Unification (Part One)

"Philinda!"

The female spellcaster standing behind Merlin trembled at the sound of his voice. She knew it all too well. Though she had spent only a short time at his side, Merlin had changed her fate.

"Mage Merlin? You're back?"

Philinda waved away the Rune Formation. Merlin turned and saw her standing behind him.

Back then, Philinda had not even been a First-level Spellcaster. Now she was a Third-level Spellcaster. Her level was not high, but judging by the way she had cast that Rune Formation, she deserved to be called a master.

"Philinda, I never expected you to come this far after all these years!"

A seed Merlin had once planted almost as an afterthought had grown strong enough to protect Wilson Castle.

"Philinda, why didn't I see Emma or Lorinka in the castle?"

Merlin's mental power was vast. He could easily cover not just Wilson Castle, but all of Icebound City. Finding one or two people should have been simple. Yet he had found no trace of his former attendant Lorinka or his disciple Emma.

At Merlin's question, Philinda's expression changed slightly. Still, she answered, "Mage Merlin, Lorinka and Emma died more than ten years ago when their Spell Models collapsed."

Merlin's expression did not change, but a faint sorrow rose within him. A spellcaster's path was never smooth; every step held danger. Without the Matrix to help him construct stable Spell Models, he might never have made it this far.

Even now, merging his Mage's Heart was fraught with danger. One careless move, and its collapse could kill him too.

After a moment, Merlin steadied himself and waved a hand. "Your mastery of Runology is impressive, but there's a limit to what you can learn alone. This Rune Heart Seal is the life's work of Archmage Fidel,