54. Abernathy

"Secrecy law?"

Grindelwald's smile was both penetrating and desolate. "The law has turned us into rats in the ditch! It has stripped us of the world that should be under our control! Who does the law protect? Us or them?"

"Us? Them? No, no!" Abernathy felt his brain about to combust.

The limitations of what we know shape our thinking.

If Abernathy were to delve into the history of that era, he would understand.

Are Muggles truly as weak as wizards believe?

In other words, are wizards truly as powerful as they believe they are?

Yes, any spell can indeed kill a fragile Muggle, but what about wizards?

Anyone who is killed will die.

A wizard who loses their wand may not necessarily be much more powerful than a Muggle.

This is the key to life and the reason why those who appear to possess great power must succumb and relinquish dominance to the Muggles.

Muggles, who have prevailed over wizards in the past, are well aware of this. With a population ten or a hundred times larger than that of wizards, they can easily overwhelm them with their sheer numbers.

This is the truth.

What is truly fascinating, however, is that both sides in this battle for world domination have chosen to conceal this truth.

Times have changed, and centuries later, wizards have become mere legends and fairy tales among Muggles, while wizards themselves are enchanted by the allure of magic.

If you ponder it, these wizards bear striking resemblance to the conceited and pompous superpowers of later generations.

However, there are differences. At least some wizards are aware of the truth and exert great effort to uphold the authority of the secrecy law.

Abernathy exemplifies the majority of wizards. They remain ignorant of the truth, caught in a tremendous conflict with their knowledge and plagued by confusion and bewilderment.

Grindelwald, on the other hand, knows one thing but not the other. He foresees the future advancement of Muggles and the fearsome weapons that could annihilate the world.

He fears Muggles, but he fears the Muggles of the future. He is a wizard, a brilliant wizard, which also blinds him to the reality faced by most wizards.

He was correct in stating that any first-year student possesses the ability to kill a Muggle. Flames ignite, and even the levitation spell can be deadly.

If a wizard were to turn every individual into an army, how many would there be?

How many are capable of disregarding Muggles?

Grindelwald dreams of wizards ruling the world, hence his desire to incite a full-scale war between Muggles and wizards.

Grindelwald fears the technological advancements of future Muggles, hence his intent to initiate a war before that occurs. But he never considered that in the event of a full-scale war, even if the wizard emerged victorious, how many casualties would be left in its wake? This includes wizards of his caliber, who may not be exempted from harm. The reason for this is simple: when not employing magic, he is not significantly stronger than an ordinary person.

There are only two potential solutions:

1. Concealing the war from Muggles using magic. But then, what differentiates this intervention from the current magical realm?

2. Wizards must remain on high alert at every moment, ready to cast spells to fend off any Muggle attack. However, maintaining consistent magical defense around the clock is a monumental challenge. Is it even possible?

It goes without saying that if Muggles cannot detect wizards, then wizards have the liberty to strike at any Muggle, at any time and place.

These considerations are not difficult to ponder, and Aurelius believes that wizards during the Middle Ages surely contemplated these options as well. However, their efforts failed, indicating that Muggles possess the capability to mount a counteroffensive.

Regular wizards have neglected to contemplate extenuating circumstances, just as ordinary Muggles fail to consider the daily implications of historical lessons and the potential scenarios of three wars.

But as a leader, especially one intent on inciting an all-out war between wizards and Muggles, Grindelwald cannot afford to dismiss these thoughts.

Has he truly taken them into account? Doubtful.

Grindelwald's ideas have indeed advanced within a magical realm that has remained unchanged for millennia, but his innovative concepts are primarily derived from his limited foresight.

Transforming ideology and cultivating critical thinking cannot be achieved through a single perspective, a few glimpses of the future, or the brilliance of a lone wizard.

However, within the magical realm, Grindelwald's status is sufficient.

Even when he finds himself in the most precarious situations, he excels at demagoguery, which remains razor-sharp and reliable.

"They are complacent, pretending not to notice. They persist in being mere repairers, constantly fixing this decrepit house. They've never once entertained the notion of demolishing this crumbling structure and building a magnificent palace... And when someone—I'm referring to myself—proposes this idea, those repairers go berserk. They want to eliminate me, silence me, prevent me from exposing their foolishness and speaking the truth."

"Like the child who exposed the king's nakedness?" Abernathy whispered, his eyes glazed with contemplation.

"Yes, Abernathy, the choice is now yours. Will you silently praise the king's illusory garments to save yourself from being labeled 'foolish,' or will you join me in revealing the truth and exposing his ignorance?"

Abernathy's countenance turned somber and uncertain. He bowed his head lower and lower, almost leaning towards his own heart, seemingly eager to discern the voice emanating from within."I do, sir. I don't want myself, my children, or my descendants to become fools who deceive themselves and others. I refuse to bow my head when the sky collapses and pretend not to see what's happening, only to meet a confused death. I, Abernathy, am willing to work for you!"

"For me? No, no! Abernathy, fight for the wizards, for all of us, for the future of our entire wizarding world!"

Clang——

The cell door swung open——

Abernathy stood outside the door, his face filled with excitement. The extravagant lifestyle in the Magical Congress had eroded the heart of this once passionate young man.

He had learned to mistreat those above and below him, to objectify women and indulge in inappropriate thoughts, and to kill time with mindless chatter...

He existed as a mere shell as if his sole purpose in life was to survive.

But Grindelwald's ideals and impassioned speech awakened the dormant flame in his heart, describing a life he once dreamed of. It was as if he had been a wandering soul for ten years, finally finding his way back home.