Arthur's Odyssey :Rise of the King

The next morning, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the stained-glass windows of the Pendragon's estate, casting vibrant hues across the stone floors. In the garden, Arthur stood with his small wooden sword clutched tightly in his tiny hands, his expression a mix of determination and confusion. Opposite him, Merlin stood tall and composed, his crimson robes rippling gently in the morning breeze.

"Why do I need to train now?" Arthur asked, tilting his head up to look at Merlin. "I thought training was for big kids."

Merlin smiled gently, crouching down to meet Arthur's eye level. "Because, you Arthur are not like other children. You're destined for great things, and great things require preparation."

Arthur frowned, poking at the ground with the tip of his wooden sword. "But Morgana says I'm already special. Isn't that enough?"

"Being special is just the beginning," Merlin replied, his tone patient. "To protect the people you love and the human domain, you must grow strong, stronger than anyone else. And that strength starts here, with me."

Arthur still looked unsure, but Merlin's words seemed to stir something in him. He straightened his back and gripped the wooden sword a little tighter. "Okay, Grandpa," he said with a small smile. "What do I do first?"

Merlin rose to his full height, his expression shifting from warm to serious. "First, we'll start with your stance. Stand like this." He demonstrated, spreading his feet shoulder-width apart and raising an imaginary sword in front of him.

Arthur mimicked the pose, wobbling slightly as he adjusted his footing. Merlin stepped forward and gently repositioned the boy's arms and legs.

"Good," Merlin said. "Now hold that position."

Arthur held the stance for a few seconds before his legs began to shake. "It's hard!" he whined, his face scrunching up.

"That's the point," Merlin replied, his tone firm but encouraging. "Strength comes from overcoming what's hard. Don't give up now."

Arthur gritted his teeth, his determination flaring as he tried to hold the pose.

From a distance, Morgana watched the scene unfold with a mix of amusement and pride. She leaned against a tree, arms crossed. "He's got a lot to learn," she called out teasingly.

Arthur turned his head to glare at her, wobbling even more. "Stop distracting me, Morgana!"

Merlin chuckled softly before his tone turned sharp. "Focus, Arthur. Distractions in battle can be fatal."

Arthur's eyes snapped back to Merlin, and he nodded seriously, though the wobbling didn't stop.

For the next hour, Merlin guided Arthur through basic stances and simple movements. The young boy's initial excitement waned as the exercises grew more demanding, but he refused to quit. Each time he stumbled, Merlin was there to help him back to his feet, his words steady and encouraging.

By the time the sun was high in the sky, Arthur collapsed onto the grass, panting. "I'm tired!" he groaned, dropping the wooden sword beside him.

Merlin crouched beside him, handing him a flask of water. "You did well for your first day."

Arthur took the flask and drank deeply, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. "Will I get strong like you, Grandpa?"

Merlin's expression softened. "You'll be stronger, Arthur. Stronger than you can even imagine."

Arthur grinned, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "Then let's train again!"

Merlin chuckled, his heart swelling with pride. "We will. But for now, rest. Even the strongest warriors need time to recover, we will meet again here in 2 hours for you affinity training"

Arthur nodded, though his excitement was barely contained. "Okay, I'll rest. But I'm going to be the strongest, right?" His voice was full of determination.

Merlin smiled, ruffling Arthur's hair gently. "Yes, Arthur. You'll be the strongest. But remember, true strength isn't just about power,it's about control and wisdom."

Arthur's eyes sparkled with determination. "I'll control it, and I'll learn everything! Just wait and see!"

With that, Merlin left the garden, and Arthur, still brimming with energy despite the physical toll, lay down on the freshly cut grass. His mind raced with excitement thinking about his affinity training, he was going to make his father and Morgana proud.

----

Two hours later, Arthur was jumping up and down relentlessly, eagerly awaiting Merlin's next lesson.

"It's time, Arthur" said Merlin as he came back to the garden where Arthur was eagerly waiting for him.

"Before we begin, allow me to ask you one thing,what do you think affinities are ?."

Arthur paused, his excited bouncing stopping as he turned to look at Merlin with wide, serious eyes. He'd heard about affinities before, but he wasn't exactly sure what they truly were.

"I think… they're like superpowers?" Arthur said, his little hands still fidgeting with anticipation. "I mean, everyone talks about them, and you say mine is special. But what do they really do?"

Merlin nodded thoughtfully, his expression gentle. "In a way, you're not wrong. But affinities are more than just powers, Arthur. They are a part of you, of your very being. They represent a deep connection to the forces of the world, to the essence of nature itself. Each person has their own affinity, sometimes more than one, and it's the key to understanding and shaping the world around you."

Arthur's brow furrowed as he tried to process this. "So... they're like... the stuff that makes everything work?"

"Exactly," Merlin said, his smile softening. "Everything in the world, whether it's the wind in the trees or the fire in a hearth, has a connection to an affinity. When you awaken one, you're tapping into that force. It's not just raw power , it's balance, harmony, and understanding."

Arthur nodded slowly, his curiosity growing.

"Father said that I'm the Scion of Light. What does that mean?"

Merlin's expression turned serious, as if considering how best to explain. "Being a Scion o means that your affinity is at a level that's beyond the norm, we call it 'perfect grade' , in your case Light, which can be both creation and destruction. It is what illuminates the world and burns away darkness. A Scion has the potential to master their specific elemental force completely , to use it to shape the world around them in ways others with the same affinity but of a lower rank can't even begin to imagine."

Arthur's eyes lit up, a grin spreading across his face. "So I get to control light? Like... all of it?"

"Not yet," Merlin replied with a soft chuckle. "But one day, yes. Your affinity will evolve and grow, but first, we need to build your foundation. We'll start with understanding the basics of your affinity, how it works within you, and how to harness its energy. Once you've mastered that, you'll be ready to move on to more advanced techniques, eventually when you reach the advanced stage you'll awaken your avatar and learn to control that too."

Arthur's enthusiasm didn't waver. "I'm ready, Grandpa! Let's do it!"

Merlin couldn't help but smile. "Patience, Arthur. The first step in any journey is to understand where you're standing before you take the next step. We'll start with your breath, and how it connects to your affinity. Focus on it, feel your light, and let it guide you."

Arthur closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to clear his mind and focus as Merlin had instructed. For a moment, there was silence, just the sound of wind rustling through the trees, and then , something shifted. A faint, almost imperceptible glow began to appear around Arthur's hands, a soft, radiant light.

Merlin nodded in approval. "Good, Arthur. You're starting to feel it. Now, let that light grow. Feel it within you, and allow it to shine outward. The more you focus, the stronger your connection will become."

Arthur opened his eyes, his face lighting up as the glow around his hands brightened, though it was still faint.

Arthur grinned, his small hands glowing brighter with each passing second, the light flickering like a candle in the breeze but growing steadier by the moment. His focus was unwavering, his entire being intent on the task at hand.

Merlin's voice, barely a whisper, was filled with wonder. "This child is truly a monster." His eyes shone with a mixture of awe and respect. "I've barely told him what to do, yet he got it immediately. It's… remarkable."

Arthur's gaze never wavered from the glowing light in his hands, but he caught the glint of Merlin's expression. "Did I do it right, Grandpa?"

Merlin's smile deepened, filled with a quiet pride. "You did it perfectly, Arthur. In fact, you've exceeded my expectations, the next step is learning to control that light. You'll need to direct it, focus it, and use it with precision."

Arthur nodded eagerly, absorbing the information. "Like... like turning it into something? Like a sword?"

"Exactly," Merlin said, raising an eyebrow with approval. "But be careful. Light is one of the hardest affinities to master, it can be used to create, destroy, or protect. Your control and your will, will define what kind of force it becomes."

Arthur concentrated harder, and the glow in his hands began to shift, the light swirling and flickering as if it had a mind of its own. Slowly, the radiant energy began to form, elongating and solidifying into a shimmering, glowing shape. It wasn't a sword, but a thin staff of light, pulsing with energy.

Merlin watched, his eyes widening. *Incredible... * Thought m

Merlin, *he's done it already..*

"Good job Arthur , you have now created your first construct."

Arthur held the staff in both hands, swinging it around in excitement, the light leaving glowing trails in the air. "It's like a magic stick! Look at it, Grandpa! It's so cool!"

Merlin chuckled, "that Arthur , is one of the many things people can do with their affinity, it is the base from which you'll grow your ability to control and shape your power."

Arthur's eyes shone with determination. "I'll get really good at this! I want to be strong, Grandpa! I want to protect Morgana, Father, you and everyone else!"

Merlin's expression softened, and he placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder. "You will be, Arthur, you will be."

Arthur nodded, his small face filled with resolve. "i promise I'll practice a lot!"

Merlin smiled, his heart swelling something deeper,something he couldn't quite name yet. "Good. I'll be here to guide you every step of the way. But remember, true growth will come only when facing challenges, training will allow you to practice in a semi safe environment, but it is the world and it's challenges that will truly shape you, the stronger you get , the more challenges you'll face, and the more challenges you face, the stronger you'll grow."

Arthur looked up at him, his expression fierce despite his small size.

Merlin nodded, more solemn now. "Always remain strong, and always remember,what you do with your power matters more than how much of it you have."

Arthur's determination never wavered. "I will,i'll make you proud."

Merlin's heart clenched at the words, the weight of them pressing on him more than any magic ever could. "You already do, Arthur. You already do."