1990 — Letters, Albania, and the Beginning of Destiny
Helana's First Letter
Only a day after Keith saved her, a snowy-white owl arrived at Runcandel Mansion carrying a neatly folded letter.
Helana's handwriting was elegant and soft.
Dear Keith,
Thank you again for saving me in Knockturn Alley.
I'm still embarrassed about how clumsy I was, but… I'm very happy I met you.
If it's not too much, I would like to see you again.
Talking to you and Lady Rias was… warm.
Something I haven't felt often.
I hope I'm not bothering you.
Sincerely,
Helana Prince
Rias read the letter too and smirked.
"She's falling for you hard, Keith."
Keith only smiled and wrote back.
Dear Helana,
I'm glad you're safe.
And yes, you can visit anytime.
Just write before you come, so I can prepare tea for you.
Sincerely,
Keith A. Runcandel
Helana received the letter, hugged it to her chest, and whispered:
"He wrote back…"
Snape noticed her glowing expression and raised an eyebrow, but he said nothing.
Voldemort Moves — Keith's Countermove
1990.
According to canon, this was around the time Voldemort's remnant spirit began leaving Albania's forests, searching for a host.
Keith, however, did not care who the so-called savior was.
His only goal:
Cut Nagini off from becoming a future Horcrux.
At dinner, he explained the plan to his lovers — Rias, Grayfia, Scathach, Luna, Albedo, and Gamma.
One by one, they nodded.
"Go. We'll handle things here."
— Scathach
"Be safe, my love."
— Rias
"We trust you."
— Luna
"Return to us soon."
— Grayfia
"Don't make more girls fall for you while you're gone."
— Albedo (pouting)
"Bring something interesting back."
— Gamma (smirking)
Keith kissed each of them goodbye and teleported away.
Albania — System Sign-In & The Hunt Begins
The dense forests of Albania greeted him with cold wind and a faint sense of corruption.
Keith gave the command:
"System, sign in."
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
System Notice
Congratulations, host, for signing in at a Special Location.
Reward: Animal Affinity
Keith exhaled sharply.
"Perfect. I need this."
He fused the reward immediately.
His senses sharpened, attuned to every creature around him.
"Raphael, scan for soul signatures."
[Negative, Master. No coherent human soul detected nearby.]
Keith nodded.
The host Voldemort possessed wasn't important.
Nagini was.
Finding Nagini
For two days, Keith hunted through the forest, tracking faint traces of dark magic.
Finally—
A giant serpent with hauntingly intelligent eyes appeared, slithering between ruined stones.
Nagini.
Using Animal Affinity and Raphael translating Parseltongue for him, Keith soothed her with calm, gentle words.
Nagini stared at him, cautious… but curious.
She sensed the dragon aura within him.
She agreed to follow him.
Keith stroked her head lightly.
"Come with me. I'll give you freedom."
With her trust gained, Keith prepared to return—
Until a piercing scream tore through the forest.
The Pale Woman & Six Monsters
Keith rushed toward the sound.
A pale, starved woman—skinny to the point of appearing ghostlike—was cornered by six dark wizards.
Her eyes were hollow, filled with fear and resignation.
Keith's expression turned cold.
"Why not save her?"
He murmured to himself.
He pulled out the kunai and shuriken he'd received from past Sign-Ins.
In a flash—
One kunai pierced a wizard's forehead. Two shuriken tore into the next two men, blood spraying.
Three remained, trembling.
"WHO'S THERE? COME OUT!"
Keith didn't walk out.
He appeared—stepping forward into the moonlight like a descending deity.
His platinum-silver hair glowed.
His sapphire dragon eyes shone.
Even the dying woman stared in awe.
A dark wizard leveled his wand at Keith—
Bad decision.
Keith sighed.
He unsheathed Yamato.
A single vertical slash.
The wand arm dropped to the ground before the wizard even realized it was gone.
The forest fell silent.
The remaining two stumbled backward.
Keith took his stance.
Judgment Cut.
A constellation of sword marks materialized in the air.
The woman watched, breath stolen, as the marks shredded the last wizards into dozens of clean pieces—so fast they didn't even scream.
The bodies collapsed after a long second.
Keith sheathed Yamato.
The forest exhaled with him.
The woman stared at him—this divine, deadly boy—unable to comprehend the beauty and terror she just witnessed.