Because he had once obtained manuscripts recording this Magic Rune, Nicolas Flamel was firmly convinced that Ian couldn't possibly have copied the content from any book currently still existing in the world.
"Does the creation of a Magic Stone require killing?" Ian asked the question again while Nicolas Flamel was examining the High Tower Magic Rune, a question that Nicolas Flamel hadn't answered before.
This time, Nicolas Flamel didn't continue to beat around the bush.
"Yes, that's right, creating a Magic Stone requires the sacrifice of human lives, and a lot of them. You surely remember the core principle of Alchemy, right?"
Nicolas Flamel, perhaps because he had been standing for too long, trembled slightly as he sat back in his chair, watching the Magic Runes Ian had imprinted with great delight. For an Alchemy Master, acquiring new material for research was indeed a profoundly joyous occasion.
"Yes, equivalent exchange."
Ian mentioned the core principle that is cited in almost every book related to Alchemy.
"Correct, equivalent exchange."
As Nicolas Flamel took out his stored fragments to compare them with Ian's imprints, he nodded and, in a hoarse voice, said.
"The Magic Stone holds not only immense Magic Power; it grants the user the ability for immortality because it contains incomparable, thriving Life Energy."
"And the equivalent of life, naturally, is life... This is also why, as you can see, these Magic Stones and my own still retain considerable Magic Power, yet they can no longer be used to create immortal substances because the Life Force within these Magic Stones has been depleted before the Magic Power."
Nicolas Flamel's words revealed to Ian the true secret of the Magic Stone.
"No exceptions? All that's left is Magic Power?"
Ian, quite curious, continued to inquire.
"Yes, no exceptions. In fact, the Magic Power in a Magic Stone is mostly used to preserve the Life Force, so this is the outcome for any Magic Stone in the end."
As he spoke.
Nicolas Flamel glanced at the dozens of Magic Stones on the table, his eyes showing a hint of regret, though it wasn't a fear of Death.
It was merely a regret for life.
Or more precisely, dissatisfaction with his own achievements.
"Your Magic Runes provide me with sufficient samples; I will do my best to translate them for you in my remaining time. Unfortunately, I likely won't solve the mysteries I haven't yet untangled."
"You have great talent and a long future ahead. I will leave you with some tasks before I die, hoping you can complete the research I can no longer continue."
Nicolas Flamel wanted to create the Universal Elixir, and his lingering attachment to life is the reason for it. When he dies, he will embark on the next journey carrying many regrets.
However.
Now he is truly at peace with himself because he discovered Ian's existence, a young man highly valued by Albus Dumbledore, with an almost miraculous talent for Alchemy. If a descendant could see the views he hadn't seen, it would be a fulfillment for Nicolas Flamel.
"Why don't you create another Magic Stone? Even though creating a Magic Stone requires many lives, I think the number of people dying from various accidents every year isn't small, is it?"
Ian asked, puzzled. In his eyes, simply collecting the Life Energy from people who die accidentally, bit by bit, should eventually accumulate enough for a Magic Stone.
Nicolas Flamel looked at the Little Wizard and chuckled, "It's not that simple. Creating a Magic Stone requires collecting hundreds of thousands of lives in a short time."
"I also happened to get the conditions to create a Magic Stone during the time of the Black Death, a heartbreaking tragedy that facilitated my miracle."
"You wouldn't be suggesting I incite such a catastrophe, would you? To be honest, I've lived long enough; the harmony of the world is more significant than my continued survival."
I have to admit.
Nicolas Flamel is indeed a person of great awareness.
"According to your perspective, the Muggles' World War II era should have had similar necessary conditions?" Ian thought of that world war that occurred decades ago.
"That era indeed provided an opportunity, but it didn't belong to me." Nicolas Flamel's response carried a deep meaning, causing Ian to slightly narrow his eyes.
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
The more Ian pondered over Nicolas Flamel's words, the more unsettling it seemed.
"Some say that a wizard was present beside that mustached man, and that wizard instigated the war with the aim of creating a Magic Stone."
"You should ask Grindelwald about this; he might be the only one who knows the truth." Nicolas Flamel's reinterpretation of World War II was simply shocking.
"Hiss~"
Ian gasped in shock.
"Do you mean to say, Grindelwald incited World War II?" He felt this notion was too outrageous, inconsistent with what he knew about Grindelwald and what Dumbledore had said.
Just as Ian believed Grindelwald had hidden too deeply, fortunately, Nicolas Flamel shook his head, restoring Grindelwald's image in his mind.