Upon learning that everyone else had already left, Kael was preparing to pack up and leave as well, but Nicolas Flamel shook his head and said:
"No need to leave so soon, Kael. If you wish, you can stay here a bit longer."
"Moreover, I heard from Albus that you've also taught yourself alchemy and invented a rather interesting gadget.
It seems to be related to Quidditch, right? May I have a look at it?"
"You can, but I'm not sure if it counts as alchemy."
Kael took out a transparent snake-shaped bracelet from the Transfiguration Lizard Skin Bag, the same kind he had sold to Malfoy for a hundred Galleons.
Since then, he had received a few more orders, but only a total of five.
After all, a hundred Galleons is quite a lot, and even among Slytherins, few would spend that much money on a toy.
This one he had prepared in advance to develop new customers once the school term started.
And it was the only thing on him related to alchemy.
Nicolas took the bracelet, raising an eyebrow in slight surprise.
"Embedding a charm into a fixed object... without a doubt, this is alchemy."
"I assume you've read that book 'Magic Products: Change and Fusion'."
Kael nodded: "I stumbled upon it in the school library."
"That's indeed a good book on alchemy," Nicolas said. "Though some of the views contradict mainstream alchemy, it's still good for beginners."
Nicolas gently caressed the bracelet and continued, "It's rare; your foundation is also very good. Even I can only find a few insignificant flaws.
It seems you're quite interested in alchemy."
Kael nodded without hesitation: "Yes."
At this point, he certainly had to be interested; he couldn't just say he learned alchemy to study the Soul Artifact.
Kael had no desire to go to Nimongard for further study.
And as the creator of the Philosopher's Stone, Nicolas Flamel's achievements in alchemy were unimaginable to others.
Even if he only taught him a thing or two on a whim, it would be an invaluable asset to Kael.
"Then come with me," Nicolas returned the bracelet to Kael and led him to a circular room.
There were no furnishings here, apart from a few tables; everything else was books.
The sheer number was astonishing.
Row upon row of massive bookshelves were neatly stacked together, stretching from the floor up as if reaching endlessly upward.
Nicolas Flamel pointed at the shelves and said, "There are quite a number of alchemy books here, along with some early notes. If you're interested, feel free to take a look."
Kael looked up at the towering book tower, incredulous, and asked, "Are all these related to alchemy?"
"Of course not, only a small portion,"
Nicolas casually pulled out a faded 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' from a nearby shelf.
"If you want to read something else, you can find it here as well, up to you."
"This is practically a library at home..." Kael muttered quietly.
"Hardly, it's just my personal collection,"
Nicolas put the book back on the shelf. "The books I collected earlier in my life are all here; it started with just a few shelves, but over time it grew to this."
This was just from earlier years?
Kael clicked his tongue. Even just what's in front of him seemed to surpass what's in the Hogwarts Library...
But Nicolas seemed eager to get back to listening to the opera, so he didn't elaborate further and left with small, quick steps after a few brief words.
Before leaving, he called over the house-elf.
"Tata knows the location of every book. If there's anything you want to find, you can ask it... if it's here."
...
The door closed again, leaving only Kael and Tata staring at each other wide-eyed.
After a moment, Kael asked with some skepticism, "Do you really know where all these books are?"
"Of course, esteemed guest," Tata said proudly. "As a qualified house-elf, I must always be able to find the items my master needs; though it's difficult, Tata has managed."
"Can you help me find 'Thousand Magical Herbs and Mushrooms'?" Kael asked tentatively.
"Snap!"
Tata snapped its fingers, and a thick book appeared on a nearby table.
"I also need 'Magic Products: Change and Fusion'."
"Snap!"
Another snap of the fingers.
This book, stored in the Hogwarts Restricted Area, also appeared on the table.
Kael stepped forward to flip through it briefly, finding its contents identical to what he'd seen before.
"What about 'Make the Blood Boil'?" Kael asked, squinting thoughtfully.
"Snap!"
Again, the familiar snap, but this time nothing appeared on the table.
"Forgive me, esteemed guest!"
Tata quickly bowed, its long nose almost touching the floor.
"You can't see that book!"
"Can't see it..." Kael frowned. "It's not that it's not here?"
"It's on the twenty-third floor, left side, ninety-seventh row."
Tata accurately indicated, "But you can't see it, so Tata can't bring it to you."
Kael suddenly understood; it seemed there was also a so-called Restricted Area here.
However, he didn't mind too much; though, for a brief moment, he did consider searching for that 'Advanced Black Magic Unveiled' he'd been longing for.
But considering Nicolas Flamel's relationship with Dumbledore, that thought quickly dissipated.
Besides, he already knew the Soul Artifact creation process from Voldemort, so there was no need to take that risk.
"No worries, Tata, I'm not that eager to read that book," Kael said, steadying his mind. "Can you help me find Nicolas's notes? Just the basics, as soon as possible."
Tata stood back up.
With a series of firecracker-like "snap, snap" sounds, the table quickly filled with various well-preserved notebooks, parchment, and tablets.
But when Kael eagerly opened them, he found he couldn't understand a thing, and he didn't even recognize some of the symbols used inside.
It was as if Nicolas Flamel had suddenly become enlightened and skipped directly from second grade to graduate-level studies.
And those missing in-between parts were precisely what Kael needed most.
"Any earlier ones?" Kael frowned and asked.
Tata shook its head.
With no other choice, Kael tried another approach and had Tata bring forth books Nicolas had written before.
This time, he finally found something he could understand.
'Alchemy Exchange Principle'
This was a textbook written by Nicolas Flamel long ago specifically for Beauxbatons' Alchemy Class, perfectly suitable.