Merlin awoke in a cold sweat. His hands were shaking and the fear could be seen in his eyes. It was like he had seen the end of the world.
"Who was that boy?" he asked the drunk man, Damon. "What kind of power- what kind of evil dwells in such a child?"
Laila seemed concerned by how Merlin was acting. She saw the same visions as him, but she sensed no evil from the child she saw.
"The child you saw is yet to be born. He will come at a time when the world has fallen into chaos, and when the people need someone to liberate them," Damon said. "And I understand the fear you feel, but there is more to this child than the evil you saw."
Laila helped Merlin stand up. His legs were shaking and he looked like a half dead man.
"You need to rest, Merlin. Let’s go back to the manor," Laila said.
"Let me help you. Let me take you guys home," Damon said, and Merlin just nodded. "A teleportation spell will do it. Hold on to my hand."
The people in the pub were all looking at them. They were confused, but most of them were too drunk to care about what was happening.
"RAEPPASID," Damon chanted a spell. Space started bending, and their bodies were slowly disappearing from the pub.
They went from the pub and back to the mansion in a matter of seconds.
"Why did you bring us to my room, you weird old bastard?" Laila asked with a snarl.
"This is the only room I remember in this damn mansion. Remember the times I used to read to you before bed?" Damon said, smiling. "Just put your boyfriend on the bed before he faints."
"He’s not my boyfriend," Laila said.
"Okay, my darling niece. I’m going downstairs to check on your father. I haven’t seen him in a long time," Damon said and left the room.
An awkward silence followed as soon as Damon left. Merlin was still hung up on his confession to Laila earlier, and Laila felt bad for not answering right away.
"Why did you take us to Damon?" Merlin asked as he lay in Laila’s bed.
"I’m sorry about that, and I’m sorry for not answering your confession right away," she said. Her hand lay upon Merlin’s chest, and his heartbeat was gradually rising. "I took us there because of a prophecy I received as a child. I was told that I would meet a man who would change the world, and we would bring into this world a child that would bring peace."
Laila paused for a moment. "I know it sounds like a fairytale, but I truly believe that. I just wanted to make sure that you were that man. From the very moment I looked into your eyes, I saw our future together," Laila said. "We both must be stupid if we feel this way for someone we just met," she chuckled.
Merlin chuckled softly. He held her hand and caressed her soft white hair. "The world brought us together for a reason. And if we are stupid, then let’s be stupid together," he said, as he looked into her eyes. Merlin’s heart kept beating faster and faster until he pulled Laila closer and kissed her.
She got on top of him and held him tight. Their passionate kiss evolved into something special, and the warmth she felt from his body made her feel even more concupiscent.
It was a feeling they both wanted to last forever, but the world had other plans.
"Ahh!" A woman’s scream interrupted Merlin and Laila.
"What was that?" Merlin asked.
"I don’t know. Let me go check it out," she replied.
"I’m coming with you."
"Are you okay to move?" she asked.
"My powers aren’t fully back, but I can move," Merlin replied.
The hallway of the mansion seemed quiet. They slowly walked downstairs, staying cautious of any danger.
Noises could be heard coming from outside, and footsteps could be heard coming towards them. Merlin summoned his magic staff and got ready for any attack.
The moment the footsteps got closer, he attacked, but he stopped himself before he hit the person heading their way. A dark-haired man and a child with sky-blue hair stood in front of him.
"Oh, it’s you, Damon, and Dante. What is going on?" Merlin asked.
"The duke said the city is under attack. He and the others went to help the people, and I found this little guy wandering around the mansion," Damon said.
Merlin got on one knee. "Where is Alexander, Dante?" he asked the boy.
"He went out with the knights. He told me to find you," Dante said.
Merlin was worried. Did the demons find them? He thought to himself, fearing the kind of evil that would befall this kingdom.
The moment they stepped outside, they saw Alexander standing in front of three men. His sword was chipped and behind him two knights were lying on the ground, as Alexander desperately tried to protect them. The moment he saw Merlin, he smiled.
"Thank the gods you are here," Alexander said.
"I’m not here to help you," Merlin said. Laila and Damon looked at him, confused by his cold answer. "I would be ashamed of you if you couldn’t beat these weak bastards that stand in front of you. Remember, you are a Nergal now," he said.
"Are you going to stand here and watch him die?" Laila asked.
"If I keep helping him win every battle, then he will never be strong enough to fight on his own. So, young prince, are you going to let these bastards beat you?" Merlin said. "This will be your first lesson as a Nergal."
Alexander just chuckled and held his sword tighter.
"You dare call the holy knights weak bastards? You shall die next," one of the enemies said.
"Just kill them already, Alexander. I hate these guys," Merlin said. He started healing the injured knights and Laila helped him out.
ARRIVAL
It felt like the weight of the world was being pressed upon him, and the fear he felt wasn’t helping. This was Alexander’s first actual fight since he became a Nergal. The strength in him was overwhelming, but so was the enemy’s, and cowering wouldn’t help him in this fight. He jumped forward at lightning speed, and the clash of two swords echoed through the area.
Alexander kicked one of the enemies standing on his left side and slammed the one in the middle into the ground. The shock on the enemy’s face was visible, but Alexander just smirked.
He felt so free in his Nergal body, and every punch he landed on the enemy dented their armor.
"Die, you abomination!" The enemy shouted and slammed the sword into Alexander’s shoulder, but he barely felt anything. Alexander grabbed the enemy by the face and lifted him up, and with a slight squeeze of his hand, the enemy’s head cracked open.
He couldn’t even believe his own strength, and neither could Laila and Damon.
’What power. With such strength, I can free my people fro-’ Alexander’s thoughts were cut short when a spear plunged into his chest, leaving a huge hole.
The last thing he saw was a man in the sky, flying like it’s a normal thing to him. His strength Comparable to Merlin himself.