The greatest of all time, and what is magic?

I took a deep breath and opened the door, and as I entered the room my eyes scanned the whole place. But there was nothing, nothing but a worn-looking painting on the wall opposite the door. I focused my gaze on it, I could feel it, it was from the painting that this feeling of calling came.

My feet moved almost of their own accord, and the next instant I was standing in front of the painting.

The painting was large, the same size as the fat lady painting. But this one had nothing painted on it. I looked at the frame and realized there was a pattern of rune-like symbols, but they were not like the ones I knew, the symbols seemed more complex.

'What should I do?' I asked myself

Now that I was close, I could feel the call even more potent, so I realized that something inside me, was reacting to the painting, it was my magic. As if I finally understood something, I reached out my hand and touched the painting, depositing my magic in its pure form.

The moment the connection was made a golden light appeared from the runes on the frame, I narrowed my eyes because of the discomfort caused by the light, but at no time did I take my eyes off the painting, not out of caution, I was fascinated after the light diminished I could look more closely.

The runes were of unique beauty, they seemed to contain an ancient and imposing power, this enchanted me in such a way that I forgot about the rest. It was only when an aged voice sounded that I awoke from my trance.

'''They are magnificent, aren't they? ''

I didn't look too hard to find the source of the voice, after all, it was literally right in front of me. I looked at the old man with the long beard and white hair that appeared in the frame. Dumbledore? I thought for a moment but realized that it wasn't him.

Who is it? I asked myself analyzing him better, then I saw that he was watching me with an amused look and decided to ask.

"Who are you?

"Who am I?" laughed the old man, "has my name been forgotten after so long?

Is he famous? Actually, he reminds me of someone I saw..., but where?

Then my eyes widened, and I realized where I had seen him from, in the chocolate frogs, this old man was...

"Merlin," I said, surprised.

"A picture of him" corrected the old man "But yes, that's me

Who was Merlin? The greatest wizard of all time, called the prince of spells, just the mention of his name was something big. And here I was talking to him, well yes a picture of him, but it was still him.

I realized that I needed to calm down and took a deep breath, clearing my mind. I had a few questions first.

Why did you call me here?" I asked, analyzing his reaction.

The old man laughed and asked, "Without even introducing himself?

Only then did I realize that I had not spoken my name.

I stood firm and said in clear words: '' Adam Davies, scion of the Davies family. Hogwarts student, the first year of Ravenclaw. And future greatest wizard of all time.''

Merlin seemed to like my words, for he was smiling as he said: '' Hard journey you have there, after all, I was really something''

I knew this, but this was exactly why I kept so much motivation, a man was as big as his dreams.

I said nothing in response, I wanted to hear what he had to say.

He shook his head and explained, '' Straight to the point then... You know, this castle is really something. Even before it became a school, it was already here, can you imagine, what secrets it hides?''

As if it wasn't a real question, he continued.

When I studied here, I found out a little about these secrets, but only many years later I could really study them, at that time I understood the similarity between my magic and that of the castle.

The similarity of magic?" I asked, wanting to hear his answer. This was a topic that I had been thinking about during my trip, what was magic? Was it the same for everyone? Even magical beings or creatures? All Wizards?

Yes, my magic and that of the castle were similar and what was to be observed was that besides myself I had never met another with the same characteristics, characteristics that were unique. From that day on I spent a lot of time studying it, I call it ancient magic.

Ancient Magic? What was it? I could think of sacrificial protection, but I couldn't see beyond that. And although I had other questions, my first question had not yet been answered.

As if he knew what I was thinking, he continued.

It was only at the end of my life, that I realized there was a different magic in this world, I had been approaching this magic since birth, but did not know it. In the end, I understood the value of this power, and I chose to leave my legacy to the next person who would have it.

He said all this while staring at me, his eyes seeming to look inside me.

'' I left a command with the castle, to guide the witch who also had it. And that is why you are here, you are a possessor of the ancient magic''

Merlin saw that I didn't react too surprised and looked curious.

'' You don't seem very surprised boy, maybe you have already noticed something different in your magic?''

I would be lying if I said I didn't. Why did I recover my memories? And the event occurred on the day my magic awakened.

'' You can say that I have certain events in my life that would support some idea like this of ancient magic,'' I said without giving too many details.

Merlin smiled and asked. "What do you think magic is?

What was it? Were there any hints about it in the hundreds of books I had read? I closed my eyes and tried to remember everything I knew about magic.

To me what was magic?

I felt magic as an energy, something alive, an absolute law in this world, something that connected everything, in the Wizards we could only touch the surface of what seemed like so much more.

'' It seems you already have your answer.'' Merlin's voice made me open my eyes, in the painting the old man had a deep and mysterious look.

''Then comes the question.'' He said '''What is ancient magic?''

WHAT WAS IT? The cogs in my head started turning, what was it? I knew, somehow I believed I knew.

'' ''Life? Death? Time and space? ''

Merlin smoothed his beard and said, '' Yes, just like the elements. Magic has been in this world since its very existence, it covers everything, without restrictions.''

When we wizards are born, this energy lets us access a branch of its power, and this already makes us extraordinary creatures, different from the Wizards. But what if we could access this power completely? What if we could understand it in its purest form, what would happen?''

I felt my body tremble with excitement at this simple idea, if we could break the shackles that limit current magic, where would that take us?

'' Can we do this? Can I do this?" I asked, my voice barely coming out of my throat.

As if he found my question funny, he laughed '' That's a question you should ask yourself, can you? ''

I could, no I would, that was my desire, to achieve something that no other before could. When I looked into the future in magic, I saw many points on the road, each of them was a great magician with an achievement that marked history, the point but far on this road was Merlin himself, but I wanted to go beyond, and enter something never explored.

I felt my skinny reacting to my feelings, I clenched my fists tightly and held that determination in my mind.

"Looks like we don't have much time," said Merlin

I looked at the painting without understanding, but realized that the once shiny runes under the frame were now losing their light. I opened my mouth to speak, but Merlin spoke first:

''Among all those who possess a trait beyond ordinary magic, it is you that the castle has chosen.'' He looked me straight in the eye as if looking at something specific

'' It seems that one of the four has already... ''

I heard him mutter something, but I didn't fully understand.

"Since you are a Ravenclaw, nothing better than a riddle, right? He asked.

''Actually, no,'' I said, but he didn't seem to mind and spoke, his voice deep and mysterious:

I bring life and death,

I am hope or despair,

I can heal or hurt,

I am a portal to another world''

What did this mean? I asked myself, without much time to think, as the runes that seemed to lose their light, now began to shine brightly.

Merlin smiled at me, his image beginning to fade. '' I created them myself, and since you seem to like them, I hope you can put them to good use.''

When his voice was gone, the light covered the whole picture that began to fade. I covered my face with my hand, what is happening?

When the light was gone, the painting was gone too, but there was something in its place, floating there in front of me.