The Mountain and the Fire Within

A swirl of purple light filled the air as Blanchette and Merlin reappeared in Merlin's room, their bodies battered and bruised. Lancelot, who had been seated at the edge of the bed, instantly stood up.

"Hey, Lance…" Merlin managed weakly before her glowing eyes dimmed and she collapsed.

"Merlin!" Lancelot caught her just in time, gently lowering her head onto his lap. His eyes widened with panic as he saw her pale face and bleeding nose.

Then he looked up, anger lacing his voice. "Where the hell did the two of you go? And where did you get all those injuries?"

Blanchette didn't respond. She merely met his eyes with a calm but empty stare before turning her back to him and walking silently out of the room.

Lancelot carried Merlin to their bed and carefully laid her down, brushing her hair back from her face.

In the hallway, Blanchette paused in front of a mirror. Her reflection stared back at her, swollen lips, a split brow, streaks of dried blood across her jaw, and tired, aching eyes.

(I can't let Joshua see me like this... I was too weak. If I'm this weak now, how will I protect him from what's coming?)

Her fists clenched. She turned away and made her way to Captain Percival's room, knocking firmly. The door opened, and Percival's eyes widened at the sight of her bloodied appearance.

"Princess, what..."

"I want to get stronger," Blanchette interrupted, her voice steady but low. "Stronger so I can protect Joshua. Will you train me again?"

Percival blinked, then let out a slow smile. "That's nice to hear, Princess. But… I've already taught you everything I know. Training with me now would be pointless. But…"

He looked away for a moment, hesitant.

"There's one man who can make you stronger. My father. Alexander Kaizer the Great."

Blanchette tilted her head. "Your father?"

Percival nodded, his smile fading. "I hate him. But he's the only one who can unlock your full potential. He lives at the peak of Lion's Mountain. It won't be an easy climb."

"I'm going," Blanchette said without hesitation.

Percival raised an eyebrow. "What about your injuries? What about Joshua?"

Blanchette turned her head away. "I have to go because of him. And these injuries... they're nothing." She held out her hand. "Pen and paper?"

Percival handed them over. Blanchette leaned against the wall and began writing, her face unreadable. When she finished, she folded the paper and handed it to him.

"Give this to Joshua tomorrow. It's important."

"I will," Percival said, frowning with concern.

Without another word, Blanchette turned and walked out of the noble house. The air outside was cold, but the fire burning inside her kept her warm. She disappeared into the night, the distant mountain her only destination.

Back in Merlin's room, a groan escaped the lips of the young witch as her eyes fluttered open. Her whole body throbbed with pain. Lancelot was sitting beside her, his head resting on her legs, fast asleep.

As she moved, a sharp jolt shot through her body, and she gasped.

Lancelot's eyes snapped open. "Merlin? What's wrong?"

"Nothing much…" she managed, forcing a weak smile. "Just used my noble witch abilities. I guess this is the ris..." Her words broke off as another surge of pain ripped through her chest.

"Why did you use that power? You know how dangerous it is," Lancelot said, grasping her hand with both of his.

"I had to... We went to the werewolf kingdom. Blanchette and I. We killed Sawyl." Her voice shook as her body trembled with fever.

"You what?" Lancelot's voice was sharp, but concern was clear in his eyes. "You could've both died. Judging by your state, it looked like you failed."

"No," Merlin rasped. "Blanchette killed him."

Lancelot went quiet, his brows furrowed. (Blanchette killed him... Then why did she look so broken?)

He touched Merlin's forehead, she was burning up. He hurried to fetch a bowl of water and a clean cloth, then returned and gently laid the cool compress on her forehead.

"Don't use that power again," he whispered, worry etched into his every word. "I don't want to see you like this again."

Merlin gave a weak nod. "Okay, Lancelot…" She managed a small smile despite the sweat soaking her hair.

Far away, Blanchette climbed. The slope of Lion's Mountain was steep, unforgiving. Her hands were torn open from gripping jagged rocks. Sweat poured from her body, mixing with the blood on her face. Her vision blurred, but she didn't stop. The moonlight guided her as she pushed forward, her breath ragged but unyielding.

Finally, she reached the peak, a flat ledge where a modest wooden house sat nestled in the rocks. A man with sharp reddish silver hair and a thick beard sat outside in a wooden chair, sipping red wine and reading a book.

Blanchette stumbled forward, but her legs gave out. She collapsed.

The man looked up from his book and sighed. He stood, setting his glass down beside the book.

"Damn… This feels like déjà vu," Alexander Kaizer muttered. He walked over and picked her up as though she weighed nothing. "You must be his little student."

With surprising care, he carried her inside the house.

Morning came.

Joshua opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling of the healing barracks. Most of his facial injuries had healed, but his arm and legs were still in casts. Slowly, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. Two crutches were leaned against the wall. He took them and carefully stood up.

He made his way to the garden first. It was quiet. No Blanchette.

Then, curiosity tugging at his heart, he hobbled to the training ground. There, he saw Lancelot, Raphael, and Jack sparring. To his surprise, Jack now matched Lancelot's speed and power, though Raphael remained far ahead of them both.

Joshua didn't speak. He simply watched, his mind unsettled. Something or someone, was missing.

And far away, at the peak of the mountain, Blanchette lay unconscious in a stranger's home, her body broken but her will sharper than ever.

She would return. But not as the same girl who left.