Fun as hell, I am using Gaius as an example to develop my magic system around. That and I am using other series to mold Orion into an interesting character...
I had a major decision to make here, at the end, and I did well I think.
Hidden in the secret room in the Great Library, Orion got to work as soon as the Feast started. Pricking his finger, Orion added his blood into the mixture of herbs and salt in his bowl. All the while chanting in the ancient language words of power and strength, and soon fire erupted in the mixture, melding together the simple ingredients into more potent magics. Sage and salt and rowan dust, his own blood, and other trace elements. If he had lacked the magical ingredients, he would never be able to cast such a potent mixture.
Grabbing a small silver chain and the chunk of amber, he placed it into the mixture which was now a black sludge. Around the bowl was a series of sigils, made of salt and dried herbs ground together. Sigils of power and fire and connection and nature. Closing his eyes, he continued to utter a simple spell, ignoring the pain that washed through him as he strained against the magic. The amber chunk and silver chain glowed bright, as if heated from within. His everything ached, blood dripped from his nose and his hand screamed in agony, but he held fast and chanted more and more until it was too much and he snapped out of this world and into unconsciousness, slumping hard onto the floor.
Slowly, consciousness returned and he managed to pull himself up to his feet with shaking limbs. The world was blurry and he felt tired despite having just slept for who knew how long. With great effort, he turned to the magic he just wrought, and a massive grin carved itself onto his face. There, in the bowl, was a teardrop-shaped piece of amber wrapped in silver, with the chain looping through the silver outline.
Warmth exuded from the necklace, subtle and soft, it felt like home and the warmth of a fireplace. Happily, he picked it up and placed it over his head. The magic instantly linked to him, expanding his natural power ever so slightly. The spell, according to the book, would draw on the power he naturally had ever so slightly and imbue the stone with it. Every day it would grow in power, bit by bit, until a greater pool of power was created. Even without that power, however, the natural frequency of power would strengthen his connection to magic and make it easier to cast spells by taking the burden off of him.
Grabbing the talisman, he looked into the amber and saw a sigil in it, one he did not recognize.
"I hope I can rest now,... I have done far too much tonight and I need my sleep..." Sneaking out of his secret chambers, he hurried into the Hall and realized the Feast was still going on. He must have only been asleep for a few minutes, an hour at most...
Pleased, he hurried to his room and happily fell asleep, content with the progress he had made... and the power that would one day be his.
"""
"Clever, clever, creating a focus for your powers..." Kilgarrah muttered, watching the boy carefully. The boy's magic was simple, crude but interesting. It was a basic magic, one used to help weak casters create greater power. The boy was wise to have created such a thing. "That will open many doors for you, but be careful to not over do it, less you burn yourself out."
Turning his focus back to Merlin, having decided to not interfere until Orion proved himself, Kilgarrah watched as the boy stopped Mary Collins and solidified his position as Arthur's protector...
All was as it should be...
"""
"Really, all that happened as I slept?" Orion asked Geoffery over their breakfast. "Mary Collins almost got her revenge... good for her." He muttered at the end, sort of peeved that Arthur was alive.
Geoffrey nodded. "Yes, she cast a potent spell to lull us all to sleep before nearly killing Arthur. Gaius' nephew, Merlin, the boy you saw in stocks, saved her. Somehow he was not knocked out by the magic she cast. He was named Arthur's manservant."
That made Orion perk up. 'To be immune to a spell like that, would take potent magic... all of my books say so, that magic makes you resistant to magic... I wonder...' Smiling at his master, he asked. "You wanted me to deliver a book on anatomy to Gaius, isn't that right? I might just do that now, just to meet the boy in question... congratulate him."
Geoffrey nodded once more, smiling. "You are a kind soul,.. very well, off with you."
Passing by his master with a smile, he grabbed the book in question and hurried off to meet Merlin and assess him for magic. He reached Gaius' quarters quickly and knocked on the door, which was quickly answered by Gaius. '
"Ahh, Orion, here with that book I asked for. Thank you."
Smiling at Gaius, Orion asked. "I cut my hand yesterday, I just bought a knife and cut myself when something fell off my shelf. Could you look at it, make sure it won't get infected?"
Gaius smiled. "I would be happy to help. Oh and here is Merlin, my ward and nephew."
Merlin was a handsome boy with beautiful cheekbones and dark hair and the bluest of eyes. He waved at Orion. "Hi there,"
"Hello, names Orion, I work for Geoffrey of Monmouth, the Court Librarian and Genealogist."
Merlin nodded. "That sounds interesting"
"I love to read, so it is."
"All well, now let me see your wound." Orion showed it to the man, who nodded. "I can clean that up quickly, and show you how to wrap it up, though you have taken care of it well."
"I read on how to care for wounds, a book you wrote actually."
"Good lad." He moved to his wall of potions and tonics, searching for something when Orion struck. Grabbing his talisman, he turned to a distracted Merlin and whispered as he pulled and focused on the magic now present in his amber necklace. "Cyþlæcan." And instantly Merlin, who must have heard him, turned to face him. His eyes were glowing a soft gold.
"Did you say something?"
Orion, hiding his awe, shook his head. "Nothing, just muttering, naming the tonics I see. I love to learn, see, and I study a lot. I recognize so many things... it is fun to name them."
"Ahh... that explains it." Merlin smiled before turning back.
'Do I tell him... or do I hide my new gifts... can I trust Merlin... I need more time. I have seen magical people turn on each other for safety and this... this is a big secret.. I need to wait, to test him... wait, until I can see if he is worthy of my trust. Truth spells are pricey, powerful magics... and I... I am not sure I can cast it. This is going to be tough... but I need allies if I am going to use my powers for good, to help others...and I need allies to protect myself, Mary and Thomas proved what not having allies can do to you, as does history.' Shaking, he leaned over to Merlin, and whispered. "I know you're a warlock."
Merlin jumped, shaking with wide eyes. "How, what, I mean... what?"
Gaius turned to them, eyes tight. "What is wrong?"
Shaking, he turned to Merlin. "I know, your eyes were just glowing gold... "
Merlin shivered. "He knows Gaius."
Gaius sighed, turning to Orion. "And what are you going to do about it?"
Gulping, he let the magic flow through him, not spells said, just a meditative trick and he saw them gasp at his glowing gold eyes. "I needed to not be alone... I am only fourteen, but Uther would still kill me for practicing. I have seen him kill toddlers who showed signs of magic. Please, don't let me be alone."
Merlin kneeled toward him. "You were born to magic?"
"No, I am a practitioner. I won't tell you how, I have my own secrets to hold, but I am practicing. At first it was for just myself, but after seeing Mary and Thomas suffer, it is for everyone. We need to protect people with magic, so many innocents, with or without magic, have been killed for Uther's evil and Arthur's complacency...so please, help me, or at least don't stand in my way."
They shared a look, Gaius and Merlin, and both nodded. "We won't stop you, so long as you help Merlin mask his powers. Unlike you he was born to greater magic... wait, magic only glows in the eyes if a spell is cast. Merlin did nothing how did you know?"
"I cast a spell, to reveal magic in others. I came here because of Merlin actually, I knew that only magic would have stopped Mary Collin's sleeping spell."
"I see... well, to protect Merlin and you, working together is a must..."
He smiled, knowing he was being naive but hey he was a child. "I won't ask you to train with me, that would only increase our chances of exposure, but if something big happens and you need help, come to me and I will help."
They shook hands, him and Merlin and a pact was born.
"Agreed."
He stopped as he stood after Gaius patched his hand up. "But be warned, if you ever expose me, it will be the last thing you ever do. Mutual Destruction is our only path here... I am young, not a fool. I will always protect myself first, in Camelot that is the only way to survive."
The room went cold, and his new allies nodded, both serious and stoic, though Merlin seemed stunned to see this darker side.
"""
"Merlin... you must be careful around him." Gaius said as Orion left the room. "He really will take us down with him."
"I know... he seems... dark. Why?"
"Life is hard here, in Camelot, and I can only wonder what he has been through..."
Merlin said nothing, only nodded as they ate their breakfast. Eventually, he said. "It will be nice, to have someone else to trust with my secret..."
"I can imagine so... but still, be utterly careful."
"I will."
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joy to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.