[Third Person PoV]
Due to how the day had turned out and the unexpected delays they encountered along the way, Arthur and the others decided it would be best to take a break and have lunch before heading off to explore KME as their final stop.
Fortunately, the restaurant they chose had an outdoor seating area, allowing both Cosmo and Sylvia to join them without any issue. The small group settled around a wooden table beneath an enchanted umbrella that shimmered faintly, keeping the cold air at bay. Plates clinked, and the comforting aroma of roasted meat and baked bread drifted between them.
"You know," Nicholas said between bites of his sandwich, leaning slightly back in his chair, "I've seen firsthand how unpleasant goblins can be. I've also heard plenty of horror stories from others about their run-ins with them. So I've got to admit—" he pointed his fork towards Arthur, "—I'm a bit surprised that Goburk behaved so friendly with you."
"That," Merlin said with composed dignity, cutting her food with delicate precision, "is the power of an ancient house." Her tone carried a quiet pride as she spoke, her posture immaculate, shoulders perfectly straight.
"I mean, is it really though?" Perenelle asked, tilting her head slightly while holding a cup of wine. "Aren't goblins the same no matter who they're dealing with, even if it's a powerful wizarding household?"
Merlin gave a faint, knowing smile. "It's a mix of things. It helps that Arthur's family has an extensive history with them. Goblins respect tradition and old pacts more than most humans realize. And let's not ignore the fact that Arthur's been keeping their vaults lined with knots and galleons. Gold can soften even the hardest temperament."
Nicholas chuckled at that, but after a moment his expression grew curious. "I have a question, if you don't mind me asking," he said, turning toward Arthur, who had been quietly enjoying himself, clearly savoring both the food and the company. "What exactly is your end goal with this company of yours? You mentioned before that you'd like to retire someday—but before that, what's the big picture?"
Arthur leaned back in his seat, tapping his fork against the plate thoughtfully. "Hmm… that's a good question," he murmured, his gaze drifting off as though he were picturing something far away.
Perenelle smiled with amusement. "You mean to say you never really thought about your end goal before?"
Arthur rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, laughing under his breath. "Not really, no. I guess I just want to see how far I can take this—how much of a business tycoon I can become before I hang up the cloak."
Nicholas blinked and then laughed, genuinely caught off guard. "Wow…" he said, at a complete lost of words.
Perenelle tilted her head curiously. "And how will you know when you've taken it far enough?"
Arthur didn't hesitate this time. "Probably when I've opened branches across the world," he said, his tone calm but confident, "both in the wizarding world and the muggle world."
For a brief moment, silence fell across the table. Arthur noticed everyone staring at him, each with a slightly different expression—Nicholas looked incredulous, Perenelle intrigued, and Merlin simply curious.
"What?" he asked, raising a brow as he finished chewing and swallowed his food.
"You're planning to expand into the muggle side of things?" Nicholas asked incredulously. "Isn't that… well, dangerous? Risky, at the very least?"
Arthur shrugged with a grin that was half mischief, half ambition. "It could be. But that's what makes it so much more fun."
Perenelle laughed, nearly snorting into her drink, while Nicholas rubbed a hand over his face in exasperation. "Just make sure you don't overdo it—or overwork yourself into the ground."
Arthur pointed his fork at him playfully. "Don't worry. If that ever happens, I'll just push all my work onto Merlin."
Merlin froze mid-bite, blinking as if she hadn't heard correctly. She slowly turned toward him, fork still in hand, a piece of food half-chewed. "What?" she asked, muffled by her mouthful.
The entire table erupted into laughter, the sound echoing warmly through the quiet street.
When they finally finished their meal and paid the bill, each of them left with a warm drink tucked between their gloved hands. The cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley were lined with lights and faint trails of steam rising from nearby chimneys, giving everything a cozy winter charm. They walked together, the group's chatter and occasional laughter cutting through the gentle murmur of the crowd.
Eventually, they reached the familiar location of Arthur's shop. Arthur stopped in his tracks, gazing at the storefront with unmistakable pride. The door opened, and a couple stepped inside while two men exited, each carrying a bag filled with goods.
Arthur sniffled dramatically, pretending to wipe away tears. "My baby," he said with exaggerated emotion, "look at her, all grown up."
Merlin rolled her eyes, hiding her grin. "Let's just get moving, you dork," she said, brushing past him and taking the lead into the shop.
Inside, the scene was lively and full of motion. The shop's interior was much larger than its modest exterior suggested, an enchantment that made the space stretch into a maze of glimmering aisles and staircases. Customers milled about—some browsing shelves of magical artifacts, others descending from the second floor with neatly wrapped purchases in hand. The air was thick with the scent of polished wood and faint traces of alchemical ingredients.
As they made their way deeper into the shop, the lively hum of chatter and laughter filled the air. The warm glow of floating lanterns illuminated the aisles, their light reflecting off polished brass fixtures and glass display cases filled with enchanted goods. Shelves lined the walls, stocked with potion vials, runic tools, enchanted trinkets, and shimmering rolls of spell parchment.
Toward the center of the shop, a small crowd had gathered. Curious, Arthur and the others drifted closer and found a young woman standing behind a small presentation table.
"Now, watch closely everyone!" she said cheerfully, her voice ringing above the buzz of the crowd. With a flourish, she held up a square of parchment marked with faint glowing runes. "This here is one of our special creations—a Spell Parchment imbued with a preset magic circle. No wand needed, no experience required. Just a spark of curiosity!"
The audience of children and a few amused adults leaned forward with anticipation. The woman smiled, tore the parchment cleanly in half, and in an instant a small bolt of fire shot upward, spiraling into the air before exploding into a cascade of colorful fireworks that shimmered like stars across the ceiling.
"Wooooah…" several kids gasped, their eyes wide as the colors danced across their faces. A few clapped excitedly while others bounced on their toes, eager to try it themselves.
With a warm smile, the woman began handing out small, napkin-sized samples to the children. "Here you go, dears! Just remember—don't point them at anyone's face!" she said playfully.
The children huddled together, glancing between one another with giddy excitement before tearing their parchments. Instantly, bursts of miniature fireworks filled the air in a flurry of gold, red, and violet light. Laughter and cheers echoed throughout the shop as parents stood back, smiling at their children's delight.
"Hahaha! Mum, look—I just used magic!" one little boy exclaimed, holding up the torn remains of the parchment proudly. His mother smiled fondly and ruffled his hair.
Merlin, who had been quietly observing the display, leaned slightly toward Arthur with an approving smirk. "That was a clever touch," she remarked. "Adding playful, harmless spells for children to enjoy—it's an excellent way to attract families and keep the shop lively. It's practical and charming."
Arthur crossed his arms and nodded, watching as a small girl squealed in delight at her purple fireworks. "Yeah," he admitted, "and I've got you to thank for it. I wouldn't have managed to finalize the spell formation on time without your help. The runic patterns alone would've taken me days to stabilize."
Merlin tilted her head with a small, knowing smile. "You've gotten faster at making them though, haven't you?" she asked, her tone both curious and a little teasing.
Arthur chuckled. "Yeah, I think so. The more I make, the more I understand how the circles are structured. It's all about repetition—once you grasp the rhythm and how each rune connects to the next, it starts feeling almost natural. Like the formation builds itself, step by step."
"That's how you know you're improving," Merlin replied softly. "Magic circles aren't just diagrams—they're conversations between intent and structure. Once you understand that language, it all flows easier."
Arthur gave her a thoughtful look, clearly mulling that over, before smiling. "Leave it to you to have a better understanding of something I created"
While the two of them fell into their usual back-and-forth discussion about magical theory, Nicholas and Perenelle wandered off together, taking their time exploring the shop. They paused occasionally to admire how much the place had changed since their last visit—the polished new displays, the expanded sections dedicated to magical stationery and tools, and the way the shop buzzed with new energy, not to mention how it was filled with so many more people. It was a beautiful sight to behold.
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