Queen Of Eternity, King Of Flames

The halls of the Phoenix estate, carved from enchanted stone and bathed in the warm breath of eternal flame, had never known true stillness. But now, with the arrival of Merlin, they shimmered with new life magic blooming like wildflowers in spring, mischief brewing in every flickering torchlight.

Riser stood on the marble balcony of the western wing, arms crossed, his sharp golden gaze following the light drizzle of ash drifting down from the estate's floating flame braziers. Below, the courtyard was alive.

Thalia and Artoria faced each other in a circular sparring arena, they we're standing on the scorched stone. Between them hovered Merlin, a few inches off the ground, Amber eyes gleaming, a crown of glowing runes orbiting her black purple hair like playful satellites.

"Again," Merlin said with a clap, and the sound echoed like a bell in the morning air. "Thalia, less wrath, more rhythm. Artoria, stop treating mana like it's beneath your sword. Magic is not your servant it's your partner."

Artoria scoffed lightly, adjusting the grip on her blade. "My sword has never failed me."

Merlin floated closer, flipping effortlessly upside down to meet Artoria's eyes. "And that's your problem. You've relied on steel so long, you've forgotten that power doesn't have to be heavy to hit hard."

"Care to prove that?" Artoria asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Oh darling, I'd love to," Merlin said sweetly and with a flick of her wrist, the air around Artoria thickened with pressure, enough to force the blonde knight to step back.

Thalia let out a low whistle. "She doesn't even chant. That's not fair."

"Life's not fair," Merlin replied, turning her attention to Thalia. "Especially not when you're dealing with a woman who taught Morgan le Fay to weave dreams and once turned a volcano into a teacup."

"Wait, you actually did that?" Thalia blinked.

"I was bored. And drunk. Mostly drunk."

Riser's steps echoed as he descended into the courtyard, the blue fire of his aura flickering subtly around his coat. The temperature rose slightly, the flames in nearby sconces flaring in recognition of their master.

Merlin turned toward him mid air, upside down still, and waved lazily. "Morning, flame boy."

"You're holding back," Riser said calmly, eyes scanning the scene.

Merlin rotated upright mid hover and floated to him. "I thought it polite. Would you prefer I obliterate your courtyard on the first week?"

"I'd prefer my peerage to be ready for what's coming."

"Mm, ominous," Merlin purred, landing lightly before him. "What is coming, Riser? War? Marriage? An existential crisis?"

Riser didn't smile, but the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "Change. I'm going to bring down every stagnant pillar that's been holding the Underworld back. Devils are arrogant, but not curious. That's why I wanted you."

Merlin's eyes sparkled. "And here I thought it was my legs."

"I've seen legs before."

"Ah, but mine float."

Thalia cracked up. Artoria allowed herself the faintest of smirks.

"I came to check progress," Riser said. "How's she doing?"

Thalia stepped forward, sparking lightning between her fingers. "She's crazy but brilliant. She showed me how to shape lightning into constructs using phoenix fire as a stabilizer."

Artoria nodded. "I've spent years mastering swordplay, but she's teaching me to feel mana like breath. It's humbling."

Merlin beamed. "They're fast learners. You've got excellent taste, Riser."

"I don't gather the strongest," Riser said. "I gather those who will be stronger than anything that stands in their way. And I make them family."

That caught even Merlin off guard. She tilted her head. "That word family. You don't say it like the others. It's not about control for you."

"No," Riser said simply. "It's about trust."

There was a beat of silence, the kind that hung heavy with unspoken respect.

"I like him," Merlin said, turning to the girls. "He's got gravitas."

"He's annoying when he's right," Thalia muttered, folding her arms.

"He's always right," Artoria sighed.

Riser turned on his heel. "Keep training. I'll be in the inner sanctum."

"Playing with fire again?" Merlin teased.

"I am fire," he answered.

He vanished into the halls, and the moment he was gone, Merlin turned to the girls, clapping her hands once.

"All right, dears! Let's get metaphysical. Who wants to learn how to punch with a soul?"

Later that evening

The garden behind the estate glowed under moonlight, petals shifting in silver and flame hues. The trio of women sat around a fire pit, its flames dancing gently under Merlin's control.

"I thought I left this life behind," Artoria said quietly, sipping from a goblet of fruit wine. "Battles. Orders. Kings. But he's not like the Lord I served."

Thalia leaned back, her body resting on a summoned cushion of thunderclouds. "He's not trying to rule from above. He pulls people with him."

Merlin stared into the fire, her voice soft. "That's why I joined. Not for power. Not for fun, though that's a bonus. But because he reminds me of Arthur before the weight of the crown broke him."

Artoria turned to her, curious. "How long did you know Arthur for?"

"I raised him," Merlin said, almost wistfully. "Trained him. Watched him love, bleed, die. I don't want that to happen again."

Thalia looked at her, brow raised. "You think Riser could fall the same way?"

"I think Riser could rise much higher," Merlin replied. "Which means the fall would hurt even more."

Before any of them could respond, a low flame flickered in the distance, then parted like curtains.

Riser stepped through the firelight, his coat licking with flames at the edges, blue fire still flickering around his head like a crown.

"I heard my name," he said.

Merlin smiled, rising to her feet. "Eavesdropping is a bad habit."

"I trust my peerage," he replied. "But I trust my instincts more."

He approached and looked around at them the knight, the stormbringer, the immortal witch.

"Tomorrow, we return to the human world," Riser said. "There are more pieces on the board. I want to recruit someone from all around the world. And I want the world to see the new Phenex legacy. We'll walk through the myth and reshape it."

"And if the world resists?" Thalia asked.

"Then we burn a path," Artoria said simply.

Merlin stretched lazily and yawned. "Fine. But I'm picking the hotel. I refuse to stay anywhere without a magical wine cellar."

Riser gave her a glance. "You'll have it."

"Good." She leaned closer, her voice dropping into a purr. "And in return, I'll make sure the world learns your name not just as a devil, but as a king."

"I'm not a king," Riser said.

"Not yet," Merlin whispered.

And the fire danced between them all shadows cast from a demigod, witch, Phenex, and knight each one destined to shake the realms.