The Alchemists

Finland wanted to ask whether Katia was Caspar's former fiancée, but she felt it was not in her place to interfere with other people's personal affairs, but she wanted to know what caused the failure in their relationship.

Katia said that Caspar did not return her love. But, how would that be possible considering that they were engaged for decades...?

"If he didn't love you, why did you leave your family for him?" Finland asked softly. "Isn't it obvious that it is tantamount to hurting yourself?"

"Uhmm... the situation was quite complicated at the time and we had to decide quickly," Katia answered. "I couldn't stay young forever, so I had to make a quick decision whether to follow him or not."

Katia sipped her tea slowly and closed her eyes. She remembered the events of decades ago just like it was yesterday. The most memorable was when Caspar told her that he was an Alchemist, able to live forever.

At first she thought Caspar was joking. But all the evidence he presented convinced Katia that the man was telling the truth.

"Why... why did you tell me all this?" Katia asked at the time. She could still hear his words in her head, word for word:

"Because... I think... I love you." Caspar fixed his gaze on Katia's eyes. "After my parents died, you're the one I feel most comfortable with. I don't know yet if I want to spend my whole life with you, but if I don't make a quick decision, in a few years you will age and die... and I can't take that risk. I wish to give you my family's secret potion, so you can stay young like this, for as long as you want. You will not age, just like us. And as we go along, we can asses our feelings for each other..."

This happened 50 years ago, when Katia chose Caspar and left her family. Katia became forever young to be with the man she loved, but finally, bitterly, she realized that after half a century, Caspar was still unsure about his feelings for her. It hurt her so much that she didn't want to wait any longer and decided to leave.

Katia opened her sad eyes and found Finland looking at her questioningly.

She then smiled faintly, "Don't make the same mistakes like I did. Now I don't have anyone anymore. Never completely surrender your heart and life to a man. You never know what the future brings."

Finland nodded.

Her head was full with questions when she returned home. She felt sorry for Katia. When she entered the pavilion, Finland remembered that Ms. Law told her that the pavilion she occupied used to be Katia's place to paint.

That meant that Katia used to live in this mansion with Caspar...

If Caspar hadn't kept their relationship hanging for decades, maybe Katia would have become his wife now.

Finland suddenly felt very guilty about living in such a beautiful place over the suffering of another woman. She did not see the black Maybach parked in the front yard because her mind was frantic and she went straight to her pavilion.

"Finland..."

Finland raised her face toward the voice and was surprised to see Caspar on the terrace of her pavilion. His face looked calm and serene.

"What are you doing here?"

"This is my house..." Caspar answered calmly.

"Oh... do you want to move back in?"

"Right."

"Then I have to move out ..."

"Why do you have to move out?"

"Because..." Finland couldn't find the right answer. "I thought you want me to get out of here..."

Caspar shook his head. He approached Finland and unexpectedly hugged the girl very tightly, and then softly he loosened his embrace so that Finland could breathe.

"I don't want you to get out of here. I want to move in here so I can see you every day. So we can spend more time together. So you can see that you don't need to fear me... I'm in no hurry, and I want to wait until you believe me and you are ready to accept me."