The light surrounding Adrienne, Merlin, Arthur, and Princess Athena faded away, revealing the courtyard of the Camelot Magic Temple. Several apprentices went about their business in the courtyard, acknowledging the group’s presence as Princess Athena stood wide-eyed.

“W-we were just on Macedon…”, she mumbled.

“And now we’re on Camelot”, Adrienne stated.

“A bit more than parlor tricks, huh?!”, Arthur asked.

The Princess didn’t respond. Instead, she just looked around attempting to take in her new surroundings.

“Alright guys, we should go report”, Merlin suggested.

A few moments later Adrienne swung open the door to the mission briefing room. Crystal Thornheart stood with her back to the group, looking at various mission briefs that were posted to the wall. Hearing the door open she turned, and upon seeing the group a smile crept across her face.

“You’re back!”, she cheered. However, when she noticed Merlin’s arm she grew concerned and rushed over to him. “Merlin sweety! What happened?!”

“Took a magical bolt head on…it hurts but it’s not too serious”, he replied, slightly embarrassed that Crystal was babying him.

“Let’s get you down to the infirmary for some proper healing magic!”, she said. Crystal then noticed Princess Athena standing with them and became puzzled as to who this new girl was. “And you’ve brought a visitor…?”

“It’s…a bit of a long story Ms. Crystal…”, Adrienne stated. “We’ve got a lot to report, but we should get Merlin treated first.”

Crystal agreed and told them to return once Merlin’s arm had been addressed.

A short time later Merlin sat on an examination table as Adrienne, Arthur, and Princess Athena watched. The medical witch unwrapped the bandage on his injured arm, it now stained with his blood. Seeing the blisters and burned skin, the witch chastised him. “Always the reckless one, aren’t you Merlin!?”

“N-no! I-it’s complicated!”, he stuttered, embarrassed.

“It’s true! He saved my life!”, Princess Athena exclaimed to the surprise of everyone else present.

“Oh my!”, the medical witch teased. “Are you perhaps a new spellknight to this temple? I’ve not seen you before!”

Princess Athena recoiled, unsure of how to respond.

“She’s a visitor”, Adrienne stated.

“Very well then”, the witch replied, seeming to accept Adrienne’s answer. “Some healing magic should get you as good as new, but it’ll take a few days. Just take it easy until then!”

She then held her hands over Merlin’s injured arm and started channeling magical energy. A green light began to emanate from her hands as she stated the name of the spell. “Velox Sanitatem!”.

After a few more seconds, Merlin was able to feel the pain beginning to ease. “Man! That feels better already!”, he yelled, joyfully.

“I’ll wrap you up with a new bandage, but I’m serious Merlin! You need to rest for a few days!”, she replied.

Princess Athena muttered to Adrienne, “I don’t get it…if it’s healing magic, then why isn’t his arm better already…?”

Adrienne responded, “That’s not how it works. Healing magic just amplifies and accelerates your body’s natural healing. It’s not instantaneous.”

“I…still don’t get it…”, Princess Athena said.

Adrienne chuckled. “Don’t worry, it’s all still new to you!”

“Alright guys”, Merlin said returning to the group with his arm now freshly bandaged. “I guess we should get back and report, huh?”

“Let’s do it!”, Adrienne declared.

A short time later, they all sat at a large conference table in the mission briefing room with Crystal Thornheart. Having gone over the details of Princess Athena, Crystal sat holding her head in her hand and let out an exhausted sigh. “So, you three managed to get yourselves involved with a royal, who just so happens to have magic…”

“That’s pretty much the way it went down…but there’s more…”, Adrienne stated.

“More??”, Crystal inquired.

“I think Merlin or Arthur are better suited to explain. They’re the ones who heard what the rogues said”, Adrienne answered.

Crystal looked at the two of them inquisitively, dying to know this new information.

Merlin explained, “Well I uh…one of the rogues said something about some regalia that would be theirs.”

Crystal twitched slightly at the mention of regalia. It was slight but pronounced enough for Adrienne and Merlin to notice. “Go on…”, she said.

Merlin continued, “They also mentioned something about a person they were looking for. They never said who exactly…just referred to them as ‘she’…”

Crystal’s expression grew serious and grim. Just from looking at her, the group could tell that perhaps they had made a huge discovery. “I see…”, she said finally.

“D-do you know what that was all about…?”, Arthur asked.

Crystal didn’t immediately respond, instead just staring solemnly at the three. Finally, she stood up and walked across the briefing room. “We’ll discuss that later…for now we should resolve this matter with the Princess.”

“So, what are you planning to do?”, Merlin asked.

“I’ll take her back to Macedon, apologize to her father for having her involved, and hope that will be the end of it”, she responded, firmly.

Princess Athena started shaking upon hearing this information. She knew that she would be scolded for having defied her father, but that ultimately, she wouldn’t be severely punished. But once he found out she had magic…

“You can’t!”, Merlin shouted. “The Emperor, he’s just like you said! He hates magic! If he finds out she can use it…”

Tears started to form in Princess Athena’s eyes as she clenched her fists. Hearing it all verbalized was becoming too much for her…

“Calm down Merlin”, Crystal said, again firmly.

“But-“, he interjected

“I said, calm down”, she repeated. “You didn’t let me finish.”

Adrienne, Merlin, and Arthur all stared at her, unsure of what more she could add.

“If it seems that the Emperor is going to take an…undesirable course of action, then I’ll bring the Princess back here.

Princess Athena looked up from the table, tears rolling down her face, but a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Adrienne, Merlin, and Arthur all looked at her with excitement.

“You don’t have to worry, Princess”, Crystal said. “I won’t allow any harm to come to you.”

“T-thank you!”, Princess Athena cried in relief and joy.

“Before we go, I just want to see it for myself”, Crystal stated.

Princess Athena looked at her with unease and insecurity. “I…I’m not sure if I can…before it just kind of happened…”

“Oh?”, Crystal inquired.

“It happened when she saved my life”, Merlin stated.

“I thought she said you saved her?”, Arthur asked.

Merlin responded, “I did, it’s…it was mutual, the saving…”

Merlin walked up to Princess Athena and placed his uninjured arm on her shoulder. “It’s alright Princess. Just concentrate. Try and put yourself back in that moment.”

“O-okay!”, she replied. The princess closed her eyes and held up her right hand, trying to channel some of the emotion she had felt during the battle. She couldn’t tell if anything was happening and was just about to give up when Crystal spoke.

“Ah…I can see some flickers of blue light there”, she said in an assuring tone.

“Is that enough…?”, Princess Athena asked, opening her eyes.

“Enough for now”, Crystal answered, smiling. “We should head to Macedon then.”

“Just the two of you?!”, Adrienne asked.

“Yes. The three of you completed your mission. Now leave this to me”, Crystal replied.

Merlin interjected, “At least let me go with you!”

Before Crystal could answer, she looked at Merlin and could see the sincerity in his eyes. Due to their shared experience in combat, Merlin now seemed to have a bond with Princess Athena.

“Fine then”, she replied, smiling at her son.

Crystal, Merlin, and Princess Athena went to the supply room and received a teleport tablet to Macedon, and a teleport tablet back to the temple. They stood in the courtyard as Crystal shattered the Macedon tablet, transporting them to the back alley on Macedon.

“Princess, you should probably put your hood up. We don’t want any unnecessary attention”, Crystal stated. Then she turned to Merlin, “Hold on to the Camelot tablet. If I give you the signal, throw it down immediately.”

“Right”, Merlin answered, understanding the seriousness in her voice.

They exited the back alley into the street, which was nearly as boisterous as it had been when the trio first arrived. Princess Athena had concealed her face and armor, causing the citizens to only give strange looks to Merlin and Crystal due to their odd attire.

“Mom, if we keep going up this road, we’ll eventually reach an intersection with some guards. Although, I’m sure they’ll be less hospitable this time…”, Merlin explained.

“Alright, got it”, Crystal responded, walking up the street.

Following the path they had taken previously, Crystal, Merlin, and Princess Athena reached the intersection that Merlin described. They located the nearby knights and explained the situation. As expected, the knights were less cooperative than they had been previously. However, upon Princess Athena revealing herself, they relented, agreeing to escort the group to the castle.

Upon reaching the courtyard area of the castle, Princess Athena no longer needed to conceal her appearance. And whereas the knights and bureaucrats had previously ignored Adrienne, Merlin, and Arthur, they looked at Crystal, Merlin, and the Princess with curious eyes. Some of them undoubtedly knew of the Princess’ little stunt, perhaps wondering what the consequences would be...

They continued towards the castle gate, the sun beginning to set. As the light from the sunlight faded out, the black of the castle’s spires began to blend into the night sky. Torches and bonfires were being lit along the walls and in the courtyard, illuminating the area so that the knights could see and maneuver. This new light source gave the black stone of the castle a sort of foreboding presence, which did nothing to ease Merlin’s anxiety...

After several more uneasy minutes of traveling, they stood within the lobby of the castle, near the corridor leading to the throne room. Several knights surrounded them, creating an uncomfortable situation.

“Princess! If you would please come with us, we can escort you back to your father!”, one of the knights insisted.

“N-no!”, she affirmed, stepping back. “I’m going to face him with the mages!”

Realizing that they would be unable to convince her, the knights conceded and led the group to the entrance to the throne room. Much like before, they waited outside the doors as one of the knights scurried inside, and very quickly returned. “P-please enter!”, he stammered.

They did as instructed and immediately upon entering the throne room, they could hear Emperor Alexander’s booming voice echo. “My daughter, who deliberately disobeyed me, has returned!”

The atmosphere in the throne room was much more hostile than before. The knights stood closer in towards the dais, their weapons at the ready. The knight justiciar was positioned closer to the Emperor. Prince Ares again stood behind his father, this time looking disgusted at the mere presence of Merlin and Crystal. Emperor Alexander yelled again as they got closer to the dais. “I believe I told you mages that I wanted you gone once you were done!”

Princess Athena spoke up, “F-father-“

“Silence Athena!”, he interrupted. “We’ll be discussing your punishment soon!” He then noticed Crystal, realizing that she wasn’t among the group when they had met previously. “And who are you!?”, he asked, furiously.

“I’m sure that you don’t care about my name, your Excellency”, she answered. “But I am the Master of the Camelot Temple, which was responsible for this mission.”

“Damn mom!”, Merlin thought to himself. “Getting sassy with the Emperor!”

“Hmph!”, the Emperor replied. “And why is it that the Master has decided to grace me with her presence??”

“To offer my apologies”, she said, flatly.

“Pardon??”, the Emperor replied, seemingly confused.

“I offer my apologies, your Excellency. It was never our intention to get your daughter involved with our business”, she explained.

The Emperor remained silent, confused as to how to respond. After a few awkward seconds, he finally spoke up. “I must admit, I’m surprised… I expected to be met with excuses, not an apology! But at the same time, I’m not so sure a simple apology will be enough to fix this issue!”

“Your Excellency, we have delivered the Princess back to you, unharmed. In addition, the mission was completed”, Crystal replied.

“Yes, and my knights have reported that the fortress is a ruin!”, he yelled back.

He paced back and forth for a few more seconds as Merlin and Princess Athena looked at each other nervously. All the while Crystal just stared ahead, calm and collected.

“Leave”, he said, sternly. “Leave, and never come back to this land. I want nothing to do with any of you, or your Order ever again”, he said, lower than he had been speaking previously, although his tone had become much more serious and direct. Prince Ares nodded behind his father in approval, as the knights maneuvered to usher Merlin and Crystal towards the exit.

“Father!”, Princess Athena yelled. “You don’t have to go this far!”

She had raised her hands taking on a cautious posture, as two walls of magical blue light erupted forth, causing the knights to jump back in surprise and take defensive stances of their own. Observers in the gallery above let out terrified shrieks as Prince Ares and Emperor Alexander both jumped back.

“N-no!”, she screamed, terrified. “Why now!?!”

“What. Is. This”, the Emperor demanded to know.

“They’ve corrupted her, father!”, Prince Ares exclaimed. “She’s been turned into one of them!”

“Quiet boy!!”, Emperor Alexander yelled glaring back at the prince, who recoiled in surprise. “Athena, what is the meaning of this”, he asked, slowly walking down the dais.

The Princess was now shaking and her eyes watered as the magic faded. “I-I can use magic, father…”

Rage filled Emperor Alexander’s eyes as he remained silent. Princess Athena burst into tears as the sounds of her sobbing echoed through the throne room.

“First you go against my orders by leaving this castle. Then you dare to return with that vile sorcery!” He slowly turned to Crystal and said, “This is why you’re really here, isn’t it woman? To make sure I don’t kill her.”

The Emperor’s words jolted Merlin who looked at Crystal to see that she had raised her hands, ready to cast any spell she needed at a moments notice. Crystal didn’t say a word and remained staring directly at Emperor Alexander.

“Take her then”, he finally said. “Get out of my sight. All of you.”

“Father wait-“, Princess Athena screamed.

“No”, he replied back, coldly. “You are no daughter of mine.”

She slowly stepped back, shaking uncontrollably, before dropping to her knees. Merlin ran over just as the knights fully encircled all three of them.

The Emperor returned to the top of the dais and looked down on the situation. “You have five seconds to get out of my sight, or I’ll kill you all!”, he bellowed.

“Merlin, now!!”, Crystal commanded.

“R-right!”, Merlin responded, nervously. He reached into his pocket and clumsily pulled out the tablet Crystal had given him. He quickly raised it into the air and threw it to the ground. He heard it shatter as the Emperor and Prince looked down on them with utter contempt and disgust. The light enveloped them just in time as the knights had begun to move in…