objective. Even before Elestryll had become a novice, before he had set a single hand upon the tools that would be used in the most basic of ways, he already had the mentality of one who had been practicing for many a pattern.

It was hard to tell if this was a good thing or not, beneficial to the skill that he wished to learn… It meant that focusing upon his studies would be all the easier, but a certain amount of passion was required for one to reach true perfection. At least, that was, if they cared to near this seemingly impossible rank. As the elves began to mingle further with humans, some traditionalists believed that laziness was rubbing off upon their dark brethren. Society no longer called for what it used to, replacing an unforgiving wall with the most rudimentary forms of compassion. As Elestryll entered the room, simply looking at the master of alchemy was enough to tell him that he was one of those so unwilling to let go of old traditions.

Enchanting eyes were closed, forehead hanging over fingertips that were resting in a patient steeple. Sensitive ears, longer and sharper than those of the light elves, detected the prospective student as he neared the desk. Aelantirial raised his head, eyes opening to take in the familiar, and somewhat promising, sight. He motioned gracefully to a chair opposite his, one of dark wood and fine craftsmanship, with no cushion to speak of. “So you wish to study Alchemy… I warn you, the things that you learn will be rather different from the propaganda that the church spews. This is beyond arcana, beyond theology; what you realize here will open many closed doors that have previously blocked your path.”

The Esh’laheir leaned back in his seat, tall frame dwarfed against the high back that soared above his head. “Are you ready to face these unknown concepts?” His question hung in the air, ending as abruptly as it had begun. The curt words sounded strangely prophetic, as if Aelan could peer into his student’s misgivings. That was, indeed, if he had any.

[Elestryll Du'laine]

Many emotions and thoughts raged in Elestryll's mind, but, whether or not he had the passion necessary to master his chosen craft. Indeed, he had, in truth, an over abundance of passion. All of which would be applied to his studies.

He moved to the indicated chair and sat down, his attention fully on Aelantirial. He listened closely to the alchemists words, his nose scrunching slightly at the mention of the church. He had no further use for such things. The gods had left him with an empty heart, and he would resent them always.

With a strong, confident voice, Elestryll answered his teacher, "I have committed myself to learning your trade. I will meet any obstacle placed before me."

[Peach]

The dark elf sighed, twisting his hands together in a single, smooth motion. Long fingers overlapped and were woven together like the finest of tapestries, the tools that had furthered his beloved trade. Of course Elestryll was ready… The question that Aelan had asked, in itself, was nothing but redundant. Until his student had tried his hand at the arts, he would have no inkling as to their true purpose and power, along with his worthiness to play with nature and its balance. He would succeed, or he would fail; there would be nothing earth-shaking about either outcome. If the work was too much, then he simply would not have enough skill to apply it to the wrong purposes.

No, there was nothing wrong about taking on this fresh being, molding him into what he so readily wished to become. Likely, with the natural course of things, goals would change and so would personality… None of this mattered, not when they were so small and insignificant in a wave of humanity. This wasn’t exactly a notion that Aelantirial was bitter about: he had long since come to accept its undying truth. For every life, there was a death. For every beginning, there was an end. Once more, he began to speak in his drawling way of lecture, even the sharpest of syllables becoming rounded and poetic. Every once in a while, the alchemist would flick dexterous fingers to make his point, or raise a pale brow for emphasis. Even sitting there, hardly moving at all, he seemed to dance.

“Rid yourself of the delusion that anything in this world is good, or evil. It is a balance, one thing equating the other, till we reach a state close enough towards an infinite and perfect flow. Whatever drove you to this, that tragedy that you wish to make amends for… If you keep using it to drive you along, your studies will defeat their very purpose.” From the table, Aelan picked up a small piece of parchment and held it out for Elestryll. It was a drawing of a snake, its teeth clamped about and gnawing at its tail. Behind it there was the silhouette of a verdant tree, its branches extending broad and full.

“This is Ouroboros. I am sure that you can discern the meaning of the snake.” Esh’laheir rarely ever had problems with this concept; the hints of darkness and light in their blood made it easy to see the world as gray. “The object behind it, the Tree of Life, represents the ultimate truth. That is what we look for in our studies, the sight of which we must never lose. Alchemy is the search for the hidden meaning inside of every revelation of Telath. The gold inside of lead, the golem awaiting in still clay. Do you have any questions so far, then?”

[Elestryll Du'laine]

Elestryll listened to the alchemists words, absorbing all the older man had to say. He understood the snake's meaning; indeed, that very concept was proven by his even being here. Each end brings a new beginning, and that is what this was. A new beginning.

He heard also the mans words about not using his tragedy to drive him on, though he let that slip past him without much merit. In his mind, that very tragedy is what would inspire him to learn. After all, did he not have a goal? A goal that he would keep secret until it was achieved.

No, I have no questions as of yet. Please continue."

[Peach]

A scrutinizing eye was set upon Elestryll as he gave his nonchalant reply of silence, sitting in his chair as if they world was not changing with every moment. He didn’t leap to agree with the Alchemist, nodding a pale head as if he were a child attending the early years of grammaticus school. No matter how much this one was taught, he would still remain stubborn, learning his craft while never truly pouring himself into the real goals that a pure scientist would wish to achieve. Aelan looked away from him, towards the rows of vials and jars that sat neatly upon polished shelves, his calm face hiding an expression of exasperation. Some day, the child would realize, would abandon what he so eagerly sought in search of profit; they all did, there was no exception to that depressing fact.

The modern world was run by the clink of golden and silver coins, not the search for knowledge or beauty, the fading path to perfection. Tomorrow was something that, even with a lifetime of work, a being could never see. Perhaps Elestryll would be dissappointed by the abilities of his newfound lessons, or maybe he would take them to heart… At the moment, it was hard to tell. The Esh’laheir turned back to his pupil, the picture of unquestioning acceptance. He was the rock at which the ocean churned, never moving throughout the infinite patterns.

“In alchemy, we alter a thing called Materia, or Matter. It is the essence that surrounds you, the thing that makes everything both tangible and spectral. Materia is existence. Touch a stone, and you feel Matter. Breathe the air, and you smell it. As alchemists, we bring out the purest form of this through a variety of techniques… The first of these steps that bring forth Transformation is called Calcination. It involves heating a substance over a flame until it becomes nothing more than ashes.” He brought forth a long parchment and unrolled it until the first technique was readable, sliding the fragile roll of paper over towards Elestryll.

ooc: Here is the thing that Aelan is giving Elestryll to read (: Will be the same throughout the thread.