Chapter 376 - The Pool of Answers (1/2)

Chris landed softly on solid ground but her surroundings were still dark. After a moment, her dizziness went away and she felt better.

”Maybe you are The Chosen One by the Founders of Great Hogwarts but are you worthy or not is still up to me,” The same voice as before vibrated around Chris, making her jump in the dark. ​​

She whipped around in the dark but her eyes just saw pitch-black darkness, nothing else.

”Who are you?” Chris yelled angrily.

”I am the one you were seeking so desperately. All your quests and trials had always meant to lead you here,” the voice vibrated all around again as if the darkness itself was speaking back to Chris.

But Chris was not amused by this. The vision or illusion about Malgino winning was still fresh in her mind.

”You created the world where Malgino won and I joined him?” Chris asked looking mad. ”What's the meaning of this?”

”You saw a world I created from your fear or belief, whatever you like to call it. As you have already understood, it was a test,” The voice replied.

”Why? What was the test for?”

”To know if the great four chose right. Anyway, we are here in the darkness for a long time. Why don't you step forward and bring us light?”

”I can do that?” Chris asked surprised.

”You have a wand, don't you?” The voice mocked.

Chris was embarrassed. How could she forget? She quickly pulled out her wand from her pocket and turned on the wand light but the small light from her wand barely made any progress in the infinite abyss. Feeling confused she looked around and heard the voice chuckle lightly.

”Forgive me, I was just trying to make a joke,” the voice said and suddenly the place was lit by light orbs.

Chris looked around and realized where she was. She was standing in that lane leading out of the small round space where she and her friends landed. In a split second, everything came back to her. Her friends were still there fighting who knows what. For a moment, Chris considered running back but then she looked forward. The lane was leading her somewhere. Probably to answers?

”Are you regretting choosing Malgino's defeat instead of your friends' lives, Christina?” The voice asked breaking the silence.

”What do mean instead of my friends' lives?” Chris wildly looked everywhere to find the speaker but there was no one other than her.

”Oh, don't worry they are not dead. They are going through their own tests inspired by their own fears and beliefs. But their tests are not easy either. So do you want to go back and help your friends?”

Chris almost said yes but then she thought better.

”If I go back, I can't move forward, right?”

”You are smart. Yes, if you go back. I will send you back to the upper chamber where you came from.”

”And if I decide to go forward?” Chris asked tentatively.

”Then you will find all the answers you were looking for since the beginning of most of it.”

”Like how to defeat Malgino?”

There was a pause before the voice answered, ”Everything about how to defeat Malgino.”

Chris sighed and stared in front of her, the lane leading to her destiny but then looked back again where she knew Ginny, Luna, and Colin were going through their tests.

”So what's it going to be your friends or the secret of killing your biggest enemy?” The voice asked.

”You never had friends, do you?” Chris retorted. ”How could I step forward knowing they are in danger?”

To Chris's surprise, the voice broke into a laugh.