The moment the silver dragon ring was slipped into my index finger, it remained still. As a matter if fact, the ring is quite small compared to my finger, so it can only fit halfway through my index finger.
Well, can't say I wasn't disappointed because I am.
"It's okay. Thousands of children went through the same as you do. It's pretty norm-" Just as Balthazar wanted to comfort me, the silver dragon's eyes suddenly gained a red shine in them as the silver dragon ring unclasped itself from my index finger before climbing on my palm.
The silver dragon ring was no longer just a ring but a full bonafide small dragon on my palm, staring directly at me.
I can feel our connection. It's like I finally retrieved something that has been lost from me for a very long time.
"Where have you been all my life?" I muttered as I pet the small dragon, watching is squirm under my finger.
"It's you…You're the one I've been searching for!" Balthazar couldn't believe his eyes, to the point that even fell to his knees.
Even Diorno, who was expecting no reaction from the Dragon Ring to actually react when it comes to contact with me.
Now, Balthazar has finally completed his last mission. To find the one who will inherit Merlin's legacy, which is me.
I admit, I am excited. With this ring, I could create so many spells involving those that aren't usually possible with traditional ones.
Such as the making a living being. An army of living beings at my beck and call.
"It seems like our meeting is fate. I'm glad I saw that explosion." Balthazar said with a mix of relief and relaxation in his tone as if a huge burden was lifted off his shoulders. Which is true. From what I know, he's been doing this for thousands of years, or maybe just a few hundred, I was exaggerating.
"So…What can I do with it? Will you teach me how to use Merlin's magic?" Upon hearing my question, Balthazar contemplated for a few seconds before offering.
"Well, I could. But if you have some time, we can practice on Merlin's Tower instead."
"Merlin's tower?" Oh great, another treasure trove delivered to my doorstep!
Without hesitation, I chose the latter.
"Where?"
"It's quite a long way from here, it'll take us an entire month to travel on foot."
"Do you know what it looks like? Or the place around it?" Instead of feeling down from his words, I simply asked.
"I do." He nodded his head.
"Good. This will make it easier then. Imagine that place in your mind and allow me to enter you." I don't know if it's because I'm stronger than him or simply because I'm Merlin's successor, but Balthazar didn't even hesitate to nod his head in agreement, lowering down his mental defenses so I could smoothly enter him.
At the same time, I used a Mind-Reading spell to watch his thoughts and soon, a large expanse of forest appeared in front of my eyes, though I don't see any tall structure or tower yet.
'Must be hidden. It would be dumb of Merlin if his tower could be found through normal means.' Printing the forest in my mind, I retreated from Balthazar's and informed him.
"Let's turn that 1 month journey to 1 second, shall we?" With a confident smirk on my face, I wore my Sling Ring and waves my hand in a circular motion, letting the two witness my portal conjuration.
"A portal." I hear Balthazar whisper to himself.
"Now all it takes is a single step." I continued before stepping forward, directly changing my position from the deep heart of the Great Britain to an unknown forest thousands of miles away.
Balthazar and Diorno both stepped inside the portal before closing it.
"Where are we?" Diorno asked and continued.
"You know we just left your student and that kid, right?"
"We'll be back in time. Don't worry, this won't take a day." I replied, reassuring the man.
"You know what, why am I even here. I'll go back and continue healing those people in the slums." Nodding my head at his request, I reopened the portal back to the slums and he went back.
"The tower is close. It's not far from here." Balthazar said, walking past me, and taking the lead.
While following him, I initiated a conversation centering around Balthazar's story and his Master, Merlin.
"Are there more people like you? Who can use the Magic of Merlin?" Of course I know the answer to this is yes but this is the perfect way to start a conversation, pretending to not know anything.
"Yes. Merlin only taught his magic to people he trusted, mostly his close allies, unfortunately, he included his sister among them, Morgan Le Fay, not only she betrayed him, but she also taught the same magic he created to her own allies, creating her own group of dark magicians who seeks to rule the human world." Balthazar said with a solemn tone, though I couldn't help myself from chuckling, causing him to react.
"Why're you laughing?" His lips twitched, as if he's saying, 'Here, I am, pouring my feelings and you're just laughing?'.
"I'm sorry…It's just that. I couldn't believe that Morgan would actually be so dumb." Seeing his confusion, I continued.
"If conquering the world were that easy, then there would be no wars between factions and pantheons. Have you heard of the Great War?" I asked him in which he nodded his head.
"I've heard about it from my master, Merlin. He said it is the largest war the world has ever witnessed after the infamous Titanomachy from the Greek Pantheon. It's a war between God and his Angels, Devils and the Fallen Angels." Balthazar finished.
"Correct. I wasn't expecting humans to actually know about the Great War." Chuckling, a thought passed through my mind and I couldn't help but ask him.
"Say, what's your thoughts about devils?"
"Devils?….I'm not sure. Merlin always told me to not judge a man based on rumors and gossips. People say they're bad but since I haven't met one yet, I'll stay neutral about them." Hearing his answer made me proud.
What a good student. Praising his new master so early.
"I also heard from master Merlin that the reason why Morgan was so strong is because he made a deal with a devil." Oh, that's interesting. I should ask him more about this later.
"Why'd you ask?" He continued with a confused look.
"Well, let's just say today is your lucky day. Since you haven't met a devil yet. Now you do." At the same time as I finished my words, I unfurled my wings from my back, my entire set of wings.
"You…" I can see Balthazar's eyes widening in surprise as he stepped back.
"Let me introduce myself again. My name is Chamber, a High-class devil. Nice to meet you, Balthazar." I grinned, watching his reaction with interest.
"This…this is a lot to take in."
"What is it? That the one who inherited your master's legacy is a devil? Or because your new master is now a devil." I calmly asked.
"No. None of those. I was just surprised, not expecting you to be a devil. After all, during our fight, you didn't use any…dark spells or something." His words made me laugh.
"Dark spells? Is that what Merlin taught you? Come on, we're better than that. Dark spells doesn't necessarily mean they're bad. It's just that humans are too weak to wield them, so they hurt themselves in the process of using them." I explained, this is based on the books I read on Sitri's library, so it's the truth.
"Wait really? I didn't know that." Balthazar started to open up, no longer cautious like before after the reveal.
I'm glad.
I don't have to resort to forcing him to be loyal to me.
"So, is it true?" Balthazar all of the sudden, asked me.
"True? True about what?" It was my turn to be confused.
"That devils collect souls…" He whispered as if he doesn't want God himself to hear him.
"I'm afraid not. Only Heaven does that and some other pantheons like Hades from the Greek pantheon. He collects the souls of those who prays to the Greek god. Others are the same." I can see the disappointment in his eyes which he quickly hid.
"I see. Thank you for answering."
"…You want to see someone, don't you? A dead one, to be exact." I revealed to him, shocking him.
"I…That wasn't my…" He started to stutter.
"Maybe I can help." I said, causing him to stare at me.
"Don't stare at me like that. I'm not into men." I pretended to cover my body, causing him to blush in embarrassment.
Would you look at that. An old wizard who has lived for hundreds of years, blushing like a teenager. What would Merlin think of it?
"You see. I'm not a normal devil. I'm different. Unlike devils who will feel a painful zap when uttering the holy name of God. I don't. That's because me and God, are quite close, you can almost say we're like grandfather and grandson." While telling him this, I couldn't help but feel mesmerized by me and God's relationship.
It feels odd for God and a devil to act together as if they're not enemies in the battlefield.
Seeing that he's still confused, I clarified.
"What I'm trying to say, is that I can call God and you can meet the soul of Merlin. Yes I know you want to see Merlin again."
"So, how about it?" I offered.
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[Next Chapter: Ch. 59 - Merlin's Tower!]
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