- Okay wizard. What exactly will this examinations consist of? - (Y/N) reluctantly asked Merlok when he ordered her to go to a separate room away from the knights. Clay walked along with her to make sure she was sure to get there.

(Y/N) said this question out loud as they walked through the corridor, as she knew Merlok had eyes and ears everywhere, through hidden speakers. It was as if Fortrex was some big building to be controlled by a crazy old wizard. Everything he had to know what was going on in his castle.

The Stone Knight rolled her eyes and crossed her arms when Merlok didn't respond, as if he wanted to maintain a note of mystery. The siblings stood in front of the door and Clay opened it.

- Come in first. - He said to his sister, inviting her inside. She wasn't stupid, her opponent was afraid to turn his back on her, thinking she might stab him in the back. Nevertheless, she allowed herself a sarcastic smile.

- Oh, but what a gentleman you are. - she said, changing her voice to sound like some rich aristocrat. Clay rolled his eyes and sighed in exasperation before following her into the room.

(Y/N) looked around the room with an indifferent expression on her face. It resembled a sort of... doctor's office, combined with both an office and a library. A couple of bookcases, a large desktop, a desk, a wooden couch and some weird equipment.

- It smells here like... Nothing. - she remarked with a shrug of her shoulders. She turned her head to Clay, who stood leaning with his back against the wall with his arms crossed. - I guess this is your place. I fit right in with you. 

Clay narrowed his gaze and growled under his breath. - Can you finally shut up and stop complaining?

- No. I love that stupid face you make when I annoy you.

The boy shook his head and then the screen on the wall turned on, showing Merlok. - Oh, good you are both here, now.... Where is Ava?

The door to the room opened and the said girl walked in, holding her tablet in her hand.

- And what is this child for? - (Y/N) asked, looking at the little computer genius with a raised eyebrow. Ava snorted at her remark and sat down at her desk and began typing something on the holo-computer.

- Ava will monitor the results of the examination I will do on you. - Merlok explained. (Y/N) furrowed her brow and looked over her shoulder at her brother. - Isn't this moron enough?

- Ah and Clay! You can leave now, thank you for bringing her here.

Clay looked worriedly at Merlok. - Are you sure? And if.... --

- Nothing will happen Clay. Go, join the others.

Clay sighed and nodded before leaving the room. Blue.... In the past, the blue knight wanted to stay with his mentor to defend him from his sister's wrath if necessary. He wasn't stupid, he has known his sister since she was born, he could read from her poker cold face what her true intentions were towards the wizard. She hate him. Worse, she want to kill him. However, he wasn't sure if this was definitely her will .... or someone else's, who wants Merlok to disappear long ago?

His thoughts went back to the conversation that occurred between them the first time there in the camp, how his sister said with certainty that his former dear little sister was no longer there. He wasn't sure if she meant that through her transformation, that good side of her was lost or locked away somewhere in her heart, or if someone had told her to tell him that.... someone had taken control of her.

Monstrox. He knew that you can't mess with this sick necromancer if you want to live to a peaceful old age. When he became his prisoner, when he awakened them, before the great Merlok's spell that erased his memory, Clay then felt as if he was being watched by someone all the time, and felt as if this someone was ready at any moment to punish him terribly for any small mistake on the part of the knight. He felt lost then, as if he didn't know who he was, who he really was.

He was told to forget who he was. He was given a foreign identity and he accepted it, as if it was just additional information, an instruction that had no meaning, and yet, he was told to speak it loudly and proudly to his enemies. Immediately upon awakening, like in some game, he was given a task that is mandatory to perform, this goal was to get rid of all the enemies of the evil sorcerer. Merlok. Knights. His friends, his family. It was a cruel game, in which both Monstrox and someone else part in, only he couldn't point out who that someone was.

All these doubts flooded Clay's mind like a great wave, and whenever he tried to dive deeper into them, he was hit with a great headache. An invisible barrier, a wall of the mind was blocking all this, hiding it from him. Was it his own mind that wanted to protect his heart from corruption, as if it knew that as soon as he discovered it, his heart would break like glass, only for something else, something dark, to rise on the ruins of his broken heart?

On the one hand he was grateful for this, but on the other hand he was uncertain. Uncertain about tomorrow, about what would happen. What should he expect from the enemy? Will he be pitted against his friends again? Or worse... Will his sister again be pitted against him so that she will come to destroy him.

Well, she herself said it to his face. Clay stopped in the middle of the corridor and recalled the words spoken by her.

- I don't belong to this family, not anymore.... You're left alone, because I feel can good from you and I think others feel it too. I'm evil, I am a monster.... I am a soldier who obeys orders.

He didn't know what to think about it, his sister herself, voluntarily revealed to him that he was no longer part of their family. That he was too good. Did she mean that he is better than her.... or did she mean that she is bad for him. (Y/N) could immediately sense his true intentions, just as he could sense hers. They knew what to expect from each other.

He didn't want to believe it. There is simply no room for that! (Y/N) would never leave him alone, from an early age they always stuck together no matter what adversities they encountered on their way, what quarrels broke out between them, they always supported each other. That's why he didn't believe in her bad side. Because if she was bad, she wouldn't have warned him about Monstrox and what could happen to him, she wouldn't have asked him to back off. She would have been indifferent to it.

No matter what flaws they have, however, they are one. Especially they, (Y/N) and Clay are a great duo, icons. Since they were little, they slept together, ate together, played together, fought together and even now.... have fallen together.

Clay sighed and looked over his shoulder in the direction of the room where (Y/N) was having a fight with Merlok and his weird chatter. His lips twitched slightly in a smile before he shook his head slightly and went only in a direction he knew.

''She's my sister and I will do everything to free her from the control of this monster. ''

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- Well, we can start. (Y/N) please stand on this platform. - Merlok said, turning his attention to the girl, who was looking at her nails with a bored expression.

- Will you finally explain to me what all these stuff are for? - she asked as she reluctantly started walking toward the device.

- Well, I'll do a scan of your body first to measure the level of dark magic in your body. I want to see how this lightning affected you.

- Why? Didn't you do it when we were lifeless? What a wizard you are, Merlok. - she snorted and stood on the platform.

Merlok grunted unpleasantly and turned to Ava. - You can start, dear child.

Ava nodded and pressed the red symbol on her tablet. The machine on which the stone monster stood came to life with a roar, until she flinched slightly. Merlok waved his staff and a golden light hit her in the face. (Y/N) hissed and squinted at the light, the scanner slowly descending down her body.

Then a long screech sounded and the red bulbs around the entire platform glowed red.

- The scan had failed. - Ava said.

- What?

- Your magic is failing, old man? - (Y/N) teased, crossing her arms.

- Of course not! I... Ava, it must be some kind of machine error, let's try again. - Merlok said quickly to the young IT specialist. Ava only sighed and restarted the scan. Once again the machine emitted a screech.

 - Scan failed. Some factor must account for the fact that the scan can't detect anything. - Ava replied. - I'll try to detect it.

(Y/N) yawned loudly, emphasizing how bored she was. - This is a waste of time. End of research. - With that, she stepped off the platform and was about to reach the door, but a magical aura drew her back. - HEY! There was nothing in deal about using spells on me!

- Using telekinesis to drag you here again is not magic. - Merlok answered her out of the blue. - We will try to do it the natural way.

- So what? Should I be afraid? - she asked sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

Merlok said nothing, just looked at her in thought. His gaze shifted to Ava and he grunted. - Ava. Please leave the room.

Ava looked at him with a raised eyebrow and quickly glanced at (Y/N). - Do you want to stay with her alone? Are you sure about Magicman?

- Yes. Get out.

Ava sighed in exasperation, jumped off the chair and quickly went to the door. - I will pray for your soul wizard.... - And disappeared behind the door.

- Why are you making it difficult? - Merlok immediately asked, casting a stern look at (Y/N). She only raised her eyebrows at him. - I have no idea what you are talking about, wizard.

- You know very well what I'm talking about, you do it consciously. Mind wall, you don't want to let me in to let me scan you. You are blocking my power connection so that I can.... 

- Mess with my mind. - she answered him and a slight smile appeared on her lips. However, it quickly disappeared. - Not with me these things, wizard. Monstrox and Ruina warned me about you and what you are capable of doing. You will not turn me against my master.

Merlok sighed and rubbed his face with his hand. - Until you remove the wall, I can't do my research. You're blocking me.

- And are you surprised why? We are enemies, first of all. Secondly... you've done enough bad things to me already.

- And what have I done to you?

(Y/N) gasped with feigned shock. - What have you done to me? You hurt me, you lied me! You betrayed me!

- Did I betray you? I would not betray you in life, child! Where did you even get this idea?

- Oh don't try to play games with me. You know perfectly well what you did, you made me some kind of your guinea pig for your weird spells. You clouded my mind, that it was for my good, that it was supposedly to somehow help the knights in battle but it was just a simple lie to lure me in! You destroyed all my loyalty to you, I trusted you, and you screwed it all up!

Merlok stared at her in shock and slowly shook his head. - What kind of spells? Wait a minute... Do you really believe that.... I turned you into... this?

- Of course it's you! I know it is, I remember very well! You promised us that it would help us, and it's just.... You... You are a damn traitor!

- No... This is not true! Child, I would never hurt you in my life. I would never betray you. Monstrox was the one who cast that spell on you! He hit you and Clay with his lightning in Armorville. That lightning bolt was imbued with a malicious curse, the Stone spell. I tried to find a cure for you, but Monstrox's magic goes beyond my understanding. The trial took both you and your brother! When you were in a dormant state, I tried to find a solution, I constantly studied you and observed your condition. Until the knights, Macy, came up with the idea to place you on the roof of Fortrex, in plain sight. I was stupid to agree to the idea, I didn't think it through. I'm... I'm sorry that you met such a fate.

The knight stared at Merlok's face, trying to find any sign of a lie. However, when she found nothing... She hesitated. Merlok didn't do it? She remembers it completely differently, it was his idea with this spell!

It must be some kind of trick. Yes, he wanted to shield his betrayal with the false mask of guilt he now wore. He was trying to confuse her! It's all a trap!

- You're lying through your teeth. You betrayed me, now you're just trying to protect yourself from guilt with your next game to confuse me! I know what I know. Monstrox warned me that you are as slippery as a snail and are excellent at lying. Ruina knows what you really are, she knows what you have done! You are just a plain old insane sorcerer who would even sell his own soul just to get what you want.

- I... --

- I have no idea how you did it, that Clay went over to your side, but I won't fall for your tricks! I won't let anyone betray me again! Neither to you, nor to those ridiculous knights of yours you sent at me. My men and I will work you out, find your tender spot and destroy you in the end! The whole kingdom and its king will soon fall, Monstrox will be one ruler.

- Don't you understand that his policies will only lead to destruction? Monstrox has succeeded in destroying the great and talented wizards he has drawn into his dark game. He enslaved their minds, discovered the dark side in them and turned them into his henchmen.

- This is not true! Monstrox wanted to your fall because he knew what you were really are! He knew about your greed for power, he knew about your cruelty, he knew that you wanted to set up a conspiracy to defeat the rulers and bring about the corruption of the kingdom so that you could build your murderous Empire on its ruins, in which the wizards would be the absolute rulers and ordinary people would be used for slave labor to increase your position on the entire world map! You wanted to start the New Order and usher in a great era of fear and misery for people without magic.

- This is not true! Monstrox was the one who wanted to usher in a new power, he wanted to take over this kingdom many times to destroy all people and murder all wizards that ever existed! He wanted to be one of a kind, powerful in magic, eternal in power! And kill every person who showed even a shadow of any kind of magic. You don't even realize what would have happened if Monstrox had won. It would have been a great defeat for the kingdom, death for us, a suffering for everyone.

(Y/N) fell silent and only looked furiously at Merlok with her arms crossed over her chest. Merlok preached his tirade until he ran out of breath, he had to make her understand that Monstrox was the real evil here, and she was unwittingly helping him in his sinister plan.

Merlok took a deep breath and looked almost desperately at the knight. - Understand child, Monstrox is using you. You think he is the hero in all this, but in fact he commands you to think so. You don't know him like I do, you don't know what he is capable of with you on his side. At any moment he can take over your mind and you will unknowingly carry out one of his orders. No matter how much you fight it, you will lose to him. Because a knight never be...

- Never be able to match the wizard.

Merlok looked at her hopefully. - Exactly! See? Abandon this dark path and come back to us. I'll find a way to cure you, you'll return to your normal body, only I ask you to trust me.

The girl lowered her gaze to the floor with a conflicted expression on her face. Should she trust Merlok after all this time? Did he speak honestly this time or was it another lie again? She clenched her teeth and her face contorted as a sudden wave of pain hit her like a hammer. She placed her hand on her forehead and closed her eyes as her hearing was drowned out by a murderous, loud screech.

Merlok watched her with worry, before his eyes quickly widened in realization. The mind barrier is starting to disappear! His lips twitched in a smile and he quickly swung his staff to send waves of power into her mind.

(Y/N) took a deep, shuddering breath and had to lean on the wooden desk behind her with one hand to keep from falling to the ground. She hissed in pain and covered her face with her hand, as if to protect herself from the pain. Waves of power began to hit her head, which she struggled to keep from invading her mind.

- Let go child, let go of the barrier and let me in. - Merlok's voice broke through before the screeching. His voice sounded lifeless as he tried to hypnotize her. Waves of power from Merlok began to rub and lights began to flash the longer it took.

(Y/N) abruptly opened her eyes as the alarm bells rang in her head. It's a trick! A growl came from her throat as she looked from under the bull's-eye at the wizard, who was focused on getting into her mind. Her brow furrowed and her eyes shone in anger.

However, she stopped when a new voice came into her head. 

'' Don't let him get to you or he will break you! Fight his power and block your mind from his greedy paws! Don't let him control you! Get rid of him! ''

- No... I won't give you... I won't give... Control... - she mumbled through the pain. Her hand gripped the corner of the desk tightly until it made a large crack.

'' Fight, child! Don't let him, don't get caught! Quick, create a barrier and block him!''

- I... I-I can't...!

'' Cast away your doubts and focus on what you are fighting for! Don't let his lying words get to you, don't give him your trust! Fight! ''

(Y/N) growled and shook her head firmly. - I am strong...! I will not give you...! I won't give you my mind! No... I WILL NOT SURRENDER TO YOU!!!

Her voice thundered like a war horn. Merlok only furrowed his eyebrows and shone his staff again to increase the power. She gripped her head tightly as her body shook excessively as she tried to fight back.

- Don't fight me child! Let it go!

'' Don't listen to this fool! Don't be fooled, (Y/N)! Fight child...! Fight for me! ''

- No... I won't make it!!

'' Don't be weak! Everything but no weakness! You will only get help if you don't let yourself be broken! You are more powerful than him, don't let yourself be defeated! ''

(Y/N) panted heavily and clenched her jaw tighter. Merlok sighed a little exasperated and began to mumble some kind of spell, which only increased the pain.

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Clay, meanwhile, was sitting in the control room, waiting for Merlok's test results. Ava was sitting at the computer, coding. Clay sighed and rested his chin on his hand and, with a bored expression on his face, played with the pencil. He lifted his gaze only when out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash of green.

- What's up, Clayman?

- Nothing interesting. - He replied with a shrug of his shoulders. He looked closely at his friend, who, with a sigh, sat down opposite him and put his feet on the hologram platform.

- Legs from table.

Aaron groaned in exasperation and did as he was told. He crossed his arms and leaned them against the table. He sighed again.

- What's the problem?

Clay got right to the point and abandoned his previous occupation and crossed his arms as well.

- Nothing, just... I'm worried.

- Oh? This is something new, Aaron Fox's worried.

Aaron furrowed his eyebrows in response and looked at him with exasperation. Clay's slight smile dropped, and he grunted. - I know, I'm worried too. Merlok was left alone with a furious (Y/N).

- That too, but... Do you think he will find a way to bring her back?

- I have no idea. However, Merlok is the best wizard we know, so.... we have to trust that he will find a solution.

Aaron sighed and put his hands behind his head. Clay looked at his friend with a slightly raised eyebrow. - What about her friends?

- Macy, Axl and Lance are keeping an eye on them.... Well, mostly Macy. Axl is probably eating, and Lance is.... well Lance. Why did you leave  (Y/N) alone with Merlok?

- Merlok told me to leave so I wouldn't disturb his research. Ava stayed with her.

Aaron looked at Clay quizzically and glanced at Ava, immersed in her work. - Dude... Ava is here all the time.

Clay turn his head in the girl's direction. - Oh. When did she get here?

- I've been sitting here for half an hour already. I said hello to you, but you didn't deign to answer me anything, Clay. - Ava muttered exasperatedly.

The Gray Knight smiled nervously and scratched the back of his neck. - Sorry Ava, I guess I was busy thinking.

Ava just sighed and went back to work again. Aaron and Clay exchanged amused glances and laughed quietly. After a moment, Aaron furrowed his brow in thought.

- But wait, since Ava is here then.... Did you leave (Y/N) alone with Merlok?

- Yes. Magicman told me to leave. He sounded more upset than usual. - Ava replied and turned to face the two knights.

Aaron and Clay looked at each other with concern. Clay suddenly took a deep, quick breath as he felt all the muscles in his body revitalize. He could feel a sudden powerful disturbance in the force. His senses sharpened and his head automatically turned toward the exit of the control room.

- What is it Clay? - Aaron's voice broke through the sound of the insistent alarm trumpeting in Clay's head. - Are you okay buddy? 

He didn't respond. He was busy, trying to locate this sudden danger. Was it the Squadron of Destruction, or was it coming from someone else. His eyes widened after which he sprang from his chair and ran out of the room.

- Clay!?

Aaron, puzzled by his friend's strange behavior, quickly got up from his chair and ran after him. Ava, who watched the whole incident was confused, but only sighed and waved her hand at it. 

Clay ran as hard as he could through the corridors of Fortrex to head to the room where Merlok and (Y/N) was. Being in this state, he didn't notice how he passed Macy, who happened to be heading towards him.

- Clay?

She looked behind him worried by his behavior, moments later Aaron ran up to her. Macy looked at him. - What's going on that Clay is so stressed?

- Wish I knew. Let's go after him!

Macy nodded and she and the redhead ran after the knight. Clay rushed into the room where he had left his sister and the sight he found there made him freeze. The room was semi-dark, and the only source of light was the screen where Merlok was hiding and the golden waves of power that were striking like bells at (Y/N), who was kneeling in front of Merlok, holding her head tightly.

He could hear moans of pain from her as she tried to fight the magic coming from Merlok, who didn't even notice Clay in the room, just looked with concentration at the stone knight in front of him. (Y/N) raised her head slightly and looked at Clay. Her eyes flashed alternately from bright yellow to (E/C) as her body shook. She looked with desperation at her brother, who stared at her with fear. 

- H-help m-me...! 

Clay felt his heart clench at this sight. He could feel through their bond the pain his sister was experiencing at the moment, and he looked at his mentor, who was increasingly increasing the power of the spell he was casting on her. He felt a sudden feeling of great disgust and contempt for the wizard.

 "What is he doing! Can't he see that it hurts her!?"'

Clay clenched his hands into fists and clenched his teeth as he cast a look filled with hatred at Merlok. Clay quickly stood protectively in front of his sister, with his arms spread out to block the waves of power.

- LEAVE HER ALONE!!!

Waves of power bounced off the Gray Knight like a magical invisible shield. The lights began to flash intensely before the led bulbs exploded under the force of the energy. The spell flared before it went out completely.

Merlok lost his balance as the force left him and his senses returned to him like a flash of lightning. - No!!!

Macy and Aaron ran into the room, which was already dark, and looked concerned at Clay, who was panting heavily with anger. (Y/N), as she felt the pain begin to pass, took heavy breaths before falling completely to the floor exhausted.

- What the hell happened here!? - Aaron called out.

Clay turned to (Y/N) and quickly got down on his knees to check her condition.

- Why did you disturb me Clay!? I almost took over her mind! - Merlok yelled angrily. - I could almost free her from Monstrox's control!!

- You didn't see that it hurt her!!? You could have hurt her, Merlok!! - Clay growled at his mentor, throwing him a stern look.

- Curing the mind and spirit from dark magic is a painful process! No wonder it hurt her, but it was effective! Five more minutes and she would have already been cured from under Monstrox's control, but you got in my way! Now I will have to gather my strength again and get her to leave the barrier that blocks her mind! - Merlok shouted furiously until you could smell the venom being thrown at Clay.

Merlok took a deep breath to calm himself down. - You messed up the whole spell, Clay. Already today (Y/N) would have been free of Monstrox, and you lost it.

Macy and Aaron exchanged glances and looked disappointedly at their friend. Clay looked down, understanding his mistake.

- But she was crying out for help! I could feel her pain from the spell, I couldn't help but react! I am her brother.

Merlok sighed and shook his head. - I completely understand, but... You destroyed the whole process, now.... I will no longer be able to fix her.

Merlok disappeared after these words. Clay sighed and looked at Macy and Aaron, who could only sigh as well.

- Thanks Clay. - Aaron muttered, before walking slowly out of the room.

- You did what you could Clay, but you could have let Merlok handle the matter. However, I don't blame you for that. You wanted to protect (Y/N) from pain.... I will leave you. - Macy said and also left the room, closing the door.

Clay watched sadly as she left and looked with a sigh at his sister, who was lying on her stomach and breathing heavily. He reached out and put his hand on her back, patting her lightly. - Are you all right, sister?

The girl took a deep breath and looked at him weakly. Clay saw her irises flash uncontrollably from yellow to blue all the way to (E/C). It hurt the boy's heart to see her in such a state.

- Y-you... H-helped... m-me? W-why?

- I'm your brother, it's my job to protect you. - Clay replied in a soft voice.

(Y/N) breathed shakily and nodded slightly. - T-Thank you...

She took another deep breath before closing her eyes and fainted.