"Hm?"
Inside the Learning Space, Tom had been sitting with Ariana, waiting for the drama to unfold like eager spectators. Suddenly, he shot upright.
Ariana jumped in alarm. "What's wrong, Tom?"
"I… I'm fine." Tom blinked, clearly stunned. "It's just that old Gellert has gone mad. He signed the contract."
For days, Grindelwald had been hesitating over whether to accept the affiliated soul agreement. He had just been sparring verbally with Dumbledore, so how had he suddenly sold himself?
Tom found himself once again dissatisfied with the system's limitations. He could not monitor what was happening on Grindelwald's side. He either had to wait for him to enter or forcibly summon him in.
Fortunately, before Tom acted, Grindelwald entered of his own accord.
"Old Gellert, what happened?" Tom asked immediately.
"I've thought it through."
Grindelwald appeared lighter than ever.
"There's no need to agonize over clauses. With or without them, little changes. Coming out sooner means witnessing the rise of a new era. And I can help my old friend reclaim what is owed."
He glanced toward Andros and Ariana.
"This time, let me go first."
Having made up his mind, Grindelwald seemed almost impatient, volunteering for the first slot.
Andros laughed freely. "I've been dead for thousands of years. I'm not in a rush."
Ariana, however, was less pleased.
She had wanted to come out first to stay by Tom's side. Grindelwald had once taken Albus from her, and now he was competing for Tom as well. A faint aura of dark resentment seemed to gather around her.
Yet in the end, she relented.
"Fine. But once you're out, you listen to Tom. If you don't, when I return, I'll kill you myself."
Grindelwald could not help but laugh. "You have my word. Once I step into the world again, whatever Tom wishes to do, I will support fully. I'll help him grow stronger as quickly as possible. Certainly faster than Scamander ever could."
Tom fell silent.
He was moved.
Grindelwald's resentment toward Newt practically eclipsed even his complicated feelings toward Dumbledore.
Ariana's expression softened somewhat. She understood her own position clearly.
Among the three of them, she was the least useful.
Andros possessed overwhelming power.
Grindelwald, though weaker, had followers and cunning. He could help Tom consolidate influence.
As for her…
Beyond serving as a pillow, what could she offer?
And Tom did not lack pillows.
Ariana's mood dimmed.
She felt useless.
"Enough," Tom said gently, ruffling her hair. "You think crafting a perfect body is simple? Even if we accumulate enough energy, the body might not be ready. So whether Grindelwald volunteered or not, he would likely be first."
From Kel'Thuzad's notebook, Tom favored a particular method: embryonic cultivation. A complete body could be grown from the earliest stage, accelerated through magic rather than waiting decades.
The primary materials required were concentrated flesh essence and the target's bodily samples.
Ariana posed no difficulty. Her grave could be visited.
Andros was more complicated.
Fortunately, Tom possessed Andros's magical talent. With careful simulation, something close might be achieved.
...
The following day, Tom brought Daphne and Astoria to Nicolas Flamel's residence.
Nicolas shot Tom a displeased glare. He had even retrieved a wand he had not touched in decades, as though tempted to cast a curse or two at the boy.
The greatest alchemist in history reduced to unpaid labor.
For the past month, he had practically lived in his laboratory, endlessly engraving runes. Monotonous. Exhausting.
Yet if he did not, Tom's restless nature meant there was no telling whether he would see the so called "WhatsApp" system fully promoted within his lifetime.
Tom smiled sheepishly and handed over gifts.
However, in the presence of Daphne and Astoria, Nicolas regained his kindly elder demeanor. Together with Perenelle, he inquired warmly about the girls' wellbeing and asked numerous questions regarding the Greengrass family.
Astoria, ever obedient, answered politely. Daphne transformed instantly into the poised young lady she had been upon first meeting Tom, every gesture refined.
Tom found himself puzzled. When Fleur had visited, the elderly couple had not interrogated so thoroughly. This felt like a background check.
In truth, Nicolas and Perenelle shared sentiments not unlike Tina's.
Only pure wizarding lineage, in their view, truly matched Tom.
A half Veela, no matter how charming, could not represent the foundation of a household.
Thus, Daphne received closer scrutiny.
One was a dazzling ornament.
The other, potentially the future mistress of the house.
Different expectations demanded different standards.
Warmth, yes.
But also severity.
Fortunately, Daphne performed well enough to satisfy them. Nicolas and Perenelle were far too experienced not to recognize the performance. Beneath her sweetness lay intelligence.
Yet her cultivated elegance was genuine.
The younger sister was pleasant as well, though somewhat delicate.
Nicolas and Perenelle exchanged a subtle glance.
The elder one, they decided.
...
Back in the bedroom, Daphne flopped onto the bed, wiping nonexistent sweat from her brow.
"I thought I was going to die."
"What was there to fear?" Tom pinched her soft cheek. "Nicolas and Perenelle are kind people. They were simply concerned."
"The more they know, the easier it will be to help Astoria completely."
"Rest today. Tomorrow I'll take you to the Champs Élysées. After that, though, I can only accompany you for half the day."
If Tom continued idling in France without lifting a finger, Nicolas might genuinely lose patience.
From now on, Tom would spend most of his time in the laboratory once more.