In western Austria lay a dense forest. It appeared deserted, but quite a few wizards were hidden within it.
They had only one task: prevent any living creature from approaching.
Because deep in the mountains beyond the forest stood a grim, black fortress.
For more than half a century, it had been the nightmare of European wizards.
But tonight, the fortress welcomed a special guest.
He appeared beyond the range of the anti-Apparition wards. The anti-intrusion spells in the forest showed no reaction whatsoever, and even the guarding wizards failed to notice his arrival.
At 8:20 p.m., Vincent stopped before Nurmengard.
He lightly tapped the heavy gates with his cane, and the next second, they opened before him on their own.
The interior was exactly as he remembered it. The unpleasant smell of mold had vanished completely, and the air was much fresher.
He climbed the rotten, dilapidated stairs to the top floor, his gaze settling on the room at the end of the corridor, where soft candlelight glowed.
Vincent slowly walked over, and the wall lamps lit up one after another.
It was a magnificent room with an especially spacious interior. More than a dozen ebony bookcases stood inside, with none of the decay and ruin found outside.
"Here?" Grindelwald closed the book in his hand as he sat on the sofa by the window, then raised a hand to gesture for him to come in and sit.
Six years—no, it should have been two years since they last met. The Dark Lord who had once nearly conquered the world remained as imposing as ever, completely unlike the toothless old man people imagined him to be.
Vincent sat on the sofa opposite him and casually leaned his cane against the table. "Professor, did you foresee that I would come