POV: Rakhit.
Damn that bastard Dorian! He struts around with an air of importance, as if he's better than me, as if he could ever replace me next to Master Artein! How dare he? I was the first apprentice, the most loyal, who supported Artain even before he became the lord's advisor. And now this, uh. parasite, just because he supposedly knows more, has ideas that Artane is attracted to - like those hideous creatures he calls chimeras.
Chimeras! Inhuman experiments on humans, twisted manipulations of flesh and soul. Dorian calls it progress, the path to perfect man. But I know what they really are - monsters. And I am sickened by the ease with which he corrupted a once great and magnanimous alchemist creator, dragging him down this vile path.
And yet... I hate to admit it, but Dorian is clearly a master of his craft. I can see it in the way he commands his surroundings, in the way Artein bows and listens when Dorian speaks, in the way every idea Dorian puts forth becomes a stepping stone to something darker, something more forbidden. Even Artein, however distinguished he may be, follows Dorian like a lamb, enchanted by the promise of the power of knowledge. But I see through Dorian. He holds us back, manipulates us, feeds us exactly enough to make us follow his path rather than his own.
He thinks he can hide his secrets. He thinks I don't notice what he's up to in the late evenings-nights-his personal experiments, his little side projects. But I'm not blind. He may be smart, but Dorian underestimates me. He's reckless, arrogant. He doesn't realize that I've been watching him for a long time.
He's made mistakes. Small ones, but enough for me to get to the truth. He may have deceived Artain, but not me.
But it was inevitable. Thanks to the success of the 'last chimera' - Dorian's twisted creation - Artein, with the lord's blessing, continued to conduct new experiments. And I was dragged into this moral decay as a prisoner. As much as I detested these experiments on humans, I couldn't deny it: Dorian was a genius. A terrifying genius.
I remembered how he'd first described himself, in Artein's words. He had described himself as a madman, hungry for knowledge, unafraid to commit inhuman acts in its name.
At the time, I thought it was arrogance. Now I know it was true. Dorian took our primitive understanding of alchemy-the knowledge that Artain and I had painstakingly gathered-and refined it. He didn't just refine it, he elevated it. While Artain and I stumbled in our experiments, it was Dorian who took us to the next level, and because of him, we advanced in ways I never thought possible. The alchemical transformations we once thought were a dream had become a reality, no matter how twisted.
It was Dorian who first suggested crossing two creatures to create a chimera. I remember how dismissive I was of the idea. And yet here we are. At first, we experimented with animals, gradually pushing the boundaries of what was possible. But then, as if in mockery of the gods, the lord himself allowed us to use prisoners for our alchemical transformations. Moral boundaries were erased so quickly, it was as if they never existed.
And now we're creating monsters. And yet something doesn't add up. How did the Lord know about these experiments? Artain told me we weren't supposed to tell him until we had some tangible, real success. I suspect Dorian had a hand in it again. That conniving bastard. His machinations extend deeper into the walls of this palace than anyone suspects.
So far, we've already created over a dozen chimeras - men and women crossbred with different kinds of animals. Each one was more grotesque than the last, some with the strength of a bear, others with the cunning of a wolf. Each experiment seemed to push the boundaries of what we thought possible, and yet there was something unsettling lurking beneath the surface.
It was the first full-fledged chimera created with a lizard that caught my attention. At first it was subtle, almost imperceptible. The way it looked at Dorian-the way it squinted its eyes like a reptile, the way the muscles under the scaly skin tensed. At first I thought it was nothing special, just an animal's reaction to its surroundings. But then I noticed the same behavior in the other chimeras.
They would peer at him when they thought no one was watching. Their gazes were intense and thoughtful, but there was something else in them too - fear. They seemed to sense something in Dorian that none of us could pick up on.
Strange. Very strange.
I brought it up as if casually in conversation with Artain one evening, suggesting that I could figure out if their reactions to certain people might be part of the transformation. But he brushed it aside, absorbed in his next project. To him, they were just creatures, tools of the army. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something more was going on. Something Dorian hadn't told us about.
The way those chimeras looked at him... It was like they knew something I didn't. Like they understood what he was really capable of. Or worse, maybe they were afraid of what he might become.
Lately, questions had been plaguing me, and a troubling fear had settled deep in my heart. The whispers among the servants and guards hinted at a disturbing trend: people who were even remotely aware of our alchemical research were disappearing in the palace, and in the city itself. And the rumors spread through the city with the speed of wildfire. Friends and acquaintances disappeared without a trace, their absence felt like a cold draft walking through the halls.
Master Artein had changed as well. It had been subtle at first, but now it was obvious. He moved with a kind of mechanical precision, as if some thread was pulling him toward a singular goal: to create an invincible army of chimeras. His eyes, once luminous with curiosity and insight, had faded into a flat, soulless stare, as if he had lost the spark of humanity that had once propelled him.
I couldn't shake the feeling that Dorian was behind it all. His insatiable thirst for knowledge, his unbridled ambition-it was all beginning to blend too much with the chaos unfolding around us. I watched him interact with the chimeras, how they seemed to react to him in ways that sent shivers down my spine. The fear in their eyes was palpable, as if they recognized the darkness in him that I was struggling to uncover.
I caught myself avoiding Dorian rather than trying to uncover his evil intentions whenever I could, but he seemed to be everywhere. His presence hung over the lab like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over our work. Every time I caught a glimpse of him, I wanted to recoil, as if the very air around him was charged with sinister energy.
"Rahit," he addressed me once, and his voice was soft as silk, "you must accept what we are doing. Alchemy is a gift."
But what is this gift whose hands are stained with blood? What is the power that demands the silence of those who dare to question it? I felt the weight of these thoughts pressing down on me, tightening like a noose.
I knew I had to be careful. If I spoke, if I revealed my suspicions about Dorian, I might be among the missing. But silence felt like complicity, and an inner unease told me I was treading a dangerous path.
- Artane," I finally gathered my courage and decided to meet him face to face one late evening, after the last experiment had been completed. - Have you noticed that people are disappearing? What's happening?
He was silent for a moment, looking at me with an absent expression, as if my words were barely getting through to him. "Only the work matters," he replied in an even voice. 'The lord expects results. We cannot afford to be distracted."
That was all he cared about right now. I felt a cold dread sweep over me, realizing I was losing him to this madness as much as anyone else. If he doesn't want to see the truth, then I have to reveal it.
That night I devised a plan. I needed to gather evidence-something to confirm my suspicions about Dorian and his connection to the disappearances. As I lay in bed, shadows danced on the walls, whispering the secrets of the palace. I would no longer let fear paralyze me. I had to act, and as soon as possible.
The cold, damp air enveloped me as I made my way through the maze of basement corridors, my heart racing with each echoing step.
I remembered the conversation that had developed between Lord Valdaric and Dorian:
- You have done a good job building my army, and I would like to know what would speed up the creation of more of these creatures. - Valdaric asked.
- Thank you for your praise my lord, we are honored to have been of service to you. As for the question... Well, it would probably be wonderful if you'd let me have a room, preferably closer to the chimeras. Being near them, I can observe better. Who knows? Maybe I can find something unusual that would speed up the transmutation process. - Dorian replied at the time.
- Ha-ha-ha, aren't you afraid that these things will eat you? - asked the lord with a smirk.
- I'll try not to let that happen, but if anything, all my notes will remain, and Master Artein will be able to continue if that happens, and Rakhit will contribute to the experiment. - Dorian looked at me strangely, with a smile that boded ill.
At the time, I'd thought it was a logical idea. Now, with each step deeper into the palace, I felt more and more afraid. Why had I been so naive? Dorian was always one step ahead, formulating his plans with a cunning that bordered on a certain grace in his intricacies.
As I approached the heavy iron doors at the end of the hallway, I felt a chill run down my spine. This was the prison for our chimeras, the ones we had painstakingly created, at least I thought so. There was an ominous creak of iron as I pushed open the door, but what stood before me sent shivers of terror through my veins.
The cages, once filled with warped forms from our previous experiments, now stood empty. The air was saturated with an unsettling silence. And even the lanky chimeras that were chained to the wall were gone.
"Where are they?" I whispered to myself, feeling panic rising in me. "What have you done, Dorian?"
Suddenly the heavy door behind me slammed shut and I turned around sharply, the sound echoing like a funeral bell. I lunged for the door, pounding my fists on the cold metal, but it wouldn't budge. I was trapped.
- Ah, Rahit," came a voice from the darkness, calm and mocking. Dorian stepped forward, his face illuminated by the dim light of the only flickering torch. - Did you think you could sneak in here without me noticing? You're smarter than that, aren't you?"
"What have you done?" - I spat out, fear replaced by anger. - Where are the chimeras?"
Dorian smirked, amusement flashing in his eyes. - They're not your concern anymore. They're a little busy right now, you can imagine what. But you... you've become a pain to get rid of."
My heart raced as I realized the seriousness of my situation. - You're crazy! This is crazy, Dorian! You've crossed the line!
He stepped closer, a look of feigned sympathy on his face. - Madness? Maybe.
- You're gambling with lives! You're going to destroy everything we've worked for!
Dorian's eyes darkened and he leaned toward me, his voice low and threatening. "What I'm doing is an evolution in the realm of Alchemy. And if you can't see that, then you are truly a fool. You could have been part of something magnificent, but instead you chose to follow the Art, clinging to a dying ideology."
"I won't let you get away with this," I vowed, and determination flared within me. "I will expose you, I will tell Artain and the Lord everything!"
He laughed softly, and the sound sent shivers running down my spine. "Do you think Artain will believe you? He's too far gone, too enamored with my successes. Besides, you won't be able to get out of here."
The cold grip of fear gripped my throat as Dorian's words echoed in my head. My heart raced as I saw the figure that emerged from the shadows, its grotesque and disturbing shape. It was a chimera, but not just any chimera-it was Artain, my mentor, transformed into a terrifying mixture of man and beast.
The sight of him struck me like a physical blow. His once-familiar features were distorted, his face stretched into a dog's face covered in coarse fur, and his eyes glowed with a mixture of recognition and despair.
"Artein!" I shouted, my voice breaking with impatience. "What did he do to you?"
But he was silent for a while, his expression absent, as if he were trying to realize his own existence. Then, with a tremendous effort, he turned his head slightly in my direction, and I noticed something familiar in his gaze. - rR...aa Kh...it..." he wheezed, barely making out the word as he tried to call my name. It sounded strained and incoherent, a mere shadow of the eloquent man I once knew.
"Artein, can you hear me? What happened? Did Dorian do this to you?" I insisted, and desperation filled my words.
«Пп...ро.с.ти...» - заикаясь, произнес он, и это слово дрожало у него на устах. Сама тяжесть его борьбы за общение потрясла меня. Я мог видеть проблеск блестящего ума, скрытого за этими испуганными глазами, заключенного в теле, которое предало его.
"I'm sorry?" - I echoed, my heart aching for the man who had once guided me. - You have nothing to apologize for! It was Dorian's doing; he's the one who betrayed you!
A pained expression appeared on his face; the primal instinct of fear seized him. He struggled against the chains that bound him, a muffled growl escaped his throat, mixed with the remnants of human frustration. - Rachitis... - he exhaled again, the name filled with a mixture of longing and despair.
Before I could answer, the shadows shifted and Dorian came into view again, the corners of his mouth curving into a smirk. - Isn't it marvelous, Rachit? A great artist turned into a mere puppet that he was creating.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked in a voice trembling with anger. "He was your mentor! You should have been grateful to him for rescuing you!"
Dorian laughed softly, but there was no warmth in his voice. - Oh, that's... to be honest, I didn't need any help, I could have gotten out on my own. It was just a chance, and I thought I'd make the most of it. What about you, Rachit? You think you're any different? You stood by and watched, even assisted in these experiments. You were complicit in every act of creation and destruction. Don't play innocent.
"You're wrong." - I spat out.
Dorian's figure loomed in the dim prison light, his back turned as he approached his desk. I heard the rustle of parchment. Meanwhile, the grim reality of my situation was weighing heavily on my chest. I was trapped in this surreal nightmare along with Artain, my once great mentor, who had now become a creature of obedience and fear.
Dorian stepped sprawlingly into the center of the large alchemical circle he had drawn on the floor. He held a red stone in his hand, the surface of which flickered with the torches' light, reflecting it in a way that made it seem to pulse.
- I once met an alchemist who had the exact same stone," he began in a steady and confident voice. - He told me that it had been passed down to him from his teacher, who had gotten it from a sage from the east.
At the mention of this sage, recognition flashed through me. There were rumors among scholars and alchemists about his amazing abilities. This was a man whose knowledge went beyond ordinary practice, who revealed secrets that could change the very nature of alchemy.
Dorian's voice became more animated as he continued. "This sage has created a revolutionary tool that simplifies all alchemical transformations. Imagine no longer having to painstakingly draw circles or calculate exact ratios. With this stone, you can simply mentally visualize the alchemical transformation, and - done! - the result will materialize in front of you."
He picked up the stone, and I felt a chill run through me.
With a confident smile, Dorian focused on the stone, directing his will in the right direction. Slowly a chair began to form beside him, emerging from the floor.
Artein nudged me with his paw, a gesture full of meaning. It was clear he wanted me to sit in the chair.
- Come on, Rakhit. Sit down," Dorian asked, his voice oozing condescension.
As I sat there, chained to the stone chair, a heavy dread seized me, deeper than anything I'd ever experienced before. The stone fetters were cold, unyielding, and held me with a terrible strength that I could not overcome, no matter how hard I tried.
- You see," he continued, pointing to the stone in his hand, "the stone itself, while magnificent, was not eternal. Its power diminishes with each use, and unfortunately for me, there isn't much left of the stone.
My heart was racing. My mouth was dry, but I managed to speak. - What is it made of? - I asked, my voice hoarse with fear.
Dorian's smile grew wider, as if he'd been waiting for that question. - Ah, that's the beauty of it. I studied the stone for years and experimented with countless alchemical processes. But in the end, the answer was much simpler than I expected," He paused, watching me carefully, leaned in and lowered his voice," The secret ingredient is humans. Human souls.
Dorian straightened, his voice sounding casual, as if he were describing a normal scientific process. - The quality of the stone is determined by the number of souls used. You need a lot of people, Rakhit. Hundreds, if not thousands. And the more souls, the better for the stone.
The room spun as I pieced together the facts. I heard stories-the whispers of soldiers, the stories of townspeople-about the last battle between Igrand and Erimor. Two armies, both nearly annihilated. I had always thought it was just war, that the stories of "strange monsters" were nothing more than folklore born of the horror of the battlefield. But now I realize that's not true. Dorian's chimeras. He had tested them on the battlefield, destroying both armies to fuel his alchemy and create the red stone.
"The battle..." I muttered, struggling to choose my words. "It was you. The monsters that killed them all were your chimeras."
Dorian laughed softly, as if my revelation amused him. "Indeed. I could not pass up such an opportunity. Two opposing forces ready to tear each other apart? It was the perfect testing ground for my early creations. Of course, I had to refine the process, but I learned a lot from this experiment. And the many deaths were the catalyst for the alchemical transmutation that followed."
The room was growing colder as Dorian continued. "Now, thanks to your stupidity, and the resources gained in the aftermath, I was able to refine my chimeras even further. They have become stronger, faster, more obedient. Even retained a more human-like appearance than my first specimens."
And in that moment, I was struck by a terrible realization. Apparently I would become one of the objects of his alchemical madness, for I was now sitting inside an alchemical circle.