"I am truly sorry; we absolutely did not mean to offend the two of you. Please believe that what I'm saying is the truth. It's just that the current situation is so unique and sensitive... Ever since the Dark Lord's health began to fail—life has been simply unbearable!"
After entering the Castle, the Guard seemed to relax completely. He kept muttering, as if wanting to pour out all the frustration in his heart.
Adelaide felt that this Guard's mental state had reached its limit; in a few more weeks, he might just go mad.
"You know what I'm talking about, right? It's the matter of Gellert Grindelwald being seriously ill! Ever since that news spread like wildfire, every two or three days, a small group of the Wizengamot always comes running, trying to rescue their great leader from Nurmengard!"
"There are even rumors saying the Dark Lord's serious illness was caused by our abuse... It's ridiculous! These guys don't even think; how could we possibly intentionally abuse that famous Dark Lord! But no matter how we explain, it's useless; they're convinced that's what's happening."
The Guard shook his head helplessly, sighed, and continued.
"Sigh, just the news of a serious illness has caused the Wizarding World in Austria and Germany to fall into a panicked mess. If Gellert Grindelwald really passes away one day, the consequences would be simply unimaginable... I'm afraid the entire European magic world would be turned upside down!"
Speaking of this, the Guard couldn't help but shiver, as if he had already foreseen that terrifying scene.
Dumbledore, who had been quietly listening to the Guard's rambling, frowned slightly at this moment. However, he did not speak up to refute or interrupt; he just tightly held Adelaide's hand beside him and followed the Guard forward without a word.
After wandering around inside the Castle for about ten minutes, they finally reached the very bottom of Nurmengard—the entrance to the dungeon where Gellert Grindelwald was imprisoned was right here.
An indescribable strange smell hit her nose, as if the damp scent after rain and the stench of rotting flesh were intertwined, making Adelaide unable to resist covering her nose with her hand.
Since this place never saw sunlight all year round, the air was filled with a thick, murky gas that made breathing difficult. After standing here for just a short while, Adelaide felt as if she were about to suffocate.
The Guard used his wand to open the heavy dungeon door. Adelaide stood on her tiptoes to peer inside. The dungeon was exceptionally dim, relying only on the oil lamps on the stone walls on both sides for illumination.
These weak rays of light were actually unable to illuminate the entire dungeon at all; instead, they made everything around look even more blurred and indistinct.
With an uneasy heart, Adelaide followed Dumbledore into the dungeon and met her Great-Granduncle, who had once been a powerful figure in Europe.
Gellert Grindelwald's face was as haggard as a piece of parchment crumpled by time. His once tall and robust body had become skin and bones, as if a slight breeze could blow him over; those once piercing heterochromatic eyes had also lost their former luster, revealing deep exhaustion and despair.
Adelaide was shocked. Aside from being more sickly and thin, Gellert Grindelwald's face was exactly the same as the Old man in the tower from her prophecy!
Her prophecy was accurate, but not entirely.
Adelaide scratched her head. Could it be that what she "saw" was a Gellert who had recovered from his illness years later? But the environment of the dungeon and the tower was too different... Could it be that Gellert Grindelwald will escape later?!
While Adelaide was lost in thought, Gellert Grindelwald's previously lowered head slowly rose.
His face was as pale as paper, and his eyes were dim and lifeless, but when he saw that familiar yet strange face, he still managed to squeeze out a weak smile.
15,714 days and 16 hours, and four years and 51 letters later, they finally met again.
"You... have come." His voice was as raspy as if it had been harshly rubbed by sandpaper, and every word seemed to take all his strength to squeeze out of his throat.
Standing to the side, Albus Dumbledore finally couldn't restrain the anger and dissatisfaction in his heart. He suddenly turned around and questioned the Guard behind him: "Even if he committed an unforgivable mistake, the conditions of this prison are simply too poor! How can anyone stay in such a dark, damp, and filthy place for a long time? This is the reason he is sick! I demand that you change his cell immediately!"
Facing Dumbledore's questioning, the Guard did not move. He just shook his head helplessly and explained: "I'm sorry, Mr. Dumbledore, this is a decision made collectively by the International Confederation of Wizards. We at Nurmengard Prison do not have the authority to change a prisoner's cell on our own."
Hearing this answer, Dumbledore took a deep breath. He secretly blamed himself for losing his reason—as the Chairman of the International Confederation of Wizards, he was all too familiar with these procedures. Why would he speak to make things difficult for a Guard... Dumbledore tried to calm down and said in a gentle tone: "It is I who should apologize; I am truly sorry. Regarding the matter of changing the cell, I will personally propose it to the International Confederation of Wizards."
In the corner, Gellert Grindelwald sighed softly. A smile of extreme bitterness appeared on his haggard face, making one feel pity upon seeing it.
He responded feebly: "Albus, don't blame them. I have committed too many unforgivable mistakes; it is only right that I suffer such punishment... Having lived here for forty-three years, I have long since grown accustomed to this life."
"Moreover, the fire of my life is about to burn out, and I'm afraid I don't have many days left to live. You don't need to trouble yourself or go through so much effort for this matter anymore."
After saying that, he gently closed his eyes, as if unwilling to take another look at this world that filled him with regret.
Upon hearing these words, Dumbledore's face instantly showed an extremely complex expression.
Gellert had indeed committed many unforgivable mistakes in the past, bringing great disaster and pain to the magic world, but he had also paid the price, repenting in this dark and damp dungeon for forty-three years... Regarding what happened with Ariana back then, he couldn't blame all the faults on him alone.
After all, the occurrence of that tragedy was not entirely caused by Gellert's hand; he himself also bore a great responsibility.
"Albus, I hope to have a private chat with Adelaide, a conversation between Grindelwalds. Can you fulfill this last wish of someone who is nearing the end of his life?"
Seeing that his plan was beginning to take effect, Gellert did not press his advantage but instead proposed that Dumbledore leave for a while.
At this moment, Dumbledore naturally would not refuse Gellert's request. He immediately led the Guard out of the cell.
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