Felix’s mood got a little heavy, he and Nicolas Flamel although only met once, but they communicated many times through magic photos, for him, Nicolas is closer to a teacher.
“Just a moment, Headmaster Dumbledore, I’ll bring one thing with me.”
Paris, France.
Felix revisited the old place and followed Dumbledore’s lead to a secluded street, two blocks away from the Hotel Boathouse – the place where the Muggle meeting was held during the summer.
Here he met a group of vibrant young people whose young faces were still fresh in his mind, the student leader Juria, Matt who was captured but did not spill a word, Byers who valued friendship and kinship, Bethany who was naive …
Dumbledore handed Felix a piece of paper, which read “7½ Rue de Montmorency”, as he read the address mentally, in the middle of the two lawns, a small white house suddenly burst out of the air.
“The Fidelius Charm.” This thought flashed through Felix’s mind.
He glanced at the brilliant fiery clouds in the sky and followed Dumbledore into the house. Inside there is a medieval-style living room, the table arranged with a variety of odd-shaped glass containers, candlesticks, brass globe, a few sofas were covered with white cloth sheets, the top edge of the fireplace in the corner is smoked black.
On the other side of the spiral staircase in the corner, is an exquisite bookshelf, filled with books, on the table opposite the bookshelf, there is a large crystal ball, with a bright light filtering out the thick dust.
Led by Dumbledore, he came to a bedroom on the second floor, a small wooden sign hanging on the coffee-coloured door, which reads: Nicolas and Perenelle.
When he pushed the door open, an old man is lying quietly in bed, his chest unmoving, his face frighteningly white, and only when he gets close does he hear the sound of shallow snoring.
“Nick,” Dumbledore said softly, “Felix is here.”
After a long while, the old man opened his eyes, his eyes were covered with a layer of white shades, and he asked in a shaky voice: “Felix?”
“It’s me, Nicolas, it’s been a long time,” Felix said with feigned light-heartedness, the sneakoscope tucked in his pocket got squeezed by his hand, this belated Christmas gift may not be delivered.
“Felix – I’ve been looking forward to – from that day when I actually met you,” Nicolas tried to keep his eyes open, but they were blurry, ” However, something delayed-”
“Don’t you have that Philosopher’s Stone, how did you …”
“Destroyed it, my child, I have lived nearly seven hundred years, death … is not a bad thing.”
Nicolas Flamel trembled as he reached out from under the covers, “Felix–ouch!” He let out a cry of pain.
Felix heard a crisp click, and he fell silent briefly, wanting to laugh a little despite the bad timing, remembering the image of Nicolas moving away in small steps when the two first met. He flicked his fingers, causing the quilt to move down somewhat gently.
“Thanks–”
Nicolas spread his palm, showing a golden key.
“I know I’m not going to live long, but it doesn’t matter – Perenelle and I have no children, and before I die, I need to find someone to succeed my knowledge.”
“Why me?” Felix asked, he majored in Runes, not Alchemy, and Nicolas Flamel would not be unaware of that.
“I want the world to be better, and you are the best person for the job, in all aspects that meet my requirements – this is the conclusion of my deep consideration.”
Felix’s heart thumped, Nicolas Flamel centuries of research, what a huge knowledge and the path of the two can be considered extremely compatible, there is a natural connection.
“You’ve thought it over?” He suppressed the joy in his heart and confirmed again, he subconsciously ignored the old man’s initial words.
“Except, except for the slightest concern – for which I have an additional condition -” Nicolas Flamel said, his face turned sideways to the window, where he could faintly hear the sound of cars driving across.
Felix’s expression turned cautious, he knew it wouldn’t be that simple. But he really did not want to miss this rare opportunity, no matter how difficult the conditions Nicolas Flamel proposed, he would do as much as he could, and besides, he did not feel that Nicolas would propose something he could not do.
So he asked mildly, “What do you need me to do, Nicolas?”
The old man gasped hard, his chest shaking like broken vapor-filled bellows, and Dumbledore said softly, “Nick, you–” but the old man shook his head, “Don’t stop me, Albus.”
“Felix, remember – remember what I said when we first met? Old people are fond of – nestling themselves into a certain place in the world with self restrictions – seeking a sense of security -”
His eyes suddenly went wide and his face became bloodless, looking a bit like a ghost.
Felix’s heart sank, he knew what Nicolas is going to say! Sure enough, the old man gasped for a moment and said, “All this time, I’ve been getting to know you, and the more I learn, the more I’m worried about you going astray. So – ho, ahem! Just-just sign a pact, and everything I have-is yours.”
“An Unbreakable Vow?” Felix kept his visage in the shadows and lost the warmth in his words.
Unbreakable Vow is amazing magic to conclude a vow between wizards, extremely potent, and the person who breaks the vow can only have one outcome – death. Felix has signed a magic contract with someone before, but compared to the Unbreakable Vow, the difference in the degree of restraint is simply worlds apart.
The former he could still think of ways to get rid of, transfer the effects of magic, but the latter, he did not have a little choice.
Nicolas gasped, did not say anything, completely acquiesced to Felix’s speculation, he just struggled to try to lift the key in his hand, but inevitably a little powerless.
“It’s hard for you to come up with something like that after you’ve given it a lot of thought.” Felix said sarcastically.
“I, ahem!” Nick coughed violently.
“Sorry to-”
“Don’t be so quick to say no! Felix – my terms aren’t too harsh, you can hear them first -”
“I’m not half interested.”
Felix looked at Dumbledore with a probing look in his eyes, “So, you’re here to be a witness?”
“No, Felix.” Dumbledore said sadly, “I’m not sure what Nick is thinking either,” he looked at the old man and said in a quiet voice, “Nick, we both know that this isn’t a good approach.”
Nicolas did not retort, “I, I know, if I had the time – I would watch him for decades, but, Felix – I’m dying – ”
“It’s up to you,” Felix’s light blue eyes locked on Nicolas Flamel while he kept trying to raise the golden key in his hand, “to give you a suggestion, while you’re still breathing, you can find another person who is willing to sign the pact.”
Nicolas seemed to have gained some spirit, his words became fluent: “If, if you agree, you will inherit all my possessions, not just those you see – I have twelve safe houses around the world, seven libraries containing my almost seven hundred years of accumulation: alchemy, ancient runes, the Grimoire, ancient magic … I’m still a school board member of Beauxbatons, and everything is yours if you say yes …”
“Believe me, the conditions are not harsh.” There is a hopeful light in his eyes.
Felix said coldly, “I’m not quite stupid enough to have anything to offer you other than refusal.”
Nicolas went into silence, the glow in his eyes faded, and he suddenly struggled to sit up and leaned against the wall, a movement that caused his body to tremble non-stop, “A–Albus, please–please leave for a while –” he gasped.
Dumbledore’s eyes swept over him and Felix as he sighed and said, “Nick, you …” he turned and left.
Only two people were left in the bedroom.
Felix sat in the only chair, his right leg crossed, his black wand twirling dextrously in his hand, and he said casually: “What do you want to do, let me watch you die? You can’t do much right now.”
Nicolas showed a smile: “This happens to be my advantage, I’m going to die, this is my advantage.” He deliberately emphasized this point.
Felix looked at him in amazement.
The old man said softly: “Your answer still hasn’t changed, hating the external restraints, so I have a backup plan.” He held out his hand, and one rune after another emerged from his palm, which coalesced into a golden eye.
“You know ancient runic magic?”
“Living long has that advantage of being able to tap into the magic, in fact, I’ve never practiced …”
Felix asked cautiously, “What do you want?”
“From you? No, no, I just want to be a guest in your house …”
“-You’re dreaming!”
“I’m dying, Felix,” the old man held out his hand and looked at him with a pleading gaze, “and no one is going to divulge your secret!”
“…”
In the silence, Felix seemed to be able to see the old man’s life passing little by little, each breath with a snake-like hiss, he gritted his teeth and said, “Old man, I will watch you die, and I can’t even think about you remaining alive!”
Nicolas Flamel laughed heartily, his tone one of triumphant satisfaction: “You won’t be disappointed.”
Felix stood up, walked to the bedside, carefully examined the thin, white hand, and took it in his hand as if it is about to fall.
———-
Thanks for all your support.
There are 327+ chapters on P_atreon, if you have some extra pocket money, Support me on Pa_treon: www.pa_treon.com/Crazy_Cat.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter