Merlin had also sensed those approaching from outside.

He was within the house and had not gone with his summoner, who had left alongside Lady Audrey and the others. If he was needed, Alistair would simply call for him, so there was no need to follow.

He sighed, then turned his attention back to the body suspended inside a cylindrical chamber filled with liquid. Pipes and support conduits ran into the capsule, stabilizing it as it floated in place.

The Hollow had taken more of Merlin’s likeness now; long blue hair and the same facial structure.

It was nearly complete.

—

Outside, Bella and the others had already arrived, stopping just a few meters from the building.

"Other than my siblings... I can’t sense anyone else, or Ethan" Isabella said, having a concerned look on her face.

Hayley shared the same expression as she turned toward Percival. "Can you still hear him?"

Percival shook his head. "It stopped a while back. I tried reaching out again, but... nothing."

At that moment, the doors opened and her siblings stepped out of the house one after another.

They immediately felt the power radiating from Isabella wasn’t normal.

Rayla immediately spoke up. "How did you find us?"

Isabella didn’t answer. Instead, she asked her own question. "Where is Ethan and Audrey?"

Hayley moved forward almost immediately. Her aura seeped outward as her body partially shifted, revealing sharp, angry-looking fangs.

"You all should start talking, and fast"

They felt the presence of the grand class and grew apprehensive.

But before anything further could happen, Merlin emerged from behind, lifting his hand and casting a spell without warning.

The target of his spell was the minds of the royal siblings before him, placing their brains under a convincing illusion that what they needed most was rest.

This stimulation of the neural pathways that governed sleep triggered the release of hormones that instantly forced them into deep slumber.

Save for Isabella and Alistair, the rest of the king’s children were only S-tier. They were powerful in their own right, but they still succumbed to the effects of Merlin’s spell, lacking the magic resistance to withstand a caster of his level, who was at least Emperor-class.

Merlin walked past them calmly, while raising both hands to surrender.

"I come in peace" he said with an amused smile.

Isabella and the others watched him with some level of puzzlement.

Percival narrowed his eyes slightly. "You’re the Merlin Ethan mentioned, right? The one on the inside?"

Ethan had told them about him over the past week.

Merlin smiled and gave a courteous bow. "That would be me."

Then he turned towards the princess. "Greetings again, Mistress of the Endless Dark."

He adjusted himself. "But the one you’re looking for isn’t here."

"Where is he?" the princess asked immediately.

"I don’t have complete knowledge of his current location," Merlin replied. "But I do know this much, his disappearance is the doing of the other Grand Caster who arrived with Audrey."

They already knew this other grand caster was Anton. It was part of the briefing Ethan had given

Merlin continued. "But if I were to assume, Mr. Stark will reappear sooner or later."

Then he gestured toward the siblings lying unconscious on the floor. "In the meantime, I imagine your priority is to retrieve your people, preferably without escalating this into unnecessary violence."

Bella frowned. "What about Alistair and the rest?"

Merlin answered immediately. "They’ve gone into the city. More specifically... to Lady Audrey’s residence."

He paused briefly, then added, "Though I would strongly advise against heading there just yet."

Hayley cut in immediately, sounding rather vexed. "And why not? Ethan could be there"

"He was going to fight those people. And if one of them is the reason he’s missing, I don’t see what stops us from going there and beating their arses until they bring him back."

Merlin sighed, then replied her calmly. "I’m linked to my summoner’s mind, and from what I’ve gathered... Audrey has bound her life to others. Most of the elf family heads and other influential people whose deaths would only worsen the state of the city."

Their expressions looked surprised.

"If she suffers fatal harm, they suffer the same outcome. It’s not mutual, however. Their deaths won’t affect her, but hers... would take them all with it."

"Wait... what?" Hayley looked shocked now. So did the others.

Isabella, on the other hand, grew even more concerned. Renie’s father was one of the elven family heads.

And Renie... was one of her two best friends in this world.

Merlin nodded, acknowledging Hayley’s shocked reaction.

"So you see, even if Ethan intended to fight them, I highly doubt he knew he would be condemning others to an unfortunate fate by trying to kill Audrey."

He paused briefly, then added, "And moreover... I can tell you with certainty, Ethan isn’t there with them."

Merlin went silent, letting them process what he had said. He had only gone this far to stop them because his summoner was there, and their arrival there could potentially put him in harm’s way.

Unfortunately, Merlin’s current existence as a summon was still bound to Alistair. The Hollow’s body was nearly complete, and until then, the life of his summoner still mattered.

Isabella’s gaze lingered on him, unsure of what to do next or whether to even trust his words. She then turned to the others.

"Any ideas?"

Percival shook his head, lifting his hands in a helpless gesture.

Hayley gave a sigh, looking thoughtful.

"I would advise you go to your father, and ask him to prepare." Merlin said. "By the end of tomorrow, Audrey will bring war to the palace."

They had all varying reactions of uneasiness to that. Although it wasn’t much of a surprise to hear the warning.

There wasn’t much else to say after that.

-

With Isabella’s hand stretched toward the sleeping bodies of her siblings, a pool of darkness formed beneath them and drew them in.

Before leaving, she looked back at Merlin.

"Why do you always call me that... Mistress of the Endless Dark?"

Merlin tilted his head. "Do I offend you by addressing you with your title?" he said. "If so, I apologize. That was not my intention."

Isabella frowned, rubbing lightly at her nose. "I don’t remember taking that as a title... And why would I even be offended?"

Alright, cleaner and sharper:

Merlin stared at her for a moment, then his eyes narrowed slightly.

She held his gaze, looking even more confused.

"Hm... you really don’t know?" Merlin asked again.

Then he looked thoughtful for a second.

"Well, I suppose that wouldn’t be the strangest thing either... just like the Spirit King, you’re not at the power level I would expect for your status. But in his case, he’s more aware of what he is than you are."

And right then, something unexpected happened.

Merlin’s eyes widened suddenly. For a brief moment, it was as though something forced its way into his perception, or he was pulled into a sudden trance. It was hard to tell exactly how it happened.

Everywhere around him was suddenly clouded in darkness. Before his eyes, as he looked upward, was massive and overwhelming presence.

A presence so vast it seemed to swallow the sky itself. Dark clouds obscured her eyes and parts of her body, leaving only her lips visible—curved into a devious smile under dark lipstick.

Then it was gone, just like that.

Merlin blinked again and was suddenly back to reality, staring at Isabella and the others.

He exhaled, then smiled. "Well, I won’t speak further on that. Best not to invite something unpleasant."

He realized that what he had just received, was a warning

Then he turned and walked back inside.

Isabella stared at him as he returned, looking even more confused.