The next day, Merlin rose from his sleep as the light of the early morning sun shone through the curtains, touching his face gently.
Sleep clung to the edges of his eyes, still halfway closed. But something broke the stillness of his peace, the line wiggled to life once again, this time calmer. [Guide] greeted him a good morning.
Merlin stood from his bed and went into the bathroom to wash up. He emerged from the room 20 minutes later.
Merlin changed into his butler attire, tightening his tie. He straightened his suit and sleeves, ensuring he looked good enough to survive the day.
Out of curiosity, Merlin activated [Guide] as he looked at himself in the mirror.
Instantly, multiple blue lines flickered to visibility in his vision, pointing towards specific parts of his body and his outfit. A curved line and a dot even separated from the rest, forming what looked to be a question mark.
Merlin immediately deactivated it with a sigh.
He merely wanted to see what would happen on a whim, he didn't expect to get his appearance thoroughly dissected. His confidence took a hit.
The line wiggled and trembled in place, as if laughing at him, which only made it worse. Merlin sighed again and stepped outside his room.
Merlin made his way out of the servant manor into the mansion where the master and his family lived, greeting Birdie and Tiger as well as the other servants on the way.
'Just in time.' Merlin thought to himself as he stood beside a door, lined up with the other male servants while the maids stood parallel to them.
A few moments later, Merlin moved quickly and efficiently with the help of [Guide], taking the sound of footsteps nearing closer as a sign to open the door.
Edward Cyanal and Dahlia Cyanal stepped through the door with elegance and measured steps.
"We greet the Master and Lady of The House!!!" The servants bowed in perfect unison.
Edward and Dahlia responded with a nod.
"Merlin, would you be a darling and come with us for awhile." Dahlia beckoned.
Merlin, who was closing the doors was caught off guard by their call but nodded in response.
"Understood."
Merlin trailed the pair silently from behind. He noticed their glances here and there as they talked with hushed voices, almost a whisper.
Eventually, they reached Edward's office. Edward sat in his office chair while Dahlia stood beside him.
Under their gazes Merlin stood straight. He knew they only called him personally for important matters and events that involve work, with a few exceptions. The last time they asked for him was on his birthday to give him their gifts.
"Merlin." Edward called out.
"Yes, Master of The House, what do you need from me?" Merlin pushed his thoughts aside, responding with his signature slight bow of his head.
Edward sighed. "I've told you numerous times to stop with addressing me with that title when we're in private. Sir Edward or just Edward is fine."
"I understand." Merlin nodded again, but he'll keep calling him that anyway, just to annoy him.
Dahlia chuckled at their antics. From what she could remember, they've had this exact conversation dozens of times already.
To the rest of the world, Edward Cyanal was a cold, merciless, and formidable leader.
One that led his forces to an overwhelming victory against the most powerful families in the East, in a battle to take over most of the Eastern part of the Proximal. Expanding the Cyanal Family's influence with his Magic.
But to his family and those close to him, he was the biggest fool of them all.
Edward and Dahlia were the parental figures Merlin had growing up, and he couldn't be more grateful to them.
Similarly, Edward and Dahlia thought the most of Merlin as well. Watching him grow up to be a fine young man was one of their greatest joys in life, especially considering their own biological son and his personality.
Being a servant and living in the servant manor was Merlin's choice, he wanted to learn how to cook, clean, and fend for himself rather than sit and watch. His desire to live in the servant manor only intensified after seeing the two statues outside the servant manor.
He wasn't required anything, if he wanted he could move in to the Cyanal Mansion right this instant.
"You two really do get along well." Dahlia said with a gentle smile.
"I don't understand what you mean Lady Dahlia."
Shaking his head, Edward asked Merlin a question.
"I trust you have been using our gifts well?"
"Yes, thanks again to the both you for your generosity." Merlin bowed his head with genuine appreciation.
"Don't mind it. It was a joy to see the surprise on your face" Edward smirked.
"Edward is right. throughout the years when we asked you what you wanted for your birthday, you've always said you didn't want to get anything." Dahlia interjected.
"We decided not to ask this year, and just get you a gift. Seeing your interest in sculpting it seems that was the right choice. Especially since it was your 18th birthday."
"Making fun of you while you worked on your little figurines was my favorite past time." Edward added.
"Is that so.." Merlin smiled stiffly, remembering how he tried his hardest to work on the stone and ignore the very loud destructive criticism coming from Edward's mouth.
"Time to get back to the matter at hand." Dahlia gripped Edward's shoulder tightly, making him grit his teeth.
Coughing into his fist, Edward turned to Merlin. "Right. Merlin, do you have any idea why we called you here today?" He asked.
Not wanting to face Dahlia's wrath, Merlin nodded seriously. "I assume it's related to Magic?"
Edward nodded. "Yes."
"Since you have recently turned 18 years of age, we have to confirm whether or not you have awakened magic."
"We have avoided the topic for the last few days in order to give you a grace period, a time to adjust to the results." He said.
"Whether or not you awakened Magic doesn't change anything, the Law of Word is often inconsistent and mysterious in terms of who it manifests in after all." Dahlia added with a smile.
"But if you did in fact awaken magic, as the head of the Cyanal Family, I would need to have you registered to the Garden of Magic." Edward added with a wry smile.
In a world where knowledge and power rule above all, any and all Magic that one holds has to be recorded by the Garden of Magic.
Anyone caught using unidentifiable Magic, will suffer severe consequences.
It is not so much of a law as it is a promise;
a promise made when the Garden of Magic was first founded.
"I get it." Merlin said resolutely, as someone that has been with the Cyanal Family for his whole life, he had seen countless fools perish for breaking this very promise.
"So Merlin.... Did you?" Edward asked curiously.
He had watched this young man walk his very first steps with his own eyes, and although he didn't admit it outright, he thought Merlin was more capable than his own son if Magic weren't a factor.
"I did." Merlin said honestly.
He didn't have a desire to hide his Magic from anyone, at least not from the people that raised him.
Edward and Dahlia's eyes lit up in acknowledgement.
"That's.... Good. Congratulations Merlin." Edward smiled.
"Congratulations, Merlin, we're proud of you." Dahlia said gently.
"Thank you very much." Merlin smiled in return, hearing that from Dahlia and even Edward made him happier than he wanted to admit.
"What exactly is your Law of Word Merlin? I really want to know. I hear there's a theory in Garden Academy from a student that says the Law of Word gives you a word related to your interests." Dahlia asked excitedly.
"Though I'm not sure how accurate that theory is, I wonder if your word is related to sculpting." Edward suggested.
"It's not. However it can be applied to sculpting." Merlin clarified.
"My word is [Guide]."
"Oho? That's intriguing." Edward rubbed his beard.
"A one-word class Magic? That's amazing Merlin!" Dahlia cheered.
Although there is no formally accepted ranking that suggests one-word Magic is more powerful than two-word or multi-word Magic, since vagueness decides the limit, most assume Law of Word Magic with only one word is better than the rest.
More often than not, their assumptions are correct.
"It's very versatile, in combat it would–" Edward, about to go on a tangent, fortunately noticed Dahlia's glate before it was too late.
"For now, that doesn't matter. Merlin just awakened very powerful Magic that can be used in more than just combat you maniac. We should celebrate." Dahlia said firmly.
"Ahem. Yes I'll tell them to prepare a feast immediately." Edward said as he wrote in a paper. It was enhanced with Magic that would transport the message to another similar piece of paper held by the chef and staff.
"Still, since he awakened Magic, we have to tell merlin about that." Edward's expression turned serious.
"Sigh. Go ahead then." Dahlia nodded in resignation.
"Merlin have you heard of the Magic Evaluation Test?" Edward asked.
"No I haven't."
"To put it in simple words, it is a test held by the Garden of Magic, where they evaluate the combat capabilities of your Magic." Edward stroked his beard.
"Not many know of this yet, since it has only recently been approved by the leaders of the Garden of Magic."
"As for why it is necessary...." Edward trailed off, holding something back.
"You'll learn of it soon, for now just focus on your Magic, I trust you already know about the Hurdles."
Merlin nodded, absorbing the information he was being given.
"The evaluation is in 7 days, which is not a lot of time but I have faith in your capabilities." Edward nodded to himself.
"With that said though, we're still going to give you a choice." Dahlia interjected.
"Would you like to have an instructor train you for the remaining 7 days?"
"An instructor huh.." Merlin thought carefully about his decision.
Having an instructor would limit his freedom to explore his Magic on his own, and it would be especially limiting to his sculpting.
However, having a trainer would help him train his Magic's combat capabilities substantially faster than if he was alone, which would help with the impending evaluation.
After taking into consideration the pros and cons of each choice thoroughly for a moment, Merlin made his decision.
"Yes. I'd like an instructor please, Sir Edward, Lady Dahlia." Merlin bowed respectfully, even calling Edward by his preferred name.
"Haha. A very wise decision indeed Merlin. Since you're asking so nicely, I'll make sure to arrange that you train under the most competent instructor I can find."
Edward rubbed his nose and smiled sheepishly, clearly happy.
Dahlia shook her head with a sigh. "Thank you Merlin, you can take your leave now, we will take care of the rest."
"Leave your duties to the other servants and prepare yourself, the instructor should arrive by tomorrow."
...
Merlin exited the mansion with lighthearted steps, the prospect of learning something new had always excited him.
He once again walked through the path of the garden, the sight that greeted him unchanged from what he had seen the day before.
Now that he had some free time, Merlin thought the moment opportune to visit the library.
But something else told him otherwise.
[Guide] flared to life. The living line in his view started it's movement. It wiggled at him, not erratically like it had yesterday, it was telling him to follow.
It pulled at him from within. A tug at the strings of his soul.
And he simply let his feet follow the thread.
There were no glowing arrows. No lines that guided him. Just a quiet insistence from within.
Merlin followed it past the fountain, past the statues, and past the servant manor itself.
As he drew closer, the feeling went from gentle to intense. An urge.
Merlin's steps quickened. He felt as if his heart would burst from his chest. As if it was painful to not follow this feeling.
Then, with hastened steps, Merlin stepped into the forest within the Cyanal Family's walls.
He followed this urge through the forest, disregarding any thought of remembering the way back.
Eventually, he found it
A small clearing, seemingly untouched by man. The trees bent inward slightly, branches curving almost reverently, as if protecting something. Light filtered through the leaves in golden beams, and the wind here didn't rustle the leaves. It sang.
In the center of the clearing, sat a weapon.
A golden spear.
Its heel embedded in the stone beneath it, the golden spearhead gleamed under the equally golden light of the sun.
Merlin stepped into the clearing and stood in silence.
For a time, nothing happened.
Then [Guide] ignited.
Lines, more vibrant than Merlin had ever seen them, clearer than he had ever perceived them, threw themselves in the air before him.
Blue strands of possibility, gently outlining the shape of something.. someone.
A woman.
But not just any woman. Not a face he had seen, or imagined, or even dreamed. No. She came from something far more unknown. The lines formed her cheekbones, her jaw, the curve of her lips, graceful and hauntingly real.
A figure born of marble. Holding a spear in her hand.
Without thinking, Merlin ran.
He turned away from the clearing and ran as fast as he possibly could. [Guide] showed him the way.
He ran through bushes, passed through branches and leaves, not bothering to push them away. He had to go home. Now.
As the view of the servant manor slowly came into view, Merlin ran faster, his breath turned ragged but he didn't care.
Merlin rushed into the servant manor, not bothering to clean the leaves sticking to his hair.
In his trance, Merlin didn't even notice the two statues at the manor glow with an ethereal light, the marble grinding roughly against the stone pillars that held them as they vibrated, intense and excited.
Merlin reached his room and immediately locked it behind him as he entered.
He pulled the white cloth off roughly, not bothering to activate the Magic that let it fold itself.
The remaining 2 meter tall cube of marble shimmered before him.
[Guide] flowed through his arms as he picked up his tools. The mallet fit perfectly into his palm. His chisel rested between fingers with impossible familiarity. And he began.
Each strike sang like a note in a sacred melody.
Merlin didn't question it. He didn't think. [Guide] channeled in pulses through his fingertips, telling him when to pull back, when to strike harder. And with every flake of marble that was chipped away, something more revealed itself.
Not just structure, but emotion. The faint furrow of her brow. The softness behind her gaze. The slightest tilt of her head, as if listening.
Merlin didn't sculpt a statue. He sculpted a feeling.
He didn't know how long he worked.
Sunlight faded, and the moon rose to take its place, watching in quiet awe. Sweat dripped from his chin, breath heavy in the chilled air, and yet he did not stop.
And when it was done; truly done, he knew. He stepped back.
The woman stood still and silent. She looked skyward, lips parted just slightly, caught in a moment of timeless yearning. Holding a spear, similar but not identical to the spear he found in the forest.
And then he understood.
What had been missing from his previous works, what [Guide] had tried to tell him. It wasn't skill. It wasn't precision. It was this.
Emotion.
He had carved her with his soul. And the result spoke for itself.
The marble's surface–no... Her skin was smooth. Her eyes filled with something he couldn't quite describe.
Her dress clung to her body, like a gust of wind could make it flutter. Her figure an indescribable softness that could only be described as flesh.
She looked just as real as the tree sculpture he made earlier. But this time, he could no longer feel that same emptiness.
Merlin looked at his finished creation and instinctively called out a name.
"Voira Opuselle."
That was her name. His Masterpiece.
'Probably the best name I have ever come up with.' He thought to himself.
The line in his vision wiggled in approval, and started to spike excitedly again. [Guide] once again relayed a feeling to his arms, lines pointing to the statue.
His hand moved without thinking. [Guide] glowed brighter as it awaited the climax and with a few swing of his tools, he etched two letters onto the statue's base:
M.M.
Merlin's initials were permanently carved into the statue.
....
"Nothing happened.." Merlin muttered in confusion.
He had expected something to happen considering how strongly [Guide] had urged him to mark the figure, but only silence filled his room.
The lines pointing to the statue disappeared when he finished carving the letters, but the single line still wiggled and spiked expectantly.
After gazing at the sculpture for a little while longer, Merlin was satisfied. Everything was perfect.
The light of the moon hit his face, and Merlin decided to call it a night.
Stretching his arms with a yawn, Merlin turned away from the statue toward his bed. Taking note of the mess he had made and thought to clean it when he woke up tomorrow.
Merlin walked towards his bed when suddenly, a voice broke him out of his thoughts.
"Merlin....?"
Merlin froze in his place. The voice was one he didn't recognize. An intruder perhaps?
The voice came from behind him, which made Merlin audibly gulp.
He slowly turned to look behind him. When the owner of the voice came into his view, Merlin froze once again as his eyes widened in disbelief.
"You are..." Merlin managed a sound from his mouth.
The marble statue had disappeared. In its place, was the most beautiful woman Merlin had ever seen, holding a spear in one hand.
"I'm Voira Opuselle. It is an honor meet you, Master Merlin."