Nicolas Flamel

No one had expected that Dumbledore had known about his background all along.

He had probably started watching him even before he enrolled at school!

Eli suddenly felt a deep sense of helplessness.

He had thought he had fooled everyone and could hide right under Dumbledore's nose.

Who would have thought Dumbledore had discovered him long ago and simply never said anything?

That made him seem like a joke. Was it awkward? Extremely awkward.

Now that things had been said this far, Eli could not keep denying it.

He even put on a stunned expression. Oh, Merlin's underpants, I'm actually the younger brother of the savior, Harry Potter.

Whether Dumbledore believed Eli's act or not, Eli believed it himself.

"Eli, perhaps you should know what you will face in the future. You possess extraordinary talent. I dare say you are the most gifted student I have ever seen. I only hope that, no matter what happens, you will stand with Harry."

Eli nodded. This was also the mission he had taken on after occupying this body.

"Throughout history, there have always been many brilliant Wizards, but many became lost in the pursuit of power. Indeed, power is deeply tempting. To be honest, I too once pursued power madly. But there are some things you only understand when it is too late to undo them. Power and immortality are not the most precious things. Love is."

Dumbledore's past had been far from perfect. It could even be said that it haunted him to this day.

Exceptionally gifted and full of youthful fire, he had met another person just as gifted and just as young and impetuous.

They shared the same language and the same ambitions. They had been closer than brothers.

But in the end, that person still chose a road Dumbledore had been unwilling to walk.

At first, Dumbledore had chosen to indulge him, until an accidental conflict caused him to lose his sister.

His brother had also chosen to leave him, while even that person had chosen his ideals.

He possessed legendary strength. He defeated that person and became famous throughout the world. Later, he became the only one capable of standing against Voldemort.

The world respectfully called him the greatest white Wizard.

He seemed to have everything, but in truth, he had lost it all.

His beloved family and friends had all left him.

Albus Dumbledore. Gellert Grindelwald.

Two months of reckless infatuation, a century of unspoken longing.

He had made mistakes before. Eli's talent left him no choice but to worry whether Eli might become the third Dark Lord.

He had to give Eli enough guidance.

He had to give Eli bonds with family.

"Professor, although my biological parents have passed away, I know why they died. I still have my adoptive parents, and I still have my brother. My strength will always be an umbrella protecting those around me!"

Eli's gaze was firmer than ever. This was a test from one of the strongest people of the age, and a promise from the next generation's strong.

Dumbledore smiled. The guardedness was gone, and his smile was relaxed.

"However, I hope you will not tell Harry about this for the time being, Professor."

Dumbledore looked at Eli in surprise.

"I'm not ready yet. Perhaps he isn't either."

Dumbledore pondered for a moment. "All right. This is a matter between the two of you. You should be prepared."

"At this hour, my old friend should have arrived as well."

Dumbledore glanced at the fireplace behind him, as though waiting for someone.

"Professor, may I leave?"

Eli thought Dumbledore was sending him away.

Dumbledore stopped him. "No, my old friend wants to meet you."

"Meet me?"

Eli truly had no idea which of Dumbledore's old friends might know him.

Boom!

Green flames suddenly erupted in the fireplace, turning even Dumbledore's beard green.

"Oh, Nick, you've finally arrived."

Dumbledore hurried forward to greet him.

"No, Albus, don't help me. I can still walk by myself."

A man so old that Eli did not dare guess his age stepped out.

His skin sagged, and he walked with a wobbling gait. Eli was afraid the man would fall apart after taking two steps.

The moment he heard how Dumbledore addressed him, Eli knew who this was.

Nicolas Flamel, the greatest alchemist, the sole owner of the Philosopher's Stone. He was at least six hundred and sixty years old!

Because of the Philosopher's Stone, he had lived for several centuries, far beyond the limits of humanity. Not even Wizards could manage that.

Wizards lived longer than ordinary people, especially powerful ones. Dumbledore was already over a hundred, yet he could still walk briskly and fight a seventy-something youngster like Voldemort.

Nicolas Flamel took tiny steps, his legs shuffling nonstop.

Oh, sir, slow down. If you fall here, who's going to take responsibility?

"Wait a moment. I'll be there very soon."

Flamel's blistering nine-point-eight-meter-per-hundred-seconds pace left Eli dumbfounded. Those little legs had been shuffling for ages, yet he still had not gotten anywhere.

He had even worked himself into the posture of a hundred-meter sprinter, panting heavily.

Dumbledore wanted to lend him a hand, but Flamel thought he was looking down on him.

The old man was quite stubborn.

The stubborn old man never yielded. Dumbledore's bird had fallen asleep before the old man finally reached the chair.

He took a great gasp of air. "It's not easy for an old man like me to move as fast as I do."

Dumbledore: "..."

Eli: "..."

"Oh, this must be the Eli Hall you mentioned. What a fine-looking young man."

The old man's eyesight was still quite good.

Eli quickly stood and bowed. "Hello, my name is Eli Hall."

His manners had to be impeccable. After all, this was an ancient senior who had lived for centuries. Though he was not as old as those all-powerful seniors by the Nile, he was still the oldest in the world today.

"This child is rather polite. But don't let Albus lead you astray. He loves putting on all sorts of empty airs."

Eli had already given him countless thumbs-ups in his heart, but outwardly, he pretended not to have heard a thing.

Dumbledore sat down awkwardly and glanced at Eli, who was playing dumb. You know what's good for you, kid.

"What do you think of him? He is the most gifted student I have ever seen."

Nick studied Eli for a moment. "Mm, he truly is extraordinary. I have seen quite a few dazzling geniuses, but none compare to him."

He then shot Dumbledore a sideways glance. "You only want my family craft, don't you? Kid, would you like to study alchemy under me?"

Dumbledore grew even more awkward after being mocked again, but upon hearing Nick's words, he looked at Eli expectantly.

Eli was completely stunned. What was going on? Why had this suddenly turned into taking on a disciple? Old Dumbledore, did you sell me off long ago?!

Having the greatest alchemist in history as his teacher was an enormous blessing.

"Th-this... I..."

Eli stammered for a moment.

"Don't be nervous, kid. With your talent, learning alchemy won't be a problem at all. Just tell me, will you learn or not?"

This opportunity had been delivered right to his doorstep. Anyone who refused would be a fool!

"I'll learn!"

Nicolas Flamel nodded, and Dumbledore let out a sigh of relief.

"The sooner, the better. How about this? You can study with me this summer. Go home and enjoy yourself for a few days first. What do you think?"

How could Eli dare refuse? "No problem. Not a problem at all."

"Good. It wasn't easy for someone my age to make this trip. I'll write to you when the time comes."

Dumbledore had Eli leave first. As he departed, he saw Dumbledore take out the Philosopher's Stone Voldemort had longed to obtain.