The hooves of the horses clicked along the Roman Roads, much to the dismay of the young Myrddin, who had drank himself into a stupor in one of the bars the night before. Sitting up, he adjusted the hood he was wearing to block out the direct sunlight; he had come to Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire to try and find some information on this strange power he now possessed.
Julius Caesar was visited by a sorcerer…with the ability to shapeshift as I have…his name was Merlinus. Rumor had it that –he- also had no father…perhaps born to an Incubus like myself. Myrddinus. Merlinus. It's almost too simple to be a coincidence.
His stomach growled…how long had it been since he had eaten…two days maybe? He followed the wafting smell of cooking meats and fish, and of expensive wines to a dinner party for the Emperor and high officials. With a slight smirk he visualized a Roman General, who he had seen two days prior masquerading through the city. The Sigil reappeared in his eye…Cornelius Marius! and he approached the guards who were supposedly screening the guests, and they recognized him and let him inside. His senses were overwhelmed and his stomach gave him strong impulses to eat and he did. He ate rudely and without restraint, causing mess and mayhem…a few had assumed he had gone mad. He was held back by a few soldiers as the current Roman Emperor entered the room.
"Attention! All Subjects of the Roman Empire…presenting your current Emperor Romulus Augustus!" And with that the gracious Romulus Augustus entered the room, he was modest but never had too many guards about. "It's him!" another voice inside Myrddin's head rang! "That traitorous swine! He does not understand!"
Who are you?
"Me? I'm you. I am Orestes Augustus, former Emperor of Rome. Your father. And the one that gave you your power. Now let me speak!"
It was as if some otherworld force had grasped Myrddin and he was forced into the back of his mind…the dark abyss that was his head. Everyone who saw the general Cornelius Marius shift in shape to the humble and starving scholar looked surprised. And then the common man raised his head to Romulus. "The wrathof the gods may be great, but it is certainly slow. To see men like you Romulus ruling the great mother of the world…Rome…is a sight my eyes cannot bear."
It was a brief instant before he had swords at his neck…he shifted his glance to the soldiers, his eyes meeting theirs, the piercing power of his Geass forcing them to back away. Romulus looked interested. "Speak wizard…if you have something to say about why I should not rule Rome. I will hear it."
"My name is Merlin…I visited Julius Caesar when he was emperor and prophesied in front of him as well. Your empire is crumbling…the power of the barbarian masses you have huddled and ignored inside your borders will cause your downfall. In fact we ourselves…are the last of the Romans." He glanced over at Romulus…the Geass staring into his mind, finding his thoughts. "Where are they? They days of the strong Roman Empire, the days when we weren't being foiled by action, by foolish barbarian tribes, such as that of Eowyn in what the barbarians are calling… 'Britannia'? This state is the result of a king…Eowyn, rising up on the Vox Populi, the words of the people, and defending what -they- wanted. You think you can silence the Vox Populi, by force and arms! Rome has always been a military state, even when the Orators of old understood the power of the Vox Populi and the vox itself. You fail to understand the words of Horace… 'brute force bereft of wisdom falls to ruin under its own weight.' Our empire in the east is falling to Persians, and Orientals…and the vain peoples of the east! Are we not ROME! The people will rise up with living voice, and tell you Romulus, that there is more to living than staying alive. You must not forget the wisdom from before Romulus…"
Merlin turned and headed for the door… "The die has been cast…What you do with it…is up to you. I go in peace…" he made eye contact, and at that moment…Romulus realized whom he was dealing with. "Orestes… Guards! Kill him!" Sword was drawn and sheathe renounced as Myrddin resurfaced, taking the shape of a random peasant woman as he ran into the crowd below.
What the HELL was that?!
"Me?I was only putting my brother in his place. You and I are of the same mind, it is me who guided you here to Rome, and it is us who will deliver God's punishment to this Rome. Rome will not listen to the Vox Populi. We need…to go the land of Eowyn. Britannia. There we will find the last of the Roman Line…who can help us, and bring a new Empire, a strong empire...to the world. Law and Order, will be supreme again."
You're telling me…we need to build an empire?
"Yes…but first we need…immortality. The power of the Gods, we must find…the Fay. They live in Eowyn's land…"
Silly myths. There are no Fay, they are just a myth.
"Like Sorcery? Like the powers you and I possess?"
Yes.
"Are those Myth?"
And so Merlin…the sorcerer Merlin, began his journey to Britannia.