"Maybe it is time to get out of this stupid cave already," Merlock said, his voice carrying a hint of frustration.
Aaron glanced toward the dim light creeping through the cracks in the walls. "Yes, you're right. It's already getting morning, and I've got to get home soon for breakfast. But how do we even get out of here?"
Merlock smirked, his eyes gleaming with an almost playful mischief. "Don't worry, there's a secret staircase."
Aaron raised an eyebrow in confusion, but before he could respond, Merlock moved toward the back of the cave. He reached out and pressed against the wall. With a soft creak, the stone gave way, revealing a narrow staircase that spiraled upward into the unknown.
"How convenient," Aaron muttered, but followed Merlock nonetheless, stepping into the dark passage. Silence enveloped them as they began to ascend the steep, winding stairs. The only sound was their footsteps echoing against the stone, and the occasional drip of water from the ceiling.
Minutes passed, and neither of them spoke. Aaron's thoughts kept circling back to the strange events that had transpired. The weirdness of the past few hours weighed heavily on his mind, but the eerie silence of the cave pressed in around him even more.
"How long do you think this staircase is?" Aaron asked after a while, his voice breaking the silence.
"Probably about an hour, on average," Merlock replied, his tone distant. He didn't elaborate further, as though he were lost in his own thoughts.
Aaron sighed, feeling the weight of exhaustion setting in. "I haven't even introduced myself properly. My name is Aaron La Irotina."
Merlock glanced over his shoulder, an almost knowing look in his eyes. "I see. So you're a duke, huh? That explains the concentration of mana around you. Your family must be quite influential. Didn't your father hire you a personal magic tutor?" he asked, his tone matter-of-fact.
"Personal what?" Aaron asked, genuinely confused.
"A personal tutor or teacher," Merlock explained, a hint of exasperation creeping into his voice. "You know, someone who teaches you magic, helps you refine your skills."
Aaron blinked, still unsure. "What are those?"
Merlock sighed, sounding almost defeated. "You're completely hopeless."
"I'm not some charity case. Don't talk to me like that!" Aaron snapped, a surge of annoyance flooding him. He had been trying to keep it together, but this constant push from Merlock was beginning to wear on him. "I'm not asking for your help. If you want to stay, fine, but keep your mouth shut unless it's necessary."
Merlock didn't respond at first, but his eyes softened, just a fraction. "You're a duke, so naturally you'd have that sort of reputation. But if you don't want my guidance, that's your choice."
They continued walking in silence for a while longer, the only sounds being their steps on the stone. But Aaron's thoughts raced. He had always been the center of attention, always had people praising his family name, but he had never truly understood what being a noble meant. His magic, his title, his life—all of it was just a façade. What did it all mean if he couldn't even wield his own power?
The silence stretched on, broken only by the occasional crackle of shifting stone beneath their feet. As the minutes dragged, Aaron's mind wandered back to the strange image of the Hydra.
"This is your fault, you know," Aaron muttered, trying to mask his discomfort with humor. "The beast probably ran away from my mana. I told you I'm special."
Merlock chuckled, but his voice was laced with truth. "If you had been born a commoner, you'd be dead by now."
Aaron flinched but smirked. "But I wasn't. I'm special. Fate knows I'm important." He said it with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, but something in the way Merlock eyed him made him wonder if there was truth to the words he spoke.
"You talk a good game, but it's not enough," Merlock said, his voice quieter now, almost like a warning. "You need to put that energy into something meaningful. You won't get by on luck forever."
Aaron looked away, frustration bubbling up. "You don't get it. Everything's always been handed to me. But I didn't ask for this, Merlock. I didn't ask to be a duke. I didn't ask for the responsibility."
"And yet you're here, aren't you?" Merlock shot back, his voice sharp. "You think you have a choice, but you don't. Not anymore."
The tension between them hung thick in the air, but it was broken by the faint glimmer of light up ahead.
Finally, they saw it—a tiny speck of daylight breaking through the stone as they neared the top of the staircase. Aaron's heart lifted at the sight, and without thinking, he picked up his pace. "Finally!" he exclaimed. "I saw the sky again. It's been ages since I've missed so much sleep."
As soon as they reached the surface, Aaron collapsed to the ground, stretching his limbs and basking in the warmth of the sunlight.
Merlock stepped outside, looking around the unfamiliar landscape. "So... we're in a forest, huh?"
Aaron stood, brushing the dirt off his pants. "Yeah, guess we are."
It wasn't long before they saw figures approaching on the horizon. At first, there was only one, but soon there were many more. They moved with purpose, their eyes fixed firmly on Aaron. As they got closer, they began shouting.
"Aaron!!!" a voice called.
Aaron's shoulders tensed, but Merlock smirked. "Look, Aaron, your fans are coming for an interview. You're famous."
Aaron shot Merlock an incredulous look. "Famous? For what?"
Merlock's grin faltered, his eyes narrowing as the crowd grew closer. The energy in the air shifted, turning tense. The first man to reach them was breathing heavily, his face flushed with anger.
"You do realize how much damage you caused with that last wreckage, right?" he barked.
Aaron blinked, confused. "Wreckage? What are you talking about?"
Merlock tilted his head, observing the situation carefully. "Maybe they're from another domain. I'm not sure what they know about you, but it seems they're not happy."
Before Aaron could respond, another man stepped forward, moving toward Merlock. "Come on, kid, we need to get you to safety!"
Merlock's eyes glinted, and before anyone could react, he thrust his hand out. A blast of air shot forth, sending the man flying through the air, crashing against a tree with a loud thud.
The crowd gasped, and the man who had been speaking to Aaron turned to Merlock, his face twisted with rage. "You manipulated a kid?" he spat. "You moron!"
"Watch your tongue," Merlock said coldly, sending another blast of wind toward the group, pushing them back. "I don't care who you are, don't touch me."
Aaron crossed his arms, clearly amused by the unfolding scene. "This is why I don't deal with people like this," he muttered, but despite the tension, he couldn't suppress a small smile. "Okay, let's go."
Merlock raised an eyebrow. "What's going on, Aaron? We need to get out of here now."
Aaron grinned and waved a hand nonchalantly. "This way." He began running toward the east, and Merlock, without hesitation, took to the air, soaring above him.
Aaron's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, you can fly?" he asked, his voice rising with surprise.
Merlock's grin deepened. "I can do much more than that. After all, I am the first spirit."
Aaron shook his head, slightly taken aback by Merlock's power, but didn't question it further. "I guess that makes sense," he said under his breath, pushing himself to run faster.
The pair raced through the forest, pushing through the trees until they reached a large, imposing black gate, designed like the bars of a jail, with ivy and plants crawling over it. It looked abandoned, ancient even.
Aaron slowed to a stop, his hand resting on the gate. "Why did you bring me to some abandoned mansion? Is this supposed to be a hideout?"
Merlock scanned the area, his eyes narrowing. "This is your hideout?" he asked, puzzled.
Aaron smirked, turning to him. "No, it's my house."
Merlock raised an eyebrow. "Your house? This place looks abandoned from here."
Aaron let out a breath, his posture stiffening. "You said you had access to my memories, didn't you? You should know already."
Merlock hesitated, his expression briefly faltering. "Well, that part was a bluff," he admitted with a smirk. "But I can still see a little of your past... Let me see..." His eyes glowed for a moment as he sifted through the fragments of Aaron's memories. "I get it now," Merlock said. "You're the only hope left for your bloodline."
Aaron frowned, confusion creeping in. "What do you mean? My bloodline?"
Merlock's eyes softened, just a touch, but his tone remained firm. "You'll understand in time. But for now, you need to be ready. You're not just a duke, Aaron. You're destined for something much greater."