A Wizard’s Secret

Outside Charise’s room, Merlin, Old Wilson, Big-breasted Madam, Macy, and the others were waiting anxiously.

Old Wilson walked forward and said to Merlin softly, “Merlin, don’t worry. Charise will be fine.”

Merlin nodded, but there was not the slightest relief in his heart.

“Whoosh!”

Suddenly, a figure dashed in from the outside. It was Benin, suited in armor and looking travel-weary.

“Baron, sir, how’s my sister?” Benin inquired Merlin hurriedly the moment he saw him.

“Charise is fine. You’ve come back from the city guard?”

Merlin frowned. Although Benin was now more mature than he had been, he still could not shake off some of the flaws he had picked up as a prince previously. Merlin had arranged for him to join Count Selin’s city guard as a junior captain but he often caused trouble. Thus, Merlin was very displeased with Benin.

Benin was rather scared of Merlin as well, so he explained hurriedly, “I’ve explained the situation to my Commander before coming back.”

“Alright, wait here then.”

Merlin was no longer willing to be bothered with Benin. After speaking coldly to him, he turned his eyes back toward Charise’s room. Her agonizing moans drifted out unceasingly from the room.

After a few hours, the bright and clear crying sound of an infant rang through the house. With his spirits lifted, Merlin hastily walked to the front of the room door, feeling rather agitated.

“Creak…”

The door to the room was pushed opened and two slightly older servant girls walked out. One of them was carrying a newborn baby.

“Congratulations, baron, Madam Charise has given birth to a baby girl.”

Merlin took a hurried step forward and received the infant from the arms of the servant girl. Immediately, an indescribable emotion surged in his heart. Perhaps this was how it felt to be close with his own flesh and blood.

“Baron, please give the little missus a name.”

The servant girls said, beaming.

“Name?”

Merlin gave it some thought. Finally, he still looked at Old Wilson, speaking with a smile, “Let Father choose the name.”

Nevertheless, Old Wilson shook his head. With his eyes slightly squinted, he spoke in a cold voice, “Merlin, you’re now a father. You have to be the one who chooses the name.”

Merlin gave the matter careful consideration again but there was still a multitude of options in his mind. Unable to think of a suitable name, he said, “I’ll name both children at the same time after Avril gives birth.”

Old Wilson nodded. “That’s alright as well. Bring the child and go in to see Charise, quickly.”

Merlin nodded. Carrying his child, he entered the room.

***

After half a month, Avril gave birth to a baby boy. Merlin pondered long and hard for three days, before finally coming up with the names. The girl was called Wilson Celia, while the boy was named Wilson Bettan.

However, Old Wilson then felt that the name of the boy was mediocre. He called the shots and changed the name to Wilson Conxion. Merlin’s territory was the small town of Conxion, so Old Wilson’s intentions for Merlin to inherit the title of a baron over Conxion in the future were very clear.

Needless to say, Merlin would not go against Old Wilson’s wishes in this matter. Thus, he spent three extremely warm and comforting months in the castle with his two wives and father.

After three months, Merlin’s third Spell Model had already accumulated enough Magic Power to continuously unleash over ten Earth Guards.

“It’s time to leave!”

Although the calm and peaceful days were warm and comfortable, they were not what Merlin wanted. In his heart, he was already eager to find the Dark Magic Region. After all, it had been delayed for an entire year by now.

However, before he left, there were still things that had to be settled. The first was to bid Count Selin and the black-robed old man farewell.

Hence, Merlin arrived at Count Selin’s castle.

When Count Selin heard that Merlin already owned the keepsake from the Dark Magic Region and that he was probably going to join them, he was naturally very happy. Now that Merlin was a baron in his territory, he could be said to be completely tied to Prakash City. Count Selin could not ask for more than Merlin joining a Spell Caster’s organization and becoming a powerful Spell Caster.

Count Selin even swore to Merlin that he would take good care of the Wilson family. This was also Merlin’s purpose as Count Selin’s assistance was still necessary for the Wilson family to grow peacefully in Prakash City.

Bidding goodbye to Count Selin, Merlin arrived at where the black-robed old man lived.

The countenance of the black-robed old man looked very good. As the days passed, the Mind fluctuation in his body had also been alleviated more and more. It looked like he had already gained basic control over the Spell Model in his body.

“Wizard Hill, I’m about to leave.”

The first words that came out from Merlin’s mouth explained his reason for coming.

The black-robed old man looked up abruptly. His expression was filled with complex emotions as he smiled gently and spoke in a hoarse voice, “It’s been a year, and you’ve finally decided to leave. Hehe, this old fellow who’s about to die is still looking at you expectantly with wide eyes, to obtain a Spell Model-stabilizing Potion from the Dark Magic Region. However, don’t let it be that I, this old fellow, would be dead before I manage to wait out your return…”

Merlin knew that the black-robed old man was most concerned about the Spell Model-stabilizing Potion. After all, he had been troubled by the instability of his Spell Models for more than dozens of years. He could be considered to have had his fill of torture.

“Wizard Hill, don’t worry. If I find the Spell Model-stabilizing Potion, I’ll look for an opportunity to come back for a visit.”

Merlin remembered back then how the black-robed old man had ignored the danger of his Spell Models collapsing. He had struck Merilung brazenly, disrupting Dark Mist unleashed by Merilung. In a way, he had indirectly saved Merlin’s life.

Merlin had also not forgotten how the black-robed old man had gifted Earth Guard Model, an Earth-type spell, to him a year ago.

Therefore, the moment he obtained the Spell Model-stabilizing Potion, Merlin would find time to come back and help the black-robed old man solve the invisible danger of his Spell Models once and for all.

After chatting for a while more, Merlin stood up and got ready to leave. The black-robed old man suddenly spoke, “Wizard Merlin, I’ll help look after the Wilson family, hehe. As long as this old fellow lives, I won’t let anything happen to your family.”

Merlin stopped in his tracks and turned around to bow slightly toward the black-robed old man. Then, he left the residence of the black-robed old man. With the Wilson family being under Count Selin’s care and the black-robed old man’s protection from the shadows, nothing would happen to the Wilson family even after Merlin left.

Merlin only felt truly relieved after having done all that.

***

The night was lonely and sorrowful. Avril and Charise, who had always been conservative, had unexpectedly laid down together on Merlin’s great bed. They knew that Merlin was about to leave, so they were enjoying the tenderness of this final night.

Merlin did the best that he could as well, spending a long, crazy night with Avril and Charise until he had exhausted all of his energy. Both Avril and Charise fell into a deep sleep.

Merlin did not sleep. He meditated for a few hours, and only slowly stood up at the first glimmer of dawn. With a complicated expression, he looked at Avril and Charise, who was sleeping soundly in bed.

“I’ll return.”

Merlin caressed the ink black ring on his hand gently. Although there was still some nostalgia in his heart, he turned and left the room as resolutely as he had in the past. Without informing anyone, he departed from the castle alone, quietly.

Shortly after Merlin had left the castle, a burly figure which looked like a small giant appeared in the night. It stood silently in the chilly wind for quite some time, watching Merlin’s gradually disappearing back with a complicated look in its eyes…