The German female officer was clearly well versed in history. After carefully examining the cups, she chose a golden one engraved with two scenes: Jesus's birth and his crucifixion.
"This is the real Holy Grail!" she declared, handing the cup to the German officer, who had grown so anxious from waiting that sweat covered his face.
The German officer snatched the golden cup, rushed to the basin of holy water, scooped up a cupful, and drained it in one gulp.
He let out a long breath. He looked refreshed, and even the wrinkles on his face had smoothed out.
"It really is the Holy Grail," he murmured. "I haven't felt this good in years. It's as if I were young again..."
But as he spoke, his voice grew fainter. His body went limp and collapsed as though he had fallen asleep.
Clang! The exquisite golden cup fell beside him, rolled twice, and came to a stop.
By then, only an empty uniform remained on the floor.
The man who had stood there drinking moments ago had vanished without a trace, as though he had never existed.
Pan Long smiled. "Looks like he chose a false Holy Grail."
Jones, Doctoral Researcher, shook his head and sighed. "Donovan used to be a decent man. But in his pursuit of eternal life, he took the wrong path, and this was where it led him... What a shame."
After a moment, he smiled and said, "Well, we've seen the Holy Grail and what becomes of the greedy. Our adventure is about over. What do you say we leave?"
"Of course! I'm going to write a paper on the Holy Grail when I get back," Old Jones said cheerfully.
"Nothing sounds better than getting home and resting," said the friend who had been silent until