A man with a stern face and tall, blonde stature stepped into the dim glow of the street lamp, his expression as serious as ever, his eyes reflecting a complex emotional fluctuation.
"Long time no see, Delaine."
Vid turned around, looked at the other, and said gently.
"Twenty years..." Delaine asked, "Is that the future you saw?"
Vid: "Hmm?"
He felt this wording was a bit peculiar.
"I remember you have a gift for prophecy," Delaine asked, "Can you see future scenes like Mr. Grindelwald?"
—No, this is the result I deduced based on the current development of Muggles.
Vid was just about to say this but suddenly paused.
He was indeed good at divination, but...
In the past, both Grindelwald and Voldemort were pushed by prophecies, and neither turned out well.
Partial prophecy is like edited truth; it is not false, but it may mislead those who believe it.
Therefore, Vid did not rely on the power of divination.
However, at the same time, he remembered the first time he discussed soul artifacts with Dumbledore.
The principal did not question how he knew so much, because he believed Vid could "see" the future like Grindelwald. Vid, to protect his secret, tacitly admitted to this assumption.
On careful thought, he actually didn't need to find excuses for himself... in a sense, he indeed can "see."
"Sort of."
Vid said vaguely, skipping the topic: "Did you come to find me for something?"
Delaine didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "Have you received the invitation to the Alchemy Competition?"
"Yes." Vid sighed: "They want me to be a judge... I haven't decided whether to attend."
If he were fifty... even thirty, Vid thought spending a day or two as a judge to witness the current level of alchemy in the Magic World wouldn't be too bad.
But he is fifteen now.
And at Hogwarts, students only encounter alchemy courses in the sixth year, around sixteen or seventeen, and it's similar in other Magic Schools.
The threshold for alchemy is high. Without sufficient knowledge reserve, it's like asking a regular elementary student to learn partial differential equations and Lagrangian mechanics; no matter how attentively they listen, they can't understand.
Thinking about exam candidates all older than him, possibly doubting his qualifications as a judge, possibly wanting to challenge him... Vid felt it troublesome and considered not attending.
"Mr. Grindelwald hopes you will go," Delaine said in a low voice: "He says you will find something very interesting there."
Vid raised his eyebrows slightly: "What is it?"
Delaine shook his head: "I don't know. Mr. Grindelwald said... when you see it, you will understand. This matter is very important; he hopes you won't refuse."
Vid: ...Playing riddles? Or maybe Grindelwald himself hasn't figured it out?
After all, Grindelwald is a true Master Diviner; he might have divined something, but such divinations are always mysterious and ambiguous.
Delaine said: "Well... I've delivered the message, so I'll be leaving."
He nodded, turned around, and left.
As he turned his back to Vid, the previously stern expression shattered, frowning, eyes trembling, and the hand hidden in his sleeve trembled slightly.
In at most twenty years... the world will undergo significant changes... The Confidentiality Law will be forced out of effect, and the International Wizarding Union can no longer keep all Wizards hidden?
The Witch Pure Party's goal, pursued for decades... is it about to be realized?
Amid excitement, Delaine also clearly recognized—
This is not because of anything they've done, but the changes in Muggle society are forcing the Magic World to expose itself.
The world idealized by the Witch Pure Party, apart from overthrowing the Confidentiality Law, hoped to establish a new order governed by Wizards over Muggles.
Now their goal is slightly adjusted; even if they cannot become rulers, at least they hope for Wizards to be esteemed as they were in Merlin's times, pillars of the kingdom's stability and development, advisors and teachers to the Emperor, judges, scholars, and respected prophets... instead of hunted prey.
But if the Magic World is forced to be exposed... it sounds like Wizards' situation becomes worse, like beasts cornered.
[Mr. Grindelwald, have you seen such a disturbing future long ago? Do your eyes see a far grander storm... or the direction of our sailing within the storm?]
Delaine immersed in his thoughts, the streetlamp cast deep shadows on his sharply outlined face.
At a corner, he stopped and looked back from afar.
Vid had also left, the street appeared very empty and antiquated, pale candlelight seeped through some windows as if time in this place was still in the Middle Ages.
Delaine recalled Vid's evaluation of most Wizards—old-fashioned, conservative, backward.
Suddenly, he remembered Vid's various inventions—Friendship Book, Communication Pea, Flow Mirror.
They all seemed to attempt breaking Magic World's isolation and closure, pushing Wizard society towards Muggle proximity.
And Vid's Poppet, proven in recent competition, demonstrated that Vid Gray possesses the capability of forming an army by himself, with soldier units fearless of death and consumption, terrifyingly powerful.
If such soldiers are equipped with Muggle weapons...
The invisible tension in Delaine's chest quietly dissipated by half, his heart settled again, replacing previous anxiety; his eyes regained sharpness and steadiness, like a falcon finding its path.
At the same time, he felt deep admiration for Grindelwald's vision, all doubts pressed down, transforming into a clear sense of purpose and resolute determination.
…
Vid didn't expect, in just a few words' time, Delaine thought so much.
Watching Delaine leave, Vid turned to a nearby secluded alley, seeing no one around, he first cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself, then the air around rippled—
In an instant, the invisible Vid transformed into a sleek Peregrine Falcon, flapped his wings, seamlessly blending into London's chilly night sky.
He enjoyed the briskness of night wind brushing his feathers, spiraling freely for a while before flying towards home. Passing through the city, as he reached the outskirts, a figure below suddenly caught his attention.
The Peregrine Falcon's sharp gaze instantly locked onto the target, seeing Lucius Malfoy with his pale golden long hair, hastily walking in a narrow alley littered with garbage and sewage, frowning, his face pale as paper.
Vid's heart stirred, instinctively held his wings back, silently following like a ghost.