Basilisk, Contract, and Horcrux (II)

He raised a hand and traced a complex rune above the Basilisk's head. Once formed, the rune turned into a dark silver light and sank into the Basilisk's scales, vanishing without a trace. "From this day forth, your fangs and gaze shall serve me alone. Your soul has merged into my shadow."

The Basilisk's body trembled slightly. It was not fear, but a nearly comforting feeling of finally belonging somewhere, one even it could not understand.

The Basilisk lowered its head completely. It was not submission, but resignation.

Its scales stopped trembling, its breathing steadied, and its tail no longer twitched. It lay on the ground like a tamed guard dog—though larger and fiercer, its nature had already changed.

From "Slytherin's Basilisk" to "Uchiha Madara's Basilisk."

The moment the contract was completed, the Basilisk's memories surged into Madara's consciousness like floodwaters bursting through a dam.

They were not images, but sensations. Madara "saw" Hogwarts a thousand years ago. The castle had not yet grown as tall as it was now, and many of its towers had yet to be built, but the basic stone walls had already taken shape.

Salazar Slytherin stood in the center of the Chamber of Secrets, both hands pressed against the Basilisk's head. His lips moved as he recited some ancient contract spell that had long since been lost. His voice was cold, his gaze was cold, and his entire being resembled a sword freshly pulled from icy water.

After finishing, he left the Chamber of Secrets and came to the lawn outside the castle, where three people stood in a triangular formation, faintly surrounding him.

A red-haired woman, a brown-haired man, and a black-haired man. Madara could not make out their expressions, but he could feel the atmosphere: this was not an argument, but the