Lux Permanet

As far as he could recall, he was a nameless orphan in one of Loen's many colonies.

In the future, he would have the possibility to divine his past, to learn more about himself, but he never would. None of it would matter to him then.

The child that he was grew up seeing all of humanity- the misery of pushing through each day, the ruthlessness required for survival, the senseless cruelty of the powerful. There was goodness amidst all the pain, but it was fleeting.

A sputtering, dying flame.

With that dim outlook, he skitters through alleys, honing his intuition to avoid dangerous people, steals from shops and sleeps wherever there's shelter.

With that dim outlook, he protects other children from being bullied and hands over his bread to those who couldn't get even a morsel for the day.

.

The sea is large and vast, and the further they go into it, losing all sight of land, the more nauseous he feels.

For all of his careful living in seventeen years, here he is, in a smuggler's ship.

He's not the only one. There are dozens and dozens of others, some as young as seven and others in their twenties.

He hears the conversations of their captors when they pass by, uncaring of who might hear them. Labour. Dungeon. Death. A lot of terrible fates. And so many names he can't keep straight.

He doesn't struggle or scream, even when some of those with him weaken and fall ill. It isn't because he doesn't know how, but because he knows to wait. Not to risk what could be his only opportunity to escape.

But it never comes, because one day, there's an explosion. There are struggles and screams from up above, not from where he is, and the crescendo dies down in minutes.

And then there's a new face below-deck, a man with black hair till his shoulders, dressed in a robe with the most outlandish feathered hat on his head, every moment exaggerated like a performance.

"I'm a wandering magician," he says with a disarming smile, and the strangeness has all of them listening.

It's the first time he meets Merlin Hermes.

.

"I'll leave you where you wish to be, but before that, would you like to have a wish come true...?"

They're all wary, but the domino falls when one of the kids gives into it. And then one more and another, and then people start to warm up just a little, almost testing Merlin with the things they ask. He takes it all with the same smile.

The ship in the middle of the sea empties. Life isn't pleasant for much of them, but freedom is the most valuable thing.

In the end, there are only two left.

Merlin tilts his head at a near 90 degree. "You don't have a wish?"

He considers.

"I wish to see what went on above."

Merlin is still smiling, but his eyes narrow. "Are you sure?"

He nods.

What's there above most is death. But more than that, his attention is drawn by the fire and ice and a hundred different things that are out of place.

"What did you do?"

"Magic," Merlin answers simply.

Magic. A person with so much magic. Yet he appeared on this ship, filled with people the world doesn't care about, and saved them all. Granted wishes even.