Chapter 3 A Hero In The Making

Merlin was on a carriage filled with other people. Their destination was Orario. From what Merlin had heard from the people on the carriage is that Orario was going through dark times. This was caused by the destruction of the Zeus and Hera familias. Both familias kept the evil familias in check and prevented them from appearing.

How did Merlin miss such massive news that could easily affect the world? The answer is simple, she is terrible at information gathering. This is due to her being lazy, she could have possibly gone her entire life not knowing what happened in Orario if it wasn't for that newspaper she decided to read because she was bored.

But now that Zeus and Hera are gone and the Loki and Freya familia are not as powerful as Zeus and Hera, many evil gods now had the guts to show themselves and cause chaos.

Was Merlin worried about this? Of course not, during her travels she had encountered some dark events that may or may not have messed with her mentality a bit. Plus she had mastered a lot of her powers. She had bested many monsters and people with falna with relative ease so she was confident that nothing in Orario could harm her if she really tried and if they could, well she has her ways of escaping.

While Merlin had mastered plenty of her spells that she knew, she did not master all of them. Throughout her travels spells would randomly pop into her mind, sometimes it happened when she wanted to do something specific. Like when she tried to start a campfire, a spell for shooting fire entered her mind. Then she learned how to shoot out water as a result of wanting to put out the forest fire she accidentally started.

These spells required her to practice how to use them properly. Her current self can easily control the fire now to either be a small flame to ignite a candle or a flamethrower to burn her enemies. She had found that she mastered magic very quickly, this is what led to her raid of the High Elf kings library and why she is greatly hated in Altena.

"We're almost at the gates! Get ready to disembark!" The carriage driver said to the passengers.

The carriage finally came to a stop. Merlin was the last to come off and when she turned to towards the gate, she spotted the towering stone walls and the massive stone tower that was easily the largest building she had seen during her time in this world.

She entered the line at the gate which wasn't long. After a little while she entered the city and her first thought was.

'Disappointing'

The city was in its dark age and thus wasn't in the best condition. Many buildings were damaged, ruined or straight up abandoned. The roads were cracked with small craters, evidence of a battle that took place and the faint smell of blood and rotting corpses.

She walked through the city streets towards the giant stone tower in the center of the city known as the tower of babel. She ignored the gazes that fell upon her due to her unique looks.

First thing she was going to do was enter the dungeon. She had no desire to become an adventurer at the moment, maybe later if she needs money which she doubts, and she definitely wouldn't join a familia considering how powerful she is. She had no need for a falna.

She made it to the stairs that lead down into the dungeon. She summoned her staff and began her descent. Many who weren't charmed by her looks thought she was crazy. A mage going alone into the dungeon without support was suicide unless you were a high level, but no one thought she was a high level due to the fact that none recognized her. High level adventurers were the talk of the town besides evilus who was causing chaos.

One particular group had noticed her and began to subtly follow her thinking she was easy prey. Merlin noticed them but gave no thought about them, they were too weak to be a threat.

And so, Merlin kept going deeper and deeper into the dungeon. Blasting any monster she encountered with a magic beam. The party that followed her long stopped as they were not strong enough to handle the deeper floors and the fact that Merlin was shooting out beams without chanting made them realize it was not worth it.

-37th Floor-

'This dungeon is quite amazing! So many different species of monsters and plants!'

Merlin placed her hand on the wall.

'Its also alive! How fascinating!'

She continued walking aimlessly, not caring about getting lost since she had memorized the way back and if not well, she can try her theory of seeing if she can just blast holes through the dungeon until she was out. 

As she was thinking about if the dungeon's regeneration could out last her magic, she heard whimpering from what sounded like a child.

Merlin followed the sound and found a small girl on the ground trying to crawl. She walked up to the child.

"Ara? What's a child doing so far down in the dungeon?"

The child was beginning to lose consciousness but still kept trying to move. Merlin was impressed by the child's perseverance.

"It seems you're in a bit of trouble, little one. Don't worry! This big sister will take care of you!"

The child fell into a deep slumber due to exhaustion.

'I guess I'll have to cut my dungeon diving time short. Oh well I can just do it another day!'

Merlin picked up the child and threw her over her shoulder and began her ascent up to the surface.

...

...

Mother...

I remember her last moments before she was devoured by the black dragon. Telling me to run away as father fought the dragon.

The black dragon...

It took away my family...

My mother...

my father...

my home...

I remember it so clearly, the scene always repeats itself in my dream.

The black dragon took away everything that I loved, I must find it... and kill it...

But I'm not strong enough. Father wasn't even able to defeat it. I need strength that surpasses my father.

The nightmare of this memory was over and I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.

"You're finally awake! You must have been very tired to have slept the entire time!"

The voice I heard was beautiful just like mothers. I turned my head to the owner of the voice.

...

'Finally she's awake! How she slept through that entire trip is beyond me. I even fought a Goliath!'

Merlin gave the child a glass of water, which the child greedily drank.

"What's your name little one?"

The child froze, she was hesitant to answer.

"Ais... Wallenstein..."

"That's a nice name! So Ais what were you doing that far down in the dungeon?"

Ais looked down at her own hands. 

"I don't know"

"Hmmm... Can you tell me what you do know?"

Ais shook her head. "I don't want to tell"

"Okay, do you have any parents or family I can take you to"

Merlin regretted asking that question as Ais began to cry.

'Shit! I stepped on a landmine! AHH I hate this! I don't know how to take care of a child!"

After many minutes of consoling, Merlin managed to get Ais to stop crying. Needless to say Merlin was tired.

Ais wiped away her tears and looked at Merlin who was mentally exhausted.

"Umm... Who are you?" She asked Merlin.

Merlin recovered and straightened her appearance. She bowed and said.

"My name is Merlin, the mage of flowers, the greatest and strongest mage to ever exist!" She told Ais her self proclaimed titles.

"Strongest?"

"Umu!" Merlin closed her eyes and nodded her head. She then felt a pull on her sleeve. She looked down to see Ais holding her sleeve.

"Can you make me strong to?"

"Eh?"

'Why would I do that... WAIT A MINUTE! A child who doesn't seem to be completely human from what I can sense is abandoned in the dungeon, her parents most likely dead based on how she reacted earlier, and now after knowing that I'm the greatest mage to ever exist she wants me to make her strong...'

'This is a revenge driven hero in the making!'

Merlin calmed herself down and asked.

"Can you tell me why you want to become strong?"

"I-I... I need to defeat the black dragon"

'The dragon that defeated the Zeus and Hera familia? Her parents were most likely killed by it. But if that is the case, how did she end up in the dungeon?'

'Hmm... Well I don't see any problems with training her other than the living expenses, hopefully I can get her to be self sufficient since I'm not good with children. I've never taught anyone before but it shouldn't be too difficult.

'Besides it should be a fun experience'

"I've decided, I'll train you"

Ais looked at Merlin with stars in her eyes.

"And since I'm training you I'll turn you into the strongest hero!"

"A hero?"

Merlin didn't answer her and left the room. Ais was stunned by Merlin's declaration. A minute later Merlin returned with a tray of food and placed it in front of Ais.

"Here's some food, my cooking is not the best but it will have to do. For now just eat and rest, I need to create a training regiment for you" 

Merlin left quickly, leaving a still stunned Ais. Ais grabbed a spoon and tasted the soup.

"Its not as good as mothers..."