Godric Gryffindor had known for a while that Rey knew Dark Magic. He vividly remembered the green lightning—Avada Kedavra—that had lit up the night during the werewolf attack.
The Killing Curse was dark magic that directly attacked the soul.
Magic that targets the soul naturally places a greater burden on the caster's soul than ordinary magic. If a wizard with a relatively weak soul used this spell to kill, they would be consumed by a sense of accomplishment and pride.
This was the allure of the Dark Arts. When a wizard failed to recognize this dangerous temptation, their very nature would gradually warp with continued use.
Take Sirius Black's cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange—a raving, mad Death Eater.
Godric believed Rey's soul was strong enough because Rey had already recognized that the sense of accomplishment and pride was merely the lure of the Dark Arts. If he hadn't, Rey might have died by Godric's sword that very night.
Salazar Slytherin, his best friend, had researched the Dark Arts extensively. He was the only Dark Wizard Godric had ever met who delved deep into the darkness yet retained his true self.
Therefore, Salazar Slytherin would be the best teacher for Rey. Godric was absolutely certain of this.
While Godric and Rey were talking, Salazar Slytherin returned, having taken Terence Barrow aside. Terence followed closely behind him.
Whatever Salazar had said to him, Terence seemed to have regained his usual aristocratic composure, shedding his earlier madness. He looked sharper, though his gaze toward Rey now carried a hint of ruthlessness.
It wasn't hostility, exactly. It felt more like he was looking at a rival.
Rey was confused. He had no idea why Terence was looking at him like that. Was he still trying to compete for Helena?
No, that seemed unlikely. Rey had already made his stance clear: Lolis weren't his type. Terence had no reason to see him as a romantic rival.
"You want to learn the Dark Arts from me?"
Salazar Slytherin walked up to Godric and asked Rey calmly. Clearly, Godric had already spoken to Salazar about teaching Rey. Now, he was just confirming it.
"Yes, Professor."
Rey tensed up, answering immediately after a split-second pause.
Salazar's calm demeanor exerted an inexplicable pressure on Rey. The slight curl of his lips made Rey feel like a rabbit targeted by a viper.
Danger! He felt like a helpless sheep. Rey sensed that if he displeased Salazar Slytherin even slightly, he would be played to death in an instant.
"Hey, Salazar, don't use that signature smile of yours. I know what it feels like to be stared at with that look."
As expected of the man who knew Salazar best, Godric understood exactly what Rey was feeling. However, Salazar didn't let Rey off the hook. He tilted his head slightly, looking at Godric. "Can I take it that you care about him a great deal?"
His voice was cold, his gaze unnerving. Every word dripped with jealousy.
In an instant, Rey understood everything. But understanding didn't help; all he could do was smile bitterly inside.
---
Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor were best friends.
But if someone told Rey there wasn't a hint of romance mixed into that friendship, he wouldn't believe it if you beat him to death.
Rey was convinced that if Rowena Ravenclaw or Helga Hufflepuff had been the ones asking Salazar to teach him, this scene wouldn't be happening.
Now, everything was ruined. Salazar was jealous, and Rey's life was about to become very difficult.
The atmosphere was awkward. Terence Barrow, seemingly used to this kind of situation, stared at his nose, and his nose at his heart, completely different from the love-crazed boy chasing Helena earlier.
"No, no, not at all."
Facing the current Salazar, Godric's confidence visibly wavered. He might be dense about feelings, but even he could sense the subtle shift in the atmosphere.
If he hadn't spoken up for Rey just now, Salazar might have only made things a little difficult for the boy. Now... it was too late.
Godric shot Rey an apologetic look, then stood there grinning foolishly. From the moment Salazar felt displeased, Rey was destined to become his punching bag.
Rey rolled his eyes at Godric's apologetic glance.
Godric Gryffindor was truly a massive idiot. Rey couldn't fathom how Salazar Slytherin became best friends with such a blockhead.
Obviously, Salazar was jealous. Godric should have sat up straight and behaved himself. That one apologetic look had completely doomed Rey.
Rey could clearly see the unchanging smile on Salazar's face turn even colder. If Salazar's expression was early winter before, Godric's look turned it into the dead of winter. Even Terence standing nearby shivered from the sudden chill.
The vibe was wrong. Rey's heart skipped a beat, and alarm bells rang in his head.
Suddenly, without warning, the chilling Salazar grabbed Terence with one hand and clamped onto Rey's shoulder with the other.
Salazar moved so fast that neither boy had time to react. Under Godric's gaping stare, they vanished instantly.
"Apparition! Is he really that angry?"
Seeing the three disappear, a slow-on-the-uptake Godric muttered to himself, staring at the empty space.
A moment later, a gust of wind kicked up beside Godric, and Salazar reappeared. But Rey and Terence were gone.
Upon returning, Salazar shot Godric a glare, ignored him completely, and walked away. However, the anger in his eyes seemed to have cooled significantly.
Godric didn't dare ask where Salazar had sent the two boys. He finally realized his best friend was genuinely upset. So, he scampered after Salazar like a puppy, putting the black leather wizard hat hanging at his waist onto his head.
Godric chose to wear the hat now because it was a gift from Salazar.
Whenever Salazar was angry, Godric wearing this hat was usually a surefire way to extinguish his rage.
However, once Godric put the hat on, Salazar immediately spotted the patch on the side.
The patch covering the cut Rey had made.
Instantly, the anger Salazar had just suppressed roared back to life.
---
The sky was grey and overcast, yet it didn't feel like rain.
The wind wasn't strong, but it was biting cold, cutting through clothes and chilling the soul.
Rey and Terence stood at the entrance of a barren valley, enduring the sinister wind blowing from its dark depths.
Behind them lay a desolate forest. The trees were massive and tall, yet completely devoid of leaves.
It should have looked like a scene of decay, but nothing about this forest suggested weakness.
The trees were towering, their trunks thick and twisted like giant pythons coiled around each other. Just moments ago, Salazar Slytherin had caught them off guard, transported them here, and dropped a single cold instruction: "Bring back the Specter Bead."
As soon as the words left his mouth, before Rey could even ask a question, Salazar Apparated away again.
The environment was unnatural. This was definitely not a safe place.
Rey swallowed hard and nudged the still-dazed Terence with his elbow, whispering, "Hey, where are we?"
"Where are we?"
Terence laughed bitterly. His face was full of despair, his voice trembling on the verge of tears. "Teacher said we were going to the Ghost Fortress. Why did he change his mind and bring us to the Valley of Evil Spirits?"
---