[Third Person's PoV]
Arthur and Merlin stepped out of the Flamel residence, having just finalized a schedule for Arthur's apprenticeship under the legendary alchemist. As they walked a short distance down the path, Merlin turned to him, curiosity evident in her voice.
"You know," she began, "I can't help but wonder—why did you decide to use an alias for your last name?"
Arthur sighed, shaking his head. "Because I didn't want to be known as Arthur Pendragon. I know how much of an uproar my last name alone would cause."
Merlin scoffed. "I'm being serious. What was wrong with using your actual family name—the one from this life? Why not go by Lionheart?"
Arthur visibly winced at the name. The name he had been given in this world.
Closing his eyes, he exhaled. "You know me better than anyone, Merlin. You know I don't have a good history with that name."
Merlin's gaze sharpened. "The same history that made you start wearing those gloves all the time?"
Arthur sighed, scratching Cosmo's chin as the small creature rested on his shoulder. "Why are you even asking when you already know the answer? You, of all people, know it best."
"Because sometimes, it's better to say things out loud than let them fester in silence," Merlin replied, her tone softer. "You have a bad habit of suppressing everything. So, it's my job to make sure you actually express yourself properly."
"Not all thoughts and feelings are meant to be shared," Arthur countered with another sigh. "I'm sure you have plenty of things you wouldn't want me to know."
Merlin smirked and hooked her arm through his. "Nope. I'm an open book."
Arthur gave her a deadpan look. "That's the funniest joke you've told to date. Congrats."
Merlin pouted. "What happened to my cute, innocent little Arthur?"
"He met a weird girl who changed him," Arthur said, a small smile lingering on his lips.
Merlin opened her mouth to retort, but Arthur beat her to it. "Actually, could I ask you a favor?"
"Hmm?" Merlin tilted her head. "What is it?"
"You know how the Hogwarts letters and everything else automatically use my name? Any way you could tweak it so it shows Arthur King instead?" Arthur asked hopefully.
Merlin hummed in thought, watching his hopeful expression for a few seconds before relenting. "Alright, alright. I can't say no when you look at me like that. Should be a simple matter with Ancient Magic."
Arthur grinned. "Thanks—"
Crack!
And just like that, they disapparated back home.
---
Arthur stood in the middle of a vast, shadowed void, facing a towering figure. The man before him was completely cloaked in darkness—except for the gleaming sword in his hand.
Their blades clashed, the sharp ring of metal against metal echoing through the void. Arthur struggled, his movements slow, his defenses barely holding. The shadow warrior struck downward, forcing Arthur to raise his sword in a desperate block. The impact sent a painful shock through his arms, leaving them numb.
He barely had time to react before the figure lashed out towards his neck, unable to block he ducked as low as he could, however the Shadow countered with a knee to his face. Pain exploded across Arthur's nose, and blood dripped down as his eyes watered from the force.
Before he could recover, the shadow warrior swung again. Arthur attempted to block—but his sword was wrenched from his grasp. A rapid follow-up slash cut clean through his neck.
---
Arthur's eyes snapped open.
Gasping for breath, he sat upright in bed, clutching his throat. A sharp sting flared across his nose, and when he touched it, he found blood.
"Just who is that?!" he muttered in frustration. "And why can't I beat him?!"
Merlin, lounging nearby, smirked. "Decided to give up?"
Arthur scoffed getting out of bed, his voice nasally from his blocked nose "Oh, please. Like I'd ever give up." He raised a determined finger. "I'll beat him one of these days—mark my words!"
One of the many dangers of dream training, your mind might think those injuries really did happen and transfer the wound to your physical body.
As he marched to the bathroom, Merlin heard the tap run as he cleaned himself up.
"Still… who is that? What kind of sword technique am I even up against?" Arthur muttered through the door.
Merlin's voice took on a mysterious lilt. "Once you beat him, I'll tell you."
Arthur poked his head out, a towel covering the bottom half of his face. "Please don't tell me you threw me against one of the strongest beings you know right away. Aren't I supposed to start low and work my way up?"
Merlin blinked. "Oh… that actually makes sense. Like progressive development. Huh. That does sound like a better idea."
Arthur gave her an incredulous look. "Are you serious right now?"
"Sorry~," she sang, though the grin on her face was anything but apologetic.
Arthur groaned, rubbing his forehead. "No, now I have to beat him. Don't change him."
Merlin grinned. "Someone's fired up."
Arthur climbed back into bed, resolute. "Put me back in. I don't care how many years it takes. For some reason, I really, really want to win against him."
Merlin chuckled, placing two fingers against his forehead. "Alright, if you say so. Sweet dreams~"
Arthur's eyes fluttered shut as he was pulled back into his dreamscape.
…
2 weeks later…
Arthur was in Devon, Britain, inside Nicholas Flamel's workshop. The room was filled with glass flasks containing glowing substances, each being carefully heated.
Beside Arthur lay an open notebook, filled with meticulous notes from his lessons. The first entry read:
The Five Core Elemental Properties of Alchemy
Earth: The basis for solid matter, metals, and minerals.
Water: Liquid substances, solutions, and essences.
Fire: Heat, energy, and transformation.
Air: Gases, ether, and volatile substances.
Spirit: Magical essence, soul energy, and ethereal properties.
These elements could be manipulated or combined to create various magical effects. In Arthur's notes, they were arranged in a star formation, symbolizing their interconnected nature.
Nicholas Flamel watched Arthur with a faint smile. "You know, I've been teaching you for a fortnight now, and I still don't understand what exactly you're trying to accomplish. I see you diligently taking notes, breaking everything down, and forming your own understanding. It feels like you have a grand purpose behind all this."
To Nicholas, Arthur was unlike any student he had ever taught.
Arthur nodded. "That's because I do. Alchemy is a crucial step in creating what I ultimately want."
Nicholas raised an eyebrow. "And may I ask what that is?"
Arthur hesitated for a moment, deep in thought. In the past two weeks, he had come to respect the Flamels greatly, particularly their knowledge of Alchemy.
"Alright… I'll tell you, but only because you're my teacher. However, I need you to promise me something first," Arthur said, his tone serious.
Nicholas was slightly taken aback by the sudden shift in atmosphere. "Certainly."
"I need you to keep everything I tell you in absolute confidence. You must not speak of it to your wife, nor to your friend Dumbledore—no one. This stays strictly between student and teacher. If you can promise me that, I'll tell you what I'm working so hard to create."
Nicholas was now genuinely intrigued. A short, heavy silence filled the room before he finally responded, "Alright. As your teacher, it is only right that I keep my student's ambitions confidential—at least until he achieves them."
Arthur nodded, then held up two fingers. "There are two things I want to create through Alchemy. The first is born out of curiosity and a desire to explore the depths of magical development. The second… is a testament to everything I have learned."
Nicholas frowned slightly. "Kid, you're starting to worry me. What exactly are you planning?"
Arthur sighed. "I'm telling you this because I've realized that the more I study, the more I'll need help. Doing it all alone would take far too long. So, I need your expertise. The first thing I want to create is a Magic Circle."
"A magic circle?" Nicholas repeated, surprised.
Arthur nodded. "I want to develop and advance magic circles beyond what they are now. I believe they have immense potential, but due to their complexity, they're often considered impractical and are largely discarded.
But what if I could change that? What if, through Alchemy, I could create a special chalk infused with magical properties? If I were to use such a chalk to draw magic circles, how powerful could they become? Could they, theoretically, surpass the strength of a simple spell cast with a wand? Just how far could I push the boundaries of magic?"
Nicholas stared at Arthur in disbelief. "You do realize that if you succeed, you'll be changing the entire magical system as we know it? There could be serious repercussions."
"I know," Arthur replied, nodding. "Trust me, I understand the risks—the power I could unleash, the knowledge that could fall into the wrong hands. It could be catastrophic."
Nicholas's eyes narrowed. "Wait… you're planning to unleash this knowledge?"
Arthur grinned. "I plan on publishing a book, actually. My goal is to develop an entirely new magical system—or at least lay the foundation for it."
'The first step to taking over Britain's magical community… and potentially the world. What kind of Pendragon would I be if I weren't ruling something? Though, for now, I'd rather operate from the shadows. That way, I won't be forced into a king's position,' Arthur thought to himself.
Nicholas was stunned. "If you know your research could be dangerous, why are you still willing to go through with it?"
Arthur's expression turned serious. "Fear of potential is the silent killer of advancement and development. The reason we aren't progressing as fast as we could is because we impose limitations on ourselves—because we're afraid.
I refuse to let fear hinder magical progress. That is not how a wizard should behave. We should always strive for improvement.
If I alone could come up with something this ambitious, imagine what could be achieved if thousands of witches and wizards refined it, expanded upon it, and took it beyond what even I can imagine?"
Nicholas Flamel sat back, processing Arthur's words. It was bold, dangerous, and utterly brilliant.
And perhaps… it was exactly what the magical world needed.
Nicholas was in awe. He couldn't help but laugh and chuckle.
"Arthur, if only more wizards and witches were like you..."
Arthur winked. "Sorry, but there's only one of me~ I'm one of a kind."
"Hahaha! Right you are!" Nicholas laughed heartily, placing a hand on his chest with a smile. 'When was the last time this old heart beat with such enthusiasm?' he mused. 'I want to see how far he goes, how much he accomplishes. Is this what it feels like to have a grandson?'
"Alright, kid, I'm hooked. I'll help you out as best as I can," Nicholas said enthusiastically. "Now, what about the second thing? What else do you want to create?"
"A Homunculus," Arthur said with a smile.
The smile on Nicholas Flamel's face slowly withered. "A what?"
"I know what you're thinking and what you're going to say," Arthur said, closing his eyes. "The creation of artificial life is technically black magic and almost a taboo in alchemy."
"So if you know—" Nicholas began, but Arthur cut him off.
"Which is exactly why I'm telling you in the first place," Arthur interjected. "With your supervision and knowledge, I want to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong. That I'm not crossing any lines. Everything will remain within the safe bounds of alchemy."
Nicholas frowned, staring at Arthur in silence for a few moments. "I don't like it. But... I do appreciate you telling me instead of going behind my back."
"So you'll help me?" Arthur asked.
"I haven't decided yet," Nicholas said. "Let me think about it. I'll tell you when I've made up my mind."
Arthur, already analyzing the situation, thought to himself, 'He's testing me. He may trust me, but not enough to be certain whether I have nefarious intentions or if this is simply curiosity.
However... I'm sorry, teacher. There's something else I'm not telling you. And I'm not going to.
There's a third thing I want to do—something only for those close to me. I don't fully trust you either. This is my own test, to see if you'd really keep quiet.
I want to create magic veins inside my body. Or magic circuits, in a sense. Merlin once said that magic within us is uncontrollable and only becomes manageable with a wand. But... What if I create pathways for my mana to follow? Then wands would become obsolete.
That's what I'm keeping from Merlin too—the thing I want to surprise her with. And knowing how much of a magic fanatic she is... she'll love it.'
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