Pial is an old alchemist nearing the end of his life span. As a defector alchemist from the empire, his reputation isn't so clean anymore. For a master alchemist like him who is able to establish a good brand, the loss in reputation is a big loss for him.
Still, despite that, he will make the same choices as he did before. When Count Galen offers him an olive branch with the savory lure of an elixir formula that can extend lifespan, Pial cannot help but fall to the temptation.
Who doesn't want a longer lifespan?
Pial researches methods of increasing his lifespan, however, his efforts are futile. It is just impossible for him. As a human, he only has barely over a hundred years' worth of life. It isn't really a precise measurement either, because of the health issues and external elements that will affect his vitality.
"That hateful elf is really greedy! He cannot even share to me his formula with me!"
Remembering a certain elf, Pial grinds his molars. The elves are such a hateful race. They already have a long lifespan, and now they have an elixir! An elixir!? Pial swears the divines above are just so unfair. As an atheist though, he is not someone to talk about gods or the sort.
"But I must admit, that Allenwood might be hateful but he has talent."
In his research lab secretly under the Urden estate main manor, Pial tirelessly engages in his research. He doesn't even allow himself to rest, as every second of sleep is a waste of time to him now. He will die trying to find the right formula for the elixir if need so.
Every day, Pial grows more obsessed with a desire for a longer life. He won't stop unless he finds a cure for death. A very ungodly thing to do, and yet, people cannot resist the allure of a longer life.
Count Urden is similar to Pial in this way. The only difference between the two is the former chases over folklore, while the latter seeks to create an answer through his own alchemy skills.
Pial sighs as another failure presents itself to him. A Life Potion with a recovery rate over 700% is not worth his attention. He only wants one thing— an elixir that will extend his life.
Though the Life Potion is quite revolutionary, it is just a small achievement for him. Pial has ambitions of his own. If Galen has an ambition of a lord, then Pial has the ambition of an alchemist.
The smell of rare herbs and the burning of a small furnace pervades the lab. The lab is dark and has barely any light. This place doesn't suit an environment for a precious alchemist like him, however, this lab is actually to Pial's request.
Pial seals the new Life Potion to a bottle and labels it with the name 'Flawless Life Potion', and later will exchange it with other benefits from the count. Pial is thinking of dissecting Allenwood, the elf alchemist. To Pial's understanding after playing with elves, he will need to understand the 'mystical properties' of an elf's anatomy.
Allenwood the old elf is the best candidate for Pial's experimentation. Though Pial is reluctant as someday, the old elf might just crack and reveal the formula to him, Pial won't be able to wait for too long thanks to his old age.
Moreover, for all Pial knows, Allenwood is a very stubborn character. Pial would rather believe that the elf will rather bring his elixir formula to the grave than ask for benefits in exchange for the formula.
Cleaning over his utensils, and throwing the trash into a sack, Pial then starts over making his potion. He carefully adjusts the series of burners in front of him and places his pots with all sorts of mixtures on the fire.
The lab remains dark with only glow stones as a source of light. Pial squints his eyes as he throws himself on the task of experimentation not minding the gloomy and dark underground. Pial really means it when he requests this place as his lab.
For a master alchemist, Pial is quite humble and knows to treasure his life. The Imperial Agency after all are a ruthless bunch, and he doesn't dare show his trace to the empire even with a backer like the powerful and ambitious lord like Count Galen.
Speaking of the empire, the King of Beyronald is making quite a big move to endear himself to the current emperor. Pial is not one to bother the politicking, but he feels that dark times are ahead.
In his idle talks with Count Galen, Pial also learns that the lord doesn't have any intention to provoke the empire, unlike the current King. Galen and Pial don't have a common interest, but they can amicably form a partnership in the name of mutual benefits.
The fact that the two share the same perspective on the empire might be a factor in this partnership, however. Pial removes his mind from the bothersome affairs of the empire and the count.
Pial only wants to busy himself with researching the elixir.
Surrounding Pial are organs floating in embalming liquid. In a strapped bed is an elf boy barely breathing through the most basic life support using the crude application of Life Potions, the elf boy is clearly suffering but he cannot even cry a whimper as Pial has long removed his vocal cords.
The elf boy's body is cut open revealing his organs inside. Pial is studiously comparing the elf's organs' various reactions in a microscopic realm through his own mystic senses.
Mysticism exists in the world, and it is just one among the few various fields that support the development of this world's technology.
Pial extracts the still-awake elf's liver and puts it in a jar of embalming liquid. "Good… I am making steady progress. If I am able to create a medicine that is able to cleanse the body of impurities, then it is theoretically possible to heal the ailing organs that old age brings."
Perusing the various notes, and writing in his own journal, Pial continues to observe his pots of their chemical changes in response to the subtle changing of the flames' temperature, and the additions of various herbs and catalysts. Through his own mystic senses, he observes the changes in the potion with great interest.
It is a crude way to describe it as 'mystic senses', and the more apt way to describe it is as 'sixth senses' which is the term the whole mysticism circle acknowledges. Pial recalls his visit to the Tower of Fire in his youth. "Those philosophical fools would die of envy if they learn that I am able to take a peek at the path of longevity!"
Pial enjoys the sense of grandeur in his heart at the small victory he has…
The elf that Pial is working on convulsed abruptly. White froth escapes his subject's mouth. Pial pitifully looks at another lost ingredient. He comforts his heart aware that there are still more ingredients he can pick from.
"You! Get this waste out! Get me another elf!" Pial's temper has been always bad. The demi-human slave, a lowly goblin brings the dead elf outside the lab. The small goblin turns several corridors until finally, it reaches the graveyard through a narrow stair.
The little goblin works hard to bring the dead elf to the stairs with its little body. Arriving at the graveyard just by the narrow stairs, the goblin then drops the dead elf into an already-prepared pit. Following its muscle memory, the small goblin then works on its job as per its master's order.
Returning to the narrow stairways, the goblin returns underground unaware that a shadow manages to slither and camouflages itself into its own shadow. For just a mere goblin whose intelligence is far lower than orcs, it is impressive for the little goblin to remember the pathways in the underground.
In a few turns, the goblin arrives at the cells where the count is keeping more captive slaves. The goblin relying on his own experience, catches an elf to deliver to its master. Blowing his pipe, a dart with coatings of sleeping anesthetic flies into the air and hits its mark cleanly connecting to an elf girl's neck.
Shortly after, the marked elf falls to sleep. The goblin drags an elf girl by her hair and returns to her master. The goblin with its hardworking attitude and fear of punishment didn't dare dally and drag the elf girl to his master.
For Pial, this is just another session of potion-making.
Create more Life Potions, improve on the formula, and transcend the prior work… until finally, he has an elixir he can call his own and shall save him from death by old age.
Pial's ambition for a new life persists in the maddening darkness of the underground.