Nicolas Flamel spoke slowly and at great length, leaving everyone present with no choice but to wait for him to finish.
Pheobe, who had the guiltiest conscience of them all, suddenly heard a host of secrets from the lips of the Mr. Flamel she so respected.
She was hurt, and furious.
So the final straw that had brought France to its knees really had come from Nick, cutting off its last possible means of resistance.
Had this elder she respected above all others stopped loving France? Had he stopped loving Beauxbatons?
And Shawn could actually repair the Philosopher's Stone that was on the verge of destruction, using it to deal France the most devastating blow to its spirit!
Lupin, meanwhile, showed little reaction and calmly began making tea for their guest.
Shawn glanced at the composed Lupin. Getting a chance to sound him out is harder than I thought. Something always interrupts.
Still, dealing with this old man of over six hundred years—Nick—was certainly more important right now.
After hearing the old man express an interest in passing on his knowledge, Shawn shook his head.
"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. I really am very interested in alchemy, but at this particular moment, I can't afford to devote too much time to studying it."
Pheobe, who was already furious, grew even angrier.
She had dreamed of becoming Nick's apprentice without ever getting the chance. Yet when that very opportunity was offered to Shawn, he turned it down without a second thought!
She might have been an exceptionally gifted young woman who would command attention elsewhere, but no one present was concerned with what she thought.
Nick accepted the tea Lupin offered him. Without waiting for the scalding liquid to cool, he took a sip to moisten his parched throat,