Inside the tavern.
Listening to Ian's arrogant words, Grindelwald understood as well.
He looked at Ian, complex emotions flickering in his mismatched eyes—shock, reverence, and an indescribable... relief. This child possessed power beyond legend.
He could face Cthulhu head-on.
He could freely enter and leave Limbo.
He dared to say, "You will meet again."
All because he was Raven.
Because he was the embodiment of fate.
"So," Grindelwald said hoarsely, "your coming to this era was itself..."
"An arrangement of fate." Ian took over with a faint smile. "Yes. So you needn't worry about changing history—because my being here is itself part of history." He put away the Time Machine model in his palm and looked at the two men.
"So, have you decided? Will you go to the future and break through to legend?"
Dumbledore and Grindelwald exchanged a glance.
Then Dumbledore nodded. There was no longer any hesitation in those azure eyes, only an unprecedented resolve. "We've decided."
He looked at Ian, a trace of complicated emotion in his gaze.
"I want to see whether the legendary Raven can truly... control fate."
Ian smiled. On his young face, that smile appeared especially brilliant, especially confident.
"You will."
Grindelwald suddenly remembered something. "Right, where is your Time Machine? Are you taking us there now?"
Ian's expression stiffened slightly.
That momentary stiffness lasted only half a second, but both old men caught it sharply.
"Now..." Ian scratched his head. With his current appearance, he looked exactly like a schoolboy stumped by his teacher. "Well..."
Grindelwald frowned. "Don't tell me you didn't bring it."
"I brought it, I brought it," Ian hurriedly said, before his voice weakened. "It's just... not repaired yet."
The two old men fell silent at once.
Grindelwald's mouth twitched. "So after all that talk about traveling through