Chapter 53 – Dueling Tournament (2)
"Conrad..."
It was Quincy's voice, and maybe that is why I was able to concentrate on it, calling my consciousness back from its murky state. The competition's first round was wrapped up, and she came to me immediately. She saw something was off and asked no questions, merely helping me leave quickly before anybody could stop us.
We didn't head back to the common room, nor did she lead me to our own classroom at the North Tower. We went straight to the Room of Requirements, and the moment the door closed behind us, my mental fortitude gave out, and I collapsed in a howl of pain, clutching my head.
"Conrad!"
I could hear her voice, but it was muffled to my ears, and I felt my consciousness was slipping into a different state of existence. I can't recall when I crossed between reality and dreams, but I was in a familiar-looking, dark forest, and I could feel the presence of the same snake that had pursued me so many times in the past.
"What... do you want?" I turned towards where I sensed its presence, and to my surprise, there it was. A viper with its deep, midnight-colored scales. It wasn't ordinary, especially because its size rivaled that of the basilisk while looking down at me. I faced its glowing, golden eyes and watched its pupils smile before he turned into a human. "Herpo?" I asked, but I wasn't surprised. I had already guessed as much.
"You should have just killed him. Why spare the weak?"
"If you really think that, you are an idiot!" I chortled, unafraid of the consequences. If he wanted to kill me, why was I here? If he is the source of my pain, then-
"I am not the source of it. Not... entirely." He shook his head, smiling.
"What do you mean?"
"What you are feeling is simply the transformation you are going through after injecting yourself with basilisk blood." He explained readily, and I felt his sincerity. No... it was amusement. "I didn't think it would be the same type of blood I used in my youth, but... it was a lovely surprise!"