Hidden plans and Time for Dinner

Meanwhile, in Merlin's office, the air had grown thick with tension. The warm, welcoming atmosphere that had greeted the boys earlier had vanished, replaced by something heavier, more ancient. Shadows deepened in the corners as two figures sat where Alex and Randy had been, their presence somehow making those ordinary chairs look like thrones of judgment.

Merlin's weathered fingers stroked his beard, the gesture more nervous tic than contemplation.

"And you've confirmed they're Daywalkers?" The man voice carried the weight of centuries, each word measured against two millennia of vigilance.

The shadow of anxiety that crossed his companion's face spoke volumes before they even answered. "We're screwed, Merlin. We're absolutely screwed." The words fell like stones into still water. "Erebuzal has found a way to connect to his body. He's reaching across the divide."

"Precisely." Merlin's finger dug deeper into his beard. "And our options for prevention are... limited."

A bitter laugh cut through the office. "Limited? Oh yes, because our preventive measures have worked so well these past two thousand years, haven't they?" The sarcasm dripped like venom. "What have we been doing all this time? What have you been doing?"

The accusation hung in the air like smoke. "You're supposed to be the strongest human magic user alive, Merlin. How did you miss this?"

The man rose from his chair, his broad shoulders and middle-aged features radiating an aura that rivaled Graves's intimidating presence. But what happened next made even that impressive display seem pale in comparison.

Merlin's eyes, which had been softly contemplating the window behind his desk, suddenly snapped to the man with predatory sharpness. The change was instant and terrifying—gone was the kindly headmaster who had welcomed three lost boys. In his place stood something ancient and terrible, a being who had witnessed the rise and fall of kingdoms.

"Need I remind you why I am the strongest human, Lance?"

The words cut through the air like a blade of ice. The aura that emanated from Merlin now was nothing like the gentle wisdom he had shown earlier—this was the presence of a battlefield veteran, a master of arts so profound they bordered on the divine. The very shadows in the room seemed to retreat from his gaze.

Lance, despite his own considerable presence, sank back into his chair as if pushed by an invisible hand. "My apologies," he managed, his voice tight. "I got... emotional. But it doesn't change the fact that it happened right under our noses." He paused, swallowing hard. "And we both know there's only one way this could have happened."

Merlin's frown deepened, carved lines of ancient worry etching deeper into his face. "Yes," he said softly, the terrible power in his voice giving way to something closer to grief. "Though I hate to think that's the answer."

"Me too, Merlin."

Merlin nodded grimly before turning to address the other occupant of the room—a shorter, slighter man whose skin held an unsettling grayish cast, as if he were more shadow than substance. "You believe you can locate the other ritual sites?"

The gray man nodded, his movement almost liquid in its fluidity.

"Then may fortune favor your hunt," Merlin intoned. The blessing carried weight, and the gray man simply melted into his chair, becoming one with the shadows and vanishing from sight.

Lance shifted in his seat, the leather creaking beneath him. "So what's the plan, Merlin? What do we do with the Daywalkers?"

Rising from his chair with deliberate grace, Merlin approached his bookshelf and withdrew the same tome he had shown the boys. "I plan to do exactly as I said, Lance. They will enroll in the Academy, and I shall teach them as I have taught countless warriors before." His fingers traced the book's worn spine. "If they truly possess something special, we shall nurture it through merit, as we always have."

"Sounds good to me," Lance conceded, though tension still lined his face. "I just hope the Ten Families feel the same way."

"As do I, Lance." Merlin's gaze drifted to the window again, where darkness had begun to gather like storm clouds on the horizon. "As do I."

Alex slept soundly on the worn leather couch, his form silhouetted by the dim light filtering through the windows. His friends sleeping figures dotted the couch, their quiet breathing the only sound in the stillness. His head rested against the couch's weathered back, the dirty blonde hair contrasting against the faded material.

Consciousness crept in slowly, his eyes opening to a world that felt wrong. The grogginess of sleep evaporated instantly, replaced by a surge of panic as unfamiliar surroundings swam into focus. His heart hammered against his ribs.

"Where am I?" The words escaped in a harsh whisper before memory crashed back like a cold wave. "Oh hell, that's right. I'm actually here." He pushed himself up from his seat, muscles tense, only to sink back down as the full weight of reality settled over him.

The fireplace loomed ahead, its empty hearth a dark mouth in the wall. Alex rubbed his forehead, feeling an odd disconnect between his alert body and his exhausted mind. His thoughts felt leaden, weighted with questions he wasn't sure he wanted answered.

His fingers found the emblem hanging at his neck, cool metal warming under his touch. 'OSAI,' he thought, tracing the intricate patterns etched into its surface. 'Omniscient Sentient Artificial Intelligence. What a proud name.'

'How do I ask it questions like Vespera said?' The words had barely formed in his mind when the emblem responded, coming alive with an ethereal purple glow. Light spilled outward like liquid amethyst, coalescing into something that belonged in the realms of science fiction - a holographic projection hovering in the air before him. It took shape as a floating display, complete with a digital face framed by two antenna-like protrusions at its top. The face bore what could only be described as a welcoming smile, waiting expectantly for his input, its purple light creating shadows across the room.

The OSAI's digital face flickered with a gentle pulse as it spoke, its voice carrying an oddly comforting mix of authority and warmth. "Hello, Sir Alex. My name is Alfred. I am your personal OSAI, assigned by Merlin himself." The purple light from its projection cast dancing shadows across the room's ancient walls. "I understand you lack basic knowledge of our world. Would you like a recap of the last hundred years?"

"Hold up how you read my thoughts?"

"Simple I'm connect to your soul and I could tell you were in need of me." Alfred states matter of a fact.

'Why am I even surprise.' Alex shakes his head.

"Back to what I ask Sir Alex would you like to learn basic knowledge of our world?"

"Yeah sure let me just wake up my friends."

Alex glanced at his sleeping friends, knowing they needed to hear this too. He reached over, gently shaking Max's shoulder. "Hey, wake up. You need to hear this."

"Five more minutes, Mom," Max mumbled, burrowing deeper into the worn leather of the couch.

"Dude, Max, seriously. This is important." Alex's voice carried an edge of urgency that finally seemed to reach through his friend's sleepy haze.

"Uh, fine, Alex, fine. Let me just—oh." Max's words cut off as he sat up, his eyes widening at the sight of the floating purple display. Next to him, Randy fumbled for his glasses, sliding them on before stretching.

The three boys settled into the couch, its aged leather creaking beneath them. Alfred's projection hovered before them like a supernatural television, its soft purple glow reflecting in their wide eyes. For the next two hours, they listened, barely moving except to exchange shocked glances as revelation after revelation washed over them.

Alfred stood patiently as Max worked through his understanding, the young man's brow furrowed in concentration. Of the three boys present, Max was visibly having the hardest time processing their situation.

"OK, OK, OK," Max said, holding up his hands. "Run it by me one more time. So you're telling me that Michigan - the state where I lived - is connected to this Darkwood seaside place we were summoned to?"

"Correct, Sir Max," Alfred replied with a slight nod.

"Right, right, I think I'm getting that part," Max continued, speaking faster as he pieced things together. "And when Vespera teleported us, we somehow ended up all the way in England?"

"That is also correct, Sir Max," Alfred confirmed, his tone steady and reassuring.

Max's eyes lit up as another piece clicked into place. "And the power Vespera used to teleport us - that comes from her bloodline, right? From her family?" He sat up straighter, growing more confident. "And her family is one of those ten families that make up the council ruling the United Front?"

Alex cut through the history lesson, his patience wearing thin. "Enough about the history, Alfred. You've gone on long enough about that. Let's get to some questions about us."

"Ask away, Sir Alex," Alfred replied, unfazed by the interruption.

"These bloodlines you've been talking about," Alex leaned forward, his interest evident. "How do we awaken our own?"

Alfred straightened his posture, his expression growing serious. "During the first week of school, the Academy conducts a ritual for those unable to awaken their bloodline naturally. The process requires the soul of a high-level beast."

"And that's it?" Alex pressed.

"Not quite," Alfred continued. "When you awaked you bloodline it also creates pathways through your body. For most people it will be your physical veins. However, if your bloodline is special in nature that could change." He paused, his tone growing grave. "It's worth noting that awakening a bloodline before the age of fifteen is extremely dangerous due to life force instability."

Randy's eyes narrowed. "And what would happen if someone tried?"

"Quite simple," Alfred replied, his matter-of-fact tone chilling in its directness. "They will die. Organ failure."

"Good thing we're all fifteen then," Max said with exaggerated relief, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow.

"What type of Bloodlines are there?" Randy asks ignoring Max.

"Of the known bloodlines there are 5 categories, them being Elemental, Celestial, Transformation, Blood Magic, and Shadow Magic. While each category can have many different types of bloodlines these are the only known categories in 5000 years of history."

"And which of the categories are the strongest." Alex asks

"Strongest is subjective but if we were to look at the average strength of users then it would have to be blood magic due to mostly vampires ruling this category. Since they have low birth rates ever since there not allow to turn humans into vampires as due to clause 3.2B."

"Interesting I would have thought that Celestial would be the strongest." Randy comments

"Celestial is second in average strength Sirs." Alfred adds.

However, before they could continue talking a low rumble comes from Max's stomach. A flush crept across his cheeks as he offered a sheepish grin. "Sorry about that. Just a little hungry, you know?"

"You know what? I'm kind of hungry too," Alex admitted, turning his attention to the softly glowing hologram before them. "Hey Alfred, is there somewhere we can get food around here?"

The OSAI's purple light pulsed warmly as it responded. "Yes, Sir Alex. And as fortune would have it, dinner is about to commence in the dining hall." Alfred's projection flickered briefly as it detailed the route. "From your dorm room, proceed straight ahead, take a left, then right, ascend the stairs, and finally turn left once more until you reach the doors."

Alex's brow furrowed at the complex directions, his tired mind struggling to map the path. "Is there maybe an easier way?"

"Indeed there is, Sir Alex." Alfred's form shifted, and from its ethereal body emerged what appeared to be a translucent robotic arm, gleaming with an otherworldly sheen. With precise grace, it traced a path of brilliant blue light that stretched from its metallic fingertips toward the door, creating a luminescent trail that Alex assumed would guide them to their destination.

"What do you say, guys?" Alex gestured toward the glowing path. "Should we head out and get some food?"

Max's eyes lit up at the suggestion, his earlier embarrassment forgotten. "You know I never say no to a good meal," he grinned, already rising from his seat.

"I'm a little peckish too," Randy added, adjusting his glasses as he stood to join them.

The magical guide-light pulsed gently before them, casting strange shadows across the ancient walls as it beckoned them deeper into the academy's mysteries.

"Sir Alex, if I might make a suggestion before you head to the dining hall," Alfred interjected, his holographic form shimmering with quiet authority.

"Sure, go ahead."

"I believe it would be prudent to don the uniforms awaiting you in your closets."

"Oh, wicked! Uniforms!" Max's eyes lit up with boyish excitement. "I'm going to grab mine real quick. You guys get yours too?"

"Alright, sounds good," Randy nodded, already moving toward his room.

Stepping into his private quarters for the first time, Alex was struck by the contrast - while the shared living space sprawled like a luxury penthouse, his personal room was surprisingly modest. A queen-sized bed dominated the space, its dark wooden frame gleaming with subtle enchantments. In the corner, a sturdy desk stood ready for late-night studies, its surface unmarred and waiting. The closet, stretching ten feet long and four feet wide, seemed to hold secrets in its shadows.

Within its depths, a single uniform hung in solitary splendor. Alex drew it out reverently, laying it across his bed to study its details. The overcoat was a deep, smoky gray that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it. Beneath lay a shirt black as midnight, adorned with a precise line of silver buttons that caught the room's ambient glow. The collar rose with military precision, its edges crisp and slightly upturned, while silver epaulettes crowned the shoulders like badges of authority.

As Alex slipped into the uniform, its fabric settling against his skin with unexpected warmth, he couldn't help but smirk. 'Man, feels like I'm an officer in the army or something,' he thought, adjusting the collar. The material moved with him like a second skin, somehow both formal and practical - clearly designed for more than mere appearance.

The mirror reflected back an image that gave him pause - the boy who had walked to school this morning was gone, replaced by someone who looked like they belonged in this world of magic and mystery. The uniform's dark fabric seemed to hold shadows within its weave, suggesting hidden power waiting to be unveiled.

Having donned the uniform, Alex studied his reflection in the bathroom mirror, the enchanted fabric seeming to shift and settle around him like a second skin. "Huh, fits really nice," he mused, fingers tracing the precise seams. "Actually quite surprised. They must have gotten my measurements somehow." He shook his head, pushing away the questions that threatened to overwhelm him. "Can't think about that stuff. You just gotta move on man, accept the reality."