"Again."
Another hit to the same spot. That one stung a bit. Darkmore approached my body while Daemon silently shuffled away. He reached up and grabbed my hair, giving it a swift tug back to see my face.
"Have you learned your lesson?" Lord Darkmore...
I entered the large castle halls, opening the door at the farthest end to the King's chambers. It had been a while since I last walked these halls. I had grown older since then, my beard now long and grey, complimenting my thin hair fittingly so. As I entered, I could see a man facing the window opposite me, still wrapped in his robe. He was leaning against the window sill.
His body was larger than I last remembered.
"I leave for thirty-two years, and after all that time, you still haven't mastered the art of dressing yourself?" I called to the man as I entered his chambers. My staff echoed against the marble floors. His head slowly turned at me, allowing me towitness the effects time had against the race of Men.
"Merlin?" The man called out. His voice was tougher, his face had aged, yet he still contained the characteristics of the man I once knew.
"It seems that time has treated me better. It's been a while my friend. Or should I say, my king." I replied as I bowed my head mockingly. His face broke out into a grin as he strode towards me.
"My dear friend, you serve no king." He replied as he embraced me strongly, his large frame crushing my frail one.
"Oh how you've aged." I noted as we pulled away. Now standing so close, I could see the defined lines under his eyes and around his forehead. My hand went out to touch his rough beard that was mixed with grey hairs. "What year are you approaching now?"
"Fifty-three. I'm growing old Merlin." Arthur whined as he began to stroke his beard.
"With age comes wisdom, my king." I replied as we walked back towards the large window that had an overview of the city.
"I'm no sorcerer Merlin, the race of Men do not age gracefully. I'll soon become a stubborn drunk old man." Arthur sighed, running his hand through his longer blonde hair.
"Then nothing much will change." I added, laughing along with him as my hand clasped down upon his shoulder.
"I've missed you." Arthur said quietly as the laughter died out.
"And I, You." I replied, staring out into the forest that surrounded the city of Camelot. Much had changed since the last time I laid eyes on this realm, it grew even more beautiful than before.
"I've heard that we finally have a queen?" I asked Arthur, grinning. I leaned my body against the large window sill and laid my walking stick beside me.
Arthur chuckled lightly and slowly nodded his head. "I've wedd my Gwen."
"Took you long enough, I was about ready to send my apprentice in to intervene." I replied. I took notice of the few kids who ran around the entrance of the castle carefreely whilst their mother chased them around angrily, with a wooden spoon in hand.
"You've acquired an apprentice?" Arthur looked back towards me, this was news to him.
"Yes," I replied, "His name is Allister, and his potential is magnificent. He was originally from the people of Nerri. I found him whilst traveling through realms. He wanted to accompany me on my journey and I unintentionally began to teach him the art of Magik bending. He is a quick learner, eager to learn and understand the principles of the energy." I explained.
"Was the quest successful?" Arthur asked, as he moved from the window sill to the fireplace that stood unlit on the far end of the room. I accompanied him, picking up my walking stick and making my way to one of the chairs that was positioned around the unlit wood. Arthur stood to light the fire but I stopped him as my arm reached forward towards the wood.
"Illuminae." I whispered, as a white light emitted from my body and shot toward the firewood, igniting it. My body stumbled back slightly, and I could feel my energy level drain. Arthur quickly rushed to my side and helped me take a seat.
"You've grown weaker?" Arthur asked, as he sat down beside me.
"The quest took more from me than I realized." I answered simply, as I tried to steady my breathing.
"You never told me exactly why you left." Arthur note, tying his robe tighter against his chest. I leant forward as the feeling of my energy returning, washed over me. This energy was then converted into my Magik form. My eyes drifted shut as I held both hands out in front of me, releasing the tangible energy that flowed through my body. The veins that ran along my arms and through my hand, lit a bright white. My hands hovered over the table in front of us, and I began performing a summoning spell.
"Conpellion teractius santoriudixus." I whispered quietly to myself as my Magik left my hands and formed around the table. The white flame spread itself out and began to take shape as it transferred the blade through realms. The light intensified when the object started to appear. The metal of the blade reflected the light before my Magik began to fade. Arthur reached forward, wrapping his hand around the shaft of the sword. His eyes enlarged in surprise as he felt the weight of the blade, giving it a few thrusts.
"It's perfectly weighted." Arthur whispered, staring at the knife, astonished, "What blade have you brought me, Merlin?" Arthur asked, his eyes had swiftly gone from a state of curiosity, to a state of worry.
"It's been forged from the fire of the last dragon's breath," I explained, glancing at the strong metal. "It's been said that those who wield this sword will prove victorious on any battlefield. They call this sword Excalibur."
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