Tome of Eternity

“Dad,” Alex Chambers calls out as he enters his father’s study, a tray of freshly made food in his hands. “Dinner’s ready.”

As usual, his father’s study is a mess with papers, books, and various tools and stationery lining every surface; the curtains are drawn, making the desk lamp the only light source in the room.

“Is it time for dinner, already,” Professor Chambers asks as he looks up from his desk, his dull blue eyes tired from staring at documents for hours without rest. “Seems like you were just serving me lunch.”

Alex’s father, Professor Reginald Chambers, is an archeologist that’s devoted his life to studying long lost civilizations that the mainstream professionals either don’t know or care about. His research for the past thirty years has revolved around the Masa, an ancient civilization rumored to have existed around 385 BC and was apparently known for using magic that makes modern technology look inferior. Unfortunately for the archeologist, his work has been turned down so many times that his credibility is hanging by a thread.

“Yeah, it’s 7:30.” Alex places the tray on the mostly empty coffee table on the left side of the study and brings a bowl to his father. “Tonight’s dinner is tomato soup.”

“My favorite,” his father says with a smile. “I‘ll eat once I finish translating this tablet.” He lifts said tablet to emphasize his point. “I’ve been working on it all day and I’m nearly finished.” He looks back down at the stone to continue his work.

Alex opens his mouth to protest, but decides against it. He remembers the day his father came home with that stone after a three month expedition to South America, how happy he was to have found proof that his work was finally yielded results.

I don’t have it in me to burst his bubble.

The nineteen-year-old has been taking care of his dad ever since his mother, Caroline Chambers, died when he was ten. She had battled lung cancer since he was seven and finally lost the battle. After the funeral, his father seemed to throw himself in his research, most likely trying to bury the pain losing the love of his life.

“Oh, Mom’s lawyer called this afternoon while I was out.”

“Oh? Is something wrong?”

“No, apparently Mom left me an inheritance of twenty-thousand dollars. It was in a trust fund and I could only access it when I turned nineteen. He meant to call a week ago, but he was wrapped up in a couple will cases and only now had time to call me about it. The money’s already been sent to my account.”

“That was nice of your mom. You can use that money for school.” Just then, he stands up. “Eureka! It’s translated!”

“What is it,” Alex asks once his shock from his father’s outburst leaves his body.

“Come over here, Alex.” Alex walks to his father’s side to see the stone tablet sitting below the lamp desk, making Alex think of a Broadway actor standing on stage, illuminated by a spotlight. He almost laughs at the comparison as his father has been captivated by the stone for months now. “His stone talks about how the most wealthy and influential people of the Masa feared death and decided to pool their resources to finding a way to cheat death and live forever.”

“So, the same as rich people today?”

“Yes, but their methods leaned more towards more advance magic practiced by a sorcerer. According to this tablet, the sorcerer created more than a fountain of youth. If I’m reading this tablet correctly, the result was a way of not only living forever , but exist in utter decadence for all eternity. After many years and the resources of over a hundred of the Masa’s richest and influential people, the sorcerer emerged and the people received their eternal delight.”

“Does it mention how exactly this was done?”

“No, but the location of the sorcerer’s workshop is mentioned in this tablet.” He rummages through his desk and pulls out a geography book. “If I’m reading this right, the workshop is in the Amazon Rainforest.” He gets up and starts grabbing random objects. “I have to go. If there’s not a plane I can catch, I’ll just stay at the airport until there there is one.” He pauses. “Wait, I might not have enough for a ticket.”

“What if I pay for it?”

“No, I can’t let you do that. Your mother saved that money for you.”

“It’s my money, so I can do what I want with it.” Alex takes out his phone and begins rapidly tapping on it. “The money’s been transferred to your account.”

Just then, Alex is enveloped in a tight hug.

“Thank you, Alex. I promise, I’ll pay you back with interest. No matter what it takes.” He turns to leave the study, a mess of random archaeology tools in both hands and his bag slung over his shoulder. “I’ll be back as soon as I can!”

And like that, he’s gone.

Come home safe, Dad. I can’t lose you, too.

After six months, Alex is standing in the airport, waiting for his father to come back. They’ve stayed in touch by text and ten minute calls, all of which were about progress on discovering the sorcerer’s workshop and bringing back the secret to immortality he had been tasked with producing. Finally, his father’s come home, eager to show the fruits of his labor.

“Alex,” his father calls out, breaking Alex out of his trance. The two meet in the influx of people and hug. “I did it, Alex! I found it!” He pulls out a small, leather book from his pocket. “This is it!”

The book is bound is fine black leather and the pages are a yellow-white color from age, but it doesn’t look centuries old.

“This book? This is what that sorcerer made?”

“Not here,” his father says, dragging him towards the exit. “I’ll explain more when we get home.”

Even after a sic month expedition, a ten hour flight, and a thirty minute ride home, his father has the boundless energy of a five-year-old. Once they pull into their driveway, Professor Chambers is out the car and running towards the door before the vehicle is brought to a full stop. Once Alex is in, his father drags him to the living room and takes the book, a stone tablet, and a stack of papers from his bag and places them on the coffee table.

“This book was kept in the center of the sorcerer’s workshop, along with the rest of his notes. While it may not look like it, this book has been sealed away for centuries. When I found the book, I also snapped a picture of the inscription on the pedestal it was on.” He fumbles through the stack of papers and pulls out a picture with handwritten notes on it. “I translated it. I think you’ll find it interesting.”

Our Eternal glory awaits.

As we wait to pass through its leather gates,

We cast aside our deadly blight

And accept Eternal delight.

Our ties to this world we sever

To lavish in life forever.

“So, this book was their ticket into immortality? How?”

“I haven’t figured that part out yet, but look in the book.” Alex does as he’s told and opens the book. “It’s empty. Not a single word in it.”

“You said this book is centuries old?” Alex flips through the pages, looking for something. “It looks like it something out of a office supply or hobby store.”

“I know,” his father responds, an ear-to-ear grin adorning his face. “But I promise you that book was locked away in the sorcerer’s workshop which was built inside a mountain deep within the forest.” He picks up the stone tablet. “I think this tablet is the key to understanding how the Masa people discovered immortality. I almost had the entire thing translated, but I had to leave when the money ran out. Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out and pay you back tenfold.”

As his father resumes his work translating the stone, Alex continues flipping through the pages.

How can a book make you live forever?

“I think I have it! This is the finished translation!” He presents the piece of paper he was working on.

From these pages, tendrils emerge.

Flesh and blood and paper and ink converge.

Relinquish your body and submerge into the tome.

By surrendering your mortal shell, you allowed into your new home.

Only by this transformation does Eternity greet you.

“Reminds me of Shakespeare,” Alex says as the translation leaves his mouth.

“It does,” his father responds, chuckling. “But this predates him by a couple hundred years. In addition to magic, the Masa also cornered the poetry market.”

Just then, Alex feels something poke his skin. The feeling is like a needle, subtle but still sharp enough to be known. He looks down at his hands to see inky black needles jutting out from the book and into his hands.

“Dad,” he shouts as the needles enter his skin even more and the pain becomes more than a pinprick.

“Alex,” his father shouts, dropping the tablet and paper and coming to his son’s side. “What happened?”

“I don’t know!”

As the pain increases, he feels as if he’s being pulled in. The feeling is proven true as the needles pull his hands into the open book and they fuse together.

“Hold on, I’ll go get a knife from the kitchen!”

His father runs into the kitchen and comes back with a butcher’s knife, only to find his son gone.

“Alex!”

Alex opens his eyes to find himself in a marble white room with black and white marble filing and ornate furniture lining the walls.

“Where am I?”

“The Tome of Eternity, of course.”

Alex turns around to see a man dressed in a white toga and a red sash around his shoulders standing in the doorway. A gentle smile adorns his face.

“The Tome of Eternity? You mean the book?”

“Yes, centuries ago, my friends and I hired the most powerful sorcerer we could find to create a way we could live forever. It took most of our wealth and twenty years, but he finally presented us with the Tome of Eternity. We’ve lived in complete luxury ever since we gave up our bodies.”

“Well, I’m not suppose to be here,” Alex stutters. “Is there a way out?”

The man’s smile turns into a frown.

“I’m sorry, but an exit was never constructed. That’s the price of eternity, forever bound within this book. But don’t worry, the palace within this book contains never ending food, water, and immortal servants to see to your every need.” He motions to the hallway behind him. “Come, its been so long since we’ve seen someone new. You’re going to be very popular here.”

Alex protests, but his words fall on deaf ears. As time passes by, he realizes that the man who he would come to know as Amicus, was telling the truth: the price of eternity is being forever trapped within the book. Now, he’ll get to spend the rest of forever inside this palace, living the same day of utter luxury again and again.