The greatest work-Solutio
Disclaimer: I do not own Shadow of Destiny or any of its characters
Flashback
"I never thought this journey would change so much.
The fact was it would be a very long journey and it was going to change my whole life. Of course I wasn't thinking about that then. I was dazzled by him and it was difficult to take my mind off Homunculus at the moment.
This was going to be a long journey. For the first time a travel I was looking forward to go."
End of flashback
Homunculus POV
How could I ever imagine that things would go so smoothly to me this time? Since last year when I was trying to ensure my existence I haven't thought fate would be so kind to me. Well, I suppose I must thanks Eike's naivety. Now things are very different and promising,too. It's been only a year since I saw the light of day.I wasn't expecting to be released so soon. This came as a surprise, indeed.
But the greatest surprise this time is my so-called master; this girl has the most unusual behavior. I hadn't have a woman master ever. I don't think this would be possible centuries ago when men dominated this western culture.
"Now, this a most interesting development. If she is going to look for the stone and I become stronger... No more complaining of masters. No breakable body anymore. No more human idiocy... This is a kind of dream.
I must be sealed inside that stone imagining all this", I thought.
But there's something bothering myself deeply. I can't seem to comprehend Clarice's reason for this; why is that she insists on helping me? Certainly if she knew my true nature she wouldn't be so eager to this quest.
Besides, there's the fact she doesn't look like inclined to do her wish. I wonder why? This master makes me confused... My mind keeps trying to understand. Well, I'm not human so what's the matter if I can't understand her line of thinking? Humans are supposed to be predictable, aren't they? My experience tells me I'm not far from the truth. Immortality was getting boring and it looks like a I have a new source of amusement.
"Take your time thinking about your wish my dear. I have all eternity to hear you but I'm afraid you won't have a LONG time to decide. Anyway, I wonder what it'll be when the time comes. I'm very, very curious."
If Clarice proves herself to be the chosen one for the stone I won't have any worries in the future. I must confess the book was a huge surprise. I'm feeling elated by the recent turn of events.
What came over me to tease her in the library, I wonder. No one had been this nervous around me for so long that's almost hilarious. She seems to get confused when I'm near. Never I had a bit of power like this over my former masters. "Enough of fearsome and tyrannical masters". Clarice looks as breakable as myself but I know she isn't. I felt such a strong pull towards her in the library; I never attempted to get this close to a master before. I just couldn't help myself... "Perhaps because the others weren't this beautiful or it's the strong magical aura I feel emanating off her?"
If my suspicions are correct and she is really the descendant of the greatest alchemist of history then this could be the chance I've been always waiting for.
Clarice POV
By the time I got everything ready I couldn't find Homunculus anywhere. "Where are you when I need? He really has the gift to appear wherever I don't want him and now...", I complained.
"Are you ready, Clarice? We really should get going now. Looks like the skies are smiling on us this precise moment or would you prefer to go in the rain?"
I took a glance at the sky and it really was clear, cloudless. This was the best hour for hour trip to "I don't- know-where".
"Where have you been? I've looked for you everywhere. Surely, you can't just disappear out of thin air."
"But I can, you see. I was resting up; my body really tires easily. Holding that book was a great effort of my part. You'll have to carry it from now on."
"What if you need it along the way?", I asked.
"If I do need the guidance of the book you'll have to carry it while I read. I can't risk tiring myself needlessly now in case we need my powers."
I really hope we don't need them,I thought.
"Shall we go, then?", I inquired.
"Sure. But we are going to use a mean of transportation non magical. Let's save magic for later."
I turned the garage's lights on and checked the car. It's fine. It'll probably endure whatever traveling I must do. Don't worry. Once I opened the car's front door I noticed that Homunculus was staring at me with some akin to fear in his red eyes.
"What's wrong?", I said.
"You certainly don't expect me to go like this. It's too much dangerous", he said exasperated.
"It's just a car and besides I'm not a crazy driver. I won't go too fast but I don't think we can go by foot since you tire fast and I don't even know how far we will have to go. Trust me, you'll be safe with me."
He seemed to ponder something for a while, then he entered the passenger's door and sat beside me. I don't know why but being this close to Homunculus made me feel kind of awkward. Since the library incident I've been feeling very aware of his presence. "Don't be dazzled now."
"You have to use the seatbelt", I said.
"Now, now Clarice wasn't you that said I was safe. Why would I need it?"
"My car, my rules", I explained. I went to fasten the seatbelt and what looked to be an easy task became a hard one. I needed to touch him and my hands were trembling so much... I hesitantly touched his shoulder trying to catch the seatbelt that I haven't notice how close I was.
"I think I can do it alone, Clarice. I'm afraid you have too strong of a grip and I don't want to be crushed", he said smirking.
I drew back and revved the engine. "What a predicament. I can't even get near the guy and I feel like my legs are made of jelly. That's great."
We entered the main road minutes later. The sky was black pitch in the horizon and gentle breeze was passing by.
"What are you thinking now? Are you meditating about your undecided wish, Clarice?", he said suddenly.
If only you knew what I've been thinking about you in the last twenty four hours you wouldn't be so eager in asking", I thought.
"I...I was wondering to where exactly we are going. You said to keep going on the main road. How far we must go?"
"Something keeps telling me that it wasn't this you had in your mind. Anyway, I feel we are almost there."
Oh, no. How could he have know? He can't read minds, can he? I must be paranoid. He has no idea that I was thinking all those dirty things. Surely not.
"You feel?You mean you're not sure about where we are going?"
"I following the book's directions and some old histories of legend. We are on the right way... Stop the car right now", he said urgently.
I stopped the engine and got out of the vehicle. There wasn't anything in this part of the road.
"You must be mistaken because I can't see anything here. I think we are lo..."
Then I saw it. The hugest mountain was mere steps in front of me. How is it supposed to be here? This thing isn't in the maps and it's totally odd.
"Do you believe me now? My senses are keener than yours. The presence of magic is undeniably strong and the book is reacting to the mountain."
"How is it possible?",I asked. "I don't remember there was a big mountain like this before."
"Because there wasn't any. The book somehow has materialized the mountain. It was to be inaccessible for those who had not the true book", he explained.
"How do you know that?"
"I know the legends and I've lived thousands of years. You shouldn't be that surprised."
I was relieved at last that we weren't lost. It was good I brought my climbing gear on my pack and I was wearing an outfit that looked the same as Lara Croft's costume in the early stages of Tomb Raider Legends.
However, I didn't feel so great about climbing that seemingly endless mountain.
"How are we going to go to the top? We are going to use your magic to fly over there, right?", I said expectantly.
"No. That's not possible. There is barrier here that prevents me from using my powers. I'm afraid we'll have to do it the hardest way. Perhaps, it is already one of the many trials to get to the stone...", he answered.
"This is no good. I'm sure I could climb it but..."
"So?", he continued.
I didn't like the idea which was forming on my mind but I really had no other choice.
"Homunculus...", I hesitated. "I don't think you can't climb it, no offense."
"What is it that you suggest, then?", he asked.
"I...I'll carry you...", there I said it and regretted it almost instantaneously.
He appeared to be surprised for a moment. He fixed his intense eyes on me for a second; looked like he was considering something.
"I guess I don't have a choice in the matter", he sighed.
At least I had brought two climbing gears with myself. You really expected him to climb this close to you, don't you? Of course I couldn't have foreseen a situation like this. I guess so.
Now came the difficult part.
"Put your arms around me like this", I showed him and put his arms around my shoulders. I was going to give Homunculus a piggyback ride. I noticed how light he was and soft...The world must be crazy, I know.
It was going to be so hard to concentrate with him so close to me. How was I supposed to climb like this, I wondered.
"Are you ready? I'm planning to arrive at the top by dawn", I continued.
"Take care. Don't do anything reckless and don't release me."
"I won't release you", I giggled. "Hold still."
He pressed more his arms but I could feel just a tiny amount of strength. He wasn't going to choke me and for that I felt glad but he was so pressed against my back that I could feel his breath on my neck. I wonder when the temperature raised that much because I was feeling very hot suddenly.
"So, what exactly is going to happen to you when we get the carmot?, I asked trying to distract myself of my impure thoughts.
"I won't be easily broken anymore. I'll be a lot stronger. A little more of freedom somehow I guess."
"I have a feeling that is not all, is it?", I gripped a nearby rock.
"Who knows? It was never attempted before. The book says it is necessary that a mortal and an immortal to enter the chamber."
"What chamber?, I asked. "You haven't told of one before. Oh, I forgot. You didn't tell me anything", I said sarcastically.
"Well, I couldn't. Now we are in the boundaries of this mountain. It's not a big deal anymore."
"You mean that you didn't want to tell me earlier and you said you couldn't", I retorted.
"I couldn't because it would be unnecessary to do so. That way I avoided a lot of questions. Humans are too curious for their own good. Who cares, anyway? It saved you a lot of trouble not knowing what's ahead, believe me."
"Right. You're clever than me. You're the genie after all."
"Now, Clarice don't go for angsty. We are almost there."
"You said that one hour ago."
"Did I? Time is different for each one of us, I think", he smirked.
"Yeah. I won't fall for it again", I said.
After some minutes we had reach the mountain's top. Unbelievable. This place is full of madness, that's the only explanation.
"You see. I told you were close. You should give me more credit, Clarice."
"I don't know what to say. It's been 30 minutes since we began climbing and the mountain... I couldn't even see its top. It's crazy.", I put him down and I instantly lacked his proximity. The air in this mountain is making me feel weird. That must be it.
"We must go, then. How long until we find the stone?", I asked.
"I really don't know. It depends how fast you can pass the chamber of trials, I guess."
"How can you be so sure I can pass these trials? I could fail, you know."
"You won't fail. Only the chosen ones can enter the chamber and since you're alive..."
"Well, I'm not one hundred percent sure about this", I looked at the portico ahead and I saw inscribed these letters:
"The chosen ones may enter but all the others born without the alchemy mark shall perish in endless flames."
"What's that supposed to mean? What mark?", I stopped mid way.
"It's symbolic. We must hurry. I don't think we have more than three days", he continued.
"How do you know that?"
"Do you see the suns above these inscriptions? The meaning is clear."
I noticed the odd drawings above the letters; they did resemble the sun. This meant I was wasting time because of my indecision. At once I ran through the door without worrying about the strange advice written on the portico. Nothing happened when I crossed the door.
"You were right, Homunculus. How did you guess?"
"I didn't guess, I just knew it. Now you must answer something to me.", he said sternly.
"What?", I gulped.
"Tell me Clarice, did your grandfather taught you many things you hadn't idea for what you would use it?", he circled me.
"He taught me martial arts and how to use a sword since I was five. And some old musics with strange words, a bit of alchemy...Why?"
"You really don't know why? How many in your family were accomplished swordsmen?"
It dawned on me. He, my dear grandfather had trained me for... for this?
"Do you mean I had been trained to do this?", I asked incredulously.
"Bingo."
"It can't be", I walked to and fro.
"But it is. You have been trained to fabricate the philosopher's stone. Now we know the main ingredient for it is inside here somewhere. A very special task, indeed", he completed.
I was thorn inside. My mind was in a state of confusion trying to process everything. I wandered aimlessly to the entrance of some kind of cave and...
"Wait. Don't act recklessly around here. These chambers can prove dangerous. You need to stay close", he admonished.
"Is this a cave? It's so dark I can't see anything."
A light erupted of nowhere.
"That was you, Homunculus?", I asked.
"No. I think it is inviting us", he answered.
"Who? You mean the cave?"
"Who knows?", he shrugged off.
I went first and right when I was in the middle of the way saw an enormous boulder. "How can we go on? I don't think it is easy to crack a rock this large."
"Look around you, Clarice. Can you see it?"
I scrutinized my surroundings but I couldn't see nothing off. There wasn't anything remotely useful around... that's when I noticed the long red katana into a far black rock.
"I could use that. Or not..."
"Remember what you have learned. You must remember the old rhymes...the stories", he told.
A word entered my mind. Solutio. Destroy, dissolve the rock.
I ran to the black stone and pulled easily the katana out of it. It so hot. I must do it quickly. I closed the distance between myself and the gigantic rock and as fast as I could unleashed a swift hit against the offending stone.
So suddenly the boulder fragmented itself in a million pieces and the remaining fragments dissolved themselves by the heat of the katana.
"I did it. I liquidated the stone. Now we can pass! I really can't believe it", I said exhilarated.
"Well, that was very impressive. You should believe more in yourself, I think."
I felt an odd sensation in my hands. I left the sword on the floor; I hadn't felt how hot it really was. My hands were normal.
"I have the feeling that only I could have wield that sword."
"Indeed. We are a step closer to our goal", he was staring at me.
I could say he was stunned by the way I pulled that stunt. Even now I couldn't believe, either.
"We should go",I walked through the fragmented rock.
"I really had no reason to be scared before", he laughed.
"What? I didn't know shattered rocks were that funny."
"No harm done, I think", he said it and took my hand.
I froze. He has been touching me whenever the opportunity arises. How can I think straight when he goes and do things like this.
His hands had a feathery touch. He inspected my hands to see if I was hurt. At least I think that was the reason. Then he let go of my hand and stared into my eyes. He averted my gaze seconds later.
"Now it's not the time to be daydreaming, Clarice. Do you want me awake you?"
"N-No. We...I..."
"Let's go then. Ladies first", he barely contained his smile.
I walked ahead and I couldn't help but to smile. I was blushing but happy at the same time. I made him smile for the first time and it was like thousand butterflies were on my stomach. I felt like I had done more than destroy a simple rock, I was feeling as if I had saved the world countless times; I never thought a smile could do that but it did.