Hogwarts: What are the four great masters doing?

Page 174

He didn't explain much to Ryan, but the fact that he left was enough to show that things were not simple.

Ryan, who stayed where he was, was muttering about the signature he had just seen.

"Nurmengard..."

He remembered the name.

It is a tall tower located in Austria, famous in the wizarding world.

It was once the lair of the first Dark Lord, Gellert Grindelwald.

After the first Dark Lord was defeated by Dumbledore, Nurmengard became his prison.

By the way...

According to the information provided by the Sorting Hat, the relationship between Dumbledore and Grindelwald seems to be very delicate.

The two seemed to have formed a 'blood alliance', which showed that their relationship was once very close!

So Ryan was very curious about the contents of the letter.

But unfortunately, Dumbledore obviously wouldn't tell him.

And Ryan really needs to stay here, waiting for Nicolas Flamel to repair Ravenclaw's crown for him.

After Dumbledore left, Ryan, who was alone, began to try to wander around the alchemy workshop.

He began to study everything inside the alchemy workshop - they seemed extremely valuable to Ryan.

From the waterwheel named "Magic Converter" by Nicolas Flamel to those alchemical dolls, to the smallest piece of wood.

Ryan discovered that everything in this workshop was a perfect fusion of alchemy, with dense alchemical matrices almost everywhere.

This makes him enjoy it.

However, on his sixth day in the alchemy workshop, which was the day before Easter, Nicolas Flamel appeared again.

"I've already got some clues... Separating the soul fragments isn't as difficult as I imagined."

He was obviously a little tired, but very excited.

"The rest is just a matter of grinding."

He said this to Ryan.

This made Ryan feel Nicolas Flamel's attainments in alchemy very clearly.

In just six days, he seemed to have initially cracked the Horcrux!

However, when Ryan later asked about the soul in Harry's body.

Nicolas Flamel showed a regretful expression.

"Albus told me about that kid, but he's different..."

"The matter of the diadem is easy to resolve, because the diadem is a creation of Ravenclaw - it has powerful magic, and that evil soul is too foolish and stupid."

"But that child... a living person becoming a Horcrux is unheard of."

He shook his head. "This is no longer the realm of alchemy."

On the seventh day, Ryan met Nicolas Flamel's wife, Perenelle Flamel.

After finishing her visit to her hometown, she returned to the alchemy workshop.

This is a very old witch, like Nicolas Flamel.

She has a kind face and is in good spirits. Even her old body does not seem to affect her optimism.

"Oh! Ryan, I heard Nicole say you'd be coming... Boy, you have to try my cooking! Oh - and of course you, adorable kitten!"

Even though Ryan had refused repeatedly, the enthusiastic Perenal still insisted on making him a traditional French meal.

Friday also got a delicious cat meal, which made the white cat feel good about Perenelle.

And Ryan had to admit that hundreds of years might have allowed Perenel's cooking skills to reach perfection.

After Perenelle's return, Nicolas Flamel's appearances increased significantly.

The two old men often strolled around the alchemy workshop with Ryan, answering his questions about alchemy from time to time and chatting about some topics from the past.

"Beauxbatons originally didn't offer culinary magic classes, but in 1751 we returned to the school and were served a horrible onion soup... Perenelle couldn't stand it anymore."

"Ms. Ravenclaw's diadem is a magnificent alchemical artifact. The alchemical matrix within it can aid thinking, making the soul clear and stable... This is the application of soul magic—very interesting!"

"Oh, I don't like Quidditch either - I think it's more exciting to hold a cauldron on your head... Unfortunately, I'm too old, and my neck probably can't even bear a rock."

Neither Nicolas Flamel nor Perenelle had apparently communicated with anyone in recent centuries—indeed, there were few people with whom they could share these past events.

So the relationship between the three of them quickly became closer.

But it was on this day...

"Your collection?"

After hearing Nicolas Flamel's invitation, Ryan's expression showed obvious surprise.

"Yes."

Nicolas Flamel and Perenelle exchanged a glance.

Then, the two ancient wizards nodded at the same time.

"I've collected some things over the years—some pretty good alchemical tools, or precious alchemical tomes..."

Nicolas Flamel said softly.

"I've stored them all here, and I thought... maybe you'd like to come with me and take a look?"

After hearing this, Ryan looked at him.

Then...

"of course."

He nodded.

So, Nicolas Flamel and Perenelle took Lion to the top of the alchemy workshop.

There is an illusory door here - its appearance is like a series of invisible lines moving, emitting strange magical power.

"The secrets of alchemy."

And as Nicolas Flamel pointed his wand at it, Ryan saw the door slowly open.

Then...

A huge room appeared in front of him.

This place is very much like the Room of Requirement—so many things are piled together that it even looks a bit messy!

But Ryan saw a lot of rare things at a glance.

For example, there was a magic ball floating in the center of the room, reflecting the projections of countless constellations and the brilliance of stars.

"The Sphere of Hermes?"

Ryan said in surprise: "I thought the method of making this thing was extinct."

He recognized it—the Sphere of Hermes, a precious alchemical artifact that allowed one to clearly observe the paths of the stars.

This is of great significance to many races that worship the stars, as well as wizards who are good at stargazing.

In fact, Ryan remembered that Ravenclaw had one in the past, and the centaur prophet wanted it very much - they seemed to have made a bet on it, but the outcome was unknown.

"Oh yes."

Nicolas Flamel recalled: "I bought the instructions for its construction from a descendant of a stargazer... It was difficult to gather the ingredients, but the process was certainly interesting... Oh, Lion - your cat."

"Friday, come back! That thing isn't for you to take pictures of for fun!"

As he spoke, he continued to move forward with Ryan.

Soon, Ryan saw more.

For example, a cloak woven from dragon scales, with a powerful protective spell attached to it.

"It's called the Dragon Flame Cloak. A little magic power injected into it will spew out dragon flames, and its defensive power is astonishing—but unfortunately, its previous owner wore it the wrong way around during a duel, and the dragon flames erupted directly at him..."

Nicolas Flamel said regretfully.

For example, Ryan also saw a meditation basin in the room that was almost bigger than him.

"Oh, I bought this thing from a dark wizard in Greece. He tried to use it to view the memories of a sphinx... In the end, he failed and was swallowed instead."

For example, Ryan also saw a compass.

"It will point you in the direction you want to go, which is especially useful at sea, but it will also make you more noticeable to dark creatures... You don't want to know what happened to Mr. Barbossa Sparrow."

The more he walked, the more frightened Ryan became.

To put it bluntly - the things in this room alone, the alchemical materials and the mountains of books are enough to drive almost any alchemist in the world crazy!

You know, most of those books have Nicolas Flamel's own annotations - they are priceless treasures!

Then, Ryan and Nicolas Flamel and his wife came to the deepest part of the collection vault.

The alchemy items here are no longer piled up in a disorderly manner, but are replaced by a display stand.

"Here are things that have held meaning in both of our lives—memorials of experiences, perhaps, or memories from the past."

Nicolas Flamel explained as he picked up a book from the display case.

He stretched out his fingers, and a glimmer of magic floated.

So the book was opened.

But what is recorded in it is not some profound magic or difficult inheritance.

Ryan saw that there were only many photos of wizards inside.

They may be old or young—it makes no difference.

Because the photos are all gray, it means they are all dead.

For the deceased, age and youth do not mean much.