Merlin finally found the ring in an unnoticeable corner on his writing desk. When Aita had given it to him, he hadn't thought much of it and had left it there. Now, he picked up the ring, gently brushing off the dust.
The ring was still pitch black, and as he held it, he felt a chilling aura emanating from it. At the time, Merlin had dismissed it as an ordinary ring, but now that he knew Aita's true identity, he was certain this ring held a greater significance.
Merlin recalled Aita's expression when he'd given him the ring. Aita's face had been pale, and he'd seemed exhausted, though he hadn't said where he was going.
"Could he have sensed he was in danger?" Merlin thought. The more he considered it, the more likely it seemed. Otherwise, Aita wouldn't have given him this ring so suddenly.
The ring was adorned with a terrifying, grotesque beast, which Merlin traced with his finger, studying every detail, though he found nothing unusual. He then brought the ring close to his eye, examining it for any markings or inscriptions.
But just as he concentrated on the ring, the world around him suddenly went dark.
A strange feeling washed over him. Despite the darkness, he felt he could "see" everything around him. He found himself in a dark, spacious area, roughly ten square meters, with only one thing standing out—a black-covered book resting in the center.
"A space?" Merlin wondered, snapping back to reality. He looked around and found himself seated on his chair, the ring still in his hand. It seemed like a dream, but it had felt real.
"No, it wasn't an illusion," he decided. Every detail was clear in his mind. Determined, he focused on the ring again, and after a moment, he was back in that dark space.
"It seems this ring contains a space inside," he mused. Aita must have left something important in here. Merlin suspected Aita had intended this for him.
The space was empty except for the black-covered book. Merlin concentrated on retrieving it, and with a thought, the book vanished from the void. When he looked down, he found it lying on his desk.
The book was thick and bound with black thread. When he opened it, he found it filled with strange symbols, some resembling mathematical patterns from his past life.
Beneath these patterns were lines of dense writing in Morta script, and the handwriting was unmistakably Aita's.
"Morta script?" Merlin frowned, recognizing a few scattered words he'd learned, such as "fireball," "model," and "spell." Though he could understand fragments, much of it remained a mystery.
Despite this, Merlin was excited. The book seemed to be Aita's notes, likely filled with insights and practices from his spellcasting. It was, without a doubt, a spellbook!
Merlin's heart raced. Since witnessing the power Aita and the white-robed man had wielded, he'd been captivated by this unimaginable strength. Aita's spellbook represented an open doorway to a whole new world.
Excited though he was, Merlin had to close the book in frustration. The Morta script within used many obscure words, and with only a vocabulary of around two hundred words, he couldn't make sense of most sentences. To understand it, he'd need to know at least a thousand Morta words.
Just then, there was a rapid knock on the door. Startled, Merlin quickly hid the spellbook before opening it.
"Master Merlin, a few knights from the City Guard are here," said the butler, his face filled with worry. "They've asked that you accompany them."
"City Guard knights?" Merlin's heart sank. He'd suspected that Aita's situation would bring trouble for those associated with him, but he hadn't expected it to come so quickly.
"It's all right, Butler. I'll speak to them," Merlin said calmly as he made his way downstairs.
In the hall, a man in silver armor sat with three City Guard knights by his side. Merlin only gave the guards a cursory glance before turning his attention to the man in silver armor, who had the appearance of a Guardian Swordsman from Gran City.
"Are you Wilson Merlin?" the man asked coldly.
"I am," Merlin replied calmly. "What is this about?"
"We are Guardian Swordsmen from the Gran City Church. We need you to come with us for questioning." The three knights stepped forward, blocking Merlin's path.
Merlin frowned. Knowing the Church's influence, he understood that the City Guard had likely received permission from the lord, leaving him with no choice.
"Very well, I'll go with you."
The butler hurried over, visibly anxious. "Master Merlin, what's going on? Should I contact the baron?"
Merlin shook his head with a slight smile. "No need to trouble my father. I'll handle this quickly. And don't tell May, or she might do something rash."
After giving his instructions, Merlin stepped into the carriage the guards had prepared. Two knights rode alongside, escorting him.
"Master Merlin, don't worry," one of the guards said politely. "We just need you to help us with our investigation. Once we're sure you have no ties to the heretic, you'll be free to go."
Merlin gave a slight nod, ignoring the guard and focusing on the Guardian Swordsman in the carriage with him. The man was young, likely under thirty, with a cold demeanor, and he had barely glanced at Merlin since entering.
Trying to gather information, Merlin spoke softly. "A friend of mine recently went to Gran City for an exchange and became a Guardian Swordsman. I heard he received the High Priest's blessing. You might know him?"
"You mean Cardorone?" the swordsman asked, a glimmer of surprise in his eyes.
Merlin nodded. "Yes, Cardorone."
The swordsman's expression softened slightly. "Interesting coincidence. Cardorone was assigned to our squad after his blessing from the High Priest. He's not here this time because he's still new to the position."
This connection seemed to ease some tension, and Merlin finally asked the question that had been on his mind. "The heretic was incredibly powerful. It's said they have dangerous powers that ordinary people can't combat. But this time, you managed to eliminate a heretic. Who exactly is this 'Jason'?"
The atmosphere in the carriage grew tense, and even the City Guard knight leaned forward, curious.
Satisfied with their interest, the swordsman smirked slightly. "You're lucky to hear it from me. Most wouldn't know who Jason is. He's an officer of the Holy Inquisition, a rank above us Guardian Swordsmen, and answers only to the Church's central authority. Even the High Priest can't command the Inquisition. They're only deployed against heretics, and are said to be closer to the Divine than anyone, having been granted extraordinary powers by the Divine itself."
The swordsman's voice held a touch of admiration as he finished.