private psl

[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

[myrdd]

You can't?

[He sounded more intrigued than surprised - and, perhaps, Watanuki should take this as an omen for the kind of mischief Merlin was into. As it was, the mage raised his staff. Time to put on a bit of a show.]

Well, I suppose something like this is fine once in a while.

[The boy would find himself engulfed in a swirling pillar of petals that lifted him up, up, up in the air. The tower at was impossibly tall, and it was as if the entire world was the garden itself.

(There was a gate somewhere out there, of course, but it was one Merlin couldn't cross.)

In due time, the flower tornado would deposit Watanuki at Merlin's feet, and the mage looked rather pleased with himself. Tah-dah!

There we go.

[foundfate]

[Flower tornado was an interesting way to travel, honestly.

There was some screaming as Watanuki went, too. He hadn't expected to get picked up in a gust like that, and he let his shock be known. It only ended when he got deposited on the ground at Merlin's feet.

Watanuki blinked for a moment, and then he quickly stood up and brushed himself off. His school uniform wasn't actually that dirty, he was just a bit fussy about his appearance.]

Well if you can do that, then you really do know magic.

[That was said like he had doubted Merlin's magic at first.]

[myrdd]

Of course I do.

[Merlin nodded to himself, a hand on his hip.]

Now, before we trade introductions: what do we say to people who save us from spending the rest of eternity on a flower field?

[foundfate]

[That tone of voice made Watanuki want to not give thanks. But this man was the powerful mage who was supposed to help him, right? Maybe mages just had big egos.

He could grit his teeth and say it this time, sure.]

Thank you.

[myrdd]

[Most did, but as far as Merlin was concerned, his ego was entirely warranted.

Also really, kid, that was a lousy 'thank you.' But still, Merlin could be magnanimous - it wasn't everyday someone dropped by Avalon after all.]

You're welcome.

I'm Merlin. What's your name, and what were the exact words of your request to the Dimension Witch?

[foundfate]

...you know, she said that giving my full name is a bad idea.

[Just. Putting that out there.

And we will say he doesn't recognize the name of Merlin right away because he probably doesn't know the Arthurian legends.]

Watanuki, that's my family name so you can call me that. And my exact words were "I don't want to be harassed by ghosts and spirits anymore."

[This PSL is going with slightly broader terms, for the sake of character development. Make him a wizard, Merlin.]

[myrdd]

[Someone unfamiliar with his legend? Well, this was interesting - he'd have to investigate later if that was tied into the Dimension Witch's original spell.]

Very good. [He was also far from offended at only being given a last name. More than that, he could see exactly what Watanuki was: for such an unstable existence, a name could serve as an anchor for identity. Not that he was about to spill the beans this early.] Remember that lesson at all times, hmm? It will serve you well.

I can certainly teach you how to either repel spirits or make them uninterested in you, but that's only scratching the surface of the problem.

How do ghosts describe you? With intent and emotions, if not in words.

[He was confident Watanuki would've sensed that much.]

[foundfate]

[Confirmation from two mages that he really shouldn't be giving out his full name was enough to convince Watanuki to just tell everyone 'Watanuki'. He was normally a healthy skeptic, but ghosts and spirits were more than enough to convince him of the magic in the world. And it was magic he really wanted to avoid, because it was so annoying.]

They don't really talk most of the time, they just subject me to their presence. Usually by laying over me and trying to suffocate me with their ghostly bodies.

It's annoying. And I want them to stop. Everyone avoids me because it looks like I'm screaming and running away from nothing! "Oh, why is the weird kid from Class 1 laying on the floor like he's being sat on? He's such a weirdo!"

[That was definitely a high-pitched fake-feminine voice there.]

It's not me being weird! It's ghosts being rude! And I want it to stop!

[myrdd]

And yet, not one of them's succeeded in possessing you.

[Hence, he guessed, the physical suffocation.

Merlin didn't laugh at that reenactment, although it was a very near thing.]

Maa, maa. There will always be those who don't understand, and people who do. Anyway, their words no longer have any bearing to where you are now.

As for the ghosts using you as a chair: rudeness has nothing to do with it, for they don't have a consciousness. They're small fry that have clumped together.

Now, if they don't have a single thought to their head, what do you think's motivating them?

[There was a point to this. For the training he was now putting together at the back of his mind, he needed Watanuki to first understand why his ghost issue was but a symptom instead of the problem.]

[foundfate]

You sure about that? Some of them seem brainless, but sometimes they talk to me. And sometimes they look so human that I can't even tell they're dead.

[He would answer Merlin's question in a moment, but he had to clear that up first. Too many different kinds of spirits, too many possibilities.]

[myrdd]

So you let human-looking spirits sit on you.

[Merlin clasped his chin. He was sure Watanuki knew exactly what kind of mindless spirit he was going for, but sure, that kind of super broad generalization could be made for most hungry ghosts Watanuki encountered.

At the same time, there were some things he'd insinuate, because the opening was right there.]

You don't look the type, but I guess someone as high strung as you needs to blow off steam every now and then.

Any remarkable beauties of note?

[foundfate]

[Unfortunately, Watanuki immediately got the insinuation there, and he turned even more irritable. Technically he had no preference, and beauties of either gender would have been fine. But being a 'weirdo' meant no attention from boys or girls, so he was woefully single. As he had always been. And the talk of 'blowing off steam' was annoying because he saw it as a jab at his lack of friends.]

No! And I wouldn't do that kind of thing with any of them anyway! The point is that I don't want spirits sitting on me!

[This did not help the image of him being high-strung at all.]

[myrdd]

[Ooh, touchy.

Well, Watanuki might mellow out eventually: if not from his training and certain events that would come to pass, then the passage of time.]

Then does that mean you're open to 'that kind of thing' with certain people?

[Wording, Watanuki.

Also Merlin would sit on the balcony ledge. Sure, he could just have them move down the trap door to one of the rooms downstairs, but they had yet to settle on an actual agreement.]

Your kinks - or lack thereof - aside, you haven't answered my question. What do you think is pushing them to flock to you? Why you, specifically, and not other people?

You're not the first or last person who can see spirits, but at the same time, not everyone who has that talent has their daily life intruded upon to this degree.

[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.]