The forest seemed to close in around them, the air thick with the oppressive presence of the shadow agents. The guttural growls of their pursuers echoed through the trees, each sound sending a fresh jolt of fear through Gavin's chest. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his legs burned, but he didn't dare slow down.
"Keep going!" Felicity shouted, her voice sharp and urgent. Her wand glowed faintly in her hand, casting small bursts of golden light to ward off the tendrils of darkness creeping toward them. "We need to find a clearing!"
"What happens if we don't?" Gavin yelled back, dodging a low-hanging branch.
"They catch us!" she snapped, firing another burst of light over her shoulder. The golden energy struck one of the agents, forcing it to retreat with a blood-curdling screech, but two more appeared in its place.
"Fantastic plan!" Gavin muttered, though his voice wavered with panic.
The trees thinned slightly, and the ground sloped downward into a hollow. As they stumbled into the clearing, Gavin noticed a massive boulder covered in moss. Embedded deep within the stone was a gleaming sword, its blade reflecting the faint light of Felicity's wand. The hilt was intricately designed, its grip wrapped in worn leather, and at the pommel, a brilliant sapphire glowed faintly, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Gavin stopped abruptly, his gaze fixed on the sword. "It can't be."
"What?" Felicity asked, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.
"Is that... Excalibur?"
She pulled away from Gavin, and although her feet touched the ground, his arm still held her up. She gasped. "That is the sword of Camelot's rightful king."
Before Gavin could respond, a shadow agent burst into the clearing, its tendrils of darkness lashing out like whips. Felicity stepped forward, raising her wand, but her magic faltered, the light sputtering out as the strain of the chase caught up to her.
"Felicity!" Gavin shouted, stepping in front of her instinctively. His hands were empty, and he felt painfully vulnerable as the agent slithered closer, its glowing orange eyes locked onto him.
"Gavin, the sword!" Felicity said, her voice rising with desperation. "You're the only one who can pull it out of the stone!"
He whipped his head toward the sword, his heart racing. "You can't be serious! That's the whole 'chosen one' thing, right? What if I'm notâ"
"You are!" she shouted, her voice cutting through his panic. "You're Prince Arthur, the heir of Camelot. The sword will recognize you. Just trust me!"
The shadow agent lunged, and Gavin didn't have time to think. He darted toward the boulder, scrambling up onto its surface. His hands shook as he wrapped them around the hilt of the sword, the cool metal sending a faint pulse of energy through his palms.
"Come on," he muttered under his breath, his grip tightening. "Come on, work!"
The agent hissed, its tendrils reaching for him as Gavin pulled with all his strength. For a moment, nothing happened, and dread filled his chest. But then the gold on the pommel flared with brilliant light, and the sword slid free of the stone with a smooth, almost effortless motion.
The weight of the blade in his hands felt right, as though it had been made for him. A surge of power coursed through his veins, filling him with a confidence he hadn't felt in years. Even when he played the Red Knight at his job, he hadn't felt this aligned with his sword.
Gavin turned to face the shadow agent, the sword glowing with a radiant light that seemed to push back the darkness. He was ready now. He would defeat the adversary.
The agent hesitated, its tendrils recoiling slightly as the light touched them.
"Gavin!" Felicity called. "It's afraid of you. You can destroy it!"
His grip on the hilt tightened, and he took a step forward. The agent's form withered as it tried to retreat, but Gavin didn't give it the chance. He swung the sword in a wide arc, the blade cutting through the air with a sharp whistle. The light from the sword connected with the agent's form, and for a moment, everything went still.
Then, with a deafening screech, the shadow agent dissolved into a cloud of black smoke, its essence obliterated by the sword's power. The other agents, still lingering at the edges of the clearing, shrieked in unison, their forms flickering and fading as if the destruction of their comrade had broken their connection to this realm.
Within seconds, the forest was silent again.
Gavin stood in the center of the hollow, his chest heaving and the sword still glowed faintly in his hand. He stared at the blade, then at the dissipating smoke, his mind struggling to catch up with what had just happened.
"I... did it," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You did," Felicity said, stepping up beside him. Her green eyes shone with pride and relief. "You destroyed them all."
Gavin turned to her, his expression equal parts awe and disbelief. "But how?"
"Because you are the prince, and soon to be the king. This sword knew that. It recognized you as its rightful wielder."
He swallowed hard, looking back at the blade. The weight of it in his hands no longer felt heavyâit felt like a part of him. "Does this mean they're gone for good?"
Felicity nodded. "The shadow agents were tied to Morgana's magic, but Excalibur's light can sever that connection. You didn't just destroy one of them, Gavinâyou destroyed their entire existence."
He let out a shaky breath, his shoulders slumping slightly as the adrenaline began to fade. "That's a lot to take in."
Felicity smiled, resting a hand on his shoulder. "You did well, Gavin. Camelot has its prince back."
He looked at her, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Guess I'm not just some college dropout anymore, huh?"
She laughed softly. "Not even close."
As they stood together in the clearing, the sword of legend gleaming in Gavin's hands, the path ahead felt a little clearer. Camelot still faced dangers, but for the first time, Gavin felt like he might actually be able to face them.
Together with Felicity... and Excalibur.
Suddenly, a burst of light erupted from behind them, bathing the clearing in a brilliant glow. Gavin shielded his eyes, squinting against the brightness. What was happening now?
When the light faded, a figure stood at the edge of the clearing, draped in a flowing robe of deep blue. A long, white beard framed his face, and his piercing eyes sparkled with a mixture of wisdom and power.
"Grandfather," Felicity breathed, her voice filled with relief.
The old sorcerer stepped forward, his staff glowing faintly as he studied Gavin. Then his gaze shifted to Felicity. "You're late," he said, his tone calm but firm. He looked to Gavin again, and a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "And you must be the prince."
Gavin blinked, still gripping the sword like a lifeline. "Uh... yeah," he said, his voice weak. "That's me. The prince."
Merlin's smile widened slightly, his expression warm but serious. "Welcome back to Camelot, Your Highness. I trust you're ready to save it."
Gavin straightened and held his head high. "Indeed, I am."
* * * *
The path to Merlin's sanctuary wound through the forest's quieter, more secluded depths, where towering trees wove a dense canopy overhead, allowing only slivers of sunlight to cast a muted green glow on the mossy ground. The legendary sword Excalibur rested securely against Gavin's back, its weight both reassuring and foreboding.
A few paces behind him, Felicity moved with quiet vigilance. Though he wished she would walk beside him, the unspoken rules of class kept her at a distanceârules he had never truly believed in.
Her wand, nestled in her belt, remained untouched, but her sharp gaze swept their surroundings, ever watchful. She was not just a servant; she was his protector. And with Morgana still aliveâher dark power more treacherous than the agents who hunted themâFelicity's vigilance could mean the difference between survival and doom.
"So, Merlin," Gavin broke the silence. "Who is Morgana. I mean, I know she's bad news, but what's her deal?"
Felicity slowed her pace, her expression darkening. "Are you sure you want to know?"
"Yes." Gavin shrugged. "If we are going to stop her, I need to know everything."
Merlin stroked his long beard. "Morgana isn't just 'bad news,' Your Highness. She's the most dangerous sorceress Camelot has ever faced."
"Okay, but why? What makes her so dangerous?" Gavin pressed, his tone a mix of curiosity and unease.
Felicity sighed, running a hand through her auburn hair. "Grandfather, we need to know more about her in order to stop her."
Merlin nodded. "I shall tell you the long story, but you need to understand it if we are going to have any chance of stopping her."
Gavin gestured around them. "We've got time. The forest isn't exactly buzzing with distractions any longer."
She smirked faintly but quickly grew serious again. If only Gavin could stop peeking at her from over his shoulder. But she was still wearing a hoodie and those awful leggings and sneakers. Yet, she was still very beautiful.
"Morgana was once one of Camelot's greatest allies," Merlin continued. "She was a gifted sorceress, trained by me. She had a natural talent for magic, and I saw great potential in her. But things didn't stay that way."
"What happened?" Gavin asked, his brow furrowing.
"She was betrayed," Felicity finished for her grandfather.
"Indeed." Merlin nodded. "Or at least, she believed she was. Morgana was King Uther's wardâa trusted member of the royal court. But when her magic began to manifest, Uther turned on her. He saw magic as dangerous and uncontrollable, and he ordered her to be banishedâor worse."
"Quick question," Gavin interrupted. "Who is King Uther?"
"Your grandfather," Felicity answered.
Gavin chuckled. "I don't think the men in my family are very respected."
"Your Highness," Melin grinned, "you will be the first in a long line."
"So, I'm assuming that Morgana didn't take being banished very well."
Felicity shook her head. "Not at all. She escaped, but the betrayal cut her deeply."
Merlin cleared his throat, continuing his walk. "The woman went into hiding, and over time, her anger and pain twisted her. She turned to dark magic, seeking power and vengeance. And eventually, she declared war on Camelot."
Gavin frowned, the pieces falling into place. "So, she's holding a grudge against the kingdom because of Uther?"
"It's more than just a grudge," Felicity said. "Morgana doesn't just want revenge. She wants to destroy everything Camelot stands for. Its unity, its hope, its lightâshe sees it all as a lie. And she's willing to do anything to tear it down."
"Anything," Gavin repeated, as if he let the weight of the word sink in.
"Indeed," Merlin answered. "Morgana has raised armies, cursed entire villages, and summoned creatures of darkness to do her bidding. The shadow agents were just one example. They were fragments of her magic, bound to her will."
Gavin stopped and peered toward Felicity. "But I killed them, right?"
"Yes."
"However," Merlin interjected, "she will keep making creatures to stop us."
Gavin let out a low whistle. "So, she's basically an unstoppable force of evil. Great. That's just what I needed to hear."
"She's not unstoppable," Felicity said firmly. "She's powerful, yes, but she's not invincible. Merlin believes she still has a weakness."
"And what's that?" Gavin asked, glancing at the old wizard.
"Her humanity," Merlin answered, his voice quieter now. "No matter how far she's fallen, Morgana wasn't born a villain. She was hurt, betrayed, and pushed to the edge. There's still a part of her that remembers who she used to be. I think that part of her can be reached."
Gavin arched an eyebrow. "You're saying we're supposed to... what? Talk her out of destroying the kingdom?"
Felicity sighed. "It's not that simple. Morgana's hatred runs deep, and she's surrounded herself with dark magic. But if we can weaken her hold on that magicâbreak her connection to itâthen maybe, just maybe, we can stop her."
"And if we can't?" Gavin asked, his voice low.
"Then we'll have to destroy her." Merlin's tone was heavy. "It's not what I want, but if it's the only way to save Camelot, we'll have no choice."
Gavin fell silent, his mind racing. The idea of fighting Morganaâof facing someone with so much power and hatredâmade his stomach churn. But the thought of letting her destroy Camelot was even worse.
He sighed and scratched his chin. "This whole 'saving the kingdom' thing feels way out of my league."
"You're not alone in this," Felicity said, her voice soft but steady. "I'm here. Merlin's here. And Camelot is depending on you. You may not believe it yet, but you're stronger than you think."
He glanced at her, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. "Thanks, Felicity. For... y'know, not giving up on me."
She smiled, the warmth in her expression easing some of the tension in his chest. "You're worth fighting for, Gavin. Camelot is worth fighting for."
As they continued down the path, the trees ahead began to thin, revealing a faint glow in the distance. The air grew warmer, tinged with the scent of herbs and old parchment.
"We're almost there," Merlin said, his pace quickening.
Gavin adjusted the sword on his back, his jaw tightening with resolve. If they were going to save Camelot, he'd need all the help he could getâand a whole lot of courage.
But for the first time, he felt like he might actually have a shot.