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In just a few days, the old man was already capable of using the Tower's magic text system to construct small-scale magical works.
"Compared to runes, this kind of magic text requires less magical power. But the learning curve is much steeper. I think that's probably why it was abandoned in history," Flamel even gave his own evaluation of the script.
"Kind of like how modern alchemy replaced the rune-based alchemy systems of ancient times?" Ian mused. He figured this kind of historical shift had likely happened more than once.
"Exactly. And just like how ancient alchemy had certain limitations compared to modern alchemy, this magic text can also achieve some effects that runes can't match." Flamel didn't offer a demonstration, he simply kept working on his alchemical project as he spoke to Ian.
He was currently refining Ian's black sand into the Sand of Time.
This alchemy Master was very serious and focused whenever performing any alchemy operation. He wore robes adorned with strange symbols and held a silver staff carved with a totem representing the flow of time. Around him lay various mysterious texts and ancient books, clearly indicating this was either his first time or the first time in a long while performing this kind of alchemy.
"What kind of effect are you aiming for? Something related to time manipulation?" Ian glanced at the black sand placed inside a container, where some kind of solution was constantly boiling and refining it.
"That's one aspect, time, space. Using this ancient era magic script you discovered makes it easier to control. But its true potential lies in its ability to bear divine grace," Nicolas Flamel said, mixing a rare solvent from pure water and lunar essence.
Its color sparkled like the Milky Way.
He slowly poured it into a container carved from deep yellow crystal. Like a chemistry experiment, the solution already inside the crystal vessel immediately underwent a violent transformation.
"Divine grace?" Ian blinked with curiosity. Of course, he knew there were gods in the world he lived in, but he wasn't very familiar with civilizations that frequently interacted with the divine.
And he wasn't alone.
In fact, most modern wizards knew very little about that era. The most detailed historical records of wizards barely traced back beyond the time of King Arthur and Merlin. For periods before Arthur and Merlin, only scattered ancient texts remained, hard to study and as obscure as China's Xia Dynasty, which predates even the Shang Dynasty.
"Although we know little about the gods, and we live in an era when gods are inactive, the existence of gods in this world is no myth."
"From the Death God known to most people today, to the Sun God Apollo served by the ancestors of our Divination professor, to Odin and the Norse gods of Northern mythology."
"There are theories that wizards are descendants of gods, and others that gods granted humans their magical powers. Whether any of these theories are right or wrong, all wizards agree on one thing: there's plenty of historical evidence proving the age of the gods truly existed."
Nicolas Flamel shook the container in his hand as he spoke confidently.
"Could they have just been especially powerful wizards?" Ian's perspective differed from most. He truly believed in the traditional view that wizards themselves are gods.
After all, many facts he had encountered supported this belief.
"You have a very typical alchemist's mindset, and that's good. It will ultimately lead you toward greatness," Flamel said approvingly.
Clearly, he agreed with this view.
"No matter whether these gods were once wizards like you and me, in essence, they are just life forms stronger than us wizards now. At least that's how we alchemists think. The power they wield is simply related to the fundamental laws governing the world."
"Even the Death God has a legend: he was the first person to ever die in this world, and thus was chosen by the rules to become the Death God we all know."
Nicolas Flamel spoke while observing the refining efficiency of the black sand.
"Divine grace is powerful, and so is godly power. But the true Creator once told others it's all just magic, only that this kind of magic is more nonsensical than ordinary magic."
He had mentioned this true Creator revered by alchemists more than once to Ian. Ian was curious whether this true Creator rapped like a god screaming ghosts and spirits.
"Maybe the true Creator was right," Ian now found himself liking this mysterious true Creator, whom nobody really knew what he looked like. Many of the Creator's philosophies resonated emotionally with Ian.
According to Nicolas Flamel, this true Creator was a powerful and somewhat eccentric ancient wizard. Ian thought if this ancient wizard were alive today, he'd probably be his closest friend.
"Yes, maybe that's the truth, and also the reason why the path of legends was cut off," Flamel sighed, making Ian curious about the connection to the legendary path.
He immediately asked.
Nicolas Flamel had no intention of hiding it.
He gave a deep glance at the young wizard before him, one who had embarked on the path of legends in this age of the waning of magic.
"Pureblood dragons are almost impossible to wipe out completely. Their gradual extinction, as well as the disappearance of other paths to reach the legendary, all started with our ancestor Merlin and a few others as reckless as he. They wanted to tread into realms they shouldn't have peeked into, and they even found a way."
"Although they ultimately didn't succeed, their actions caused panic among some higher-level existences. That's why you see the four founders of Hogwarts become the last legends."
"The Golden Apple was cut down, the era of feudal monarchies ruled by one supreme being ended, and even western dragons gradually lost the ability to bear pureblood offspring. They were forced to continue their bloodline through other creatures."
"Behind all this… It's obviously unlikely that there's no strangeness involved." Nicolas Flamel didn't say everything outright, but his meaning was clear.
This alchemy Master was obviously implying that everything was related to the gods.
Ian pondered silently. He didn't know how much evidence Nicolas Flamel's claims had, but he was certain the extinction of the Golden Apple tree had little to do with the gods.
After all, Professor Morgan herself had admitted to committing that crime.
"Is the Golden Apple also related to the path of legends?" Ian suspected Professor Morgan was hiding something from him. Maybe his ability to directly step onto the path of legends was linked to having eaten the Golden Apple.
"The Golden Apple can be used in a ritual. It's the core component of that ritual," Nicolas Flamel said. He clearly had collected a lot of information about the path of legends over the past six hundred years.
That was only natural.
After all, like Albus Dumbledore, he was limited by the times and never reached the level of a legendary alchemist. Naturally, he would have some obsession and yearning in this area.
It was only Albus Dumbledore who seemed not to care much about legends.
(To Be Continued…)