"" - Speech
'' - Thought
[] - Sacred Gear
[] - Tiamat/ Dragons
...
Saeko blinked her eyes as she woke, jerking to a sitting position as she recalled what had happened to her as she looked around. She frowned slightly at finding herself in the infirmary of the school rather then the Kendo Hall.
'That blue haired woman tried to kill me... and Tsunagi-kun saved me.' Saeko thought as she recalled fighting with Nimueh and Merlin kneeling over her with his hands glowing.
"It's good to see you're awake, Busujima-san." Sona spoke from the doorway, Saeko turning to spot the student council president was standing there as she asked "Where's Tsunagi-kun?"
"He's busy dealing with the matter at hand." Sona answered, Saeko frowning slightly as she asked "What matter was that and what did that woman do?"
Sona took a calm breathe before explaining about the supernatural world to the purple haired kendo captain.
...
Merlin stirred as he felt movement of the bed he was on, one eye opening to see a blonde blur drop down atop of him with their arms around his body to pull her obviously feminine body against his.
"...Reina...?" Merlin sleepily grumbled, making her stiffen before cuddling deeper into his chest with a slight smile as she spoke "I couldn't sleep without remembering what happened earlier... Can I stay here for tonight?"
"It's fine." Merlin replied, wrapping an arm around her as well before drifting to sleep, much to the amusement of Tiamat. Reina's smile grew as Merlin's breathing evened out, pleased she had listened to her mother's words as she thought 'Mother was right... I do feel safer near him now.'
...
The next morning saw Reina wake to find herself hugging Aya while Merlin was sitting in a comfortable armchair with a thick book in his hand which he was writing in.
"When...?" Reina asked confused, Merlin looking amused to her as he answered "Sometime after you came in I think... She has a rather strong grip and I had to use a bit of magic to escape when I woke up."
"What are you doing?" Reina asked as she managed to sit up in the bed, Merlin scribbling something down into the tome as he spoke "Working on my Grimoire... Had a idea I wanted to work out and prefer to write it down before I forget it."
"What sort of idea?" Reina asked curiously, Merlin holding his hand out as he explained "Layering magic spells to amplify their effects."
From his hand appeared five magic circles of differing colours that was layered atop of each other and spaces a few centimetres apart as he continued "Basically the top circle would be where you start a basic powering spell and as it passes through each subsequent circle it would gain power, other effects or even other elements until it passes through the last circle and strikes out how you want." Merlin explained, Reina looking at him amazed as Merlin added "I know someone who can do something similar but relies of multiple magic staves for combining elements."
"If you work it out, you'll revolutionise Magician's Magic." Reina spoke surprised and amazed, Merlin nodding as he added "It's much less reliant on having big spells you need to cast as well as the cost for casting such spells like this is much less as each circle is such a simple spell but with a connection to the others in the string."
"The spell Yukari told me you used on Nimueh was a precursor to this, wasn't it?" Reina asked curious, Merlin nodding as he answered "That time I was using a simple tornado spell to enhance a ice shards spell and as long as I kept powering the both of them they would grow stronger."
"Can you teach me some of your magic?" Reina asked hopefully, flushing slightly as Aya rubbed her head on her thighs as Merlin chuckled "Yeah. Probably be easier to teach the others all together if that's okay with you?"
"That's great." Reina spoke with a smile, Aya starting to stir and rub against the blonde much to Merlin's amusement as Reina reddened.
"I'll leave you two to get ready for the school day while I go test the first version of this." Merlin spoke, holding his hand up with the magic circles glowing atop of it before dismissing them and grabbing his trench coat for some added protection due to the enchantments layered into it.
...
The glow faded as Reina and her peerage appeared in the Student Council Room before school would start, Merlin surprised that with Sona and Tsubaki, Saeko was there waiting for them.
"Its good to see you're okay, Reina." Sona spoke with a nod, Reina offering a smile as she replied "I was lucky that Merlin and Viviane could get the others there. It's shown me that I need to become stronger and not rely on my powers like Riser-niisan."
Reina turned to her peerage as she spoke "Yukari, Kanu, Kazehana could you construct a physical training regime for us all to go through. Merlin has already agreed to aiding us all with our magic."
Sona and Tsubaki looked to Merlin as he nodded and added "It does extend to your group as well, Kaichou. I just need some time to gather the needed beginner books for the magics I was thinking of teaching everyone."
"That would be interesting to learn." Sona spoke pleased, eager to see how Merlin was as a teacher due to her goal.
"Are you alright, Busujima-senpai?" Merlin asked the purple haired swordswoman, Saeko nodding as she replied "Yes. Thank you for healing me. I owe you my life."
"It's fine." Merlin waved her off, only for Saeko to frown as he added "You were in the wrong place at the wrong time."
...
Merlin silently sighed as he sat in class. He hadn't been able to dissuade Saeko from thinking that she owed him and the fact the purple haired swordswoman was going to be spending time with both peerages to see which one she wanted to join.
[I doubt you could change her mind or have you forgotten the warning I gave you before about a Dragon's aura.] Tiamat spoke amused, having taken notice of Saeko's interest in her host or how Aya had frowned and Reina had looked conflicted.
'I've not forgotten about it but it only means I draw people towards me not influence them into a harem.' Merlin thought, mentally rolling his eyes at the dragon who snorted in response.
The sound of the bell signalled the end of the half day that was Saturday classes, Merlin glancing back at where two thirds of the [Perverted Trio] sat, he was rather glad that they were subdued with Hyodo off training with the Gremory peerage.
Merlin started to pack things up as everyone attempted to rush home before noticing a commotion happening near the door as a random student blurted out "Eh, Busujima-senpai?"
"Hello..." Saeko spoke with a smile, entering and approaching Merlin's desk much to Kira and Madoka's amusement as she asked "Would it be okay to eat lunch with you, Merlin-kun?"
"Erm... Yeah, sure." Merlin replied, much to the shock of the students around as Kira and Madoka approached and the latter suggested "Let's head to the Student Council room then."
...
The quartet decided to settle in the Student Council room for their lunch, soon being joined by the rest of the two peerages so Saeko could learn about the supernatural world and the Devils that she would need to know from Merlin. Meanwhile Reina, Yukari, Kazehana and Kanu quietly talked about a possible training menu for the blonde [King].
"So, joining either peerage would see me being able to spend time with you, Merlin-kun." Saeko spoke thoughtfully, Merlin nodding as Tiamat snickered in his mind as Kira added "Madoka and I are part of Reina-sama's peerage as [Pawns]."
"When do you intend to start training Reina-sama?" Merlin asked, Reina, Yukari, Kazehana and Kanu sharing a look before the blonde answered "After school today, I'll start on some basics that Kanu and Yukari have come up with."
"We should all do the same then to get stronger together." Kira pointed out, Merlin nodding in agreement as he added "I can supply some gravity seals to make it useful to us."
"Those would be useful for our own training too." Sona spoke up with a thoughtful look as Merlin explained "They also feed off your our own magic so that will help magic reserves as well."
"Those do sound very useful." Yukari spoke impressed, Reina shaking her head as she replied "I-I don't think I need such seals at the moment."
"You could still have some low level ones on you to begin with." Yukari pointed out, Merlin deciding to add "It wouldn't be just for you those but for the others as well, it'll make the basic training for you worthwhile for them while also doing the same thing."
"Alright." Reina spoke with a sigh.
...
It wasn't until most of the students had left the school, after the few sports clubs had ended, that the Phenex and Sitri peerages, with Saeko observing, would be able to start training. Currently they were gathered on the track field, Merlin standing in front of the joined groups as he held his staff in his hands as he focused on the gravity seals he was going to cast on all of them, his eyes closed in concentration.
He slammed the butt of his staff onto the ground as he cast the first portion of the spell, making blue-purple magic circles appear under each person including himself before he muttered "...Relinquishing cost to their own magic reserves..."
Another tap of his staff made the circles on the others start to change colour to each person's aura colour and them all grimacing at the sudden weight on their bodies before Merlin finished up with the spell to have it only work to the person's limit and a release phrase for them to use if they needed to access their full power.
"That's it." Merlin spoke as he opened his eyes, the circles vanished but the weighty feeling didn't disappear as he continued to explain "They'll feed off your own demonic energy now so that will naturally help increase your reserves."
"Amazing." Yukari and Sona spoke, Merlin resting the staff on his shoulder as he shrugged and replied "Its easier to cast multiple spells at the same time as the staff was made by my parents to take a good load of the work needed. It doesn't work as well as it did before it was shatter but I know the Fey did a good job repairing it."
[Thinking of upgrading it already.] Tiamat asked amused, Merlin mentally shrugging as he replied 'It would fix the issues and given how good I've got with fixing the [Blade-wing Tonfa] I should be able to convert it into an artificial gear as well but I'd need a full day to work on it solely.'
Merlin pushed the staff into a purple magic circle to put it into storage as he reminded the group why they were here as he said "Shouldn't we be starting our training?"
Yukari nodded as she stepped up next to Merlin so she could take charge of the training which even Sona had reluctantly agreed to. She waited for Merlin to take her spot in the line before she spoke "Let's begin with ten laps."
...
"That was hell." Reina groaned tired as she leant against a tired Merlin after they finished, Saeko stifling her laughter as she sat opposite them as she spoke "I'm sure you'll all get use to soon."
"She's right you know." Yukari spoke from where she was sitting exhausted herself due to how the gravity seals had made the simple routine much tougher. Aya collapsed over Merlin's outstretched legs, nearly headbutting him in the crotch while Kanu, Kazehana, Kira and Madoka were all sitting next to Yukari with only Kazehana looking more worn out then the others.
Looking around, Merlin noted that the rest of Sona's peerage were in similar conditions with Tsubaki, Meguri, Tsubasa and Ruruko looking better due to already being use to exercise before the training that day.
"I don't think we'll be able to do contracts this evening then." Merlin spoke amused, Reina and Sona groaning as the latter spoke "We'll have to try out best unless one of us knows how to heal everyone."
"I've got an idea." Merlin spoke thoughtfully, summoning the [Chaos Cannon] to hand before murmuring "[Restore Shot: Set.]"
Turning the gun on where Saji was laying on his front, Merlin shot the soothing green bullet into the [Pawn's] butt, making him leap to his feet as he shouted "Hey! Why'd you shoot me in the ass!?"
"Well, looks like that bullet will work." Merlin spoke absently, Saji's eyes widening at realised he wasn't feeling any aches from the exercise before he grumbled "No need to shoot me in the ass though..."
...
"What are you doing here?" Merlin asked surprised to a blushing Reina who he had found hugging him the next morning, a Sunday, while Aya sleep peacefully on his other side.
"I had another nightmare, Merlin-kun." Reina admitted embarrassingly, Merlin relaxing as he understood that she would still be worried about what had happened to her as she added "I felt more comfortable here as well."
"Ah..." Merlin started, nodding his understanding as he added "I suppose that's okay then. Just try and warn me about it beforehand."
"Thank you. I'd like to move in if that's okay." Reina asked hopefully, Merlin blinking for a moment before as he replied cautiously "That's... That's fine with me. We'll have to pick out a room for you and you can move your stuff in after the lesson."
"Alright then." Reina spoke with a soft smile, Merlin working his way out of the bed as he added "I should make a start on fixing up the 'classroom'."
...
Merlin scanned over his lab that he had cleared out a portion of so that everyone could sit down while putting away some of his more dangerous experiments into one of the wardrobe sized safes that was embedded into the wall.
'That should be enough space.' Merlin thought, wheeling a turn-able white board to the front of the desks and flipping it over so the blank side was visible while his calculations for his own deconstructed version of [Magician's Magic] was on the other side from his own personal work the previous night. He was relieved that Reina, Aya or Tsubasa hadn't came in as he would have had to explain what he was doing with some of the odder projects he had like his 'spell grenades' or his few tomes of forbidden magic that he had been experimenting with.
[It should be interesting to see how quickly they catch on to the types of magic you intend to teach them.] Tiamat spoke curiously, Merlin nodding his agreement as he turned to the doorway to see Reina standing there with an amazed looking Saeko.
"She just arrived." Reina explained, Merlin looking surprised as he replied "We've not even had breakfast yet, Busujima-senpai."
"Well, I thought it would be nice to chat with you and Reina-san before the lesson and my Tou-san is away on business." Saeko explained, Merlin nodding his understanding as he walked over to them.
...
Once breakfast was over, Merlin and the others had headed down to the lab turned classroom and helped him with finishing touches before the sound of the doorbell was heard in the room.
"I'll go let the others in. Try and not mess around with what's around." Merlin warned as he left the quartet in the room.
"There's a lot of unusual things here." Reina spoke as she let her eyes wander around the room before taking note of the books on a bookcase as Aya looked over the various jewels that were sitting in an open chest.
"I wonder if Merlin-kun could make us weapons." Tsubasa thought aloud as she looked over a katana that was in a glass box and exuding a demonic aura as Saeko blinked and found herself entranced by the blade.
"I think he could if he had the time and resources." Saeko answered, silently gulping as she felt something inside of her tug towards the blade, to pick it up and wield it in battle. Saeko shook her head lightly and took a calming breathe to focus her will, only for herself and Tsubasa to be surprised as the katana moved suddenly.
"What the..!?" Tsubasa shouted, drawing Reina and Aya's attention as the former asked "Whats wrong?"
"The sword just moved on its own and released sand." Saeko answered, Reina frowning as she looked over the blade for a moment as she expected it to move once more before Aya commented "Are you sure?"
A crackle of black lightning over the blade seemed to answer her as Aya jumped back while Reina stepped back as she spoke "A Demon Sword..."
"Demon Sword?" Saeko asked, Reina nodding as she explained "A Demon Sword is a sword infused with demonic energy to give it special powers but also can affect the host in adverse ways... and opposite to a holy sword which was blessed by a deity or other holy power to give it abilities but without the downsides."
The sword seemed to leap from the stand it was on inside of the box with a burst of black flames, crashing into the glass side which withstood up to the hit but jolted the box and made the quartet jump in surprise.
"Why's it trying to get out now?" Tsubasa asked before Merlin spoke from the doorway with a frown "I'd like to know that myself."
Walking over, Merlin moved to look over the sword once more as Sona's peerage and the rest of Reina's entered the room to look at the commotion as he spoke "It was something from my... former group... They took it from a traditional samurai family who were its wielder due to its unnatural cutting power and ability to manipulate the Demonic versions of the elements but no one who held it could wield it without getting struck by at least one of the elements. That's why its in the box."
[That family was Busujima...] Tiamat commented, Merlin nodding as he spoke "It came from a Busu-ji-ma. Oh! That's why."
Saeko looked surprised as the sword jumped to press itself against the glass wall of the box as Reina pointed out "So the sword was from Saeko's family."
"It's reacting due to a compatible wielder being around." Merlin pointed out, Saeko looking surprised as the lid of the box opened by Merlin's magic and the sword seemed to leap out and onto Saeko's hand where it finally calmed down.
"It's called the Demon Storm." Merlin explained as Saeko felt a soothing warmth as she held the blade. The hilt was a jet black with faint gold markings that were in the shape of demonic looking swirls on either side and the sheathe was much the same in design and made out of lacquered wood. She slowly unsheathed the sword to show a polished silver blade that looked razor sharp and had a tint of an aurora within the very metal.
"As you've seen it allows the user to use Demonic versions of the Elements: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth and Lightning and supposed to be unbreakable. The only downside is that its blood bound, it can only be used by someone of Busujima blood without being violently rejected by it." Merlin explained, Saeko nodding her understanding as Sona looked over and asked "Do you have other weapons around here?"
"There's a fair few but most of them are for me to research and develop better, easier to use versions or spells based on their enchantments." Merlin answered with a nod, "I could probably create ones for those who need it but it would take a fair bit of time for me to design, create, enchanting and finalise before I'd be able to hand them over without worry of it backfiring. I mean time could be cut down by having each of them design their own weapons but I'd still have to consult with them and work out the magical arrays I'd need to give them the chosen abilities without interfering with other enchantments put on them."
"What about Artificial Sacred Gears? I mean those tonfa are yours are staying together now, right?" Reina asked curiously, Merlin nodding as he answered "Making Artificial Sacred Gears is way tougher. I can make them with Tiamat's power mainly due to being her host as I'm not splitting her consciousness like Vritra but using a jewel from the Gear to provide a link for her to use between the tonfa and the [Chaos Cannon] so she control it."
Merlin paused to see if they were following his explanation, seeing nods as he continued "To create a whole new Artificial Sacred Gear would require me to find a supernatural being, make a deal with them to allow them to be sealed and then build the gear around their powers and in a form which the user could use. It's a lot of work and would take much longer then just creating magical weapons that might work as good but not have the adaptability of Sacred Gears nor the [Balance Breaker] aspect. Plus, I've never created something that was't based on Tiamat's power and the few rejects I did make where broken down so the jewels from Tiamat's Gear could be safely stored back inside it."
"Oh." Reina spoke in understanding, deflating slightly as Sona brought the focus back onto the reason they were gathered in Merlin's home, "Let's start this lesson, if you are ready Merlin."
"Right then. Everyone take their seats." Merlin spoke, signalling to the several different chairs put around a expanded table as he moved towards the whiteboard before facing them to start speaking "Now. I know this type of magic probably won't seem that useful at first glance but it'll help to keep yourself always prepared. This magic is called [Re-quip Magic] and allows you to store weapons, armour and a variety of things from a storage space to you by the use of magic."
Merlin took a moment to demonstrate the magic to change from his comfortable jogging bottoms and t-shirt into his school uniform in seconds, getting wide eyed stares from most of the girls there before changing back.
...
Merlin sighed in thought as he walked towards the local supermarket to grab groceries he would need for the coming week. His lesson had gone down very well with each of his fellow devils picking up the basics of [Re-quip Magic] so that all they would need to do is practice with it in their own times which they were now doing. He'd noticed a calculating and pleased gleam in Sona's eyes as she watched and followed along with his lesson and was pretty sure she was pleased that he was a good teacher although why he hadn't figured out yet.
Saeko had sat in on the lesson despite not being able to work the magic yet due to not having devil magic but he had handed her a book on [Sword Magic] he figured would be helpful to her, Kira, Madoka and Tomoe.
A prickle to his senses set Merlin on guard as he noticed that there was no one else around and was feeling a faint aura of magic around him. Stopping, the magician looked around as he got a spell ready in the forefront of his mind.
"Hey Merlin..." A friendly looking young man with unkempt blue hair spoke as he stepped out from the corner of the street ahead. He was dressed in medieval armour with a dark blue sword sheathed at his hip as the magician replied with a frown "What brings you here, Lancelot, and how did you find me?"
"Well, heard some rumours that I thought I should look into." Lancelot replied with a shrug, Merlin wondering what rumours they could be as there was little he had done to get attention unless it was his family, the Hero Faction or from the Underworld due to his [Kings] and the Hero Faction believed he was dead at the moment.
'Something about Arondight is bugging me as well.' Merlin thought as Lancelot approached and asked with a grin "Why don't we go somewhere to catch up?"
[Its because its not a Dragon Slayer like the original one is.] Tiamat explained, Merlin jumping back to dodge the swing 'Lancelot' had made at his neck.
"Damn it. I told those fools that this ruse wouldn't work." The fake retorted annoyed, leaping after Merlin only for his sword to be blocked by a magic circle the latter made.
"So, my family sent you." Merlin spoke with narrowed eyes, the fake-Lancelot leaping back and using his sword to destroy a fireball shot at him as the magician asked "What did you do with the original Lancelot?"
"Oh, him. He's alive, enjoying his lovey-dovey life with that descendant of Robin Locksley." The fake-Lancelot spat out with a smirk, using his sword to deflect several bullets from Merlin's [Chaos Cannon] as he dashed forwards.
"Iron Rock Wall." Merlin cast, bringing up the barrier to hide his dodge of the slash of demonic energy aimed at him which cut through it.
"Iron Rock Forest!" Merlin called, dozens of pillars of stone erupted from the ground around him in a random manner to stop his opponent from getting a straight line of sight with him.
"This isn't going to stop me!" The fake shouted, Merlin snorting as he jumped out of one of the pillars and fired a trio of explosive bullets at the swordsman making a smokescreen once they were blocked.
"Too easy." Merlin muttered, flinging his free hand skywards as eight yellow magic circles formed above him in a wide circle as he called "Thunder Palace!"
A bolt of lightning shot down from each circle and into the cloud of smoke, crashing together and dispersing the cloud of smoke to reveal that the fake Arondight was thrust into the air with the lightning sparking over the blade but leaving the fake Lancelot unscathed as he retorted "Heh, guess the old fools did something right with making this sword a magic absorber."
Merlin frowned at seeing that, realising how useful that sword would be if it absorbed foreign magic as Tiamat smirked at noticing his want for the sword now for that ability. The fake hero swung the sword at him releasing a slash of high powered lightning back at the devilish magician who dodged it.
'Damn that sword can just fire back my own magic at me if it hits.' Merlin thought, throwing his free hand forwards as he mentally added 'Well, let's see how it does with Elemental Transfiguration.'
"Ice Make: Wolves!" Merlin called, a dozen icy blue magic circles appearing before wolves made out of ice leapt out and charged at the swordsman. They weren't as strong as the originals as he hadn't used the correct stance but he'd managed to work out how to strengthen them enough with [Magician's Magic] that they wouldn't break easily or melt due to nature temperature around being too hot.
The lead wolf of the pack leapt at the fake Lancelot only to be cut in two before another two bit onto his wrists before being shattered as they were swung into each other before he brought his sword down on another wolf to shatter it.
"Damn this!" The fake Lancelot snarled stabbing his sword into the ground and releasing an explosive blast of demonic power that sent the wolves flying in all directions before a magic circle formed underneath his feet and disappearing in a burst of speed towards Merlin.
"[Shotgun Shot: Set]" Merlin spat out as he summoned his Sacred Gear, firing off bullets of magic which exploded like shotgun shells out of the barrel. The faker dodged the rounds before appearing behind Merlin, bringing his sword down in a overhand swing before a wave of black, demonic lightning cut between the two fighters and forced the fake Lancelot to jump back.
Several more waves soon followed, forcing the fake to use his demonic sword to block and absorb them as Merlin stared in surprise at seeing Saeko was the one who had saved him as he spoke "Saeko-senpai, keep it up!"
'I really shouldn't be doing this so soon after the last time.' Merlin thought with a grimace as he formed a magic circle underneath where he stood before muttering "[Slowing Magic: First Gear]"
Merlin disappeared in a burst of speed, shocking the fake Lancelot and Saeko before Merlin appeared behind the latter with his tonfa in a reverse grip and swinging the blades in a cross shaped slash at his back while flames covered them. The fake Lancelot roared in pain as he dropped his sword, Merlin knocking him out with punch to his temple after flipping the tonfa around before sighing.
"Thank you for the help, Saeko-senpai." Merlin spoke as he dismissed the tonfa and moved to grab the fake Arondight as the violet haired young woman sheathed her sword as she replied "Its fine. I'm just returning the favour. I was coming to help you get shopping as I need to do some of my own."
Saeko slipped the sheathed katana into a dark violet clothe Merlin had given quickly enchanted to help seal the aura of the blade when she wasn't using it.
"Why was he attacking you though?" Saeko asked, Merlin waving a free hand to undo the damage around them before looking over the fake Demon Sword as he answered "My family isn't very happy with me not living up to their expectations despite my parents happy for me to make my own path, so they send people after me to capture me and take me back."
Saeko looked surprised at him as Merlin slid the blade into a magic circle to his storage, mentally adding it to the list of things to do he had at the moment as the idea of what to do with it came to mind.
"Come on, let's get moving. I'll send this idiot back now." Merlin spoke up, forming underneath the fake Lancelot and sending the young man to the wilderness of Canada. Saeko nodded as they started walking, Saeko using a strap to sling the Demon Sword onto her shoulder so it wouldn't get in her way.
...
Author's Note
Sorry for the wait on this chapter and hope you enjoy it.