The Obsession of the Fanatic

With Ian's departure, the cluttered bookstore returned to its undisturbed tranquility.

The setting sun gradually dipped below the horizon. The sky was painted in a gentle orange hue, and the earth quietly donned the elegant robes of night. Aurora Grindelwald switched on the lights and continued reading the notebook titled Analysis and Research of Runes.

Light and shadow intertwined between the bookshelves.

From time to time, the faint sound of turning pages echoed through the shop.

Although the German girl had told Ian that the bookstore owner, Kraft, would return soon, his figure did not appear until the stars had already begun to dot the night sky.

"Click."

Because night had fallen, Aurora had already closed the bookstore's front door. The old man pushed it open and entered, gently removing the old hat from his head; the brim still bore traces of dust from the outside and the creases left by the breeze.

"My Lady, have you not rested yet?"

Bookstore owner Kraft's tone was quite respectful, showing none of the attitude one might expect from an elder, and his voice carried a hint of unconcealable exhaustion.

"It is still early."

Aurora did not look up. While continuing to read the notebook spread across her lap, she spoke in a tone of slight curiosity.

"Besides, I also want to know what message my grandfather sent you that made you rush out in such a panic, only to return in the middle of the night looking completely worn out."

Facing this heir to the Grindelwald family, Kraft merely pursed his lips and shook his head, offering no answer to the question Aurora hoped to have resolved.

"There are some things that are not yet the time for you to touch."

This was, in fact, the answer Aurora had expected.

Her expression and focus remained unchanged as she continued to study the book on her knees.

"Exhaustion is only natural. The other Acolytes and I are essentially old now; we no longer possess the vigor of our youth... and I do not know if there is still time to see the day our ideals are realized."

Kraft heaved a heavy sigh and slowly took off his heavy robe, hanging it on the coat rack by the door.

Even such a simple action caused his breathing to quicken and grow labored.

"My talent is not as dazzling as my grandfather's, nor do I possess his grand ambitions. If you pin your hopes on me, it will only lead to you dying with unclosed eyes, leaving behind nothing but regret and disappointment."

Aurora raised her head.

She gazed at Kraft with her heterochromatic eyes.

Kraft felt a moment of trance.

For an instant, he believed he had finally returned to the era of old, to those years where dreams and passion coexisted... but unfortunately, Aurora's words pulled him back to reality.

Everything had passed.

The great leader had lost his freedom.

The infinitely glorious Acolytes had become like candles flickering in the wind.

"No, it will not be like that."

Kraft was not annoyed; instead, his tone was firm.

"Your grandfather believed you could complete the work he left unfinished. You will be even more outstanding than he was. He has already paved the way for you, and you will achieve success under our protection."

Kraft's voice was filled with fanaticism.

Aurora fell silent.

She wanted to refute him.

But she also understood.

For the Acolytes, her grandfather was nearly synonymous with faith itself.

Let alone refuting him, even the slightest disagreement would invite resistance from the Acolytes.

"To place such a heavy burden on a child—don't you think that is a bit too cruel?" Aurora sighed softly, a trace of sorrow passing through her eyes.

"Being able to say such things already proves that you are no longer a child." Kraft lowered his voice in response, his attitude remaining humble from beginning to end.

However, this humility did not stem from loyalty to Aurora, but rather from loyalty to Aurora's grandfather.

"Bearing the surname Grindelwald means that from the moment you were born, you were destined to shoulder an extraordinary mission." The words were heavy, but they were indeed a fact she could not deceive herself about.

Aurora understood this as well.

"I don't believe I can lead you all to greatness."

Aurora spoke earnestly.

Kraft chuckled, unbothered.

"Lord Grindelwald saw such a future, and for us Acolytes, that is already enough." Kraft's clouded eyes looked exceptionally bright.

That light.

It was likely called hope.

"Perhaps the self-imposed imprisonment he is currently enduring, and the heavy suffering he bore in the past, are all paving the way for you—all to deceive Dumbledore for the greater good!"

This was a fanatic.

They could always find a seemingly harmonious and "reasonable" explanation to comfort themselves regarding things they found difficult to accept. Aurora knew she could never change Kraft's mind.

Just as.

In the past decade or so.

She had been unable to change the other Acolytes who had "raised" her.

Sometimes, Aurora truly admired her grandfather; she could not fathom what kind of personal charisma could make a group of people remain so loyal to him even after he had vanished for so many years.

Still believing he possessed power as great as a god's.

"Let's talk about something else."

Aurora did not want to dwell on why her grandfather was imprisoned.

She had only met him three or four times in her life.

Powerful, elegant, gentle.

These were the deepest impressions Aurora had of Gellert Grindelwald.

As for family affection...

"Has Dumbledore still not approved my application for enrollment?"

Aurora changed the subject.

"Dumbledore is a detestable fellow, but since we are currently on his turf, you should still maintain some superficial respect for your future headmaster."

Kraft reminded her seriously, then replied with a very firm tone, "Rest assured, you need not worry about being unable to attend Hogwarts."

"Although none of us believe this school is qualified to cultivate you, your grandfather wishes for you to study there, so Dumbledore will not become an obstacle to your enrollment."

"That damn fellow will eventually agree."

Kraft would start gnashing his teeth whenever he mentioned Dumbledore.

On this point.

A similar obsession could be found in almost any Acolyte.

Aurora was already accustomed to it.

"That's good."

She lowered her head back to the notes in her hands.

The entire bookstore returned to silence.

Kraft raised his wand to clean his coat, and then, as he prepared to walk toward the back room, he caught sight of the three Runes textbooks still piled on the counter.

"Has that little boy been here?"

Kraft picked up the three books with interest, noting that there weren't many signs of them having been read; it seemed they hadn't been bought for very long.

"He came to sell books."

Aurora answered concisely.

"That's a cunning little brat, much sharper than his peers. You weren't swindled by him, were you?" Kraft tossed the three books toward the bookshelf.

Thud.

Without the guidance of magic.

Kraft's "aim" was truly quite poor.

All three books fell to the floor.

Yet, Kraft didn't even have the thought or inclination to cast a spell to save them.

Aurora looked up, lost in thought.

"I gave him a gold coin."

Her voice sounded no different from usual—youthful, crisp, and emotionally steady.

"Unexpected, truly unexpected, that you could actually outsmart that cunning little brat!"

Upon hearing this, Kraft couldn't help but glance at Aurora in surprise, then laughed until he couldn't close his mouth, raising a withered arm to give Aurora a thumbs-up.

"I think he's quite alright; he said he wanted to be friends with me."

Aurora's cold, aloof face betrayed no emotion, yet she, who usually preferred to rest her books upon her knees, was now holding the entire notebook up to read it.

"Hmm?"

Kraft did not notice anything amiss; his attention was fixed on something else.

"Does that brat know your identity, My Lady?"

The smile had vanished from Kraft's face, replaced by a guarded squint.

"He does."

Aurora raised the notebook slightly higher.

"We exchanged names. He is called Ian Prince."

The girl's tone was as calm as ever.

"Hah, it seems he is a Muggle-born wizard."

Kraft frowned slightly.

It was not that he doubted Aurora's social skills, but rather that Aurora's grandfather had long since made the surname "Grindelwald" a source of awe in the hearts of wizards.

Grindelwald might not be as terrifying as the name of Voldemort, but any young wizard born into a wizarding family would certainly know what lay behind that surname.

"Both of his parents are wizards."

The girl suddenly spoke up to correct him.

Kraft was momentarily stunned.

"Is this something you saw?"

Kraft's gaze fixed upon Aurora's eyes.

A fanatical glint appeared in his eyes once more.

"He knows what Grindelwald signifies, and furthermore..."

Aurora recalled the conversation she had with Ian before he left during the day. As she lowered her head to return to her notes, she spoke in a calm tone, dropping a bombshell.

"He said he wants to become the Dark Lord."