CHAPTER 196: MORGANA

The academy was quieter than he’d ever heard it.

Stone corridors stretched long and hollow, torches burning low in their brackets, casting crooked shadows across the walls. Merlin’s boots barely made a sound, but his pulse felt loud enough to echo for him.

He adjusted the cloak over his shoulders, glancing back once to make sure Nathan was still asleep in their shared dorm. Elara hadn’t been there, she was probably drilling the guards again, but Nathan... Nathan had fallen asleep sitting in that chair. Even in sleep, his hand twitched like he was still gripping a sword.

Merlin hesitated before he left. Just for a breath.

’He’d follow me if he woke up. He’d never let me do this alone.’

He pulled the door shut quietly.

The hallways swallowed him whole.

—

By the time he reached the central tower, his palms were sweating despite the cold. The Headmistress’s chambers weren’t guarded. They never were. No one was stupid enough to break into Morgana’s quarters, not unless they had a death wish.

Merlin stood before the carved oak doors, staring at the serpent design that wound around the handles. The torches on either side sputtered, like they knew what he was about to do.

He raised a hand. His knuckles tapped once.

The door swung open almost instantly, creaking slow, deliberate, like someone had been waiting.

Her voice drifted out, smooth, low, warm in a way that felt wrong this late at night.

"Merlin Everhart. I was wondering when you’d come."

Merlin froze on the threshold. Morgana stood in the center of the room, framed by shelves of books and a wide arched window spilling moonlight across her. Her long dark hair fell like silk over her shoulders, her gown loose but tailored to cling in ways that distracted more than they should have.

She smiled, lips painted the color of spilled wine.

"You’ve grown bolder since yesterday."

Merlin’s throat tightened.

’She remembers the day before the gate. She hasn’t changed at all. Why do I feel like I have?’

"I... needed to talk," Merlin managed, stepping inside. The door shut behind him on its own, clicking shut like it had locked him in.

Morgana tilted her head, eyes glinting as they tracked him.

"About the little... incident in the courtyard?"

Merlin flinched. "You saw."

"I see everything that happens under this roof, Merlin." She moved closer, slow, barefoot on the stone. "But I didn’t interfere. You closed it yourself. That was... unexpected."

He swallowed hard, hands curling at his sides.

’How much do I even tell her? She’s the Headmistress. Strongest alive, they say. But... she’s dangerous too. She always has been.’

Morgana circled him like a predator circling prey, her perfume faint and sharp in his nose.

"You should be dead."

Merlin’s jaw clenched. "I know."

"Yet you’re not." She stopped in front of him, gaze sharp now, cutting through him like knives. "So tell me, Merlin. What happened inside that gate?"

His lips parted. His chest tightened.

’She won’t believe me if I lie. She’ll know. She always knows.’

He forced himself to meet her eyes.

"I fought. I killed. And then... there was something bigger. A beast. Stronger than anything else in there. My system—" He caught himself, the word almost slipping out. He clenched his teeth. "—my power changed. It forced me higher. Past the limit."

Morgana’s eyes narrowed. "Limit?"

Merlin looked away, staring at the shelves. "I thought... ten was the highest anyone could reach. Then twelve. But in there... I broke through again."

Her silence stretched. Too long.

Merlin’s chest felt tight.

’Did I just give away too much? Did she already know?’

Finally, Morgana spoke, voice low, almost curious.

"And what did it feel like? To be something beyond what exists?"

Merlin’s throat worked. "Like... burning. Like I wasn’t myself anymore. Like everything else was too slow."

Her lips curved again, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

"Thirteen stars."

Merlin’s heart skipped. "You... you knew?"

Morgana leaned closer, her breath ghosting his ear.

"I suspected. No one else could’ve come back from a gate that unstable. No one but me... and now, you."

Merlin’s hands curled into fists.

’She’s not surprised. She’s excited. That’s worse.’

"I didn’t want this," he said quietly.

Her laughter was soft, warm, but it slid over his skin like a blade.

"No one ever does at first, Merlin. Power chooses you, not the other way around."

She stepped back, studying him.

"You came here tonight because you’re afraid. Afraid of what you’ve become. Afraid of what they’ll think, your friends, your precious Elara, your dear Nathan." Her smile widened. "But you still came to me. Because you know I’ll understand."

Merlin’s jaw tightened. He hated how true it sounded.

"I don’t want them dragged into this," he said. His voice cracked despite himself. "They don’t deserve to carry it."

"And you do?" Morgana asked, almost amused.

Merlin’s chest burned. He met her gaze again.

"Yes."

For the first time, her smile faded. Her expression softened, just a fraction.

"You really are different from the rest."

The silence stretched between them. The moonlight cut sharp lines across her face, catching the edge of her eyes.

Merlin’s mind screamed at him to leave. To run. But his legs didn’t move.

Morgana turned, walking back toward her desk, the sway of her gown catching his eyes no matter how hard he tried to look away. She sat, crossing one leg over the other.

"You’ll need control," she said finally. "Raw strength won’t keep you alive, not with that many stars burning in you. You’ll tear yourself apart."

Merlin’s stomach dropped.

’She’s right. I almost did in there.’

"I can help you," Morgana said, voice silk again. "But my help comes at a price."

Merlin’s fingers twitched at his side. "What price?"

Her smile returned, slow and dangerous.

"Loyalty."

The word hung in the air like a blade.

Merlin’s pulse raced.

’If I say yes, she’ll own me. If I say no... she’ll never let me walk out of here.’

He swallowed hard, forcing his voice steady.

"I’ll think about it."

Morgana tilted her head, studying him. Then, surprisingly, she laughed.

"That’s the first smart thing you’ve said all night."

She waved a hand, and the door behind him creaked open again. The serpent handles gleamed faint in the moonlight.

"Go, Merlin. Rest. When you’re ready to stop lying to yourself about what you are, you’ll come back."

Merlin stood frozen for a breath. Then he turned, forcing his legs to carry him back through the door.

The hallway felt colder now, heavier.

As the door shut behind him, her voice floated out, quiet but sharp enough to cut.

"You’ll be mine eventually."

Merlin walked faster, cloak pulled tight around him, chest burning with each step.

’She knows too much. She’s dangerous. But she’s the only one who might know how to stop this from killing me.’

By the time he reached the dorm again, his hands were shaking. Nathan was still asleep, sword in hand, lips moving faintly like he was dreaming.

Merlin slipped into bed, pulling the blanket over himself, eyes staring into the dark ceiling.

’Thirteen stars. Morgana knows. And she’s not going to let me go.’

The system pulsed faintly, as if agreeing.

[New Objective Added: Survive Morgana’s Interest]

Merlin shut his eyes tight.

Sleep didn’t come.

—

The sun was already creeping through the blinds when Merlin opened his eyes. His body felt heavy, but not from lack of sleep. More like the weight of everything pressing on him at once.

Nathan’s bed was empty. The chair by the desk too.

’He’s up early again. Probably training. Doesn’t even need me pushing him anymore.’

Merlin rubbed his face and sat up, the memory of Morgana’s smile flashing sharp behind his eyes. That word, loyalty, still clung to him like smoke he couldn’t wash off.

A knock on the door broke the thought. Not loud, not urgent. Just... there.

"Merlin?"

Elara’s voice.

He stood, pulling on his boots before opening the door. She leaned against the frame, arms crossed, her braid hanging loose over one shoulder. She studied his face for a second, and her expression tightened.

"You look like shit."

Merlin almost smiled. "Morning to you too."

Her eyes narrowed. "You went somewhere last night."

His stomach dropped, but he forced his tone even. "What makes you say that?"

"Because I checked." She stepped closer, eyes sharp. "Your bed was cold. And Nathan’s too tired to notice anything these days, so I didn’t bother waking him."

’Damn it. Of course she noticed. She always notices.’

Merlin leaned on the doorframe, meeting her gaze. "I couldn’t sleep. Just... walked around."

Elara didn’t blink. "Around. At three in the morning."

Silence pressed between them. Merlin’s hands curled slightly at his sides.

She sighed, shaking her head. "Whatever it is, you don’t need to carry it by yourself."

Her words stung more than they should have.

’I can’t tell you. Not you. Not anyone.’

Merlin swallowed, managing a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "I’ll keep that in mind."

Elara looked like she wanted to push more, but instead, she stepped back. "Nathan’s waiting outside. Said you promised him training today. Don’t make him wait too long."

And with that, she walked off, boots tapping down the hall.

Merlin stood there a moment longer, the quiet pressing in around him.

Then he closed the door, grabbed his cloak, and headed out.