Chapter 13: Apprenticeship

"Well Merlin, we have a lot to accomplish today. Better get to work," said Bernie, waking Merlin.

Merlin's wound from his battle with the Saxon dragon had been bandaged. The Saxons had fled Britain after receiving news of the dragon's death, allowing Uther more time to prepare for the war. Uther had left his remaining men stationed at Stonehenge to fend off any raids. Meanwhile, Merlin and Uther had traveled back to Caernarfon Castle, arriving only the day before, December 3, 1336. They would have been back sooner, but Bernie had told Merlin not to use magic. Besides, Merlin had figured he and Uther could help tone each other's fighting skills.

After arriving, Bernie had looked Merlin over, healing Merlin's wound as best as he could. Bernie had said that it was time for Merlin to begin learning the arts of Gramarye. Training would begin tomorrow he had said.

Now here Bernie was, waking Merlin earlier than even the earliest peasants.

"Here are some pancakes. Eat while I explain the works of magic.

"You already know the history of magic, so I'll cut to the chase. Magic is divided into three different branches, each working differently than the others. The three branches are charms, spells, and hexes. You also have alchemy, but that isn't considered magic. Anyhow, each branch has specific rules and abilities.


"Let's start with charms. Charms are the easiest of any magic you can perform. However, they can't control anything, and they can only manipulate unanimous objects or else rodent-sized creatures. To cast a charm, you merely have to think what you want, and you have it. No words or wands required.

"Spells are a little different. Spells can manipulate anything, and control relatively few things. Casting a spell is also a little different. First, you need a wand, which you use to harness the magic energy in the air around you. Then you speak what you want, using the Speech. Unfortunately, magic is not thinking, and so you have to guide it when performing spells, word for word. If you don't your spell won't turn out correctly, and may even backfire. That's why wizards have ti be careful with their wording, and it's why I didn't want you using magic to get back here.

"The third and most dangerous branch of magic is hexes. Hexes can be used to control anything, even time and space themselves. Hexes are very intricate, and require exact wording. If you don't say it exactly right, or don't gather enough energy, hexes will drain the remaining energy they need from the caster and anybody near him. This has won multiple battles, but it's something to avoid unless absolutely necessary. Fortunately, the art of hexes is an ancient one, and therefore not widely used. Now come on; while you were gone I set up a shape-shifting exercise for you."

A few minutes later, Merlin was in the courtyard, looking at an elaborate array of walls, hoops, rings, holes, and targets.

"Here's what I want you to do," said Bernie, "I want you to pass all of these obstacles by using your shape-shifting ability. You may not use magic, and you may not change back to your normal shape after you have first shifted once starting the course. Your goal is to do it in two minutes. Go!"

As soon as Bernie said go, Merlin was off, in his dragon shape. His first obstacle was a ring halfway up the castle wall, and the next obstacle was a target a few feet above the hoop. This was going to be easy!

Flying parallel to the wall before him, Merlin soared through the first hoop, and scorched the target. Shape-shifting to a lion, Merlin ran the length of the wall, jumping hurdles and ramming any targets. Done on the wall, Merlin shifted to become a spider crawling down the wall. Breezing through the rest of the course, Merlin made it back to where he started in just under a minute.

"Not good enough," said Bernie, "try again. This time under fifty seconds.

Not foreseeing what was going to happen, Merlin repeated the course. This time, everything went wrong. As he was flying up the wall, Merlin saw the wall suddenly heighten and swerve, taking the hoop with it. Still flying towards the hoop, Merlin was then attacked by a mound of earth rising up like lava spewing out of a volcano. The mound of earth hit Merlin square in the chest, pushing him up onto the wall. Inexplicably, the wall tipped, knocking Merlin onto the ground below. Wrapped in pain, Merlin heard a low rumbling coming from beneath him as the ground opened, leaving Merlin to fall fifty feet.

"Alright?" Bernie called, looking over the edge of the crack in the earth.

"How did you do that?" asked Merlin, shifting back to his normal self.

"I'm the Elemental Earth, remember? I can manipulate anything having to with the earth, including the structures above it. Come on let's try again."

It was late afternoon when Bernie called it quiting time. No matter how many times Merlin tried, he never succeeded in successfully maneuvering through the course. Every time Bernie had done somthing different, preventing Merlin from attaining victory over the course.

"What was that exercise all about?" asked Merlin.

"I wanted to help you develop your shape-shifting skills." Bernie replied calmly.

"Then why did you manipulate the course with magic?"

"It was to help develop your sense of foresight. Before we all got comfortable in Atlantis, it was a requirement that wizards successfully manuever an obstacle course like the one you did in a short time. It was one of the many vigorous training exercises they did."

"Will I be doing these exercises?"

"Of course. You may be my nephew, but you still need to hone your talents further than you possbly can. I can gurantee you, that you shan't fight with the Light until the day you master every last one of those exercises. But you did good today, so I'm letting you take the rest of the day off."

"Thanks."

"You are most welcome. Oh, onne last thing; did you bring Fanomar?"

"Yes, I always carry Fanomar, why?"

"I need to see Fanomar." Bernie replied.

Fanomar taken from its scabbard, Bernie turned it on to its flat edge, resting it on the side of Merlin's neck.

"Rise, my apprentice." said Bernie, twisting the sword away from Merlin.

Although Merlin would undoubtfully be known by many more names throughout his life and beyond, 'Apprentice' was the one name that would always stick.