Since Egypt had to deal with so many curses, and most wizards were not powerful enough to handle them directly, researching related alchemical tools was only natural.
At the Egyptian Centre for Alchemical Studies, in order to provide outstanding alchemists with a proper research environment, each director generally led their own alchemy laboratory under the Chief's overall management.
Each of them had their own specialty.
Some enjoyed modifying muggle technology, and many of the novel devices throughout the Centre were the result of their work.
Others focused on traditional alchemy, hoping to restore the glory of ancient alchemy. Although that was proving extremely difficult for now, the technology used in the communication badges Tver had given Cynthia and Marvolio had come from these very alchemists.
Most of the alchemists here were divided into these two schools.
And according to what Tver had learned beforehand, Mahard Yell was the traditionalist alchemist with the deepest research into curses and related tools.
So when Mahard heard Tver's question, he stopped instead and studied him with interest.
His research was especially important to Egypt itself, which was why he was so highly valued here and had been honored with the task of guiding Nicolas Flamel.
But to foreigners, his tools were not particularly meaningful, and very few people would specifically bring up that field.
Seen that way, Tver had clearly brought Nicolas Flamel here for more than simply letting a pair of twins study at the Centre.
"It seems we should introduce ourselves properly, Mr. Fawley?"
As Nicolas Flamel was dragged away by the Weasley twins, the genius alchemist calmed down, and the small eyes on his plump, round face gleamed with shrewdness.
Anyone who could make a name for himself here was a genius in his own right.
"Tver Fawley." Tver extended his hand without concern and shook Mahard's. "British representative of the Wizarding Confederation, and Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts."
Although he had not really returned to Hogwarts to teach these past two years, Dumbledore still counted him among the professors, and the students still…
Hmm. Ever since Sirius took over the position, it seemed the students no longer held much hope that he would return to teach.
Still, Tver preferred being called Professor Fawley.
Sensing this, Mahard's attitude became a little friendlier.
Hogwarts' name had long since spread across the world thanks to Dumbledore, and the British representative of the Wizards' Confederation was, to some extent, already an executor of Dumbledore's will.
Those two identities alone were enough to make him take Tver seriously.
"Mahard Yell, Director of the Curse and Counter-Curse Laboratory here. As you know, my research into curses is indeed quite deep, though only from the perspective of alchemy."
After all that effort, Tver had finally raised his standing somewhat in Mahard's eyes.
After all, what he wanted to ask was rather unbelievable…
"My question happens to involve an alchemical tool connected to curses, Mr. Mahard."
As Tver spoke, he took out a small item he had prepared in advance, a mysterious smile on his face.
An exquisite ring.
The golden ring was engraved with many snakeskin-like patterns, making it look elegant yet deadly. What drew Mahard's attention most, however, was the ink-black stone set into it.
The contrast felt like a ragged beggar living in a luxurious palace. The beggar himself might be perfectly at ease, yet he remained utterly out of place in that setting.
But with his sensitivity to alchemy, Mahard quickly sensed that beneath the dense aura of dark magic lay extremely ancient traces of alchemy.
He instinctively reached out and took it, carefully examining every inch of the ring.
Ancient alchemy was fundamentally based on ancient magical systems, yet even Mahard, who frequently studied ancient Egyptian magic, could not immediately tell what was hidden beneath this seemingly ordinary stone.
"What is this?"
"Have you heard of the Deathly Hallows?" Tver asked instead.
The dark magic on the ring was only the residue of the curse and the Horcrux. Ever since the curse had been transferred onto Tver, the ring had lost its ability to harm people.
Of course, that dark magic alone would already be a deadly curse to an ordinary person.
Mahard's tiny eyes widened at once, looking almost comical on his round face.
"You mean this is one of the three Deathly Hallows?!"
Before Tver could answer, he continued feeling along every pattern on the ring, as though checking whether he had missed anything.
"It can't be the Cloak of Invisibility or the Elder Wand. In that case, this must be the legendary Resurrection Stone?"
He turned the ring over and over, muttering under his breath.
"Yes, this is worthy of being called a Deathly Hallow… How marvelous. There isn't the slightest trace of life-related alchemy, yet through its structure of death and destruction, it created the miraculous ability to call back the spirits of the dead!"
By the end, his face was filled with a pilgrim's fervor and intoxication, as though he could die content after glimpsing the truth.
Compared with ordinary wizards, alchemists had long realized that the Deathly Hallows were very likely the crystallization of ancient master alchemists' wisdom.
The so-called conquest of death was, more than anything, praise for the extraordinary craftsmanship behind them.
So no matter which school an alchemist belonged to, seeing one of the Deathly Hallows inspired the same urge to worship as seeing Nicolas Flamel, the sole creator of the Philosopher's Stone.
"So the Resurrection Stone really can call back the spirits of the dead?" Tver asked with a frown.
"That's only the legend. How could I know the exact truth?" Mahard rolled his eyes bluntly.
"Of course, based on my understanding of ancient alchemy, this should be closer to summoning the traces left behind by the deceased in this world. The memories the living have of them, the long-lasting magic they once used, even the tools and products they created. Together, these form something infinitely close to a departed soul…"
"A ghost?" Tver tried to help him finish.
"Not exactly. If you've studied Limbo, you'd know this should fall under the category of an imprint. It's just that the person who left the imprint is already dead."
Mahard had the objective attitude of a researcher, showing no sign of getting lost in the Resurrection Stone's legendary mystique.
That made Tver feel much more at ease. At the very least, the question he wanted to discuss next required precisely this kind of objectivity.
"Then could its maker have had some connection to the Grim Reaper? For instance, could it actually have been made by the Grim Reaper?"
"Impossible," Mahard said flatly. "Putting aside the fact that I don't believe the Grim Reaper exists in this world, the crafting traces on the stone alone prove that this was made through ancient alchemical methods."
"Of course, the Deathly Hallows are still the ultimate result of ancient alchemists' research into death, so calling it something related to the Grim Reaper is not entirely unreasonable."
Tver pursed his lips, both disappointed and somewhat relieved.
This conclusion was not unexpected. He had simply held a faint hope before coming here.
Although Mahard did not understand why Tver was investigating the Grim Reaper, he still offered a kind reminder in gratitude for being allowed to see a treasure like the Resurrection Stone.
"Perhaps you should try approaching it from another angle. Even the Philosopher's Stone cannot defeat death, but avoiding death, or even coexisting with it peacefully, may well be possible for you."