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Back in the hallway, Qwyfyx looked at the symbols on the last door. They were simply a series of letters arranged in a grid, the meaning of which totally eluded him. He felt a twinge of fear as he gently knocked and entered the chambers of Marie the Chemist.. The curtains here were drawn and the close air was tainted with a pungent odour. "Hello," he called. "Yes, young man, how can I help you?" said Marie as she emerged from the gloom. Yet again, Qwyfyx told of his task and of his adventures thus far. He became very uneasy when Marie began to laugh. He was at pains to understand why everybody found his story so amusing. |
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Marie's laughter was cut short by a severe bout of coughing. "Come, come, let me show you something," she choked. Lethargically, the Chemist led Qwyfyx into another room and removed the cover from a small flask. "Perhaps this is what you are looking for," she said quietly. Qwyfyx was awestruck. In the flask was a fine powder which was glowing with a cool, green light. "This must surely be the Philosopher's Stone", he said. "Do not be fooled," said Marie. "What you seek is an agent for transmutation, and there is transmutation. But gold is gold and it can not be made from anything else. As for those who claim the Stone provides eternal life, mere myth-makers, I assure you. However, if you think it will please your King, you may take this back to him." Convinced that at last he had found the Philosopher's Stone, Qwyfyx took the flask and, starry-eyed, headed for the door. "Wait, wait! called Marie. "There is something you must know. There is a risk..." But the Chemist's warning had come too late. Qwyfyx had left the musty chamber and, re-entering the corridor of doors, stepped straight into the disk. 
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