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0725 The Gathering Storm
🕑 Added 2025-05-24 10:04:33 +0000 UTCThe oppressive industrial smog that had been choking the city of Berlin for the better part of a week finally began to dissolve and disperse under the blessing of a full day's worth of sunlight.
The atmospheric pollution that had transformed the sky into a sickly yellow-gray canvas, thick enough to taste and heavy enough to press down upon the shoulders of every citizen who dared to go outdoors, now lifted like a curse being broken, revealing the true beauty of the German sky that had been hidden beneath layers of accumulated filth and chemical haze.
But as the heavens regained their natural clarity and the air became breathable once more, the sun had also completed its arc and was now approaching the end of its daily journey, settling toward the southwestern horizon. The dying light painted the world in colors of amber and gold.
The blood-red remnants of the sunset stained the vast layers of clouds at the edge of the visible sky. These crimson-tinged curtain seemed to drape itself over the distant mountain peaks.
The transformation of the landscape from the harsh industrial reality of modern Berlin to this moment of excellent natural beauty was magical.
The grass covering the university campus was lush and vibrantly green, having been recently nourished by the cleansing rains. On this green lawn, scattered in clusters many students had chosen to spend their free time here.
They sat cross-legged or reclined on the soft grass, their textbooks and notebooks spread around them, enjoying the rare leisure and comfort that existed in that golden interval between the end of afternoon classes and the evening dinner hour.
Watching those young people gathered in small groups, occasionally bursting into bouts of lighthearted laughter, Louise stood at the edge of the lawn, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. Her face alternated between expressions of sorrow and anger, then revealed worry.
"Tell me—"
After standing motionless for a long while, Louise turned around to look at Bryan, who was waiting behind her for her to release her emotions.
"Does this school also have the kind of secret magical society that Fraser was involved in?"
They had arrived at this world-renowned university in Berlin following the address provided by Hayne. According to the information, Jasna had been working at this University for a considerable period of time.
The concept of a witch or wizard holding a long-term academic position at a Muggle university might have seemed absurd, but to Bryan and his group, it was not entirely beyond their expectation or possibility.
Their recent experiences in Italy had provided them with understandings into the operational methods of this mysterious organization, which seemed to operate according to certain ideological "legacies" and philosophical frameworks that should have been buried along with the dark era that had spawned them.
From what they had observed during their investigations, this group did not operate with the narrow-minded prejudice. Instead, they demonstrated a more sophisticated and potentially more dangerous approach—one that did not completely dismiss or disregard the intellectual achievements and innovative capabilities of Muggle world.
Universities, particularly those with international reputations for academic excellence, were a natural gathering place for the most vibrant, creative, and intellectually gifted young minds that Muggle society had to offer.
Although these brilliant young Muggles had no awareness of the magical world that existed along their own reality, their intellectual capabilities were nonetheless formidable.
Perhaps, one genuinely brilliant idea from these academically outstanding young Muggles could indeed provide solutions to certain magical problems.
Louise gazed upon the innocent students scattered across the lawn with a sorrowful expression. She found herself wondering whether any of these young people were currently experiencing the same psychological torment and spiritual corruption that had ultimately consumed her brother Fraser.
"Mr. Watson—" Kingsley's voice cut through Louise's dark trance.
Kingsley's heart, hardened by years of dangerous work and exposure to the darker aspects of magical world was not filled with the same melancholy that began to overwhelm Louise. Instead, his attention was focused on the immediate practical challenges that their current environment presented.
Looking at the countless Muggle students who moved around them in a constant flow, occasionally casting curious glances in their direction with the natural interest that strangers always attracted in such environments, Kingsley felt his instincts screaming warnings about the tactical disadvantages of their current position.
"This environment is very disadvantageous to us, Mr. Watson," He continued, his voice low enough to avoid attracting unwanted attention while still conveying the urgency of his concerns. "There are simply too many innocent Muggles in the vicinity. If we encounter fierce resistance from our target, it will be extremely difficult—perhaps impossible—to ensure the safety of all these civilians."
Kingsley's eyes swept across the campus, cataloging potential dangers and escape routes with the automatic precision of someone who had survived countless dangerous situations by never failing to plan for the worst-case scenario.
The presence of so many non-magical witnesses created a nightmare scenario for any Auror operations, transforming what should have been a straightforward arrest into a delicate balancing act between achieving their objectives and maintaining the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy.
"Moreover," He continued, his voice taking on an even more serious tone, "we are now operating within the heart of Berlin, and the German Ministry of Magic has its headquarters less than a mile from our current position. The moment any abnormal magical activity is detected by their monitoring systems, their Auror response teams will be mobilized and will arrive at this location within minutes."
So, not only would they be outnumbered and operating in unfamiliar territory, but they would also be forced to explain their presence and their actions to foreign magical authorities who might not appreciate unannounced British operations on German soil.
"This matter has reached its final stage, Kingsley," Bryan replied, his voice carrying the calm certainty of someone who had already accepted whatever consequences might arise from their actions.
"I no longer particularly care whether we will be discovered by the German Ministry of Magic or any other magical authority, for that matter. The time for subtle maneuvering and careful political considerations has passed us by. However,"
He added, acknowledging his tactical concerns with a slight nod, "you are absolutely correct in your assessment of the civilian situation. Perhaps we should indeed be careful to ensure that we do not cause too much of a disturbance or attract more attention than is necessary."
The faint chill that had crept into Bryan's tone, combined with the visible tension radiating from Kingsley's normally cool demeanor, finally succeeded in making Louise feel the full nervous uneasiness that had been building in her subconscious throughout their journey to this place.
She realized that she was about to witness what could very well be a life-or-death confrontation between wizards.
More importantly, she was also aware of the kind of global earthquake that would erupt throughout both the magical and muggle worlds if the carefully maintained secrecy that separated these two worlds were to be shattered by exposure to public scrutiny.
Although Louise believed the general public had the right to know the truth about the world they lived in, including the uncomfortable reality that there existed among them a hidden population of "privileged individuals" with supernatural abilities, she also acknowledged that such a revelation needed to proceed through careful, gradual stages rather than explosive, uncontrolled exposure.
Moreover, since the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy imposed such strict limitations on Wizards' behavior, Louise knew that Bryan and Kingsley would bear the full brunt of responsibility if their actions resulted in exposure of the magical world. They would certainly face severe punishment from their own magical authorities.
The thought of these two men paying a terrible price because of their involvement in Fraser's case filled her with dread. She could not bear the thought that their desire to help her seek justice for Fraser's death might ultimately result in their own destruction.
"Let me see—" Bryan said thoughtfully, his eyes beginning a survey of their surroundings.
On the opposite side of the campus from their current position, Bryan could see an area planted with a row of weeping willows like those by the Black Lake at Hogwarts that partially concealed an oval-shaped lake. The side of the lake that was farthest from the main campus buildings was connected to a series of mountain ranges.
The slopes nearest to the campus were gentle covered with carpet-like stretches of green grass that had been kept short by the natural grazing of deer and other wildlife. Scattered sparsely across these pastoral meadows were spruce trees.
As the eye traveled further up the mountainside, following the natural outlines of the rising terrain, the vegetation gradually became denser and more complex. What began as simple grass and scattered trees evolved into mixed forests of increasing complexity.
At this particular moment, with the sun gradually fading toward the western horizon, an ethereal cold mist had begun to settle at the very edge of the dark green dense forest.
The mist seemed to lurk at the forest's edge, like some ancient creature of darkness waiting for the perfect moment to surge forward and devour the remaining traces of daylight.
Young couples and small groups of friends who had spent the afternoon on the mountainside, enjoying the spectacular sunset and the romantic ambiance created by the natural beauty surrounding them, were now beginning their descent back toward the campus hand in hand along the paths that connected the higher hills to the university grounds.
Bryan nodded slightly as he completed his assessment of the terrain.
The location was more than adequate for his purposes—in fact, it was nearly perfect.
It was a good place—an excellent burial ground.
Turning his attention back, Bryan's eyes began to gleam with a faint light as his gaze swept over the young students scattered across the lawn. Most of them were beginning to show signs of preparing for departure, gathering their books and belongings as they prepared to seek dinner in the various campus dining facilities or return to their dormitories for the evening.
Soon, his attention became fixed upon one student. She was a young girl with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She sat cross-legged on the grass and resting on her knees was a of "Summa Theologica," the masterwork of the Italian theologian and philosopher Thomas Aquinas—a text that immediately identified her as a student of philosophy, theology, or medieval studies.
She was engaged in a conversation with a friend who sat beside her on the grass.
"Wait here for me," Bryan said suddenly.
After dropping this line, Bryan left Louise and Kingsley, stepped onto the lawn, and walked toward that girl.
Throughout the world, regardless of cultural background or social context, exceptional physical appearance had always possessed the power to attract attention and create opportunities that were denied to those blessed with more ordinary facial features.
This universal truth was as reliable as gravity itself, and Bryan had long ago learned to exploit this natural human tendency for his own purposes.
His handsome face had been drawing admiring glances from female students across the campus since his arrival.
If it were not for the presence of Louise beside him and Kingsley, whose imposing physical presence marked him as someone not to be trifled with, it was entirely possible that several of the bolder female students would have already approached Bryan with various excuses for striking up casual conversations.
As Bryan left the two of them, he immediately attracted the attention of nearby girls like a black hole drawing in all surrounding matter. By the time he walked up to that girl, they had been waiting for quite some time.
"I hope I didn't interrupt your conversation—" Bryan said with a smile, speaking gently.
"Oh!" The exclamation burst from both girls simultaneously as they finally found themselves face-to-face with the mysterious stranger who had been drawing their attention from across the lawn.
After remaining stunned into silence for several seconds, during which they seemed unable to process that this attractive and sophisticated gentleman had actually approached them for conversation, the two young women finally managed to recover their composure sufficiently to respond to him.
They jumped up from their positions on the grass, brushing bits of vegetation from their clothing while trying to appear composed and mature.
"Not at all!" The girl holding the book said with a somewhat sharp voice.
"Um—actually, we were pretty much finished with our discussion anyway!"
"That's good—" Bryan responded, his tone maintaining that perfect balance of warmth and respect.
He extended his hand toward the ponytailed girl, his gesture carrying just the right degree of formality to show respect for proper introductions while still maintaining an atmosphere of friendly approachability.
"I'm Fraser Williams," he said, using the name of the young man whose death had brought them all to this place and time.
"Tina," the girl responded nervously, her hand trembling slightly as she reached out to accept his handshake.
She glanced quickly toward Louise at the edge of the lawn. Something about that woman created a flutter of confusion in Tina's mind, but she immediately responded.
"I'm Tina Bull," She continued, trying to regain her composure. "You can call me Tina!"
"Very pleased to meet you, Tina—" Bryan replied, allowing his smile to fade slightly as he prepared to transition into the more serious purpose behind his approach.
"It's like this, Tina," He continued, his voice taking on a more businesslike tone while still maintaining enough warmth to keep her engaged. "I've been entrusted with an important task to deliver something to Professor Jasna Rosier of the School of Theology. But you see,"
He added with a slight shrug that perfectly conveyed mild embarrassment and helplessness, "this is my first time visiting your beautiful campus, and I'm not particularly familiar with the layout or the usual locations where faculty members might be found at this time of day."
His expression shifted to show just the right amount of charming distress—enough to inspire sympathy and a desire to help.
"Oh, that's no problem at all! I can definitely take you to find her," Tina responded immediately. "At this time of day, Professor Rosier should be having her dinner in the faculty dining hall. I know exactly where that is, and I'd be happy to show you the way!"
Her response was exactly what Bryan had hoped for—immediate cooperation without questions or hesitation.
"Oh, that would be absolutely perfect," Bryan replied, his smile returning with warmth as he expressed his gratitude.
"But," he continued, allowing a note of thoughtful hesitation to enter his voice.
"I plan to create a little surprise for Professor Rosier, you see," He explained, "Could I possibly trouble you to help me with this plan? What I'd like to do is have you deliver this item to Professor Rosier on my behalf, along with a message telling her that I'll be waiting for her on that hillside over there."
As he spoke, Bryan gestured toward the scenic hillside that lay across the lake from their current position, the area he had identified earlier as the perfect location for the confrontation he anticipated.
The pocket watch that Hayne had entrusted to him for delivery to Jasna appeared in Bryan's palm and he looked earnestly at this girl named Tina.
"Would you be willing to help me with this?" He asked.
Even though Tina was just an inexperienced university student with limited exposure to the wider world beyond her academic environment, even though she had no special knowledge of antiques or precious objects, she could recognize that the pocket watch this Handsome 'Fraser Williams' had taken out was something of high value.
This went without saying—it was a golden pocket watch, and from its antique style, it seemed to be a precious antique as well.
For a moment, Tina looked somewhat hesitant which was perfectly normal and entirely understandable—after all, if this precious pocket watch were to be lost or damaged while in her possession, she would have absolutely no means of compensating for such a loss.
A genuine antique gold pocket watch adorned with real diamonds could easily be worth more than she would earn in several years of part-time jobs. The thought of being held responsible for such a sum was enough to give anyone pause, regardless of how attractive the person making the request might be.
Bryan's hand withdrew into his sleeve. A bronze Knut twisted and deformed in his palm, transforming into an exquisite ouroboros-shaped bracelet. After a faint light flashed across the bronze ring, Bryan handed it to the Muggle girl.
"This is my token of gratitude for your assistance, it can bring you luck in ways you might not expect."
The bracelet was quite beautiful.
"Come on, let's go over there and wait for them," Bryan said as he rejoined Kingsley and Louise at their position near the edge of the lawn. He gestured with a slight jerk of his chin toward the lakeside area, indicating the direction they should move to position themselves.
"Them?" Louise asked, her instincts immediately picking up on what seemed to be an error in Bryan's choice of words.
"Oh, in my opinion," Bryan replied, his eyes surveying the campus with its impressive array of buildings representing different architectural styles and historical periods, and smiled "the one who comes to meet us later tonight might not be alone."
"Will that Muggle girl encounter danger?"
Kingsley asked in a low, concerned voice as he watched the Muggle girl who was jogging away to deliver the pocket watch to Jasna.
"I've already taken precautions to ensure her safety—"
Bryan said, his tone pausing before he spoke slowly:
"But if Jasna Rosier truly makes the wrong choice, then I can only say that I will be sorry for any consequences that follow."
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