CH 9 – A Finished Brew

Two weeks had passed them by, Savin had soon recovered and was now able to limp around the Chamber corridors. She had become annoyed when Marcellus started constantly asking if she would like some help walking. Though Savin knew he was just trying to be polite, what she didn't know was Marcellus' profound guilt for the situation. Constant thoughts bothered him to whether he should have done something sooner or not.

But they both pressed on, ignoring the past event in the forest.

Marcellus and Savin had been busy tending the delicate tincture that so desperately needed their constant attention.

He was furiously taking down notes on the various smelling fumes and the changing colours the brew had made in the past hour. The observations were endless.. It was a very complicated thing, everlasting life.

The large book that only he insisted on writing in, was now full with notes neatly spilling into the margins.

"can't I take a break?" Savin yawned while stirring the now deep purple concoction. Marcellus gasped, "it has changed once again, I think it might soon be ready."

A curious thought occurred to her in that moment, "what are you going to do with the tincture after we've finished?" A silence overtook the Chamber, the bubbling of the tincture becoming an irritating addition to the silence.

"Are you.. Thinking of drinking it yourself?"

"Well, there is only one way to test such a thing." His good mood faded, yes Marcellus had thought of such a thing, the endless complications and all that could possibly backfire. The thing that bothered him most was if he decided to drink the elixir of life, he would inevitably outlive those he loved. And what for?

"And, what happens then?"

Dark eyes locked with Savin's bright blue ones, "I don't know."

The brew started to bubble over, "it's ready!" Marcellus stood abruptly, knocking over a pile of books and scrambling to the cauldron. Grabbing a pair of (not so fashionable) fireproof gloves, he quickly took the cauldron off the still burning fire and onto a cooler heat. The elixir was slowly turning a sparkling gold, it had indeed worked.

He looked to Savin as if to check she was okay. There was no response. She wasn't sure if she liked the idea of living forever, for anyone.

Separating a small vial from the original brew, they studied it carefully and Marcellus' face hardened.

"There's no going back now.."

"Marcellus, there will be no going back after you do this. You know that."

"I know." Savin reached for Marcellus' hand, but stopped herself as he turned and smiled, unsure of his actions.

"I wouldn't stop you if you'd like to drink it with me." He said, still unsure. Savin started to think of what life would be like after drinking the elixir. Outliving loved ones wasn't a problem, there was no one to outlive. The thought of living without anyone forever was a scary thought.

"I.. I don't know. It's a scary thought, being alone."

Marcellus became quiet, "if we drink it together" he paused, "we won't be."

A slight blush tinged Savin's cheek and a swirl of thoughts ran rampantly through her head.

What could she possibly loose? She had no loved ones that she knew of, no home, no purpose. Nothing to loose.

"What could possibly go wrong?" She said with an uneasy smile.

Marcellus and Savin had yet to learn their tincture was flawed, though they both sipped from the vial either way.