Kael smacked his lips, only now remembering that the ancient magic potion used to soak the soul artifacts was made by Nicolas, which showed he must be proficient in magic potions as well.
In fact, if you think about it, there is hardly anything he wouldn't know for a wizard who has lived for over six hundred years.
It's just that Nicolas's achievements in alchemy are so great that people often subconsciously overlook his other abilities.
Kael also lay back on the chair just like him.
Truth be told, Nicolas really knew how to enjoy life; being warm and cozy was indeed quite nice.
"Oh, by the way, there's one more thing." Nicolas said leisurely, sitting on a folding chair, "The soul artifacts you sent have all been dealt with, you can take them anytime."
"Have you finished researching them?" Kael asked, not surprised.
When he saw Dumbledore, he had already guessed that Nicolas invited him over likely because of the soul artifacts.
"Why do you say that?" Nicolas raised an eyebrow and asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Kael turned his head to look at him, "If it was just about handling a few soul artifacts, would it really take this long?"
Kael had sent Nicolas three soul artifacts in total, apart from the diadem at the beginning, the remaining golden cup and pendant box had been here for almost two years.
With Nicolas Flamel's abilities, did it really take that long to resolve the soul fragments on the soul artifacts... surely not.
"I was indeed curious about them, or rather, every alchemist cannot resist their allure." Nicolas did not deny it, but simply sighed, "I have to say, the wisdom of the four founders is indeed beyond reach... follow me."
Nicolas stood up and took small steps to a door nearby.
He pushed open the door, revealing a huge laboratory, about as big as the Hogwarts auditorium, filled with various oddly-shaped tools, and a giant crystal ball about five feet tall in the center of the table.
The golden cup and pendant box were placed on a shelf against the wall, and Kael saw them immediately.
"Wait a moment." Nicolas placed his hand on a pillar by the door that looked like a decorative piece.
As he gently turned the pillar, the whole room began to rotate.
Soon, the shelf that was originally opposite them appeared right beside them.
Kael looked at the two items, and like the diadem, once they were no longer soul artifacts, they finally returned to their original state.
When the golden cup was found in the Gringotts vault, it was so dull as if covered with a layer of unremovable dust, that even if placed in a second-hand store, no one would give it a second glance. But now, even in the dim room, it was gleaming and dazzling.
As for the pendant box, the little snake shaped by gemstones no longer had a monotonous color, now glowing vividly and lifelike.
"I tried to replicate these two things, but all attempts failed." Nicolas said, "I must admit, the four founders are indeed beyond reach."
"Even the golden cup failed?" Kael was taken aback, "I remember you said before, the golden cup could just endlessly produce fine wine, wasn't that quite simple?"
He had previously made a similar quill that could automatically refill ink, though admittedly much cruder than the golden cup, at least the principle was the same, right?
If he could do it, let alone Nicolas Flamel.
"No, it can't be done." Nicolas shook his head, "Though I could create a similar goblet, I can't ensure that the magic text on it wouldn't change after being eroded by a soul artifact."
The soul artifact alters the essence of an item, which Kael naturally knew as well.
It was just as well that Voldemort had high standards, for if he had casually chosen a speedwriting quill as a soul artifact, once the soul fragment was removed, the magical effect would disappear, leaving just an ordinary quill.
Then again, if the soul artifact were really a speedwriting quill, it wouldn't require so much effort, and there would be simpler ways to resolve it.
"Of course," Nicolas continued, "if I took more time, it's not impossible, but I don't think it's necessary, just copying them wouldn't prove anything even if I did manage to replicate them."
He waved his hand, and the golden cup and pendant box floated immediately to Kael's hands.
"Now, returned to the rightful owner."
"Thank you." Kael looked at the items in his hand, hesitated for a moment before asking, "Nicolas, do you think they might, like the diadem, also carry the memories of Slytherin and Hufflepuff?"
"I thought about that too, but they don't." Nicolas shook his head, "The diadem can carry a portion of Rowena Ravenclaw's memories, apart from its own uniqueness, there must be special magic aiding it. And such magic is very complex, likely only Rowena herself would know."
"As for their functions..." Nicolas continued, "I should have already told you before, the pendant box can store additional magic power... while the golden cup can endlessly produce fine wine, which proved to be the case."
"Of course, these are their primary functions, as for other abilities, you'll need to explore them yourself.
I must say, it's quite an interesting process, and if I told you everything, you'd miss out on a lot of fun."
Kael shrugged, noncommittal.
Though it's true, the premise is that you must have ample time, and also, he must be wary of a certain headmaster.