The year: 2023

Lastshire: The Birthplace of Magic

[Marty's POV]

"Are you going to continue pretending you can't hear me?" Merlin asked, smiling at me with a naughty glint in his eyes; he crouched down, "Do you know how difficult it has been lying all these years, pretending like I wasn't sure if you were the one we were waiting for?" he reprimanded me lightheartedly, slapping the back of my head. 

I opened my mouth to protest against the assault, but before I could, he took a deep breath and winked at me, "I have wanted to do that to every one of my descendants. Alas, you were the one destined to receive it."

Looking past the blabbering man, I stood up. Dusting my bottom, I started looking around the place. 'Just keep pretending. Just keep pretending.' I repeated the mantra in my mind while the figment of my imagination crossed his arms over his chest and got busy observing me. 

The place was blanketed in trees. It reminded me of the dream I had had the first night I had met Dwight. 

"Oh, yes. That delivery lad-"

"His name is Dwight!" I interrupted the imaginary man and realized what my slip had done: exposed the fact that I could both hear and see him, but the man continued as if he had not heard me. 

"He is a charming fellow, isn't he?" My doppelganger asked, mimicking my actions. "It's a nice spot you have chosen, my boy. Hidden, but easy enough to move about freely if we so wished," he added without waiting for my answer. 

I was sure of it now; the man could not take a hint. Did he not get that I was not interested in him or that nosy roommate of his? 

"Marty! Just because I am being polite and patient," he suddenly stood right in front of me, too close for comfort, and try as I may, I couldn't avert my eyes. His dark eyes, so much like mine, fixed me with a cold gaze, "doesn't mean I will let you get away with being disrespectful towards Morgana."

I blinked. I was sure I hadn't said anything out loud. Then how…?

Merlin leaned in till only an inch or so separated us. "Marty, I have protected the Wyllt family for over a thousand years. I have kept the promise I made to you."

Promise to me!? When did I ever-

"It is now your turn to keep yours. Remember, our fates are intertwined. If you fail me now, you won't survive either."

It was now that I realized that the man was reading my thoughts. How? 

"Because this is a place of magic. I agree that you brought us here, but you don't know how to control or manipulate it to serve you. My powers reign free here. You are my blood. Only you can stop me from invading your mind. Unfortunately, you are not in a position to do so."

This couldn't be happening. I shook my head, closed my eyes, and thought of home.

"If you think that just thinking about your home will get you there, then you would be wrong," said the man crossing his arms over his chest and smirking, "You can only get us here, as far as getting out is concerned… " He left the sentence hanging and started peeking around here and there as if looking for something.

The man could read me like an open book. I had no choice but to stop pretending. "Fine. I am sorry about what I thought about Morgana, but-"

"Not Morgana. It's Lady Morgana to you."

"Alright, I will keep that in mind. Now tell me how to get out of here."

Merlin sighed and shook his head. "You know, your excitement and enthusiasm after finding out that magic exists is really contagious." He said sarcastically before sitting under an oak tree and making himself comfortable under its shade. "We just arrived here, and you already want to leave. Your level of curiosity is disappointing, Marty. Are you not worried that Dwight will wonder where you went?"

"Nope, because I know this is a dreamland. It's probably a realm I have made up in my head." I shrugged, eyes scanning the thicket behind the tree Merlin was propped against.

"Noooooooooo!" Merlin dragged, narrowing his eyes and rubbing the back of his neck, "I told you that you are not imagining this! This is a place which only those with…" he fell silent. It stretched so long that I almost thought the man had fallen asleep with his eyes open. Then, "We will come back to that later. You are not ready for that information yet."

"Alright." I agreed without meaning it. It didn't matter if this was an actual place. I didn't care if he never told me what this place was. I just wanted to wake up. 

Merlin shook his head and pursed his lips; looking stumped for words, he glanced over his shoulder where the woods got denser and turned towards me, "You may not care, but you still need to know a few things."

"Such as?" 

"What is this place? Why are you here? What is happening in your home now when you are here? Are you not curious at all? Also, once you know where you come from, your connection with this place will strengthen. That's not the only reason, though." A playful glint took residence in the magician's inky eyes. 

"Is there more!?"

"Yes."

"Do I need to hear it for what you want me to do?"

"Yes. It absolutely is."

"Fine." I left a defeated breath. "I can see that I have no choice in the matter. Go on, then. Enlighten me." 

Merlin pursed his lips; ignoring my sarcasm, more so my exasperation, he patted the place next to him. 

I reckoned I was in for a long story and took the offered place. 

Merlin turned to face me and smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes, "Eleven hundred years is a long time, Marty, and all I have done is wait; all Morgana has done is hope that one day she will be able to forgive herself; we want to move on, and you are the only one who can make that happen."

I sensed that I had unknowingly saddened the sorcerer; it did not sit well with me. Though I was still inconvinved about all that he had said, there was no harm in hearing him out. "Alright. Let's start with what this place is and what's happening at home?"

The soulless smile he had directed at me seconds ago turned genuine. He sat up straighter; his excited eyes ran over the place like a child who had returned home after a long spell of absence. "This place is called Lastshire. It's the birthplace of magic."