Rowena, I Saw It

Jon truly had not expected that, after already receiving Ravenclaw's Partial inheritance, he would inadvertently receive another gift from Ravenclaw at this moment.

After all, a pair of glasses had already brought Jon considerable gains. They had helped him significantly and continuously. This gift had truly come as a surprise; it was probably Helga's Magic array that had accidentally activated the magic left on the glasses.

However, Jon guessed that Ravenclaw herself might not have expected her final design to fall into the hands of an eleven-year-old Young Wizard many years later.

And because of this, Jon felt that when Ravenclaw had decided to leave this world, she had still held kindness toward it.

Or rather, she had still held kindness toward her friends.

During the final stretch of her life, this Legendary Witch had seen the true face of the wizarding world and then preserved what she had seen through some kind of magic.

If her friends later entered her study and obtained those glasses, that friend would see both her discovery and the world she had witnessed.

So this had originally been a display prepared for Legendary Wizards. What she had wanted to prove was that her exploration of magic had not been wrong. She might even have wanted to salvage her friendship with Salazar Slytherin.

Yet Rowena Ravenclaw, who had devoted far too much to exploring magic, had already been unable to hold on before any of that could happen.

"If that's the case, then it isn't impossible."

After hearing Jon's account, Helga's face took on that sorrowful expression again. Her voice remained gentle, but Jon could hear the faintest trace of hoarseness in it.

He said nothing, because he truly did not know what to say.

At a time like this, nothing would have been appropriate.

"Rowena devoted her entire life to exploring the nature of magic. With her understanding of magic, it would have been all too easy for her to preserve her soul in another form before she died. Gryffindor and I were both puzzled at the time, but we never doubted it—we fully respected Rowena's decision. After all, there were already too many things in this world that made her unhappy."

When Helga spoke of the past, she truly became like an Old Lady.

But that state did not last long. Helga also considered that Jon had just experienced Mana Overdraft and was now in urgent need of rest.

"Of course, of course. I suppose I should rest as well."

Jon was startled by Helga's request. He had originally thought that Helga would bring him into the Portrait Space to see exactly what had changed, but the truth was that he was indeed not in good condition.

Still, before leaving, he added one more thing.

"The memories of the world I saw through the glasses are fading. Is there any way you can extract that part of my memories? The insights may be mine, but this was, after all, something Lady Ravenclaw left for her friends."

Jon was not lying when he said this.

His foundation was solid enough, but compared to the enormous amount of information concerning the nature of magic, it was as flimsy as a soft sheet of paper.

If he gave the images from his memories to Helga, then Helga would at least be able to see and remember them.

Helga froze at his words, then nodded hesitantly.

She could bring part of Jon's soul into the Portrait world while he was unconscious, so extracting some memories was also within her abilities.

After all, she was a Legendary Witch.

Jon raised his wand and touched it to his temple. He did nothing but recall the scenes he had just seen, as Helga instructed. Then, a wisp of memory detached from his temple and, guided by the wand, drifted into the portrait.

Inside the portrait, Helga held Jon's memory in her palm and watched him leave.

She could tell that the magic Jon had activated, the magic Rowena had left behind, had not truly finished unfolding.

Part of it had yet to be activated, but Helga had a way.

She turned and walked deeper into the portrait. This time, the Helga depicted in the painting merged with her soul, becoming a slender figure. Her long purple gown flowed across the ground like water, and the profound crest embroidered upon it in golden thread shone once more.

This was how she had looked when she and her friends first arrived at Hogwarts, and now she seemed as though she had never aged.

She waved her hand, and that wisp of memory flew out. There was no wind in the Portrait Space, but Helga needed it, so a breeze appeared and scattered Jon's memories.

That magnificent magical panorama slowly unfolded before Helga within the vast Portrait Space.

Helga watched the panorama, then before long, she looked back again, toward her side.

A silver figure had appeared at some unknown moment. Flying eagles were embroidered in purple thread upon her silver-gray robes.

She looked no different from when Helga had first met her.

"Helga, long time no see."

The woman who had suddenly appeared smiled and lifted a hand to pat Helga's back.

Her touch was still as affectionate as before.

Helga gestured, and a sofa appeared behind them. They sat down and studied each other's faces.

"Have you stayed here all these years?"

Helga nodded. Time was not very apparent in the Portrait Space, and she did not feel particularly lonely.

Rowena understood her very well—even if this was only a fragment of will left behind by Rowena. She gently leaned down and lay on Helga's lap.

"Let's stay like this for a while, all right?"

Helga reached out and rested her hand on Rowena's head. She said nothing, but her actions had already shown her agreement.

She held Rowena's body, as gentle as an older sister.

The two quietly watched the memory images dissipate before them, watched the Magic Factors scatter and vanish into the boundless wilderness.

It was truly a breathtaking sight.

Rowena's eyes glittered as though filled with starlight. She asked softly.

"Helga, did you see it? I found what magic looks like."

There was no reluctance in her eyes, no regret—only calm starlight.

Utterly pure.

"What magic looks like... it's so beautiful."

"Yes."

Helga watched the remaining fragment of will gradually grow insubstantial, watched those childlike eyes slowly close.

She said, "Yes, I saw it."

What magic looks like, the fruits of your labor, and your obsession.

Rowena, I saw it all.