The Parables of Undique

The Alchemist's Heart

    In a time before, an alchemist, who was fond of simple pleasures, sat in his home, pondering what next to do with his craft. The longer he thought, the further his mind went from his work and the closer it came to the ones he loved. Of these many faces, each as precious as the one before, his heart fell upon three individuals. These were his two brothers, a banker and a carpenter, and a woman, who was his closest and most beloved friend. After weeping for a moment on the love he had for them, he had decided on his next project.

    He went out to the riverbed, outside of town, and gathered three smooth stones, each small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. He brought them back to his home and performed a wonder that one could only describe as magic, although it was discreet from such practices. Into the stones went an energy, replicating a small piece of his heart. The stones gave off a warm glow that faded out, then back in, echoing a heartbeat. Satisfied with his work, the alchemist invited the three his heart had chosen to his home, declaring that there would be food, wine, and merry making upon their arrival. The three were very fond of the alchemist and agreed without hesitation.

    That evening, the banker, the carpenter, and the alchemist's best friend had arrived as they promised and as the alchemist promised, they were met with food, wine, and his loving arms. They went until late at night, laughing and merrymaking, and as the three prepared to leave, the alchemist went before them and presented his gift to them. They each received a smooth stone, glowing warmly in their palms. Then the alchemist spoke.

"In your palm is a gift that I have made with my heart. It is the greatest gift I could ever bestow, so I ask you to cherish it and remember me when in the midst of your endeavors. For my heart has always been with you and this gift will be my testament, that it may stay with you forever."

The three he loved so dearly took the stones in their hands, hugged him, and went on their way through the dark night.

Now it came to pass that the alchemist's brother, who was a banker, had come home from work and found his brother's gift lying on the table, glowing as beautifully as it was when he had received it. Forgetting the words the alchemist had said that night, the banker found no value in this simple stone. He then decided to take it out and sell it to a collector. He happily took a large sum of coin in exchange, thinking the precious stone wouldn't be missed. The next day, the banker went to visit the alchemist in his home. When he arrived, he found his brother collapsed in the corner of his work space, his face pale as the moonlight and his hand clenching his left pectoral. The banker was frightened by this sight and he ran to his brother with haste.

"My brother! What has happened to you? Is it illness?"

The alchemist met him with a blank expression, taking short, weak breaths, barely able to speak.

"My chest......i-is empty......Its missing........W-Where....... is.... my heart?"

The banker was baffled by this response, for how could a man's heart be vacant from his chest and him still breathing? Suddenly, remembering his empty pockets, the words his brother had spoke from that fateful night returned to him. They tormented his memory, taunting him endlessly. Could it be possible that he had sold his brother's heart for coin? He began to sweat heavily as the alchemist continued to stare at him with a cold and vacant expression. The silence was deafening. The banker backed up slowly, staggering as he went, then stumbled out of his brother's house and ran as fast as he could and guilt followed close behind.

       Now it came to pass that on that same day, the alchemist's second brother, who was a carpenter, was sanding the block. He stopped for a moment and pulled the stone his brother had given him from his pocket. Although the thought was nice, the stone itself seemed impractical for any sort of work. After several attempts to find it a use in his craft, he decided that it only took up space. He then grounded to stone into dust, went out, and tossed it into the wind, much like tossing ashes, thinking that the precious stone wouldn't be missed. The dust rode the wind and was scattered across the earth. It was the day after when the carpenter decided to visit his brother, much like the banker, unaware of what he would find. When he arrived, he found the door open ajar. He thought this odd of his brother and began to worry. Slowly opening the front door further and peering inside, he found the alchemist in the same place as his brother, the banker, did. He immediately ran to him, fearing the worst, and his eyes fell upon the pale body, still gasping for air, but this time he began coughing and wincing from the pain as he tightly clutched his chest. The coughing continued and finally, protruding from his lungs and out through the mouth, came a thick, dark liquid. The carpenter looked at it closer and his fears were realized. It was blood, a dark crimson puddle returning a frightened expression back at the carpenter, whose skin now matched the alchemist's, pale as moonlight. The carpenter stared directly into his brother's eyes, glazed over, near lifeless.

"Brother, tell me who did this to you! I shall make them pay!"

The Alchemist's eyes met his as he struggled to bring forth words through his unbearable pain.

"M-My heart....... It.....hurts......as if......it were c-crushed......What....h-has happ-......"

The Alchemist began another series of coughs. More blood was expelled, but what came with it sent chills down his brother's spine. Floating specs left his mouth and floated to the ground....like dust....dark...crimson....dust. The carpenter began to tremble, shaking his head frantically. It couldn't be so!! It was impossible!! How could he have possibly crushed his own brother's heart!? Then the words that haunted the banker began haunting him, the same sickening chant. " I have made with my heart." " I have made with my heart!" I have made with my heart!!" The carpenter doubled over and vomited on the floor of the alchemist's work space, then did as the banker did and ran, guilt shadowing him as he went.

      As for the girl, she had always been the alchemist's closest companion. From the day she was given that simple, glowing stone, she held it close to her. It never left her side and she would often hold it to her bosom whenever she missed her dear friend. True, it had no value outside of the bond they shared, but their bond was so strong, that the stone had more value than anything else she possessed. That is why when the stone grew dim, she knew something had happened. She traveled with great haste to the home of the alchemist, so far away from her current residence, and was met with a horrible stench at his open doorway. The stench of vomit and who knows what else. She entered, finding the anticipated puddle of vomit, followed by a larger puddle of blood and finally, the still living body of her dearest friend. She ran to him and gently lifted his head, resting it on her bosom.

"What has happened to you? I fear that I may already know....."

She did in-fact know. The moment she saw her fading stone, she knew his heart was in pain and she felt it as well, though not as profoundly.

"Why would you do this to yourself, love? Surely you knew the risk you were taking. Now, you lay here and suffer and my heart aches with yours."

The alchemist slowly raised his head and gave his best friend one final, warm smile.

"My friend, keeper of my heart, know that I could not ask for a greater death. For should a man die of a broken heart, he can be certain that he has given it away. You and my two brothers are worth bearing the pain of betrayal for eternity, but I have been spared. Weep not for me. You have my love always. Go and tell them to leave their sorrow behind. I have forgiven them and love them without end."

Peacefully, the alchemist died in the girl's arms. She held his body for a very long time and wept softly.