Erza drops the shield and Merlin can hear and see them again. He examined Erza with his eyes and thought, so she can negate magic and control space, interesting, she could break free from here at any time but doesn't. He looks at Eden and then at the lycans, then back at Eden. Their looks have changed. The tension between them has dissolved as if it was never there. Why does this place give me some familiarity? I sense as if I'm being pulled to this place. I even tried to get out of being locked in to this place.
Eden interrupted Merlin's thoughts when she said, "You are a cunning old man, I noticed how you effortlessly guided them to settle down. I should be watchful of that silver tongue." Merlin slightly raised his eyes and before he could retort Eden added, "I'm pointed out not for you to attempt to change my mind, but for you to understand that wisdom is a gift of God. Putting you on notice is my way of letting you know your words and actions will not be unknown to my God." With that, she openly did a kill shot to any future attempts of manipulation. Merlin chuckled a little and said, "I see that I am, how do you say it, outgunned here." Eden looked at him for a moment before she said, " your input would still hold value. I am not to proud to admit that I don't have the foresight for a lot of things." Merlin nodded.
Merlin showed his wrists and revealed the runes on his forearms that he was covering under his shirt. "Since you won't let me pick your mind, then I'll show you what is already on my mind." These runes were placed on me to avoid me using any magic spell to leave the realm and I've been in limbo for a long time. I can only share that while in limbo, it is a black space where sometimes images of your past appear and disappear. Then you're left in the dark where you can't use your senses. If you try to sit or stand in one place, the floor beneath you disappears, then you feel as if you're constantly falling until you land on something again." Eden was imagining it in her head and it sounded like a mental torture chaimber. This must be how they manage to break their spirits and manipulate them into submitting to their rules. If this is limbo, what would the dungeon be like, she asked herself? Then Eden looked at Merlin and continued to analyze the situation. He was giving me information that I wanted to know. There's either strings attached or it's a peace offering. Either way, he is much older and experienced at navigating the world from what I heard. All I know is what I was told about his story and Camelot. It's what inspired the name of the alliance, EXC. Merlin then asked, "How did you know I was the Merlin from the stories?" Eden took in a breath of air before answering, "I didn't. I saw your name on the list of my new hires. I found it odd that you all had names and some had generic names as villager, assigned to forge or villager, assigned to mage tower. It was until Erza suppressed you that I knew. The rest of the villagers were not affected by her suppression. It gave me the impression she did not view them as potential threats." Merlin nodded to show he understood her reasoning very well. She had come to that conclusion fairly quick. Then Oscar interrupted their conversation by asking, "So why do you treat your villagers like equals if they are not a threat to you?" Eden felt her heart thump, thinking of Menky and all the ones under her workforce. She had an ambiguous feeling when thinking about the subject. Then she replied a little irritated after she thought of what kind of fucken question was that. She answered, "do you not see that they are people? Or are you fucken blind?" Oscar whipped his neck back a little at the sudden change in mood from Eden. She sounded just like King Cerberus at that moment. He bowed his head a tad bit out of instinct. Murphy, Lewis, Gideon and Kane felt the same way Oscar felt in that instant. She's a fucken beast, if they didn't know she was human, they would confuse her for one of their kind in that one moment. Sylvie felt like her spirit knew her. It resonated with her emotions. Merlin continued to observe the situation. He thought to himself, I see, so this is why after such a long time I was let out. A master crafter always has perfect timing. Merlin looked at the scene, a human that shows wisdom beyond her time, a powerful spiritual being, Mythical beings that typically don't associate with humans and an old mage of a different time and realm. He asked himself, I still can't shake that familiar feeling that I sense. It's a presence that I thought I lost long ago. I was beginning to forget the face of the one I was loyal to. How many decades had passed in that state of limbo.
Eden then asked, "how did Gunther decide on you all when I asked him to only hire those who hit the first mark?" Oscar laughed and answered, "well I almost broke the meter, and this guy here was trembling to keep is shit together! Ha ha ha ." Lewis and Gideon smirked a little. Kane gave Oscar a murderous glare. Sylvie answered, "we can manipulate how little magic we put out and watch how the hiring was decided before we stepped up." Eden thought, oh Gunther you're such a well intended soul. Well this is what's to be expected without giving him any guidance. Merlin added, "I did not intend to be hired, I was going to attempt to desert the place when no one was looking, but Gunther decided to keep me around." Eden then remembered that Gunther was actually going to ask her for permission disguised as requesting advice. But wait didn't Erza move back as if to indicate he was not human? It's odd he looks human. She then thought of asking her that in private. Eden didn't read the stories of King Arthur so any details, she definitely didn't know.
Then Eden looked at Merlin seriously and asked him "How do I know I can trust you?" Merlin looked at the ceiling while trying to think. He answered "you really won't know, because I don't know as well. There's a battle constantly waging inside me that was subdued with a sense of purpose. That is what kept me going all this time, finding that sense of purpose again. Sadly I don't have an answer to confirm whether you can or not." He sighed and looked at Erza. Then continued, "as long as you are heavenly guarded, you won't have to worry." Eden didn't like his response, then said, "you really took the long way to say I don't know." Oscar roared in laughter. Sylvie mindlinked him to shut up and he immediately settled down. Eden gave Oscar a smirk and said, "well at least someone appreciates my sarcasm here." Oscar gave Sylvie a smug look after.
Merlin was also amused by Eden's sassy response. Then he was about to speak when the door opened. Then a tall man with wide shoulders and chestnut hair entered. Dressed in his armor he said, "Commander, we are ready and are awaiting for you when you are. Merlin felt his heart tighten. The sound of that voice, he can distinguish it anywhere. It was as if a warm ray of sunlight just hit him. Merlin shook a little, he was afraid to turn around and find out it was an illusion. But he knew deep inside his heart this was him, the one he was most loyal to, now standing in that room. Eden nodded at Arthur and got up from her seat as she issued out orders, "I want Murphy, Lewis, Kane, Gideon and Sylvie to come with us. Have armor issued to them at once. Take Merlin to the mage tower and have someone watch over him. Instruct that he is not to be left unsupervised and that he cannot leave the mage tower unless I say. No exceptions. Let the kitchen know he is to be served in his room but not to interact with him, just leave the food and pick up the dirty dishes after." Arthur nodded and said, "Understood." Eden then turned to look at Merlin to see him shakenly standing from his chair with an ambiguous look on his face, it was sad, happy, disbelief and bewildering. He walked cautiously to Arthur and then slowly spoke, "King, King Arthur how?"