Lin Mei quickly pieced together the truth from Dumbledore's words.
Once the Philosopher's Stone was destroyed, Nicolas Flamel would lose access to the Elixir of Life. Without it, his centuries-long existence would inevitably come to an end.
With his remaining time, Flamel wanted to pass on his alchemical knowledge to a worthy successor. Meanwhile, Dumbledore sought a way to help Lin Mei learn alchemy, making their arrangement mutually beneficial.
Thus, Lin Mei found himself at Flamel's secluded manor, ready to inherit a legacy centuries in the making.
Lin Mei took a deep breath, his gaze steady. "Mr. Flamel, I give you my word—I will do my utmost to learn and preserve your alchemy." His voice carried both determination and sincerity.
Flamel nodded, a flicker of relief crossing his aged features. "Very well, Lin Mei. I will teach you everything I know, including secrets never shared with the outside world. But remember—alchemy is more than a collection of techniques. It is a profound respect for nature's laws, a journey of exploration. You must listen to the materials, sense their essence, and understand their connection to magic."
Before Dumbledore departed, he handed Lin Mei an unexpected gift—a Time-Turner.
Lin Mei stared at it, momentarily stunned. Even he hadn't expected Dumbledore to go so far as to obtain such a rare artifact for him. This alone was proof that Flamel's time was running short.
His situation was unique—he needed to remain by Flamel's side to study alchemy, yet he couldn't neglect his Hogwarts education. Though he had already self-studied the entire first-year curriculum, he still had to return for exams.
To solve this dilemma, Dumbledore arranged a special exception—Lin Mei could use the Time-Turner to accelerate his alchemy studies without falling behind at Hogwarts.
With matters settled, Flamel led Lin Mei through a hidden passage deep within the manor, bringing him to his most sacred space—the alchemy workshop.
Strange instruments lined the walls, their arcane mechanisms whirring softly. Ancient tomes filled every shelf, their pages inscribed with cryptic symbols. The air itself shimmered faintly, infused with the scent of metal and the hum of magical energy.
"This is my workshop," Flamel said, stepping forward. "It is also where you will be learning."
He reached for a heavy leather-bound book from a nearby shelf and handed it to Lin Mei. "This contains the culmination of my life's research—all my discoveries, innovations, and insights. You will begin your studies here."
Lin Mei accepted the book with both hands, feeling the sheer weight of knowledge it carried. He wasn't merely holding a book—he was holding a lifetime of wisdom.
Looking up at Flamel, he gave a firm nod. "I will study this carefully."
From that day forward, Lin Mei immersed himself in alchemy under Flamel's personal guidance.
He spent hours each day conducting experiments, learning through both failure and success. Flamel, ever patient, taught him not just the mechanics of alchemy, but its deeper philosophy and purpose.
Through their lessons, Lin Mei gradually realized—alchemy wasn't just about transmuting materials. It was about understanding the very fabric of reality itself.
As the days passed, his skills sharpened at an astonishing pace. Soon, he could independently conduct complex experiments, crafting objects imbued with powerful magic.
Flamel was more than pleased. "You have exceeded my expectations, Lin Mei. Your understanding of alchemy is growing rapidly. It won't be long before you surpass even me."
Lin Mei's presence filled the manor—whether in the workshop, the gardens, or even the hidden chambers, he was always deep in study or engaged in an experiment.
Alchemy, however, was an expensive pursuit. The materials alone cost a staggering fortune, yet Flamel spared no expense.
And at last—Lin Mei's learning reached its final stage.
Seeing that the time was right, Flamel retrieved one final book from the depths of his study. His expression was solemn as he handed it to Lin Mei.
"Ahem! Lin Mei, this is the last thing I will pass on to you. This book is the key to my greatest achievement—the creation of the Philosopher's Stone. But be warned, its contents must never be shared."
Lin Mei hesitated for only a moment before accepting the book. The title alone sent a shiver down his spine—"The Taboos of Alchemy."
His hands trembled slightly as he flipped through the pages.
There, written in painstaking detail, was knowledge far beyond ordinary alchemy.
Then, his breath hitched.
Among the forbidden techniques, one stood out—Human Transmutation.
Lin Mei's throat went dry.
Alchemy had always been about reshaping matter, but this… this was something else entirely.
Human Transmutation was an attempt to recreate life itself—to manipulate the body, soul, and spirit as ingredients, forging new life through alchemy alone.
But no matter how advanced the technique, it had never succeeded.
It defied the natural order, challenging the very foundation of life and the universe.
Even among alchemists, this practice was deemed too dangerous, too unethical.
Lin Mei swallowed hard, his mind racing. "Mr. Flamel… this is impossible, isn't it?"
His voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried undeniable unease.
Because what he had just read reminded him of something terrifying—a legend from his homeland, akin to the forbidden second half of the Luban Scrolls.
For the first time since coming to this manor, Lin Mei felt true fear.
Lin Mei couldn't help but wonder if delving into such forbidden knowledge might doom her to a tragic fate—like a widow, orphan, or something even worse—caught in the dark consequences of alchemy.
Noticing Lin Mei's troubled expression as she flipped through the pages, Nicolas Flamel chuckled and shook his head.
"To be honest, I don't even know if these theories could ever succeed," he admitted. "The only true achievement I've made beyond ordinary transmutation is the creation of the Philosopher's Stone. And with it, I gained an unnaturally long life."
A weary sigh escaped him. "But immortality isn't always a blessing. In fact, it can be a curse."
His eyes darkened as he continued, "Ever since Voldemort returned, I have been forced into hiding. He discovered my existence—not just the Stone. That's why I entrusted it to Dumbledore, hoping to remove his interest in me. But it seems his real target was never the Philosopher's Stone… it was me."
Lin Mei fell into deep thought.
"Professor Flamel, do you know about Horcruxes?"
At the mention of the word, Flamel's eyes narrowed slightly, though he showed no surprise.
"Yes. A Horcrux is one of the most vile and powerful creations of alchemy. It grants a twisted form of immortality by splitting the soul and binding fragments of it into objects. But this is an absolute violation of nature's laws—a perversion of life itself."**
His voice grew heavier. "Those who pursue Horcruxes inevitably invite disaster and destruction."
Lin Mei listened intently, recalling the dark descriptions of Horcruxes he had read in books.
They were the ultimate perversion of existence, born from an extreme fear of death—a desperate attempt to escape fate.
Yet in the end, they only led to deeper suffering.
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