The Merlinian Legacy (working title)

Prolog

Among all the crying faces at the funeral, among all the knights and nobles from across Camelot, she sat—curled up, silently weeping in the corner of the room. Her black armor hid her in the shadows.

She was a stranger at her own father's funeral, recognized only by her armor and nickname by her late father's brothers-in-arms, the knights of the Round Table.

But now her father, the one person who truly knew her, the one who raised her, cared for her, and entrusted her with his knowledge, was gone and would never return. From deep within her sorrow, Merlin's daughter felt the presence of something else, and she knew immediately what the feeling meant. It was something her father had tried to prepare her for all her life—something that, under different circumstances, would have made her happy, even excited.

But now, at his funeral, surrounded by all these important people he had interacted with daily, inside the castle he had helped protect, and the kingdom he had helped build, all Saline could think was, No! Not yet! I'm not ready!

That thought echoed in her mind in countless variations, fueled by her sorrow and self-pity. Inheriting her father's magical powers, along with his title and name, would mean she was now his successor. Could she bear the title of Merlin? Could she teach when she still had so much to learn? She felt overwhelmed.

She was not ready!

She felt an urgent need to escape—to go somewhere, anywhere, anywhere but here.

Those thoughts led her to cast her first spell with her newfound power. But she was clumsy; she didn't know her own strength. Saline was shocked to feel the spell's influence spread until it encompassed the entire castle maybe even beyond it.

Everything started to blur into shapes and colors... The next thing she knew, she was crouching in an empty field. In the dirt before her lay a book, its cover bearing the word "CAMELOT" in letters of gold.

In a moment of clarity amidst the turmoil of panic, surprise, grief, and emotions she couldn't even name, Saline Merlin made a decision. She would go on a quest to find someone—anyone—who could continue her magical studies, and to discover who she was now that the man who had been both her father and mentor was no more.

And so, Saline Merlin, Black Knight of Camelot, bodyguard to the late Emrys Merlin, sole heir to lead the Merlinian coven, disappeared overnight from the pages of history—along with Camelot Castle, its surrounding town, and all of its inhabitants.