Chapter Text
The world was buzzing.
Merlin did not know how else to describe it. Ever since he had woken up that morning, something was different. The colours felt more vibrant, the birds seemed more harmonious, and most importantly, the magic of the world seemed more alive.
It had been a long time since magic had felt that way. Somewhere along the centuries, as he witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties, made friends with new miracles and saw new curses born, magic seemed to be dying.
Well dying wasn’t the right word exactly. But with the world learning how to wield it, channelling the elements to make things like electricity and nuclear power, old magic seemed to slowly give way to - well he didn’t want to call it new magic but the things humans had built and achieved with nothing but their wits would been called sorcery once upon a time.
The point was, that something was happening, it was not necessarily a bad thing but something was definitely happening. And Merlin supposed that as one of the foremost experts of magic it probably fell to him to look into whatever was happening.
Well, nobody would tell him off if he decided to do nothing about it. There were very few people who knew his identity who would dare to take him to task. He supposed that came with seniority. At approximately 7943 years old, he was one of the oldest beings who resided on this earth and he had had plenty of time to grow into his power.
It had been a long time since he had accepted that he and magic were one and the same and as more of the old magic was leached from the world, just like during the purge, that magic found its way to him and he grew more powerful with it.
If he became more powerful as the world died around him, would he be left in its ashes? It was a bleak prospect he didn’t quite like thinking about.
But while he was one of the oldest and most powerful beings that resided in this realm, he was thankful that there were others that could more or less relate.
For one, he had long since learned that there were many more realms than just Earth and he had friends from all of those realms. And for two, everytime he sensed magic starting to dissipate, anytime he sensed something like the purge brewing again, he made sure to take countermeasures so that his community would be safe.
He had been passive once, he had put all his faith in the prophecy a tired old dragon had sprouted and had prayed that it would be enough to save his people. But he knew better now. He had learned and had lost everything learning that lesson. If he could do things all over again, he would do things far differently.
Which is why, when trouble came, he did not just hide in the shadows. No, Merlin stood himself at the forefront and looked directly at any trouble, eyes dripping gold, and said, come if you dare.
That is also not to say that he fought everyone who came his way. He had always been smarter than that.
People fear what they don’t know. People fear the more powerful. It came to reason that people would fear magic, something that to non-sorcerers was unknown and something that could do miracles.
Trying to rehabilitate magic into wider society was a task that seemed impossible after he had failed the prophecy. It seemed like the world was screaming at him everything he tried to, that there was a time this could have been done but that he had lost his chance, he had lost his window of opportunity. Magic would never thrive again, would never be the norm again.
So, he had compromised. Magic did thrive again but in secret. His people lived right under the nose of normal humans, together with them but at the same time, they had their own community that ensured there was a place for those with magic.
This was a task that became much easier as people aged and died and forgot that magic actually existed. Instead, they assumed it to be nothing more than fiction and to be honest, it was better than the alternative of people hunting them down and so Merlin liked the peace well enough.
His efforts in building the community in secret and stepping up to deal with any problems over the centuries did build him quite a reputation in the magic community but that was something he was willing to accept as long as no other child would have to grow up as he did, in fear of themself and unable to trust anyone else,
Now that he thinks about it, he supposes that while the main prophecy of which he was part of was not fulfilled, there were many other prophecies that he did realise. The dragon was not completely senile then, good to know.
But thinking of the dragon…this, whatever was happening made him remember the old coot. The magic felt familiar. Maybe he should check in with his old friends then.
Merlin closed his eyes and reached out to Aithusa. It was a miracle that she was the white dragon who had remained alive this long with what her state had been at the end of the war. And she hadn’t wanted to let Merlin near either to help her. She had needed centuries before she was ready to talk to him again but she had finally forgiven him when she had thought she was on death’s door. But Merlin who had been so relieved, so thankful to hear from her again, had refused to let her succumb to death. By then, he had had a better handle on his powers too, and so, he had slowly been able to heal her and extend his lifetime to what it originally should have been.
Unless killed, Aithusa would not die for as long as her dragonlord was alive, and that thought helped Merlin get out of bed some days.
Hello Father.
Dear daughter, it’s been a while.
Well you could come visit more often. She teased and he couldn't help but laugh. He sent her across his amusement, feeling so so fond.
Is this about changing magic?
Oh, so you have felt it too. It feels like something important.
I think so too. But I’m afraid I don’t know much more than you. I have a feeling that the Guardian of Avalon might have some more answers for you though.
Yes, it was my intention to contact her next.
Merlin could sense her pouting across the bond.
I will not keep you then.
As always, he felt helpless against his children.
I’ll come visit you soon dear one.
And he could feel her pleasure at the statement. He had missed her. Maybe, he really should make an effort to visit more often.
See you soon then father.
See you, my light.
He considered contacting the Guardian of Avalon through mind speech as well but then decided against it. It would not take long to get to Avalon and even if she did not have the answers he sought, that place was where his magic was more focused, so it would be easier for him to trace the origin of his fluctuation in magic,
Mind made up, Merlin went to get ready. Something told him that today was going to be a long day.