Evans ascended the spiral staircase. He'd just reached the top when he heard Nicolas Flamel's somewhat excited voice.
"Are you certain you saw it show obvious fear?"
Dumbledore's expression was somewhat helpless, as if Nicolas Flamel had already asked this question many times. "Of course. Didn't I already show you the memory?"
"Sorry, Albus, but I truly can't believe it..." Nicolas Flamel looked at the statue not far away, which was curiously staring at picture frames on the wall, seemingly planning to sample them. Inexplicable emotions flickered in his eyes.
"Living transfiguration could actually create a true soul." He paused, shaking his head. "Not just something that has the appearance and movements of a living thing but is actually a mindless automaton."
As an alchemist who had lived over six hundred years, he had witnessed countless attempts at living transfiguration. Yet this was the first time encountering such a situation.
A trace of wistfulness flashed in Nicolas's eyes. "This is the first time I've felt that destroying the Philosopher's Stone was somewhat regrettable..."
But even though he spoke of regret, his face didn't show much remorse. He seemed to view death differently from most people. For him, it was not an ending, but a new beginning.
However, Evans still had some doubts.
"Can't you forge another Philosopher's Stone?" Evans asked. "You are the Stone's creator."
Hundreds of years ago, Nicolas Flamel managed to create the Philosopher's Stone. Evans couldn't see why he wouldn't be able to do it again now.
If he wanted to delay death a bit longer, couldn't he just forge another one?
"The Philosopher's Stone isn't so easily created." Nicolas Flamel's eyes flashed with memories. "The price of creating it is far greater than its benefits."
Evans looked at the expression on Nicolas Flamel's face and frowned slightly.
That look doesn't suggest reminiscing. It carries fear.
Why would creating a Philosopher's Stone cause such a fearful expression?
Moreover, aside from Nicolas Flamel, no one else in this world seemed to know the Stone's creation method.
That miraculous item could create the Elixir of Life, but what method was actually used to make it?
However, Nicolas apparently didn't want to recall those matters. He shook his head and looked at Dumbledore's desk.
"Let's not dwell on those things. Let's look at those two Horcruxes."
Evans also tactfully didn't press further. He joined in examining the two seemingly ordinary objects on Dumbledore's desk.
One was a somewhat aged diary from the Muggle world, with some patterns drawn on it. The other cup, which should have been dazzling, had its original golden color completely obscured due to becoming a Horcrux, appearing filthy and corrupted.
"These are Horcruxes?" Nicolas Flamel looked at the diary and golden cup on Dumbledore's desk. Interest flashed in his eyes.
Horcruxes aren't products of alchemy, but their ability to seal souls within objects provides considerable inspiration for alchemy.
Perhaps I could gain some insights from these two things.
"Yes, Horcruxes." Dumbledore looked at the two items on the table, his azure eyes contemplating something unknown. "Things that can only be obtained through extremely cruel killing methods and tearing one's own soul."
Dumbledore picked up one of the basilisk fangs Evans had delivered last night. He waved it over the Horcruxes, causing both to emit wretched screams.
But screaming aside, neither Horcrux seemed to have any intention of speaking.
Based on Evans's impression of those Horcruxes, they shouldn't be particularly stubborn.
"Without hosts and without receiving nourishment from the living, Horcruxes have no way to express their thoughts." Perhaps seeing Evans's confusion, Dumbledore said softly. "Only after receiving energy unconsciously given by the living do they gain the ability to voice opinions or even control bodies."
"And if they stray too far from their hosts, they'll return to their most primitive state, waiting for the next person who inadvertently picks them up."
"I see." Evans nodded, then looked at Dumbledore suspiciously. "How do you know so much?"
Was he so familiar with Horcruxes because he made one himself?
"Because Tom once asked me a question—how many Horcruxes can be made at most." While speaking, Dumbledore's eyes flickered. His finger lightly tapped the desk. A thick black-covered book floated from the nearby bookshelf and landed before him.
"Although I didn't answer him, afterward I was curious enough to research this area."
How many at most... what a terrifying question.
Horcruxes required tearing one's own soul, using part of one's personality and a permanently unhealable soul wound as the price to create.
Moreover, truly completing a Horcrux required a collection of precious materials and a series of complex rituals.
The cost was so high that most dark wizards wouldn't even attempt to make one. Yet he had the audacity to ask how many could be made.
However, looking at the diary and cup before him, he seemed to have indeed obtained that question's answer and created quite a few Horcruxes.
Evans clicked his tongue. He opened the black book Dumbledore had placed before him.
However, after only reading a few pages, he frowned. He closed the book and pushed it back to Dumbledore.
This book records only dark magic aimed at self-harm. Such magic holds no meaning for me.
Relying solely on my talents, I can do many things ordinary wizards can't. Learning dark magic and breaking myself down physically and mentally holds no benefits for me.
Dumbledore saw Evans's disinterested appearance. Something inexplicable seemed to flash in his azure eyes, but he said nothing. Instead, he tapped the desk again to send the book flying back to the bookshelf.
Evans stopped thinking about what that book recorded. He looked at the Horcruxes on the table. "When do you plan to have Harry destroy these two things?"
He remembered Dumbledore saying earlier that he'd let Harry personally destroy those Horcruxes to see if it could distance his soul from Voldemort's soul fragment.
The curse on that diadem was too powerful and could only be resolved through external force, but the remaining two weren't difficult to destroy.
"Let's wait a while. I still need to study them and see if I can use the resonance between them to locate where other Horcruxes are hidden."
"Then I'm not dealing with this anymore." Evans casually pushed the items on the desk aside. He pulled out a map from his pocket, unfolded it, and placed it on the table.
"Since the Horcrux matter is resolved, it's time we discussed going to the Forbidden Forest for Christmas, right?"