One day, about a week after Elïas had turned Sixteen, he found himself once again skimming through a set of books tucked far away in the back of the library, for on his birthday, Elías discovered a section of Tomes which he had never noticed before. The shelves here were covered in a thick layer of dust, and the around them the air was heavy with the scent of ancient parchments and aging leathers.
These tomes seemed to be much older than the cathedral itself, their bindings cracked and discolored, some held together by nothing more than frayed leather straps.
His fingers traced the spines of the books one by one, each one offering a promising glimpse into the world beyond Eddervosté. There were titles in all kinds of languages, most he couldn't read even attempt to read, and wonderous symbols etched in fading gold and silver.
Some looked to be about foreign gods; deities with strange names and even stranger rituals. One of these ancient books in particular caught Elías's eye:
It was larger than many of the others, bound in dark purple, almost black leather, the cover embossed with intricate patterns resembling vines and runes that weaved into a chalice. The title on the Tome was barely legible, the script curling and elaborate, but he managed to sound out a single word that seemed all to familiar: **Theology**.
Elías carefully pulled the large book from the shelf, it's weight surprising him.
He carried it to his usual corner by the high arched window, where the light just barely filtered in through the broken stained glass, painting the stone floor in hues of blue, green, and crimson.
Settling into his corner, Elías opened the book, its pages stiff with age as they unfrilled from one another. The text inside was dense, seeming to be filled with accounts of gods worshipped in far-off lands.
There were tales of sun gods who brought light and fire, moon deities who guided lost souls, and shadowy figures that whispered secrets of the unknown.
Though many of them were hard to read or impossible to translate, the passages he saw before him spoke of rituals and sacrifices, of devotion and fear.
One such story told of a god who shaped the first humans from clay, breathing life into them with a single word.
Another recounted the creation of homunculi, artificial beings brought to life by alchemists seeking to imitate powers of the Divine.
Elías's mind raced as he continued to read, and the world around him seemed to fade into the background. He imagined himself far away, as a scholar or a mage, someone who could command the respect he had never known.
As he turned its brittle pages, something unusual caught his attention;
The spine of the book felt oddly thick in one spot compared to the rest of the tome. Curious, he ran his fingers along the binding and found a hidden seam within it.
With a gentle tug, a small folded up scroll slipped free, after being tucked away within the book's spine for god knows how long.
His heart pounded as he unrolled it, the parchment crackling softly as it unfolded.
The scroll was covered in a script unlike any he had seen before:
Arcane symbols and strange diagrams that seemed to shift as he tried to focus on them. At the center of the page was a single entry Elías could read as clear as day…
It was a recipe, written in a language that pulsed with an almost tangible energy.
It described a detailed process, one that promised to create life from inanimate matter.
The ingredients were listed with meticulous precision, each one more bizarre than the last. Elias's eyes widened as he read, his mind struggling to comprehend the enormity of what he held in his hands.
There, in the center of the scroll, was the promise of something extraordinary, something that could change everything.
[ **The Scroll of Vita Æterna: Creation of the Homunculi / Golem**
*By the hand of Alasuel; the Grand Alchemists, Keeper of Forgotten Lore*
**⚜️ Ingredients of Vital Essence:⚜️**
**Pure Clay from amongst a riverbed:**
Harvested under a New Moon, from at least two to six feet deep.
2. **Soil of the Forsaken Earth:**
Harvested from a graveyard at least 10 years old, sanctified under the Full Moon.
3. **Ash of Bone:**
Crafted from the carcass of a goat or deer, whom provided meat for a feast.
4. **Blood of the Womb:** Taken from a female, willing or bound to darkness.
5. **Seed of Man:** The essence of Life distilled; the spark of creation. — Use your own Semen or that of a lovers'. —
6. **Herbs of the Veil:**
- **Mugwort:** To grant your servant sight.
- **Sage:** To ward away any unwanted spirits that may try to intrude or intervene..
- **Thyme:** For vitality and prosperity in the unseen birth.
7. **Mandrake Root Powder:**
A conduit for the embodiment of life, steeped in ancient cries.
**⚜️ Preparing the Vessel of Forthcoming:⚜️**
1. **Crafting the Vessel:**
- using the Clay gathered from beside the riverbed, Begin forming an Urn approximately 6"×5" or 9"×7" to use as your vessel, then coat the inside of the Urn with the graveyard soil before leaving It in a dark place to dry for at least seven days.
- On the night of the 7th day, once the clay has fully hardened, carve each of the following runes three times each on the inside of the jar, using the bone of a crow under a midnight sky.
2. **The Mixture of Creation:**
- In equal parts, blend the **ash of bone** and **graveyard soil** and **clay** in a separate container.
— About three cups of each should do. —
- Once blended evenly, add a handful each of the sacred herbs **mugwort**, **sage**, and **thyme** while chanting:
*"From the shadow of night, to the spark of day, from dust to life. By the ancient path, I summon you."*
3. **Infusion of Essence:**
-After completing the chant, drip the **blood of a witch** into the mixture
— Seven to Nine drops, and no more. Less the creature may become reckless.—
- Stir with care, then add the **seed of man** then stir once more while repeating the chant. ,*"From the shadow of night to the spark of day, from dust to life. By the ancient path, I summon you."*
— One fresh, full measure should be enough to bind the spark of life. —
4. **Filling the Vessel:**
- Use your hands to shape the completed mixture into the form you desire the homunculus to have, and then place The clay doll inside of the inscribed vessel. — keep in mind that this shape will be permanent, so that of a small humanoid may serve you best. —
- Seal the top with a lid and cover that with wax, then adorn it with a circle of **mandrake root powder**.
- Press your hand upon the lid and repeat the chant once more. *"From the shadow of night to the spark of day, from dust to life. By the ancient path, I summon you."*
5. **The Incubation:**
- Bury the vessel in consecrated earth, or store it in a dark warm place for *42 days and nights*.
**⚜️ Awakening of your Homunculus or Golem:⚜️**
Upon dusk of the 42nd night, unearth the vessel under the waxing moon.
Break the seal, and with an iron dagger, draw a drop of your own blood onto the vessel.
*Speak thus:*
*"From ash and earth, through blood and birth, my servant of soil, AWAKEN!"*
— keep in mind that a homunculus is a spiritual being and not one born of natural causes, therefore it is incapable of sleeping on its own. Because of this every one to three nights before you go to sleep, you must place your hand upon the golem's head and give it to the command **GO TO SLEEP** or else the creature may become maddened and attack anyone it sees, including you.— ]
He traced the symbols with his fingers, a spark of excitement igniting in his chest. This was it, what he's been waiting for so long;
The key to something beyond the mundane, and beyond the misery of Eddervosté…
A chance to create his own loyal companion.., to bring forth a being of his own design.
The villagers had always called him a muddle-blood and witch-spawn, and maybe just maybe.. It was time to prove them right, to test the roots of his lineage from which he has never known.
Closing the book carefully, Elias hid the scroll beneath his cloak. His mind racing with plans for the near future.
Over the next few months, he would gather the ingredients in secrecy, follow the scroll's instructions, and see if the ancient promise could be fulfilled.
For the first time, hope bloomed within him. That night Elías left the library that day with a new purpose, the weight of the scroll pressing against his side like a secret waiting to be unleashed.