Chapter Twelve

Taking a deep sigh I walked off into the darkness, as the smell of moss and wet grass filled my nostrils as I take in my surroundings, the moon was large and full tonight as the clouds going past looked eerie.

It was dark but the moon made it light enough to see, I suddenly noticed a few trees along the way with branches big enough for firewood. I took my dagger and began sawing off the first branch. The tree quickly screamed as it lifted itself out of the ground with a terrible shriek.

Pushing me backwards falling into the dirt with a painful thump, it stood over me ready to attack. Out of reaction, I put my hands out in front of me for protection shutting my eyes tight out of fear. I awaited my fate of being eaten by the Treant, but bright red flame bursts from my hands setting it on fire with a loud whoosh.

The Treant exploded into flames squealing to the ground with a large crack, I suddenly looked at my coal coated hands and just sat there in confusion.

This isn't even possible, Is all of this some kind of very long dream?

Am I the same as Merlin, what does all of this mean.

I grabbed my blade and brought it back into my hilt and turned around walking back to the camp, pondering what all of it means.

　　"Don't look so dumbfounded, and where the firewood boy," Merlin grunted.

　　"Hm?" I looked up from my daze over at Merlin as the fire was low and the shadow's played across his face.

　　"The firewood," Merlin repeated.

　　"Oh, right..." I said reluctantly.

　　"Are you alright?" Merlin questioned.

　　"How did you find out you had, you know...Magic?" I asked slowly.

Merlin seemed to have been taken back by my question and took a few seconds to think about the answer.

　　"I don't remember, I guess I just always had it. Why the sudden question?" Merlin asked wearily.

　　"Oh, no reason. I was just curious," I lied.

　　"I know there is a reason Lucas, I'm not incompetent I have lived on earth for about three hundred and something years," Merlin eyed me closely.

　　"'-And' something?" I repeated raising an eyebrow.

　　"After you hit one hundred, you stop counting." Merlin waved my questionable smirk aside.

　　"I won't force you to tell me, but I will not act stupid either." He stated.

　　"Alright, I guess something did happen," I sighed sitting down leaning back into my hands.

　　Merlin gestured for me to continue.

　　"When I went to go get the firewood, I ended up running into a Treant. It tried to attack me and I didn't have a way to protect myself, and I put my hands out for defence but instead of just defending myself a ball of fire appeared in my hands and kind of went off." I stared at my blackened hands as I spoke.

　　"So you have the gift of Avalon's powers," Merlin said in awe.

　　"How is that even possible, I haven't even heard of the place. So how could I be from there?" Questioning that theory.

　　"Your mother could have been one of the goddesses of Avalon, Lucas," Merlin replied.

　　"I don't think so if that was the case wouldn't she have taken me with her?" I asked thinking.

　　"The God's and Goddesses give their entire lives up for Avalon, that includes their families," Merlin explained solemnly.

　　"I see," Thinking about it.

　　"One day, maybe you will learn more about yourself than you ever had," Merlin assumed.

　　"Maybe you're right, Merlin," I nodded in agreement.

　　The fire turned into hot embers now as the flames were dying off into the cool air, we became silent as the sounds of birds started chirping as the sun began to rise. The reds and the yellows melded together in the once navy sky.

I closed my eyes as the feel of the sun crept onto my face, that's where I had another memory.

I was arguing with the man from before who was wearing all white, but the words were all jumbled together the man was furious as he screamed at me, it was like listening to someone speak while being underwater.

I spoke back but that too was muted the argument went on for a while longer until a man with raven black hair and ice blue eyes with a hard look on his face took me by the shoulder's and said something, he shook his head from what the man in the white had said and that's when I opened my eyes again.

My eyes closed again from how bright the sun was, realizing I was laying down and Ariel had made herself comfortable on my chest, I guess that was all a dream. I must have fallen asleep quickly. Ariel buried her face more into my chest protesting away from the sunlight.

There was suddenly a loud caw from a conspiracy of ravens across the way scurrying to find food for their babies. Their black beaks dove into the ground in search for bugs and worms, as their dark and beedie eyes stared back at me curiously.

They tore into the green dewed grass tearing it from the ground with the roots and all to continued their neverending search for food. As if on cue with the thought of food my stomach made a loud growling sound, stirring Ariel to wake.

　　"Good morning," she mumbled quietly as she looked up at me. Her hair was a mess  and against her pale duey skin as she lean to give me a small peck on the cheek.

　　"Good morning to you too," I yawned.

　　"I see you too are finally awake," Merlin grinned.

　　"I guess so," I grumbled.

　　"Are you two ready to continue forward?" He asked cautiously.

We both sat up and nodded.

　　"Yes, we are ready." Ariel agreed as she got to her feet stretching.

　　"Merlin, do you even know where we are going, other than saving Ariel I feel like we are going in random directions," I said with a sigh.

　　"Lucas, I have lived here for hundreds of years. After a while, almost everything becomes a map in your head if you lived as long as I have, son," Merlin explained.

　　"Until you forget it that is," Merlin laughed at his own joke.