Defying Destiny

Chapter 7: Arrival

  It has only been 2 hours since the train left the station and all Merlin has done during that time was stare out through the window and take short naps. Michael kept looking at him while he was waiting for him game to load. He'd been really silent ever since they left the station. His grandfather must've been harsh on a easy-going kid like him.

  The kid's interesting somehow. Merlin thought. There's something in his eyes that makes him.. strong. This is creepy.. He looked into Michael's blue eyes. It felt magical. He might also have magic, too.

  Magic is not very rare nor very common in this generation. There's a 9 out of 20 chance that you have magic and even if you had magic you still wouldn't know you had it. And almost every magician in this century wouldn't know how to draw out its powers, and it will eventually die out. Like a fire losing its heat. So it's pretty much useless.

  He's just a kid, so he still has a bit of power. Merlin thought. The only reason why Merlin's powers never die out was because he was an extremely powerful warlock since birth and his 'fire' feeds on his will. Kind like what his father had told him when Morgana caved him in the Crystal Cave when he lost his magic.

"Somethin' wrong, Merlin?" Michael asked, breaking Merlin's train of thoughts. "Huh?" 

 "Well, ya were starin' at me. So I reckoned that somethin' was wrong." Michael stated .

  "I would say the same about you. You've been staring as well. For a while now."

  "Me? Nothin's wrong." Everything was silent again. Merlin looked out of the window again. Staring at the horizon. "Hey Merlin. Why'dya keep staring out of the window? Something interesting outside?" Michael asked him and stared out of the window as well, trying to look for whatever Merlin was gazing at. "I don't see anythin'." Merlin took a while to reply. "I'm just bored. Nothing much to do in a train ride."

  "Whad'dya mean? I got lots of fun games to play," Michael said as he reached for his bag and took out another Nintendo. "I got another DS. Wanna try?" He sat next to Merlin and held it out for him.

  Merlin took the DS and just stared at it. Observing the technology. "Does it include reading?". He didn't know how to use it but he didn't want to read any instructions.

  "Just little. Only to select a game or introductions or somethin' like that. If ya get used to it, ya don't need to read nothin'!" Michael informed Merlin, smiling as if he'd just got an accomplishment.

  "You must be a pro then. Alright, I'll try it." Merlin looked at the DS. "Uh.. How do you turn this on?"

  "How old are ya? Yer actin' like my old man here. Maybe older." Michael took the DS from Merlin and turned it on(A/N: I hope none of you are dirty). He handed it back to Merlin.

  "I'm 19," Merlin said as he grabbed the DS and pressed some random buttons.

  "And ya dunno how to play video games? Boy, ya must have a borin' life."

  Yeah, that's right. Being able to use magic before you can even speak, becoming the manservant of an arrogant prince while hiding your magic where it is outlawed by a tyrant, saving the arse of that said prince countless of times in secret, and riding dragons as transport. Yep, I have a very boring life. Merlin chuckled. 

  Michael showed  Merlin how to play on the DS, laughing at him whenever he got killed in the game. When Merlin finally figured out how to play, they played against each other, Michael using the other DS. Each game they played, Merlin lost. This went on for the rest of the ride. 

  "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now arriving  Manchester Train Station. Please take your seat until the train fully stops," The conductor said through the loudspeakers. Merlin and Michael stopped their game. "How's it feel to lose against a kid?" Michael asked as Merlin handed his DS back to him. "I was letting you win," Merlin joked. "Yeah right, old man" Michael went back to his seat and put his stuff in his bag. 

  Michael's grandfather woke up from his nap as soon as Michael sat down. "Where'd ya go, boy?" He asked Michael.

  "Nowhere, grandfather." Michael silently put the DS's in his bag and sat still. 

  "He's a good kid." Merlin said, referring to Michael. "Very good-natured."

  "Yeah, well, he got that from his father, not from my daughter."

  This was the first time Merlin had a real conversation with him. "I'm Merlin." He held out his hand, expecting him to shake it.

  "Charles." He ignored Merlin's hand, which Merlin placed on his lap.

  "Mind if I ask where his parents are?"

  "Both died in a car crash." Charles said, ignoring the fact that Michael was right next to him, listening to their conversation. Merlin looked at Michael, who's eyes were watering. "Oh, I'm sorry."

  "Hmph." Was all Charles said. Heartless man. Merlin thought. "Don't think I'm heartless, boy." Charles said as if he'd just read Merlin's mind/ "The two were ignorant cowards. Despite the father's kindness, he chose to ignore my warning and got themselves killed."

  Merlin stopped speaking. There's always an awkward and deadly atmosphere whenever Charles said something. Even more awkward than with Angel. Now, I'm just wishing Angel was here. 

  The train started slowing down and came to a stop. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have now arrived Manchester Train Station. If this is your stop, you may now exit the train." 

  "Come on boy," Charles said as he took his luggage and head for the door. "See you around, Merlin!"  Michael said and followed Charles with his luggage. Merlin grabbed his and followed them out,

  Outside, Merlin looked around. The station was busier than the one in Glastonbury. Merlin walked out of the station and looked at the city. There were even more people there. It already looks like a billion out or the 7 billion people in the world are here. Merlin exaggerated and looked for a cab. After a while, a cab came by and Merlin went inside. "To King's Ridge University."

"You from around here?" The driver asked.

"No."

 The driver chuckled and started driving. He drove around town, Merlin took note of the turns. Left, right, right,  straight, left, left, right.... left, left, left,  left, straight... right, straight, right, right, straight, left... This bastard's making me pay more. "You better be taking me straight to the location instead of taking longer routes and stacking up the amount I have to pay you." 

  "Don't worry, kid. I ain't makin' you pay more. Matter of fact I letting you see the beautiful view of the city." The driver said and kept driving. Merlin looked to his side through the window. He saw nothing but dark alleys and gloomy brick buildings, and rarely any green plants. Yeah, beautiful. Let's stay on track now shall we. Merlin thought and concentrated on the wheel and the driver's hands. His eyes glowed golden yellow as a spell was set on the hands.

  Merlin saw the driver nearly scream his head off as he struggled to take control of his hands without making a scene. "Something wrong?" Merlin asked, acting as if he had no idea what he was trying to do. "No, no. All is well." The driver looked like he had just run a mile. "We're here."

   Merlin looked outside. There was a large building right next to the cab. It appeared to be the administration building so Merlin got off the cab with his luggage and paid the driver. Merlin looked at the building and sighed.

  "I made it."

  A/N: Two updates in one week! Whoo! I just had the need to catch up on the chapters. The story is progressing slowly and I myself am not satisfied. Rather, I'm a bit disappointed. This was not the image I had expected when it came to writing this Fanfic. I blame only myself for being really terrible at expressing my thoughts, especially when it comes to 3rd person POV. I am also trying to make sure each chapter not too short so I am keeping it at least 1k words (excluding Author's Notes.)  for each chapter. If that's not enough, I'll add another .5k as the story progresses.

  Also, I started another story, Knight Prodigy: Nate's Story. It's a romantic tale of a troubled  star athlete. I will say it has a bit of Glee in it but not exactly Glee, you know, the show. It just has  the Glee class, as in show choir, but I like calling it glee instead of show choir. I'm still not sure if that's considered a Fanfic or not.

  ~Jesse