Notes: Basically I'm in an airport and have nothing else to do right now. This is technically a Shadowrun cross over fic, but you don't need to know about Shadowrun - it might help if you don't actually, since I'm changing things.
Magic had been gone from the world for a millennium before it was reawakened. The initial response from humanity was backlash, humankind resented change and when children began being born as orks and trolls, able to communicate with AI telepathically and control the world around them with new magic, orphanages began filling quickly with the newly named metahumans.
Merlin had lived through so many phases of humanity, evil men rose and fell leading to others, he was left nearly emotionless. So he hardly flinched at the disregard for life. World wars had become common place to the point governments began launching nuclear warheads during simple resource disputes. Nuclear weapons had become so commonplace, in fact, they were leaking out onto the streets.
The push against the corrupt governments across the world started in Japan, bringing rise to 日本帝国 or the japanese imperial state, where metahumanity could live with humans in shaky peace, it was, by no means perfect, it was a caste like system in fact, but the race wars had died down so much, it was the only beacon of hope for metahumans worldwide. The humans still had control of the government, and on the British Isles at least, it had become so extreme and so conservative, it had nearly become fascist. The ostracized children grew faster than their peers, their ork and troll bodies quicker to mature. The race wars became commonplace, and with the magic they possessed, along with their tank like bodies, nothing short of missiles could stop them.
Merlin was taking his daily walk past the lake, Avalon, when he heard it. Despite being nearly as old as the nation itself, having fought in almost every war he thought a worthy cause in his country's name, he still looked like a 20 year old man with the wisdom of an 100 year old. When he heard the voice, it felt familiar in his soul, but his ears deceived him.
"Hello?" The voice called again into the wind, almost pleading to be heard.
Merlin walked towards the man on a stranger's legs, it was as if he had no control of his own body. The man was of average height, good, sturdy build, but he looked small. Folded in on himself, clutching his knees, shivering in his wet clothing. Just another crack in the facade he'd build around himself in life that had almost entirely shattered before his passing. His hair was shaggy and a short beard had grown on his chin, both a pale green with algae growth, from so long under water. He coughed up another lungful of water.
"My liege," Merlin said softly, bending on one knee before his king.
"Merlin?" Arthur asked standing up.
"Yes?" He asked looking up, tears in his eyes. He'd played this moment through his mind so many times it was impossible to count, but in none was the man so calm. It didn't matter either way, Merlin had tears rolling down his face now, he was so relieved to see the man again.
"How long has it been?" The man asked softly.
"1 thousand five hundred and seventy six years," Merlin said, "to the day."
"You've waited this long?" Arthur almost laughed.
"Of course," Merlin said
Arthur pulled him to his feet and embraced him. Merlin wrapped his thin, tired arms around the man. They were more than best friends; they were soulmates. After centuries of floating through existence, he finally had a purpose. He finally felt whole again.
"You absolute buffoon," Arthur said with a laugh.