[Location: Camelot – Royal Court Hall, Morning]
The smell of burning wax hung in the air — candles lined the hall like silent witnesses.
Uther Pendragon stood at the center, draped in crimson and gold, eyes fixed on the captain of the guard.
"You're telling me two trained soldiers were blinded by a flash of light," Uther said, voice flat. "And the witch escaped?"
The captain swallowed. "Yes, sire. Witnesses claim the light came from another man—young, cloaked. No one recognized him."
Uther's jaw tightened. "Another one hiding in my city. Find him. Search every home if you must."
He turned sharply, robes sweeping behind him, and left the hall.
[Location: Corridor Outside the Court]
Morgana watched him go, her expression unreadable.
The guards moved to carry out orders, but she lingered, her gaze sliding toward the tall windows that overlooked the city below.
A flicker of blue light still glowed faintly in her mind — she'd seen it last night from her chamber balcony.
Too controlled to be an accident, too brief to be a novice.
"Something's changing in Camelot," she murmured.
Gwen approached carefully. "You saw it too?"
Morgana nodded. "And I intend to find out who's responsible — before my uncle does."
[Location: Lower Tower Workshop – Later That Day]
The morning's sunlight filtered through cracks in the shutters. Merlin paced the workshop, muttering to himself while Gaius sorted vials.
Ren sat at the corner workbench, trying to ignore the ache running through his arms.
"You realize," Merlin said, finally stopping, "that half the guard is looking for you?"
Ren didn't look up. "If it helps, I didn't give them a good look at my face."
"That's not the point!" Merlin hissed. "The King's already increasing patrols. He's talking about purging anyone with unlicensed alchemical tools."
Gaius sighed, setting a vial down. "This isn't the first time magic has caused unrest in Camelot. But this time, it feels different. The rumors are spreading faster than usual."
Ren leaned back, exhaling slowly. "So I'm the rumor now."
Merlin crossed his arms. "You're lucky Morgana didn't see you."
Ren looked at him — a flicker of hesitation.
"She did," he admitted quietly. "At least, I think she did. From the tower."
Merlin went still. "That's... not ideal."
Gaius nodded grimly. "She's sympathetic to those with magic, but even sympathy can be dangerous if it draws attention."
[Location: Morgana's Chambers – Evening]
Morgana stood before her mirror, brushing her hair with slow, thoughtful strokes.
Her reflection flickered faintly — a ripple of mana she'd long since learned to suppress.
A knock came at the door.
"Enter," she said.
The servant stepped in, bowing. "Lady Morgana, there are reports the guards found scorch marks in the alleyway. Captain wants you to stay within the castle until the search ends."
"Tell him I appreciate his concern." Her tone was polite, but distant. "And tell no one else what you've just said."
When the door shut again, she set the brush down and opened the small drawer beneath her desk. Inside lay an old pendant — a charm once belonging to her nursemaid, a known sorceress.
The faintest blue spark pulsed from it as she whispered, "Who are you?"
[Location: Lower Tower Workshop – Night]
Ren sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed, focusing on his breathing.
The events of last night replayed over and over — the fight, the light, the release.
He could feel the echo of it still, humming through his veins.
Power without control is just noise. Balthazar's old words echoed from memory.
He focused on the mana core inside him — not large, but steady. He shaped the energy into small patterns, repeating the movements Merlin had shown him earlier that day.
Sparks flared, faded, then returned smoother.
Gaius watched from the stairs.
"He learns fast," the old man murmured.
Merlin nodded. "Too fast. And that worries me."
Ren didn't hear them — or maybe he chose not to.
His mind was on something else entirely: the image of Morgana's eyes from the balcony, sharp and curious.
For the first time since he arrived in this world, he wasn't sure if he'd been seen… or recognized.
[Author's Note]
This chapter shifts from action to consequence. Ren's first fight has sparked city-wide suspicion, and both Uther's paranoia and Morgana's curiosity begin to close in.