Drift Of The Multiverse

Arthur Pendragon.

Even without the "language package" Merlin had transferred into his mind, Ethan would've recognized the boy's identity based on the pronunciation alone.

"Is this King Arthur?"

The realization left him mildly stunned. He was now certain that this world wasn't part of any movie universe he knew. If it were, movies about King Arthur—mostly produced by British and American studios—would have featured characters speaking English, not this unfamiliar language Merlin had taught him.

Ethan's grasp of history wasn't exactly strong, most of it came from fiction and the occasional online deep dive. He knew King Arthur was a legendary hero of the British Isles, but the timeline of his existence was murky at best. In fact, it wasn't even clear if King Arthur had been a real historical figure. Here, however, there was no doubt: in this plane, Arthur was very real.

Of course, the British Isles of this time period wouldn't use modern English or even Old English.

"Could it be Old Celtic?" Ethan muttered, unsure.

He turned his attention to the boy in front of him. Arthur's golden hair gleamed like the sun, his strong brows and bright eyes radiating sincerity and determination. His presence exuded an unshakable sense of righteousness. The phrase "like the sun at eight o'clock in the morning" felt tailor-made for this young man.

"Hello, Arthur. Nice to meet you. My name is Ethan," Ethan said, nodding politely as he introduced himself.

Arthur returned the greeting with equal formality, performing a slight bow. "I am pleased to meet you as well, Your Excellency Ethan."

With the introductions out of the way, Merlin, who had been quietly observing from the side, decided it was time to cut to the chase. "Now that the two of you are acquainted, let's get down to business," the old mage said, reclaiming control of the conversation. "Ethan, I'd like to ask for your assistance in something. That's why I stopped your teleportation."

Ethan didn't interrupt, waiting for Merlin to explain further. Fortunately, the legendary mage didn't waste time on theatrics and quickly got to the point.

Merlin explained that, after teaching Arthur for several years, he felt it was time for the young heir to the throne to expand his horizons. Arthur needed to see the world beyond his small corner of it, to gain knowledge and experience that would prepare him for the monumental task of ruling a nation.

Initially, Merlin had intended to take Arthur on a journey across this plane to better understand the kingdom's current state. But then, Merlin noticed an enormous burst of spatial energy as Ethan's teleportation spell broke through the barriers between worlds. This inspired a bold new idea: why limit Arthur's travels to just one world when the multiverse was within reach?

Merlin admitted that this idea had struck him suddenly, almost like a revelation. The overwhelming energy from Ethan's magic seemed to trigger the thought, and once it took root, Merlin couldn't shake it. Without wasting time, he acted, intercepting Ethan mid-teleportation to propose his plan.

Ethan, however, was left speechless.

"You're saying… you want Arthur to travel to other worlds with me?"

Merlin nodded, completely serious. He believed Arthur could gain invaluable insights by experiencing the vastness of the multiverse firsthand. And while the idea was unconventional—even reckless—Merlin trusted his instincts.

"As a ruler, Arthur needs to know more than just this world. He must be prepared for challenges that others can't even begin to imagine," Merlin said.

Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to process the sheer absurdity of what he was hearing. "You do realize that this is insane, right? Let's ignore everything else for a moment, what about his safety? You've seen my abilities. I can't guarantee I'll be able to protect him."

Before Merlin could respond, Arthur stepped forward, his expression resolute.

"If I lose my life on this journey, it will prove I'm unfit to inherit the throne," Arthur said firmly. After a brief pause, he added, "Besides, I've trained with Merlin for years. I'm more than capable of defending myself."

Ethan stared at the young man, then turned back to Merlin, waiting for him to justify this madness.

"As Arthur said," Merlin reiterated, "if he cannot survive the trials he faces, then perhaps he isn't meant to rule. Being a king means encountering dangers far beyond what most people can imagine. If Arthur is to lead, he must learn how to confront these challenges head-on."

Ethan exhaled slowly. While he wasn't entirely convinced, Merlin's argument wasn't without merit. The world—or worlds—was a dangerous place, especially for someone destined to rule.

"Fine, but what happens if we leave this world and never return? You've seen it yourself, I can't control these spatial energies perfectly. There's no guarantee I'll be able to bring him back."

Merlin smiled faintly, as though he had been waiting for this question.

"That is precisely why I intercepted you," Merlin said. "Your control over those energies is, frankly, terrible. But I can teach you. I can help you master them."

Ethan's eyes widened. He was taken aback by the sheer audacity of the offer. A legendary mage, offering personal guidance? It was an opportunity no aspiring spellcaster could refuse.

Merlin continued, "I will teach you, everything you need to know about magic, and more. Not just the manipulation of space-time energy, but a comprehensive education in the magical arts. In return, you will take Arthur with you and ensure he gains the experience he needs."

The offer left Ethan conflicted. On one hand, he desperately needed a mentor. Though he hadn't encountered any major obstacles yet, Ethan knew it was only a matter of time before his progress stalled. To prepare for that inevitability, he had been diversifying his studies, dabbling in potion-making, magic circles, and anything else that might help him grow.

But learning directly from Merlin? That was on an entirely different level.

"Everything about magic?" Ethan asked cautiously, still grappling with the enormity of the proposition.

"Not just magic," Merlin said with a knowing smile.

Ethan's hesitation began to melt away. This was an offer he simply couldn't refuse. More than anything, he hoped the transaction would be successfully finalized.

If this had been a business negotiation, Ethan suspected he'd have to sign a long list of unfavorable agreements just to secure Merlin's help.

Fortunately, no one present was a businessman, and this wasn't a commercial exchange. Everyone's moral compass seemed to be in the right place, so there was no need for formal contracts. Both sides reached a tacit understanding, their intentions clear.

The next step was to deepen their understanding of each other.

Whether it was to assist Merlin's teaching or build rapport with his future "teammate," Ethan knew he'd have to explain certain details about himself.

"For now, let's set aside the specifics of your personal training," Merlin suggested. "I believe what Arthur is most curious about is the nature of the worlds he'll be visiting."

Ethan shrugged. He briefly recounted his experiences in the worlds he had visited so far.

He glossed over the Marvel Universe, admitting there wasn't much to say since the Ancient One had intercepted him almost immediately. The time he spent there didn't allow for any significant exploration.

He spent more time describing the Diablo world, focusing on the adventures he had experienced there. However, he limited his explanation to avoid overwhelming Arthur with unnecessary details.

Finally, he talked about his home world: the vast, ocean-dominated world where floating islands dotted the sea. Ethan described how its inhabitants searched for magical islands and gathered materials to survive.

This unique and fantastical world captivated Arthur. The young prince couldn't hide his fascination, his usual composure slipping to reveal a youthful enthusiasm. He squirmed in his seat, barely able to contain his excitement as he imagined the possibilities.

When it came to discussing how he traveled between worlds, Merlin initially assumed Ethan possessed a powerful magical artifact. However, he quickly realized it was more akin to an innate ability—a talent that couldn't simply be taken or replicated. Merlin, despite his immense power, had no intention of trying to seize it. Ethan could only hope this trust in Merlin's character wasn't misplaced.

"So that's how it works," Merlin remarked after hearing Ethan's explanation.

The old mage now understood why Ethan's mental strength, while above average for a normal person, wasn't particularly impressive for a mage. Nor did he have any magical reserves.

Inspecting the time-space orb in Ethan's hand, Merlin frowned. The device was an enigma even to him. He couldn't discern its origins or its inner workings, much less the forces behind it. Still, he offered Ethan some practical advice.

"While I can't fully grasp the nature of this object or how it operates, I can tell you this: for any mage, energy—no matter how complex can be controlled. The only variable is how difficult it is to do so."

Merlin suggested that Ethan begin practicing energy control immediately. The massive reservoir of space-time energy within him was a resource Ethan was letting dissipate naturally. Instead of passively waiting for the energy to fade and trigger an unplanned teleportation, Merlin encouraged him to take charge. By controlling this energy, Ethan could potentially dictate when and how he traveled between worlds.

"If my theory is correct," Merlin said, "as your control over space-time energy grows, your ability will evolve accordingly."

Merlin wasn't entirely certain what form these changes would take, but Ethan's mind raced with possibilities.

Could he learn to teleport with precision, traveling between worlds at will instead of being thrown into random ones? Perhaps he could store the energy within himself, using it only when needed. Maybe he could even return to specific worlds deliberately instead of leaving it up to chance.

All of these ideas had crossed Ethan's mind before, but they had always seemed out of reach. Now, Merlin was pointing him toward a path to achieve them.

Control over energy wasn't just useful, it was essential. Merlin's advice confirmed that Ethan's lack of mastery was the key limitation of his abilities.

It also aligned with what Ethan had already started to suspect. Magicians, Merlin explained, must be especially cautious when absorbing new forms of energy. The first type of energy a mage interacts with often influences their development for life. Ethan hadn't begun practicing energy control earlier because he wanted his mental power to reach a certain threshold first, ensuring he had the strength to handle whatever consequences might arise.

*****

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