Merlin woke to the sound of flowing water.
For a brief moment, he didn't know where he was.
Then he saw the unfamiliar trees above him.
The memory returned immediately.
The white figures.
The outstretched hand.
Merlin sat upright.
The makeshift shelter he had thrown together the previous evening had done little more than keep the wind off him. A few branches leaned against one another, barely enough to call a shelter at all.
He hadn't cared.
After fleeing from the city walls, he had followed the river until the land gave way to another patch of woodland. It wasn't as dense as the forest behind him, but it was enough.
Enough to hide.
He hadn't dared light a fire.
Instead, he had eaten a strip of dried fish in silence before lying awake for what felt like hours, listening for footsteps that never came.
Eventually...
Sleep won.
It was morning now.
Merlin could hear the raging river flowing into the sea from where he sat. He opened his container and saw just two strips of dried fish left, so he instinctively picked up his basket and walked over to the river.
As Merlin saw the force of the current, he wondered if the same technique would be able to work here.
From the way Merlin sat down and laid his basket beside him, the answer was clear.
Seeing that he could no longer catch fish, at least not the same way he used to, the thought of going back to the city crossed his mind.
But it felt more unsettling than comforting.
The thought left as fast as it had appeared, leaving him staring piercingly into the raging current.
After sitting there for some time, he heard a rustle of leaves in the small extension of the forest behind him.
For a moment Merlin froze, staring at the bush for a couple of seconds before getting up.
He backed away slowly while reaching for his dagger.
Merlin took his stance, holding his dagger in his right hand.
A few seconds later, a man came out of the forest to see an eight-year-old staring him down with a dagger in his hand.
It's a human, Merlin thought.
And it looks like an actual human this time.
Aside from that, Merlin noticed something else.
His clothing and the equipment he carried. There was no doubt in Merlin's mind that he had come here to fish.
Deep in thought, Merlin didn't realize when he unconsciously lowered his stance.
"Are you a lost kid?" the man asked, seeing how Merlin looked.
Merlin didn't answer.
He was startled.
Not by the question, but by the fact that they spoke the same language.
He had heard that people from different tribes were supposed to speak different languages. After all, it was the same for some of the slaves his father brought in occasionally.
After a short while of thinking, Merlin finally answered.
"I'm not lost."
"I see. So you somehow ran away from your division?" the man said as he began setting up his equipment.
"Division?" Merlin asked instinctively.
"Yeah, you know. Your hometown or village, whichever it was."
Merlin froze.
He had a picture of the world he lived in, even as blurry as it was...
It was something.
"Tell you what," the man said. "You could follow me home. There's enough food and a decent place to sleep."
Merlin was reluctant.
When the man said home, he pointed toward the same walls Merlin had just run away from.
"Or..." the man continued, "I can catch enough fish for the both of us and be on my way."
"Okay," Merlin said reluctantly.
"As you wish," the man said as he swung his fishing rod.
After waiting about a minute or two he finally reeled in the first fish and handed it to Merlin, I'm Fred, what's your name? He asked.
I'm Merlin, Merlin replied.
What no last name? Fred asked. Well you didn't give me yours either.
Fred let out a chuckle. Makes sense, he said after. No one said anything after that.
After about two hours of fishing the man finally caught enough fish to satisfy the both of them.
I'd be on my way now he said as he packed up his equipment.
He had already given Merlin his share of the fish. His basket was filled once again.
After packing his things Fred turned to go the way he came. Wait! Merlin said and Fred stopped after. Those tall people at the gate, what are they? Merlin asked with a low voice. They're the Len, Fred answered. The very makers of our division. They just started appearing in different homes over the years. And believe it or not, much like you and I, they're very much human just a little bit smarter, taller, more composed and a little bit evolved. You can come with me if you want, I can assure you it's very safe. He said to Merlin as if reading his mind. After Merlin's journey here he was very much exhausted and after everything Fred had offered him it was like he was psychologically unable to say no. So Merlin took all his things and followed him closely at his back. When they reached the gate he tried his best not to look at the figures looking at him and followed Fred till they were on the other side. In the inside it looked like the division Merlin ran from but just more... Advanced. Fred took Merlin to a small yard. You can keep your things in that shed, Fred told him. Merlin did just that. Then followed Fred into the house. I'll be going somewhere, Fred said. Make yourself at home and treat yourself to some food if you like, cuz I'll be gone a while, Fred said before leaving. After stepping out of the yard, he walked down the street and went right into a dark alley.
Did you get him? A voice from inside asked. Yes sir, Fred answered as he went down on one knee and bowed his head.
That's good news the voice replied. What type is he? The voice asked. You might not believe this, Fred said. But he's not one of those, he's a pure. That's unexpected, the voice replied. Now as per our agreement the voice said, at the same time a collar on Fred's neck split into two falling on the ground.
Fred let out a wide grin.
For the first time since Merlin had met him, there was no trace of the calm fisherman in his expression.
He looked genuinely happy.