The year: 2023

Lastshire: The Birthplace of Magic

[Marty's POV]

To say that my life changed the day I woke up in Lastshire would be an understatement.

After returning to my apartment that first (very eventful) night in the magical place, my life had taken a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn, and by spending the better part of my nights there for over two weeks, I had acquired the following:

1. Two very stubborn masters. One wanted me to learn everything by the book, and the other, who, most of the time, told me to feel the magic and then cast the spell. 

As if that wasn't enough, I also had to go through a ritual to pledge myself to them. It was anyone's guess how that was supposed to work. 

2. During training, yes, you heard me right (for I was an official apprentice now), I couldn't wear comfy pajamas. No, sir; I had to dress in flowing purple robes that swept the ground and did their best to collect as much dust and grime as they could. 

3. Also, because of my Apprentice title, I now had to- at all times- address Nimueh as high priestess or Ma'am (she seemed to enjoy me addressing her that way), Merlin as Master Merlin and Lady Morgana as Mistress Morgana. No exceptions. 

"Don't think that just because you are my descendant, magic will be easy to master. As a youngster, I struggled a lot to hone my skills." The sorcerer had stated that after spending the entire night and half of the morning practicing a simple levitation charm, I had failed and almost given up. 

I had already mastered simple spells that could get me out of tricky situations if I found myself in one, thus was no more entirely useless. Although I knew a few tricks, Master Merlin and Mistress Morgana had drilled into my brain how I was not supposed to use them unless absolutely necessary. Alas, our thoughts greatly differed on what could be considered absolutely necessary.

The multitude of broken jars, pots, pans, vials, and herbs (both powdered and otherwise) had bitten dust (quite literally) before the high priestess had appeared and resolved the potentially dangerous argument. "Marty, if you want to help those in need and magic is the only way you can do it, then using magic is justified. Be true to yourself and your craft. If you do that, magic will not take a toll on your soul." The high priestess had explained; it made my masters lower their heads and mutter an apology to the high priestess. 

"Marty, join me in the garden till your masters clean up this mess. I am sure they know it is absolutely not necessary for them to use magic to fix this place and make it like it was when they began tonight's lesson," the high priestess had said, turning away from them and winking at me with a hint of mischief in her eyes. 

Having failed to notice the high priestess's playfulness, my masters got their act together. Before I returned to resume my classes, they had carefully divided what I needed to learn into different categories, each restricting themselves to their chosen field. 

I would be lying if I said I enjoyed all the categories equally, but I understood the need for them, nonetheless. 

4. I was taught and now understood more about the origin of magic and 'The First' (elves, dragons, and neferenis) from other knowledgeable magicians who had turned their backs on Albion just like the high priestess had and were taking care of Lastshire and its magical beings. 

After our first encounter, the high priestess had only grown to be more of an enigma. I could tell she ruled with an iron fist, but I also saw kindness in her actions. She was like a mother to all of Lastshire. However, with Master Merlin, she was different. 

The more time I spent there, the more I saw how everything Master Merlin had told me about the high priestess was pretty accurate, but that was true only when it came to him. I wish I knew what my master had done wrong to irk her so. Nonetheless, Master Merlin respected her. He often spoke of how they had started off on the wrong foot when he was working as Arthur's confidant and advisor. "The Lady thought that I was her adversary, that I was loyal to Uther. Can you believe it? Only after she realized who I was did she start trusting me."

Mistress Morgana, on the other hand, had never met Lady the high priestess. The first time they met in person was when Master Merlin had found the eternal lotus in an underground cave: the now empty dwelling of one of The First, the day I had first set foot in Lastshire. I hadn't witnessed the awakening and thus was left gobsmacked when Mistress Morgana had walked out of the woods in white robes with a silver waist clasp with a dragon's head embossed on its oval buckle.

When she held out her hand to me, her smile was radiant. It mirrored the deep blush Master Merlin's cheeks had acquired. 

"Marty Wyllt, it's a pleasure to finally meet you," the woman had said confidently. She looked regal. The way she carried herself made me feel like a draft (which I wasn't, all my 5 feet eleven inches could vouch for it). She had an air of refinement about her, the kind that couldn't be faked. 

I took her hand and went to my knees, "The pleasure is all mine, Lady Morgana." I said, keeping my eyes lowered. My humility won her over just like it had the high priestess. 

"Merlin, how come you have never done that?" she had asked my master, crossing her hands over her chest and quirking her brow. 

Master Merlin did not seem to mind, though. It was like nothing could get him down in that instance. "I don't know, Morgana, but I wish I would have done that."

Unexpectedly, Mistress Morgana's frame had stiffened for a moment just then; lowering her eyes and clearing her throat, she had joined the high priestess on her right. 

Later, after acquiring my purple eyesore of a robe, the high priestess had presided over my initiation ceremony, during which Master Merlin revealed my true name. It was a name the stone of Erer had chosen for me as soon as I had touched it. 

"Your name is your shield, Marty." The high priestess had said with a serious expression gracing her countenance, "All magic comes from Lastshire. All charms, potions, and spells have their root in their sacred soil. What you will learn here is magic in its purest form. You must understand that magic is neither good nor bad; the hearts of those who use it and the purpose for which it is used determines whether it will help or hurt others. Since the hearts of evil doers are not pure, their magic will never be as powerful as yours. If they don't know your name, they won't be able to manipulate your thoughts and actions. Your mind will be your own. Do you understand?"

I nodded, and the high priestess's gaze drifted to my master, "Merlin tells me that someone other than us knows about the gateway. That won't do."

The high priestess seemed to have gotten the facts wrong, "Ma'am, they don't know about the gateway. They know about the emergency exit." 

"That's the gateway, you idiot." Master Merlin sighed exasperatedly, "Your mum is the only one other than you who has seen it in person."

I couldn't help but feel bewildered. How could that crampy place be the gateway to Lastshire? One thought led to another, "Wait, so… how did I end up here. I wasn't even in the closet!?"

Mistress Morgana chuckled, "You truly are a Wyllt, Marty."

I didn't understand what had made her say that, I pressed on, "It still doesn't make sense."

Master Merlin's eyes narrowed, "Wait, Morgana," he turned towards me, "You weren't in the closet!?"