Flamel watched him for another moment, then smiled. "You really are an unusual young man. You're ambitious, yet you make no attempt to hide it. You want to break the deadlock in the most direct way possible. You're impatient, eager, but you also seem sincere. Perenelle would have liked you very much. A pity..."
"If I refuse your request, you'll still find some way to achieve your goal. In your willingness to use any means necessary, you may resemble the man beside you—oh, I mean his master. But unlike him, you're still willing to test the waters with polite, gentler methods. You want others to understand you and agree with you before supporting your actions."
"You're different from Dumbledore, and different from Voldemort..." Flamel looked at him. "You're something of a middle ground, or perhaps you possess some of the traits of both."
"It's hard to say whether that's better or worse, but surprisingly, I don't dislike young people like you."
In fact, Flamel felt that Murphy bore some resemblance to himself, perhaps even more than he resembled Dumbledore.
Dumbledore was more reserved and more disciplined, but Murphy was more like Flamel, more willing to face his own desires honestly.
"Does that mean you agree?" Murphy asked.
"It would be difficult for me to refuse, wouldn't it?" Flamel said. "For some time now, I've been able to feel a psychic force gathering. Perhaps, the moment I refuse you, it will invade my soul and seize control of my will."
"Your senses are very keen," Murphy said, but he did not withdraw the probing Seed of the Mind.
Nicolas Flamel's mind was probably the strangest Murphy had ever encountered. It was as still as a pool of stagnant water, yet its seemingly liquid surface was like dense steel, making it difficult