Rias leaned against the balcony rail of the Runcandel private wing, arms crossed, eyes sparkling far too mischievously for Keith's peace of mind.
"So," she drawled, tail swaying lazily,
"let me summarize."
Keith stiffened.
"…Rias—"
"You have," she continued, ticking fingers one by one,
"ancient dragon ancestors, demon nobility, divine beasts, legendary Pokémon, cursed queens, dragon empresses, and now—"
She leaned in close, breath warm at his ear.
"—a Hogwarts Founder."
Keith sighed.
"…It's not like I'm trying to collect them."
Rias laughed outright.
"Oh please," she teased.
"You're like a walking myth magnet."
Keith turned, caught her waist, and pulled her into a tight hug.
"But," he said softly, forehead resting against hers,
"I'm not collecting legends."
Rias blinked.
"I'm choosing you," he finished.
"My Crimson Princess."
For once—
Rias froze.
Her cheeks turned a vivid red.
"…Idiot," she muttered, but her arms wrapped around him just as tightly, wings folding protectively around them both.
"…Don't say things like that so suddenly."
Keith smiled into her shoulder.
"Then don't tease me."
"…No promises."
Hufflepuff Dorms — Late Night Thoughts
That night, Keith lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling while soft golden light pulsed from the necklace resting on his chest.
"…Raphael," he whispered.
"YES, MASTER."
"About Rowena… creating a body for her."
A brief pause.
"USING: SOULSMITH OF ETERNITY —
PARTIAL BODY CONSTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE."
Keith frowned slightly.
"…Partial?"
"AFFIRMATIVE.
A STABLE, FULL PHYSICAL BODY REQUIRES:
— TRUE DRAGON AWAKENING
— DRAGON HEART CORE ACTIVATION
— BLOODLINE EVOLUTION"
Keith exhaled.
"So… not yet."
"HOWEVER, PROBABILITY INCREASES SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER AWAKENING."
Keith nodded.
"…I'll wait, then."
A Founder's Observation
Soft light shimmered.
Rowena Ravenclaw emerged from the necklace, her form graceful and radiant, eyes immediately settling on Keith.
She didn't speak at first.
She simply… looked.
Keith, lost in thought, didn't notice.
Rowena tilted her head slightly.
"…You always look like that when you're thinking," she said gently.
Keith blinked, then smiled.
"Did I wake you?"
"I wasn't sleeping," she replied.
Her gaze lingered on him—longer than necessary.
He really is beautiful, she thought, quickly scolding herself.
Focus, Rowena. You are a Founder. Act like one.
She cleared her throat.
"Your dragon bloodline," she said.
"It is… incomplete."
Keith nodded calmly.
"I know. I don't have a dragon heart yet."
Rowena's eyes widened.
"…You don't?"
He shook his head.
"I'm waiting for the future."
Rowena stared.
Then—
She pointed sharply.
"Your other necklace."
Keith blinked.
"…What?"
"There is a dragon sleeping within it," Rowena said matter-of-factly.
"And a dragon heart… sealed inside a box."
Keith sat up so fast the bed creaked.
"…That's real?"
Rowena puffed her chest proudly.
"Do not underestimate your Founder."
Keith burst out laughing.
"Haha—okay, okay! I get it."
He bowed his head slightly.
"…Thank you, Rowena."
She smiled—small, pleased.
"We help each other," she said.
But inwardly—
I want to impress you, she admitted silently.
Maybe then… you'll look at me the way you look at her.
Ancestral Understanding
Keith's fingers brushed the necklace gently.
"So… that's what you meant," he murmured.
Please tell her I'm sorry.
He closed his eyes.
"…Thank you, Ancestor Temar."
Somewhere deep within the artifact—
A sleeping dragon stirred.