"This is fascinating; absolutely fascinating," Mr. Gilby declared. "This leather is flawlessly cured, for all that the writing within is almost illegible; and the scent of it... the scent evokes something very specific, an alchemist's tale that I have heard."

Miss Sunnington inquired, "What sort of tale? I can't say that I'm well-versed in this sort of thing, but it does sound terribly interesting."

"It was a search; a quest of sorts, almost. Those who practiced alchemy had been seeking for ages to perfect the formula that would create something called the Philosopher's Stone. Imagine if a mere apprentice had managed it?"