"So, what's the situation now?" Erwin asked, surprise creeping into his voice.
The Unicorn King replied, "You possess Draconic bloodline. Once it's activated, all magical creatures will revere you as a god. You won't need this anymore." He nodded toward the medallion Erwin still held.
Erwin frowned. "And how do I activate it?"
The Unicorn King shook his head. "I don't know. The Draconic bloodline is too enigmatic—no one does."
Erwin rolled his eyes. That was about as helpful as a Chocolate Frog in a snowstorm.
But was this bloodline the hidden power buried within him? The talent for speaking to dragons? Seemed redundant; he already had Magical Creature Affinity, letting him converse with beasts of all kinds. This Dragon Speaker gift felt like a parlor trick by comparison.
Realizing he wouldn't get more from the unicorn, Erwin shifted topics. "By the way, about that item you mentioned last time—the one waiting to be claimed. Was it left by Ravenclaw?"
The Unicorn King nodded. "Indeed. When my ancestor roamed these woods, she visited and left some belongings. We don't know what they are exactly, but our herd has guarded them through the generations. I thought you might be the one, as Ravenclaw foretold that someone beloved by all unicorns would come and claim what's theirs."
Erwin raised an eyebrow. "That's a stretch. But why did you say I wasn't the one before? I fit her description, didn't I?"
The Unicorn King shook his head again. "No. You don't know what it is, or that Ravenclaw's items are hidden here."
Erwin ventured, "What if I am that person, but time eroded the clues? Maybe I've followed fate's pull without knowing the details."
The Unicorn King paused, considering. "That... makes a certain sense. Follow me, then."
Erwin blinked. Was the creature really that gullible? Or was he onto something? Unicorns were no fools—all that ethereal grace hid sharp instincts.
Shaking off the doubt, Erwin trailed the king deeper into the forest. The trees soon parted, revealing a weathered structure that might have once been a cottage. Inside, the space was bare save for a life-sized statue of Ravenclaw at the center—eerily similar to the one in her house common room.
"Now what?" Erwin asked, scanning the empty room.
The Unicorn King shrugged. "I don't know. Ravenclaw instructed us to lead the rightful heir here. The rest is up to them. You should know what to do. If not, you're not the one."
Erwin sighed. Clever beast—bringing him regardless would sort truth from bluff. Magical creatures weren't as guileless as they seemed.
He conceded the point but refused to leave empty-handed. This was Ravenclaw's legacy, after all. Circling the statue, Erwin examined it closely, half-convinced he'd spot a hidden mechanism. As the story's protagonist, serendipity was his due, logic be damned.
He noted the eyes seemed oversized compared to portraits he'd seen—too large, almost beckoning.
Frustrated, Erwin paced. The eyes were the only anomaly. Perhaps it needed a key, like Ravenclaw's diadem, to unlock whatever lay within. That tracked; her artifacts often required clever activation.
Resigned, he glanced up for one last look. The statue's eyes caught him—deep, mesmerizing, like gazing into an endless night sky.
Wait. An endless starry sky?
He blinked, disoriented. "Bloody hell—where am I? This isn't the forest."
Gone was his composure. He floated amid the Milky Way, stars twinkling vividly around him. Then, they swirled, converging into a form.
A figure emerged, spanning the galaxy like some mythical river spirit from old tales. Erwin half-expected it to duel him over lost wands, gold or silver.
As details sharpened, recognition dawned: Rowena Ravenclaw herself.
Erwin's pulse raced. He had to master this—nothing would stop him.
The apparition spoke, her voice echoing softly. "My daughter..."
Silence fell. Both froze.
After a beat, she ventured, "My son...? No—who are you?"