Already got the first three chapters written in the first day!! updates will probably be once a week or earlier. keep in mind, i'm sick rn lol. hope u enjoy!!

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Merlin had seen-and participated-in many a war. Having used a spell to transform back into his younger visage, he had the physique to allow him to fight for the side he believed in. In fact, many conspiracy theorists had noticed how his figure had been described in many a book, pictures, and drawings throughout history. He had always used his magic to assist him and his side...just as he had with King Prat and the Knights of the Round Table all those years ago. Conveniently, whenever he and his team were outnumbered, their enemies' guns misfired, a branch fell on their heads, their horses would run the other way or their car went in reverse... The " convenient coincidences " occurred-and kept occurring-hundreds of times throughout Merlin's life.
Using his magic, he had saved many people, but he always thought that if he had been a bit faster, he could have saved someone else. If he had been faster, he could have saved Arthur, saved Camelot. But he wasn't fast enough, and he believed he never would be.

But, one of the many perks of being hundreds of years old was that Merlin had become very wise. It was often said to Merlin that he had old eyes, that they looked like he had seen a great number of things that he couldn't have with his young visage. He had always laughed it off. After all, who would believe he was Merlin, an immortal wizard? A fictional character talked of in the Legend of King Arthur? No one. So, he, naturally, never mentioned it and laughed it off.

But, as he struggled to keep up with the modern technological advancements, struggled with hiding his magic, he had begun thinking about how he could use it without suspicion.  And, upon thinking of Harry Houdini, and the famous Michael Carbonaro, he realized the way for him to practice magic was simple-

to become a magician.

With that idea circling through his brain, he thought of pranks he could run, lives he could save, and the fun he could have.

It would've been more fun with Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table,

but as they weren't there, and would never be again-

he would have to manage it by himself.

//

" With us today, we have the up-and-coming magician, Emrys! After only a few months of performing his magic tricks, he has gained a massive following of 40,000 followers on Instagram. Care to tell us how you did it? "

" Well, Mike, " Merlin replied, " a magician never reveals his secrets. " Immediately, the show host doubled over, laughing, as Merlin grinned. Not that that's what anyone knew him by, but he still preferred Merlin to Emrys any-day. It reminded him of Arthur.

" But, if you really must know, all I did was perform a few magic tricks and used some good hashtags, " he jokingly said.

" Do you have a trick you can perform for us, Emrys? "

Merlin pretended to look offended as he replied, " Of course I do! It's what I get paid for, isn't it? " as he laughed. Quickly, he snapped his fingers and Mike's hair had turned pink and his shoes transformed into butterflies, flapping all around in front of his face, showing off the show host's not-so-professional pink and purple striped socks. Immediately, he blushed and muttered how he had not been able to find any white socks today and how they weren't his, they were his wife's. Merlin, who had been laughing the entire time, snapped his fingers once more, his eyes glowing gold as Mike's hair went back to normal and the butterflies transformed back into shoes, hiding his socks once more.

Mike, still flustered from his silly sock situation, breathed out, " Wow. "

Merlin grinned. " Now that wasn't that bad of a show, now was it? "

//

The next day, Merlin was surprised to see a note on his doorstep. He had chosen this location so that no one could find him. He had lived in isolation here for many years, and planned to live alone for many more. He cod teleport wherever he wanted to go anyway.

And, when he read the note, his heart skipped a beat. His hands began to shake. His legs began to quiver with such speed that he had to grip the door handle keep himself from falling over, because there was no way this could be real.

The note simply said:

It is almost time for Arthur to rise again.