[The zoning out is something he mentions a few times when sees Yuuko for their their food supply exchanged, casual but knowing. Merlin might not be able to pinpoint how this situation started since he can't See the past, but he won't be surprised if sending Watanuki to Avalon is, in part, a way to "make up for it" in the most indirect way possible.
At some point, a pair of glasses from a certain deceased person is passed on. Supposedly to help. If Merlin weaves in a few more layers of magecraft on it before it's given to the intended recipient, that's no one's business but his own.
As for that dream - it's something Merlin, actually, has no way of specifically anticipating until Goetia distributes the grails across time. After that, he'll be peeking into all seven to determine the details of what's going on and what might happen, and the idea of actually getting involved beyond supplying Chaldea with energy only comes to him much later. The thing is, it's long past the age where he gives prophecies, and he's not inclined to make any more.]
Oya. [He's so surprised that he actually materializes next to Watanuki, grasps his student's arm, and whisks them away in a shower of petals to a higher point of the temple.] So you're capable of something like this as well?
[He knows the taste of a prophetic dream, and the contents of this one are grim enough for him to not make a joke so soon.
It occurs to him that, for the first time, he might've been given a pupil he has to teach about this particular skill set.
this is why Roman says Merlin's Clairvoyance sucks
At some point, a pair of glasses from a certain deceased person is passed on. Supposedly to help. If Merlin weaves in a few more layers of magecraft on it before it's given to the intended recipient, that's no one's business but his own.
As for that dream - it's something Merlin, actually, has no way of specifically anticipating until Goetia distributes the grails across time. After that, he'll be peeking into all seven to determine the details of what's going on and what might happen, and the idea of actually getting involved beyond supplying Chaldea with energy only comes to him much later. The thing is, it's long past the age where he gives prophecies, and he's not inclined to make any more.]
Oya. [He's so surprised that he actually materializes next to Watanuki, grasps his student's arm, and whisks them away in a shower of petals to a higher point of the temple.] So you're capable of something like this as well?
[He knows the taste of a prophetic dream, and the contents of this one are grim enough for him to not make a joke so soon.
It occurs to him that, for the first time, he might've been given a pupil he has to teach about this particular skill set.
...well. Isn't that a twist!]