Richard was rehearsing his spells while having a midnight stroll in the garden located at the Stonehenge Academy of Wizards. It was starting of the winter season with fresh white snow on the ground, when he heard the dogs barking. Curious to what could be bothering the dogs at this late hour, he rushed to the source of the sound. What he saw had him frozen. There in his garden lay something- something small, rectangular, black and shiny. And it blinked! He rubbed his eyes to make sure that he wasn't dreaming. Intrigued, he reached for it. On touching its single button, it vibrated, buzzed. Causing him to fall back on the grass. "What do I do now?", he thought. Waking up Merlin at this unearthly hour would result in a punishment and inquiry. While he was used to being interrogated by Merlin, the punishment of casting 300 complete spells in one hour made him quiver in fear... "He always gives me the toughest penalties in the hope I fail and he gets a chance to throw me out of the Academy. I will definitely become his apprentice one day." He shuddered at the thought of leaving. 

On instinct he took the 'blinking box' as he called it, to his best friend Crown Prince Arthur in the dormitory. It was past midnight and Richard had a hard time waking him. Arthur was dead to the world with his training being more rigorous compared to others. As the heir to the kingdom of Yberarith, he was trained harder, given extra tasks to be completed within the stipulated time-frame."Arthur, wake up. Arthur..." 
"Hmm... What is it? It's past midnight, Rick. Please let me sleep. I have a long day tomorrow," mumbles Arthur and turns to the side and covers himself with the blanket from head-to-toe.

Seeing his attempts to wake Arthur are futile and desperate to wake him up, Richard does the only thing he can think of at the moment. He fills a bucket of cold water and douses it on a blissfully sleeping Arthur.

"What on earth happened? Are you crazy to be waking me with cold water, Richard?" fumed Arthur."Sorry. Really sorry. But I had no choice. I have something to show you. and didn't want to disturb Merlin. Well, there's this box which I found in the garden..." and Richard proceeds to tell him the whole story. Arthur listens quietly asking only a question here and there. He takes the box in his hand and has a hard look at it. "In all these years of reading history books, I haven't come across a thing like this."

"Now what do we do, Arthur?" Do you think I should inform Merlin? Or keep the news to myself? Heaven forbid if Merlin were to find out about this box, Arthur."

"Calm down and let me think this through, Rick. Okay, Here's what we'll do. In the morning, we show this box to Merlin stating that it was found by me with the request that I'd like to tinker with it. I'm sure that as the crown prince, Merlin wouldn't object to me keeping the box." Arthur flourishes a naughty grin. "What do you think, Richard?"

"I believe that's a great idea. We have got ourselves a plan. Thanks buddy," Richard gives a tight hug to Arthur. "for saving me."

With the first streaks of sunshine, the boys are up and request an audience with the great wizard Merlin. After getting clearance by the security guards, they enter his study. White hair tied in a neat pony, long flowing white beard with grey streaks and his wizened appearance added to his impeccable personality. Dressed in purple with runic symbols decorating his robe with stones of infinity rings in every finger, he cut a formidable authority.

"I believe that both of you have requested an audience with me," Merlin looked at both with sharp eyes that seared the depths of their soul.

"Aye, Sire. We have." Arthur was the first to find his voice after being dazed by Merlin's presence.  He proceeds to narrate the events leading to the box with inputs from Richard. At the end, both ask in unison,"What can it be, Sire? We've tried to open it but we couldn't."

"Hmm... let me check." Arthur takes his wand made of dragon feathers and casts a spell on the box, "Deep the secrets you hide, As the time bides, Bring forth whatever you keep, I want to seek."

A lightening zap on the box and it unlocks itself with the greeting- "Hello, I'm Siri. Welcome to the world of iPhone 10. It is 7:24 am, Monday, 3rd July, 2010. How can I help you?"

The boys are left speechless. "Holy Mother! This is great. Can you get more details of this iPhone, Sire? asks Richard. 
Arthur is eager with anticipation. "Can we help, Sire? I'd like to help."

With a slight of wand, Merlin opens up the history of the iPhone 10. Scrolling through the saved messages and recordings, he learns about the apocalypse that had taken place 4000 years in the future-in the year 2010, and how everything was wiped out. He comes to know about the dedicated leaders gave up their lives in trying to save their people and the world. With a twist of time and quirk of fate, the civilization has reverted back to the medieval ages- the present. And how this long-forgotten iPhone was frozen and buried in the snow only to resurface now. "Could it be a hope for the future or a curse? It could also be a sign to reinvent ourselves. We shall wait and watch..." Merlin thought to himself.

To the boys. "Done a grand job both of you. I'll take this iPhone to the King and we'll discuss the possible steps. I'll make sure to inform the King about your role in helping me. Thank you, Richard and Arthur."

A/N: The story has been inspired by this prompt: It has been 4000 years since human civilization reverted back to the medieval ages, some items from the early 2000's survived and are seen as magical items. One day, an aspiring wizard discovers a fully-charged iPhone.

Feel free to use the prompt to write your own story 🙂

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