Narrator's POV
The war between black and white magus rages on the southern continent, having a huge impact on all structures of magi society and ordinary mortals.
Currently, there's no one around Merlin except Vivianne. The two are slowly heading towards the basement of Merlin's manor, a place forbidden to everyone but Merlin.
"Merlin, where are we going?" asks Vivianne, uneasy about Merlin's behavior.
"You've practiced the way of knights to its limit, and you're an acolyte at the peak of rank 3, right?"
Merlin's words plunge Vivianne into confusion. For three years she's known this little boy, she considers him more than just a brother.
Despite her increased maturity and intelligence, she still struggles to understand Merlin. Vivianne had also guessed part of Merlin's goal, but doesn't hold it against him.
Vivianne knows the cruel truth: without Merlin adopting her as his sister, she'd be just an ordinary mortal in an ordinary family.
She doesn't care that he chose her for her magical talent, she just wants to stay with him.
"Yes, that's true," she confirms.
"It's time for you to become a magus. I'm going to give you something important, and after that, you'll have to leave here." Merlin turns to her, his facial expression briefly sad before becoming resolute again.
"Why?" Vivianne questioned as she slowly approached, her aura dangerously fluctuating, showing her unstable emotional state.
This is also why Merlin had rejected Vivianne as a possible warlock, she just loves him too much and it's dangerous.
Merlin approaches Vivianne despite the radiation she emits, barely resisting thanks to his soul, which is part of a rank 7 being. This "aura" would be deadly for any mortal.
"Vivianne, don't you trust me?" Despite Vivianne's frightening aura, Merlin takes her hand, ignoring his skin peeling off due to radiation.
"Yes, but..." Vivianne tries to express herself, but Merlin interrupts her with a flick on the forehead.
"You can't become a magus here. It would cause too much trouble for me and Kroft."
Merlin sighs in frustration. The birth of an official magus is destructive and highly regulated.
If Vivianne evolves here, there would be deaths and devastating energy for hours.
"Okay, I trust you. But our separation is temporary, right?" Merlin nods to Vivianne's question.
He knows they won't see each other again until she reaches rank 2 or a high enough rank to take control of the Leslie family.
"Yes, but only after you become stronger than the head of the Leslie family." Vivianne nods, resolute.
It was an answer that satisfied Merlin.
"We're here. Keep to yourself what you're about to see." Before them lie objects that can only be described as satanic.
"What is all this?" asks Vivianne, frowning.
"The magic Circles to use the power of 'Beelzebub', a being as powerful as the Eye of Judgment."
*sound* A statue breaks.
"I know it's wrong, but you must use it to become powerful quickly."
It's the Devil's Blood Dagger, or the Gluttony Dagger as Merlin often called it.
It's an object from Beelzebub's memory. Leylin Farlier had stolen part of the archdevil Beelzebub's law and took advantage of it to steal demonic knowledge.
Merlin also stole this knowledge from Leylin Farlier.
"I've reduced Beelzebub's influence, but you risk becoming partially a demon."
Beelzebub is stronger than in the world of gods when Leylin Farlier arrived. Merlin focused on protecting Vivianne's soul.
So, he couldn't prevent the corruption of her soul by the infernal dimension of Baalor and Beelzebub.
Merlin wasn't worried about Vivianne becoming demonic, they're in the world of magi. Laws concerning humanoid beings are different.
"I won't disappoint you..." Vivianne kisses Merlin's forehead and left with the dagger and instructions.
"She has the knowledge of a branded swordsman and a weapon to evolve. Everything depends on her now."
Merlin stays to burn Beelzebub's statues and objects, not wanting to pass for a devil worshipper.
He wanted to avoid attracting more attention than he already had with Kroft.
.....
Merlin's POV
Shortly after Vivianne's departure, a delegation of official magus paid us a visit. They're investigating anomalies and a sign that Vivianne has become a magus. I hope her partially demonic appearance won't bother her too much.
(Image)
"Can you activate the machine?" I order a robot assistant.
[Affirmative,] it responds without emotion.
At almost 8 years old, I can't wait any longer. My body is ready for this operation that would be fatal for an ordinary human.
[Launching countdown before injection of the red dragon bloodline...]
Months of preparation and sacrifices to reconstruct the blood of the ancient red dragon, to reach this moment.
It was truly a titanic task, the descendants of the red dragon currently alive had a deadbloodline.
Merlin had to stimulate it and harvest it molecule by molecule, it was really hard despite the assistance of these machines.
"I've followed a strict diet, I must survive..."
It was partly a gamble but it's necessary.
I fall into an artificial coma, having made arrangements with Bradley in case of prolonged sleep.
[3... 2... 1... 0...]
[Beginning injection...]
[Alert! Administrator Merlin's body cannot withstand the red dragon's blood!]
[Searching for solution... Found: nutrient input and prolonged coma necessary.]
[ Estimated time: 2 weeks and 3 days...]
...
[Alert! Unknown energy fluctuations detected in the capsule...]
....
Leylin Blight's POV
*Bam* Explosion.
"I woke up earlier?"
Merlin's mutation affected his soul, helping me heal, but that doesn't explain everything. It seems that the spell of Rank 7 didn't have as much negative impact on me like Leylin Farlier.
My soul strengthened thanks to Bill during my sleep, and unlike Leylin Farlier, I'm a true rank 7 magus.
He had used the dimensional reincarnation spell when he was quasi-rank 7, this difference seems slight but it's enormous.
"I should see how Evy managed the world in my absence."
I could currently feel activity in the Blight manor, the timeline hasn't been damaged.
We just need the event of Bill Cipher's defeat to unfold perfectly.
"This aura... it is another titan alive??"