Free Web NovelChapter 7: Chapter 7: Merlin and Merlin’s Realm
"We’re finally going to meet the others."
Roe was really getting overjoyed.
He really seemed different from yesterday.
He was somewhat brooding and giving depressed vibes before, but now he was really firing on all the positive cylinders.
Solomon noticed, but he chose not to ask.
It wasn’t his place, I guess.
They walked around, took turns.
Their motion almost felt circular.
Roe was beginning to notice a pattern.
Before long he came to a realization.
"Master, haven’t we been making the same rounds for a while now?"
Solomon smiled.
He had waited awhile for Roe to notice and now he finally did.
"Well yes and no," Solomon responded.
They both stopped.
"Where we’re going to is sealed and not of this world," he said.
Roe was shocked.
It made sense to him though.
’Merlin wouldn’t train his students up top. He doesn’t want secrets getting leaked.’
’It’s no regular mage art you’re going to study.’
’This right here is the real deal,’ Solomon continued.
"Here comes your warning."
"Should you proceed, I mean when you proceed, you should know you won’t get sent back until you’re deemed trustworthy."
"We can’t have you putting our arts out there."
Roe understood, but he was slightly confused.
Most mages used regular barrier and attack spells.
They supplemented the basics with skills derived from their talents which may or may not be unique to them.
’Solomon right now is implying there’s more to the basics than the average mage realizes.’
Roe paused.
He was deep in thought.
He was weighing his options.
It was never a question of if he would proceed.
He just needed to steel his resolve.
’If Solomon’s this way, then I can be in no time.’
"Yes, let’s proceed," he said.
No smile from Solomon this time.
Maybe because Roe’s response was expected.
"Good," he said.
"The circling pattern we made from all that walking has unwound Merlin’s realm."
"The entire world we’re about to set foot into is being stabilized constantly by Merlin’s magic."
That statement hit Roe unlike anything else.
He was shocked.
He didn’t even know how to proceed.
The seal was unwinding.
The realm came into manifestation slowly and beautifully.
Roe asked a question.
Roe quickly retracted his question.
Solomon didn’t respond.
"I’m sorry," Roe said.
He immediately realized it was inappropriate.
They were no longer surrounded by the newly familiar environment of Merlin’s temple.
This was just all grass, old structures, relic-like.
Filled with totems, gemstones and mana levels far more saturated than on earth or even up in the sky.
Roe took it all in at once.
This world has beasts dominating the sky.
They lit it up.
The colors of the sky were vast and it seemed limitless.
The air had a dense pressure to it.
It had color and felt alive in its own way.
Roe was amazed.
He was really coming out of his contained shell.
The burden of his friend’s desire seemed to have been lifted or at the very least it’s no longer killing him.
Roe turned to look at Solomon.
He wasn’t as intrigued.
This wasn’t anything grand to him.
Roe realized that he may have reacted too outwardly and decided he’s done just about enough.
"Let’s go meet the others," Solomon said.
Immediately they spawned in front of a tower-like structure.
It was the only one in the realm left intact.
No cracks.
No missing bricks.
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The others felt battle-torn.
This one however felt recently erected.
New.
"You go on ahead," Solomon instructed.
"Just go to the top floor."
"Don’t cut in or check any of the rooms."
"Use the stairs," he iterated.
Roe did as he was instructed.
He didn’t quite get it.
What was he going to use if not the stairs?
He didn’t think too much into it.
He just did as he was instructed.
The stairs were specified.
Most aspiring mages here can already fly.
Solomon was used to telling them to use the stairs.
He’d forgotten Roe couldn’t yet.
The reasoning was simple.
The density of mana here is way too intense for any noob to take chances.
The wind might as well take you places.
Some places bear sights not willingly seen.
He raced through the stairs like they were nothing.
He’d spent a lot of his time alone this past few years.
This was going to be an experience he’d hopefully not soon forget.
Friends.
Not in a childish sense.
But as colleagues who could maybe share dreams, inspire, compete and motivate each other.
He would soon find out this goal of his was impossible.
Solomon kept a steady read on Roe’s location.
He waited till he could sense Roe up top before he made his move.
He was still deep in thought.
It was really the question.
He sighed.
He moved a step, but then it echoed in his head again.
He moved another step, his other foot.
The question came in.
"What happens to this realm should Merlin cease to be alive?"
He shook it off.
It didn’t go away or rather it wasn’t going away that easily.
Roe was approaching the top.
Solomon could feel it.
Roe’s movement was certainly much slower.
He dragged like a lot.
He finally made it up top.
Solomon, as if in sync, had his legs already airborne, slightly off the field.
In an instant he made the trip.
He was on the top floor.
He noticed 2 students render aid to Roe.
He was tired and seriously needed to recover.
Panting and his breathing ragged.
He had pushed himself way more than was required.
To what end?
He probably had his reasons.
’Why full throttle all that distance? Take breaks dam—’
Solomon’s thoughts halted.
All his attention redirected to a single sentence.
A question.
One Solomon had only recently acknowledged the possibility of or entertained.
"What happens to this realm should Merlin cease to be alive?"
’This is going to be a problem, isn’t it?’
He nodded not so optimistically.
