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[foundfate]

["I want to be free of the ghosts to see. That is my wish: to not be burdened by them anymore."

"Unfortunately, I cannot grant that wish. But I can send you to someone who can grant it."

That answer gave Watanuki jack-all to go off of, though, and he was left standing in a field of pink flowers looking absolutely befuddled. How had he gotten there? Where was he in the first place? The flowers seemed to go on forever, and all that was around besides them was a floating tower in the sky.

Well, that seemed like Watanuki's best chance at getting an answer, so he tried to step in that direction, but found that his legs were tangled up in the flowers. He fount this out by tripping, somehow, and ending up face-first in the flowers with a yelp.]

What- why are they-

[Oh, to be tangled up in the Garden of Avalon. His sins weighed him down, and he didn't even know it.]

Comments

[foundfate]

[Watanuki was IGNORING THAT FIRST PART because there were more important things to talk about than who he would do sexy things with. There was no point to having the conversation anyway, as it sounded like his only company for the foreseeable future was this irritating man. He still sounded irritated as he spoke, and his irritation made it all the way into the very gestures he made while speaking. Such as when he threw a hand up flippantly in the air.]

If I knew the answer to that, then I wouldn't need help now would I? All I know is that I can see them, and as soon as they know I can see them they start harassing me. Most people can't see them so they usually leave most people alone.

[myrdd]

[Oh wow, this kid was actually more clueless than he thought. Or was this more a case of willful ignorance? Because as far as Merlin's previous encounters went, the ability to sense small fry to the extent that Watanuki experienced was a sign of talent and power. The presence of stronger spirits, for as long as they weren't making an effort to conceal anything, was easier to pick up on and all that.

Then again, maybe Watanuki was too focused on running away to even notice what was being said to him. Survival instincts strike again.]

Well, then. That's something you should think about for the duration of your training.

What other skills do you have? Can you use a sword?

[foundfate]

[Wait until Merlin found out about the prophetic dreams. That was when they could talk about talent and power.

But to answer Merlin's question, Watanuki just. Gestured down at himself. His noodly self with no real muscles to speak of. If anything, he looked a little on the sick side, for how thin he was.]

Does it look like I can use a sword?

[myrdd]

Did you want me to feel up your arm for muscles?

[He raised his index finger.]

Clothes can be deceiving. My King was shorter than you, and yet that person was regarded as one of the most skilled warriors in the kingdom.

[He circled around Watanuki now, rubbing his chin. Would this one even take to a broadsword, or was something lighter more suitable? Of course, Merlin wasn't expecting miracles, but the exercise would be valuable in helping Watanuki manage both his magic and his own energy.]

While it's true that you don't move like a classically trained swordsman, that doesn't automatically mean you didn't receive some form of weapons training years ago. Of course, were that the case, you would've already brought it up.

Here. [He held out a hand, and a short sword formed, his fingers wrapped around the hilt. It wasn't a replica of Excalibur, Caliburn, or any fairy-made weapon. Just an ordinary sword with a bit of a cheat: since this was just a demonstration, Merlin reduced its weight to avoid potential muscle tears.] Point it at the opposite side of the wall, up to the ceiling, then slash the air with it. Arm strain aside, does it feel comfortable to hold?

[foundfate]

[Do not give him a broadsword, Merlin, he would fall over.

That said, the short sword was deceivingly light to him, and he was able to hold it up with ease. He did hold the hilt with two hands, his grip awkward and untrained. But he was actually trying instead of disregarding it entirely. Even if he was irritable, he still actually tried to do what he was told.

He looked between the sword and Merlin a few times, before ultimately following Merlin's instructions. He pointed it to the opposite wall, which was easy enough and he was able to hold it without it wavering too much. When he slashed at the air with it, he had absolutely no form at all and looked like a child who was 'playing swords' without knowing what to do.]

I, er, I guess? But why are you talking swords when I'm here about ghosts? You're not going to tell me to stab them, are you?

[myrdd]

Only in the right circumstances with the correct tools onhand.

[Always a possibility, if Chaldea survived their baptism of fire and subsequent battles. But that was still a little ways off, and for now Merlin had full use of his own magical energy.]

There is a longer explanation for this, but to summarize: because of the unique circumstances of your arrival [and Watanuki's very existence] the training you will receive from me won't be the same as modern magecraft. Anyway, their techniques are poor imitations of old Magic, and being in the Garden of Avalon is enough to recreate the level of ambient magic that would've been available in England or, perhaps, even Ancient Greece.

We'll start on that tomorrow. [Or what passed for tomorrow, because he'd taken to syncing his body clock to visions of the outside world.] You're older than the usual apprentice, but getting you to familiarize yourself with the feel of your physical body and the energy running through it is enough for our purposes.

[With a flick of a hand, the sword melted away into tiny golden specks of light.]

Lastly: what do you know of magic? Include what you've learned from children's stories.

[foundfate]

[The fact that it wasn't even a straight answer was concerning.

Frowning, Watanuki let the sword lower a bit. He could understand the words Merlin was saying, but they just didn't seem to make sense. Why would he be learning magecraft if he wanted to get rid of it entirely? Was it one of those 'you have to learn how to not do stuff' kinds of things? Or was it 'if your magic is strong enough, you can appear invisible to ghosts'?

Honestly, Watanuki wanted to be done with his powers entirely. But failing that, learning how to repel ghosts was a satisfactory second choice.]

Well, I thought magic was done with wands, or staffs, or even with just your mind. I've never heard of someone using a sword to do magic.

[And then, a moment later:]

Ah, I say that because if it was only about exercise then you would just tell me to run laps around the garden, right?

[myrdd]

Precisely.

[Also, just to demonstrate, he conjured up a sword - Excalibur's replica this time - and struck the ground to his right, causing a wave of magic to crack through the floor and crash into the pillar. The damage was temporary, for this was the tower that Merlin himself built, and already the ambient magic pooled to repair the structure. Good as new!]

Magic is tied to the body and soul, and you're leaking a lot of it. It's entirely possible that you subconsciously developed the ability to see spirits as a means to protect yourself.

I fail to see the point in making you any less than you are, so giving you the means to manage your talents is the next sensible step.

[foundfate]

[The wave of magic made Watanuki step back in surprise. Even if it wasn't in his direction, it was still surprising! He stared at the crack in the ground with his mouth open in shock, and then slowly turned to look at Merlin.]

You can do THAT with magic?

[Okay. He dislikes the 'seeing spirits' part, but that right there was pretty cool. Even if Watanuki tried to seem responsible and grown up, the kid in him still liked flashy things like that.]

[myrdd]

That, and more.

[Honestly that party trick was just the tip of the iceberg. Watanuki's reaction, however, did remind him of a young Artoria, in the days when she was still able to smile freely before assuming her duties.]

Of course, a magic user who's able to do that has to have enough energy reserves to even pull it off. Sealing it away will only be counterproductive.

So then, Watanuki. Do you agree to be trained by me, knowing full well that refining your talents will, by extension, also deepen your connection to your magic?

[foundfate]

That feels like a contract.

[He's. Just stating that fact.

Because Watanuki was many things, but 'stupid' was not one of them. Even if he had little experience with magical contracts, he could tell when one was being imposed. And he had a feeling that any expectations he had would be thrown right out the window.

But, at the same time, it would make the ghosts stop bothering him. And if he could at least get that much, then he could deal with all the magic that came along with it.]

...But yeah. I'll agree to that.

[myrdd]

[Merlin simply smiled - this wasn't magically binding, unlike Yuuko's usual deals. Rather, it was simply his habit to advise. While this was very, very far from the prophesied event that was Artoria's drawing of the sword of selection, Merlin couldn't help but sense the potential weight of Watanuki's response. Of Yuuko's choice to send him to Merlin instead, consequently changing what might've come after, for better or for worse.]

Yosh. Then, we have an accord.

[Now he made his way to the trapdoor, lifting the thick, silver ring with the bottom end of his staff to reveal a wooden staircase.]

Let's get you settled, shall we?

[Like, in case Watanuki wondered where he'd sleep and all.

Also: the tower itself was medieval in build, but the furnishings were different. The hallway leading to the rest of the rooms was decorated with replicas of various artwork.

The oldest of these, portraits from the time of King Arthur, remained hidden. Merlin could've simply unmade them, of course, but he always ended up leaving them be, in a separate room that he never entered since he created the Tower.]

[foundfate]

Ah?

[It was suddenly hitting him that yes, this was going to take a while, and he would need to stay at the tower for some time. And the weight of his obligations from back home was hitting him too.]

But- what about my schooling? I'm still in high school, they're going to notice if I don't go to class.

[He did follow after merlin as they went down the wooden staircase and through the hallway, taking note of the different pieces of art to be found. Even without the oldest portraits visible, there was still a lot to see, and Watanuki wondered if Merlin the mage was also an art collector.]

[myrdd]

[Merlin wasn't an art collector. He was, however, occasionally bored.

Perhaps Watanuki might find out what those replicas actually were, should he figure out just how fond Merlin was of casting illusions.]

You mean the Dimension Witch didn't tell you?

[Also, this corridor was longer than it should've been, based on how the tower looked from the outside.]

Her kind of magic can alter reality. Depending on how she interpreted your deal, it's entirely possible that those in your world will just gloss over your lack of attendance.

More importantly: this Garden is normally difficult to travel to, and harder to get out of.

[foundfate]

[Interestingly, that first part really didn't make him feel better. He already felt largely overlooked- with people being weirded out by his outbursts being the one exception- and knowing that everyone would just not notice him gone? That would put him in a sour mood for a while.

(He tried his best not to think of a certain rainy day.)

But instead of commenting on that, he made a 'che!' sound at the second part. It was preferable to be annoyed than it was to be upset.]

I can only imagine, I know those flowers weren't just there to be pretty. Why are you here anyway?

[myrdd]

A spell.

[That started because of trouble with a woman, to be specific. Man, he usually wouldn't have to explain this.]

For various reasons because of it, I'm unable to leave Avalon.

[foundfate]

Ah. So you're in magic-prison.

[Not wrong, technically, but it was an oversimplification of the situation.]

[myrdd]

For all intents and purposes, yes.

So unless the Dimension Witch arranged for you to have a two-way ticket, the only way to physically return to your world is by using your own power.

[foundfate]

...

[She had not given him a way back, no.]

That probably was her intention. "Learn to use your powers, or never go home again."

[myrdd]

[And probably 'stay out of trouble.

Merlin clapped Watanuki's shoulder.]

There you have it.

In the meantime, this is your room.

[He stopped at a plain-looking wooden door between an ink painting and a portrait of a nymph. Merlin gestured at the handle: the room was enchanted to fit whatever Watanuki thought of as "modest comfort," and it would retain that look for however long Merlin's guest stayed in the tower]

Why don't you have a look?

[foundfate]

[Stay out of trouble, while having Merlin as a teacher. Yuuko really was asking a lot.

At Merlin's insistence, Watanuki put his hand on the handle, turned it, and opened the door. He had no idea of the magic that was changing its appearance, and he would just assume that the room was made as he saw it.

The room itself was about what you would expect for a small Japanese apartment, with one large living area, a tiny kitchen, and a tiny bathroom. It wasn't too far off from what Watanuki had lived in before, if he was being honest. But it didn't look exactly like his apartment in Tokyo, because he was expecting to stay somewhere else instead of at home.]

...huh. I didn't know you had an eastern-style room here.

[myrdd]

Not until a very short while ago.

[And you bet Merlin looked interested - this was his first time to physically step into anything modern, instead of just walking it in his dreams.]

It's more organized than an ordinary hut, I'll give you that.

What does the outside usually look like? Do you have your own vegetable patch? Or do you have to contend with more neighbors?

[foundfate]

Outside?

[Watanuki's mind immediately filled in the blanks: a busy apartment building, a small porch barely big enough to hang the wash up, and a loud street below.]

There's no room for a vegetable patch, no. But the neighbors are nice.

[myrdd]

Exactly the opposite of our present situation, then.

[All veg plants, no neighbors.

Or, at least, no neighbors within the garden. Avalon was but an island in the Reverse Side of the World: were Watanuki able to stray beyond its borders, he'd find an assortment of fairies, dragons, spirits, and other phantasmals that had taken refuge after the Age of the Gods ended and its influence faded away.]

Would you like to take an hour to settle in? Or shall we continue in our tour of the Tower?

[If Watanuki agreed to taking a break, Merlin would go on a very brief trip to dreamland and make arrangements: the mention of vegetables did remind him that Watanuki had a functioning human body, and he wasn't quite built or even trained to subsist on magical energy. And while Merlin could techincally conjure food, he'd pass: should Watanuki's idle dreams become snack material, Merlin would rather not have his own magic somehow influence that.

Of course, if Watanuki would rather explore the tower more, Merlin could postpone that other talk to later.]

[foundfate]

[It was best not to tell Watanuki about that until he was a bit more into the whole 'magic' thing. He was liable to get upset at being in a world of spirits when he had been trying to avoid them his whole life.]

I did come her suddenly, didn't I? I can wait here until later, if you need time to prepare for me being here.

[And then, after he remembered he should be polite:]

Sorry for imposing on you.