500 years ago
After transforming his appearance into Merlin, Ryuda walked closer to the shadowy figure, just close enough for Ryuda to observe the shadowy figure's change in expressions.
As for the real Merlin, his aura started to fluctuate crazily as he tried to break free from the chains binding him to the light pillar.
"Aaarghhhh!" While he struggled, Merlin kept on howling. He couldn't talk so howling was the best form of release for him.
A stick of incense time later, Merlin's body slumped down and he stopped struggling.
He knew that it was hopeless for him to break the Bindings of Seraphin, yet when he saw Ryuda wearing his face, Merlin suddenly became extremely angry.
He thought back to his childhood before he had met Ryuda or Azure Monarch.
500 years ago, Merlin was only an S rank Spatial Mage who lived in the outskirts of the Avalonian Empire.
His daily life was simple.
Wake up, study magic scrolls, eat and sleep.
Merlin followed this daily routine for his entire childhood, allowing him to break through to SS rank Spatial Magus at the young age of 24.
He thought that his life had already fulfilled his purpose, so he went to the Avalonian Empire to find new opportunities to spice up his life.
Merlin soon regretted his choice dearly.
He met Ryuda and his teacher, Azure Monarch in the markets of Cysefin, meaning Prime City.
Ryuda looked ordinary while Azure Monarch exuded an air of majesty around him, prompting the people around them to think that Ryuda was Azure Monarch's servant.
Merlin felt that Azure Monarch was a powerful man, so he introduced himself to Azure Monarch with a confident smile.
Azure Monarch paused for a moment to listen to Merlin before he walked away with Ryuda.
It seemed that Azure Monarch did not think that Merlin was special.
Nonetheless, Merlin remained hopeful as he soon met Azure Monarch again by walking around the markets.
Ryuda was nowhere to be seen, so Merlin guessed that Azure Monarch had ordered his servant to purchase things in his stead.
But just as he was about to introduce himself again, Merlin felt something hard hit the back of his head before he stumbled onto the ground and collapsed.
When he opened his eyes again, Merlin saw the Azure Monarch looking over him.
He promptly looked away, feeling awkward that he was being watched while he was knocked out.
When Merlin turned his head however, he saw Ryuda's sleeping face.
This shocked him greatly.
Just how could a servant dare sleep while his master was awake?
Wasn't he courting death?
Merlin was just about to get up when he felt an invisible pressure press down on his body.
"What the–?"
"I had knocked your head with a large stone just now. It's best if you lay down to rest."
Merlin became confused.
He saw that Azure Monarch did not speak so where did that voice come from?
Could it be?
Turning his head to look at the servant again, Merlin's soul nearly jumped out of his body as he faced an awakened Ryuda.
Ryuda glanced at Merlin for a moment, before he stretched his arms and went back to sleep. "Take care of your new disciple, Azure. I will test him once he reaches SSS rank realm."
And before Merlin could react, Azure Monarch bowed towards the sleeping Ryuda before he lifted up Merlin with his azure qi.
The following years became murky for Merlin.
He didn't remember much of what happened during his stay with Azure Monarch.
Just that by the end of the training session a few years later, Merlin had fully accepted Azure Monarch as his master.
Without Azure Monarch guiding him through countless trials and hardships, Merlin felt that SS rank would have been his last realm before he walked into his grave.
***
A month after Merlin had reached SSS rank, Ryuda came to visit his master, Azure Monarch.
Bringing a stack of ancient scrolls with him, Ryuda handed the stack to Merlin before he started his chat with Azure Monarch.
They chatted for hours while Merlin studied the ancient scrolls.
Hours went by and soon, night came.
Merlin was still studying the ancient scrolls when Azure Monarch summoned him to his abode.
Upon entering his master's abode, Merlin bowed towards his master before he bowed towards Ryuda.
He no longer thinks that Ryuda was Azure Monarch's servant.
Rather, it was the opposite.
The Azure Monarch was Ryuda's servant.
Just the fact that his master would always refer Ryuda as his teacher was evident that Azure Monarch was the junior while Ryuda was the senior.
"Sit down, Merlin. My teacher wishes to give you a trial." Azure Monarch patted his hand next to him, signaling Merlin to come and sit beside him.
Merlin nodded his head before he plopped himself next to his master.
Once Merlin got comfortable, Ryuda opened his mouth and began to speak.
"Merlin, congrats on breaking through to SSS rank. You are now a Grand Magus of Time & Space. You are indeed a genius, and I wish you the best."
"Thank you for your praise, Grandmaster. I will continue to work hard and prove myself with time."
"Yes, I do hope you can prove yourself without fail. Now then, I have a mission for you."
"Please speak your mind, Grandmaster. I'm ready to accomplish the mission given to me with utmost effort."
"Mm, I like your attitude. So here's the mission. The mission duration will be 10 years starting from today. Merlin, I want you to break through your limits and reach X rank within these 10 years. Can you do it?"
"X rank? As in Grandmaster's realm?"
"Yes, I want you to surpass your master and reach my level. I'll give you 10 years to complete this mission, can you do it?"
"I will accomplish this mission given to me with all my might, Grandmaster!"
Without wanting to waste time, Merlin kowtowed once towards Ryuda before he kowtowed again towards his master. He then stood up before leaving his master's abode.