#merlin!mc

"This... This is the first time I've been pregnant, isn't it?" Merlin!mc asked Gwendolyn quietly as they both sat in the sitting room with tea.

"You've never really focused on romance or anything that people attach to it." Gwendolyn replied, just as quiet. "Perhaps you could go to the Lyceum and speak with your old professor on the matter, or at least go to the Stellar spiral." The queen spoke before bringing her cup to her lips for a sip. The hesitatence Merlin!mc showed caused the Fourth Seat to pause.

"I uh... I've read my diaries from my years as a student... The only person I truly felt myself was Cyran... Then we fought, and before I could talk to him some more it was graduation and then everything else happened..." Merlin!mc mumbled. She focused on her tea, trying to ignore the feeling of terror that Cyran had caused within her. "Even then, he stopped replying and then I became a professor." She added, trying to smile but dropped it as she sipped her tea.

"And if you ever met him again?" Gwendolyn asked, worried for her friend. Merlin!mc gently put her tea cup on it's plate as a smile grew across her face as her wrath began leaking from her. Gwendolyn silently began worrying even more.

"I'd first bash his head into a wall before yelling at him for his own stupidity. First of all, he left a copy of fragment of himself within my dreams, and then instead of actually talking to me about how envious he was, he tried to kill me." Merlin!mc began ranting. "That idiot had the audacity to use a forbidden spell on me instead asking me out like a normal fucking person." She added before Mirael and Cassadee walked into the room, causing the wrathful energy to dissipate. "Mirael! Cassadee! It's nice of you to join us!" The mood switch caused the two women who entered the room to sweatdrop as Gwendolyn covered her mouth to laugh.

"Suddenly, I feel bad for Cyran." Valen uttered when he walked into the room with Gwyneth. "By the way, Magister, you have another anonymous gift basket." He added as he placed the basket down. "There's nothing dangerous about it. We checked, and yes there's no harmful magic." The Vice captain for the Heroic order and her personal bodyguard mentioned.

Merlin!mc reached for the gift basket only to for a spell to activate. "Starshower..." She whispered, feeling Mirael reach for her shoulder as everyone in the room watched. Only one person who wasn't in this room aside from the Arcane Council knew her favorite spell. "He sent the basket... That idiot." Merlin!mc mumbled as tears began forming in her eyes.

Merlin!MC isn't having a good time... Chaotic, things better get better eventually, you hear me! Merlin!MC nor her child deserves all this stress!

Also, I do hope she goes through her threat cause Cyran deserves a ass kicking and then more! 😤

Sides that, I do hope the baby takes entirely after Merlin!MC. Like Cyran's genes stood no chance and that baby is a mini Merlin!MC.

"Master? Is everything alright?" The red haired flame mage asked softly. Merlin!mc looked at her former apprentice and smiled weakly. The two ended up talking about Merlin!mc's worries for a bit before suddenly Merlin!mc's water broke.

"Oh no. Dura why?" Merlin!mc whispered in a panic as she was going into labor. Mirael rushed out of the room as she went to get other women to help with the birth, everyone else in the Mystical house focused on other things to keep busy.

"Magister, according to a book I found, labor can take anywhere from twelve hours two twenty four." Cassadee spoke softly as Solise and a few nurses sent by the queen began prepping Merlin!mc for the arrival of her child. Merlin!mc laughed quietly as Mirael returned with something for her former teacher to drink.

"Cassadee, I don't think telling Merlin!mc labor facts will help her in labor." Solise spoke gently as she and the nurses began preparing the woman now in labor to birth her child.

A portal made of rocks formed near the entrance of the Mystical house, with those inside unaware of a dragon adeptus entering their world searching for a soul of freedom. "So this is where you've been. I will not fail you again, dear songbird." He whispered.

Another portal appeared, this time rising from the ground. A man turned monster, the reason this all started. Envy was his sin, and obsession was the reason. "I will take what's mine..." He hissed under his breath.

A third and final portal opened, made of light magic surrounded by a veil of flowers, to reveal a hooded figure with a braid of black fading into red falling out of the hood. "A chance of fate, a chance of destiny. I will make sure that no one harms you in your hour. In the name of Dura, I'll make sure I won't live without you in my life... Mother." A soft, feminine voice spoke up. A scepter with two large jewels of amber and amethyst was pulled out from underneath the cloak.

The final hours have just begun, to determine fate and protect the light. A woman in labor will give birth unaware of the fight outside, and will soon give birth to a child of prophecy, the balance of both magics.

The baby is coming and we got three people about to duke it out outside. Can you lot take your fighting elsewhere?!

Zhongli. Bro. I'm happy to see you, but please, no meteors! And Cyran... you can just go away. Far, far away, please. As for that last character... we're having some time travel shenanigans, aren't we?

That girl is Merlin!MC's child from the future!

Merlin!mc wakes up, violently sitting up in her bed and grabs her face in a panicked state after the horrendous nightmare. She rushed out of her bed and rushed towards the bucket in her room before throwing up, her short hair keeping away from her face. She looked up slightly ill from the dream as Hammie and Chippy, both Merlin!mc's familiars, rushed in with worried faces.

"Magister?! Are you okay?! Chippy and Hammie felt you panic!" The acorn knight spoke as focused on their master. "I'll go get Dolly! She'll know what to do!" The orange and white hamster added before running out of her room as fast as he could.

"Magister? Was it a nightmare?" Hammie asked softly, as the Acorn mage began to use healing magic. Merlin!mc nodded slightly as she began sitting up.

"It was bad enough for me to puke. With all we've been through, it's that awful. Especially with all that's happened." Merlin!mc mumbled, her hands still shaking from the night terror.

Venti!mc was mostly peaceful to all despite how the other nations and even some of her own people, talk crudely of the Anemo Archon. She didn't care. As long as people knew Barbatos was a completely different person from Venti!mc, it was fine with her. Then it wasn't.

She had been forced out of hiding herself and revealed as Barbatos by the Hydro Sovereign. She spoke quietly as he learned everything she did to protect her people, and how she felt her failures everyday and the sovereign of Justice listened to her story. The black haired woman spoke fondly of her only neighboring Archon, even after retirement, wanted nothing to do with her as her act as a drunk. Yet, the moment Neuvillette would pass judgement on the Anemo Archon, there was shaking and rumbling from within the group. Without any help, Venti!mc defended everyone on Teyvat from a abyssal version of the original seven, including herself and copies of her 'friend'. The moment the Archon known as Barbatos won came at a cost. She turned and smiled weakly at the man she now knew as Zhongli a second before she collapsed with her wings ripped from her back, a hole in her stomach and her eyes damaged from the fight. "I'm sorry old friend, don't worry about meeting me so soon." She whispered after he reached her side. Her blood slowly turned into dandelion seeds, floating into the wind with the rest of her body following. Venti!mc's sight blurred even more as his faint yelling deafened in her ears.

Merlin!mc leaned against a wall as she shook, her own hair, red, short and fluffy due to her not quite remembering her original appearance thanks to the fact she had amnesia. Then going undercover at her old school, Serene Lyceum, to find the murderer of Headmaster Leymar, with the help of her former professor and the Sixth seat of the Arcane Council, Zorya. All of that was a wild trip. Especially when she found out her former friend and classmate, Cyran, ended up working with the Adamant Syndicate, dragged a student into all of it, and preventing them from learning anymore of the Arcane Council due to Merlin!mc being the First Seat of the Arcane Council.

Then Merlin!mc went to the capital of the Lightbearer Empire, Savannah, and reunited with Cassadee. Then everything else went down. The woman was glad to be given a break, although the memory of Cyran still hurts. The redhead looked up slightly as she saw Dolly walk into the room with Chippy following her with concern. "I'll be alright. Just a little tired." Merlin!mc mumbled softly.

"Magister, you've been through a lot in Savannah. It doesn't help that even with you regaining those memories, you're still acting like you're invincible." Dolly scolded, causing the woman on the floor to wince slightly. "I will send a letter to Mirael and call for Valen to help me make sure you take care of yourself Merlin!mc. Now, back to bed. You used a lot of magic recently and I think it's best if you rest some more." The ginger woman spoke softly as she helped Merlin!mc back to bed.

...🥺

Reading about Merlin!MC's memories/dreams was sad... was she from a HBE au (hated by everyone au)? Since it was mentioned Zhongli apparently wanted nothing to do with her?

Also, shame on Neuvillette for revealing Venti!MC's identity. Looks like there's no one to judge if they're already dead...

Sides that... Merlin!MC. I'm worried about her and hope she takes better care of herself...

Cassadee, after joining the Court Mages: Magister Cyran?

Cyran, working on a very busy letter: Yes, Cassadee?

Cassadee: Why does Magister Merlin!mc call you baby girl?

Cyran, putting his ink pen down: I think you should return to your station.

~~~~~~~~~

Merlin!mc, working on the farm in Avalon: This feels nice, doesn't it Valen?

Valen, half covered in dirt: Can you please stop trying to bury me? The general said you promised you wouldn't.

Merlin!mc: Then get off the ground you Lazy man.

~~~~~~~~~

Merlin!mc, gesturing to Lorsan and Valen covered in mud: And this is what happens when you leave two idiots alone, Cassadee.

Cassadee: Interesting, I wasn't expecting two grown men to act like children when you looked away for two minutes, Magister.

The first quote is my fave. Yes, Cyran, do tell Cassadee why Merlin!MC calls you baby girl. 🤣

Merlin!mc wakes up knowing how the blasted loop of this shit show starts, with Dolly waking her up, her changing her appearance, Saving The Golden Wheatsire from Franz and the Adamant Syndicate while proving Mirael's innocence, going to the Dark Forest and saving them from the Adamant Syndicate, going back home to Holistone to help with the damn golems that the Adamant Syndicate desecrated.

Next thing the poor woman goes is Ashen Wastes at the news of an imposter and when all of that's been cleared and laid to rest, Hogan sends her on a vacation which the ship sinks, and when all of that is dealt with in Rustsport, Merlin!mc reaches Cedartown.

No breaks, constant running around with the rising urge to bash someone's face in. The moment she sees Cyran, she turns around and walks away, causing several people to murmur in confusion and worry. Merlin!mc was tired, the kind that made her want to stay in bed and sleep. Of course she got through what happened in Cedartown.

Brimstone village was a hell she didn't like, going through it with the anger and exhaustion burning through with spite didn't help. Then the Blood moon catastrophe did. Being sent back in time helped. She stayed back in the past and told Merlin The first everything she was going through. She knew Morgan overheard as tears filled her eyes and choked sobs cut between her words.

"You've been through a lot." Merlin the first mumbled, hugging Merlin!mc as she cried her heart out. The exhaustion within her body worn her out, causing Merlin!mc to slowly fall asleep in the arms of the first Merlin. When she awoke, she continued, with rest she hadn't gotten in what felt like years.

"This is the twentieth loop. No one else is stuck in the strange time vortex I seem to be in." Merlin!mc mumbled softly to Morgan, when Merlin the first and Gala went another direction. "I remember some of my younger years at least. The Arcane Council survives, yet I can't quite remember everyone's faces even after all these loops. I feel old for saying this, but I just want to sleep, leave someone else to do the saving and protecting. I know it's what I have to do, but I would at least like a break, to sleep, to be myself without the pressures of dealing with idiots who think they know everything." She mentioned, looking up at the night sky. "The main reason I don't like dark magic is mostly because someone I once called a friend used it on himself and everytime I fail to save him..."

"That person sounds like an idiot." Morgan muttered, causing a weak laugh to leave Merlin!mc. "Seriously, if you need to, slap him in the face the next chance you get. Even if everyone says anything, pretend you saw a bug. Claim innocence and then walk away. Cause him to wonder what happened to his former friend. One day, go feral. Maybe I'll even find a way to help. Just don't tell Merlin I told you." The necromancer added. Merlin!mc laughed even more, as her shoulders started to relax from being hunched for so long. Then Merlin the first and Gala came back and the two never mentioned their conversation. Going back to the Future and saying goodbye to her friends was tough, but she held their memories in her heart. A month later, she went back and helped Gala show some of the wildborn the true utopia they wanted, the way to the Dark Forest.

"Master... It's okay." Gala whispered as Merlin!mc held her. For Galahad, it had been thirteen years since she saw Merlin!mc, but only a month the other way around. The two closed the time vortex, and sealed the only way for her to see her young friend.

Then Aurora asked her to help rebuild Avalon, and Merlin!mc worked on it, getting a break from all the headaches she had from constant adventures. It was peaceful working on helping people without moving from one place. Merlin!mc actually slept properly without being on guard. Humming as she planted flowers with some clothes she didn't mind getting dirty. "There will come a soldier, who carries a mighty sword. He will tear your city down, Oh-lei, oh-lai, oh, Lord. Oh-lei, oh-lai, oh-lei, oh, Lord, he will tear your city down, Oh-lei, oh-lai, oh, Lord." She started singing softly, the newly planted flowers swayed with the gentle breeze.

"There will come a poet, whose weapon is His word. He will slay you with His tongue, oh-lei, oh-lai, oh, Lord. Oh-lei, oh-lai, oh-lei, oh, Lord, he will slay you with His tongue, oh-lei, oh-lai, oh, Lord." Merlin!mc continued singing as she nearly danced around Avalon, knowing barely anyone would be near her. She laughed as she mockingly bowed to thin air as she couldn't stop laughing at how free she felt ridding herself of all the negative energy she once carried. She laid on her back, in the grass and stared at the sky with content, grinning to herself.

Then came the letter from Zorya, and with it the potential of enacting Morgan's idea. So Merlin!mc followed Chippy and Hammie to open the letter far from Zorya and ended up in the Graveyard near the Serene Lyceum. At least going through the Lyceum was easy as Merlin!mc pretended to be a student. Cassadee helped her keep her secret as she went by her fake name. More time passes as they each complete the trials, with the reveal of Headmaster Leymar's death and Zorya being temporarily arrested. Silven and Pippa were shocked when Merlin!mc revealed her true self inside the Stellar spire. There they fought Gervan at the top floor. All memory stars were safe and Gervan was handed to Evie as Merlin!mc filled a new memory star with junk knowledge and fun trivia she remembered to give to Cassadee. Then the group returned to the center plaza of the Lyceum for Cassadee to hand the Memory star.

Watching Cyran internally grow frustrated at the fact he didn't get the memory star he wanted was just as amusing as watching him realize she was standing right in front of him. Merlin!mc watches as Cyran gives her a long, meaningful look before he walked away instead of leaving through a portal, one change within the loops that never happened before. Merlin!mc talks to Evie quietly, in private when it came to whatever corruption the Adamant Syndicate had inside the Lyceum. Then Merlin!mc splits off from them as she walked towards the tower for a breath of fresh air and to be alone, of course Cassadee and her friends saw this and left her be.

"Days seem sometimes as if they'll never end. Sun digs its heels to taunt you. But after sunlit days, one thing stays the same. Rises the moon." Merlin!mc started singing quietly as she watches the sun go down. "Days fade into a watercolour blur. Memories swim and haunt you. But look into the lake, shimmering like smoke. Rises the moon." She sang, resting her arms on her knees as she watched the sun set. Merlin!mc felt eyes resting on her as she watched the sun set over the Stellar Spire. "It's rude to stare." She spoke softly. Footsteps against the cobbled bridge stopped behind her.

"You added something strange to that Memory Star." A voice extremely familiar to Merlin!mc spoke up. The woman slowly got up and turned to face her former friend.

"What do you want, Cyran?" Merlin!mc asked quietly, the exhaustion slipping out as her eyes met his. Cyran paused before he cleared his throat.

"Repeats of time?" Cyran questioned, causing the woman in front of him to freeze just slightly. She forced herself to relax as she looked away. "Merlin!mc, don't lie about it. You've been acting different since You saw me in Cedartown. How much do you remember? How many times have you repeated this?" He looked at her with concern and fury.

"This conversation is a first. As for everything? Twenty time loops. There's loops where you aren't a pain in the ass, Cyran. The Syndicate doesn't care for anyone within its ranks." Merlin!mc spoke as she moved around him to walk away. He grabs her shoulder and spins her around.

"What are you talking about?" He sneered, Merlin!mc sighed quietly before dragging him into the Stellar Spire and towards the section she made memory stars.

"Don't touch anything or I'll punch you into the water below." Merlin!mc muttered as she began making a new memory star, this time showing each time he caused his own destruction. Her hands shook slightly. "The title of Merlin is like a crown. It's heavy and if you make the wrong choice, you end up either losing your loved ones one way or another. Every time, I lose you to your jealousy and when I don't someone else leads you down that path. Be happy that no one wants you to fix their mistakes or the mistakes of others. I just want somewhere peaceful to live, where friends can visit and I can just be myself without having to be Merlin. Even if its a name, it's still a title." She rambled as she finished the memory star. She handed it to him and silently watched the way he reacted as he saw himself in the future through her memories. Cyran looked up after watching the memory star and placed it down.

"I..." Cyran tried to form a sentence, but Merlin!mc smiled weakly at him. "How are you still standing and acting like your mind hasn't shattered?" He uttered, as his eyebrows furrowed. If it weren't for the fact he was supposed to be her enemy, she would find it amusing he was worried for her mental state. In fact, she finds it hilarious that he's worried for her.

"Too many people need Merlin. Not enough people need me, Not when I have to be Merlin. I gained a title and I'll protect those who need help." Merlin!mc whispered. She was used to it. "Happened twenty years ago during the Second Divine War. Happens now. People need Merlin. They don't need me." She admitted, like a broken record as she smiled at him. "Dura knows I need a break, but not when people are dying because of the Syndicate. They're using remnants of fallen gods and goddesses, absorbing Hypogeans, and killing whatever they can within Esperia. The Dark Forest is an example of that." She muttered, her smile dropping. Cyran stood there for a long moment before he dropped his staff, which was out of character for him. "Cyran..? What are you..?" She asked, before feeling him awkwardly give her a hug.

"You repeated everything twenty times, and never once did you give up." He mumbled in the hug. "I don't need Merlin here. I just want to see the real you." Cyran added quietly. Merlin!mc hesitated before hugging him back as she felt the tears began to fall as she let out a sob of exhaustion, built up from everything. Even better than the hug from Merlin the first felt. She cried into his arms, unaware when they ended up on the floor.

"I just want you to live... I don't really have anyone left that knew me for me. Zorya's someone who's focused on keeping the Lyceum safe. Sure I was her favorite student, but I just wanted someone to see and hear me." Merlin!mc whispered, gripping tightly to his robes. She felt Cyran's hand gently run through her hair.

"Then I will. I will find a way to get you free from these time loops you're in. Even if I'm dragged into them, I promise you that I will never leave you alone." Cyran whispered, and Merlin!mc slowly melted into his arms as her eyes grew heavy.

"I'm sorry..." She mumbled softly. Cyran hummed as he adjusted how they sat on the floor.

"You don't need to apologize. The world does." Was the last thing Merlin!mc heard as she fell asleep.

Ooohhh... a time loop au... poor Merlin!MC. 20 times is a lot... 😰

At least she has Cyran in on the know? Who knows, maybe he can help her.

"I think it'd be..." Someone's voice rang out, only for a flash of blinding light to run into Merlin!mc. Several screams rang out as Merlin!mc's vision went dark. When she opened her eyes, her vision was blurry and she felt like she was floating either in water or something close to it.

"Apologies little dove. There's something I must take care of." A soft, gentle voice rang out. "Sleep and everything will be taken care of, little dove." Merlin!mc hummed as she fell asleep again. Unaware everyone was panicking.

Back within the Royal Guards Base, many were panicking as Merlin!mc was taken by a strange light. Cyran, with his arms chained above him and his legs clamped down, felt himself began to cough as a fog of darkness crept up his leg, to his torso and arms, and when it reached his neck. "I'm sorry Merlin!mc." Cyran whispered, eyes closed as everyone watched in horror as the fog covered his mouth, nose and then the rest of his face.

When Cyran gained control over his eyes, he felt constricted as chains of pure darkness wrapped around him. It could have been hours, days or months since he last moved. Yet he knew he deserved it. Cyran had memories of both timelines, and memories of his lives as Zhongli. The fallen mage felt he deserved worse. The look of fear and sadness in Merlin!mc's eyes will haunt him every time he closed his eyes.

"You deserve this. A fallen mage who failed to protect the one he promised to care for." A harsh, cruel voice mocked. "You think a simple little apology to the greatest light in Esperia will fix everything? You would be more pathetic than I thought." Cyran flinched harshly as something lifted him up with the chains wrapped around his arms, and forced him to look into a mirror. "Poor poor pitiful and pathetic Cyran. Couldn't even save himself from being forced to drink a potion that caused him to hate the one person he loves the most. Don't have anything to say?" Cyran looked at himself in the mirror.

"I... I really am pathetic. Envy took over and I hurt her. I got mad that she was perfect in my eyes." Cyran muttered. The chains loosened just a smidge. "I couldn't stop the jealousy within from taking over, because it was all I could focus on. I was jealous that she would move on from me one day."

"You really feel regret over hurting her? Or is that regret because your envy almost cost the lives of everyone around you?" The harsh voice asked.

"Yes, to both. I don't deserve forgiveness, but I'm willing to work for it. I failed to protect her as Zhongli, I gave in to the jealousy as Cyran. I hurt everyone around me. I failed her in another timeline. I died, watched her die, hurt her in this timeline." Cyran's voice rang out in his dark murky void. "I don't deserve to be anywhere near her... And yet, I still want to." The black haired man uttered. The chains on the floor, and his emotions laid out as the one who kneeled on the floor was the younger version of Cyran, from their time as students at the Lyceum.

"The potion still lingers in your body with the crystal you stabbed yourself with. Do you truly wish to change, even with the potential that The Adamant Syndicate will use that against you? They might use that against her. Are you really willing to find a way to remove it?" The voice spoke as Cyran closed his eyes.

"Please help me." He whispered. "I don't want to be like my father. I don't want to be the reason someone regrets living. I don't want someone else to use me as a puppet." The regret in his voice filled the void.

"Very well. You asked and you shall receive." The voice spoke up, the cruelty in the voice softened. Cyran looked up and felt his own body began to burn up from the inside. The regretful man's screams filled the void as the corruption within his body was burned out of his blood, mind and soul.

With a sleeping Merlin!mc, she dreamed of a moment where Cyran was awkwardly holding Cecelia as she gently held his finger. Merlin!mc laughed slightly as Cecelia's hand let go of his finger and pulled at his hair. She felt content as her daughter finally met her father, like he was never apart of the Adamant Syndicate.

"Soon, little bird. He's almost done with his last trial." The soft, gentle voice rang out once again. Merlin!mc felt confused at those words, only to be distracted by Cecelia falling asleep in Cyran's arms.

Back to reality, everyone at the royal guard base froze from their panic as Cyran returned into his holding cell, fallen over. Soon Merlin!mc returned not long after, feeling oddly refreshed. Zorya was the closest to Merlin!mc and immediately checked for any signs of fighting on her.

"I'm fine." Merlin!mc whispered, and turned to look at Cyran. "The corruptive magic left him." She mumbled to Zorya.

Cyran looked up slightly before his body gave out on him. Guards panicked slightly as the glowing light from before appeared. "He's free from their control, and no longer Envy from The Adamant Syndicate. I, the Shade of Time, promise you that." The person within the light spoke softly before vanishing.

"I feel like I was hit by boulders." Cyran muttred from the floor of the holding cell. Merlin!mc heard his muttered sentence and held back a snicker. The guards around the cell froze as the captive man began muttering about how his bones felt like powder, and soon everyone heard the man complain about how he couldn't move.

"Was he like this before?" Evie asked Merlin!mc in a whisper. The red haired woman looked at Evie with amusement and nodded. "Figures you befriend someone with a dry sense of humor."

"Just wait, he probably feels like he drank one of those awful potions from our time at the Lyceum." Merlin!mc spoke, highly amused. Cyran groaned, clearly having heard.

"You managed to make the wrong elixir for three days and asked me to drink every one of them. I puked rainbows because of you." The man on the floor muttered out, causing Zorya to look away with a cough. "Don't get me started on the Tea Incident." Cyran added, causing Merlin!mc to freeze.

"We don't talk about the Tea Incident." Merlin!mc said rather quickly as the two began to bicker back and forth like they once had in the Serene Lyceum. Zorya covered her face to hide her amusement as everyone else looked away from the two bickering.

'Cyran had memories of both timelines, and memories of his lives as Zhongli.'

...Well, I wasn't expecting him to be connected to Zhongli but ok, yeah, I can see it now. And was that Istaroth? What are you doing here, ma'am? Giving Merlin!MC a hand maybe? Maybe catch a glimpse of your granddaughter?

Besides that, I'm happy that Cyran is better now, and lol to his complaining at the end. Maybe... there's a chance for him and Merlin!MC now.

In another timeline, Cyran looked at an old painting of both his friend and himself and held it silently. After all, she was the reason he didn't lose himself near the end of their school years. "I'm sorry I wasn't there on time. Mirael took on an apprentice and writes letters to me, telling your story to all who'd listen... Merlin!mc, why did you sacrifice your all?" He whispered, sitting in his silent house, far from any nearby houses. "You cleared all my doubts and yet, it feels so cold without you. Please... Give me a sign that somewhere out there, anywhere, that you lived." The broken man spoke softly, alone in the house they planned to live in.

A soft knock interrupted the empty feeling as Cyran opened the door. "Mirael? Cassadee? What are you two doing here..? Who is that?" Cyran asked, confused as a black haired 'young' woman with teal hair tips smiled behind them.

"I am Venti!mc, and you... You have the same soul of my old friend. Seems you don't remember me from that lifetime..." The newly introduced Venti!mc spoke with a sad smile on her face. Cyran felt confused as he furrowed his eyebrows. "There's not much time for me to explain. Timelines are in trouble and the closest one to yours is the opposite. Where your friend didn't change your mind and you fell into darkness as well as obsession. Where I died instead of my old friend... Seems he and I will both be dead after this. I wonder..." The teal eyed woman's voice trailed off.

"So what does that mean for us?" Mirael spoke up confused as Cassadee fiddled with her staff. Venti!mc looked up and sighed.

"Memories will fuse, those unaffected will not gain memories of both timelines, and there'll be some time where you'll get headaches as you remember." Venti!mc explained quietly. "Time's running out and you'll remember everything your alternate self had done. The merlin of that timeline will remember everything. I believe Mirael is the closest at the moment. Everyone affected will know what happened. Don't worry Cyran, there won't be doubles, but you will have to deal with those memories."

Cyran covered his face. "How long do we have then? Will my house be affected?" He asked as he looked up. Venti!mc laughed slightly as she shook her head.

"It's nowhere near other houses. As for time? A few hours. I will warn you, your alternate self was demented and forced a forbidden spell upon the alternate Merlin. As for memories... You'll earn the memories of my old friend, since he's alive in that timeline and... His death in this one. The alternate Merlin will remember everything from both timelines, as well as this conversation, location and my memories and my alternate death." Venti!mc mentioned before pausing. "That's gonna be a headache. Dying twice isn't fun... Also have fun being a father!" Venti!mc added before disappearing with the wind.

"WAIT WHAT?!?" Cyran yelled panicked and confused. Unfortunately for everyone, there would be no answers as the world before them began to glow.

The two timelines began to fuse, Merlin!mc panicked as she held onto Cecelia as tight as possible without dropping her as Chippy and Hammie panicked. "The dream..." Merlin!mc choked out as she began crying, slowly getting onto the floor. "That was me?" She whispered as everyone affected stayed together. "How many times have I died..? Cyran..?" Merlin!mc felt a panic attack start to rise, but stopped it as Cecelia began crying. "Shhhh, sweetheart it's okay. Mama's here, everything's gonna be alright."

Mirael ended up sitting next to Merlin!mc on the floor as the timelines finished fusing. "I wish that was a collective hallucination." The flame witch mumbled. Valen laughed, laying with his back to the floor in the mystical house. Dolly was leaning against a table as she tried to keep herself from puking. They all sat in silence for an hour.

"The situation with Cyran has only gotten confusing. On one hand, there is a timeline I technically save him, which ends in my death..." Merlin!mc spoke, gently handing Cecelia to Hammie. The hamster familiar watched as Merlin!mc got off the floor. "On the other hand he's probably having a panic attack wherever he is now."

"Do you think he's at the house he had?" Mirael asked, and before Merlin!mc could respond, Cassadee and Evie rushed in to the Mythical house, Evie holding a letter and Cassadee's hands shook as she gripped her staff. "Dura, Cassadee take a deep breath in." Mirael began to put her focus on the panicked mage.

"Her majesty wrote an emergency letter and requested you." Evie spoke rushed. "Cyran... Cyran reappeared without any corruption and turned himself in after telling Commander Hendrik everything. Everyone remembers." The envoy added, trying to keep calm. Merlin!mc nodded as Valen sighed.

"I'll go inform the General about the situation. Merlin!mc, don't forget to tell him after meeting with Her Majesty... These memories are awful." Valen said, slowly getting up off the floor. "He'll probably have me send letters to you." The brunet muttered.

"Stay safe Valen." Merlin!mc spoke with a weak smile as she gently took Cecelia from Hammie. "Chippy, Hammie. Can you two go to the Lyceum and talk to Zorya?" She asked her two familiars, and before both could agree Cassadee spoke up.

"Ah, Magister Merlin!mc there's no need. Headmistress Zorya has been summoned by Her Majesty as well." Cassadee explained. As the group slowly got ready to leave, Dolly helped Merlin!mc prepare Cecelia's go bag as Merlin!mc easily put Cecelia against her chest in the baby wrap. Mirael chose to stay back in the Mystical house to help Dolly, or at least that's what she told Merlin!mc.

Merlin!mc hummed softly as she hid her daughter from the eyes of strangers around the hall of Ancients as the group passed. "Just a little bit more, Magister." Evie spoke as they reached the stairs of Augusta Palace to meet with the queen. Cecelia woke up from her nap and giggled, causing everyone nearby to melt internally. The small group, except Cassadee, who had to get back to the Arcane Affairs Office, reached the sitting room with Her Majesty and Headmistress Zorya. "Your majesty, Headmistress Zorya. Magister Merlin!mc has arrived." Evie spoke respectfully, as she turned to leave the envoy smiled at the babe looking around laughing. Merlin!mc took a silent deep breath in and let it out as she stood in front of both women after putting Cecelia on a couch with Hammie and Chippy watching.

The three stood in their designated placed and each quietly called out their titles, the ritual glowing confirming their identities. "How are you coping with all of this, Merlin!mc?" Zorya asked softly, and unfortunately for all three of them the conversation was interrupted by a portal of light with a veil of flowers and vines covering the outline. Out of the portal stepped a hooded figure.

"Apologies for the interruption." The figure spoke with a soft feminine voice. The hood dropped causing everyone in the room to look at the revealed teenager. Merlin!mc looked at the teenager and then at the six month old Cecelia on the couch gnawing on one of her toys. The other two women slowly connect the dots as Merlin!mc rushed to the teenager and started checking her face seeing a scabbing scar going up her freckled cheek, definitely caused by a sword.

"Oh Dura above, what in the timelines happened to you? I swear the one who told me you were fine in your timeline is gonna get his face socked into a wall." Merlin!mc spoke as her eyes slowly gained a teal light. Zorya and Gwendolyn both paused at those words.

"Mom, I'm fine. My timeline is being repaired, and it's not too bad. I saved a small group of kids from an illegal slave trader. Master Mira wasn't too thrilled when she saw my face, and neither was Uncle Valen... He ended up punching the guy." Future Cecelia admitted with a nervous smile. Zorya covered her face as she realized that Merlin!mc's own daughter would one day be a menace.

Merlin!MC meets her daughter from the future! And she's already mothering over her! 🥰

But the whole thing with the Timelines is concerning, and wow, wasn't expecting to see Venti!MC in this after, well, what happened in the first part with her dying and becoming Merlin!MC.

Currently Merlin!mc was teaching a class about how magic can be used for fun like she did before. Students laughed as bubbles made of magic changed voices or let out sparkles when popped. Merlin!mc smiled content as she was glad to teach students, with Fay being one of them. "Don't forget, if you ever need help with Transfiguration to also stop by Professor Hepler and Professor Solise!" Merlin!mc called out as class ended, students leaving or talking to friends.

Suddenly a few students barged into the classroom. "Professor Merlin!mc! There's an emergency and Headmaster Zorya requested your assistance!" A young mage cried out. Merlin!mc nodded and followed the students to the Headmaster's office.

"Merlin!mc, can you walk to the Stellar spire, or do we need a magic carpet?" Zorya asked calmly, after the students left. Chippy and Hammie looked nervous. "I can't say much of what Envoy Evie has found here due to the protection of the students."

"If I was allowed a waypoint would be best. Walking while eight months pregnant feels like waddling and the magic carpet doesn't always listen." Merlin!mc admitted, trying to be positive. Zorya nodded as the two women and the two familiars walked towards the doors. Merlin!mc cheered as she was allowed to use a waypoint to get closer to the Stellar spiral. Once the group was inside, they were greeted by Cranky and got to one of the upper floors.

Within the cozy section of the Tower, Merlin!mc yawned, feeling exhausted. "Magister?" Hammie called out. "Zorya, she's not looking too good." The white fluffy hamster called out. Zorya frowned slightly.

"It seems whatever is trying to enter Lyceum grounds is targeting you, Merlin!mc." The Graveborn woman spoke with furrowed brows. Merlin!mc hummed slightly as she sat on the bed.

"I didn't even notice. I thought it was just the pregnancy." The sleepy woman mumbled. A soft song was luring her to sleep, feeling Aurora's presence nearby. "Aurora's here. Seems the... Celestials found out." A yawn cut her sentence before she laid down on the bed and dozed off.

"You're safe Merlin!mc." Aurora yawned out as the stood in the field of dreams. "It'll be awhile until I can wake you up." The sleepy celestial mumbled. Merlin!mc hummed, feeling sleepy even within her dreams.

It took four hours for the Lyceum to defeat whatever was targeting Merlin!mc, especially since she was heavily pregnant. It took two more hours after that for Merlin!mc to completely wake up. "I'm nearing nine months." The redhead mumbled. "Is it bad I'm worried that Cyran will find out? I mean, I've been avoiding anything the Adamant Syndicate could use as a way to look for me. Plus that spell never specified if my kid's gonna be a boy or a girl." Merlin!mc asked, leaning into a chair she recently added to the bedroom section of the spire.

"It's normal to worry. You're avoiding a man that had harmed you and forced you to carry his child." Zorya spoke softly. The two sat quietly as Merlin!mc rested her hand on her baby bump.

"I found one of my diaries from the first year I joined the Lyceum. I really grew up without parents, huh." Merlin!mc muttered, feeling her child kick and caused her to laugh. "It'll be just me and the little one as well as my friends. Dura above, I hope I'm a good mother." She spoke softly.

Another few weeks pass as she reached the ninth month mark on her pregnancy, due any day.

I know Merlin!MC will be a wonderful mother. If someone says or tells her otherwise I will smack them. This also includes Cyran. If he shows his face I'm gonna somehow smack him too.

Sides that, oh boy! The baby is coming! My money is on it being a girl! And I'm sure the day when they arrive will be peaceful. No chaos will happen... right?