Kulkan narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Sean, muttering under her breath. "Why does it feel like he understands what I'm saying? And now he's even changed his tune—asking a house-elf to bring me food?"
Bang!The house-elf reappeared with a loud pop, balancing a tray. On it were three plates: one with a pile of eggs and some unfamiliar bird eggs, the others stacked with fresh cuts of beef, mutton, and chicken.
Sean took the tray without a word and waved the house-elf away. Once the room was quiet again, he turned to Kulkan and let out a low hiss—a sound that came not from his mouth, but from deep within his throat.
"You've been talking smack about me to my face all this time, haven't you?"
Kulkan's eyes widened in shock. Her coiled body stiffened, and disbelief rippled across her serpentine features.
"You… you're speaking Parseltongue?! You understand me?!"
With one eyebrow raised, Sean looked at Kulkan and asked, "You know Parseltongue too?"
"Of course I do," Kulkan replied with a hint of pride. "Some magical creatures carry bloodline memory—and I'm one of them. But that's not the point. The point is—how did you suddenly start speaking Parseltongue?"
"I have a special ability," Sean said casually. "Whenever I duel someone, I can acquire one of their abilities."
Kulkan narrowed her eyes. "Tsk. If you didn't want to tell me, just say so. Trying to fool a snake, are you?"
Sean only shrugged. Sometimes, the truth is the last thing people believe.
Originally, he had no intention of hiding this from Kulkan. She had always been reliable, and Sean didn't mind sharing even his biggest secret with her. But if she wasn't going to believe it anyway, there was no point in explaining further.
He set the tray down in front of her.
The moment Kulkan laid eyes on the food, she forgot everything else. Without hesitation, she dove in. After years of eating bland "snake feed," the sight and scent of real food were overwhelming.
Watching her tear through the tray, Sean blinked in surprise. "You don't usually eat snake food that eagerly… or in that much quantity. Don't overdo it. Just tell me what you want next time—I'll get it for you."
Kulkan swallowed the last egg and gave a little wiggle, her clearly overstuffed body shifting slightly as she sighed in satisfaction. "Snake food is full of magical potions. It's nutritious, sure, but the taste is awful—not much better than a dead rat. And the potions inside suppress hunger, so I never eat much."
Sean wrinkled his nose. "Dead rat? Don't tell me you've actually eaten one."
Kulkan glanced at Sean, let out a satisfied burp, and said, "Of course I haven't eaten one. I was brought to the UK from South America by the owner of that magical zoo. Before that, I lived in the jungles of South America. When I was young, I had to hide constantly—I couldn't hunt. So if I found a dead mouse, that was considered a feast."
"South America to England… Seems like you know quite a bit."
"Don't lump magical creatures in with common beasts, alright?" Kulkan said with a flick of her tail. "Sure, a lot of magical animals aren't all that bright—but I'm different. There are memories buried deep in my blood. So I've always known more than most, at least when it comes to basic knowledge. But last year, when I helped you collect unicorn blood… I instinctively swallowed a little. That's what reawakened the blood inheritance. Since then, more of that ancient knowledge has surfaced."
When Kulkan mentioned the unicorn blood incident, Sean suddenly recalled something: back then, she hadn't been nearly this large. Her size had noticeably increased after that.
"So… magical creature blood can help you grow?" Sean asked, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully. "You got so big last year because you ingested unicorn blood, didn't you?"
Kulkan gently nodded her serpentine head and said, "Yes, that's my innate talent. Devouring magical creatures accelerates my growth. Unicorn blood is the most magical part of a unicorn's body, so when I swallowed some of it, it gave me a massive boost and allowed me to grow significantly."
"Any magical creature will do?" Sean asked curiously.
"Of course not..." Kulkan coiled herself into a relaxed spiral, her tone growing more serious. "It must be a magical creature with immense magical power—like dragons, phoenixes, unicorns. The more powerful the creature, the more potent the effect. But there's a catch—the more you consume the same type of creature, the less effective it becomes over time. However, if the creature is of the same species as you, the effect is much stronger."
Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "So if you ever plan to go after the Basilisk, you'd better take me with you. Its eyes, its blood—those would be incredible nourishment for me."
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On Saturday, I went to the Room of Requirement to brew potions, just as I usually did.
But this time, I brought Kulkan along. Ever since I'd mastered Parseltongue, Kulkan had been like a coiled spring finally released—constantly pestering me to let him out. Even a snake could go stir-crazy if left indoors day after day.
While I worked, Kulkan lay coiled on a table by the window, gazing out at the view with a languid air.
At noon, I had a house-elf prepare lunch for both of us. We even stayed for dinner. It wasn't until evening that I finally finished brewing the potion and began packing up to leave with Kulkan and the results of the day's work.
"Sean," Kulkan asked, stretching a little, "is this what you do every time—leave early and return late?"
"Only on Saturdays," I replied. "Most weekdays are taken up by classes and studying, but the hours add up just the same."
Kulkan hissed softly. "You really do work hard. And your strength is already pretty good. Couldn't you afford to slow down a little?"
"I could relax," I said, tightening the stopper on a vial, "but this era doesn't allow that. Certain things are going to happen soon. And if I don't have enough power by then... it could mean my life."
"The future?" Kulkan coiled a little tighter, watching me curiously. "You talk like someone who can see it."
"Maybe I can," I said with a faint smile.
"You—" Kulkan had only spoken half the word when I felt it—her body suddenly went rigid.
A moment later, she hissed urgently, voice sharp and clear in Parseltongue:"Sean, it's coming. That thing is moving toward us—fast! It's almost here!"
My heart clenched.
There was no need for Kulkan to clarify. I knew exactly what she meant.
The Basilisk.
Miles had chosen now to send it after him.
Without hesitation, Sean bolted. As he ran, he heard a chilling voice echoing through the walls, hungry for blood and slaughter. The Basilisk was moving through the pipes—faster than him. Sean realized he couldn't outrun it.