A Descent into Hell! V

"What are you saying, Jason? That he was teleported to another location by an external force of which you have no information? Are you serious with what you're telling me?"

Merlin's angry voice thundered fiercely from the white crystal used as a means of communication to reach him.

"We know what it seems to be, Merlin, but that's what happened. I can swear a mana oath to prove I'm not lying if you wish."

A mana oath is an inviolable promise that magicians can make by using the world's mana as a witness. If the person making this oath lied or did not uphold the terms of the agreement, they would be deprived of all the magical circles formed in their inner core with no possibility of regaining them someday.

So, it was the last resort solution used by the magician to prove his innocence in a case or to provide assurance that he would keep his word. But even so, Jason wondered if the oath would suffice for Merlin to believe in the truth of what he was telling him.

For sane individuals who had not witnessed the event, what Jason was recounting was worthy of a story from a fantasy book. So, he suggested making an oath without expecting the latter to solve the situation as if by magic.

Merlin took a few seconds of silence after Jason's proposal to analyze the situation more objectively. He knew very well that the latter would never suggest the mana oath on his own if he had something to hide in the story. Moreover, he had the support of the other two people present at the scene during the events.

Merlin eventually thought that there might be some truth in what they were saying. ("So, Adall was really kidnapped by a truly powerful unknown force? Why do I have the feeling that this doesn't bode well?")

After accepting the situation, there was only one thing to do.

"Concentrate all the resources at your disposal on finding Adall as soon as you return. I will make sure to compensate you for your losses. I am also on my way. It's time for me to return home."

"Understood."

Jason ended the communication with these words.

***

In front of a magic circle drawn directly on the ground in a secluded area, two men stood discussing.

"So, something like this happened during the magical transfer of young Adall?"

"Yes, and I'm afraid we may never find him if we don't start searching for him right now. We'll have to hurry back home."

"Are you okay, Merlin?"

These past few days had been very difficult for him too.

He had barely learned that his father had passed away when the news of his nephew's banishment reached him.

How could a 13-year-old child, who couldn't even form a magic circle in his core, survive on his own in a world where only held strength prevailed?

Merlin then accepted the plan of Jason, Allen, and Martin, which involved sending the young boy to him through long-distance teleportation, powered by two magic circles and three magicians, himself included.

He would have liked to come and fetch his nephew himself, but his movements were closely monitored by his brother's spies, and there was no guarantee that the latter wouldn't attempt anything more drastic than banishment against Adall before his arrival.

Being a 9th circle magician mastering teleportation magic through the [Light] element and not [Space], he couldn't cover the entire distance separating him from the family territory in a single leap.

Currently staying on another continent, it would have taken him several leaps to reach his destination. And considering the time it took to recharge his mana, the journey would last more than a day.

Merlin therefore decided to trust Jason and company's plan.

Unfortunately, nothing went as planned.

"Yes, I'm fine."

Merlin took a moment before responding to Arthur's question. And while waiting for a response, a golden light began to emanate from his body. His silhouette grew larger and more imposing every second. His form was clearly no longer that of a human.

Arthur had begun a transformation process, and what he became at the end of it was a gigantic dragon with golden scales. He was now the size of several houses stacked on top of each other and had teeth and claws as sharp as supreme swords.

Seeing him in this form for the first time, Merlin couldn't hide his surprise.

"Arthur? You..."

"Since we're a bit pressed for time, I suggest we make the journey by flying. We'll have time to discuss all this on the way."

Arthur's new voice was very powerful and majestic.

It even violently vibrated the surroundings. Having not used his dragon form for several decades, he couldn't effectively control his power.

Merlin took Arthur at his word and quickly climbed onto his back.

They flew off moments later towards the Windsor family territory.

***

On that same evening, in the patriarch's office now occupied by Zackael, a secret meeting was underway between him and another character whose betrayal no one would have ever imagined.

Moreover, can we even talk about betrayal if from the beginning, he was working for Zackael? His friendship with Michael was just one mission among others that the latter had entrusted to him.

"So, where did you finally send him, Allen?"