[Third Person's PoV]
Merlin waved her staff, and the area around them began to restore itself. As the environment healed, she glanced down at Arthur, her brows furrowing slightly.
"You know you're going to overwork yourself, right?" she said, her voice tinged with concern. "You're training your body, perfecting your swordsmanship, then studying—more studying—off to the Flamels for even more studying, and then back here to cram some more before collapsing into bed. And then"—she gave him a pointed look—"you're training and studying in your dreamscape.
Where exactly do you plan to find time to finish this tier system of yours and write a book?" Merlin asked, eyeing him with a mixture of amusement and worry.
Arthur looked down, his fingers beginning to twiddle nervously. "I was, uh, kinda hoping you'd help me… you know, with the tier system—and maybe be my editor for the books I'd write about it."
Merlin's stare grew sharper, making Arthur feel the need to elaborate.
"Ah, you see…" he began, a slight blush creeping up his cheeks. "Although I thought of the magic circle system to innovate magic—and, uh, help Squibs and maybe even Muggles… there's another reason. A more selfish one."
Merlin tilted her head slightly, narrowing her eyes. "Go on…"
"It was a present for you," Arthur muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "A thank-you gift for everything you've done for me."
Merlin blinked, momentarily taken aback. She could read Arthur like a book, and she knew he wasn't lying. She opened her mouth to speak, closed it, then asked softly, "A gift… for me?"
Arthur nodded. "Well, this is only part of the present. The other part's not ready yet. Anyway, you've told me you like taking in students because you learn from them too. And, well… just like you know me, I know you well enough to say this—you love magic, and you love researching new ways to use it."
Merlin arched an eyebrow. "So, you mean to tell me… you thought up an entirely new magical system just so I'd have something new to research?"
Arthur rubbed the back of his head, avoiding her gaze. "Maybe…"
Merlin chuckled, the sound both amused and touched. She crouched down to his eye level, ruffling his messy hair affectionately.
"Art, that has to be the best present anyone's ever given me," she said warmly.
Before Arthur could respond, she leaned in and gave him a long, exaggerated kiss on the cheek, grinning brightly. "Thank you~"
Arthur's face turned scarlet, his thoughts spinning wildly. She really is a succubus!
"Now then," Merlin said with a smirk, guiding him by the back of the head, "let's go back in. I'll help you finish this tier system of yours."
---
From that point onward, Arthur's life became even more hectic. But with Merlin's help, he managed to build a strict routine.
Every morning, Arthur woke at 5 AM and immediately began training his body. He gripped two heavy wooden swords and swung each one 10,000 times a day. He practiced stabbing, slashing, parrying—pushing himself until he was drenched in sweat and his arms felt like they might fall off. After that, he moved on to weight training to build even more strength and muscle.
Once his physical training was done, Arthur met with Merlin for his magic lessons. Each day focused on a different magical subject: Charms on Monday, Potions on Tuesday, Transfiguration on Wednesday, and so on.
After his early lessons, Arthur traveled to the Flamels, who were thrilled to have taken on the role of his guardians alongside Merlin. Under their guidance, Arthur delved deep into the complexities of Alchemy. He found it the most tedious and difficult of his studies—transmuting matter required an understanding of atomic structures, which meant long hours studying science and chemistry. To achieve some of his more ambitious alchemical goals, he had to incorporate biology into his learning as well.
When his time with the Flamels ended each day, Arthur returned home, where he and Merlin continued their magical experiments. Together, they refined the magic circle system and developed the tier classifications. Merlin often served as the test subject, casting spells through the circles and describing the intricacies and difficulties to Arthur. He meticulously documented everything, organizing his notes at his desk late into the evening.
Finally, after all this, Arthur would head to bed—but even then, rest eluded him. In his dreamscape, he either studied advanced magical theories with Merlin or honed his sword techniques against shadow constructs.
After a month of relentless testing and note-taking, Arthur began writing his first book. The process nearly drove him mad.
Merlin, as it turned out, was not the most gentle of editors.
Her critiques were brutal but effective. Thanks to her sharp eye and his detailed notes, Arthur managed to complete his first book in just three months—though he often joked that he'd lost a few years of his life in the process.
…
Towards the beginning of May, Arthur leaned forward at his desk, one hand pressed against his forehead. The tip of his reading glasses balanced precariously on the bridge of his nose as his eyes scanned the parchment spread before him. A quill hovered beside him, moving rapidly on its own, the scratch of ink on parchment mingling with Arthur's soft muttering. Cosmo, his cat, purred rhythmically in his lap, vibrating with contentment at each absent-minded stroke of Arthur's hand.
*"Overall, a magic circle is in no way different from how we, as wizards and witches alike, cast spells. It all comes down to three components: Body, Intent, and Will.
In other words: Magic, Incantation, and Wand.
The principle of magic circles simplifies and amplifies spellcasting by using geometric patterns to substitute or enhance one or more of these components. By meticulously constructing a magic circle, a wizard may reduce the burden of incantation, stabilize their intent, or even bypass the need for a wand entirely. This allows for greater spell efficiency, consistency, and the possibility of layered casting."*
The quill finished with a flourish, placing a neat period at the end of the sentence before floating over to the growing stack of completed pages.
Arthur exhaled heavily, grabbed the parchment, and stacked it carefully atop the others. He stretched his arms above his head and extended his legs beneath the desk, his joints cracking noisily as he groaned.
Cosmo leapt off his lap with a disgruntled meow and a soft hiss, clearly unimpressed by the sudden movement.
Arthur removed his glasses, setting them gently on the desk, and massaged the bridge of his nose. After a moment, he rose from his chair, shoulders stiff and aching, and flicked his fingers toward the stack of papers. Obediently, the parchment lifted into the air, hovering behind him as he shuffled out of his room.
Stopping in front of Merlin's door, Arthur knocked wearily.
"Come in~" came Merlin's sing-song voice from within.
Arthur pushed open the door, his exhaustion evident. "Mel, please tell me I'm done. Don't make me write any more," he whined, stepping inside.
"That will depend entirely on you, won't it?" Merlin teased, stretching out her hand. "Arthur the Author~"
Arthur groaned as the stack of pages drifted from behind him into Merlin's waiting grasp.
"Correct yourselves, now," Merlin instructed the pages with a playful lilt.
Immediately, the pages began shuffling themselves, flying in and out of order until the stack neatly rearranged itself. A pair of purple-framed glasses floated from Merlin's nightstand, settling onto her face as she got comfortable.
Arthur flopped onto the bed beside her, landing face-first into the blankets, his muffled groan indicating both embarrassment and fatigue.
Merlin glanced at the title page, raising an eyebrow. "So, this is the title you're sticking with?"
Arthur's reply was muffled by the bedspread. "Yes."
"The Art of Magic Circles. The Fundamental Theory for Beginners, By Arthur King," Merlin read aloud, her tone bemused. "Not a terrible title, but isn't it a bit too long?"
Arthur turned his head just enough to grumble, "No. It has to be able to draw people in."
Merlin chuckled softly. "It's your book…" she conceded, flipping through the pages. Her eyes darted rapidly across the text, occasionally pausing to admire Arthur's carefully drawn diagrams of magic circles and detailed annotations on their principles.
Thanks to her enchanted glasses, Merlin finished reading within thirty minutes. She slid the glasses off and set them on the nightstand, a genuine smile curling her lips.
"This is very good," she murmured, impressed. "Honestly, a lot of people are going to have trouble believing you wrote this yourself—"
She paused mid-sentence, catching the soft, steady rhythm of light snoring beside her.
Looking down, she saw Arthur fast asleep, his face relaxed in peaceful slumber. Amusement flickered in her eyes as she sighed softly, shaking her head.
Reaching over, Merlin gently brushed his tousled hair, her touch tender. "No training tonight," she whispered. "You deserve a quiet, restful night. You've earned it."
She leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the top of his head, her smile warm and proud. "I'm so proud of you… Sweet dreams, Art."
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