Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The battle lasted for some time. Riddle had no plans in backing down, but neither were any of you. Everyone was working together to weaken and stop the overblotted Riddle. Once he seemed distracted enough, you merged the waters together to create a pointed spear-like shape. You launched the weapon which went right through the ink monster's glass head. The ink spewed out rapidly as it released a deafening screech, until it sunk back to the abyss hole.
Unfortunately, Riddle began to descend down with the monster, heavily breathing and staring down at his hands in question. "I...was wrong!? But that's...impossible..." His hands trembled as he held back tears. "Isn't it...Mother?"
Before anyone else could react, you sprinted towards him with quick speed, hoping to somehow catch him. A desperate attempt to save the boy. Although, as soon as your foot touched the black ink, a wave of energy shocked through your entire body. It was much too overwhelming that it caused your vision to distort and as a response, your body shut down. The last things you heard were the distressed screams of the freshmen and seniors before you lost full conscious.
You were in another dream-like state, yet this seemed different. You were surrounded by nothing but darkness. You then noticed Riddle...no longer overblot nor berserk, just dejected. His back faced you as he held his knees. Suddenly, a scene began to play in front of you. It was taking place in the interior of a home.
"Happy eighth birthday, Riddle!" Spoke a woman with the same hair color and a few similar facial features as Riddle's. You presumed this was his mother. "This year's birthday cake is low-sugar recipe made with nuts and lecithin-rich soy flour to improve your cerebral function."
A child version of Riddle looked up to his mother with innocent eyes. "Thank you. But, Mom... Just once, I'd like to try one of those tarts covered with bright-red strawberries..." He asked timidly.
"Absolutely not! Those tarts are monstrously unhealthy. I might as well feed you poison!" Mrs. Rosehearts gasped. "Even just a single slice would exceed your recommended daily intake of sugar. Now, dinner tonight will be a tuna sauté rich in DHA and omega-3 fatty acids. Now that you're eight, your caloric intake should be 600 kilocalories per meal, so don't eat more than 100 grams of it. Understood?" Though her voice was sweet, there was nothing good about her words.
"Yes, Mom." Child Riddle bowed his head.
"I'd always wanted to try one of those tarts with bright-red strawberries. The local cake shop had them in the window. They shined at me like forbidden jewels." The current version of Riddle stared blankly at the presented scenes. Still, you could make out the concealed sorrow in his eyes.
The surroundings shifted to another, different scene. Child Riddle and his mother still present in it. "That's enough magical study for today. Your homework is to read the first fifty pages of the philosophy of language book referenced in today's magical philosophy texts. You may now have one hour of independent study before your potionology lesson." The latter spoke.
