Merlin stood over Alexander’s body, a small blade in his hand. He contemplated his next move. His actions today could change the course of this world, and would change the lives of Alexander and the two strangers he had just met. He didn’t know whether they would appreciate him for saving them or hate him for making them into "monsters."
But there was no other way to save his prince. A child he had promised to take care of. He hesitated before finally cutting the palm of his hand. Blood dripped from his wound, and wherever his blood touched, a flower grew. Dante looked at him, mesmerized.
"What is that, Lord Merlin?" the boy asked. Dante tried to touch the flowers that bloomed from Merlin’s blood, but Merlin slapped his hand away.
"Get back, Dante. This is a dangerous ritual," said Merlin. Sweat beaded on his face, evidence of the danger of this ritual. He smeared his blood on Alexander, Lady Laila, and her guard.
"What are you doing? Blood magic is forbidden by the gods!" Rosa said. She had been tied up by Merlin, and fear was written on her face.
"Shut up! Let me concentrate," Merlin hissed. "BLOOD OF THE OLD GODS, HEAR MY CALL. BLOOD OF THE FALLEN ONES, I BEG OF THEE, AND GRANT ME THIS SELFISH WISH. MAKE THESE MORTALS AS I AM!" Merlin chanted the ancient spell.
Boom.
A light came from above and crashed through the roof of the house. It lifted Merlin and the others into the air, and gravity seemed to have no meaning. But just as fast as it lifted them up, it brought them down again.
"What the hell was that?" Rosa screamed in fear.
"Alexander? Alexander?" Merlin said, slapping Alexander’s cheek. His expression was that of a man who felt he had failed. "Please wake up."
The room felt cold. Merlin had experienced loss too many times, and he thought he had gotten used to it. He sat there, watching Alexander’s still body, feeling like a failure.
"Will Alexander be okay?" Dante asked. But Merlin didn’t know how to tell the boy that the prince had died.
"I’m sorry, Dante, but Alexander is go—" Merlin paused. He looked at Alexander. His body was twitching. He jumped forward and pressed his head on Alexander’s chest. The first beat of his heart made Merlin cry like a child.
"He’s okay. He’s okay," he said with a huge smile.
The power in the room had shifted. The birth of three strange beings had changed the balance. Alexander’s eyes slowly opened, and when they did, the fear in Merlin’s eyes was clear. Alexander’s once-green eyes had turned gold, and his power had doubled
His body felt lighter, and he felt like he could carry the world itself. "Merlin? What happened?" Alexander said. He looked around the room. Laila and her guard were still on the ground, sleeping, and Rosa was tied up in the corner.
"I will explain everything later. Just take it easy for now," Merlin said. "And I’m sorry, Alexander. The only way I could save you was to turn you into something that isn’t human."
"What do you mean?" Alexander asked, rubbing his head.
Merlin sighed and sat next to him. "I come from a faraway kingdom. A place of creatures called Nergals, and my kind is hated by many."
"Okay. But that doesn’t answer my question."
Merlin hesitated. "The only way I could save you was by giving you my blood and turning you into Nergals." He looked at Alexander, waiting for a reaction. "I think the demons that attacked Dante’s village might have turned him into a Nergal too."
"So what does that mean for us? Are we going to die or something?" Alexander asked.
"Actually, it’s the opposite. My people have long lifespans. We can live for thousands of years, and that kind of life is a curse if you don’t have your loved ones by your side," Merlin said. "I’m really sorry."
"You saved my life. I’m not going to blame you for that," Alexander said.
"Yeah. But I hope the others feel the same," Merlin said.
"So much power. Is this how you feel all the time?" Alexander asked. His senses were heightened, and he could feel the energy inside his body. "This isn’t magic, is it?"
"No. My people use a different kind of power from other mortals. It’s the power the gods and the first people used. We call it Uzu," Merlin explained. "I will teach you how to control it."
A soft moan came from behind them. Laila finally woke up, her grey eyes shining bright. "What’s going on?" Laila asked. "What happened here? And who is the girl tied up in the corner?" She looked around and saw the destruction.
"You look... beautiful," those were the only words that came out of Merlin’s mouth. He couldn’t help but admire her grey eyes that shined like the moon, and her bright white hair.
"Thank you?" Laila said, confused. When she looked down, she saw her reflection in a shard of broken glass. Her mind tried to make sense of what she was seeing. "What happened to me? Why are my eyes so bright?" She looked frightened, and Merlin knew he had to explain before she panicked.
"Calm down, Lady Laila. You were poisoned by that woman," Merlin said, pointing to Rosa. "And the only way I could save you was to change your physiology. I made you and the others into what I am. I’m sorry."
"And what are you?" she asked.
"I’m not human. I’m a Nergal. And so are you now," Merlin said.
Merlin didn’t know if the next reaction from her would be hatred or gratitude. Laila looked at her reflection, mesmerized by how much she had changed. "My eyes, my hair. It looks... beautiful," she said, and Merlin smiled.
"You like it?" Merlin said, surprised. He had not expected her to react like that. "We should just stick together for a while. I need to teach you guys how to control your power."
Laila’s guard was the last one to wake up, and just like the others, he was confused. Merlin filled him in, and he was more thankful than the others.
"I’m glad you guys don’t hate me. We should get moving before anyone comes for us," Merlin said. "And my real name is Merlin. Sorry I lied to you." Laila and her guard were stunned by the name reveal. They had only heard stories of the great wizard Merlin, but they never thought they would meet him.
"Let’s get moving, Dante," Merlin said. The others were too stunned to move.
The moment Merlin stepped outside, he felt an overwhelming magical presence. In front of him he saw 5 knights on horses, and they carried a flag with a dragon on it. On one of the horses he saw a monster in the form of a man. A man with magical energy so vast that it would frighten even a demon.