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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

[myrdd]

Oho.

[He doesn't say what it is, though his grin might be a clue that Watanuki touched upon something right.

For the last time, he reaches into his sleeve.

Unlike the mirror that he prepared beforehand, this new item is something he conjures on the spot: a comb. The kind he usually uses on his own hair, although it's an ordinary one once's he's finished.

So the question is: will Watanuki be able to sense that draw of magic before the object itself is formed?]

[foundfate]

What did you do to that comb?

[The accusation is in an irritated voice, because he definitely felt something happen. He doesn't realize exactly what Merlin did, but he's sure it's something stupid like it'll make Watanuki's hair turn red or something.

But interestingly, he felt a pull of magic that is vaguely familiar to him, which he has identified as 'magic is happening'.]

[myrdd]

Just made it.

[The smugness with which he waves the comb is disproportionate - but the reason why will be clear shortly.]

Now, open the pouches.

I can tell you this: you have the potential, at least, to tell when magic is being cast and to differentiate the energy signatures on various objects. What you can stand to improve on, however, is to identify how a regular object is different from a conjured one.

[He'll have to borrow a couple of things from Yuuko, although he has to wonder if he'll be charged for them.

This, too, he doesn't say: there's only a select few who can tell when Merlin casts his magic when he's trying to not be obvious about it.

Why, he'll have plenty of fun teaching his new pupil. Maybe this time, it won't backfire in a similar fashion to Vivian using what she learned to construct the gate that Merlin cannot pass.

...it will be out there in the Garden, should Watanuki wander far enough and find the boundary. Those words that immortalize the weight that has yet to leave Merlin, even though he doesn't think of it as often these days.]

[foundfate]

[There's no telling what Watanuki's magic will lead to him doing. But he certainly is vindictive enough to pull a Vivian. Maybe.

Watanuki will immediately open a bag he thought was empty, only to frown when he finds the scrap of cloth. That's the one he's inspecting closely.]

Is that why you put this in one? Because it's light, and you wanted to see if I could tell it was even in there from magic feelings or whatever?

[myrdd]

[After what Merlin's doing to help - how cruel!

Let's face it, though - Merlin has a track record of students who end up being vexed. Also see: Caster Arturia.]

Yes. [There's a pause here - well. There's no harm in mentioning this.] It's something of Arthur's. An accidental souvenir, if you will, that I found on my person after we last parted ways.

[foundfate]

King Arthur?

[Well that's surprising. But then again, it really isn't. Merlin was Arthur's advisor, after all.]

You must care a lot for him, to hold onto it for so long.

[A souvenir meant he cared, right?]

[myrdd]

[Merlin -

Merlin sputters, clapping a hand to his mouth as he takes an involuntary step back from the direct hit. Undeniably accurate, but did Watanuki really have to put it like that!?]

I. [He coughs.] We did spend a lot of time together, and I advised her on a lot of various things.

[(That's not a 'no,' Merlin.)]

[foundfate]

[He absolutely has to. Sorry Merlin, he's like this.

Also, right, Arthur was a girl in this timeline or whatever. Watanuki has to remember that.]

And here I didn't think you would get nostalgic.

["Will he remember me like that, when I'm gone?"

That sure is a thought that hits Watanuki hard, making him stop for a moment in his inspection of the objects. The abject loneliness of his life didn't hit him so often anymore, but when it did it hit hard.

He swallows down that bitter feeling and goes to look through the other bags. The glass sphere caught his interest- had he been right here?]

[myrdd]

I might be inhuman, but what kind of mentor do you take me for? Nostalgic isn't how I'd describe it, but I still remember every student I've ever had!

[He doesn't miss the dip in Watanuki's mood, but he's unable to tell what that's about - hearing thoughts isn't one of his many talents, and they aren't in a space where he can just get a taste of Watanuki's emotions without being obvious.

In the end, his words are but a deflection.

Or they're meant to be that, except he's just digging himself deeper.]

[foundfate]

[HE is absolutely digging himself deeper, and it's actually a good distraction from Watanuki's moment of sad there.]

Is that so?

[He does not sound like he believes Merlin at all, and that coy grin on his face doesn't help either. Merlin's attached to his students~

But Watanuki will hold up the glass sphere now.]

What's this, by the way?

[myrdd]

[The change in topic is very much appreciated! He'll also take that cloth back now, thanks.]

It contains a dream. Calling it "the wet kind of cold" isn't far off - this one is from a swimmer.

Care to try and see what else you can get out from it?

[foundfate]

Ah?

[He holds the marble up to his face, squinting at it like it will help him see better.]

...chlorine? He must be training for something important, right?

[myrdd]

Mm-hmm.

Do you "just know" it? Or are you able to feel him swimming in the pool?

[foundfate]

I can smell the chlorine.

[He can't, that's something something dream magic. But he feels like he can.

Honestly if he pushes it far enough he eventually could reach right into someone's dream, but he's not quite there yet. Soon, but not yet.]

[myrdd]

Alright.

[Merlin points at the first pouch - the one with the mirror.]

Hold on to that.

[He'll take the rest back to keep anything from falling, before returning the potato.]

How are these two different? Their obvious characteristics aside.

[foundfate]

I've touched a potato a million times before, I know what one is. I barely ever touch mirrors.

[They usually hang on walls, he doesn't carry around a hand mirror.]

I know that's an obvious characteristic, but that's just how it is. I'm more familiar with potatoes than mirrors.

[myrdd]

[Sometimes, not being specific backfires.

Merlin lightly pokes his forehead.]

Recall what I said earlier about developing your capacity to differentiate a conjured object from a regular one. I know my illusions and magecraft are so good that they put the work of other Casters to shame, but humor me.

[A five-lap run can't have made you that petulant, can it?]

[foundfate]

[He is poked! And he blinks a couple times before scowling. The run hadn't made him petulant, but Merlin's attitude is quickly driving him in that direction.]

I'm being serious! It feels like a normal potato, it smells like dirt. If you magic up a vegetable like that you're not exactly going to magic up the soil that clings to it, are you?

[Watanuki's irritation there could be insightful, though. His struggle with the mirror isn't because of what it has, but rather because of what it is lacking: that lived-in quality real objects tend to have. "Someone who magics up a potato won't magic up the dirt too" might be a succinct way of explaining that complex thought.]

[myrdd]

[It is, indeed, a clue, and the natural limitation of counterfeits.]

Good point.

[And a far more sensible way of detecting a fake, but in which case - Merlin makes another potato, with the exact same features as the original one. Down to the last speck of dirt. Having a visual reference sure does wonders!

He'll also juggle and mix up the two potatoes in his hands before holding them out for inspection.]

And these two?

[foundfate]

[He takes the two potatoes, and he will take his time inspecting them closely. He's actually trying to find some minute difference between them, some sign of which is real and which is fake. He already can guess at what Merlin is trying to teach him- something about feeling magic- but he's not going to get that lesson immediately. Instead, he holds up one of the potatoes, and-]

This one is annoying. I want to throw it out of the tower.

[He's holding up the conjured potato there.

And yes, he is being a bit shitposty with his answer. But he's identifying which is Merlin-potato, at least?]

[myrdd]

Perfect.

[Deconstructing how Watanuki got that answer can come in the days and weeks ahead. What matters is he got it right - with such deliberateness that didn't look like a lucky guess, but that can be compared to future results - and when Merlin claps his hands, the potato pops into confetti.

...it probably says something that he doesn't mind the shitposty answer, no?]

Now, Watanuki. It's your turn to do magic and make breakfast.

[foundfate]

[It's definitely something that he gives his own confetti-shaped shitpost answer, honestly.]

Gah!

[Watanuki is startled by that sudden pop, and he visibly jumps backs a bit. But that shock is quickly exchanged with irritation as Watanuki watches the confetti fall to the ground.

Then he throws the real potato right at Merlin.

Breakfast will come shortly, but potato-throwing is first.]

[myrdd]

--- bwuh!

[Guess who was too busy laughing to dodge.

The potato hits him solidly in the chin, making him stagger back.

And he's still laughing.]

So harsh! You're hurting the potato's feelings, throwing it like that after everything it's done for you!

[foundfate]

I'll throw more than a potato next time!

[And he's. Stomping out of the courtyard to go back to his room.

Because yes he's actually going to cook even though he's mad. He can cook angrily. And Merlin is getting something with eel in it because eel is salty and Watanuki is expressing his salt right now. Hopefully Merlin enjoys Unadon.]

[myrdd]

Looking forward to it!

[srsly though Watanuki how much do you want this to escalate

Unfortunately, the thought that the confetti was rude doesn't even cross Merlin's mind.

Anyway! He'll follow soon enough - the Bounded Field is staying as is in the courtyard. Merlin hasn't tasted eel at all. Jellied eels only became a thing in England in the 18th century. In his time, mutton and pork were more common - one had to travel to the coast for seafood, and while fish did reach Camelot on occasion, the royal treasury wasn't in the habit of overspending on food imports to the castle since addressing the famine plaguing the countryside was a bigger priority.

Has most of the salt been dumped on the dish? Or will it get saltier once Merlin decides to pay a visit and check what's cooking? Not to worry - he'll do the polite thing and knock on the door.]