[Dear Mr. Vid Gray:
I sincerely invite you to visit my old residence in Paris at 3 PM tomorrow afternoon.
Of course, this eting is entirely informal, and there will be no other guests. I hope my invitation hasn’t caused you any extra pressure, dear Vid.
Putting aside those exaggerated stories, I’m just an old man who enjoys tinkering with bottles and jars. I think we can chat over tea like ordinary alchemy enthusiasts, discussing all sorts of whimsical ideas.
Attached with the letter is a Portkey that will activate at 3 PM tomorrow. Looking forward to eting you.
Sincerely yours,
Nicolas Flal]
...
As ti ticked closer to three o’clock, Vid took a deep breath, adjusted his collar, and fiddled with the coin that served as the Portkey.
The coin was about the size of a Galleon, without any numbers, featuring a rose with a ruby in the center on the front and a raven on the back.
An invitation from Nicolas Flal is sothing no one would refuse, and naturally neither could Vid. But to avoid any danger, he was still well-prepared.
The wardrobe space shrank into a pencil case and was tucked into his pocket;
His sleeves had a few black gemstone cufflinks, so capable of explosion, others of causing fire, and most importantly, one was a Portkey to Hogsade, personally made by Dumbledore.
Underneath his outer robe, he wore an Anti-Curse Vest, ever since returning from Gray Castle, he wore this vest whenever he went out.
Although it couldn’t withstand the Killing Curse, nor could it defend against wizards of Grindelwald’s caliber, it could at least buy Vid a little ti in case of danger.
"Almost three o’clock, Vid."
"Yeah." Vid glanced at the clock and couldn’t help but smile: "I’m about to et Nicolas Flal soon!"
Fiona reminded him: "Gift?"
"I’ve got it." Vid patted his pocket.
Fiona asked again: "Portkey?"
"I’m holding it!"
The lustrous coin spun around Vid’s fingers.
Fiona said: "If you need to stay overnight, rember to let know you’re safe!"
Vid replied: "Every night at nine, I won’t forget."
Fiona looked at her son, her eyes both proud and worried.
Ever since Vid went to Magic School, he had to stay there most of the ti, and even during holidays, he often received invitations to go out.
Fiona knew she couldn’t keep her son at ho forever for his future, but every ti she sent him off, she couldn’t help but feel worried.
"Mom?" Vid looked at her and asked: "What’s wrong, did I get sothing dirty on my face?"
He rubbed his face twice with his hand.
"No." Fiona brushed the hair standing up on the side of Vid’s forehead, smiled, and said: "I’m just so proud..."
After a pause, she said enviously: "Just think, it’s Nicolas Flal who’s lived for over six hundred years, he might have even seen Saint Joan of Arc, Galileo, Shakespeare in person! I can’t imagine how many interesting topics you can discuss with him."
Vid’s fingers around the coin tightened slightly, he looked up at Fiona, smiled, and said:
"The pursuit of immortality has never stopped, whether in the Magic World or in ordinary people’s technology. Maybe in the future, with technological advances or magical breakthroughs, we could live a long ti too! It’s said that Nicolas Flal’s Elixir of Life isn’t just useful for wizards... Mom, would you want that?"
"Hmm?" Fiona was stunned and asked: "To live for hundreds of years?"
"Perhaps even longer." Vid said casually.
"Oh..." Fiona thought seriously for a while and hesitantly said: "I don’t know... it feels a bit scary?"
"...Why?" Vid asked confusedly.
"tabolism is a natural law, humans are the sa." Fiona said gently: "If the leaves on a tree never fall, how will new leaves grow?"
"But," Vid looked at her quietly and said: "there are evergreen trees in nature..."
Before he could finish, the clock in the living room suddenly chid.
"Dong—Dong—Dong—"
The Raven Gold Coin instantly emitted a dazzling light, and in a flash, Vid vanished from where he stood.
Fiona’s outreached hand touched empty air, grasping only a few wisps of space.
She froze for a mont, slowly withdrew her hand, pressed her lips together, and sat quietly in a chair thinking for a long ti.
Fiona suddenly realized it was already Ferdinand’s ti to return from work only when she heard the sound of the door opening in the living room.
Fiona hurriedly ran down from upstairs, and Ferdinand couldn’t help but smile when he saw his wife’s light and breezy deanor.
"Vid must have already gone to Mr. Flal’s house?" he asked while taking off his coat.
"Yes." Fiona sighed.
"Don’t worry." Ferdinand said: "Vid has prepared quite a few safety asures, he’ll be alright."
"I know... I’m not worried about that... Well, maybe a little, but that’s not what’s bothering ..."
Fiona said with a frown.
"What’s up?" Ferdinand held her arm, looked down into her eyes, and asked softly: "Has our son finally reached his rebellious phase?"
Fiona hesitated for a mont and said: "I discussed sothing with Vid, I thought... um... I talked about how leaves have a tabolism, but Vid said there are evergreen trees in nature..."
"Evergreen trees?" Ferdinand was dazed: "You’ve been troubled over this... for two hours?"
He glanced at his watch and said.
"Help think of a way to counter him." Fiona said, clenching her fist: "I want to leave him speechless!"
"That’s nothing." Ferdinand chuckled: "Evergreen trees also grow new leaves every year, old ones fall off, just that their leaves last a bit longer than deciduous trees’, which is why they always look green."
"Is that so?" Fiona asked.
"Of course." Ferdinand sighed helplessly: "Vid surely knows this too, he’s just toying with you!"
Fiona didn’t pay attention to his last words, she just pondered for a while and suddenly said: "So even evergreen trees don’t resist death and aging... They just complete their life’s journey in a slower way."
Ferdinand had just poured himself a glass of water when he heard Fiona seemingly mumble to herself. He froze for a mont and turned to look at his wife.
"tabolism?"
Ferdinand sighed and whispered: "Could it be that you discussed more than just leaves?"
He knew if he asked Fiona in detail, she wouldn’t hide anything from him, but Ferdinand didn’t press further.
Seeing his son whose eyes always glead with light, he suddenly felt an urge to have a smoke.
User Comments
0 comments from readers