Izuku POV
After preparing our date for this afternoon, I waited for Ochaco at Crowley's. We've decided to take the date to Elsewhere, for a change. Though the short walk to the bar usually feels lively, today it's edged with a hum of discord, like a note out of tune. People rush by, caught up in their own worlds, the golden afternoon sun casting long shadows. It mirrors the prickling unease just beneath my skin.
"Hi, Izuku. What are you up to?" Midnight-sensei asks, but her usual teasing tone is absent as she wipes down the bar.
"I was going to Elsewhere with Ochaco," I say. The words feel oddly stiff.
"I...see," she murmurs.
"Don't worry too much about it, Sensei. We'll both be fully dressed. In armor," I reassure her, attempting a playful grin.
"Perhaps. Be very careful, Izuku. I've had a blinding headache all day, and I finally think I know what's causing it." Her voice drops.
"You get headaches from your magic? Or from the booze last night?" Trying to keep things light doesn't quite work.
"Both. But I can't remember drinking that much yesterday..." Concern laces her tone.
"Often a problem in itself," I agree, but there's a hollow weight to the joke.
"Indeed. This though, feels like a migraine. Which tends to mean some sort of Confluence." She frowns, then seems to shake herself.
"What's a Confluence?" The question slips out.
"A gathering of power. A lot of power, in this case. I don't know if it's a new spell, or something old awakening, but I do know Evokers attract these things like lightning rods." Midnight-sensei's voice held a sharp edge of worry.
"Probably just a student at the university preparing a ritual," I suggested, hoping to ease the tension.
"Just watch yourself. I don't want to have to house-break another bouncer," she warned, a faint hint of amusement in her tone.
"Don't be silly, Sensei. An Evoker and a Princess of the Blood. What could possibly go wrong?" My attempt at humor felt forced.
"Don't make me count the ways, Izuku." Her reply was swift, leaving a lingering note of caution.
"Anyway, I'll be down by the portal getting set up. Let Ochaco know where I am, would you?" I changed the subject, eager to move on. Going Elsewhere with Ochaco promised a completely different dynamic from my missions with Nana or Itsuka. A thrill of anticipation ran through me.
"Greetings, my Dearest Knight. So, this is your little hideout?" Ochaco said, her voice cheerful as she descended the stairs. She wore her regular school uniform and a large backpack.
"Indeed. Welcome."
I gestured towards the portal and her eyes widened as they took in the sight. The ancient stone archway hummed with barely contained energy, its intricate carvings shimmering faintly in the fading twilight. Its smooth, almost liquid-like surface rippled at the edges, blurring the lines between stone and something...other. A faint luminescence pulsed from its heart, hinting at a world beyond; a world of vibrant colors and impossible wonders. The very air vibrated, a whisper of the unknown on the breeze. This was where I came to earn extra money, but it felt almost sacred now.
"This is impressive, Izuku. I didn't know there was a full-sized portal this far into the city," she said, awe in her voice.
"You're not wearing your armor?" I asked.
"I figured I should change here. We're technically not allowed to use 'Hero' Costumes outside of official business."
"I take it that's the backpack is for?"
"Yes, where can I change?"
"Right here?"
A blush spreads across her cheeks. "Ah. But this is not a study date. Did you think I would just...strip...in front of you?"
"Surely you've gotten comfortable undressing in front of me by now." A teasing grin tugs at my lips.
"Comfortable is a strong word. Let us say it is no longer mortifying, and even somewhat..." she trails off, and the flicker of mischief in her eyes makes my heart skip a beat "...tittilating."
"Tittilating sounds promising." My voice lowers. "How about we change here. Together."
Her hesitation is barely a breath. "I doubt the maiden aunts of the Court would find me undressing with a man to be a vast improvement over me undressing for a man," she says, but there's a smile playing at the corner of her mouth.
"Screw them," I reply, the words impulsive yet sincere.
"Well, someone should, perhaps. Thankfully, that is not my duty." A playful glint lights her eyes as she turns to her backpack. "Shall we do this?"
"I'm mostly joking. If you want, you can use the bathroom upstairs."
"Maybe I like feeling titillated?" The words are a soft challenge, and as she unbuttons her school shirt a thrill races through me. My eyes widen against my will.
"Ah?" My voice cracks, a pathetic squeak as my carefully crafted composure shatters. This is no longer the Ochaco I'm used to.
"And perhaps I enjoy that look on your face," she continues, her voice a playful purr as she slips off her skirt. The rustling of fabric echoes in the sudden silence. Every inch of her skin is radiant, and it takes all my willpower to rip my gaze away.
In front of me is a goddess. Her inviting, alluring eyes look at me. Her fine curves from her shoulders going down to her breast and her hips that's just making me want to grab is enough to make me thing my armor's gonna be a tight fit for a while.
"Perhaps the bathroom would be better for you, after all," she murmurs. "Maybe a cold shower would help you fit into that armour?" It's less a suggestion, more a dare.
"I'll manage, I think," I said, somehow squeezing myself into the camo armor. It felt tighter than usual.
"Militia armor. But then, you are very much a child of this world," she observed, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"And what about yours?" I asked, desperate to change the subject.
"This? Shwartalf Plate. Old. Very old. Made for my great-grandmother, Guinevere. A wedding gift from one of the Fae Gods," she explained, a touch of pride in her tone.
"It looks gorgeous. Suits you, perfectly. Strong beautiful steel, yet regal and elegant." The compliment tumbled out before I could stop it. Thankfully, she seemed pleased.
"Flattery will get you far, my Dearest Knight. Shall we go?"
"Sure," I said as we stepped into the portal. Looking around, the ever-changing nature of Elsewhere is one of its primary characteristics. The beautiful chaos of the place gives its outworldly beauty.
The ever-shifting landscape of Elsewhere unfolded before us, a riot of impossible colors and shapes. Even after so many journeys over the years, my breath caught at the sheer beauty of it.
"I'm always struck by how this place never loses its wonder," I admitted.
"Indeed. I never grew tired of walking the Paths either. If only there were a Glade nearby, I could show you true magic," she said, a wistful note in her voice.
"You mentioned Glades before. Are they... permanent locations?" I asked, intrigued.
"Yes. The Paths shift and change, sometimes even as you walk them. Glades anchor this chaos, granting us a place of stability in this realm," she explained. "Think of them as islands of order in this sea of change."
"And the Powers make these?" The concept was mind-bending.
"Mostly, they are human creations; Fae and Gods do not perceive reality as we do, and are far more comfortable carving out temporary spaces from the Paths themselves than we are."
"So, the Court is like that? A human-made Glade?" I asked.
"Yes. Built by Merlin, as were almost half the Glades we know of," she said, a touch of reverence in her voice. "A busy fellow, indeed."
"That explains why I've never seen one, despite all my trips here," I mused. "You said none are near Mustafu?"
"No. Wait..." Ochaco's voice trailed off, her cheerful smile fading as her posture tensed, alertness replacing her previous ease. "Did you sense that?"
I frowned, feeling defensive. "I thought we already established that I'm blind as a bat when it comes to these mystical things?"
"Even you should be able to feel that disturbance!" Her words were sharp, eyes scanning our surroundings with a newfound urgency. "An enchantment is unraveling around us!"
"I'm not picking up on anything," I admitted. "Maybe a slight ringing in my ears...and a strange pull towards that path on the left, but..."
"Left?" Her question was sharp, tinged with a new uncertainty.
Straining my senses, I could only perceive a slight ringing in my ears and a strange, insistent pull toward the path veering left. "I'm not picking up on much, but...yeah, there's something over that way." I pointed towards a shimmering, flickering shape in the distance, like a disturbed pool's reflection. "Almost like a door of some kind..."
The structure looming before us defied comprehension with its sheer, imposing scale. Alien engravings pulsed with an unsettling rhythm, and the vast, arched entryway seemed to taunt us with its tantalizing promise of otherworldly realms.
"A Gate?" Ochaco's voice trembled faintly with awe and trepidation. "But that would mean a Glade lies beyond. That's impossible; the nearest one should be all the way in Kyoto!"
"Maybe someone built it recently?" I hazarded, grasping at frayed threads of logic.
"Izuku." She fixed me with a grave look. "The workings of a Glade are not some weekend hobby. They require immense power and effort, even by the standards of the Gods themselves. In the entire history of the Court, only half a dozen new ones have ever been created." She sounded strained, as if the mere idea was blasphemous.
Only six in sixteen centuries? The weight of potentially stumbling upon a once-in-a-millennium discovery sent tendrils of curiosity entwining with dread through my pounding heart.
"Let's go check it out!" The rash words spilled out on a reckless surge of adrenaline before I could second-guess them.
I can sense the trepidation in Ochaco's voice as she admitted, "I...I am afraid. It is dangerous to meddle in the affairs of Powers."
"You said your father is a Power?" I countered, hoping to bolster her resolve.
"Yes, my Dearest Knight. And you would be well advised to not meddle in his affairs either," she warned me.
But the magnetic lure of the impossible structure had already taken hold. "But we should check it out! Do you really think it's just an accident that colossal thing materialized as we walked past?" I could feel my pulse thrumming with electric possibility.
Ochaco's gaze remained transfixed on the ominous gate. "The opposite," she murmured, barely above a whisper. "I think this phenomenon was meant for us specifically." A tremor of trepidation laced her words.
An anxious pause stretched between us before I asked the obvious question, though it tasted of ash on my tongue. "So...we run?"
She shook her head slowly, a resolute fire banishing the fear from her eyes. "No. If this is the path laid before us, fleeing will change nothing."
Extending my hand, I affirmed, "Then we face it together, side-by-side. There's no challenge we can't overcome as partners."
"Ever the Evoker," she managed a wry smile. "I assure you, there is no shortage of the things in Elsewhere that would make short work of two fledglings like us."
My voice rang with defiant conviction. "Then I choose to meet them standing tall, not cowering on my knees before the unknown."
"Very well." Ochaco stepped towards the looming gate, shoulders set. "The door is sealed, but let me try something." She squared her stance, intoning with ceremonial clarity, "Open for the friends of the Court."
We held our breath, but the towering portal remained impassively shut. "Didn't seem to do anything," I observed, trying to mask my disappointment.
"Would be too much to hope for," Ochaco sighed, shaking her head resignedly. "That was the standard passcode for civilian Glades constructed by Merlin."
"So you don't think this imposing gate is Merlin's work?" I asked, studying the intricate engravings more closely.
Her brow furrowed pensively. "I am...unsure. There are undeniable similarities in the craftsmanship and mystical resonance. But also notable deviations from his signature weave."
"Does that mean we're out of luck if you don't know the password?"
A look of fierce determination flashed across Ochaco's features. "If no guardian forces bar our way, I can likely decipher and unravel the locking enchantments through trial and error. Unlike Merlin's most impregnable masterworks, this gate, while formidable, is merely difficult - not utterly incomprehensible."
I arched an eyebrow. "I thought you counseled against meddling with such powers mere moments ago?"
A sly grin played across her lips. "I am cautious by nature, not blinded by incuriosity. But having come this far, we will see it through to its conclusion."
"Fair enough," I conceded with a nod. "Any idea what sort of trick or key might-"
My words caught in my throat as a disembodied, reverberating voice seemed to emanate from the gate itself. "You need only ask, O Promised One."
"Huh?"
Ochaco's widened eyes met mine. "I think I begin to see..." She turned back towards the gate, squaring her shoulders. "Open up, please!"
Silence and stillness answered her command. She tried again, a tinge of desperation creeping into her tone. "We come in peace. Open the gates!"
But the towering portal remained impassively barred, as inscrutable as the celestial mechanics that had seemingly birthed it into existence.
"Doesn't seem to do anything."
Ochaco looked at me, confusion and trepidation mingling in her gaze. "It addressed you as the Promised One. Why you, Izuku? You try giving the command to open."
I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my neck as I stepped towards the gate's threshold. "Umm...open the gates?" I half-stated, half-asked.
The ground trembled beneath our feet as an ominous rumbling built to a thunderous crescendo. With glacial deliberation, the towering doors ground open, exposing a shimmering, abyssal portal.
Ochaco fixed me with a searching look, wariness etched in the tight lines of her expression. "It responds to you specifically. I like this even less now. What forces have you unwittingly brought into alignment around us?"
I could only shake my head, mouth agape, as I beheld the unfathomable cosmic mysteries beckoning us forward. "I have no idea. But...should we enter?"
"Fools rush in where wise men fear to tread. So be it, let us delve into the depths of this inscrutable chasm," Ochaco said, a steely edge to her words belying the breathtaking vista before us.
"It's just a Glade," I countered, trying to rationalize the beauty we'd stumbled upon. "You mentioned they were relatively commonplace."
"Never common," she retorted, shaking her head adamantly. "And this is no mere Glade found on any conventional map."
A crystalline lake glittered invitingly, cradled by vibrant, verdant trees. The air carried an ethereal freshness, utterly unlike the city's stale caress. "It's beautiful," I breathed in reverence. "The fragrance, the perfect temperature - it's like an idyllic late summer's day."
Ochaco's brow furrowed skeptically. "And yet an ominous shiver snakes down my spine. I...I feel I should recognize this place, yet the memory eludes me."
My gaze landed on a slender, feminine silhouette approaching through the dreamlike foliage. "Look, there's someone over there."
Ochaco instantly tensed. "Stay alert! My instincts scream that something is very wrong."
Trying to soothe her rising apprehension, I gestured reassuringly. "Don't worry, it seems to be a single, solitary girl ambling our way. What danger could one person pose?"
Before I could counter her cynicism, the lithe figure drew near enough to fully assess. "Welcome, O Promised One. Welcome to my lake," she purred with a slight bow. Petite in stature yet radiating an unmistakable aura of power, emerald eyes glinted beneath raven tresses. Her delicate, freckled features only amplified an air of ethereal, youthful beauty.
"See?" I gestured toward the woman, giving Ochaco a pointed look. "Perfectly friendly."
But her demeanor shifted in an instant, eyes blazing with shocked recognition. "I...I know you—the Lake. You are the Lady of the Lake. Nimue the Betrayer!"
"Wait, what?" I said.
"How low the Pendragons have fallen, to have you as their last scion," she scoffed, ignoring me completely.
"Ochaco, what's happening?" My confusion mingled with a prickle of unease.
"And...Izuku. I see your Father's power in you. It is growing daily. Merlin's plan is coming together perfectly," she said.
"My father?" I asked, still unsure of who the hell he was.
"All in good time, Izuku," she purred, a condescending smirk playing on her lips. Another damn riddle.
"What plan?" My voice cracked with frustration.
"Soon, you will be strong enough to take up your Throne, and receive The Mantle," the woman said.
"What throne?" I asked.
"The Throne in Exile. But that will never happen," Ochaco seethed. "The Pendragons protect Camelot. This... usurper will never take our place."
"Right." I said.
"Foolish little Pendragon. Izuku is the True Heir of Arthur. Your family are merely the groundskeepers," she said before mocking Ochaco further, "And a terrible job you have done of it, too," she hissed, her disdain for Ochaco palpable.
I glanced at Ochaco, her clenched fists betraying her fury.
"Be on your guard, Izuku. Nimue is a Power in her own right, and no friend to my family," she cautioned me.
"My cards are ready," I said as I ready a THREE OF A KIND in case I'll need to make a distraction. Then, I'll use my cards along with One For All to grab Ochaco and get out of here. Fast!
I expected her to conjure spells, but nothing happened. Instead, she stood there while clearly trying to hold back a laugh.
"I'm hardly going to attack you, Izuku. You're the final steps of a dance begun before Arthur's ancestors were even born: The Work of many Powers. Myself. Merlin. Your Father...others," Nimue said cryptically which is starting to grind my gears as well.
"How was my father involved?"
"All in good time. The Mantle was Merlin's greatest creation, but even he needed help to power such a thing," she said.
"Who was my father, gods damn you?!" My patience snapped, replaced by a burning need to know.
"Listen to me, Izuku. She thrives on chaos – twisting words and truths is her game," Ochaco pleaded. I know, but...dammit, the secrets are suffocating me.
"I need to know," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "My father, my future...it's a tangled mess, and I'm trapped in the middle."
"These are not my schemes, little Pendragon," Nimue scoffed. "Merlin wove this tapestry; his hand guides the Winter King."
"Wait. The undead dog – it called me Winter Child. And a prophecy it warned me of..."
"Winter Child? Prophecy?" Ochaco's eyes widened. "What else haven't you told me, Izuku? What's going on?"
"It didn't seem important then!" I shot back, guilt twisting in my gut.
"In time, you will be the Winter King," Nimue's voice dripped with an ancient sort of satisfaction. "The End, to Arthur's Beginning. The King Foretold," Nimue chanted.
"Ochaco, I swear, I know nothing of this."
"I think I believe you. And yet, I cannot dismiss this out of hand. Nimue is a Power, she does not need to play mind games. Especially to us mere fledglings. Though she clearly enjoys them," she said.
"Together, we'll figure this out," I said, needing that to be true more than anything.
"What a simple-minded child. Did you truly think he was attracted to you? You plain-faced, stick-up-the-ass tomboy. All this was planned before your great-grandfather was even born," she egged her on further.
"Ochaco, look at me. She's lying to you." I turned to Ochaco, desperation clawing at me
"Did you really think Arthur would return? Or that Erec was someone worthy? The Future King will not be from Arthur's failed bloodline. Merlin and I knew that. But even Merlin didn't expect your family to fall so low."
"She's twisting your thoughts," I insisted.
"Oh, am I, Izuku?" She then turns to me. "Your connection to Ochaco is merely the magic within you, sensing the other half of the Mantle, through Ochaco," she gestured to her, "and then the Throne itself. Only when you take the Throne will you reforge the Mantle, and take up your destiny."
"That's bullshit!"
"Some of it...echoes with truth," Ochaco murmured, lost in thought. "My family, powerful Enchanters, yes, but none touched Arthur's strength. It's as if..." she looked at me, a chilling realization dawning, "...whatever fueled him died with him."
"What are you saying?" I felt lost, adrift.
"It means nothing. My Family has defended the Court of 16 centuries," she looks straight on to Nimue, fierceness in her eyes, "My Mother gave her life to defend it. I will not give it up for this watery tart.
"Good," I said.
"And yet...I cannot allow myself to be captured by some hostile glamour," she then turns to me with sad eyes, "This, our dates...it is too much, too fast. As if we're being rushed."
"How?" My mind raced, searching for sense in this madness.
"Perhaps a spell. Perhaps something native to you, and your powers. Or perhaps Nimue is indeed not lying. Or at least not completely. I need to know more."
"How do we do that?" I asked her.
"We do not," Ochaco's gaze was steady, heartbroken. "Before I do anything, I need to clear my mind of your influence and seek aid with wiser mages than me. If this is a hostile spell, it came far too close to overcoming my defenses," she said.
She keeps bringing up hostile spell, but I don't know what she's talking about.
"What hostile spell are you talking about?"
Her eyes looked even sadder than before, "My...feelings for you. My dreams of a future, together. If they are all just glamour, I must know."
And just like that, my world tilted. "Ochaco, I swear..."
"Farewell, little Pendragon. Don't let us detain you. Run back to your doddering fools at the withered Round Table." Nimue's mockery stings like venom.
"Ochaco, please." My voice cracks. Desperation chokes me – I finally found the love of my life, only to have doubt ripped into her heart.
She shakes her head, stepping back. "I have my Duty. To the Court. To my Father. I must leave, Izuku. Do not try to stop me." Her voice trembles as she turns toward the Gate, into nothingness.
"Crap." The word hangs in the air, heavy with despair. Why did things turn out this way?
"Good riddance. I cannot stand that family," Nimue hisses.
"Why? Why did you do this?" I whirl toward her. She vanished in a blink, yet Nimue's cruel voice still echoes through the Glade.
"Because you were never meant to be the mere consort to a failed Queen. A Storm is coming, and the Court will need a real King if it is to survive. It will need the Winter King. It will need you."
"Well. Fuck."
That disastrous conclusion to what should have been a delightful evening left me utterly adrift. How could I possibly convince Ochaco that I harbored no designs on usurping her throne? Or even secure an opportunity to explain, given the fury blazing in her eyes?
After that calamitous "date," I trudged back to Crowley's in a daze, distantly aware of Midnight-sensei calling my name but unable to rouse from my anguished stupor. "I need a drink. Lots of them," I muttered, the words tasting of ashes on my tongue. "Thankfully, we're in a bar. I'll go snag a bottle or thirty. I'm not really feeling sociable right now."
Deep down, I knew inebriation would do little to salve these fresh wounds. But perhaps it could at least deliver the fleeting mercy of an alcohol-induced slumber. I proceeded to drown my sorrows until finally stumbling up to bed in a dizzy haze.
Some indeterminable time later, the chirping of birds and the harsh rays of late morning light pierced the veil of my drunken oblivion. "Good morning, Izuku. Rise and shine," Midnight-sensei greeted with an impish grin.
I tried to rise, but the room spinning violently as a sledgehammer pounded my skull was her only answer. "Urgh..." I groaned, likely resembling one of the mindless undead from a bargain-bin video game.
"I must say, I'm quite impressed by your dedication to drinking yourself into a stupor last night," she quipped. "I don't think I've ever witnessed an Evoker crippled by a hangover."
"Fuck," I croaked miserably. "What...what did I even drink?"
Sensei arched an eyebrow. "It might be quicker to ask what you didn't, considering the state you're in. But judging by your condition, I assume your little romantic rendezvous with Ochaco didn't go according to plan?"
I winced, partially from the stabbing pain, mostly from the raw memories. "She hates me now. Probably justifiably so."
"Do tell - what fresh catastrophe did you unleash this time?"
Drawing a ragged breath, I began recounting the previous night's events. "We...found something. A Glade, not far from here."
Midnight-sensei's brow furrowed skeptically. "There shouldn't be any Glades in this vicinity. I can only assume this was the Confluence event I sensed brewing yesterday?"
"I think so," I rasped. "We discovered a lake. And a woman. Nimue."
She exhaled a low whistle. "That is a name I haven't heard uttered in ages. So the Lady of the Lake herself has resurfaced. That is...unfortunate news, to say the least."
"She convinced Ochaco that I was somehow born to usurp her throne, her birthright." I shook my head in exasperation. "I barely understand half of what's going on."
"I can certainly see how such claims would land you in hot water," Sensei replied dryly. "But what specifically did this Nimue allege?"
"She said I was destined for this. The result of some grand prophecy. That the only reason I was drawn to Ochaco at all was because of...the Mantle."
At the utterance of that peculiar word, Midnight-sensei's expression shifted subtly, her casual demeanor evaporating like a dawn mist before the rising sun. "Sensei?" I prompted warily.
"You're absolutely certain she used that precise term? 'Mantle'?" she pressed, suddenly laser-focused.
"Yeah, she claimed the Mantle would be completed once I was crowned King. Called it Merlin's greatest creation."
Sensei's eyes widened fractionally before she exhaled a loaded curse. "Well, that's not ominous in the slightest, given some of the other monstrosities that old goat Merlin unleashed upon the world." A tense pause stretched between us before she shook her head grimly. "Shit...this is terrible."
"Yeah, Ochaco was absolutely livid," I said, my voice tinged with dejected resignation. "I doubt she'll ever be willing to speak to me again after this."
Midnight-sensei let out an exasperated sigh before fixing me with a level gaze. "For the moment, set aside your concerns about the girl. Think bigger picture here. Erec will not simply step aside because Nimue issued some proclamation. There is a deep, bitter enmity between the Lady of the Lake and the Pendragon lineage."
I nodded slowly, recalling the scathing, venomous barbs Nimue had flung at Ochaco with caustic glee. "Yeah, I definitely noticed the animosity between them."
"If word of this supposed prophecy reaches Erec's ears, you are as good as dead," Sensei stated bluntly. "And that's leaving aside any other powers who would undoubtedly take issue with you potentially claiming this 'Mantle'."
"What the hell is a Mantle, anyway?"
My brow furrowed in confusion. "Okay, but what the hell is this 'Mantle' thing anyway?"
She paused, seeming to carefully weigh her words. "It is the crucible from which gods are forged; a socket in the very fabric of reality where power converges and an immortal essence can take shape. The God of War. The Lord of the Hunt..." Her eyes bored into mine with sudden intensity. "The Once and Future King."
A dawning look of realization played across her features as the pieces fell into place. "Oh shit..."
"What?" I asked, thoroughly bewildered by this escalating turn.
"The Once and Future King," she repeated, shaking her head slowly. "Erec, nor any Pendragon since, was ever a true match for Arthur himself. Because that particular Mantle was never intended for them - it was solely crafted for Arthur...and now, for you."
My mind reeled as I struggled to process this revelation. "So...what, you're saying I could become...a god? Is that a bad thing?" I snorted mirthlessly. "I mean, sure, Erec seems keen to kill me over it, and Ochaco undoubtedly despises me now, but..."
"You're missing the bigger picture here," Sensei cut me off. "Merlin never did anything without deliberate, calculated reason. Sixteen centuries ago, he constructed an entire fortressed realm in Elsewhere and imbued its king with power eclipsing that of many Gods."
"And then what happened?" I asked, morbidly curious.
"And then he perished, along with Arthur and most of the legendary knights of his Round Table," she replied grimly. "All I know is that they fell in a cataclysmic battle. But against what foe? That is the crucial question we need to unravel. I know this."
Something began nagging at the back of my aching mind. "Why is that so important, though?"
"Merlin was a Greater Power," Sensei explained with weary patience. "And Arthur, as you now know, was essentially a God. Many of the Companions were Powers in their own right. So what killed them all...that may be the answer you need to resolve," she said.
"The other Gods?"
"I doubt they could have succeeded. Not without it basically being a divine extinction event. No, whatever vanquished them... I guess that it came from Outside the established realms entirely. But still, we need more concrete answers first."
Realization struck me like a thunderbolt. "You seem far more unsettled by the implications of what killed Merlin and Arthur than by the fact Erec apparently wants me dead now."
A grim chuckle escaped her lips. "Erec is a mere mortal annoyance - one I can deal with. But Merlin created Arthur specifically to combat whatever unfathomable force they faced sixteen centuries ago." Her eyes bored into mine with dire intensity. "Which raises the terrifying question: Why did he create you?"
My head still pounding, I could only fumble out the first inane thought that sprang to mind with a helpless shrug, "To become the King of Camelot again, if Nimue's ravings are to be believed?"
Midnight-sensei fixed me with a sardonic look. "Don't be dense, Izuku. Merlin didn't elevate Arthur to such lofty heights out of mere altruism. He needed an unconventional human weapon, and the Mantle of the Once and Future King provided the catalyst for channeling raw, divine power. If that's truly what we're grappling with here, we have to operate under the assumption that whatever cataclysmic force is looming requires an equivalently mighty hammer to counter it."
"Okay, so what's our plan of action then?" I asked.
She let out a mirthless chuckle. "Under normal circumstances, I'd advise cutting your losses and running as far as you can from this whole apocalyptic prophecy mess. But if we're facing down a threat potent enough to wipe out entire pantheons of Powers, I'm not convinced there exists any corner of reality remote enough to escape its grasp." A wry smirk played across her lips. "Unless you happen to have connections at SpaceX, that is. Probably."
I shook my head, crestfallen. "So you've got nothing then? No strategy for how to proceed?"
"For now, I need to dedicate myself to researching and uncovering more concrete answers about what we're up against," she replied, expression turning pensive. "In the meantime, you've got more immediate, pressing concerns to wrestle with. If your disgruntled little girlfriend informs her father Erec about these world-shaking prophecies, you'll likely end up dead long before Merlin's grand plans ever reach fruition."
Running a hand through my tousled hair, I sighed heavily. "I guess I'll find out if she spilled the beans when classes resume on Monday. Maybe I should have asked for her number..." I quickly scrolled through my contacts, foolishly hoping her digits might materialize, but of course the list remained frustratingly incomplete. "Ah well, assuming there's even cell service in the depths of Elsewhere to begin with."
Midnight-sensei rose from her seat, a concerned crease forming between her brows. "There isn't. But no matter what, above all else - stay vigilant and focus on growing stronger, Izuku. We've only just getting started."
I nodded, a hard knot of determination forming in my chest as I pushed aside the tumultuous night's events. "Got it. I'll be ready, whatever comes next. Bye, for now, Sensei."
With that, I made my way to the basement, my hangover miraculously fading. For the foreseeable future, becoming overwhelmingly powerful was my sole priority. No more distractions - it was time to get seriously Strong.
And with that, we have now completed Act I of Love of Magic (also named Love of Magic) and stepped into Act II, Only Human! If you're wondering how the couple is gonna be from now on, don't worry. It's still and will always be an IzuOcha story. We're just simply moving the plot along!
Thanks for always reading my story, and let me know if you have questions or feedback.
Next up: Loophole (CM Class III)
