Chapter 113: The Qilin

“Qilin?”

Xiwen froze when she heard the name from Newt’s lips.

“The ancient auspicious beast of China—the qilin?”

Xiwen began to examine the magical creature in Newt’s arms.

It had the body of a young deer, a tail like that of a calf, and four hooves resembling a cow’s. A single curved horn was set into its forehead.

Its entire body was covered in fine scales that shimmered faintly with a jade-green light. Orange-red fur flowed from the crown of its head down along its neck and spine, all the way to the tip of its tail, like a long cluster of flames. It was extraordinarily beautiful.

Newt gently soothed the little qilin in his arms and nodded at Xiwen.

“It is indeed a magical creature from China.”

However, he took issue with Xiwen’s description and quietly explained the qilin’s origins.

“Although qilin are exceedingly rare, they have continued to survive in secluded regions of China. So I don’t think they are creatures belonging exclusively to ancient times.”

“The International Confederation of Wizards once upheld an ancient tradition known as the Way of the Qilin—a method of selecting the Confederation’s president through the qilin,” Newt explained. “Qilin possess the ability to perceive the future. They can see into a person’s soul and determine whether that person is pure of heart.”

“The International Confederation of Wizards used this trait to choose a president who was kind and virtuous.”

“That sounds rather hasty,” Xiwen remarked, curling his lips. “And surely becoming president requires more than a good heart. What if the qilin chose someone who was kind but otherwise completely unqualified?”

“Xiwen, you’re underestimating these magical creatures,” Newt said with a smile. “Someone who possesses kindness but no ability would never earn a qilin’s favor. One might say that every wizard honored by a qilin has been exceptionally capable while also possessing a strong sense of justice.”

“The ritual of the Way of the Qilin almost never went wrong. If qilin were not so scarce, the tradition would probably have been passed down to this day.”

“I see.” Xiwen nodded.

Then he thought of something and asked, “So what is Grindelwald planning to do by having his followers seize the little qilin? Does he intend to become president of the International Confederation of Wizards while still a wanted criminal?”

As he voiced the thought, Xiwen laughed.

But his laughter quickly faded when both Newt and Flamel grew solemn.

“He can really become president of the Confederation?” Xiwen asked, his mouth falling open in shock.

“In theory, that should be impossible,” Flamel said gravely. “But what if he manipulates the current president into clearing his name? We all know that Anton Vogel is not exactly a reliable leader.”

Xiwen frowned and suddenly asked, “Wait. If Grindelwald can learn the qilin’s location through his ability to foresee the future, then why did Newt suddenly ask me to send him to Guangxi more than a month ago? How did Dumbledore know the qilin’s exact location when he assigned Newt the mission?”

“I was the one who told Albus, Xiwen.” Flamel looked toward him. “He had actually asked me to divine the qilin’s general location beforehand.”

“Of course. It comes back to foresight again…” Xiwen sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead. He was beginning to feel as though neither side could move forward without someone possessing the ability to predict the future.

Newt then recounted his experience in Guangxi to the three people present.

“…After I helped the qilin’s mother give birth, Grindelwald’s followers suddenly arrived. I saw Credence, Carrow, and Rosier.”

At the mention of Rosier, Newt glanced at Xiwen.

“I know. It must have been my aunt,” Xiwen said helplessly, shaking his head to indicate that Newt should continue.

“They killed the qilin’s mother with several Killing Curses, then knocked me unconscious with a Stunning Spell and carried away the first little qilin to be born,” Newt said despondently. “Fortunately, they overlooked one thing: the qilin’s mother had given birth to twins.”

Newt pointed to the little qilin in his arms, and his expression became somewhat relieved.

“I was afraid Grindelwald’s followers might return and discover the second, later-born qilin, so I contacted Flamel and asked him to help me find you,” Newt said, looking at Xiwen. “As luck would have it, you were there and opened a portal for me.”

“So Albus and Grindelwald both overlooked something this time?” Flamel furrowed his brows and spoke softly. “Albus failed to anticipate that Grindelwald would foresee the qilin’s existence and send his followers to seize one from Newt. Grindelwald, meanwhile, failed to foresee that there were two little qilin, giving us a narrow window of opportunity.”

“I don’t understand. It is extraordinarily rare for either of them to make a mistake. Why would they both happen to overlook something at exactly the same time?” Xiwen said, equally puzzled.

With that, he opened a dimensional door leading to the office of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

Dumbledore was gazing at the diamond-shaped pendant in his hand from behind his desk. He did not even notice Xiwen and Newt entering the office.

“Albus, I’ve brought the little qilin back,” Newt said, interrupting Dumbledore’s thoughts.

“Ah, you’ve done very well!” Dumbledore said. Startled from his reverie, he discreetly tucked the blood pact back into his sleeve, then greeted Xiwen and Newt, as well as Flamel and his wife standing beyond the dimensional door.

“Nick, Perenelle, would you like to come in for a while? It’s been ages since you last visited Hogwarts!”

…

The Flamels politely declined Dumbledore’s invitation and did not pass through the dimensional door into Hogwarts.

Now Xiwen and Newt were seated on two chairs Dumbledore had conjured with a Summoning Charm, asking him about the matter that had puzzled them.

“Because the qilin was never the most important factor. Grindelwald himself was!” Dumbledore explained. “The qilin might help him win people’s hearts more easily, but it is his ideals, his strength, and his eloquence that truly allow him to gain their allegiance.”

“Newt, Xiwen, you must understand that external factors can never determine the outcome. The only ones capable of making the final decision are ourselves.” Dumbledore gazed deeply at Xiwen and Newt as he spoke with solemn emphasis.

“Then why did you still send me to China to bring the qilin back?” Newt asked, bewildered.

“Any external advantage we can secure is naturally worth pursuing.” Dumbledore looked down at the diamond-shaped pendant around his wrist and spoke quietly.

“Not intervening personally is simply the last understanding we have chosen to preserve.”