Okay, real quick, can I say how thankful I am for so many of you sticking through this story with me after what is now 50 god damn chapters? 50 chapters. This is my longest god damn story. How did so many of you stay this long? How have I not finished this yet? So many questions I don't have a single answer to lol
It's been a while since I first joined this community. This story being my first actual story in the fandom. Leading to many more over the course of what is now going on three years. Kinda ironic to think of how far I've come lol Three years ago I was bing watching Trollhunters due to the fact I was graduating in a week and I wanted to feel better about the fact I was both rejected by my second crush and leaving high school and now I'm dating my first girlfriend, graduating college, and feeling the best about where I am lol Funny how time flies, huh?
Well, anyway, what I'm meaning to say is thank you to all of you. Any of you who have commented, read, been here from the beginning, or even just joined me on this journey yesterday. It means a lot to me that this story is enjoyed by so many of you. This fandom alone has meant the world to me. It has connected me with the love of my life even lol So really, thank you for reading.
"You need to breathe, my child. Be calm." I took a deep breath as I closed my eyes and relaxed into the two hands adjusting my shoulders. "Keep your brain clear. Don't worry about the surroundings. Nothing else matters." I released my breath as the hands disappeared from my shoulders as the older woman stepped away from me. "You know the steps, my little one."
As the lot of us marched us the path that led to the infamous resting place of the one and only Merlin, my mind wandered off constantly to memories of my own master. Her words and teachings echoed within my mind as Douxie was close beside me.
"Emotions are strong. They are what makes us powerful. They are what makes us mortal. They are your secret weapon, Zoey."
"You are a huntress. A warrior of the people. Of your own, and of those you don't think would need you. We fight for the people, my darling. We fight for those who cannot fend for themselves."
"You are a powerful witch, my little one. One of great promise. One who will bloom and bud in ways you can only imagine at this point. But with time, and the right care, you will blossom. You will thrive."
She wasn't a practical teacher. Not in the slightest. She was just a single witch still protecting the fallen pieces of what once was a thriving hub for her people. For the original huntresses of Artemis. When those who had her faith died, and no one else started to believe in the great goddess, she stayed. Keeping the land protected and safe within her hands. Living her days in a near empty shack in the middle of the forest. Only ever leaving to hunt as she had grown just too old to keep up with those needing her assistance anymore.
It was why she took me in as her student. She knew that even though she could live forever in that tiny shack, she knew that she needed the assistance. She needed to pass the torch of her people. Before her mana gave up on her. Before it was too late.
"You are the last living piece of my era now, Zoe. A beginning of a new era of the witches of Artemis. My one and only student."
I remember the soft look in her eyes as she placed her hands on my shoulders. Her proud smile burned into my mind the second she gave me it.
"And I couldn't be more proud."
I reached up and wiped a tear that threatened to roll over my cheeks as I remembered my old master. Her words still echoed in my mind as I continued to think about her.
She was the first person who ever said they were proud of me. The first person that even proved that they meant it. The old woman meant the world to me. She was like a mother I never knew I needed. Better than the one fate has given me originally.
I glanced over toward Douxie who was looking up toward where he knew the true entrance of Merlin's tomb resided. His face was blank but his blue eyes shone bright with anxiety and eagerness. Only turning brighter with every step he took.
And I knew Douxie felt the same about Merlin. The old dust bag was the father Douxie always needed. Despite how different Merlin treated him in comparison to how Artisus had treated me.
Merlin was a lot more callused with Douxie. A lot more distant with him than how Artisus was with me. Artisus was open about affection. Soft touches and little gifts from her was how she told me she cared for me as a student as well as a daughter in a way. Merlin was the opposite. He wasn't much for affection, and if he did actually want to show how much you meant to him, it would be purely with words that would make you think the opposite. Or he would beat around the bush and say something along the lines of how he cares, but not say it outright.
I smiled a little as I saw a bit of what was the equivalent of a child's excitement appear in Douxie's eyes as he realized were close to reaching the entry of Merlin's tomb.
It was the opposite of how Douxie is too. He's a touch-starved little thing.
I reached out and grabbed his hand with ease. Our fingers interlocked as I could tell his excitement just bubbled a little bit more. Though despite how frantic his thoughts might be, he still rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb gently. Only showing how easy physical touch came to him
Always open and welcoming to affection at any moment.
"It's been centuries since I last saw him." Douxie finally spoke up as he turned his head toward me. His eyes were wide and full of happiness at the thought of seeing his master despite the circumstances. "He'll be quite happy to see you after such a long time, Zoe."
"Are you sure you're thinking of the same Merlin I know?" I chuckled as the wizard pulled me into his side excitedly as a small laugh escaped him.
"He only thought you would get me in trouble. He never hated you."
"Well he wasn't wrong about the trouble part," I smirked at the blue-eyed spell caster as he just smiled in return. "You're quite happy to see him despite what's making it happen."
"I was told to not awake him unless he was needed. That he was going to take the small amount of mana he had left in his reserve and save it for when the Eclipse was found. I get to see him again. I get to see if he's okay and if he's well. I never got to-." He stopped suddenly as his excitement damped. The light in his eyes dimmed a few as he remembered something suddenly. "I never got to see him after his final battle with Morgana."
So it's more about seeing him alive than just seeing him.
I hummed to my thought a little as I wrapped an arm around Douxie's shoulders. My hand landed on his arm as I rubbed gently as we walked together still.
I don't blame him. He's waited years to see his master alive. To see him well. To just see him again.
I would be the same if Artisus was easy to be found.
"You'll be seeing him soon though. Alive, well, and possibly full of quips that will make you want to bury him for real this time." Douxie laughed wholeheartedly at that. Making the excitement spark within him once more.
"Only in your book."
"Ah yes, you still see him as a father figure so I would be digging a grave on my lonesome." I chuckled as Douxie rolled his eyes at me.
"Don't be going off and killing Merlin, angel."
"I give no promise, darling." I gave him a smirk as he just smiled in return. A happy gleam took over his eyes as he seemed to now just be joyful at the idea of all those he loved so long ago being together again.
Because neither of our masters were conventional, but they were our parental figures nonetheless.
"Let's not dilly dally, shall we?" Right after Douxie opened the path to Merlin's chambers, he nearly rushed into it. It was as if he was a child in a candy store as he nearly ran the path that was illuminated by bright green lights that seemed to just glow from the rocks near them.
"Well, he's excited." I smiled widely as I glanced over toward Zoe.
"Merlin is like his dad and he hasn't seen him in centuries." She shrugged as she looked over toward where the slightly younger wizard ran. "I would be the same way, honestly." Archie appeared randomly on her shoulder before sprouting his wings with a groan.
"I'll go get him before he accidentally triggers anything." He leaped and started flying toward where his familiar went. "Or at least see how far he gets before realizing the rest of us don't know where we're going."
"Sounds good! Thanks, Arch!" Zoe yelled out after him with a smile as she looked back toward me. "He gets like this constantly."
"Oh, we know." Claire joined my side as she nudged me. "This one gets the same way at times."
"No wonder why they're friends then, huh?"
"Oh absolutely."
"Good to know our girlfriends joke about us even when we're not here." I smirked as I glanced between the two.
"You're here aren't you?" Claire gave me a smirk as she knocked her fist gently into my shoulder. "Now, we have a Douxie to catch up with." With that, the rest of us started chasing after Douxie's trail.
"It's the same as it was when we first put it together! This was planned out as his resting spot for the longest time. Even for when he needs to actually be buried." Douxie rambled excitedly as he looked around the large entry to what Douxie was saying would be the main resting place in the whole chambers. "Did you know that Morgana actually added us in making this place? It was before her fall out with Arthur so there is only three people who know this place. Me, Merlin, and Morgana. Ha! Sounds like some kind of weird book."
"Sounds oddly close to Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl." Zoe commented jokingly before stopping for a second. "Honestly rather close to it if you think of how Morgana lost her hand and things." I watched the witch smile widely though as she continued humoring us. "Can say, at least he didn't make a John Green book reference though. Fuck that guy."
"I thought Hank Green was the book writer." Toby jumped in as he gave Zoe a curious look.
"Nah, that's the history guy. At least he's a better person despite me knowing more than anyone else that he's wrong on a lot of the stuff. But that's just history in general to Doux and me. We know history better than any of your books."
"Well by living through it, yeah. That makes sense though." I nodded along with Toby as I agreed with the idea.
Living through it after all is much different than learning about it.
"Yes! We're here!" Douxie moved quickly to go to his master's side. He was laid out on what was like a stone altar. His hands over his chest as the old man laid seemingly stive before us. "It has been a long time, Merlin." The wizard knelt down beside him as he placed his hands on the edges of the stone altar.
"What is he-?" I gave Zoe a curious look as she just shrugged.
"Let my dork be a dork." I nodded as I just looked back toward Douxie instead.
"Exsurge sicut mane. Sta de requie tua." I had no clue what he said, but a blue glow came out from his hands and surrounded his master gently. Wrapping around the resting wizard like a ribbon as he spoke softly once more. "Come back to us, Merlin." Suddenly, the eyes of the old man snapped open as the magic ribbon started to dim out.
Merlin has awakened.
I swallowed hard as the crystal around my neck burned upon my skin under my shirt.
Now the true prophecy begins.