"I see now. Dragons are the strongest among dead companion beasts. Above dragons are living companion beasts, and the strongest of all are those that can transform into humans. Am I right?" Merlin asked, proud of his reasoning.
Zaky and Azuma gave him a thumbs-up, a rare sign of approval.
Their camaraderie created a rare and curious sight, drawing the attention of everyone passing by. It was unheard of for a leader of the Blue Clan and a leader of the Black Clan to sit together, let alone with someone as peculiar as Merlin.
After finishing their meal, they stepped outside, preparing to head home since night had fallen, and another match awaited them the next day.
"Where are you headed?" Zaky asked Merlin.
Merlin paused, considering his house—more accurately, the den of villains it had become. Returning unprepared would invite attacks from his stepmother's subordinates, former elite soldiers of the kingdom.
An idea sparked in Merlin's mind. He grabbed both Zaky and Azuma by their hands, tugging them toward his house. Surely, with these powerful allies, especially Azuma, a prince and leader of the Blue Clan, he could face his cruel stepmother.
"Wait, where are you taking us?" Azuma asked, confused by Merlin's sudden urgency.
"To my house. Let's cause a scene," Merlin replied with determination.
Azuma and Zaky exchanged glances, their confusion growing. They had no idea of Merlin's plans.
"Hold on. What's the problem? What's the plan? It's strange to just show up at your house like this," Zaky protested. While he enjoyed chaos, he wasn't keen on charging into someone's home uninvited—especially not Merlin's, given his ambiguous past.
The three ended up sitting in front of the restaurant, drawing even more attention from onlookers.
Merlin sat between Zaky and Azuma, looking like the center of an unlikely trio. Lucy, ever curious, lounged nearby like a lazy, oversized cat, occasionally glancing at Merlin as if gauging his intentions.
"So here's the story," Merlin began. "I was locked in a dark, cold room for a year by my stepmother. When I escaped, I disguised myself as a boy to avoid recognition. I wanted to return to the academy to learn martial arts, but it wasn't accepting new students. Instead, I ended up in this tournament."
Hearing Merlin's plight—his imprisonment, starvation, and his life on the run—Zaky and Azuma felt sympathy. It was clear why Merlin was so peculiar: years of abuse had left their mark.
Lucy, who had been indifferent to Merlin's shortcomings, now showed visible concern. The cat-like companion seemed to soften toward her master.
"This is unacceptable! How can your clan let you be treated this way without taking action?" Zaky turned to Azuma with frustration.
"I only just heard this story. How could I have acted sooner?" Azuma retorted. "Merlin, you have power. Why not use it?"
Azuma's words hit a nerve. Merlin had gained strength after forming a contract with Lucy, but without formal training or guidance, he felt inadequate.
"I don't have power! I'm only in this tournament because Zaky signed me up," Merlin grumbled.
"You have potential, Merlin," Zaky defended himself. "It'd be a waste not to join."
"Yeah, sure, as long as my next opponent isn't one of your dragons, I'll be fine," Merlin muttered sarcastically.
Azuma shook his head. "You're the strangest person I've ever met."
"Fine, help me go back home," Merlin pleaded again.
"Not yet. Let me come up with a proper plan. Then we'll confront your stepmother," Azuma suggested.
"Where should I sleep tonight, then?" Merlin asked, his concern shifting to his immediate predicament.
"Stay with me at the inn," Zaky offered enthusiastically.
"No, sleep at the academy with the other invited guests," Azuma countered.
"If I stay at the academy, I might run into my father. That'll cause even more problems," Zaky muttered, dreading a confrontation with the Black Clan's king, who wouldn't approve of his mingling with enemies.
"I wasn't inviting you; I was inviting Merlin," Azuma clarified. His interest in Merlin's potential made him inclined to ensure her safety.
"Fine! I'll stay at the academy," Merlin agreed.
Their presence, sitting and chatting as though old friends, had already drawn a crowd. Suddenly, Azuma's younger siblings arrived, their expressions a mix of concern and confusion.
"Brother, what are you doing with the Black Clan's leader and that oddball?" the second prince demanded, clearly displeased.
Sujin, the youngest and least connected to his siblings, wasn't among them. Instead, the second, third, and fourth princes had come looking for Azuma, baffled to find him in such unusual company.