The sun rises.
As the first light of dawn breaks the silence.
The sky gradually takes on a gentle hue, as if painted with the most delicate brushstrokes of nature. With the first rays of light, everything seems to awaken from its slumber.
The same goes for Ian.
[Successfully read Latin, language skill +1]
[Successfully read Indian, language skill +1]
[Successfully read Chinese, language skill +2]
...
Daily morning reading is an essential task, and no matter how many other things there are to do, Ian almost never forgets to improve his Language Mastery skill level.
On the path to "hearing the voice of all things," there are no shortcuts, only through accumulating and learning various languages, even his former native tongue offers Ian some gain.
"Syrup pancakes with leftover black tea, another day heading towards diabetes." Ian had brewed a whole pot of tea last night, and Dumbledore had only a cup.
He ate breakfast with yesterday's black tea, and outside the cottage, the wizards living there had already begun their day.
"That Tom who grows pumpkins, his house made that noise again last night, what a shameless old man, I really don't know why a witch would fall for him!"
"Maybe he's uniquely gifted?"
"Have you heard? There was a fight at the Pig Head Bar last night, and one of the wizards ended up with a pig tail on their backside! The Aurors didn't catch the culprit at all!"
"I saw it last night, someone stole Jenny's panties off the clothesline!"
...
The people in the village have endless gossip every day.
Ian just finds them filled with confusing contradictions.
Those romantic affairs hidden in the dark seem to never escape these old wizards' eyes, yet the commotion he caused by summoning a horde of corpses that night went unnoticed.
Hmm.
Maybe no one cares?
As usual, after strolling around the village, Ian did not hear any rumors about the fire he started, and he breathed a slight sigh of relief, returning to the cabin to retrieve those Magic Potion Books.
"It's about time to return them."
Keeping promises is one of Ian's few virtues, and he assembled a box from leftover planks to neatly arrange all the Magic Potion Books inside.
"Let's go."
Using the method that Brother San taught for carrying goods, Ian balanced the box on his head, holding onto the sides with his hands as he walked towards the bookstore.
There's no other way.
His body hadn't fully developed yet, making it hard to carry the box in his arms.
Following the cobblestone path, he snaked around until he reached the second-hand bookstore's deserted facade, having lost a pen to Ian's diligence.
Instead of going in immediately, he ran to the corner of the street and waited for over half an hour. Just as he had observed in recent days, the bookstore owner, Craft, left the store on time.
Wearing a trench coat.
Wearing a hat.
In a hurry.
It's unclear where he had to go at such specific times every day. Only after seeing Craft Apparate away did Ian lift the box containing the books and enter the bookstore.
The air was filled with a faint scent of ink and paper, unique to books.
And a hint of dust.
The German Girl still sat quietly behind the counter, fully immersed in the book she was reading, seemingly unaware of Ian's arrival.
"Miss Grindelwald, keeping my promise, I've come to return the books."
As Ian moved,
the wooden floorboards creaked.
His voice pulled the girl back from the sea of knowledge.
"I'm a little surprised."
Aurora Grindelwald's delicate face was like fine porcelain, yet it couldn't match the captivating allure of her heterochromatic eyes, seemingly shining with an entrancing hue.
"We're friends, and you actually thought I'd run off with the books!"
Ian wore a look of disbelief.
"These second-hand books are no match for our short-lived yet steadfast friendship."
He always preferred saying what people wanted to hear, a skill honed from being an orphan.
"..."
Aurora was silent for a moment.
"I just didn't expect you'd finish transcribing these books before school started." She explained, but didn't deny Ian's mention of friendship.
This was a young person yearning for friendship.
Ian had sensed this at their first meeting. Though his Thought Perception capability was restrained under his control, that didn't mean it lost all its utility.
"See this hand?"
Ian placed the wooden box on the counter.
He raised his hand.
The German Girl nodded and leaned closer for a careful examination.
"Besides long fingers and pronounced joints, there's nothing particularly special about it."
A moment later.
Aurora made her evaluation.
"But it is indeed a hand of full efficiency; mere seven years of Magic Potion textbooks pale in comparison to the miracles it once created."
Ian's thoughts drifted back to his past summer break.
"Resurrection from the dead, now that's a miracle."
Aurora shook her head, a trace of sadness passing through her heterochromatic eyes.
"..."
Ian didn't know what to say in response.
"That book, how did you find it?" Aurora suddenly changed the topic.
Obviously.
She was referring to "Advanced Dark Arts Unveiled" that she had given Ian.
"Very impressive, I really liked your gift."
Ian gave a thumbs up.
"So, what about my return gift?"
Aurora's expression remained as cool as ever, but in her eyes appeared a glimmer of expectancy.
"..."
Ian had indeed forgotten about that part.
"Next time for sure!"
He awkwardly grinned.
"Hmm."
The girl wasn't disappointed, she just nodded quietly.
"I better get these books scattered among the piles, lest your elders suddenly return." Ian picked up the wooden box and started stuffing books into the disarrayed piles that seemed unchanged.
This wasn't a bothersome task.
Very soon.
When Ian held an empty wooden box, ready to return to the front of the counter to say goodbye and inform Aurora that he would certainly prepare a heartfelt gift for her at the start of the term.
"Tap tap tap~"
The sound of the floorboards arose.
Ian stood at the left of the bookshelf looking up.
He saw.
A man in a black robe, hooded, face full of scars, holding a magic wand walked in, his sharp and fierce gaze swept the entire bookstore.
He first glanced at Ian, eyes showing disdain.
Finally.
His gaze fixed on Aurora.
"The information is correct, she's indeed here."
The man raised his wand pointed at Aurora.
"Brat from the Grindelwald family, walk out now, come with me. Your grandfather owes me something, I need to use you to get it back from him."
This person was obviously not friendly.
Ian hiding behind the bookshelf had his heart racing.
Enemies arriving?
Such melodrama, and he happened to stumble upon it?
"My grandfather owes a lot of people things, but those daring to collect debts from him... evidently aren't anyone reputable." Aurora seemed completely unafraid.
She even dared to mock the man who barged into the bookstore.
She made no movement, still sitting there with a cool demeanor.
"Sharp-tongued brat, do you think I won't make a move here? You should know, you're not in Hogwarts Castle now!"
The man with the wand was somewhat annoyed.
The tip of his wand glowed faintly.
"Hiss~"
Ian hid behind the bookshelf, feeling strangely exhilarated, plus... an impulse to try daring actions. Only this impulse was well contained by reason.
Should he help with a sneak attack?
An Avada down, even if just a Level 1 skill, should still have its effect, right? Only this hero saves the beauty trope seemed utterly cliché!
"I'm a witness, he might not spare me, that man saw me." Ian was weighing in his heart, his left hand subconsciously touching his own wand.
If given the choice.
He certainly wouldn't want to get involved in others' vendettas.
Only.
Passing up the chance now where the opponent neglects him due to age and all attention is on Aurora, he clearly would not likely have another chance to sneak attack later.
Counting on the wizard's mercy?
Better trust the wand in his own hand!
Just as Ian was making his decision, readying to act.
"Ah!!!!"
Suddenly and without any warning.
A burst of blue flames rose from the man's body.
This adult wizard.
Had no time to react.
The whole person was already engulfed by the blue flames, along with his wand that likely could've fetched a hefty sum, in the blink of an eye turned into a gray dust on the ground.
"Fiery Fire!"
Ian exclaimed in astonishment.
He looked incredulously towards the direction of the counter where the girl had already put down the mysteriously appeared wand, using a calm gaze to watch the gradually dissipating flames.
"Could you help me get the broom? It's just behind the bookshelf next to you." Though she had just killed someone with a terrifying spell, Aurora's emotions remained incredibly stable.
Hard to imagine.
A child just reaching enrollment age could silently cast such advanced magic!
"Isn't 'Clean Sweep' better?"
Ian paused for a moment.
"Haven't learned it yet."
Aurora's reply was succinct.
Alright.
Another kid with biased skills.
Ian could quite understand.
"Uh, I'll find out where the broom is." Despite a living person having died right in front of him, Ian actually wasn't calm, but he definitely didn't belong to that kind who would question the other why they killed.
The wizard clearly came with ill intent.
Being soft-hearted wouldn't solve any problem.
Moreover.
Questioning the perpetrator.
Do you still want to live?
"I saw nothing, you better not think of silencing!" Ian carried the broom to the filthy floor front, somewhat worried about his current predicament.
What happened to the hero rescuing the beauty.
Now it's turned into hero fearing the beauty!
"I won't strike my friends, plus..."
Aurora moved to Ian's previous spot, picked up Ian's fallen wooden box, crouched beside Ian, and signaled for Ian to sweep the ashes into the wooden box with her eyes.
"We're accomplices now."
Just like their first meeting.
The German girl seemed strangely attached to this kind of relationship.