Evil on the Rise

Manticores Always Seemed to Cause Problems

As Merlin sat in history class watching Gwaine and Percival pass notes behind Mr. Agravaine de Bois' back, Merlin was seriously regretting his decision to start school back up again. He really didn't need to relearn all of history. And science? Please, he had actually helped with some of the discoveries. Today was only the second week of school and Merlin was starting to think that if it continued this way, he would prefer mucking the stables over this. But it was worth it. It was worth it to see his friends again even if they didn't know who he was. He was slowly remaking his friendships (it helped that he knew most everything about them).

He had apologized for being so rude to Morgana and Mordred that first day. They had immediately said it was okay and tried to get on his good side, which hurt more than anything. Others had asked him why he had been so mean, but he just shrugged and turned back to his work. And he was working all the time. It was ridiculous! Even Arthur hadn't given him this much to complain about. Mind you, he was normally done with homework within ten minutes where it took everyone an hour, but still!

At Camelot High, he had started to tutor other kids. It had always made him happy to help people in any way that he could. And besides, he had one hundreds in every class. Well, every class except home ic, where he somehow managed to have a low B. Arthur always made fun of him for that, and one day, he even went so far as to say that he would be an awful servant. Merlin's head had whipped up and Arthur had just looked confused as if he had no idea why he said that.

Merlin knew then that their memories could be restored. He wasn't exactly sure if that would be a good thing, but that would come later. Now he just had to find out how to trigger the memories. He had figured out that the whole group had to be there for it to happen. He also figured out that it had to be a parallel from their past life (for example, he had been walking down the stairs with his laundry and had fallen the last few steps and for some reason, they had all been standing there. In Camelot, Merlin had done that a lot.)

Merlin was startled from his musings when Agravaine came and hit his desk with his teacher stick and said sharply, "Merlin!" The warlock's head whipped up and he stuttered, "Y-yes, sir?" He had to physically force himself not to say 'sire'. The nightmares had been getting worse and it was really disconcerting to see yourself kill someone and then see that selfsame person the very next day hitting your desk. Not that many people had that experience.

Agravaine sighed as if that was the answer he expected and he smiled his sickly sweet smile. Merlin was trying really hard to forget past prejudices, but it was difficult. Agravaine was talking, "Merlin, is it too difficult for you to pay attention?" Merlin frowned at him, "I don't need to pay attention, though." Agravaine raised an eyebrow and looked to the class, "Oh really?" Merlin sighed. Agravaine was making it especially difficult to not hate him. Morgause was actually quite a nice lady, but this one. "No, sir, I don't." Merlin answered.

Agravaine turned his smile back onto Merlin, but this time there was a glint of evil intent in it, "Fine. Who was the battle of Trafalgar between?"

"It was between the French and the British."

"Good. Now who was the first lord of the British at that time, and what happened to him?"

"It was First Lord Nelson and he died in battle, sir."

"Alright. Who won the battle?"

Merlin sighed, he really didn't want to go through this, he had been there at the time, fighting for the British and it wasn't the best of wars, "The British won."

Agravaine looked like he was about ready to leap over desks and strangle Merlin, but he quickly composed himself and said, "Well then, why don't you write me an essay all about the battle of Trafalgar? I expect it to be typed and turned at the beginning of class on Monday. Understand?" Merlin nodded distractedly. He really wasn't sure what it was about teachers at this school. They all seemed determined to make Merlin write essays due the next school day about vague topics and with no other pointers as to what to do. It was kind of frustrating. While Mr. de Bois continued talking, Merlin started writing his essay. He would type it up when he got home.