Day 1
The day began quietly.
The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, painting the floor in shades of gold. The scent of freshly made food drifted through the room like an invitation to peace.
Victor walked over to the table where Jane, Burst, and Merlin were already waiting for him.
He carefully placed a large plate in the center — steaming cheese breads, golden omelets, slices of bread, and a small chocolate cake with a glossy glaze.
"Dig in," he said with a gentle smile.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Burst exclaimed, grabbing a cheese bread before even sitting down. "Thanks, boss!"
Jane let out a quiet laugh, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You really know how to set a proper table, Victor."
"Not really," he replied, sitting beside Merlin. "The only things I actually made were the cake and the omelets."
Merlin was wearing a pink coat and black wide-leg pants. Jane bought clothes that she thought would match Merlin's color palette.
Merlin stared at the table with wide eyes — a mix of surprise and confusion.
The lilac glow surrounding her pulsed softly, as if mirroring her astonishment.
"What is it, Merlin?" Victor asked gently.
A small speech bubble appeared above her.
["I don't know what to eat first."]
Victor couldn't help but smile. Merlin was still shy, speaking little since she'd woken up, but her eyes were livelier now.
"How about starting with the cheese bread?"
She looked at the small golden bread and picked it up with both hands.
As a spirit, she was naturally resistant to heat, so she didn't mind the steam rising from it. She took a careful bite.
For a few seconds, she froze.
Then her eyes widened and sparkled like stars.
Her serene face lit up in a rare moment of pure wonder.
It was the first time Merlin had ever tasted food — and the whole table fell silent, watching that simple discovery unfold.
"How is it?" Victor asked.
["It's delicious!"] — the bubble read, with a sparkling-eyes emoji beside it.
She devoured the cheese bread and, without hesitation, grabbed another.
Her reaction made Burst laugh with delight.
"You can get something to drink too! What do you like?" he asked.
"We've got coffee, milk, and tea," Jane added, already pouring the cups.
Merlin seemed to think for a moment.
Then a new bubble appeared, cheerful and bright:
["I want a little of everything!"]
Her serious expression contrasted so much with the smiling emoji that everyone almost burst out laughing — but held back out of respect for the moment.
Jane placed four cups in front of her: one with coffee, one with milk, one mixed, and one with tea.
Merlin tasted each with small, focused sips.
In the end, she paused thoughtfully, then declared with quiet confidence:
["I liked all of them very much."]
The morning went on peacefully, filled with quiet laughter and curiosity about what Merlin would try next.
But there was one thing she loved more than anything: the cake.
She stared at it intently before taking a bite.
["This is really good!"] — her bubble showed, a joyful emoji bouncing beside the words.
Burst leaned on the table, grinning.
"Hey, Merlin, wanna play a game? How about you try saying the names of the things you like — with your actual voice?"
She looked at him seriously for a few seconds, then gave a slight nod.
Closing her eyes, she took a small breath and tried.
"C… ca… ke…" — her voice came out soft, sweet, still uncertain. "Cake."
"That's it! You did it!" Burst exclaimed, excited, almost knocking over his cup.
"Your first words!" Victor joined in, both of them looking like proud parents.
Jane chuckled softly, shaking her head.
"Congratulations. Can you try a few more?" she asked.
Merlin moved her lips slowly, soundless at first, as if rehearsing the words in her mind.
Then, with a bit of effort, she whispered:
"V… Victor… Ja… ne… B… Burst…"
Each name came out steadier than the last.
For a moment, no one said anything — only the faint clatter of Jane setting down her fork broke the silence.
Then Merlin closed her eyes, and a small smile — timid, genuine — appeared on her face.
That smile was enough to fill the morning with a warm stillness.
From that moment on, the day was completely devoted to her.
Everyone helped Merlin learn, speak, and explore the world around her — with the patience and care of those witnessing the birth of a new life before their eyes.
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By late afternoon, the house was calm.
Jane was training in the next room, her movements precise, the steady rhythm of her breathing filling the air.
In the main room, Victor, Merlin, and Burst were on the couch watching TV. The atmosphere was light — the kind of peace that felt rare for that group.
Merlin let out soft little laughs — or something close to it — whenever Burst made a silly comment about the show.
She wasn't quite the same as before, but seeing her react, smile, and interact again brought a quiet sense of comfort.
"The only difference," Burst joked, munching a cookie, "is that now she takes up more space!"
Victor exhaled a laugh under his breath. From the other room, Jane seemed to smile too.
No one had asked about the new abilities Merlin had gained after evolving.
It was the kind of topic that didn't need to be forced.
They all knew she would talk about it when she was ready.
But Victor understood better than anyone what Merlin was truly capable of.
Even though she seemed fragile, he knew — without a doubt — that her power now was on a completely different level.
Still, at that moment, none of it mattered.
It was just a calm, ordinary afternoon… until it wasn't.
In the middle of their conversation, Victor blinked several times, trying to clear his vision.
A faint buzzing filled his ears — at first soft, then louder, drowning out all other sounds.
Burst's laughter vanished.
The TV's noise faded into a distant hum.
Everything seemed to distort — the air, the light, even time itself.
His head started spinning.
His vision wavered, the floor tilting beneath his feet. A strange nausea rose in his throat, along with a growing sense of emptiness.
'What is this…? What's happening to me?'
His consciousness felt like it was slipping away — as if the world itself was being swallowed by a thick, black fog.
And then, suddenly, everything snapped back.
Sound, color, weight — all at once.
"Victor, what happened?" Jane's voice came from close by, filled with concern.
"I…" he tried to answer, but tasted metal in his mouth.
"Your nose is bleeding," Burst pointed out, already standing up.
Victor touched his face, feeling the warm blood between his fingers.
He wiped it with his arm and stared at the red stain on his sleeve. He sighed, weary.
"I… think I just need to rest," he murmured, his voice hoarse. "That expedition… must've left me some aftereffects."
Without waiting for a reply, he stood and walked to his room.
Jane and Burst exchanged silent, uneasy looks.
Merlin, however, didn't take her eyes off him — her fragments rotating slowly, glowing faintly, as if sensing something the others couldn't.
As soon as Victor entered the room, the pain returned.
First a throbbing at the back of his head, then a crushing pressure, like something trying to tear through his mind from the inside.
He stumbled, leaning against the wall.
His breathing grew heavy. Each heartbeat echoed painfully inside his skull.
Then came the voices.
Faint at first — whispers.
Then closer.
Until the entire room seemed filled with screams, sobs, laments — and the grotesque sound of things breaking, flesh tearing, bones cracking.
It was an auditory hell.
Victor tried to cover his ears, but the noise came from within, reverberating through his mind.
His body gave out, and he dropped to his knees, gasping for breath.
With blurred eyes, he lifted his head toward the window. For a moment, outside, he saw it.
A silhouette.
Someone — or something — watching him from afar.
And then, in the blink of an eye, it was gone.
The last thing Victor felt was the cold floor against his skin before darkness consumed him completely.
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