Free Web NovelChapter 4: Chapter 4: Calm before the first storm
"Mr. Merlin, can we talk?"
Solomon smiled.
For as long as he knew, he was the only one of the students Merlin could talk to.
It was a mana sickness.
Merlin barely did the teachings. It’s been Solomon this whole time.
No one else understood Merlin.
None of the other high-ranking mages either.
Merlin spoke.
Roe heard nothing.
"I’m Roe Windlock."
"A pleasure to meet you, sir."
’Merlin was our hero. Both of us,’ Roe thought.
"Thank you for choosing to take me on as your student," he said.
Solomon, still smiling, was wondering why Roe responded that way.
"I can’t wait to learn all about the Mer-Style of mage practice."
This was when it dawned on Solomon.
Roe didn’t understand Merlin.
He had just been so blind that he didn’t want to consider the possibility properly before.
The first question Merlin asked was the boy’s name.
But Roe wasn’t answering it as a question.
He was just performing common courtesy, introducing oneself before holding a conversation proper.
He was asked what he seeked and then why he seeked it.
Roe’s third answer opened Solomon’s eyes.
Their master would have to wait awhile as Roe was not ready.
Solomon immediately walked up and withdrew Roe violently.
It was unspoken to Roe at least, but Solomon apologized to the master.
He explained why he brought Roe forth and that he would train Roe, ready him for everything and then bring him back to converse with the master.
They both exited the garden.
Roe was a bit shocked.
He didn’t get to talk to Merlin like at all.
Solomon explained he shouldn’t blame himself as Merlin has been that way since he was a kid.
It’s almost like that’s the only version he’s ever really known.
"No point dwelling on all that," he said. "Merlin has agreed I train you."
"You didn’t get to know about your talents, so I’ll just go straight and tell you."
"You’re a *******magic user."
Roe didn’t quite hear this.
"Specifically, you can use spells that can warp the dimensions of length, breadth and width of whatever you choose."
"You could be pretty OP if you put your mind to it."
"I’m only S rank. If I train you for 10 years you’ll still only be S rank."
"I’ll train you for a week and then I’ll send you off to gain your own experiences."
Roe was confused.
’A week of training.’
’I did 8 years just to get to where I am and now I’m doing days to get to the next stage. Ha,’ he thought.
"I don’t understand nor do I think what you’re implying is possible."
"You’re going to suck," Solomon replied.
"Yeah, you heard me. You’re going to suck a lot, but after the eight days you’ll know far more than anyone in the outside world."
"You’ll still suck."
"Rifts would still be a problem for you. However, you’ll be able to follow whatever path you choose to after these 7 days."
"Even the path of a fool who still wishes to find the god system despite destiny never making mistakes."
Roe was lost.
That last statement, however, brought him back.
He smiled.
"I’m in," he said plainly.
He removed his shirt.
"Let’s begin."
Solomon just turned, walking away.
A circle got summoned underneath Roe’s feet.
"We begin tomorrow, not today."
"Get some rest," Solomon said before teleporting Roe back to his home.
He opened the door.
"I’m home," he said before stepping in.
He lived somewhat alone.
He was sometimes visited by a girl with relationship issues, who would come over whenever she and her boyfriend had issues.
She was a childhood friend of his.
Or rather I should say related to one.
’It’s not over yet.’
’Solomon seems to think so.’
’I’ll believe in him,’ Roe said.
He was seriously tired.
Having all that mana circulating through him was hard work.
He knew that now more than ever.
Before long he slept.
It was still early into the afternoon.
Roe wouldn’t wake up till the next day.
—
Back on the bus, Ramon couldn’t believe the message he had just received was from Darwin of all people.
’I mean I just left the guy,’ he thought.
Someone else was on the bus from the orientation.
’Hey, it’s that girl with the question,’ he thought.
’I should go say hi.’ fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
"Hi, I’m Marzi," she said, extending her hand to him.
’Damn, she beat me to it,’ he thought.
"I’m Ramon."
They both talked for awhile.
"Is this your stop?"
"Yes actually."
"Wow, me too."
They got off together.
Marzi escorted Ramon home.
She continued on her own thereafter.
"Hey big brother, I’m home," Darwin said as he entered the compound.
"So how did it go?" his brother asked.
"Well, nothing much."
"I just got.... guess, guess," he exclaimed.
"Here I thought you were going to just tell me."
"Well, you got A rank?"
"No fair, how did you know?" Darwin asked.
"Well you’re super happy, so it had to be something good."
"If you’re A rank it would mean you’re the same rank as your big brother, hence your excitement."
"Haha, you’re right," Darwin said.
"Wait, but by your logic then why not S rank? Was I not happy enough to be S rank?"
"No, it’s not that. I just never considered the possibility," his brother responded.
"I mean you, and S rank. No way."
The jab was passive but a jab nonetheless.
"Hahaha."
"I know right," Darwin laughed along.
His expression changed, not so visibly though.
"So what’s for dinner?"
—
"The council of mages are now all seated. We may begin," the leader Morgana declared.
"There’s only one thing we must talk about," the knight mage said.
"What’s that, Arthur?" Morgana played along.
"The brat with Merlin’s potential of course."
"How do we proceed on this? We can’t just let Solomon act carelessly."
"We need to act now."
"That old man’s time is long passed. We don’t want the new seed to be nurtured by old waters," Elijah said.
"I agree. So let’s discuss," Morgana said.
