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Merlin awoke the morning after the whole casino ordeal. Vibrant sunlight seeped through the curtains, casting golden rays across his skin. Bathed in the warmth of morning, he found his thoughts drifting back to the conversation he had with the master and student.
Through that exchange, Merlin had been accepted as the old man's newest disciple—on the condition that he share his knowledge about gambling. He was surprised by how easily the man agreed to his proposition.
After finishing his morning routine, Merlin made his way toward the old man's quarters. He found him waiting in the courtyard, seated calmly. After exchanging pleasantries, their training began.
"Before we begin, I want you to unleash your magoi," Shambal said, staring intently at him.
Merlin nodded and began summoning the surrounding magoi.
The atmosphere grew tense. The terrain around them seemed to shift—rocks split into fragments, chairs wobbled, and the very air distorted. Shambal could feel Merlin's presence transforming into a towering beast. As the pressure swelled, Shambal quickly stepped in.
Disappearing from his chair, he reappeared at Merlin's side and grabbed his shoulder.
"Alright, that's enoug—"
Before he could finish, Merlin instinctively latched onto his wrist and flipped him onto his back.
Startled, Merlin immediately suppressed his magoi.
"Uhhh… sorry about that." Merlin smiled sheepishly, offering the man a hand.
The old man groaned and sighed before accepting it.
"Take this!" he grumbled, flipping Merlin over in return.
Reacting quickly, Merlin conjured a small wind blast that softened his fall into a graceful somersault, landing cleanly on his feet.
"AHHHH! Stupid brat with his stupid magic!" the old man shouted, standing up and glaring.
Merlin only smiled, clearly amused.
"Alright... moving on from that embarrassing attempt at revenge," Shambal muttered.
"Your life force is insane, kid. Immense and impressive for sure, but chaotic. Dangerous if left unchecked. Your magic isn't like any magician's I've seen before—it doesn't even draw on magoi in the traditional sense. That said, your magoi control is already exceptional. I know now where we need to begin."
Merlin simply nodded.
"I'm in your hands, Master."
"To control magoi, we first need to understand what it is—and its consequences."
"Magoi manipulation is the ability to control the energy created by Rukh—your life force. Known applications include physical enhancement, counteracting enemy magoi, weapon augmentation, and medical use. Magicians tend to be more sensitive to their magoi, giving them better control. But overexertion can cause serious side effects—death, sickness, severe fatigue."
Merlin nodded again. So far, everything aligned with what he already knew from canon.
"Now that you understand the basics, I want you to try and feel your life force as if you're about to release it all. Once you're at that threshold, we'll begin the second step."
The old man stepped back, giving him room.
Merlin took a deep breath and began manipulating his internal magoi, blending it with the magoi around him. Slowly, the power gathered. He stopped just short of releasing it, hovering at the edge, holding the tension tight.
Noticing this, the old man nodded—and then, without warning, appeared in front of Merlin and launched a sudden kick.
Startled, Merlin immediately summoned a shield of Rukh.
The attack was absorbed instantly.
"Is that the second step?" Merlin asked.
The old man blinked, as if thinking, then nodded.
"Yes. Normally, I'd have you try to interact with the Rukh around you first—but your case is very different. You already have an innate control over your magoi and external magoi. What we're focusing on now is maintaining that control while under attack."
He took another stance.
Merlin nodded, ready again.
As the training continued, the old man launched another strike. This time, the blow was wrapped in dense magoi and Rukh, far stronger than before. It tore through Merlin's shield and landed square on his cheek, sending him flying backward into a nearby pond.
Merlin looked up from the water to see Shambal grinning smugly.
'Finally got revenge on that brat,' the old man thought, quite pleased with himself.
"Sorry about that… I wanted to make the exercise harder by dispersing your shield,"
Shambal said with a sigh.
'Your acting sucks, you shameless geezer. If you wanted the shield gone, you could've just said so,' Merlin thought, glaring playfully.
He stood and used Aero Signa to dry himself off.
"It's fine… accidents happen during training," Merlin said with a bright smile as he walked back.
'He's not mad, is he?' the old man thought, now slightly on edge.
The training resumed, though Shambal stayed just a little more cautious.
Later that evening, Merlin wandered through the city of Reim, massaging his sore muscles.
"That crazy old man didn't hold back," he mumbled, walking in a daze.
The sun had long since set, and Merlin planned to stop at an inn before heading home.
As he neared the familiar sign, he noticed a pointed green hat peeking from behind a barrel.
Raising an eyebrow, he walked toward the figure.
"Hello there," Merlin said softly.
The man's eyes shot open in surprise. He jumped—then tripped over his own feet and hit the ground with a groan.
"Ouch…"
Merlin chuckled and offered his hand.
"Here, let me help you."
"Thanks... you scared me."
"You were staring at me."
"I was asleep."
"Oh…"
Before Merlin could respond, the man's stomach growled.
"Follow me. I'll treat you," Merlin said with a smile.
"I couldn't possibl—"
"Come on."
Inside the bar, Merlin ordered a copious amount of food.
"Thanks for the meal!" the man said eagerly, digging in.
Merlin just smiled, observing him quietly.
After polishing off the last bite, the man leaned back, satisfied.
"That was amazing... I genuinely appreciate your hospitality."
"No problem."
"I'm Yunan. A wandering traveler."
"Merlin."
Yunan paused, his gaze sharpening.
"You know… I sense something in you. You're like me—but different."
"I feel it too," Merlin replied. "Let me guess. You're a Magi?"
"Yes, I am. You're loved by the Rukh like I am… but you're something else. While we were born from Solomon, you…" Yunan trailed off, muttering to himself. "Wait… is it possible? Surely not. There's—"
Merlin raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Realizing he was being muttering, Yunan coughed and looked away.
"Sorry about that. I have a theory about what you might be."
"Do you mind sharing?"
"Not yet. I want to see if things play out how I believe."
"Fair enough… Anyway, Yunan, the wandering traveler—have you ever thought about settling down somewhere? More specifically, in a kingdom that hasn't been built yet?"
Yunan stared at him again, then burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! I'm sorry—but you remind me of someone else. You're so alike… yet so different. He extended an invitation like that once, too. My answer?" He smiled. "Perhaps, if things unfold as I think they will."
"Bummer." Merlin shrugged, then switched the subject.
The two talked long into the night about trivial things—like old friends reuniting once more.