The old man, my former master from years ago, who just happens to be the Dean of the Academy, floated down next to me in the air, while looking at my adversaries.
He went on to say "So, you all chose their side then it seems?" The way he said it made me shudder in recognition, this is his disappointed voice, it seems he didn't want to believe that these pillars of our world could be so.... corrupt.
Well, I could, but that is where I and my former master differ, and one of the reasons we parted.
Seraph replied, still yet to regain her so-called calm, "Oh please Merlin, not everyone is okay with their station in life, spending thousands of years, teaching."
My former master, Merlin, chuckled before responding "Ah, little Seraph, you have not changed, still trying to hide your true feelings behind a mask of indifference and a fake calm."
He then took on a serious disposition, "You are old enough now to understand the severity of the path you and the rest of you" He said looking around at each of the Grand Mages, before continuing "Are going to embark down, and realise that when you do go down that path, I will be there to stop you, to stop you from plunging this world into mayhem of apocalyptic proportions, because of all of your selfish needs and wants."
After Merlin finished, I was surprised to see the smug and confident expressions on their faces, this was Merlin we are talking about, the oldest and most powerful of the Grand Mages, who has been on top of the world for countless millennia, seen eras come and go, yet he was always a consistent. Like a Guardian God watching over civilisation and ensuring its continuity.
And these bastards, were acting all confident like they would be able to stand against him, and the forces of the academy? Is this mysterious entity the reason they all seemed to be so self assured of their path. Even after potentially having to go against Merlin?
As I was ruminating on all this, the demon, Zenith spoke next, "You are the past Merlin, we with the Abyss behind us, will usher in a new era, one where we five will be seen as Gods, where we will have power beyond your wildest imagination. Where the masses won't just revere us for our strength, but our status as existences that are above them, as Gods!"
The bearman, Zarog laughed excitably and said loudly and deeply "hahaha well put Zenith! And I would hate to miss the opportunity to finally face the great Merlin himself in battle!"
Merlin just looked at them with contempt, gone was his grandfatherly demeanour and now there was a sharpness and harshness to his expression "Very well, I did not expect much from you three, however, Rumil, Adrik, what about you two? Are you still choosing to go down this path?" As he looked at them with those now fierce eyes and shift in demeanour, they both seemed apprehensive again, momentarily, before they both replied.
"I have made my decision Merlin, I go where the wind and air take me and this is the path they have took me down ~" Replied Rumil in his usual carefree way.
Adrik spoke after "What he said, basically" Still acting lazy and subdued even now.
Merlin turned back to me, while pulling a vial of liquid from his sleeve, before throwing it over. I grabbed it quickly and then shook it, while looking at the reaction of the blue and green liquid inside. "What is this?" I said in my usual blunt and direct way.
Merlin's expression softened a little "Just drink it, it won't kill you. It is a new invention of mine, it essentially replenishes stamina and mana. This one is made specifically for high level mages." He had a hint of pride in his voice.
I pulled out the cork and drank it in one gulp, as I did I could feel my mana and stamina levels returning to the peak. The old man still got it, huh?
Afterwards, I nodded, before I was about to continue from where I left off, with Merlin with me this time it seems, Seraph quickly spoke again "We will leave it here for today, Lightborn, we do not want to deal with two monsters in one go. Well, not until we are ready."
Then before either I or Merlin could stop them, they vanished, teleporting away.
I sighed as I looked around the carnage from up in the sky, from this vantage point, I could see the city, half destroyed, the cliff and the castle that rested atop it, gone. Hundreds of thousands most likely dead. The ground? Littered with craters and ravines that were created from sword strikes. I looked frantically for Diablo and still saw him unconscious within the shield I created around him, laying in one of the craters. I slowly descended to him, where I checked on him.
It seems his injuries are healing slowly from his Emperor Mage physique.
I heard footsteps behind me as Merlin said "Dissolve the shield." As I was going to question him, I saw him pulling yet another vial from his sleeve and this time red. I understood what he was up to and did as he said. He then bent down and poured the liquid into Diablo dry mouth, at a visible rate, his injuries started to heal.
Merlin stood, then turned to me as I was staring off into the distance, looking most likely lost in thought to him. Where is that bastard Jacob? I thought, he must have escaped, no matter I am sure fate will allow us to cross paths again in the future.
As I was thinking all this, Merlin spoke in a grandfatherly and warm but wise way yet again, seemingly dropping his previous demeaner. "So, I heard you have a daughter now?" I looked at him blankly and said coolly "It seems like everyone is asking me that recently." I then waved my hand and conjured a chair of light as I then proceeded to sit, leaning into it as I looked up into the sky.
Merlin seeing this and hearing me chuckled while doing the same, his chair though, was a mixture of flames and water, two perfectly balanced elements even though they are opposites in the natural order.
Showing his mastery over something he studied for millennia.
Yes, Merlin had two elements, the first and only known mage to have done so. He also has two magic cores, both green, to be able to support this. It is also why people see him as the most powerful and a monster.
Well, give me a few years and I will surpass him, I thought arrogantly.
Merlin oblivious to my thoughts spoke familiarly, like we haven't been apart for decades "Fifteen years to reach Grand Mage, now that is something. Unlike those fools who most likely had informants, I sensed it in the mana, the ascension that is. I knew it was you. I was right to pick you as my disciple all those years ago. The greatest monster I have ever seen, more a monster than I."
I pulled my head down from looking at the bright blue sky, and stared at him as he was going down memory lane and said sharply "Merlin, what is it you want and what the hell is going on? Blessing? Abyss? Choosing a side? I could deduce a lot, but bits of information here and there only gets me so far, and there is no way someone old like you does not have the answers." I took a breath, as Merlin looked at me in a complicated manner, before continuing "And I could find out on my own over time, but it seems from this experience, time isn't really on my side."
He shook his head slowly, as he crossed his legs and said "Time is not on any of our sides, there is much for you to know, especially if you are going to be a future partner."
I tilted my head quizzically as I replied "Future partner? What do you mean?"
"What I mean, Kyros, is setting up an alliance." He said seriously, which is a rarity.
"We are the only neutral factions in this world, your city state and my academy, we both share a border and we are both surrounded on all front by the empires, the enemy in other words. We need to team up, if we are to face what is coming. Politically, geographically, economically, you name it. This alliance will of course need a leader, I would make you that leader Kyros. What do you think?"
I was stunned, alliance, leader?