Episode 4: The Case of the Alchemist’s Elixir (The Misadventures of Felix Bright and Dr. Moira Keys)

The Setup

It began, as many peculiar cases did, with a knock at the door. Felix Bright was midway through inventing a new method of buttering toast (by launching it with a spring-loaded contraption) when the knock startled him. The toast misfired and landed squarely on Dr. Moira Keys’ face.

“Felix,” Moira said slowly, peeling the toast off her cheek, “if this is another ‘invention,’ I’m moving out.”

Before Felix could defend his brilliance, the knock came again, louder this time. Moira opened the door to reveal an elderly gentleman dressed in a dark green cloak, his eyes wide with panic.

“I need your help!” he exclaimed, shoving a glass vial into Moira’s hands.

“Is that… a potion?” Moira asked, tilting the vial to inspect its golden, glowing contents.

“Not just any potion,” the man hissed. “It’s the Elixir of Eternity—and it’s been stolen!”

Felix, intrigued, abandoned his toast launcher. “Stolen, you say? But if you’re holding it now—”

“That’s a decoy!” the man interrupted. “The real one is missing, and if it falls into the wrong hands…”

Felix’s eyes gleamed. “Say no more, my good man. We shall recover your elixir!”

“Careful,” Moira whispered. “This sounds like a scam.”

“Scam or not, Moira,” Felix replied, “I’ll take a case over breakfast toast any day.”

The Investigation

First stop: The Alchemy Society.

The Alchemy Society met in the basement of a tea shop—a suspiciously appropriate location, Moira thought, given the number of brews involved.

Inside, they found a cluster of eccentric characters debating loudly over a bubbling cauldron.

“Who would dare steal the Elixir of Eternity?” one man demanded, waving a ladle for emphasis.

“It must be the rival society!” a woman exclaimed, clutching a crystal orb.

Felix cleared his throat. “Ladies and gentlemen, I am Felix Bright, detective extraordinaire. My colleague, Dr. Keys, and I are here to solve your mystery.”

The group looked unimpressed.

“Didn’t you bungle the ‘Case of the Missing Catnip’ last month?”

“That was an experiment in lateral thinking!” Felix snapped.

Moira stepped in before the meeting turned into an argument. “Let’s focus. Do any of you have enemies who might want to steal the elixir?”

Several hands shot up. Apparently, alchemy was a cutthroat business.

“Great,” Moira sighed. “This will take all night.”

The Breakthrough

The clue came when Felix stumbled upon a book labeled “Secrets of Eternal Youth” in the Society’s library. Inside was a detailed recipe for the elixir, along with notes scribbled in the margins:

• "Needs more cinnamon."
• "What if we used moonlight-distilled water?"
• "Who stole my ladle?"

Felix showed the book to Moira. “Clearly, someone has been tinkering with the recipe. The thief may be trying to replicate the elixir.”

Moira nodded. “Or they’re planning to sell it. Let’s check the black market.”

“You know where the black market is?” Felix asked, impressed.

“No,” Moira replied. “But you once tried to sell your toaster there, so I assumed you’d know.”

The Culmination

Final stop: The Warehouse of Wonders.

The trail led to a dingy warehouse on the outskirts of town, where the duo found a shady auction underway. The prize item? A vial that looked suspiciously like the Elixir of Eternity.

“Do I hear five thousand pounds?” the auctioneer called.

“Six thousand!” Felix shouted, raising his hand.

“Felix!” Moira hissed. “We don’t have six thousand pounds!”

“Don’t worry. I have a plan.”

The plan, as it turned out, involved creating a diversion by knocking over a stack of crates. As chaos erupted, Felix grabbed the vial and sprinted for the exit, with Moira close behind.

Outside, they handed the elixir to their client, who wept with relief.

“You’ve saved us all!” he cried.

“I hope so,” Moira muttered, glaring at Felix. “Because we’re banned from yet another warehouse.”

The Wrap-Up

Back at 221B Parchment Row, the elderly alchemist paid them in gold coins (which Felix immediately tried to use at the corner shop).

Moira leaned back in her chair. “Do you think it was really the Elixir of Eternity?”

Felix examined the decoy vial they’d kept as a souvenir. “Only one way to find out.”

He opened the vial and took a sip.

“Felix, no!” Moira shouted.

A moment passed. Felix blinked. “Tastes like cinnamon tea. Refreshing, though.”

Moira rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”

Felix grinned. “Impossible, perhaps. But eternally youthful? Only time will tell!”