True Magician (FatexDxD)

Emiya's residence.

A minute passed, two, three, but the scene didn't change. I was still sitting there, staring at Merlin while he stared at the sleeping Morgan.

I had to say, the look on Caster's face right now was very unfamiliar to me. It was as if his usual cheerful, irritable, and lazy nature didn't exist, and now before me stood someone truly mysterious and wise, giving me the impression that he knew all the secrets of the world. And while this was partly true, his character and behavior simply did not fit the usual characteristics of "wise" and "mysterious".

On top of everything else, the slight enigmatic smile on his face felt... odd. I don't know how to describe it more accurately, but I'd call it... paternal? Something like that.

- How many people do you think, Master, have seen Morgan Le Fay sleeping and still survived, if you don't count her cronies? - Merlin whispered suddenly.

- If you want to put on a mysterious atmosphere, then just cut to the chase. What does your question have to do with Morgan sneaking into my bed?

- She's been sad during your absence. She's not used to hiding her true identity and intentions, but it's almost impossible to hide from my Clairvoyance. - He leaned toward Morgan and gently ruffled her bangs, creating an enclosed field that kept sounds from reaching her ears.

Did you miss her? Her? No, it was possible, but only if she lacked a punching bag in the form of me. After all, I hadn't seen anyone else she'd done the same thing with as she'd done with me. But that's completely understandable, given that I'm her Master, and I'm also a True Magician.

- Even if she's not the Morgan I know, she's still got her memories. The same ones in which I taught her magic, and in which I was one of her main enemies," Merlin continued, "And about my question? What do you know about her story?

- This version of Morgan, as I recall, was created by the planet as a fairy to save Britannia and create Excalibur, after Sefar had done her deeds. Morgan made several attempts to save the island, meaning both fairies and humans, but was repeatedly betrayed, causing her to have to start all over again while changing her alias. At one point, she decided to take over Britain and thus save it, albeit in her own way. In response to Morgan's AWOL actions, the planet created a new fairy, Artoria, to fulfill the mission first.

- And what do you think of all this? - Merlin asked with interest in his eyes.

- I have nothing against this Lost Belt, even considering its peculiarities, where test-tube-grown humans are used as cattle and fairies rule, in fact, a world consisting of one single island and an endless ocean. It's natural selection after all," I said calmly and looked at Morgan's beautiful face, "And what Morgan has done is only respectable, at least from my point of view. She has cast aside the fate imposed on her by the world and chosen her own. I wish Solomon had done the same, but I don't think it would have made a difference. That's just the way he was, it seems to me.

I stopped talking at those words, forgetting why I'd remembered Morgan's story, and then looked at Merlin with an incomprehensible look.

- Again, what does your question have to do with all of this?

- It is because of your point of view that Morgan has respect and trust for you, Master.

- Trust? Does she? Are we talking about the same Morgan? You know, Berserker? - I don't get it. What about respect? She terrorizes me, you know. Or don't you have eyes, hmm?

-What else would you call the ultimate show of trust if not what's going on here? Morgan has fallen asleep in your presence because she feels you won't hurt her, that she won't get stabbed in the back by you while she sleeps. And she knows that as long as she doesn't undermine your trust first, none of this will happen. - Merlin shrugged.

- I'd call that a stretch. You were at the mcduck when she brought up the subject of betrayal and my unwillingness to accept her as a couple. It's pretty hard to say I trust her.

- Trusting a particularly close person, along the lines of Beast II in your case, and trusting everyone else are different things. I thought you knew that yourself," Merlin brushed it off, "What about respect? She respects you as you respect her. To Morgan, you have become someone equal to her, like a king and queen ruling a country together. You accept her for who she is and consider her a complete person apart from her power, fairy nature, and status as queen.

- So it's just enough to accept her as a person? That seems a little shallow," I said skeptically.

- Some people don't need much to be happy. This is also where your character comes into play. You don't want to use her or change her in any way, but you're not afraid to tell her what you think, and you show your true self, without deception or understatement. You're much happier talking to someone straightforward than their opposite, aren't you?

He paused and smiled.

-Of course, your strength and status as a Master also played a role, but it's more of a nice bonus. If you were an average mage, her attitude toward you would hardly change. Besides, she realizes that whatever she does, you won't hate her or despise her - you'll just accept her decision.

- Well, there's some truth to that," I grinned. "And you're surprisingly talkative, don't you think?

- Every now and then, even I want to talk a little," he said and smiled enigmatically, "Before I go, I'd like you to hear what I have to say.

- Hmm?

- Take care of her.

- You don't strike me as the caring father or teacher type.

- Well, I'm kind of beholden to her, or rather her version of Caster. And in the time she's spent here with us, with you, she's become smiling, hiding her smile under a snide smirk. She feels comfortable around you, and that really makes me happy.

I shrugged, to which he smiled and looked back at Morgan before vanishing into thin air in a small cloud of pink petals. And as soon as Merlin disappeared, a closed field formed around the room, the property of which was the impossibility of getting inside. Apparently he wanted to give us time, I don't know.

Laying my head back on the pillow and closing my eyes, I gently placed my hand on Morgan's head and began stroking her hair affectionately.

Honestly, thinking over Merlin's words once more, I realize that they don't sound like the ravings of a madman. For the entire time she'd been here, the only people she'd interacted with were me, Arthur, and Le Fay. The latter are here because Morgan finds them interesting, especially little Le Fay, who has already shown some signs of Morgan's own personality in her interactions with Kuroka.

With me, on the other hand, she interacts with me... naturally? Yeah, that's more or less the word for it. Now that I think about it a bit, she shows a lot more emotion when interacting with me than with anyone else. The irritation and defiance when I try to refuse her. That amusement and interest when she tries to reach my soul strings. The excitement and misunderstanding she feels in unfamiliar situations involving me. In short, her behavior can be described as that of a peculiar child with an adjustment for mysticism and fairy nature.

Not that her obvious abuse of power doesn't irritate me, but interacting with her is somewhat enjoyable. Sure, you could say it feels like masochism, but occasionally diluting the atmosphere with something like that is never a bad thing.

Suddenly I felt someone's gaze on me, and as I raised my eyelids, I was immediately met by the gray-blue eyes of the already awake Morgan, in which curiosity danced.

- When did you wake up, Your Majesty? - Pulling on an awkward grin, I asked.

- Did that idiot really think I wouldn't notice him? - Morgan snidely answered the question with a question, then moved sharply in my direction.

Now she was looming over me as if we were in some third-rate romance show. Her long, silvery hair hung down in a waterfall, falling into my face, and her eyes never broke contact with mine.

- Whatever you're up to, I had nothing to do with it.

I was met with nothing but silence in response, which lasted a few seconds. Then, in one swift movement, Morgan moved closer to my face, giving me a deep, passionate kiss that left me wide-eyed with surprise.

It lasted a few seconds, for at one point I began to pant before she interrupted it. Then, aristocratically rising from the bed, she strode to the door, shattering the Closed Field in the process, and turned in my direction before exiting.

- Consider him payment for his silence. I wouldn't want my dearest sister to know about this moment of weakness," Morgan said with a businesslike tone and a sinister smirk, "Now I have a parasite to punish. Sweet dreams, my husband. I'll see you in the morning.

She walked out, leaving only me in the room, and I stared at the closed door for a few minutes, unable to comprehend what had just happened. It was only Merlin's shrill and painful scream that woke the whole house that brought me out of my stupor.

I had a hunch that I was being used somewhere, again, and hopefully the hunch would be the end of it. But... Was it just me, or when I first opened my eyes and saw Morgan no longer pretending to be asleep, she was... smiling happily?

I shook my head and went back to bed.

Oh come on, that can't be right, right?

-0-

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