Crunch…
Lucien could only nod respectfully at Nicolas Flal's words.
He couldn't wrap his head around the mindset of soone who'd lived for centuries. Maybe if he reached that age, he'd get it.
"Your outlook is so… open. It's inspiring," Lucien said.
Nicolas smiled at the complint. "Live long enough, and you'll get there too. Speaking of, Dumbledore ntioned your thoughts on the Philosopher's Stone…"
He flipped his hand, and a red gem hovered above his fingers.
Crystal-clear, radiating a soft magical glow.
More complete. Brimming with power. This was a true, perfect Philosopher's Stone.
Lucien instantly sensed the difference from the one Dumbledore had shown him.
Of course—Nicolas Flal hadn't just made one Stone.
"This is a fresh Philosopher's Stone," Nicolas said, his eyes glinting with aning. "Turns base tals to gold. Brews the Elixir of Life."
Lucien kept his face neutral, his gaze flicking between Nicolas and the Stone.
Seriously? First Dumbledore, now Nicolas, dangling Philosopher's Stones like toys?
Old wizards and their gas…
Gotta try that when I'm ancient.
"Mr. Flal," Lucien said, "I'm fascinated by the Stone and what it can do, but I'm way more curious about the knowledge it took to make it. And this… spaceship? How much magical know-how is packed into this?"
His eyes sparkled, his thirst for knowledge practically bursting.
A sci-fi spaceship in the wizarding world? Too cool.
Sure, it was probably alchemy—Nicolas's specialty—but still jaw-dropping.
What materials could support this size? What were those runes carved on its surface? And the power source for this beast?
Lucien wanted to know everything.
Nicolas caught the gleam in Lucien's eyes and froze for a mont. So pure.
Only soone like Lucien—young, unjaded—could have that look.
Maybe he'd had it too, centuries ago, chasing alchemy's secrets.
With a nod, Nicolas could tell the boy wasn't faking. No lies, no hidden agendas—just raw curiosity.
He flicked his fingers, and the Philosopher's Stone floated steadily to Lucien.
Lucien caught it, stunned. "This is…"
"Exploring magic on your own is a joy like no other," Nicolas said. "Keep the Stone. Don't worry—I've got plenty."
He tapped the silver wall beside him. A slot popped open, revealing another glowing Philosopher's Stone embedded in it.
"This big guy needs a lot of juice to run."
Lucien's eyes followed the wall forward. The corridor was lined with at least twenty more Stones.
This ship's size…
How many Stones had Nicolas made?
Lucien couldn't help but gape. To Nicolas, were Philosopher's Stones just… rocks?
The ship's power coming from Stones made sense—only they could supply that kind of magic. But this many?
"This ship is incredible," Lucien said, awestruck. "It's gotta be the most complex alchemical creation in magical history."
But Nicolas shook his head, a trace of lancholy in his voice. "Magical history, huh…"
"Muggles have made even wilder things. Over twenty years ago, they built sothing that flew higher. Much higher."
Muggle creations? Twenty years ago?
Lucien's mind raced. Flying higher than this ship?
Wait. Twenty years ago?
No way…
Lucien's gaze turned to Nicolas, half-horrified. Was this old wizard planning to go to the moon?
Muggle tech, twenty years back, flying that high…
The moon landing.
Nicolas had built this ship and spread rumors that his Stone was destroyed, that he was dying…
Lucien's thoughts spiraled. Crazy. Insane.
Yet… it made a weird kind of sense.
Magic's tech tree was odd—low-end and high-end advancents didn't follow logic. Wizards mastered Apparition centuries ago, while Muggle tech was nowhere close.
A wizard—especially one like Nicolas, with centuries of wealth, knowledge, and alchemical mastery—could absolutely aim for the stars.
"Sorry, got a bit carried away," Nicolas said, his face brightening. "Co on, let's tour the ship, then we'll dive into the knowledge you're itching for."
He "floated" ahead, leading the way.
Nicolas had invited Lucien out of curiosity.
Dumbledore and Newt had both written about this kid, their letters full of praise.
Was he that curious about Lucien's talent? Not really.
They'd sent him so of Lucien's alchemical creations. Nicolas's verdict? Not bad.
For a first-year wizard, those items were impressive. Definitely showed alchemical talent.
But through those works, Nicolas could tell: Lucien wasn't an alchemy genius.
Per Dumbledore and Newt, the kid was a prodigy in Transfiguration and magical creatures.
Nicolas, with centuries of teaching and eting countless wizards, knew one thing: No one's a genius in every field.
Magic was too vast—Charms, Alchemy, Potions, Herbology, Divination, Transfiguration, Dark Arts…
Mastering one field was rare. Branching out to others? That was a genius's path.
From what Nicolas could see, Lucien could hit the peak in Transfiguration and maybe push alchemy to the edge of genius—but beyond that? Hard to say.
Right now, Nicolas was all-in on this ship, chasing Muggle advancents with alchemy. That was his focus.
Still, he liked Lucien. Rare to et a kid who clicked with him like this.
Last one was Newt. Before that, Dumbledore.
Both barely a century old—still "kids" to Nicolas.
He wouldn't hold back teaching Lucien. If the boy wanted to learn and could keep up, whatever he absorbed was his to claim.
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