"I shouldn't have sued Arthur Mordred to help Kara escape."

Merlin said this, and the Knights had been searching the territory of Carmellot for three days, but could not find the whereabouts of the young knight. For Amores, who was deeply troubled by the druid's fable of 'the man who would eventually kill Arthur', this was undoubtedly the last straw that broke his head, meaning that fate was finally moving forward according to the original trajectory, and the Eternal King would finally usher in his curtain - even if the people who loved him tried desperately to stop him, it was useless.

The Druid Priest allowed Merlin to see Mordred kill Arthur, causing him to be wary of the knight from the start. As a result, I doubted again and again, disappointed again and again, and made wrong choices again and again. He could have brought magic back to Camelot, but he didn't. Arthur could have forgiven the girl and let her leave Camelot with Mordred, but he couldn't. He was so eager to change the hopeless future that was imposed on him, and he obviously wanted his king to live, but after all, he was just cocooning himself, trying his best, and in exchange for an unchangeable fate.

- He always thought he was changing the future, but he always inadvertently contributed to his fate...... This is true of both Mojana and Mordred. Everyone in this world seems to think that Emorys can do anything, and will finally be able to bring magic back to Carmellot and complete his destiny. But only Merlin himself knows that he never wants to be great, and he has always hoped that the people he values can live well, rather than being so powerless to be at the mercy of the gods, and can only wander in the torrent of fate.

"It's not your fault, Merlin." Listening quietly to the mage's muttering, even without the use of psychic ability, he could feel the surging and sad despair on Merlin's face. West sighed silently and was silent for a long time, but finally he could only say this, "You just want to protect Arthur too much...... There is such a desire to protect a person, and no matter what you do, it is understandable. ”

"But that's just an excuse."

Listless pillowed on his arm, not feeling like he was so comforted. Merlin turned his head, avoiding the empty gaze of the boy that roamed every corner of the room, and felt inexplicably ashamed—not only for the fact that he would hurt others because of selfishness and suspicion, but also for the fact that even though he tried his best to avoid the doom of fate, he could only continue to follow the established path wolf bèi.

- He didn't want West to see himself as a failure. But in fact, apart from West, there is no one in the whole of Camelot who can make him talk so unreservedly.

"What should I do, Serena Williams?"

With a helpless look in his eyes, the black-haired mage looked up in a dejected manner, panicking for help from the last person who could stand side by side with him.

There was a faint hint of complexity in his expression, and of course he knew what it was like to watch his loved one slide into the abyss of death. West couldn't help but think of how the blue-eyed girl's life passed slowly between his fingers at the bottom of that deep and dark mountain, and he didn't even have the slightest chance to save it. Even after countless days and nights of baptism, grief is still like a sin mark that is deeply seared into every inch of blood and bones, and over the years, rotting bones and eroding the heart.

Now, Merlin seems to be facing the same situation, but fortunately, the first qiē is not over yet. And Charles taught him that no matter how sure a thing seems to be, before it really settles, everything is variable.

"You have magic, Merlin, and you are the most powerful mage in the world. Emorys will never lose to anyone. ”

I recalled the annals I had seen in the Oxford Library, and how those poetic and beautiful words described the incomparable power of Master Merlin. West fumbled with the boy's slightly trembling hand, and the slightly cold finger warmth gently fell on the palm of his hand, bringing a tingling sensation that was about to leave. For a moment, Merlin's throat tightened, and his heartbeat was like thunder.

"And, you still have me."

In the silence of the whole world, he seemed to hear the boy say this. Those empty and dark eyes seemed to have a glow at this time, falling straight between his eyebrows, and his eyes were reverent, as if he was making a vow that was the most ordinary, but enough to keep for a lifetime.

West smiled faintly:

"I'm not going to make you anything like me, Merlin."

Absolutely, it will not let you also suffer such heart-rending pain, you can only suffer in regret and longing forever.

……

Closing the door, a breeze swept through the sideburns and hair, drawing a small arc in mid-air. Walking out of the obscure library, he was caught off guard and embraced the sun, although this kind of vision gap is not something that everyone can accept immediately, but for him now, in the endless darkness, change is no longer an obstacle to worry about.

Walk slowly down the corridor towards the outside of the castle. West avoided the oncoming patrolling soldiers and turned onto a secluded path that few people passed. Although we can accurately distinguish the surrounding qi qi by relying on brain waves and air currents, after all, it is not as intuitive as vision, and occasionally bumps into people or other things in places where the crowd is too dense, which brings some trouble. As a result, since he lost his sight, he has rarely come out of his home alone like this...... Except today.

Because, he has something that must be confirmed—

"You mean, places where visions often occur, or people who are born with magical abilities?"

Pushing his glasses, the old library guard kept flipping through the old yellowed parchment in front of him, and his tone was a little puzzled:

"Aren't you really looking for wizards and their colonies, my dear child?"

"Of course not." Sighing helplessly, West pressed the center of his eyebrows, and explained to the old man for the first time: "Wizards' magic comes from acquired learning, except for this, they are no different from ordinary people...... I'm looking for someone who really has some kind of talent, maybe they're a lot like wizards, and they can do things beyond imagination. However, there is no doubt that the power comes from their physical instincts, not from some external force. ”

“…… It sounds as unpleasant as a wizard. ”

Buried in the pile of paper, his voice sounded a little muffled. The old man thought for a while, but he really didn't find any relevant records in his memory, so he had to shake his head at the young man regretfully:

"Forgive me for not knowing anything about this, kid. But I think you should ask Gaius about that...... After all, as far as Camelot as a whole is concerned, probably no one knows that supernatural power better than him. ”

…… It was because Gaius didn't know that I was desperate to try my luck at the library.

Slouching over the thatch scattered on the ground, West pursed his lips in frustration as he recalled the conversation he had just had with the old man to no avail. Sure enough, in this age of magic, even if there are mutants, I am afraid that they will be classified as wizards, and they will either be killed or live incognito. He alone wants to find such a similar person like him in Camelot and even the five major powers in a short period of time, I am afraid it is just wishful thinking.

Unconsciously touching his own dark eyes, the boy sighed again. In order to restore his vision, he had to remove the hints that Adelaide had rooted in his consciousness, and this could only be done by those with psychic powers—which was why he was suddenly so desperate to find a companion. After all, the gods' final judgment on Arthur was imminent, and if he could not regain his former strength before this time, then all the determination he had promised Merlin to protect his fate for the mage would be nothing more than empty talk.

He also once thought about turning to magic. But after several attempts, it was not known whether West himself was able to repel the spiritual power, or Merlin was never able to put the spell into his consciousness, and their efforts ended in failure. Although Gaius had promised to help him keep an eye on this information and find a way to dispel the hints in his free time, West felt the urgency of time for the first time, even after a long and endless time, when fate would come true.

…… So, what's next?

Constantly thinking of all the ways worth trying, even the idea of trying the effects of the ancient black magic despite Merlin's objections began to take root. As he walked like this, he was about to leave this secluded path, when West suddenly paused, and a trace of alarm crossed his heart.

Someone was watching him.

"Who?" Turn around and face the empty street behind you. There was no breath of anyone in the wind, not even breathing, but he was able to catch an unfamiliar brainwave hidden in the darkness, like a lurking beast, watching its chosen prey along the way.

"You see, it's useless for a blind man to just hide from my eyes."

I stood there and waited for a while, but no one responded. West tilted his head slightly, 'staring' directly at a wall hidden in the shadows in front of him, and said nonchalantly. At the same time, he ruthlessly swung a qi blade, with a chilling killing intent that was diametrically opposed to his expression, and in the blink of an eye, it left a deep mark on the blue-gray brick wall.

'Peng-'

The sound of the rubble splashing was deafening in mid-air, but it strangely did not attract anyone's attention, not even the knights who passed by at the end of the path. Seeing this, West, who had more or less learned some magic with Merlin, probably understood that he might have met a high-level wizard who was good at concealment charms.

"Camelot doesn't allow magic to exist, I thought it should be common sense between you." Coldly 'watching' at the edge of the notch, a black figure gradually appeared, and the young man's fingers curled up at his side moved dangerously.

"Not allowed, doesn't mean there is no magic."

An old, hoarse voice came from under the cloak. Although it was true that he was almost wiped on his neck just now, the man didn't seem to be panicked: "...... Hidden in Camelot but never discovered by King Arthur, aren't you and Amoris both? If Mordred hadn't told us so, Lady Mojana would still be puzzled by this. ”

…… Mordred's ......

Eyebrows jumped, long as the knight defected, he didn't expect him to keep a secret for Merlin anymore, West pressed his forehead tiredly. Suddenly, I regretted that I had used my ability in front of Mordred so lightly, so that now I seem to have confirmed my identity as a 'magician' - so now, in addition to Merlin, is Mojana going to attack him?

"So, are you sure you want to use magic here, right under King Camelot's nose?" Sensing a very special force around the wizard, West twitched the corners of his mouth unconsciously. Even if he didn't take Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table seriously, what about Emmores? Didn't he think that the fluctuations in mana would soon attract Merlin?

"Amoris and Arthur went out hunting early in the morning...... Do you think we'll be ignorant of Camelot's movements? ”

The laughter was unpleasant and hoarse, as if sawed on rotting wood with a blunt saw. The wizard stretched out his hand and chanted an ancient spell full of magical power, and almost in the blink of an eye, knocked the boy out of thin air as if he wanted to say something.

…… If you don't listen to what people say, you will suffer.

"Ahem—"

He felt a powerful blow coming at him, piercing through the transparent barrier he had erected, striking him in the chest and slamming him against the outer wall of the castle. West endured the sharp pain of rolling in his internal organs, coughed up the blood in his mouth, and trembled and climbed up from the grass by holding on to the wall:

"Looks like we're going to have to fight hard today, right?"

"Now that you know, what nonsense!"

The prayer of the ancient religion was recited again, but this time it was flashed by the young man's agility. The wizard watched with some regret as the spell struck the wall, blasting a cloud of blue brick and rubble, and the hand under the cloak did something, and a flaming flame appeared in front of West out of thin air, forming a circle, enveloping him in heat high enough to vaporize a person.

“……*.”

Because standing on the flammable thatched pile, he soon felt the tongue of fire snaking in, and almost the next second he was about to lick the □□ skin, West couldn't help but curse secretly. He'd never fought against a wizard, and he wasn't sure if his superpowers could stop the mysterious magic. In addition, his mental power is damaged, his vision is lost, and his own strength is greatly reduced...... How to fight this wizard is obviously a very confusing question.

- Can I just stand here like a fool and wait for Merlin to save me?

How can it be.

The corners of his mouth twitched, and he couldn't imagine what a terrible scene it could be. West put a finger to his temple, gritted his teeth, and began to try to assimilate the wizard's perception, only to feel a pinprick pain in his head. The loss of mental power made him unable to use 'consciousness assimilation' at will as before, and mind control was even more delusional. But if he didn't want to die here like this, he could only give it a go.

Try to ignore the tightening ring of fire around you, and focus all your attention on the brainwaves of the assimilating wizard. When he felt a scorching power in his palm begin to beat, he knew that he had finally succeeded.

"Oh?" Raising his eyebrows, he watched with some surprise as the flames around the boy suddenly faded like a tide, but instead of extinguishing, they split into several streams like snakes and coiled around him. The black-robed wizard's voice finally became solemn: "It seems that as a magician, you are not much inferior to Amorris. ”

"As a neutral druid who protects nature, I am also surprised that you would stand on the side of Mojana and fight for the tiger."

sneered coldly, since Chengcheng has carried out 'consciousness assimilation', some things buried deep in the other party's consciousness can also be seen clearly. West's fingers flew through the air, manipulating the airflow to lift the wizard's hood, revealing a face that was so old that it was wrinkled:

"Why, suing Merlin that I am his fate variable, it is not enough for him to guard against me, and now he is ready to get rid of me himself?"

"Before Mordred's return, I wasn't part of Mojana's camp. As for the prophecy that sued Amoris about you at that time, it was indeed only a kind reminder. ”

Not caring at all about being exposed in this way, the druid priest smiled slightly, but his eyes began to become gloomy: "However, Amoris betrayed his mission, forgetting that the most important meaning of his existence is to return magic." He chose King Arthur, and thus gave up the wizards who believed in him, he was not worthy of being the son of the ancient religion at all! ”

"That's because you're forcing him to give up his most important people."

With a slight movement of his fingers, the four fiery snakes roared away, tightly wrapped around the wizard's body, and West's expression became cold for a moment: "You are forcing him to become what you think he is...... But to us, he'll always be just Merlin. ”

"Perhaps."

He casually glanced at the flames burning on his body, but in a moment, he disappeared in the golden light that flashed in his eyes. The wizard taunted and raised his eyebrows, and a new round of impact began to brew around his body, "I never thought it would be you who said that in front of me, the 'hermit' of the divine revelation...... After all, Mordred is Arthur's nemesis, and you're Amores'. I think you're better suited to be on our side. ”

"I'm not you, and if you say betrayal of your beliefs, you're betraying."

Mocking him mercilessly, West stretched out his hand and cut out countless sharp fragments from the sunlight in front of him, pointing at the Druid priest, ready to go, "What's more, you can't afford to give me anything that is enough for me to leave, why do you think I might join forces with you." ”

"Because that's what fate is." Stretching out his hand in the same way, the powerful magic in his body seemed to break through the restraints and form small whirlpools in the air, and the wizard replied, "What's more, how do you know that the conditions I have offered have no appeal to you?" ”

“…… What do you mean? ”

West was stunned. And the old priest smiled mysteriously:

"What if I say, I know how to heal your eyes? ——”

'Peng ——!!! ’

The clash of magic and superpowers unleashed a whirlwind capable of completely overturning a person, and sharp shards of light and transparent wind blades brushed past each other as they whizzed towards their intended targets. In the dust that obscured the vision, only two painful snorts were heard, and then bursts of blood spread along the air current, gradually expanding under the cloudless clear summer sky.

Barely avoided the vital point, but still couldn't avoid being scratched all over by the wind blade. West covered the tightest wound on his shoulder, and glared at the wizard angrily: "Old immortal, you actually sneak attack?!" ”

"Don't you too!!" Bright red blood continued to drip from between his fingers, and his body was covered in materialized shards of light, and the druid priest was not much less injured than he was.

They glared at each other for a long time, and although it was a perfect opportunity to kill with one blow, neither of them had the strength to do so. Shaking off his dizzy head, enduring the pinprick-like pain and manipulating the airflow to gather at his side, the young man grabbed the broken clothes under his palm, trying to slow down the flow of blood, but only brought a heart-rending pain again.

"What do you mean by that? You know what's going on with my eyes? ”

His voice inevitably tinged a little weakness, and West slowly adjusted his breath, convinced that he had just heard the old priest say this.

"Yes, your eyes, ordinary healing magic can't do anything, only the power of the gods can restore its light."

Gasping even more than West. Perhaps because of his age, although the wounds on his body are far less hideous than those of a young man, they are much more fragile. The old wizard raised his head and glared at him fiercely, the smile on the corner of his mouth was still there, but he was dyed with a trace of indescribable viciousness by the pain:

"It's a secret that has been passed down from generation to generation by the Druid priests, boy...... Originally, if you agreed to join us, you could still tell sù where to go for help-

"But now, I think it's better for you to stay blind."

Before the words fell, a terrifying force suddenly emanated from the wizard's body. Standing up straight, ignoring the bleeding wound, the old priest looked coldly at the young man who was already vulnerable in his eyes, as if he was looking at an ant that could be crushed to death at any time:

"I have to admit, Hermit, your strength is stronger than I thought. But that's the end of it. ”

"I don't think it's going to be me here."

Wipe out the blood that spilled out of the corner of the mouth. Although he knew that the wizard still had strength to spare, and that he was already at the end of his crossbow, the expression on the young man's face was still calm. In the past, and in the future, he can be killed, he can be defeated, but he will never be defeated. WestXavier has gone through so many mortal dangers, and of course he will continue to walk, rather than let this long life end here.

Time seemed to stand still for a second. Even though West's remaining strength was far from enough to sustain him to perform a miracle like going back in time, it was still possible to give it a go and assimilate the consciousness of another person again. Completely giving up on resisting the huge magic that comes with the wizard, he just stood in place, trying his best to break through the shackles of that layer of memory, and find the information he wanted in the countless fragments of the past.

It's a big gamble. He gambled his life, the only one he had left, and the chips were just a tacit understanding that he didn't know when he had cultivated, and trust that had left no room for trust from the very beginning.

— and reality apparently didn't disappoint him either.

"I said that if you don't listen to people at first, you will suffer...... Because Gauvin accidentally let go of all the horses in the stable, King Arthur and Amorris's safari has been temporarily canceled today. ”

When the familiar sound of footsteps sounded at the end of the path, the deadly spell had already whistled in front of him. But he was soon blocked by a stronger, gentler force, and could no longer hurt him for half a point.

"Serena Williams——!!

There was the sound of a human body slamming against the stone wall. Immediately, Merlin shouted from far and near. Feeling a little regretful that he couldn't see the wonderful expression on the wizard's face at this moment, West took a step back and collapsed into a thin but warm arm without accident before his mental power was overused and fell into the darkness.

"Help me remember the name of the place...... Avalon, Ukiyo-e Forest. ”

Even though his voice was so soft that it was almost a whisper, he was sure Merlin must have heard it.

Like, he believed that no matter where he was, the young mage would be able to find him.