"" - Speaking
'' - Thinking
[] - Dragon
Merlin took a ready stance as he faced off against Saji, the few days that had passed had given him the insight that the Pawn didn't like him for some reason although from how he'd reacted when he'd spoken to Sona it seemed like he was jealous.
"Can I promote myself to Rook, Kaichou?" Saji asked, Sona nodding as it would make them as the same piece for the spar.
Saji activated his Absorption Line soon after, the black lizard weapon forming on his arm as Merlin looked over his opponent's weapon with interest. He could tell it wasn't close range by its appearance but outside of that he'd have to wait to find out what it could do.
"Come on then, activate your Gear" Saji spoke, feeling confident that he'd be able to out match the mage.
"I'll be fine like this…" Merlin retorted, stretching his hands and rolling his shoulders before slipping into a ready stance as his opponent looked over to Sona, Reina and there assembled peerages. Saji smirked at his master's nod, figuring that with only Merlin's magic to face he could match him.
Saji shot off a line from his Sacred Gear, Merlin dodging it with a step to the side as he swept his hand upwards, unleashing a rock spire from near Saji's feet which stopped before it could pierce his chest. The scruffy blonde's eyes widened in surprise as he took a few steps back to avoid injuring himself
"I thought you had to chant to use your magic" He asked, Merlin's eyes narrowing at how he'd been underestimated for the umpteenth time in his life.
"Why does everyone assume all my magic needs to be chanted" Merlin retorted annoyed as he clicked his fingers, a tower of water shooting up from behind Saji, who turned in surprise.
"I come from two different schools of magic…traditional Sorcerers and those who use Geomancy…" Merlin spoke and with a single wave of his hand, the water spout and the rock spire disappeared, before he put them back into his pockets as he continued.
"I've faced off numerous times against things you wouldn't expect… just because some old men couldn't handle a bridge between two schools" The latter part he muttered to himself, unaware that he'd been overheard by the others as he sighed.
He was about to head off to collect his things as a blast of magic was shot towards him, Merlin moving his head upwards as the wind picked up blowing the attack off course and making it whizz nearby its target's head, ruffling his hair slightly.
Saji's eyes were wide in shock as Merlin removed his left hand from his pocket, pointing it towards Saji as he quietly chanted before his counterattack left it. The ball of flames seemed to be at least a meter in diameter as it closed in on its target before Merlin muttered a little extra as the ball dispersed harmlessly inches away from striking the Pawn.
[It's amusing watching you play around with him, young warlock, but I think you should put an end to this] Tiamat spoke mentally, Merlin summoning his Sacred Gear as he pointed to gun at Saji. From his attempts to get some information out of Tiamat over the time since he'd first activated it had met with mixed results as he knew he didn't have to worry about bullets as it drew off his mana and all he needed to do was to focus on an element but outside of that he didn't know.
"Let's try some fire" Merlin spoke, focusing on the element as he channeled mana into the gun, the cylindrical chamber of the gun turning a angry red as he took a moment to aim, Saji quick to jump out of the way as Merlin fired, the red bullet bursting into a small flame when it struck the ground.
'Guess I don't have to chant minor spells anymore' Merlin thought with a small smirk as he continued to fire at Saji, who found it increasingly harder to dodge the barrage of bullets, suffering a few burns from the fire bullets that connected with him.
[Why don't you use a bit of imagination…they can be anything as long as you understand how it would work] Tiamat mentally spoke causing Merlin to pause his barrage, Saji taking the chance to fire off another line from his Sacred Gear only for it to hit into a rock wall that appeared between them, Merlin smirked as he focused, deciding to use his imagination to form a new bullet as he pointed at where Saji probably still stood as he spoke "Piercing Drill…"
The chamber of the Chaos Cannon turned purple as he shot off the new bullet which easily went straight through the rock wall before skimming Saji's cheek as he heard Reina speak "Interesting…"
Sona was in thought over Merlin's Chaos Cannon and the abilities it had just showed off, as well as wishing she had had the chance to look through Merlin's memories when he had been revived so she could understand him better.
Merlin made the rock wall disappear before walking over to the group as he let his Sacred Gear disappear, Momo and Ruruko hurrying over to check if the shocked Saji was OK while some of the others gave Merlin nervous looks.
"Did you have to go all out against him?" Sona asked, Merlin glancing to her as he spoke calmly
"I was holding back, Kaichou…Or did you think I disperse fireballs for fun?" Reina's smirk grew as Merlin collected his stuff together as he asked
"Is there anything else I need to do?"
…
After a long and lengthy discussion (argument) between the two Kings, it was decided that he would go hand out the contract leaflets as a part of Reina's peerage with Asuna. The pair was currently walking towards the next house on there list of drop offs as Asuna chatted, Merlin giving a response as and when he felt like it.
"How long have you known Phens-sempai, Asuna-san?" Merlin asked curious as the Knight took a moment to think it over before answering
"About two years…She's a good person but a bit too arrogant"
"Really...?" Merlin asked giving her an odd look, finding it hard to believe, which Asuna copied before she sighed.
"Well at least she's somewhat better then her brother" She spoke, her smile fading as Merlin looked confused at her as she continued
"He's a pervert who enjoys feeling up his peerage of girls"
"I hate people like that…" Merlin spoke annoyed as he scrunched up his fists as he continues
"…even the perverted trio riles me up with how they act"
"Katase and Murayama seem to enjoy beating them up too much" Asuna spoke with a giggle, Merlin gaining a small smile at the thought of the whole Kendo club beating them up as they continued with there deliver run.
"What happened when you faced Saji-sempai?" Asuna asked curious as Merlin looked to her before answering
"It was how my parents' sparred with me…just cut off the attacks before they could damage there targets"
…
Merlin looked up at the clock on his desk, seeing that he'd been working for about an hour on his spell book notes, his mother's tomes open on the wooden desk. He turned upon hearing the knock on his door, lifting his glasses so he could massage the bridge of his nose as he called "Come in"
The door opened to show Reina standing there dressed in a pair of denim shorts and a tank top as her eyes roamed around the room, taking in the bookcase that sat in the far corner to his bed which sat against the right wall before finally stopping at his desk which had the two books open as Merlin turned to look at her
"What's wrong?" He asked curiously as he lent back in his desk chair as Reina answered
"Just curious on what you were doing"
"Oh…Ok…" Merlin replied confused as he signaled back to the books on his desk
"Just working on my own spell book for when I need it" Reina looked over to the small leather bound book which looked to be a journal as she spoke distracted
"Good to see you're prepared…"
"What's really wrong, Phenex-sama?" He asked noticing her surprise as he continued
"You don't strike me as the sort of person to just come to see how I'm doing" Reina sighed figuring it would be better to come out with what she had to speak about then trying to beat around the bush.
"My brother's coming to Kuoh tomorrow so we'll be going to the Occult Research Room to observe the engagement meeting"
"And why's that such a problem?" Merlin asked arching an eyebrow as he remembered that Rias Gremory was also a devil if his senses were to be trusted. His first thought was that the blonde girl had some sort of brother complex and didn't want the wedding to happen.
"It was arranged between the families but Gremory doesn't want to go through with it" Reina replied, Merlin not even taking a second to think as he replied
"Arranged marriages will never work…Gremory probably knows that or doesn't even want to be involved with your brother"
"That's my problem" Reina spoke, Merlin looking at her confused, a moment passing before his eyes widened as he spoke disbelieving
"You're afraid that if it doesn't go through you'll be forced into one?" Reina nodded bashfully as Merlin gave off a small chuckle as turned back to his books and added
"You being forced into anything, I find hard to believe, Phenex-sama as with Sitri-sama you both want to retain your individuality and freedom…Why would you go to a human school if you could learn all you need in the underworld?"
Reina looked surprised at him, a slight blush on her cheeks as she looked at the back of his head. She'd never figured that she and Sona would have more then just Merlin in common as she thanked him before leaving.
…
The blue magic circle of the Sitri clan appeared in Merlin's room, Sona appearing out of it as she looked around the dark room. Her eyes widened in interest at the numerous books around the room, from the book shelf to those that still lay open on his desk as she thought to herself.
'Wow…looks like he's enjoys reading…they're all spell books?' She glanced at the open pages finding that she was looking at different ice spells as she returned to the real reason for her visit while Merlin was asleep.
'I wonder what his past was like' She thought, moving to slip into the bed next to him as she started up the spell she would need to go through his memories, the only side effect being that the person sleeping would know what they were doing.
…
A ten year old Merlin ran between the shadows of buildings as he looked around for the creature that was hunting him. His parents were only a few houses away but he didn't want to lead it back to his home.
The five foot white wooden staff, he held tightly in his left hand, his green trench coat covered most of his appearance aside from the thick black slacks and his black boots, a yellow wide brimmed pointy hat was tipped forward to shield his eyes as he looked around for his attacker.
'I need to avoid that Minotaur or…' Merlin's thought was cut off as the building he was using to hide exploded as the Minotaur made its presence known, Merlin avoiding the larger pieces of rubble as he tried to work out how to defeat the monster before him, despite knowing that his parents would easily defeat if he just would head home.
Merlin chanted a quick spell as the Minotaur started to bring its axe down on him, the axe bouncing off a white shield that had formed around Merlin as he held the staff over his head, taking a few steps back as the Minotaur raised its axe again, a large bolt of lightning arching over Merlin's head and striking the Minotaur's head causing it to fall backwards as it roared in pain.
"No one touches my son" His mother shouted angrily, lightning cracking in the air around her as his father stood next to him, sweeping his hand up as the ground gave way under the creature's feet.
"So the family is all together" A voice behind the two adults spoke, his father turning to see a Sorcerer standing there ready to fight.
"Kaoru…? You really are sore about losing to me aren't you?" His father spoke, the one known as Kaoru, dressed in purple robes sneering as he held his brown oak staff before him as he started to chant, jumping as Merlin's father caved the ground under his feet.
His mother was busy firing off bolts of lightning at the Minotaur causing it to constantly take steps back as the boy found himself watching in awe at his parents' skill and power before having to jump out of the way of a blast of flames, turning to see a blue haired young woman standing there with her crimson staff in her hands.
"I'm sorry to have to do this, Emrys" She spoke giving him a sad look as she started to chant, Merlin raising his own staff as he countered with a flick of his free hand, a large water spout shooting out of the ground, covering her in water and stopping her spell.
He smiled as he turned to check on his parents, his eyes widening in shock at seeing his mother get struck in the back by a fire spell. Checking on his father he found the Geomancer crouched behind a rock wall as he tried to recover his breathe, his shield quickly being eroded by the fire and ice spells hitting it.
Reacting on pure instinct, Merlin started to chant in an almost roaring tone a spell he would later realize he never knew before "FLAMIDE DRACDO TAUUS GITAWA STORPE VAMINOUS!"
The whole ground seemed to shake as a tower of flames seemed to engulf Merlin, there attackers watching on in surprise as it soon split off into large serpentine dragons. One each hitting Kaoru and the blue haired woman, launching them into other buildings nearby, while two hit and destroyed the Minotaur, each of them screaming in pain as the tower disappeared to show an unharmed Merlin, panting tiredly before he dropped onto the ground unconscious, both his parents looking at him in surprise
"I don't think he needs a staff…" His father joked tiredly as he and Merlin's mother headed over to him, kneeling down next to him as she rested her hand on his head.
"Such power…" She spoke flabbergasted, never having expected her little boy could unleash such power from a young age, even thought they'd only been teaching him self defensive and minor spells for two years.
…
Sona gasped as she woke up with a start, looking at the teen she was laying next to. Merlin's eyes opening soon after as they narrowed upon seeing her lying next to him
"What are you doing here?" He asked annoyance managing to cover up his embarrassment of the situation as she spoke
"I'm trying to find out about your past so I can help you…"
Merlin soon removed himself from the bed, pulling his glasses on as he spoke "My past is my business so stay out of it Kaichou"
Sona silently sighed as she watched him leave the room, taking a moment to run over what she'd learnt about him 'He use to use a staff…but either its not helpful to him or he's purposely limiting his own power to avoid doing something like that again…I mean that kind of power does seem…'
She shuddered at the thought of what he could do with that much power, a small part of her wondering what had happened between then and now.
…
Merlin sighed as he stopped a downstairs, taking a moment to calm himself as he wondered why she just couldn't ask him before soon answering his own question.
'I'd never tell her about any of it…even more so 'her'… ' He thought with a huff, using a quick spell to change into his normal clothes, being a black pair of jeans and a blue hooded jumper under a sleeveless purple body warmer and a black pair of sneakers.
Starting off on his walk he found himself blushing slightly at waking up next to Sona but soon pushed the thought to the back of his mind as he mentally spoke out to Tiamat 'You think you could teach me a bit more about your weapon?'
[There is really nothing else to explain…] She replied calmly, Merlin sighing as he soon came up with another question
'Can't you at least make another gun so I can use both together?' Tiamat seemed to take a few moments to think over the idea before speaking up
[Maybe although it would require my power to be upgraded and what I know of Sacred Gears they respond to strong feelings] Merlin nodded understandingly as he pulled the hood up to cover his hair from view.
…
A blue haired young woman watched the teen through the pool of water before her, the large pair of wings extended from her long backless white dress showing that she was a fairy as she looked sadly at Merlin. She mentally cursed her twin sister for what she did to him and all just for trying to obtain power and wealth.
'Legends repeat and yet while they don't follow the same pattern the results end up the same' She thought sadly as she pondered over what to do to make it up for the mage, turning as she heard one of the other Fairies speak
"Ojou-sama you continue to watch that boy even after what…"
"Do not mention her name here, Gator…" The blue haired fairy replied seriously as she glanced back to see the redhead fairy pout in annoyance before bowing.
…
Merlin stopped as he reached the park where his life changed at the hands of that Fallen Angel, entering upon seeing Saji training as he walked over, the Pawn noticing him as he glared at Merlin.
"What…? Have you come to rub in the fact you're so much better then me?" He sneered as Merlin stopped sighing annoyed as he replied
"I was sparring with you like my parents did with me, you sour git…it gets you use to thinking on the spot to not get spooked by enemies' attacks"
Saji stopped at that, taking a moment to think as Merlin added "Anyway you care to explain about your mood towards me?"
"…Kaichou's mine so don't try anything" Saji retorted trying to sound more confident then he actually was as Merlin shrugged as he turned around
"Fine…I have enough on my plate already without having to deal with a girlfriend" Saji relaxed upon hearing that, watching as Merlin sat down on a nearby bench as the Pawn asked
"What are you doing out this early in the morning?"
"Kaichou was trying to find out about my past while I was asleep" Merlin answered as he lay on the full length of the bench resting his hands under the back of his head.
"She's only trying to help you…" Saji replied honestly
"My past is my own, not for her to know unless I want to tell…anyway living for the now is more important" Merlin retorted as he cast a wary gaze at Saji who nodded in agreement.
"No asking about your past got it" Saji spoke as Merlin gave him a small smile and a nod as he decided to ask
"So what does that Sacred Gear of your do?"
"Oh…It's called Absorption Line and when a line connects to someone else I can take some of there power into myself and boost myself with it"
"So you drain power from those you link with and use it for yourself" Merlin spoke intrigued as he sat up, Saji nodding as Merlin added
"…anyway you should try and catch whoever you use it against off guard otherwise they'll dodge as easily as I did" Saji taking in the words of wisdom from Merlin as he nodded along.
...
Author's Notes
This one has more to do with Merlin's past and starts to introduce why he's like he is. As for next chapter Raiser will be showing up among other things (currently working out what he could have for a familiar and the rest of Reina's peerage).
As for the Chaos Cannon it'll get a Balance Breaker like Issei and Vali's if I can come up a way to push Merlin far enough to trigger it and the differences he'll get. As for types of rounds he'll use later on if I can work out the ways and reasons I plan to include a version of Rias' power of Destruction along with Holy, Scatter shots, Homing and a similar version of Dragon Shot.
Omake (One way to get Kuroka apart of Reina's peerage XD)
"You can do what you like to Merlin as long as you become my Queen" Reina spoke, Merlin's face paling as Kuroka's brightened at he concept, knowing that the mage was part dragon due to Tiamat.
"You can't do that" Merlin shouted as Kuroka held her hand out to the blonde she-devil
"Deal!" She spoke as she shook Reina's hand, licking her lips as she turned to look at Merlin before starting to drag him off for some private time.