Chapter Text
It didn't happen quickly. It happened over the course of thousands of painfully long, yet far too blissfully short, years.
He knew that it would happen eventually. He knew about all the risks and consequences before he started his hunt, his usage of the Philosopher's Stone. It was in his nature to safety-proof his work as much as he could before he proceeded with them. And so, he knew that the Philosopher's Stone's precious elixir would sustain him at the cost of chipping away at his flesh, rendering the gold and lifeless.
He didn't mind, though. It will buy him thousands of years beyond his original expected lifespan, and that would be far from enough from completing all the researches and creations he wished to complete -- but Edgar knew deep inside, that his wants are infinite. No matter how much time he had, how much time the world has, he would never, ever be able to sate such desires. A few extra thousand years was good enough.
He had considered converting himself into different supernatural creatures, but those come with extra troubles. Being a vampire like his good friend Embrace would either drag him into the tasteless toils of vampire politics, limit his actions during the day, and restrict his diet. Edgar had no desire to feed upon blood, making himself the enemy of humans. That would prove troublesome for his work.
Swearing to be an Exorcist is out of the question for obvious reasons. You'll have to dedicate yourself into ridding the world of supernatural "impurities". He did not want immortality for that, he wanted immortality for his research.
And so he remained true to drinking from the stone twice a day: Once before he sleeps, and once with his lunch. Gold in the corner of his eye. Gold that coated his hands. Gold flecks acting like seams on a puppet for his legs. Gold- Gold spreading everywhere.
---
Edgar didn't know when he started wearing long stockings to cover up his now solid gold right leg. It was the most noticeable, and one of the first. They didn't question it. They knew him to be one to experiment with far more dangerous things, what are they to comment on him experimenting on fashion? He had a feeling they knew what the Philosopher's stone entailed. They are, after all, far older than he, and saw much more than he, and they will continue to see far more than he ever would. But they didn't bring anything up, for whatever reason.
...
"You...... Really should stop," Edgar found himself listening to a soft voice voicing out his concern. Embrace gently shut his precious tome and turned to look at Edgar. The vampire's skin was ashen pale, and had a black half mask covering the right side of his face. "The elixir will eat away your flesh. You... Are aware of this?"
"Of course I am," Edgar sighed. "I know- I am aware- I see it replacing me with gold everytime I bathe myself or change. What choice do I have? Stop taking the elixir and face rapid aging?" There was silence from his companion, his emotions only shown through twitches of his face and his fingers repeatedly and carefully going back and forth his tome's cover - a sign that he was in deep thought.
"It's just that......" Embrace bit his lip, his sharp teeth digging into it, drawing blood. He licked the blood back in, out of instinct of days when blood were scarce. "Immortal companions are hard to come by. Immortal companions whose company I enjoy ; immortal companions who tolerates my presence ; immortal companions who- who-" Embrace cut himself off. Hurt and reluctance apparent on his face. Edgar wasn't daft. He knew there was history between Embrace, Exorcist, and a third party before Edgar was in the picture. He knew that something happened, the third party was slain by Embrace's hands, and Embrace's bitterness receded just a little, and Exorcist loosened up on his dedication to his duty somewhat.
"Anyhow- fetch me that flask by your left, the one with silver liquor," Edgar sent a dismissive and nonchalant wave towards Embrace, the progenitor of vampires. "Don't toss it- it's highly fragile and I'd rather not take risks." He paused just a little after pouring the contents of the flask into a beaker. He could feel the air between him and Embrace. Well, that needed to break.
"Life is only precious because it ends. That's what mortals preach, hm? Perhaps you should pay heed to it more," Edgar said, his eyes softening just somewhat (he'd never admit it). "Stop moping and get rid of this air of mourning. I still have a couple thousand years ahead of me. Treasure that. And if you're going to be lonely, cling yourself onto Aesop."
Embrace's lips twitched upwards, "I don't think he'll appreciate that, given that I am a vampire."
"Oh shut it, you know he likes being around you. He won't ever admit that, with his reputation and all," Edgar waved his paintbrush around in the air. "What I am getting at is - don't get caught up over me, move on, like you true immortals should. Because you'd be crushed with many millennias of emotions and pain to come." Although...... I would like it if you don't forget about me completely either.
Embrace didn't speak for a long time, and when he finally did, his voice was shaky. "Alright."
---
"Embrace most likely already talked to you about it," Aesop, also known as Exorcist, said out of the blue. He was running an inspection on his precious crossbow and some batches of fresh, silver bolts that Edgar had just made for him. His suitcase was resting upon one of the rare tables that was not strewn with lab equipment.
"About my usage of the stone and what it may bring?" Edgar deliberately made it sound like he didn't care much. "We've talked about that, yes. I know about the consequences -- I'm not going to stop -- help him through it after I'm gone, he'll need it-"
"That is not the point of my bringing up the subject," Aesop swiftly cut Edgar off. He always was like that, straight and to the point. Not allowing for any loose roundabout detours. "You most certainly knew of the risks, calculated it precisely as well. Very few mortals can handle death well, I have seen it many times. You would most likely handle it far better than them, but still, would you? You have a habit of concealing what you truly feel, lying to everyone, including yourself. You are a good liar, too, having fooled us time and time again. You are capable of lying so convincingly to yourself that you believe that lie you concocted in your inner dialogues."
Edgar didn't expect this, to say the least. He would have loved to deny Aesop. To tell him that he's fine, he's accepted that he will die a long time ago. To tell him he's being irrational and assuming things based upon no evidence, and that he was worrying too much. He wanted to shoo him off and call him an over-concerned old man. But to do that would be confirming Aesop's suspicions.
He knows too much, he can see through too much. It's unsettling...... And comforting. Somewhat.
Edgar dragged a chair over and landed himself upon it with a sigh followed by a slight laugh, eyes closed and arms flung carelessly over the armrests. Aesop was right. He always was, even if it may not appear so at first. After all the layers were pierced and plot twists done with, it would be revealed that he knew all along. He would always be correct in the end, even if the process of reaching such end results surprised even him.
"You-" Edgar reached for a cup of water and choked on the drink. "You know and perceive too much."
"So I've been told."
"Great work at unraveling my hard work, by the way. Throwing me into a state of unrest and confusion like that."
"You are welcome."
Silence. And amidst that silence Edgar could feel Aesop's sharp gaze trailed on him, watching his every move that might expose his thoughts. It was discomforting, but it was through keen observation like such that Aesop managed to drill out emotional issues rooted within Edgar and Embrace. Aesop's straight-forward way of speaking also helped navigate them away from excuses and dodging the question.
"Well- I would say that- I am not of the right mind to decide yet. But I may care about my death than what I originally led on," Edgar broke the silence.
"That is good to admit," Aesop replied, then said no further, waiting for Edgar to continue.
"I... I need time."
"And time you shall be given," Aesop reached for his suitcase and slotted the silver bolts into their rightful place. "Do not try to shoulder everything on your own. It is a bad habit you should remove."
"I'll try."
"I trust you would still be alive by my next visit?"
"I am not that incompetent nor that far down the road for that, don't pull that on me."
"Then.... This is a temporary goodbye...... Farewell."