*I own nothing STF!*

A Dragon's Hope; A Love Not Denied

It was Merlin; Cedric couldn't believe his eyes. Stumbling forward, the sorcerer opened his mouth to cry out but stopped himself when he saw the landscape around him had shifted. He was no longer in the foyer inside Dragonhold. Instead, he found himself overlooking the Wysteria cliffs outside, and where the grass faded to a sharp jutted edge, there stood Merlin.

"You have betrayed me." The wizard thundered. The wind whipped against his long white hair and icy blue cloak, adding an even more chilling aura to his already terrifying appearance.

Flinching, Cedric stammered, "W...what?"

"You have betrayed us all!" An unfamiliar voice cried.

Whirling around, Cedric saw a man a few yards away. Fire lighted the grey skies, illuminating the man to reveal a bruised face some years younger than Merlin. "This….this is the past?" Cedric exclaimed.

It started raining, and the angry man wiped wet hair that plastered his bloodied face from his eyes. Behind him, water quenched small fires lighting the grass, and amid simmering fires were piles of bodies.

"Merlin, you have betrayed the entire sorcery world!" The man shouted, raising his fist in the air. "You slaughtered your own brothers and sisters, and we only wanted to protect magic! Giving the Triune Nihil to those who will use its powers for the good of others is the only way to ensure that the royals don't step out of line."

"Erasmus, you fool! The Triune was forged for evil alone!" Merlin hissed. "No one can wield it for good without becoming ensnared by its dark magic."

"You're only saying that because you're going to selfishly use it or give it away to a king who will use it against us!" Erasmus brandished his wand. "Give it to me, or I will take it by force."

"Do you not see it has already ensnared you? You are not who you once were." The other wizard replied, readying his own. "War is almost upon magic users and the kingdoms, so I am doing what is necessary. But, I am warning you now, do not stand in my way."

A magic blast shot straight for Merlin, but he reflected it back to Erasmus with effortless agility.

Erasmus tumbled backward. Sprawled on the ground, he grasped for nothing but empty air, screaming, "Give it to me! All the power in the world must be mine!"

"I am afraid you would never be able to enjoy the power once you had it," Merlin commented. "May the gods have mercy on your soul."

"What do you mean?" Erasmus' brows knit together. "You-" His face boiled red when he made the connection. "You did something to me! You poisoned me!"

"The poison is of your own doing." A flicker of grief came over the stoic wizard's face. "Goodbye, my friend. I am sorry." Then, Merlin leapt off the cliff.

"No!" Cedric and Erasmus cried out simultaneously, but then the scene changed once more, and Erasmus, the rain, and dead bodies vanished.

Cedric staggered to the edge of the cliffs, when suddenly felt a shadow loom over him. Gingerly glancing up, the sorcerer knees buckled beneath him, and he fell to the ground.

A great dragon hovered over him. Its scales were a translucent hue, and the creature's size so monstrous that Cedric barely reached its lower leg's height. It stretched out its wings, giving a thundering screech before lowering its head. Locking eyes with the creature, Cedric saw the all too familiar marks of pain and grief. The sorcerer realized it was the same dragon as the statue, Merlin's animal companion!

"You're… Merlin's dragon." He whispered so quietly against the roaring wind, yet the Dragon uttered a soft growl as if it heard and acknowledged him

"I am Foreshadow." The dragon spoke, its voice feminine yet a thick weight hung after her every word.

"You really can hear me" Cedric's heart accelerated. "But how? I thought you were a statue, and… is this a dream? Maybe I hit my head too hard against the floor."

"Long ago after Merlin left, I encased my body in a preservation spell inside the statue. My spirit is now what you see as I wait until my master returns."

"So… Merlin is still alive?" The sorcerer's eyes sparkled.

A puff of smoke emitting from her nostrils that sounded like a forlorn sigh. "I do not truly know," Foreshadow replied. "Yet I have always had hope. I have long awaited for someone to find me and help me make hope to reality. You have found the symbol I left behind, and I sensed a desire to find Merlin not for the sake of fame or power but for the protection of someone you love."

"Ahhhh…" The sorcerer coughed, "Yes, someone I care about is in danger if I do not find Merlin."

"I understand. I served Merlin all my life, and I did and still would do anything in my power to protect him. However," The dragon's white eyes flickered sharply as she growled, "I do not believe you are here alone. There is another one who desires what is in Merlin's keep… the Triune Nihil?"

Cedric held up his hands defensively. "I am being forced to find the Triune by an evil sorcerer, but I want to stop him! I only have the partial spell Erasmus left in his journal, but could you help me understand all of Merlin's writings? If I locate Merlin, then he can help us defeat this man."

"I will grant you what you seek." Foreshadow consented. "I do not think Merlin has gone far, but if he is alive, the path to him will not be easy, and once you find him…he may wish to not return. "

"How do you mean?"

"You must remember that what you just witnessed is a glimpse of what I saw centuries ago. Merlin took the Triune away, hoping it would solve the problem, yet it has only caused more pain. You must help him see the light and destroy Triune once and for all, for as long as it persists, it will wreak chaos on the realm."

"Help him see the light?" Cedric knitted his brows. "But I am in need of his help?"

"Merlin was very fearful, and because of that…the Triune stayed alive longer than it should have. Do not make that mistake and destroy it by all means possible."

"How could you talk like that about your sorcerer!" Cedric snapped. "Merlin is the greatest and righteous wizard of all times, and he was not fearful of anyone or anything!" Clenching his jaw, he continued his rant, "You're making it sound like he was the villain instead of that traitor Erasmus when he took away the Triune to save the world! Did we even watch the same thing?"

The dragon snarled, bringing her face inches from Cedrics, who flinched. "Do not act so knowledgeable about the past that you were never born for. What my magic allowed you to see was limited, and but a glimpse at the truth, for while Erasmus may have been quickly seduced by the Triune, Merlin could have stopped this long ago, and his heart was no better." Foreshadow suddenly grimaced in pain, and her entire being pulsed with blue light. "My form is fading and must return to stone. When you find Merlin…you will see the truth and help him."

"But-"

"My time is up." The dragon took a few steps back, her claws brushing against the grass, and then breathed out a blue fire, revealing what looked like pages underneath the soil. "Find what I buried here, and it will help you get started in finding where Merlin went."

"Wait! I have so many questions!" The sorcerer exclaimed. "Why did Merlin make another teleportation spell? And what became of Erasmus and-"

"Merlin was a secretive wizard who did not share his most private spells even with me." Wind from the cliffs started howling louder, and the dragon spirit pulsed again. "And Erasmus disappeared right after the fight, and I did not know where he had gone until I discovered he died some months later."

"But-"

"I wish I could answer more young sorcerer, yet I must bid you farewell. Perhaps we shall meet again." Dirt whirled up around them and into Cedric's eyes, engulfing him in darkness.

"Cedric? Cedric?" A familiar voice reached the sorcerer's ears, and his eyes snapped open.

Cedric found himself lying on the marble floor of the Dragonhold foyer, the stone dragon where it originally was, and Sofia bent over him, her face twisted with worry.

"Sofia!" The sorcerer pulled her down into a tight embrace. Losing her balance, Sofia fell over him, her face buried in his chest. "Are you alright? You didn't hurt your head?"

"Immsh fwiiine," Sofia mumbled incoherently, and Cedric immediately let her go, seeing he was suffocating her.

"Sorry!" He said sheepishly, placing his hand at the back of his neck, which felt oddly warm. He paused when he saw Sofia's face turning all kinds of shades of red. "Are you sure you are ok? Did I make your head feel worse."

"No!" Sofia emphasized abruptly before covering her mouth with her hand. "I… I'm just glad you're alright. The entire room was shrouded in smoke, and I couldn't see you until it randomly cleared up, and there you were. I thought you disappeared."

"Well, I sort of did." The sorcerer started to tell her all that transpired, but then he remembered Grimtrix could be watching, and Wriggley was listening. It would be safe not to mention Merlin as much as possible and focus on the Triune itself.

Standing abruptly to his feet, he reached down to pull Sofia up. "Merlin's animal familiar, the dragon appeared to me as a spirit. She showed me something she hid outside that could potentially help us locate where the Triune could be. Let's hope it is a translation to Merlin's spell."

Searching his eyes, Sofia paused briefly before replying, "That's amazing, Cedric!"

After curtly informing Wriggley where they were headed, Cedric took Sofia's hand and went outside, hiking around the back of the fortress to the cliffs.

Sofia took this time to watch the sorcerer, determination, and apprehension unmistakably clouding his face. He seemed to be hiding more of what the dragon told him, and she was bursting with questions, too, yet now was not the time. The princess winced, a warm metallic taste filling her mouth. She hadn't realized she was biting her lip harshly, and it split it open. Licking her bottom lip, she continued biting the opposite side in frustration. Never in her life had she felt so useless. Sofia was always used to helping others, dedicated to being a dependable and loyal friend, yet she was not even in control of her own actions, and Cedric had to walk on eggshells because of her.

We were finally becoming so close and confiding in each other, Sofia reflected. It hurts to not be like we used to, but I have to trust him. After everything that's happened, that's what he needs most right now, and I'm still helping somehow through that, I hope.

"It was that cliff over there." Cedric declared, and Sofia focused to where he pointed. "The dragon, Foreshadow, transported me here, and this was where she hid whatever may help us."

Sofia's hand went limp in his, her mouth widening. In her vision, she was at the edge of a cliff, and right now, they were heading towards the very same one!

"Cedric!" She re-clasped his hand and began sprinting towards the cliffs. Her feet almost stumbled her body weak and still aching with pain, and Cedric slowed her down.

"Wait, tell me what is going on?"

"That cliff!" The princess panted. "It's the one from my vision! I saw it when we first arrived, but my mind was too fuzzy under Grimtrix's control to make the connection, but now I know!

"Neptune's Nettles," Cedric gasped. Quickening their pace carefully, they arrived at one of the jagged cliffs whose edge jutted out the farthest.

This was the cliff from the vision and from the dragon's memory. The violet, crystal hues of the Wysteria cliffs almost gave an enchanting feeling, like a brilliant diamond, yet stepping onto the rocky ledge proved the opposite emotion when one was met with a dark abyss for miles and miles and the mournful cries of the wind.

Had Sofia's amulet warned her about this, knowing Merlin's history here? Cedric considered to himself. It's almost as if it knew, and I wish I could ask her. Then, changing the topic in his head, the sorcerer wondered how Merlin could have survived a fall from this height. He had to have used his new teleportation spell, but why did he jump? Unless he did not mean to come back, so he…Mentally shaking his head from the disturbing thought, Cedric was determined that Merlin, being the most fearless and powerless sorcerer of the ages, would never throw his life away. He had been working on this spell, so it makes sense he would use it.

"I envisioned that same forest over there." Sofia's dull voice brought Cedric back to reality to find the forest she was gazing at as the same one from the dragon's memory. "Everything…" Her voice quieted as she shivered from the awful memory. "Everything was dead."

Squeezing her arms reassuringly, Cedric guided her back to the grass, both of them kneeling down. "The pages did not seem to be buried too deep, and since I don't have my wand, my hands will do." He began breaking down the soil with his bare hands, and Sofia copied him.

The scorching sun beat down on them as it rose higher in the summer sky. Wiping away droplets of sweat, Cedric had already loosened his bow tie, folding it in his sorcerer's sleeve, and now began removing his robes as well. "Here," He offered them to Sofia to place over her head for protection.

Sofia accepted them, but after a minute, she squatted closer to Cedric, much closer than he was prepared for, to shade both of them. With one hand, she held up the fabric, although purposefully holding it slightly more on the sorcerer's side, and with her other hand, she continued digging into the dirt, not caring about her dress getting dirty.

Cedric could not help but smile. While other princesses would faint at grass and mud stains on their dress hems, Sofia could care less, and she was serious in helping those even if it meant diving into a muddy slough. Moreover, she knew he disliked the heat, so her sincere action of covering both of them created a tightening sensation in Cedric's stomach. Despite their circumstances, he was pleased to have someone who devotedly cared for him for the first time in his life, and how could he not love her for that?

Love.

He froze, then his fingers began to tremble. Suddenly, Sofia was a little too close to him as he felt her shoulder rub against his.

Taking the material from her hand, Cedric scooted away, setting it beside him. "Thank you," He said, refusing to look in her direction. "But the heat is not too unbearable. Besides, you are still unwell, and I don't want you straining yourself more than you need to."

"It's fine," Sofia responded softly. "I appreciate you looking after me, but I am really ok, and I want to help you in any way I can."

Cedric did not miss the hurt in her voice, and he inwardly worried that she thought he was mad at her for exerting herself, and that's why he moved farther away. "I didn't mean it to sound like I think you're weak." His hand went to touch her cheek, but the sorcerer found himself retracting. He had touched her cheek affectionately many times before, but at the moment, it felt wrong.

Sofia met his gaze, noticing he withheld his hand. "I know you didn't mean it like that." She only gave him a light smile and returned to her digging. "And I am weak right now."

"Don't say that," The sorcerer frowned. "You may feel physically and mentally weak, but your heart is not."

A giggle escaped the princess's lips, and Cedric could not hope for for a sweeter sound to uplift his spirits. However, his eyes quickly knit together when she laughed. This time he did not shy away as he extended his thumb, running it over her bottom lip. He could feel her mouth tense under his touch, and he jerked his fingers back. "Ahh, my apologies, I just noticed you were bleeding," The sorcerer reddened.

"I bit my lip too hard." The princess faced away from him, becoming curiously engrossed at prodding the ground.

"Please don't be scared. Remember what I promised you? We will get out of this together."

Sofia's eyes broadened. He had noticed such a subtle habit she had. This prompted her to think how he showed when he was nervous or frightened when Cedric rubbed his hands together or tapped his nose when deep in thought.

Cedric's fingers twitched from the soft sensation of how her lip felt, save for the chapped part. He did not know what he was thinking. It was a very intimate way to touch someone like that, and he did it without a second thought. But it was Sofia, and they were best friends, so how could it be weird?

An uncomfortable silence followed as they both went back to work, and Cedric realized it was indeed weird. He was a complete fool for doing that, and right now, brushing it off as something a friend would do felt strangely false. Why did he think of love when he described her looking out for him?

No! I have a job to do. The sorcerer began shoveling with his hand faster. He had to focus on more pressing matters. The stress of everything was definitely getting to him, and Cedric couldn't wait for everything to be over with and their lives returning back to normal.

Yet the shadow of once dreaming of overtaking Enchancia and now Roland knowing about it overshadowed Cedric's brief hope. Would things ever go back to normal? They couldn't, and he would have to figure that out, knowing full well he could end up in jail or banished. The sorcerer's breath hitched at the thought of never seeing Sofia again.

Apparently, his inhale was louder than intended for Sofia noticed and questioned, "Is everything ok?"

Once again, fearing to meet her gaze because he might lose it, Cedric shook his head. The Grimtrix situation they were in was uncertain and bleak, but if they managed to escape and defeat him, all that Cedric now hoped for his new life after changing would still drift away. Even if Sofia pleaded with her father, she was still more forgiving than any usual person.

His father and hers were not and could never forgive something this big, not for all eternity, and in Cedric's heart, neither would he ever forgive himself. "I just want this to end." Finally, he managed to squeak out. "I think this dragon may be pulling my leg because I don't remember seeing the parchment buried so deeply and this taking far too long!"

When he finished his rant, Sofia gently nudged him with her shoulder. "We'll find it." She encouraged. "I think once this is all over, I want to go far away somewhere." Her suddenly beamed at the thought, "We should go on a day trip!"

"Ah, erm…maybe." The sorcerer made the mistake of looking at her, catching the happiest smile he'd not seen in a long while, which caused his face to soften and return one. "Where would you want to go?"

Rubbing her now sore hand, the princess pondered for a moment. "I'm not sure. Is there anywhere you have always wanted go?"

"Hmm," Cedric scratched his cheek. "There was this lovely place in the Rudistan countryside that I saw when I was there called Crown Ridge. Or the Athena Summit here in Enchancia. It's home to one of the most beautiful libraries and apple orchards in all the realms.

"Both sound amazing!" Sofia murmured in awe. "I've never been to either."

"One day… let's go to both of them." The sorcerer didn't know why he kept on talking like that. It was a futile dream to dare to hope that things could all work out. Refusing to be distracted by her just seconds before, but now he had agreed to go on a vacation with her fully knowing he may never have the chance of seeing her again, never mind Grimtrix could kill them before that.

Sofia nodded vigorously, which seemed to give her a little boost of energy to work faster. Yet Cedric's progress got increasingly slower. The sorcerer wanted to laugh at the hypocrisy of his words just now, but that is what Sofia did to him. Her hope was contagious, and it always persevered even when she was frightened. How he admired her for it, and how could he be jealous when it had the same effect on him?

When he was a boy, and until some months ago, it was always about what everyone thought of him, and striving to be powerful in any way to quench the fear of everyone thinking he amounted to nothing. However, his princess rushed full speed into his heart and, like spring blooming, planted the hope and encouragement he always longed for. But it was not vain flattery on her part; it was a sincere belief that he could become a man he thought he was too late to become but always wanted to be. A man who could hope too and care for others without feeling ashamed of these feelings, a man who tried to do what was right and when he failed, he had someone to encourage him to try again. Cedric could no longer ignore the moments he found himself flushed at this woman hugging him or the touch of her hand. He couldn't believe any longer that these emotional and draining past few days were just getting to him. This friendship had blossomed into something far greater, and Cedric's denial crumbled around him as his heart was exposed to the truth.

"I found something!" Sofia announced triumphantly.

She tugged and pulled at a stack of bound pages, and Cedric blew out a breath of relief. "I was worried she was leading us down a false trail." Flipping through the pages, he uttered excitedly, "This is Merlin's translation of his symbols! It is quite old, so this must have been when he was coming up with them and did not want to forget them himself!" Reading through it more, Cedric palmed his face, dirt flying all over. "Why couldn't I remember some of these earlier! The stress must have really gotten to me."

Grinning, Sofia reflexively dusted some of the dirt from his forehead. "But now you found it!"

The sorcerer smirked, "Yes, all thanks to my hard work. I shoveled more dirt out than you."

Slightly shocked at him making a lighthearted joke, Sofia playfully scoffed, "Realllly?" She drawled, mimicking his voice. "I did not know this was a race, but I should win because I actually found it."

"Perhhhaps," Cedric drawled right back, getting up. "I suppose you're right, and I shall give you a prize." Once he got Sofia up, he swiftly wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off the ground.

Sofia gasped as the sorcerer gently twirled her around before embracing her tightly. "Thank you for finding it." He whispered, the warmth of his breath against her skin making the tips of her ears turn bright pink.

Both of them should have released each other a while ago, but neither wanted to let go. So instead, they fixated on the whistling wind mingling with the soothing pitter-patter of quickening heartbeats.

"We should get back," Cedric murmured dazedly, reaching down to snatch his robes off the ground. "We have much work ahead of us."

They began climbing back up to the fortress, and Sofia's head was spinning. What had gotten into him! She fumed. He was acting so weird just a minute ago, and now suddenly, he seemed peaceful and sarcastic, and he twirled me around! I can't believe he did that! The princess squeezed her eyes shut with the memory, but she could still feel his firm arms around her. Going back and forth, she finally decided to confront him about his strange behavior, she mustered up her courage and opened her mouth, but the words that came out were not her own.

"My dear lad! I hope you are behaving yourself!"

All of the hope and mirth drained from Cedric's face as he halted in his steps, reluctantly turning to face Sofia. It was her voice, but her face and everything about her changed instantly.

A twisted leer plastered on her lips, and her movements stiffened. The sorcerer could sense Sofia wincing in pain, and then he snapped. Grabbing her shoulders, he demanded, "Grimtrix, let her be! You have that weasel of yours so whatever you want to say, tell it to her."

Sofia uttered a mirthless laugh. "But this is so much more fun." Her fingers jerked upwards, crawling onto Cedric's neck. She chuckled again when the sorcerer trembled at her nails trailed to his Adam's apple.

"What do you want, Grimtrix?" Cedric swallowed hoarsely.

"Have you discovered what I want from you?"

"Yes. You want me to figure out Merlin's teleportation spell and with it, find Triune."

"Correct." Sofia's sneer deepened, her hand grabbing the back of Cedric's hair and yanking him to her at eye level. "What have you found?"

"I…I could not figure out the spell at first because he used many of his personal symbols that no one knew." Cedric found himself rambling. "They weren't many in the Foreshadow spell, and it was simple to figure out, but then I discovered the actual translation to his symbols, so…I will figure it out very soon."

"A simple, 'I am close to figuring it out,' would have sufficed." The princess again pulled his hair, causing Cedric to grimace. "I am with your father and the Order right now, and we are out scouting cult's whereabouts in Freezenburg but finally taking a break. Things are such a mess with King Magnus wanting his way, but no one is the wiser that I am behind it all! Everyone is too preoccupied to even start searching for you two, and I'm going to keep it that way."

Distress crossed Cedric's eyes, and he pleaded, "Whatever you do. Please do not harm Sofia's family."

"Why not?" She scoffed. "Wouldn't you have thrown them all in jail or murdered them when you took the throne? So don't act like you care." The fact that Sofia was the one who spat this at his face made Cedric well up with tears.

"I do care," He uttered. "Please… just don't. I am doing everything you ask of me."

"And continue to do so, and perhaps I will show mercy! I should go, but I will hopefully return later tonight, and I expect you to be completed by then?"

"I hope so."

"Don't hope so, do so. Her life depends on it," And Grimtrix was gone.

Sofia slumped against Cedric. "I am sorry you had to see that." She wept bitterly into his shoulder. "Did I hurt you?"

"It's alright. I am alright." Cedric soothed, patting the back of her head. "Are you ok?"

Sniffling, Sofia wiped her eyes and nose, giving Cedric a pained smile. "It doesn't hurt as much since my amulet is not trying to protect me. But it hurts worse, hurting you." She stifled another sob. "Sorry, I've been crying too much."

"If by crying you mean showing a natural human emotion, then how dare you." Cedric teased gently, making Sofia hiccup in laughter. Tightening his grip around her, the sorcerer leaned into her touch, swearing, Grimtrix, you will pay tenfold for making her cry like this.

They silently went inside and back to Merlin's tower, where, unfortunately, Wriggley was waiting, her foot tapping impatiently.

"Don't run off like that again!" She snarled. "Grimtrix was not happy that you guys wandered off, and I didn't follow you, but it was way too hot out there. What did you find?"

Cedric held up the manuscript. "With this, I should translate the spell in no time, so make sure not to bother us."

Wriggley feigned a look of mock hurt, "I would never want to break your concentration Cedric the so-so," She jeered. "And watch that tone of yours. I can tell my master all sorts of trouble you caused to get that stupid princess's blood to spill."

"Not if I don't skin you and turn you into a pelt first," The sorcerer clipped.

"Haha, very cute." The weasel bared her fangs at Cedric.

"Ignore her, Cedric." Sofia tugged on his shirt sleeve.

"And you're just as pathetic as your dumb animal friends." Wriggley spat to her new victim. "Especially that bird, what was her name, Robin? I'm so glad I shut her up!"

Sofia's body froze. "So it was you who did that to her?"

All too proudly, the weasel plodded closer to the princess, "She found out my plan to take your amulet, so she tried to stop me. I hit her with a rock, and she went out cold" Seeing Sofia's dark expression, Wriggley gasped in feigned concern, "I hope she doesn't die or anything!"

A bitter laugh made Wriggley stop short. Smiling sweetly, Sofia continued chuckling before replying, "No, she didn't die. Robin is strong, and someone as weak and pathetic as you could never hurt her." Every word was sharp as a knife, her tone slicing deeply into Wriggley, who shrank back.

The weasel's grin faltered as she hissed, "You're one to talk. You're worthless and weak without that amulet of yours. What's so special about you?".

Clenching her fists, Sofia stormed up to her. "I don't need my amulet to protect me! Without it, I am not weak since I have friends and people I love surrounding me. You're just a slave to a terrible man who doesn't care about you!"

Murderous intent gleamed in her eyes, and Wriggley advanced at Sofia. "What did you call me?" She shrilled.

Cedric grabbed Sofia's wrist, putting himself in front of the two. "If you even think of taking one more step closer, I will kill you." He threatened the weasel.

Wriggley considered their positions and retreated but not before glaring back. "Don't place me as a helpless victim enslaved to a madman." Her lips curled into a crooked grin. "I am just as evil as Grimtrix, maybe even more so because it's fun."

The weasel slinked up a bookshelf, disappearing, and Sofia let out a grunt of frustration.

"Sofia," Cedric said quietly. "Some people are just evil and enjoy being so. No amount of hope can change their hearts."

"I really want to believe," She gritted her teeth. "That people and animals are good at heart, but I don't think there is any in her… and that's really sad" Frowning wistfully, she added, "I hope Robin and everyone are ok."

"How did she know your friend?"

"Well, I actually met Wriggley briefly right before you came back, but I didn't realize what she was planning until it was too late." The princess swallowed a forming lump in her throat. "With Grimtrix in my head, everything's been fuzzy, but Clover and my friends did come to me right after she stole my amulet but…but I locked them up." Her voice shook, "When I went back to my room later there was no sign of them so they must have escaped, but…I miss them so much and it's all my fault!"

"Stop." The sorcerer ordered. "We promised to not let each other blame ourselves, remember? Grimtrix and Wriggley are the only ones to blame." He squeezed Sofia's hand fervently. "You will see your friends again. And from what I know about them, they are very persistent little creatures. I am sure they are fine."

Gratefully smiling from his words, Sofia followed her friend as they sat at the workbench. Taking Erasmus's journal in one hand and the scrolls in the other, Cedric began furiously scribbling down the rest of the spell, translating the symbols into words. Soon, the writings for Erasmus and Merlin's scribblings coherently came together as the sorcerer also combined his knowledge of what he knew.

A thrilling sensation crawled up his spine to his fingertips as Cedric held the aged pages that the wizard wrote centuries ago as a young man when he first made the symbols. Merlin was eccentric, to say the least, but Cedric had always felt the same, and perhaps that was one of the reasons why he admired him so much.

However, the excitement faded when Cedric finished translating the final word. Peering over his shoulder, Sofia noticed his expressions turn sour. "What is it?"

"This spell," The sorcerer muttered. "It's impossible. It translates to Cadere Et Credere Quod Imperceptis, which roughly means fall and believe what is imperceivable."

"And why is it impossible?" She prodded.

Cedric tapped the quill against his nose. "It means that Merlin created a spell where one can teleport anywhere, even an unknown location."

A burst of magic exploded in the room and Grimtrix teleported in front of the startled couple. His outer sorcerer robes were slashed and he calmly spat out blood before smiling at them through bloodied lips. "Is the spell done?"

A/N: So Cedric has made more than a few discoveries of his own. I always liked inward confessions before the grand one they make to the person they like so let me know how you like it. :) This chapter was very long so thank you to all who finished reading and taking the time! My writers block has been so bad with so much stress and being sick so I am truly grateful for those sticking to the end!

I know I don't update as regularly as I wish but I should be quickly coming out with another chapter within the next week since that is almost done. Then I will make myself tea and stare at the wall awhile wondering how on earth to end this story. I have a vague idea but its the details that needs to be worked out. *sobs*

As always please leave a review or constructive criticism because even though writing a story can be exhausting I really love it and want to grow. :D

Reviews:

Leonel Pea: Sorry for subverting your expectations, lol! But not for too long perhaps :) I agree, Magnus does need a good old punch in the face so I may just do that. Thanks for reading!

allyrwhitney: Magnus has a very slight ego issue for sure :) I am glad you enjoyed last chapter and hope you enjoyed this one just as well (especially all the Cedfia!) Thank you for reading!

Happy Holidays everyone and have a lovely New Year!