Welcome to Inkscribes!

Prima Materia

---

     The mixture blackened.
     I let the contents boil before adding a few ingredients for the whitening, and when the process was complete I settled the mortar on a bed of ice.
     Once cooled, I added the seven ingredients for the yellowing, and the solution sparked to life, bursting into a yellow flame.
     The last phase was the reddening. At least that's what everyone was told. It had never been seen.
     I dropped in the white sand, the fire flared so hot I turned away. When I looked again the mortar contained a misshapen glass-like rock. I held the last item over the flame; an ancient piece of volcanic rock and it twisted in my hand.
     The rock pierced my flesh; cursing, I dropped it to the floor and it shattered. I scrambled to pick up the pieces but even as I did I heard the flame sizzle and die.
     Again.
     Failed again.
     Kneeling on the floor, I clenched the rocks tight and the pain brought me back to reality.
     I climbed to my feet, preparing myself for the black coal-like substance that always resulted in a failed Philosophers stone.
     In a failed attempt at discovering the Prima Materia.
     The stone sparkled. All angles and crusted around the edges.
     But it sparkled, glowed with inner light.
     Like blood.