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Author's Note:

This chapter serves as a transition, allowing us to skip the final dinner and the end of the school year while maintaining the flow of the story. The plot will move directly toward new perspectives, making room for episodes dedicated to Einar's journey through the unknown world of Earth.

During this phase, I will balance the narrative between lighthearted and comedic moments before returning to the more serious tone that will mark the beginning of the new school year. The intention is to give the story a bit of breathing room, offering variety in the reader's experience.

Additionally, this chapter acts as a special feature focusing on the children who remain in the Shadow Boundary. Despite the changes Einar will experience in his travels"where a full year will pass for him"for the children in the Shadow Boundary, only a few weeks will have gone by. This difference in time perception will play a key role in the narrative structure, highlighting the consequences of distance and the passage of time between dimensions.

I hope you enjoy this transition before we dive back into the heart of the story. See you in the next chapter!

"--------

At the highest point of a colossal castle, hidden among perpetual clouds and endless blizzards, stood a solitary cell, built to house a single man. That castle, with its imposing gray walls, was once the symbol of his vision"the manifestation of his power and ideals. Its name was Nurmengard.

And the one who lay imprisoned within its walls was none other than Gellert Grindelwald, the dark wizard who had brought the entire world to its knees. Even more feared than Voldemort himself… not because of his strength or the destructive power of his wand, but because of his ideas. Because of his unbreakable charisma. That dangerous ability to make people believe in him, follow him, love him"even as he led them straight into darkness.

Grindelwald was a threat because of what he represented.

And the only man who had ever managed to stop him now stood directly in front of his cell.

Albus Dumbledore.

His robes were stained, his hair disheveled, his face marked by the recent battle. The dirt from the duel he had just finished still clung to him. As soon as the silence fell after his confrontation with Einar, he hadn't thought of rest or healing. The first thing that crossed his mind was this: seeing Gellert. That man he had once loved with all his soul. With whom he had shared dreams, ideals… and who had also caused his greatest fall.

Dumbledore hadn't even stayed to preside over the final feast of the Three Champions. He had left that task in McGonagall's hands, while he came here, dragged by a need he couldn't fully explain.

This place... this prison... this figure behind the bars... they were all part of who he was. Even if he didn't want to admit it.

"I ruined it, Gellert "were his first words after a long silence, his gaze lost somewhere between the bars and his own memories.

From inside the cell, a deep, aged voice broke the stillness.

"So it seems "Grindelwald replied with a calmness that was unsettling.

Despite the passing of time, the years of confinement and abandonment, there was something unbreakable in his presence. His once golden, radiant hair was now completely white. His grown and unkempt beard fell to his chest, and his robes were in tatters. There was no longer any trace of the nobility that had once shone in every one of his movements. And yet, his eyes… his eyes remained the same. Calm. Clear. Impossible to read.

"I fear that my arrogance may have brought something worse into the world than you… "Dumbledore whispered, his voice broken by the weight of guilt.

"Sometimes, when one searches for an answer, they find something else entirely… something unexpected. That's how life works "Grindelwald tilted his head gently". You can't keep believing everything will go as you hope, Albus. Not anymore. You've grown old. You should have stopped fighting… retired, rested.

"Perhaps I should have done so a long time ago. But now I no longer can "Dumbledore said, lowering his gaze. Then, he took a step forward and added, with a glimmer of hope":

Gellert… help me see. Help me see if the world can still be saved. Be it through Harry… or through Einar.

There was silence. Then, Grindelwald slowly shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Albus. I can no longer see beyond. That boy… Einar… since he arrived, the future has vanished from my sight. It's as if he follows no written destiny "his eyes narrowed, intrigued". He is different. Perhaps I cannot see his future… because he himself can rewrite it at will.

"Yes. He's very special… and even so, I've pushed him to become my enemy "Dumbledore's voice trembled. His expression darkened". Thank you, Gellert. It was… good to see you again.

He turned, ready to leave. His silhouette looked more hunched than ever.

But before he could walk away entirely, a voice called to him softly:

"Albus…

Dumbledore stopped.

"It was good for me too. To see you again.

Grindelwald then stepped back, retreating into the deep shadows of his cell, until the only thing left visible were the cold bars of Nurmengard.

And Dumbledore left.

With a heart heavier than before.

...….

Skyrim – Shadowbound

Aventus stopped in the middle of the mist-covered trail, slowly turning on his heels as he scanned the surroundings.

"By Akatosh… they got separated again." He brought a hand to his face in frustration. "These idiots… Fine, I'll wait here."

He sighed, making sure there were no enemies nearby. Then, he sat on a moss-covered rock, pulled a slightly worn book from his backpack, and began to read calmly.

.

A few meters away, Sofie was sitting cross-legged on a fallen log. She had laid out all her magical staves in front of her, lining them up with precision.

"You need a new gem… and you… ah, you're almost empty," she muttered to herself as she examined each staff with a critical eye. "They never stop draining energy right when I need them most. I should start crafting my own enchantments."

She pulled several soul gems from her pouch, comparing their sizes and glow. The calm on her face didn't quite hide the slight tremor of excitement in her hands—preparing for battle was almost as thrilling as the battle itself.

.

In another part of the dark forest, Lucia was darting between the trees, jumping over roots and laughing like she was playing hide-and-seek with ghosts.

"This place is awesome! Everything's scary… but in a fun way!" she shouted, the massive hammer on her back bouncing with every step.

"Where is everyone?! It's no fun if no one's here to see my epic moves!" she cried, spinning around and raising her hammer to the sky, never stopping.

.

Deep inside an abandoned house, Sissel was devouring food like she hadn't eaten in a week. Dry bread, aged cheese, salted meat… everything went straight into her mouth.

"Mmm… this isn't half bad," she mumbled, cheeks so puffed up she could barely speak. "Why is it always me who finds the pantry first?"

With each bite, she looked more like a hungry hamster than a young adventurer—but she didn't care. Surviving required energy too.

.

Across a clearing, Blaise was running nonstop, visibly flustered. Sweat trickled down his forehead as he whipped his head left and right, worried.

"Aventus! Lucia! Sofie! Where are you?!" he yelled over and over. "Why can't anyone stick together for more than five minutes?!"

He stomped his feet, more out of frustration than necessity, muttering to himself:

"I swear, when this is over, I'm calling a mandatory family meeting… and no one's getting out of it. No one."

.

Meanwhile, Alesan had found a small lake of dark waters, hidden between cliffs.

"Oh… perfect," he said with a serene smile.

Somehow, without anyone noticing, he pulled a fishing rod from his backpack and sat at the edge of the lake in complete peace, like he was at home.

"If anyone asks, I was studying survival tactics," he told himself as he cast the line into the water. "And if I catch something, even better."

.

A little further north, the clash of metal and the crunch of bones filled the air. Hroar spun with brutal precision, wielding two one-handed axes. His breathing was steady, controlled. He said nothing, but his actions spoke for him.

The falmer fell before him like they were made of paper.

THAK. SHUNK. CRACK.

Lifeless bodies piled around him. When the last one fell, Hroar simply wiped the blood off his weapons on a fallen enemy's robe and kept walking, as if nothing had happened.

.

Elsewhere, Samuel and Lars were walking up a steep trail. Well… walking, although one of them clearly wasn't enjoying it.

"…and then I told the giant no, the goat was mine, but he didn't understand a word, so I had to teach him some manners—with an arrow to the eye!" Lars rambled on, gesturing wildly with obvious lies.

Samuel closed his eyes, fists clenched with barely contained patience.

"Lars?"

"Yeah?"

"If you keep talking, I swear I'll cast a silence spell—and it won't be temporary."

Lars just laughed.

"Oh, come on, you know you're entertained. Who better to liven up this mission?"

Samuel sighed and muttered:

"By Azura… I should've stayed with the falmer."

.

Meanwhile, a young woman dressed like a Dark Brotherhood assassin stood atop one of the massive, jellyfish-like trees, using binoculars to spot each of them, a smile hidden beneath her mask.

"My brothers… as weird as always," she said.

"Now… where did those other two idiots wander off to?" she added before scanning the area for the last two who had also gone astray.

And so, amid chaos and separation, the young ones explored the Shadowbound in their own ways. Each one different, each one unique… and without knowing it, they were slowly drawing closer to each other.

As always.

…