Merlin truly ventured into the forest to find food, picking fruits she thought would suffice to fill her stomach. She also caught fish in the lake. Once she had a few, Merlin gathered firewood and roasted them. She began eating and shared some fish with Lucy.
"Are you still using the same method to catch fish?" Lucy asked, having silently watched Merlin dart around for food.
"Well, how else should I catch them?" Merlin replied, unaware of other techniques, relying on a sharpened spear.
"You could use your inner power to control the water," Lucy suggested.
"How?" Merlin asked, puzzled.
Lucy transformed into a human form and demonstrated by pointing her finger at the lake. Instantly, water surged upward, tossing several fish onto the shore. Merlin quickly collected the fish and resumed roasting them.
"Did you understand?" Lucy asked, having just taught water manipulation using inner power compatible with Merlin's.
"I understand we got more fish without any effort! No more hassle," Merlin replied happily, clearly missing the point.
"It's not about the fish—it's about learning to control your inner power. Did you get that or not?" Lucy sighed, shaking her head at Merlin's ignorance.
"Oh, so you were teaching me? You should've said that earlier. I thought you were catching fish for me," Merlin replied, realizing her mistake.
While Merlin roasted fish, a massive wave suddenly surged from the lake, drenching her and extinguishing her fire. Her fish remained uncooked.
"What are you doing?! I'm soaked! And I don't have spare clothes! Are you mad at me or something?" Merlin yelled, frustrated with Lucy's antics.
"You think? I'm mad because you refuse to practice! I just taught you something vital, and all you care about are fish," Lucy replied nonchalantly.
Though Lucy looked elegant in her human form, her overwhelming power made her presence intimidating.
"All my clothes are wet now. Don't look at me! I'm freezing!" Merlin complained.
"You're not exactly a sight to behold. There's nothing attractive about you," Lucy teased.
"Ugh, at least find me some clothes," Merlin pleaded.
"Do I look like your servant? Go get them yourself! Or better yet, go home and grab some clothes if you're so afraid of your family," Lucy mocked her further.
Eventually, Lucy took pity and reignited the fire to warm Merlin.
"Thanks! At least I can roast my fish again," Merlin said, relieved.
Not long after, Lucy returned with a set of clothes for Merlin.
"Here, take this," Lucy said, tossing the outfit.
Merlin eagerly grabbed it and went to a nearby cave to change.
They were in the heart of the forest, the very place where Merlin first encountered Lucy. It was Lucy's domain, which she knew like the back of her hand. No animal dared challenge her authority there.
When Merlin returned, she noticed something odd about the clothes. "Grandpa, did you grab the wrong clothes? These are men's clothes!"
"Not at all. When I first met you, you were dressed as a man, so don't blame me," Lucy replied smugly.
"Right, right. That was my fault for disguising myself. You must've really thought I was a man," Merlin admitted, laughing it off.
Having run away from home without preparation—no spare clothes or money—Merlin originally planned to hide for only half a day. However, her misadventures led her to the tournament, leaving her stranded with nothing but Lucy's male clothes to wear.
"I like you better like this. You're easier on the eyes than a cute cat that's always disappearing," Merlin teased, watching Lucy's human form.
"I don't want anyone knowing I'm your companion. Just pretend I'm a pet to avoid suspicion," Lucy advised.
"Fine," Merlin agreed.
Though Lucy was a powerful companion, she wanted to see how far Merlin could go on her own. Lucy also resolved not to intervene in the tournament unless Merlin faced a life-or-death situation, as her survival was tied to Merlin's due to their pact.
Merlin couldn't stop thinking about Sujin sitting beside the King, intensifying her desire for revenge.
"If I want revenge, I have to become stronger. Judging by the tournament yesterday, I'm still not good enough. I need to train more," Merlin thought, determined.
Remembering Lucy's demonstration, Merlin realized she needed to master her inner power.
"Okay, Lucy, watch me!" Merlin announced, facing the lake and focusing her energy in her hands, just as Lucy had shown her. She released her inner power, but nothing happened. The water remained still, and not even a leaf moved.
"I saw you control the water so easily. Why isn't it working for me?" Merlin groaned in frustration.
Lucy burst into laughter at Merlin's failed attempt.
"What are you doing? You can't even move a leaf, let alone water. Try again, but focus this time. Gather your inner power in your hand and direct it towards what you want to control. Feel it and concentrate," Lucy explained.
Merlin tried again, concentrating harder. This time, as she released her power, a massive whirlpool formed in the lake, sending torrents of water surging out. The resulting flood swept through the forest, causing chaos.
"I did it!" Merlin cheered, thrilled by her success. But her joy was short-lived.
The flooding water continued, overwhelming the forest and pouring into nearby villages. Panic set in as Merlin realized she had unintentionally created a disaster and had no idea how to stop it.