The Mansion of Night did not lack large open areas. In fact, it is filled to the brim with such. It is usually used for training and sparring. The basilisk was huge, making such areas perfect for the teleportation landing.
As if he knew we were going to appear here, Richard was standing there, waiting for us to appear. Merlin walked to stand beside him. "Interesting creature," he commented.
Before I could reply, Richard eyed Thor and addressed him, "Lord Thor, you should realize that the only reason you can even enter Midgard is that I allowed you to. I do not care what your father is thinking. If Odin attempts to coerce my people by using obvious lies with the goal of temptation, ever again, Asgard will learn to know its place!"
Thor looked troubled. He could only lower his head in the end because the warning is meant for Odin, as he is only the tool. Richard finally moved his attention to the creature and said, "I did not expect you to come back so soon, Orion, with a basilisk infant no less."
"Infant?" Thor and I exclaimed at the same time.
"When the creature is still a snake or a basilisk, it's called an infant. It becomes an adult when it evolves into a dragon," Merlin explained and continued while stroking his long white beard with a thoughtful expression on his face, "But I have never seen a winged basilisk before. Have you, my Lord?"
"It is indeed strange," Richard nodded in agreement.
"I want to talk to it," I suddenly said. I flew into the air above it and descended with a punch to its head. It was sufficient to wake it up. It roared in pain, but didn't forget to show us its fierceness, no matter how fake it was.
I looked at it, and it looked back. "What are you?" I asked in the Dragon Tongue. A basilisk is still a gigantic snake, which eventually evolves into a dragon. It shouldn't have any trouble understanding me.
The basilisk looked at me and refused to answer, although signs of hesitation appeared on its face.
I continued coldly, "They say that a snake will always answer a dragon if the latter asked it a question. It is not because it wants to; it is because it feels it has to reply from the depths of its subconscious. As for you, you're no dragon, but I am. And I ask you again, what are you?"
The basilisk still did not answer, but the struggle increased. Finally, it couldn't struggle anymore and bowed its head in defeat.
"I am a basilisk," the creature replied.
"A basilisk doesn't have wings. How come you have ones?"
"Lord dragon, I am a mutant of my race."
"The mutation of a snake is the transformation to a dragon, not just growing wings."
"My birthplace is the reason why I mutated differently from my kin."
"Where were you born, beast?"
"The Underworld, sir!"
I widened my eyes and looked back at Richard, who was frowning. He looked at the basilisk and said in the Dragon Tongue as well, "The Underworld has been sealed for over a thousand years. Are you lying, beast?"
The basilisk ignored Richard and kept its eyes on me. Even without the connection I have with him, I can already tell that Richard didn't like being ignored, and a very powerful presence surrounded him at that moment.
The creature was afraid, truly afraid. It was feeling the greatest wave of fear in its entire life. I turned back to talk to Richard and told him, "Ease it down a bit; we need it to be able to talk."
Richard glanced at me and nodded. I looked back at the basilisk and said to it, "As for you, you'd better answer when you are asked, or else I would just kill you."
"I apologize, seniors!" it quickly said.
"Then speak!"
"The Underworld is still sealed, but the seal has loosened greatly in some places. I was able to sneak out of there!"
"Why were you in the Underworld? Were you dead?"
"No, sir. There are hordes of native beasts there, not just basilisks!"
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Updated on 12/6/2026