Nurmengard was originally a prison built by the Wizards' Purity Party to detain its opponents.
Ironically, there is only one prisoner being held here now.
That was Gellert Grindelwald Grindelwald, who built it.
This legendary place is located high in the mountains of Austria, a landlocked country.
Vincent, who had traveled a long distance, opened his eyes and saw a towering, dark, and awe-inspiring fortress.
"We've arrived." Viktor said, as if he were dead. "There are no guards here, you can stay inside without worry."
"Aren't you going in?" Vincent looked around.
This place is deserted and seems to be devoid of even animals.
"I can't go in." Viktor pointed to the rusty gate.
"The Austrian Ministry of Magic will know immediately if anyone who has used Dark Magic enters the premises."
Vincent spread out his left hand, from which black mist continued to emanate. "If I go in now, will I still be detected?"
"No, even if you pay the price of using Dark Magic, you won't be detected here."
A magic spell to detect the soul?
"That's quite thoughtful."
Of all the wizards in the world, he is probably the only one who can come and go freely.
Vincent raised his head slightly and looked at the slogan of the Wizards' Purity Party. "Professor Dumbledore said it has become an excuse."
"I don't deny it." Viktor paused as if lost in memories. "Even now, I still believe he can bring us hope."
Vampires are alright in Europe, but when they come to the Americas or Asia, their treatment is not much different from that of Werewolf who can infect Muggle.
If even wizards at the pinnacle of the Wizarding World need to hide, then the Magical Creatures who are disliked by both sides have an even worse fate.
Vincent understood him and knew that he and Grindelwald were using each other.
But whatever the reason, it is foolish to inherit the ideology of Wizards' Purity Party.
"Mr. Brad, I'm going in."
Viktor nodded slightly, watching intently as he pushed open the door.
The interior of Nurmengard was long abandoned, covered in cobwebs and dust.
Vincent Gunblade and cleared away the debris piled up at the bottom of the stairs.
As you climb the cold, dark stone steps, a faint light shines from the weathered walls.
Upon closer inspection, he discovered that the stone had been weathered and cracked.
He opened the Mithril Briefcase and took out an Alchemical Item for lighting.
Footsteps, like ripples on water, disrupted decades of tranquility.
Each floor here has many cells.
There were no corpses, no bones.
Just as Vincent was wondering if he was hallucinating, a strange, golden, translucent bird suddenly flew over.
It is said that Grindelwald's symbol is a golden phoenix.
Coincidentally, Dumbledore had a phoenix named Fawkes.
I don't know if it's just my eyesight, but this golden, translucent phoenix flew upwards.
Vincent was certain it wasn't a physical entity, and that it was a very profound form of magic.
Wandless Magic?!
He shook his head and continued upwards.
When we reached the top floor, the golden phoenix reappeared.
It disappeared after disappearing into a dark cell.
Vincent approached the cell, illuminating the interior.
There was a figure inside.
The other person was sitting at a table, wearing a spotless white robe.
His eyes, with the left being lighter and the right darker, were exceptionally bright, making him look nothing like an old man who had been imprisoned for 47 years.
"Welcome—" The other person spread their hands and conjured another chair out of thin air.
Vincent couldn't believe that the old man with thick hair and neat, full teeth was Grindelwald.
According to rumors, he should be a destitute old man with almost no teeth and very little hair left.
"Surprised?" Grindelwald waved his hand and conjured up an exquisite English tea set.
"Most people want to see me end up in a miserable state, and I just fulfilled their wishes."
Even though he is over a hundred years old, his voice is still full of magnetism.
"Unexpected, yet reasonable." Vincent sat down in his chair and placed the Alchemical Item on the table.
The intricately patterned teacup is automatically filled.
He could smell the vintage aroma of tea and see the prison cell slowly decaying.
Grindelwald, imprisoned here, seems to be able to alter the entire fortress at will, even without a wand.
"Not to your liking?" Grindelwald picked up the teacup in front of him and took a sip.
"Probably." Vincent held out his left hand. "I actually prefer a Coke with ice."
"Interesting." Grindelwald's lips curled up slightly. "You're the first person to dare to test me."
"Doesn't Professor Dumbledore come out of the way?"
His smile froze for a moment. "I thought he wouldn't tell you these things."
Vincent appeared calm on the surface, but inside he was panicking terribly.
These two bigwigs seem to be secretly vying for something through him.
Dumbledore told him the story, probably hoping he would be more cautious.
Or perhaps it's trying to express something?
A chill ran down Vincent as he took a sip of hot tea. "Lord Grindelwald— "
"Call me teacher." Grindelwald put down his teacup and snapped his fingers.
On the walls of the decaying prison cell, various pictures and incantations have emerged.
"In the future I foresee, you will become my only apprentice."
Vincent stiffly turned his neck.
Almost everything that appeared on the walls was Dark Magic.
[With the help of two mentors, he grows into a true Dark Lord, possessing the power to conquer the Wizarding World— ]
"Can't I refuse?"
Grindelwald shook his head slightly. "Even if you refuse now, you will come back here in the future."
Trelawney's Prophecy will not stop creating coincidences; it will become a reality no matter how long it takes.
Grindelwald witnessed all of this helplessness in the face of Prophecy.
"The outcome cannot be changed, but the process can be decided by you."
Vincent stared at him blankly. "You know about that Prophecy?"
"Albus Dumbledore taught me extremely profound Transfiguration techniques."
Grindelwald paused, then suddenly gave a self-deprecating laugh. "He hasn't fully mastered my abilities, but he can always anticipate my important moves."
Prophecy can actually be deceived!
The key is not the people, but the events that are bound to happen.
From the moment Voldemort chose Harry as his nemesis, his fate was sealed: defeat.
Even if he hadn't made that choice that day, countless children would still have been born at the end of July in the future.
The timeframe could be after Pure-blood wizards have dominated the entire wizarding community, or it could be after they have completely ruled the Muggle world.
But the Prophecy knew he was afraid of death, and it came true immediately.
Vincent fears that if he becomes the Dark Lord, other Prophecy will arise, so he will inevitably choose Grindelwald as his mentor.
The earlier the better for him.
The Prophecy will surely force him to become this apprentice, and the reason is probably worse than imagined.
Voldemort, fearing death, brought forward the crucial choice.
Vincent was afraid of other Prophecy and kept trying to delay.
"Scared, aren't you?" Grindelwald raised his teacup again. "For so many years, I've been searching for the reason for my failures."
I saw Albus Dumbledore defeat me with his own hands, which greatly accelerated the entire plan.
He laughed self-deprecatingly again, "I'm scared, scared that all my efforts will be in vain."
What forced Dumbledore to resolve to deal with Grindelwald was precisely the change he made out of fear.
If " for the For the Greater Good" hadn't become an excuse, the world would probably have long been dominated by wizards.
So, will the fight between the two of them, which is destined to happen, also take place elsewhere?