Amon paced around as he continued, "...however that is for one's own soul. And I doubt after the Lichification process one would still be able to call themselves human. I still wish to enjoy the taste of steak and drink sweet wine."
Athena asked seductively, "What about other pleasures?"
"Definitely I shall engage," Amon replied with a smile, making Athena chuckle a bit.
Amon continued, "Vampires already possess a similar type of immortality I search for. They lack senescence, they can regenerate lost limbs and even remain alive with their heads detached from their body. But I see those creatures as a failed experiment because of their uncontrollable thirst for human blood. I have researched exactly what they look for in human blood, and whether it helps them maintain their longevity. At the end of the research, I found that they could live perfectly fine without human blood and their 'delusive' need for it is a psychological problem with genetic roots. They drew out the Life-force of humans as they drew blood despite having enough already as a vampire."
Athena led the conversation forward by asking, "So how did you proceed with the crystallization of the soul? And where does the fragment of the stele of Moroloi come into play?"
Amon ripped the upper garment of the boy on the operating table as he answered, "...The fragment of the stele of Moroloi I possess does not provide the full procedure of the crystallization of the soul, but what it does possess happens to be more than enough because like I said before, I do not plan to crystallize my soul…"
Amon rubbed his chin and said with a look of perplexion, "However, there is still a character I cannot understand and no ancient text refers to the meaning of this particular symbol, nor do they have it. Perhaps the exalted one might've seen the character on her stele…"
The old book on the wooden table floated up and made its way to Athena. Athena looked at it with the side of her eye and thought …A spiral, the spiral of life? This should mean natural energy then. This character isn't that rare to find. Oh, so he is prying…
Amon most likely knew the meaning of that character or had an idea about it already but asked as a test to know if Athena was legit. He wanted to see if she was well versed when it came to the Dark Apocrypha like someone with a complete stele would.
Athena looked at the book with scrutinizing eyes before deciding and simply saying, "Life-force. Or as some would like to call it, natural energy."
Amon took out a small note in his pocket and wrote something down, "Life-force? Hmm, I once thought it was the mana of witches. Luckily, the meaning of that character didn't prevent me from finding and understanding the crystallization spell."
"How did you learn of the complete spell if it isn't on your fragment? I am sure you know how dangerous experimenting with Dwergen runes and Draconic texts is." Athena said.
The Dwergen runes were a collection of over 100 mysterious symbols with unknown origins. No one was sure what each rune symbol meant or what effect it had. It's unclear how it got to the Fourth Realm. The symbol combinations in Dwergen are where the true danger lies.
Draconic texts are writings on the Dark Apocrypha. Draconic was said to be the common language of the dragon priests in and is often used as a replacement for Faetum on magic circles in special cases. The Draconic texts tend to be more significant in communicating with non-physical forces than Faetum but it is not fully understood by mages, therefore they rather use one they fully understand.
Experimenting with these symbols and texts that effectively change nature and create unexplainable effects when one does not fully understand them was like asking a knight from the medieval era to pilot an airplane already in flight.
Amon deliberated for a few seconds before answering, "My mentor. She was one of the 100 disciples of which the Supreme Sorcerer—King Solomon, taught. She believed the key to understanding more of the known world was through alchemy."
Athena nodded as she concurred with the notion and commented, "She sounds like a knowledgeable individual. Where might she be now?"
"Dead," Amon said in a low tone, "Hunted by Death Scholars for infiltrating their library and collecting some sacred texts. With the knowledge she got from their library, she created a 9th circle ritual spell using Dwergen runes and Draconic texts to forcefully separate things into their basic components."
"I am trying to modify this spell to forcefully combine things together instead. This is the final step of my 120-year-long research." Amon waved his hand above the dull boy on the operating table and a reddish black magic circle formed above his upper body.
The boy let out a low groan as his chest rose and touched the magic circle. Tiny red droplets floated up from the center of the magic circle and joined together to form a very small red stone.
Amon grabbed it like a hungry man would to a loaf of bread and raised it high and said with all majesty, "Behold, thou exalted one, a red stone that once ingested, maintains your youth for 10 years!"
Athena's eyes widened …This! The life force has been drawn out? The life force in physical form doesn't have a body to use it on! Wait, no… that isn't just Life-force, it's the whole soul! And that should be solidified blood so once ingested it can be digested! The life force becomes yours and the soul essence adds to your spiritual energy. This-This is truly sorcery…
Amon wore a determined look on his face and walked towards Athena as he said, "The redder the stone is, the longer the years are. However, this I not the final product, this red stone in my hand is incomplete! But with your help, exalted one, Athena, I can complete this!
"…That which had been a myth for alchemists and researchers alike, we can manage it! Through the fruits of our blood, sweat, and tears! We can create… the Philosopher's stone!!!"
Athena's lips stretched from ear to ear and said with wide enchanted eyes, "You are a genius, Amon the Immortal Sorcerer! Ahahahahaha…"
Athena took the red stone and held it in her hand and laughed manically with Amon.
Amon was elated and said, "And that is not all! The body is still alive, however, is in a sleep state after the soul has been extracted…"
…Yes, the remaining life force that was already circulating is still there; however, I doubt it's enough to last the body for more than 5 minutes… Athena thought in response to what Amon said.
Amon opened his mouth slightly and a small black and red centipede walked out then made its way to the boy on the operating table then entered his nose.
The evil spirit Amon devoured was a centipede, now he has its powers and characteristics for himself. Witches have mana and this allows them to enter a contract with a spirit creature; but for an average human, this is impossible, not unless they outright devour the spirit creature utilizing the teachings of Geoma (sorcery).
After a few seconds, the boy on the operating table opened his eyes but they were full black and his face was blank of expressions.
…
A/N: Rip kid on the operating table