Aleph.

Aleph's downfall began with his obsessive pursuit of the unreachable—what he called "Transcendentality." His rationality and awareness were so heightened they became warped in on themselves. In order to absorb and retain every shred of alchemical knowledge, he took forbidden elixirs to transform his mind. From then on, he could remember every word he read, every vein in every leaf, every stain on every wall... But he lost the ability to interpret the simple motivations of others and even how to relate with the world beyond the words locked in his mind. That was the price he paid for the infinite. Overwhelmed by his chaotic and infinite inner world, Aleph's mind fractured. Over time, he developed new personas, each carrying immense knowledge and memory. He was Aleph the brilliant but arrogant alchemist. And Merlin, doctor and psychologist of the National Foucault Studies Association. He became the Idealist, lost in a literary labyrinth of his own design. But ultimately, he was just another patient who could no longer control himself—burdened by a flood of detail, each persona worn to exhaustion. As the cosmos within him grew ever more incomprehensible, each persona searched for a way to escape reality's chains. Yet "Transcendentality" remained forever out of reach. Aleph exiled himself to a prison for arcanists at the edge of the world—Tierra del Fuego. He now spends his days in silence, waiting for a telephone to ring. Known as the "man with all the answers," Aleph offers counsel to any who call, be they Manus Vindictae, Lorenz, or even authors who cannot find a single reader. Story: One evening in 1996, in Stockholm, a well-known local alchemist and arcanist received an unusual visitor. The guest was a 17-year-old human boy (Aleph). A pure-blooded human—such visitors were rare for an alchemist, as the field of alchemy was dominated by arcanists with innate talent and access to resources. Few humans ever sought their counsel. But soon, the alchemist realized that this taciturn young man was a prodigy beyond comprehension. He came in search of knowledge, but after a night of conversation, the alchemist knew the boy would leave disappointed. The alchemist wished to help the boy, but in this world, there was no answer to his question. What he sought was too vast, too ambitious—a pursuit destined to become a lifelong curse. The alchemist wanted to free the boy from this curse, or perhaps—to help him find the answer. An answer everyone desires, including the alchemist. Alchemy is a science of the body. The alchemist gave the boy a formula for a potion, one that would free him from the limitations of human physiology, allowing him to reach the peak of rationality and perception. He would never again forget anything—not one detail, nor any speck of knowledge or trivia. He could absorb endless expanses of alchemical wisdom and more ... The boy left, overjoyed. He did not yet know that this potion formula would soon become a curse that would haunt him for the rest of his days. The universe became incomprehensible, and each personality tried to transcend the shackles of reality in its own way, but "transcendence" remained forever out of reach. Sinking into nihilism, Aleph exiled himself to the edge of the world— the mysterious arcanist prison on Tierra del Fuego. He sat in silence there all day, waiting for a certain telephone to suddenly ring. The erudite Aleph never refused anyone’s plea for help. Gradually, the Komala Prison gained a reputation for "answering all questions". Aleph became an advisor to everyone, not just to the Hand of Reshaping and Lorenz, but even to writers who couldn’t find readers, who would come seeking his guidance. About his birthday: Aleph categorizes all dates with unique symbols, but never associates any with himself. Today's symbol is an eye shield—perhaps only he understands its true meaning. 2: Ever since drinking that forbidden potion, Aleph has remembered every single moment. Memories from years past are as vivid as those of today, as if trapped in a never-ending day. Yet, in those "past years," he too once reveled in music, dancing, and birthday cake. 3: Aleph lacks the concept of the ordinary, yet today was special even for him—for the first time, he faced so many questions about himself. He answered them all, though not every curious mind left with complete satisfaction. The Idealist's thoughts: A small, unnoticed crack The Idealist: The moment that rusty six-centimeter iron nail was so crudely driven into the wall, it created a fracture in the plaster—growing each day in subtle, irreversible decay. Every minute fissure, every delicate break, is so beautiful, so sorrowful. This is the origin of my epic poem. I've named it A History of Eternity. The Forgotten Vienna Years, page 102, line 16, second word Dr. Merlin's thoughts: December 12, 1990, 2:08:34 PM, the shadow cast on the third window of the Central Tower Merlin: Summer sunlight. The warmest moment in Ushuaia of the year 1990. It traces patterns along the edges of the window, like a decipherable genealogy of psychoanalysis. I sense an omen, a connection with the entire power structure of Comala. They are one and the same. I should adjust the summer window's orientation accordingly