After washing away the fatigue of morning training, Merlin dressed and stood before the mirror, a towel draped loosely around his neck. Droplets slid from his hair, tracing down his cheek before vanishing into the fabric of his shirt.
He stared at the reflection in front of him. The face was young, but it was unmistakably his. Still, whenever he looked long enough, the image seemed to blur, overlapping with his other self from another world.
He was a reincarnator—though not the usual kind. He had reincarnated not into one but two worlds simultaneously.
The first resembled the modern Earth he once knew, though set a few decades behind. He lived in an orphanage there, abandoned at birth.
The place was noisy. He had never been good at fitting in with people, even in his previous life—let alone with a bunch of children who had learned too early that no one in the world truly cared for them and weren't in the best mental health. But over time, he had learned to adapt. Solitude, after all, was nothing new to him.
And if life in that world was dull and gray, this one more than compensated for it.
He had a family here—one that truly loved him. The world itself was something straight out of a medieval fantasy, with knights who could cut through steel with a single swing of their blades, mages who could hurl fireballs with a wave of their hands, and magical beasts he had only heard about in fairy tales.
He had no miraculous cheat ability to boast of—no divine gift or broken system, unfortunately. But his peculiar situation offered him an advantage unique only to him.
Both of his bodies, though capable of acting independently, were in truth one and the same. They shared thoughts, memories, and senses. When both focused on the same task, the results were simply astonishing—like two minds working together in perfect harmony, doubling their efficiency.
Thanks to that, and his mature mind, he had learned swordsmanship from Albert far faster than his brother Ralph, despite never having touched a sword in his previous life.
A faint sound of footsteps outside his room drew his attention. He turned toward the door, only to catch a fleeting golden blur before something soft crashed into him—small arms wrapping tightly around his waist.
"Good morning, Angel," Merlin sighed helplessly, looking down at the little figure barely reaching his waist. "How many times have I told you to knock before coming in?"
Angel blinked up at him with wide, sparkling eyes—the same vivid emerald green as his own, both inherited from their mother. "...But Brother," she whined, pouting slightly, "Mumma said Angel should call Brother for breakfast."
Merlin exhaled softly, his resolve melting in the warmth of her innocent stare. "Alright, alright," he muttered, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. He scooped her up effortlessly into his arms. "Let's not keep Mother waiting, then."
Angel giggled, wrapping her tiny arms around his neck. "Let's go!"
Merlin chuckled, shaking his head as he stepped toward the stairs.
"Eat more, dear," Elena said warmly as she placed a third portion of steak onto Merlin's plate.
Merlin stared at it helplessly. "Mom, that's enough! I'm really full. I'm afraid if I eat one more bite, my stomach will explode," he groaned, leaning back and patting his slightly bulging belly for emphasis.
Elena clicked her tongue in disapproval. "Nonsense. Look at you—you're all skin and bones. If you eat so little, people will think your mother doesn't feed you properly," she said, cutting a small piece and gently feeding it to Angel, who accepted it with a happy hum.
"I'm not thin, Mom. Your reference point is just... biased," Merlin muttered, casting a meaningful look at Ralph, who was seated across the table.
Ralph was already on his fifth portion, chewing blissfully without a care in the world.
Angel, chewing happily, pointed at Ralph with her fork. "Hehe! Big Brother Ralph eats like a monkey. A big monkey!"
Elena stared at her daughter, momentarily speechless.
Merlin immediately burst into laughter, nearly choking on the food in his mouth.
Ralph, too absorbed in devouring his meal, froze mid-bite only after he noticed his two siblings laughing. He looked up, his cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk, confusion clear on his face. "...What?"
That only made Merlin laugh harder, clutching his stomach.
"Nothing, dear. You can eat however much you want," Elena said gently to Ralph before turning to her daughter, who was still giggling proudly at her own joke. "Angel, don't make fun of your brother. That's bad manners."
Angel pouted but nodded obediently, stabbing her steak again.
Elena turned, fully prepared to scold Merlin as well—only to realize he wasn't laughing anymore. He had gone completely still, a slightly disbelieving expression on his face.
Feeling that something wasn't quite right, Elena called out worriedly, "Merlin, are you alright?"
He didn't respond.
"Merlin?" she called again, her voice a bit louder this time.
He blinked once and seemed to snap back, composing himself as his expression returned to normal.
"I'm fine," he said, giving a small shake of his head. "A piece got stuck in my throat for a second."
Elena let out a quiet sigh of relief and handed him a glass of water. "Then don't laugh while eating," she said—more a habitual reminder than a reprimand.
Merlin nodded and took a sip before lowering his head again, calmly continuing his meal as if nothing had happened. But his thoughts had already drifted far away from the breakfast table.
In the orphanage, Merlin had just returned to his room after a dull breakfast in the cafeteria when he was surprised by the sight of a plump gray owl perched on his window, holding an envelope in its beak.
It's 1989. Are people still using birds to send letters?
Although technology was far from reaching the heights it would in the coming decades, there were still landline phones and postal mail services for long-distance communication. A bird carrying a letter was truly a rare sight.
"Is it for me?" He didn't expect an answer, but surprisingly, the owl tilted its head at his question, its yellow eyes staring straight at him—and Merlin could swear they were full of intelligence, as if it understood what he was saying.
Narrowing his eyes, Merlin decided to approach the bird. As he reached arm's length, he cautiously extended his hand toward the envelope. The owl seemed amused by his actions but loosened its grip, letting him take it.
Merlin blinked at the bird before turning his attention to the envelope. There was indeed his name and address—oddly detailed—written on it. The parchment felt unusually thick, and the emerald-green ink was not a commonly used color.
Turning it over, Merlin found a deep red wax seal stamped with a shield crest bearing a capital "H," surrounded by four animals: a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake.
Looking at it, Merlin froze, his eyes widening in shock. How could this be...
He took a deep breath and, with slightly trembling fingers, tore open the envelope.
...
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Professor Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Merlin Graves,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Term begins on 1st September. Enclosed you will find a list of all necessary books and equipment.
As you are a Muggle-born student currently residing at St. Augustine's Orphanage, London, one of our professors will visit you on Sunday afternoon, the 28th of July, to explain everything you will need to know about the wizarding world and to assist with your preparations for the coming school year.
Please ensure you are available at that time. The visiting teacher will help answer any questions you might have and guide you through the process of obtaining your school supplies from Diagon Alley.
We very much look forward to welcoming you to Hogwarts.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
...