Chapter 72.1- Doom Days

“The first thing you need to understand is that Ojin was, in many ways, the brightest apprentice I ever, and will most likely ever have” Flamel began the conversation with, smile on his face looking surprisingly proud. I gave him the most doubtful look my face could contort itself into. Because this man had trained Dumbledore. And by Ojin’s own admission, he was scared of the Headmaster.

“Albus? Yes, that is a common misconception. Albus Dumbledore is a genius. Easily a once in a generation intellect. But far from the brightest I ever taught. I would place him as one of the five greatest, but not as number one”

“You’ve taught five people brighter than Dumbledore? And you think Ojin is brighter than four of them?” I asked, still doubtful.

“Indeed. When it comes to magical talent, Albus has more of it in his finger than I do in my whole body. In truth, he was probably a wrong fit for me, because my talents have never laid in my magical ability. While over two millennia, I have been able to work my way into becoming a wizard that few could hope to contend with, that is more a function of the amount if time I have had to work at it than my magical talent. My mind, however. It is unmatched. Because bright as Ojin might be, I am brighter. Dumbledore would fall on the other end of the spectrum. His mind is sharp as most you will ever see, but not quite at the level to compare to some of the best in the world” He said.

“And what makes Ojin so bright? So much better than everyone else you’ve ever trained” I asked, silently killing the urge to ask him where he felt I fell on that spectrum. That was not the kind of question that would do anything useful for my sense of self.

“He can see things in the world no one else can. See connections the world remains blind to. His mind allows him to use these connections he sees to create the most fascinating outcomes. His research has for the most part been on connecting magical creatures and humans, making halfbreeds of creatures that were previously thought incompatible with the human genome” He said.

“So he’s a crossbreeder then. Sorry to burst your bubble, Nicholas but Hagrid, the Groundsmaster at Hogwarts does that as well.” I shot back..

“Did you have the chance to meet that daughter of his? Truly a fascinating creature.” He said.

“What is she? Another halfbreed? That’s not all that impressive, far as I’m concerned” I asked.

“What? Oh she is fully human”

“That’s not possible. I saw her skin turn blue and she was using ice like second nature”

“Indeed. And yet I can assure you that if you were to scan her with all the most advanced spells, the outcome would be the same. She is fully human. He created her by binding the spirit of an elemental with a human soul. Killed the poor thing’s mother in the process, but in doing so created one of the most unique specimens the world will ever see” He said.