[u][center][color=0054a6][h1]The Alchemist[/h1][/color][/center][/u]
[i]A scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream and the 
scorpion asks the frog to carry him across on its back. The 
frog asks, "How do I know you won't sting me?" The scorpion 
says, "Because if I do, I will die too."

The frog is satisfied, and they set out, but in midstream,
the scorpion stings the frog. The frog feels the onset of 
paralysis and starts to sink, knowing they both will drown,
but has just enough time to gasp "Why?" 

		Replies the scorpion: "Its my nature."[/i]

The Alchemist had no need for the immortality that the Prince had offered. He had seen the world, the Snow People to the north all the way to the Horse Lords of the desert steppes, there was a single common denominator, evil. Man is the scorpion, no matter what he tries to do he will end up creating havoc and strife. Aurelius didn’t hate man or think he was above them, because for every bad person there was a good one, but he’d rather not suffer through the centuries watching time ravage those closest to him. While he didn’t want immortality he wanted to understand it and how it works. Like his master before he had an obsession for knowledge and you get thirstier as your mouth gets closer to the glass. Right now he was as close to the glass as any man had ever been, he knew his answer.

While walking to the Prince, Umbrix walked by, he was the first to enter and now he would be the first to leave. Up ahead was Alrin the Black, the necromancer had pledged himself to the Prince’s quest. He gave a grandiose gesture to show his pledge of loyalty.

 To the left was the Runic wizard, leaning against the wall, deep in thought whilst looking as cool as Aplesiac, a vegetable only found in the cold northern regions. Then there was Crompter, the crotchety old drunkard who yelled at the projected spirit and turned his stool old wood, it’d be smart to never get on his bad side.  
Finally the Alchemist had reached the prince and he began to speak,

“I’ll join your pursuit of immortality, but I want nothing more than to understand it."