Chapter 34: The Fickleness of Fate (Please vote, please subscribe)

With Kai’s departure, Arthur was essentially left to run wild. King Uther had originally intended to continue training Arthur according to Kai’s rigorous methods, but the King was far too busy to keep a constant eye on his son. Moreover, Arthur had his doting sister, Morgana, acting as an accomplice, constantly finding ways to make life easier for her brother.

Even when caught by Uther, Morgana would argue her case confidently, using Kai’s own words about "balancing work and rest" to silence the King. Uther, feeling helpless, eventually stopped interfering. He figured it was fine to let Arthur relax for a while, assuming he could simply have Kai take over again once he returned.

Ever since Kai’s return, Uther’s sense of responsibility had plummeted; he had completely handed the task of educating Arthur over to Kai. Consequently, Arthur’s blissful life began. Although he still maintained his daily training, he now had plenty of free time to pursue his own interests. More importantly, he no longer had to tidy his room or wash his own clothes—Merlin handled all of that for him.

Merlin, however, was somewhat annoyed. His injuries had long since healed, thanks to Gaius’s exceptional skills. In the past two months, he had effectively spent a month in recovery. During that time, he had shed his earlier arrogance and begun to seriously study the spellbooks Gaius had given him. He also became diligent in his primary duties as a physician’s apprentice, appearing much more grounded.

As the saying goes, does learning bring happiness? Merlin truly lived by this, finding that his days of serious study made him feel significantly more fulfilled. But now, those wonderful days had to come to an end, as he was back to being Arthur’s manservant.

Merlin had long since learned from the Great Dragon, Kilgharrah, that his destiny was to protect Arthur as he ascended to the throne, eventually founding a unified kingdom of the Celts. Yet, he felt less like a bodyguard and more like a nanny and a scapegoat. In just the past week, he had been thrown to the square three times to be pelted with rotten fruit, all because he had helped Arthur think of ways to fool Uther. Although he hadn't interacted with his "fans" in two months, this was not the kind of reunion he wanted; some fans were truly fanatical and enjoyed throwing hard fruit, which really stung.

Fortunately, Arthur was busy today and didn’t require Merlin’s presence, giving him a chance to rest and soothe his wounded spirit. With time on his hands, Merlin decided to find Gwen to chat. Their relationship had improved significantly following the incidents involving the sorcerer Edwin and Lancelot, and they often spent time together complaining about Arthur’s foolish antics. Such venting always made them feel much better.

However, while on his way to see Gwen, Merlin suddenly heard a child’s wail, as if someone were hurt. He looked around but saw no children. For a moment, he wondered if he was overthinking things or if someone was playing a prank. After searching to no avail, he prepared to give up, but just as he turned to leave, the child’s cry echoed in his ears again—this time, much clearer.

There was no mistake. A child was truly injured.

Merlin immediately followed the sound, only to realize it wasn't coming from within the palace, but from the inner city outside. It wasn't a physical cry, but a telepathic one. A child with the same gift as him was calling out.

Merlin snapped to attention and began to search for the child with his own mind. Soon, he locked onto the child's desperate plea. "Help me!"

The child was begging for help. Merlin rushed in the direction of the mental call. Upon exiting the palace, he scanned his surroundings and finally spotted the boy. He was pale and beautiful, a sight that naturally evoked pity.

"Help me!" The boy’s voice grew weaker. Seeing the blood soaking the palm he held against his arm, Merlin knew immediately that he was injured. "Help me, please!"

A squad of soldiers appeared in Merlin’s line of sight, searching for something. Merlin looked at the boy with shock and uncertainty. The boy urged him telepathically, "Help me, they're catching me!"

"Why are they catching you?" Merlin asked back mentally. The boy didn't explain, continuing only to beg for help. Merlin vaguely suspected it had something to do with magic. Seeing the pitiful state of the child, Merlin had no time to ponder. He stepped toward the boy and, shielded from the guards' view, instructed him to run toward a small servant's entrance to the palace.

As the boy obediently followed his instructions, Merlin hurried to the door to meet him. Just then, a soldier caught a glimpse of the child slipping through the small gate. Hearing the guard’s shout, Merlin slammed the door shut, scooped the child up, and ran blindly into the depths of the palace. In a flash of inspiration, he raced toward Morgana’s chambers.

When Merlin burst into the room, Morgana was chatting with Gwen. Seeing Merlin rush in, Morgana said, slightly displeased, "Merlin! Have you forgotten how to knock?"

Merlin had no time for apologies. He held the child and spoke as fast as he could: "The guards are chasing him, I don't know what to do..."

Just then, a guard’s knock sounded at the door. "My lady?"

Morgana looked at the poor child and, after a moment of hesitation, decided to protect him. This was as much out of trust for Merlin as it was her inability to stand by while a child suffered.

After hiding the boy and Merlin in her dressing room, Morgana dismissed the soldiers with a few sharp words. The guards would never dare search Morgana's chambers; they were merely there to warn her that an intruder had entered the palace.

And so, the child, named Mordred, was saved by Merlin and Morgana. They had no idea that this single act would have such a profound and far-reaching impact on Arthur and the kingdom he was destined to create. At that moment, Morgana and Merlin were thinking quite simply: he was just a child.

While Merlin and Morgana were doing everything they could to save the boy, Arthur was being berated by King Uther. Uther was always like this; even when he loved his children, he only ever treated them with severity. This was precisely why his relationship with Arthur and Morgana remained so distant.

In truth, Arthur had done well. Moments earlier, he had single-handedly killed a druid who had resisted with magic within the city walls. The druid had been carrying the boy Merlin had just rescued when they were reported while shopping in Camelot. Arthur had led the pursuit, but a momentary lapse in his resolve had allowed the child to escape. When the man attempted to use magic to fight back, Arthur had stepped forward. The man’s spellcasting was skilled, but he still fell by Arthur’s sword.

Yet, Uther was unsatisfied. He demanded total eradication; every sorcerer and magic-user who entered Camelot had to die. Arthur wanted to say that the boy was just a child, but King Uther would show no mercy.

Arthur, too, did not know that this child would one day be the one to end his life.