Chapter 289: The Rambling Mage (Bonus)

’No way.’

Ethan thought to himself. He exhaled slowly, forcing his expression back under control.

"You inferred that I have the power of the Spirit King... from a chant?" Ethan said. "Doesn’t that sound flawed to you?"

Merlin shook his head. "It would be, If it were the same chant every summoner uses. But it isn’t."

Ethan didn’t interrupt.

"The number of summons in your possession also agrees with me," Merlin continued. "No one on this planet has that many."

"So yes... I have come to understand that you are something else entirely. Perhaps a low-level incarnation of him. The Spirit King."

Ethan listened.

"Or perhaps," Merlin added, "you don’t even know what you are. And honestly, "I’m very glad that you don’t."

Merlin let out a comical breath of relief. "Because if you did, if you fully realized your power, I would never have been able to make this contact."

There was a brief pause before he added, "I’d be dead on arrival."

Merlin had a grin still on his face as he shook his head.

Ethan didn’t answer immediately. While staring at Merlin, he held a brief internal conversation with himself.

’For starters, he doesn’t know my thoughts. He doesn’t sound like he knows about the system either, seeing as that was what granted me the authority of the Spirit King. He thinks I’m an incarnation...’

Ethan’s eyes widened a-bit.

’Wait ...or have I already been deceived into thinking that he doesn’t know?...Fuck!...What sort of character has appeared?’

’No... stop. I cannot think certain things right now. Not with this summon here’

Ethan exhaled, steadying himself. "The spell of secrecy you just cast..." he said, "you’re implying someone else can listen to this conversation."

Merlin gave a nod. "Secrets Revealing Spells were common in my time, and It is rather appalling, truly, what this age of magic has become."

He looked disappointed. "There are powerful mages, yet so unskilled. In this era, it is remarkably easy to learn things about people because they lack caution"

A smile curved his lips. "With very few exceptions. That is precisely why I find your king... interesting."

Ethan’s gaze sharpened.

"He is cautious," Merlin said. "One of the very few who still understands what that means. And, incidentally... one of the only individuals I know so little about."

There was silence for a moment before Ethan spoke again. "You ramble a lot."

Merlin laughed. "A certain king once gave me a name, The Rambling Mage."

Ethan didn’t react. "What exactly have you come to bargain?" he asked.

Merlin’s smile returned. "Ah, yes," he said. "Straight to the point."

He adjusted his monocle, as though settling into the conversation.

"To put it simply... I wish to return to the land of the living as myself. Not as a summoned construct."

Ethan’s eyes narrowed. "If you know me as well as you suggest, then you should know I don’t have the power to return the dead as anything but a summon."

"No, You don’t. " Merlin replied. He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Frankly... I’m not entirely certain the real deal can either."

Then he lifted his head up, "But, you possess the right amount of power to make the rest of my plan succeed. I will handle everything else myself."

Ethan looked a bit puzzled, but instead of arguing further, he asked, "And what do I get in exchange?"

Merlin smiled. "I will help you win this situation that is steadily becoming a war. Against my summoner... and the ageless woman."

"What makes you think I need your help?" Ethan asked. "If your claims are true, then you’re someone willing to betray your own summoner."

"What makes you think that kind of person to strike a deal with?"

Merlin scoffed. "You would be a fool to trust me. And despite your age, I do not consider you a fool."

"As for whether you need my help...Let me put it this way. The ageless woman is your real opponent, and if things continue the way they are now, she will win."

"She has over a century of experience," he went on. "Understanding people, politics. Entire regimes have risen and fallen within the span of her observation."

"She has had decades of planning and testing. So everything that has happened so far...has already been within her expectations."

"And finally... she holds a power that would make her rightfully think of herself as a god. So even if there were any surprises, she has the means to correct them."

There was a brief pause.

"Honestly," Merlin finished, "I have never seen a more disadvantaged position for any of you."

"However, if I were to poke a few holes here and there... then perhaps you would have the right chance at this woman."

"...Hmm," Ethan murmured. He stared at Merlin in thoughts, refusing to say anything that wasn’t so necessary. He genuinely was being careful around the summon.

Merlin adjusted the monocle again. "Unfortunately, my time here has significantly shortened. My summoner has just returned."

Ethan’s voice came before Merlin could turn fully away. "Before you go., tell me where Alistair and Lady Audrey are hiding."

Merlin smiled. "And why would I do that?"

"Well," Ethan began, "if you’re trying to make yourself useful against them... that’s a good place to start."

Merlin stared at him for a second longer, then laughed. "No, that would be too generous."

Then he lifted his palm, and after a sudden sharp glow, a chalice appeared floating just above it.

Merlin lowered his hand, and the chalice followed, dropping onto the table in front of Ethan.

"What is that?" Ethan asked.

Merlin smile. This, is the Chalice of Verdona."

A surprised expression crossed Ethan’s face. If the summon was right, this was the Chalice Eduardo had once told him about.

Ethan didn’t look away from the object. The blue energy curling from its rim moved slowly.

Merlin added "I suggest you find a caster capable of siphoning magic from an artifact of this caliber. It should provide the solution your... old friend desires."

Ethan turned back to him.

Merlin’s gaze drifted toward the apparatus once more. "Oh, and that serum, It will only work on a werewolf or a vampire...So if you’re developing it for yourself, safe to say, it will be a waste."

Merlin turned. "I will be in touch, Mr. Ethan Alexander Stark."

There was something in the way he said the full name. Then he smiled and vanished in a quiet unraveling of blue butterflies.

Ethan stood there for a moment, his eyes fixed on the space Merlin had occupied. Then, he moved his attention back to the chalice on the table.

"Could this really be it...?"