The silence stayed.
Not heavy.
But… alert.
Like the space itself was waiting for someone to speak first.
Mike was the one who broke it.
— Okay…
He ran a hand over his face.
— so you're my mother…
Pointed at Kael.
— you're with him…
Pointed at himself.
— and I'm the problem?
Merlin smiled.
— You're not the problem.
She tilted her head.
— You're the consequence.
Silence.
— That doesn't make me feel any better.
— It wasn't supposed to.
Kael let out a low sigh.
— That's not why we came here.
Merlin looked at him.
— I know.
Her tone shifted.
Slightly.
But enough.
Mike noticed.
— Alright…
He crossed his arms.
— then talk.
— About what?
— About that.
Silence.
— That thing…
Mike looked at the ground, remembering.
— that woman.
— Lilith.
Merlin corrected.
— Her.
Short silence.
— She wasn't supposed to exist anymore.
The air changed.
Not visible.
But felt.
Kael went serious.
— Then say it already.
Merlin started walking.
No rush.
— She died.
— We saw that.
Kael replied.
— You saw the body stop.
She corrected.
Silence.
— Dying is something else.
Mike frowned.
— This is getting worse.
Merlin stopped.
— She was brought back.
Silence.
— Not completely.
— What do you mean "not completely"?
— Because they still can't.
Silence.
— Who?
She looked straight at Mike.
— A cult.
The word hung there.
No exaggerated weight.
But with presence.
— What kind of cult?
Kael asked.
— The kind that doesn't show up until it's too late.
Silence.
— And what do they want?
Merlin didn't answer right away.
Looked around.
Like she was choosing the words.
— To bring back…
She paused.
— …the Ancient Gods.
Silence.
But this time—
not light.
Mike let out a short laugh.
— Of course.
— Of course what?
— There's always that.
— That?
— People trying to bring back things that shouldn't come back.
Merlin didn't laugh.
— And if I told you…
She stepped closer.
— that maybe they're not completely wrong?
Silence.
Kael looked at her.
— Don't start.
— I didn't start.
— Then finish.
She ignored it.
— The world you know…
She looked at Mike.
— isn't the first.
Silence.
— And it's not the most stable either.
Mike stayed quiet.
— The Ancient Gods weren't destroyed.
— They were removed.
— Sealed.
— Forgotten.
Each word calmer than the last.
— And this cult…
— believes that was a mistake.
Silence.
— They want to "fix" it.
Mike let the air out slowly.
— Fix… by bringing back things that can destroy everything?
Merlin shrugged.
— Depends on the point of view.
— I don't like that point of view.
— Neither do I.
Silence.
— Then why did you say it like that?
She gave a small smile.
— Because understanding isn't the same as agreeing.
Mike stayed silent for a few seconds.
Thinking.
For real.
— And Lilith?
Merlin looked back.
— She's a test.
— A test?
— An attempt.
— Imperfect.
— Incomplete.
— And even so…
She looked him in the eyes.
— you almost died.
Silence.
Heavy now.
Real.
Kael crossed his arms.
— And if they succeed?
Merlin answered without hesitation.
— Then it's not a fight anymore.
— It's the end.
Silence.
Mike felt it.
Not as fear.
But as… scale.
— Then we stop them.
Simple.
Direct.
Merlin smiled.
— I like that about you.
— It's not a choice.
— It never is.
Silence.
Kael looked at Merlin.
— Who else knows?
She answered:
— Fewer people than should.
— And more than you'd like.
Silence.
— The Monarch knows.
— Of course he does.
Kael muttered.
— He always knows.
— And he does nothing?
— He does.
— He just doesn't show it.
Silence.
— And Lyra?
Mike asked.
Merlin stopped.
Thought.
— Not yet.
— But she'll find out.
Silence.
— The hard way.
Mike looked away.
— Everyone here finds out the hard way?
Merlin answered immediately:
— Always.
Silence.
— And there's one more thing.
Kael looked at her.
— Say it.
Merlin stayed quiet for a second longer.
— There's someone…
She stopped.
— who already knew.
Mike looked up.
— Who?
Silence.
— Elion.
The name dropped.
Heavy.
No warning.
— …no.
Mike said.
— He knew.
— And didn't say anything.
Silence.
Kael closed his eyes for a moment.
— I knew something was off.
Mike stood still.
Processing.
— So he—
— chose.
Merlin finished.
Silence.
Different now.
Not just information.
It was… fracture.
— Why?
Mike asked.
Merlin gave a small smile.
— That's the right question.
Silence.
— And you're not going to like the answer.
The name was still there.
Elion.
Mike didn't like how that felt.
It wasn't just surprise.
It was… discomfort.
— It doesn't make sense.
He said quietly.
Merlin tilted her head.
— It does.
— No, it doesn't.
He started pacing.
— If he knew… then why—
He stopped.
— why fight with us?
Silence.
Kael answered this time.
— Because knowing doesn't mean choosing the same side.
Mike looked at him.
— So he's on their side?
— No.
Kael answered directly.
— And that's the worst part.
Silence.
— He's on his own side.
Merlin gave a small smile.
— Exactly.
Mike ran a hand through his hair.
— That just makes everything worse.
— Welcome.
Merlin replied.
Silence.
— Okay…
Mike took a deep breath.
— so there's a cult trying to bring back ancient gods…
— someone we fought is already back to life…
— the Monarch knows…
— Elion knows…
He looked at Merlin.
— and you know more than you're saying.
She didn't deny it.
— Always.
Silence.
— And me?
She stepped closer.
— You learn.
— When?
— Now.
Silence.
She raised her hand.
And something… shifted.
Not an explosion.
Not light.
Something subtler.
Like the space had been slightly pulled.
— Pay attention.
Mike focused.
For the first time…
for real.
— Your power isn't creation.
Silence.
— That's just what it looks like.
— Then what is it?
She looked into his eyes.
— You choose what is real.
Silence.
Mike didn't answer.
Because that…
wasn't simple.
— But—
She continued.
— you still need to believe.
— I already do that.
— No.
She denied it.
— You try.
Silence.
— It's different.
Kael watched quietly.
— When you tried to hold that thing…
She continued.
— you doubted.
Mike frowned.
— I didn't doubt.
— You did.
— I didn't—
— You did.
Silence.
She stepped closer.
— And that's why it didn't work.
Mike looked away.
— So it's just believing?
She smiled.
— No.
— Then explain it properly.
— It's feeling like it's already true.
Silence.
— Without effort.
— Without fear.
— Without overthinking.
Mike let out a short laugh.
— Easy.
— It's not.
Silence.
— That's why almost no one can do it.
Kael crossed his arms.
— And him?
Merlin looked at Mike.
— He can.
— When he stops trying.
Silence.
Mike stood there.
Thinking.
— So I have to…
He stopped.
— stop trying?
— Yes.
— That makes no sense.
— I know.
Silence.
She stepped back.
— Show me something.
Mike looked around.
— Like what?
— Anything.
Silence.
He raised his hand.
Thought.
A chair.
Nothing.
— See?
— You're trying.
Mike closed his eyes.
Breathed.
Tried not to think.
Just… imagine.
Something simple.
A ball.
Small.
Nothing.
He opened his eyes.
— This doesn't work like that.
Merlin watched.
No rush.
— It does.
— Just not while you're trying to control it.
Silence.
Mike took a deep breath.
Again.
And this time—
he didn't think.
Just let it happen.
And for a second—
a very short one—
something appeared.
A shape.
Unstable.
Almost nonexistent.
And gone.
Silence.
Kael noticed.
— Did you see that?
Mike opened his eyes.
— …yeah.
Merlin smiled.
— That's how it starts.
Silence.
— Small.
— Unstable.
— But real.
Mike looked at his own hand.
— Doesn't seem very useful.
— Not yet.
Silence.
— But it will be.
She turned her back.
— When you stop doubting.
Mike stayed quiet.
But this time—
it wasn't confusion.
It was focus.
— I'm going to learn.
Merlin answered without looking back:
— I know.
Silence.
And then—
the world came back.
Heavier.
Clearer.
— Because you'll need it.
Mike looked up.
— For what?
Merlin stopped.
And answered without turning:
— Because next time…
Silence.
— it won't be something incomplete.
The air turned cold.
— It'll be one of them.
Silence.
And this time—
no one laughed.