Year 1990 — The Fateful Encounter
Keith turned 10 years old, and so did Rias.
Meanwhile Luna, Grayfia, Scathach, Gamma, and Albedo remained at their fixed age of 21, thanks to the dragon blessing they received when Keith evolved into a Primordial Dragon.
During this time, Keith—guided by Raphael, Lord of Wisdom—successfully invented a new potion:
Berserker Potion
A potion that:
temporarily boosts the drinker's magic to explosive levels but permanently reduces ¼ of their total magic reserve
It was dangerous, illegal, and extremely profitable.
Knockturn Alley — Business Deal with Borgin
The next morning, Keith announced he would be going out.
Rias immediately asked to go with him, and Keith—unable to refuse her bright eyes—nodded.
Hand in hand, they walked into the shadowy streets of Knockturn Alley.
Inside Borgin and Burkes, Keith showed the Runcandel Crest.
The man behind the counter straightened immediately.
"Welcome, Lord Runcandel," he said with a bow.
"I am Borgin."
Keith—who owns 20% shares of the store—nodded and requested a private room.
There, he set a vial of dark, swirling liquid on the table.
"This is the Berserker Potion," Keith explained calmly.
He described the effect, the explosive power, and the permanent loss.
Borgin's eyes widened.
A potion of such destructive potential…
A potion every dark wizard would pay fortunes for…
He agreed instantly.
The contract was drafted, signed, and sealed by magic.
Keith handed over:
100 Berserker Potions (first batch) and promised 100 more every year
Borgin, thrilled by the exclusive rights, swore absolute secrecy regarding the creator.
The deal was sealed.
Before leaving, Keith quietly told the system to sign in.
Sign-In Reward: A Random Pokémon Egg
Keith nodded in satisfaction.
He and Rias left the store…
As they walked toward the exit of Knockturn Alley, a sharp scream echoed through the narrow street.
Keith's eyes sharpened.
Rias immediately readied her magic.
They sprinted toward the sound.
A pale young girl, around Keith's age, stood cornered by a masked dark wizard.
She had long, flowing red hair—so striking Keith subconsciously thought of Mio Naruse from "Testament of Sister New Devil."
Before the wizard could attack—
Rias snapped her fingers.
A sphere of destruction magic blasted the man into the wall, knocking him unconscious.
The girl gasped—first in fear, then in awe.
Platinum-silver hair…
Sapphire dragon eyes…
A face too beautiful to belong to a normal human…
Her mind blanked.
Keith stepped forward gently.
"Are you hurt?"
The girl blushed so deeply she almost forgot how to speak.
"T-Thank you… I-I'm Helana Prince…"
Keith and Rias froze for a moment.
Helana Prince.
Raphael's past reports echoed silently in Keith's mind.
Still, he smiled.
"Keith Argus Runcandel."
"Rias Runcandel."
Helana's eyes widened.
"R-Runcandel…?! The Runcandel Store?!"
She explained that even her adoptive father admired the potions they sold.
Keith chuckled and asked why she was in Knockturn Alley.
Helana looked away in embarrassment.
"…I accidentally mispronounced Diagon Alley…"
Keith and Rias laughed.
Helana's face turned the color of her hair.
Keith gently patted her head.
"You're cute when you blush."
Helana's brain short-circuited.
Rias sighed internally.
"My husband collects girls without even trying…"
A Small Goodbye
Keith and Rias escorted her out of Knockturn Alley, back into the safety of Diagon Alley.
Before parting, Helana nervously tugged on Keith's sleeve.
"C-Can I… see you again?"
Keith nodded and handed her his address.
Helana cradled the note like a treasure.
As Keith and Rias walked away, they saw a man rush to Helana's side—scolding her for causing worry.
But Helana immediately hugged him and apologized.
The man—Severus Snape—softened and patted her head.
Keith and Rias quietly left the scene.