The Alchemists

Aleksis did not understand why Nicolae was very sure that his future wife wouldn't need the immortality potion. She ask, "Why not?"

But Nicolae only scratched his head and refused to reply. He can't believe he couldn't keep his feelings to himself when it came to Aleksis.

Both Lauriel and Terry understood him immediately, but Aleksis, on the other hand, didn't catch the hint and kept talking. "The point is, we don't need to worry. We can fall in love with anyone, including ordinary people, because Uncle Aldebar has the ingredients to make them immortal, like us."

"I understand," Nicolae nodded again. He looked at Terry and was forced to admit that even now they were still equal competitors. At first, he thought he would win from Terry because he was an immortal and Terry was not. Who knew, apparently Terry was also an immortal like himself.

He then smiled at Terry and decided to be friendly to him. However, even though Terry really annoyed him, the young man was the biological brother of the girl he liked and the relationship between Aleksis and Terry seemed very close. He must not continue to be hostile to Terry.

***

The very nice lunch ended with heartwarming talk about family. Alaric gladly fulfilled Portia and Ned's invitation to stay at their palace for several days so that they could get to know each other better and talk more about their family. Of course, Sophia decided to also stay with him.

"I'm very interested in the system that applies in our clans now," Alaric said after lunch was over. They continued their conversation in the living room, accompanied by a classical music performance and a cup of coffee. "So, at present, there are two groups in the Alchemist clan, right? One group accepts ordinary human beings into the clan and the other one supports the purification of our race, as purists."

"That's right. What is it that interests you?" Sophia asked with a sweet smile.

"Caspar Schneider, the head of the clan, and his sister. They married ordinary people ..." Alaric frowned. "Are their children considered half-bloods, or are they also immortals? Then what about their spouses? Do they separate after their partners grow old and die?"

"Uhm ... it's not like that. Aldebar keeps the formula for the immortality potion. He will give the potion as a gift to the ordinary people who are married to our clan members, so they can also live as immortals," Sophia explained, "His wife and children- Caspar's children have become the same as us now."

"Immortality Potion?" Alaric seemed very interested to hear that.

Sophia looked at Alaric and immediately realized what was on his mind, "You want to ask for the immortality potion from Aldebar for your ordinary human wife?"

Alaric did not reply. He looked away. Sophia's guess was right. He was thinking and missing Aleksis. When he heard that there was a potion that could make ordinary people become immortal, he immediately wanted the potion for himself, so he could give it to Aleksis, so they could live together as immortals, forever.

"Alaric ..." Sophia arranged her sentence carefully so as not to offend Alaric. She knew this was a sensitive matter, "You have to remember that 20 years ago you spent a year trying to kill Caspar. Do you think he would just accept you into the clan if he knew who you really are?"

Alaric was forced to admit that Sophia was right. He knew he could not enter the Alchemists clan and be on Caspar's good side, because he had killed so many of Caspar's men in the past.

Sophia looked at him firmly, "Now that you know who you are ... I want you to choose. If you want to be part of the Alchemists, you have to support us - your family. Otherwise you can try to approach Caspar and ask for an immortality potion for your wife. If you choose to take their side ... Then the relationship between us ends. Portia, Ned and I have decided to separate ourselves from them, because it turns out that their life choices are very different from ours. You also have to remember that it is very unlikely that Caspar will accept you after what you did to him 20 years ago."

Alaric returned Sophia's gaze coldly. Her words couldn't intimidate him. He thought carefully about Sophia's words and his intelligent brain immediately made a calculation.

"I don't want to be part of your war. That has nothing to do with me," Alaric said in a cold voice. "I am a businessman and I have my own goals. As long as our path together will benefit me, I will continue to go along with you. But I will not sacrifice myself and my ambition to side with anyone in the clan's internal conflict. I have lived alone for almost 100 years and I did just fine without being part of the Alchemist clan."

Sophia was stunned by Alaric's words. She did not think that Alaric would brush her words off so easily. Seeing how Alaric was very happy to meet Portia and know about his origins, Sophia thought that Alaric would immediately be eager to join their team. It turned out that Alaric only thought of himself and didn't even care about the purists and their goals, like Sophia.

"What do you mean?" Sophia asked in a rather angry tone. "Don't you respect us as your family?"

"I respect you as my family, and I will support you, but for the affairs of this clan, I cannot take sides. Right now my main focus is our automation project. I don't want to be distracted by the clan's internal conflicts that I have nothing to do with."

"Hmm ..." Sophia knew she had to find another way to get Alaric to join the Purists and destroy Caspar's family. "Then ... why don't you do it for your wife?"

"What do you mean?" Alaric asked.

"What we really want is to get rid of the Schneider family and to take the formula of the immortality potion so we can destroy it. That way our clan can no longer accept outsiders." The beautiful girl with purple eyes then smiled very sweetly. Alaric could see her purple eyes glowing with excitement as she spoke, "We will make an exception for you. Before the formula is destroyed, we will make just one last potion, for your wife, so that she can live forever with you. How about that?"

Alaric finally understood Sophia's intentions.

"I myself can force Aldebar to make it for me ..." he said nonchalantly.

"Please try and see if you can force Aldebar to do something for you." Sophia grinned sarcastically, "You can never even find Aldebar without our help. He is the most mysterious person whose existence could not be traced. He would only come forth if someone as important as Portia or Ned asked to see him."

Alaric's heart began to waver. He knew he would never be able to approach to Caspar and apologize for what had happened 20 years ago. His chance to get the immortality potion for Aleksis was only by violence. He had to capture Aldebar and force him to make one dose for him.

But if he couldn't find Aldebar ... how could he execute his plan?

Alaric pondered for a long time, thinking about the pros and cons of each option. He was very happy when he heard that there was a magic potion that could turn an ordinary person into an immortal like him. He immediately thought about Aleksis, the only woman he loved in this world.

He had accepted the fact that someday Aleksis would age and die, leaving him alone after a few decades ... But now, knowing that there was a way for the two of them to live happily ever after … knowing that they could be young and together forever … oh Lord ... his heart was tempted.