Merlin's hand trembled as he leveled the revolver at the fiend, his finger hovering just a breath away from the trigger. A bead of sweat slid down his brow as doubt gnawed at him. It had been years since he'd done anything remotely like this—since he'd poised to kill.The hellspawn lay still, his breaths shallow but steady. For once, he was not in control of the situation. And yet, he noticed the hesitation in his would-be executioner.He let out a laugh, "What's the matter, old man?" his voice was rasp and dripping with disdain. "Cold feet?"The words hit like a blow, cutting through Merlin's resolve. His grip tightened. Without warning, he swung the revolver with all his might, the heavy grip smashing into the fiend's mask and into his skull. The crack of a bone was the only sound before the hellspawn slumped, unconscious and blood seeping from his wound.Merlin let out a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from his forehead. As his breathing steadied, he realized he was still gripping the revolver, its cold weight a stark contrast to the warmth of his magic. He glanced down at it, a distasteful frown crossing his face.With a shake of his head, he tossed the weapon aside. It struck the wall with a loud clang, the wooden grip cracking on impact and the cylinder jamming out of alignment. The revolver clattered to the ground, its barrel dented and the hammer bent at an awkward angle. It was still intact but clearly unusable, reduced to little more than a hunk of metal for now."So uncivilized," Merlin remarked with a touch of disdain.Suddenly, the chaos behind him still roared, and the girl—he couldn't even think about her at the moment. He'd already screwed the pooch on this one. With everything going to hell, what was one more wrong move? Running might just be the best option left, at least, for now.He then jumped across the unconscious hellspawn without a second thought, legs pumping as he darted through the building. Not once did he look back. He burst through a side door, forcing it open with his shoulder, and staggered into the night.What greeted him was a stark contrast to the heat of battle. Dimly lit streets stretched out before him, hemmed in by towering iron buildings that seemed to lean over the cobblestones, casting long, eerie shadows. Gas lamps flickered weakly, offering little warmth to the cold air"Riviere Noire District," he said in disappointment, immediately recognizing the current hellhole he found himself in. "Just my luck."Grime-coated streets wound between tall, soot-stained structures, their windows cracked and stained with age, as if the district itself had forgotten better days. The air hung heavy with the scent of damp brick and coal smoke, while the distant clatter of carriages and murmur of voices echoed through the narrow alleyways. It was a place where shadows seemed to stretch further than they should, where hope felt as brittle as the cobblestones beneath his feet.As he stood near the entrance, basking at the dreary sight of the district, Erisviel suddenly bumped him aside, dashing out of the building with a wild scream."Dude, run!" she shouted.Merlin's eyes widened in surprise. Glancing behind him, he spotted the hellspawn's subordinates closing in, their boots thundering against the floor as they chased after Eris, and now him too. The magus had no patience left for this deadly game of cat and mouse. With a swift motion, he raised a hand above his head, fire engulfing his sleeve."Infernum!" Merlin bellowed, hurling a roaring fireball at the armed men. A grin stretched across his face, it had been too long since he'd felt the exhilarating rush of raw power.But his triumph was short-lived. The blazing orb filled the room with a brilliant glow, streaking toward the men, only to be snuffed out in an instant. A ray of purplish energy sliced through the air, colliding with the fireball and dispersing it like a dying ember.Merlin's eyes widened in shock."A counterspell?" he muttered, disbelief dripping from his words as he scanned the room for the source. His gaze landed on the hellspawn, standing in the corner, his mask now cracked, exposing his seething crimson eyes. The fiend had one hand raised, forming the shape of a finger gun. Merlin felt an odd sense of surprise and familiarity towards the gesture—it was a mockery, and a powerful one at that.Intrigue tugged at the edges of Merlin's mind. He'd seen that gesture before, though he couldn't quite place where. But there was no time to delve deeper into his thoughts as he was suddenly assaulted by the deafening clatter of gunfire."Argh!" Merlin cried out, stumbling as a bullet grazed his cheek. His heart pounded, adrenaline surging. Today had been reckless, far too reckless.His mind raced, finding the only escape left. He still had it in him to cast one more spell for the night, he had to make this count."Tempestris!" Merlin roared and his eyes flashing gold.The word echoed through the room, and in an instant, the air crackled with energy. A violent surge of thunder erupted from Merlin's feet, shaking the very foundation of the building. Lightning streaked through his body as his form vanished with a deafening boom. The sound wave exploded outward, throwing debris into the air, rattling windows, and shaking the walls.The force of his thunderous step collapsed the entrance in on itself. Stone and wood crumbled, sealing off the only exit the hellspawn and his men could currently use to follow the two. The once grand doorway now lay in ruins, a barricade of rubble, dust clouding the air as the last echoes of the thunder faded.The fiend's crimson eyes flickered with frustration as his fists clenched tightly by his sides. The air around him rippled with a barely contained fury, a testament to the rage simmering beneath his calm exterior. He stood motionless, glaring at the impassable wall of rubble that now separated him from his quarry, his breath heavy with irritation. They got away.With a low, aggravated growl, he reached up and removed his cracked mask to see and breathe clearer. Beneath it, his true face was revealed, a pale white skin like snow contrasted by his piercing red eyes, a slight stubble lining his jaw. His white hair framed his face and now complimenting his two curved horns.He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a sigh that spoke of more than just frustration, it was laced with disappointment and something darker. He couldn't afford to falter, not now. The mission was far too important for him than the Conclave makes it up to be. Squaring his shoulders, he turned away from the ruined entrance, his expression hardening as he set his sights on the next step in his pursuit. This was just a minor setback.~Outside, Merlin reappeared in a flash of lightning, a safe distance away from the scene, with the scent of charred ozone lingering in the air. His cheek still stung from the bullet wound, but it was the least of his concerns now.Panting heavily, he ducked into a nearby alley, its shadows offering some semblance of cover. The walls here were weathered and worn, grime collecting in the cracks, a stark contrast to the grandeur of the Riviere Noire District. Leaning against the rough brick, Merlin slid down to the ground, finally letting his muscles relax. His heart still thundered in his chest, each beat echoing the spell he'd just cast.He clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside. Everything had spiraled out of control. What should have been a simple trip down memory lane had turned into an all-out disaster. He cursed under his breath, suddenly remembering his encounter with the hellspawn and how easily he was countered by the bastard.Wiping the blood from his cheek with the back of his hand, the magus then started pondering over what Erisviel mentioned earlier about a certain group of people that the likes of him have created. Though it was anything but him that have caused it, Merlin was sure that these armed gentlemen was a biproduct of the other versions of himself. However, there was still the matter of the leader of their trope that was hellbent on killing him. Who was this man?His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the faint sound of footsteps and voices echoing down the street.Peeking out from his hiding place, Merlin watched as a group of authorities arrived at the scene. They wore dark uniforms, and their demeanor was all business as they surveyed the collapsed building entrance, speaking in hushed but urgent tones. Their lanterns cut through the thick dust still settling from the wreckage, illuminating the devastation he had left behind."Enforcers..." Merlin muttered, ducking out of sight.As he sat in the narrow alley, the flicker of lantern light danced on the edge of his vision, accompanied by the distant murmurs of the authorities conducting their assessment. The crash of rubble from his roaring spell had likely drawn more attention than he'd wanted. He could hear them discussing the possibility of magic, the power behind the destruction, and their voices carried the weight of concern.Merlin wiped the sweat from his brow, his breath finally steadying. He knew he couldn't stay here long, not if he wanted to avoid another stint in a cage. Just as he turned to make his move, a finger jabbed him in the side, making him flinch."Hey, Mer—" Eris tried to say."Damn it, Eris!" he interjected, spinning around, his nerves frayed."Sorry!" Eris raised her free hand in surrender, the other clutching her bleeding shoulder.
"Didn't mean to scare you, just—do you have a spell for this, or what?" She winced, nodding to her wound, her voice laced with a mix of pain and irritation.
Merlin's frown softened as he took in the sight of her injury. There was an exit wound, at least, thank Saratoga for small mercies, but it still needed attention, and fast. He reached out to inspect it, but paused, a grimace crossing his face."Damn it all..." he muttered, frustration bubbling up. He felt his magical reserves drained, each reckless spell from earlier today coming back to bite him. "I'm tapped out. Completely burned through my arcane reserves. If I had even a drop left, you'd be patched up already."Eris let out a sharp breath, forcing a grin despite the pain. "So you mean to tell me you blew all your magic on those flashy stunts back there? Heh. Show-off."Merlin huffed, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. If you hadn't trapped me in that force prison, we wouldn't even have to worry about any of this."She gave him a nervous chuckle after the remark, then swayed slightly. Merlin immediately caught her, his expression serious now. "Let's find a place to rest first," he said, his voice firm. "I'll bandage you up until I can get us something better. But we need to move, now.""Hey, fine by me," Eris nodded, her bravado faltering for just a second. "Just try not to dump me into one of those trash bins, aye?""I just might if you don't keep quiet," Merlin replied, wrapping an arm around her waist to steady her. "Come on, let's get out of here."Together, they slipped into the shadows, leaving behind the mayhem they've both just caused. Merlin's mind was already working overtime, planning their next move as he silently cursed himself for not being more careful with his magic. But right now, keeping Eris safe was all that mattered, after all, he still had a lot of questions for her and how much she knew about the commotion a while ago.~After a tense stretch of sneaking through the cold, shadowed streets of the Riviere Noire district, Merlin and Eris finally found a spot to hunker down, at least until the chaos subsided. By the docks, tucked away in the less frequented corners of the district, Merlin led them to an old, run-down warehouse. The place had once been a hub for the Candleravens when they bought their first ship to explore the far reaches of Leo'nux.To Merlin's relief, the warehouse still appeared abandoned, its walls scarred by time, yet untouched by any recent owners. It was quiet, too, just what they needed. The only thing between them and shelter was a rusted chain, wrapped around the back entrance door."So, uh..." Eris began, her voice light despite the situation, still carried by Merlin. "I don't suppose you've got a spell to—"Before she could finish, Merlin swung his leg back and kicked the door with a hard, deliberate motion. The wood splintered, and the chain snapped loose, the door groaning open with a dull creak."That... works too," Eris said, her tone half-amused, half-surprised. "Y'know, out of all the Merlins I've heard of, you're definitely one of the more... straightforward ones.""Meaning?" Merlin asked, not bothering to look her way as he scanned the empty, dust-laden facility, searching for a decent spot to set her down."Meaning," she continued with a grin, "You don't charm your way around stuff and know when to throw hands."As Merlin set Eris down by the barrels, a brief moment of calm surrounded them, though the tension was palpable. He rolled his shoulders, attempting to shake off the headache that had been growing louder with her incessant chatter."Throw hands?" he scoffed, rubbing his temples. "I swear, the more you talk, the worse my headache gets. Now, speaking of hands..."With a flick of his wrist, he summoned arcane energy, his fingers weaving intricate patterns in the air. A shimmering blue light gathered at his fingertips, crackling with latent power."Tenere!" he intoned, his voice steady and commanding.The magic surged forth, wrapping around Eris like tendrils of light. She felt an invisible force grip her body, as if the air itself had thickened. Her limbs grew heavy, and a strange paralysis washed over her. It was as if the very essence of movement had been snatched away, leaving her frozen in place, a startled expression on her face.Merlin stepped forward, his expression a mix of determination and irritation. He quickly retrieved a length of sturdy rope from his pack, the fibers rough against his fingers. With practiced efficiency, he tied a binding around her wrist and ankle, securing her without much fuss."Don't take this personally, kid," Merlin said, tugging the final knot tight. "But I've got strong suspicions that you and those people back there are connected somehow. So, let's clear things up, shall we?"With a snap of his fingers, the magical hold on Eris faded, but she was now firmly bound by the rope in its place."Who were those people trying to kill us?" Merlin asked, his voice steady."I hate you," Eris spat, her eyes narrowing as she refused to answer directly."Fair enough," Merlin said, unbothered. "But I'm not fixing that shoulder of yours unless you start talking."A tense silence hung between them, neither willing to give in. Finally, Eris sighed in defeat, her resolve cracking just a little. "Fine. You want the truth? The hellspawn that shot me earlier, that's my dad. Or, well, some messed-up version of him that's more interested in killing you than anything else."Merlin blinked, taken aback by the bombshell. He'd been expecting a lot of things, but not that. The way Eris and the hellspawn had interacted earlier had seemed anything but familial."Oh... uh, that's... rough," Merlin muttered, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "But, uh... any reason why he's so dead set on killing me? He said it was personal."Eris shrugged as much as her restraints allowed. "Could be a lot of things. Like I said, all you Merlins across the timelines are the worst. And believe me, you're one of the more tolerable ones. Though given where I'm tied up right now, I'm not sure I should be too quick to judge."Merlin huffed, shaking his head. "Can you blame me? I've only just met you, and so far I've been thrown into a magical prison, dodged death by a dozen weirdos, and now you're telling me your homicidal dad wants me dead. So yeah, forgive me for being a little on edge." He paused, trying to rein in his frustration. "Anyway, I'm going on a tangent here. Why does he want my head on a platter? Any idea?"Eris hesitated for a moment, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Well... there's one thing that stands out, but I gotta ask first—how's your wife doing in your timeline?"Merlin's face twisted in a mix of confusion and disgust. "Wife? I'll have you know, a grand magus like myself doesn't have time for trivial matters like that."Eris blinked, genuinely surprised. "Wait, you're serious? You're not married? No lover or anything? Not even in your current timeline?""The only thing I'm married to is my work," Merlin replied dryly, folding his arms. "And thank Saratoga for that. It's been a peaceful life... until today, anyway."Eris gave him a skeptical look, her eyebrows furrowed. "You Merlins are all weird. Guess that explains why my dad's so pissed. He was married to someone in his timeline. To your wife, specifically."Merlin frowned, his mind whirling. "That's... disturbing. But why would that lead him to hunt me down?""Jealousy? Anger? Hell, maybe he's just bitter that your version of life turned out different from his," Eris muttered. "Doesn't matter much now, does it? And besides, with all things considered, you guys just looove to time travel, so there's another factor for you."Merlin let out a weary sigh, rubbing his temples. "Figures."He glanced at Eris, noticing the weariness creeping into her voice. Without a word, he loosened the ropes binding her wrists and ankles, the rough fibers falling away as he knelt beside her. She didn't resist, watching him cautiously."Stay still. I'm only partly a healer, but I can patch you up enough to get you back on your feet," Merlin said, moving behind her to examine the wound on her shoulder.As his hands moved to the torn fabric around the bullet wound, Eris tensed, a quiet wince escaping her. Merlin worked with a practiced, steady hand, using a small vial of herbal salve from his pouch to clean the injury.There was a beat of silence between them, broken only by Merlin's careful work and the occasional soft hiss of pain from Eris. It wasn't long before the magus noticed her quieting down more than usual."You doing alright?" he asked.Eris gave a slow nod, but Merlin could see the change in her expression, the way her eyes glistened slightly. She quickly blinked, trying to hide it, but it didn't escape Merlin's notice."Something on your mind?" he asked, his tone more cautious now. "Don't worry, almost done here anyway."Eris stayed quiet for a moment, her lips pressed into a tight line. She bit back the words at first, but after a deep breath, they slipped out. "Just... thinking about my dad. About how things used to be. Before all this."Merlin paused, his hand stilling on her shoulder as he gently applied the salve. "It wasn't always like this between you two, was it?"Eris shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "No. Versions of him usually aren't like... this. But I guess that's what peeking through all those messed-up futures does to someone. I think he just... lost himself in the bad ones." Her voice cracked, and despite her best effort, a single tear slipped down her cheek.Merlin didn't say anything at first, just continued his work in silence. When he spoke again, his voice was softer, tinged with a rare sympathy. "I get it. Losing people like that... it messes with you. Makes you feel like you're fighting someone who isn't even there anymore."Eris wiped at her eyes, sniffling. "Yeah, it's not like this is the first time it's happened. But... I suppose it just doesn't get any easier."Merlin finished bandaging her wound, his fingers moving carefully, as if the act of healing gave him a reprieve from the weight of their conversation. When he was done, he rested a hand on her good shoulder, his brow furrowed in thought."Well," Merlin began with a familiar weariness, "what can you do? This is why I've always leaned toward the quiet life. Keep people at a distance, and you don't end up with... this."He gestured vaguely to the mess of their situation. But even as he said it, the words felt hollow, like he was reciting something he'd told himself too many times.A memory flickered—back when the Candleravens were still in their early days, surrounded by other guild parties. People from those other squads always came to him for advice. Despite his grumbles and reluctance, Merlin would offer what he could, often masking his concern with stern lectures or dry remarks. More often than not, those talks ended with them offering him a drink strong enough to knock him out cold.He shook off the memory and looked back at Eris, his gaze softening. "Thing is, though... it's not always that simple, is it? I used to tell myself the same thing—distance yourself, keep your head down, avoid attachments." He paused, choosing his next words carefully. "But no matter how much you try to shut it all out, it still finds a way to you. And running from it... doesn't make it hurt any less."Eris glanced at him, surprised by the shift in his tone."The Candleravens came to me with their troubles, too, asking for advice. I'd tell them to keep their heads down, focus on the job. But deep down, I knew... that wasn't really the answer. The more you care, the more it hurts. But those moments in between, the good ones, they're worth something."Eris sniffed again, this time with a faint smile. "You didn't strike me as the type to get sentimental, Merlin."Merlin scoffed. "Don't get used to it. I prefer my quiet life, remember?"Eris finally let out a shaky breath, a mix of relief and sorrow washing over her. She turned slightly to look at him, her eyes red but determined. "Okay, and thanks, too, by the way. For not being a total, you know, jerk."Merlin gave her a small, crooked smile. "You're... welcome."For a moment, the tension between them eased, and they sat there in silence, the weight of their respective struggles momentarily lighter. Merlin wasn't one for heartfelt moments, but even he couldn't deny the quiet bond forming between them, built not on words, but on shared hardship.After a beat, Eris broke the silence, her voice carrying a familiar, teasing lilt. "Quick question, though," she began, "Hypothetically, if you were to have a daughter or something, what would you name her?"Merlin chuckled at her sudden shift back to her chattier self. He rolled his eyes, playing along. "Well, to be honest, a relative of mine once placed a bet on this. If I ever wound up having a daughter, I'd have name her... Anna."There was a beat of silence, and before Merlin could react, Eris reached over, grabbing a fistful of his hair with surprising aggression. "YOU NAMED ME ANNA ON A BET?!"