Beyond Eternity

DAY 12, MIDDAY

“Now then, where were we?” Asked Claudia to herself.

“You were there atop the watchtower and confronted the prince, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Right, right. Allow me to continue from there.”

“mmm.”

“I knew I couldn't fight against him for he was armed and skilled, but if I was lucky enough, it would’ve been possible for me to steal the artifact just in time from him and either run away or destroy it right there. I took my chances, I tried getting near him, but his sword wouldn't let me, despite my attempts, I couldn't touch him, and during the time we did our little dance, he was slowly but surely opening the vial.”

“And then he drank it.”

“His eyes turned purple.”

Lucas, at the sound of those words began connecting the dots and made presumptions on his head on how it ended while Claudia kept storytelling.

“He had just gained the immortality he so lusted for, for a short moment, he was laughing hysterically as I was frozen there, having lost all hope. Seeing my new vulnerability, the prince charged at me with his sword ready to have it pierce through me. It was at that very moment that the queen herself arrived, she who also took chase at a slower pace had caught up and stood between us, taking the blow on her left shoulder.”

“The prince's sword went right through her until its tip touched the skin of my face. It was just barely enough to save me, but still, that was all I needed. On the queen’s back was a bow and quiver filled with arrows, I can't recall whether she had this to begin with or not, perhaps she just took it on the way, it didn't matter though, what did matter was that I now had the opportunity to take a weapon, and so I did just that. I took an arrow from her quiver and stabbed the prince on the neck, then another one to the heart. I then pushed him away from the queen, causing him to fall from the roof into the grass behind the tower.”

“So… He died then?” asked Lucas.

“He did,” answered Claudia “Although the elixir of life gave him immortality, it didn't make him invincible, he no longer aged, and yet could still be killed.”

“Wait, how are you even sure that the elixir did give him immortality? I mean, he only had its power for short while right?” Asked the confused Lucas once more.

“I'll tell you why now, listen carefully.” She replied.

“His blood was on my hands, it splattered all around me, I was soaked in it, it definitely wasn’t a pretty sight, but that wasn’t all.

“After the prince's death, the queen began crying out, at her voice, I was overcome by a great amount of guilt, I wanted to beg for her forgiveness right then and there, I was ready to accept the consequences of my actions, but just as I was about to, we witnessed something that doesn’t fall short of supernatural.”

“The both of us watched in wonder as a dust like purple essence left his body, rose up and got absorbed by mine.”

“As I looked around, still confused, the queen went up to me and spoke in her weak voice.”

“When she finally gathered the strength to utter a word, she said ‘Your eyes had turned purple.' It was then that we both realized the power was transferable.”

“If the people who created it knew that, it only adds to why they kept the elixir hidden all that time, I see.” Lucas said. “If it was released, those who possess it are doomed to die at the hands of others who want it—”

“—For themselves, exactly.” said Claudia. “And now It was myself who was immortal.”

“The queen held up another one of her arrows and faced me with a grim look.” Claudia said.

“It was then that I thought to myself ‘this is my punishment, this I deserve’ and knelt down, still looking at her.”

“She pointed the arrows tip towards me, I closed my eyes.”

“But then she began crying out loud and stopped in her tracks.”

“In her tears, she spoke. ‘I don’t want to have saved you in vain’ She said.”

“I cannot forgive you easily, I know that.”

“But if I were to kill you right now, all we’ve ever done wouldn’t have meaning, this cycle of hatred definitely won’t end, the curse of the elixir will stay.”

“So your life was spared by the queen.” Lucas said.

“Correct.”

            …

“The queen decided that nobody should find out about it. Nobody was to know I possessed the Elixir’s power.”

“We passed by the prison on the way back and took the bodies that we could lift, including the king's, it was not all of them though.”

“When we got to the prisons entrance, the fight was still at full scale, at this point, there was no longer any stopping it even if the artifact were gone or the king is dead, after all, most of the people fighting don’t even know of the whole secret artifact being the ultimate cause and all that, no, for most of them, all they knew was that their rulers had gone corrupt and they had to do something about it. Soon enough, people saw us and the dead king on the back of her majesty, and word quickly spread around, however, it still didn't do anything to stop the conflict that had ensued.”

Claudia went on, saying. “We somehow managed to take refuge with some of the citizens who still accepted the queen as royalty, and we buried the dead that we brought, the kings burial being no different from the rest. I kept my eyes hidden behind my hair for a while.”

“quick question,” stated Lucas, “What was your original eye color?”

“It was a light gray, making it look silver.” replied Claudia and then resumed with her story.

“We were in a safe spot so we decided to stick around, we stayed sided with those who took us in until the fight had subsided. No one won really, many died from all sides, the kingdom just tore itself to pieces, it was at this point when all the remaining survivors made a decision to leave the island, never again to set foot on it, not wanting to stay and rebuild it, they can't be blamed, it would be hard to rebuild all that they broke above the bodies of those who sacrificed themselves, it was even harder to accept that everyone's deaths were in vain, and it was especially heavy for the queen and myself who knew it was all because of some stupid vial.”

“Although I too planned to leave with the other survivors on one of the boats, my purple eyes were noticed when it reflected the sunlight, the remaining people there who also knew of the artifact began announcing and spreading the news about the vial and what it does about me being possibly immortal.”

“What a bunch of jerks.” Said Lucas.

“Perhaps you’re right, but perhaps it was also necessary.” Claudia replied.

“In no time, all eyes were on me, all suspected me of being evil, thinking it was I who stole it and drank it. The queen however, told our whole story, and most believed her.” She continued.

“Though the people were no longer intent on killing me, they still couldn't bring themselves to allow me to go with them, they didn't want me to leave and cause a similar event to happen once more, so I had no choice but to stay.”

“The queen however, kind as she was, decided to stay with me so that I would at least not be alone for a while. And so did my direct family members.”

“We stayed in the island all alone together, however they aged and I didn't.”

“Oh so that's how you knew the elixir really brought immortality.” Lucas exclaimed.

“Yes, which means that the prince was indeed immortal, only it was short lived because of me.” said Claudia.

“Also, without any couriers anymore, we never received any more letters from my brother.”

Clearing her throat, she resumed saying “both the queen and my parents were old to begin with, but I kept noticing that as they grew weaker as the years passed, I retained my youthful appearance and strength, eventually, they died of old age and so I buried them. I put my family together and the queen beside where the king lay.”

“It was then that eternity truly began for me.”