[Without missing a beat, Maes picks up the conversation.

You'd think he was just catching up with someone after only a week or so had passed - rather than the actual circumstances at hand.]

That's good! I'm glad to hear it.

Sure sounds like I missed out on a lot though, huh? You two sound like you've been kept pretty busy!

Did he wind up needing the Philosopher's Stone after all? I know that that was a problem for him before, when he found out how it was made..