CHAPTER 335: ASSIGNMENT

Nathan let out a slow breath. "She won’t stop watching? As in..."

He gestured vaguely. "You’re on her radar?"

Merlin shook his head.

"No. I’ve been on her radar."

A beat of silence.

"Now I’m in her plans."

The group went completely, perfectly still.

Elara was the first to respond, her voice low and tight.

"What does that mean?"

Merlin glanced around the hall. Other students were filing in for their next class, laughing, chatting, shoving friends, clueless of the pressure coiling around their group.

He exhaled once and spoke quietly enough only they could hear.

"Morgana didn’t call me in to question me," Merlin said. "She called me because she’s preparing something. For me. For the academy. And she wanted me to know I can’t hide my growth anymore."

Nathan frowned. "She... always knew you were strong."

"She knew I was a six-star," Merlin corrected. "She didn’t know how fast I could grow."

A pause.

"And she definitely didn’t expect me to synchronize three affinities that cleanly."

Dorian finally stepped forward, his shadow stretching faintly behind him. "So what’s her angle? Protection? Pressure? Recruitment?"

Merlin didn’t answer at first.

Then, quietly:

"All of the above."

Elara sucked in a slow breath. "She’s pulling you into her inner circle."

"Not officially." Merlin rubbed his temple. "But she’s made it clear: I’m involved in whatever comes next. Whether I want to be or not."

Adrian muttered, "Headmistress politics. Great. My favorite."

Liliana’s eyes widened. "But she wouldn’t put Merlin in danger, right? They’re... close."

This time, Merlin actually smiled.

A faint, dry smile.

"Morgana puts everyone in danger if she believes the outcome is worth it. Even herself."

Then his voice softened, the truth sliding in despite himself:

"But she’d never throw me away."

Elara turned her head slightly, studying him.

"You trust her."

"I do."

Another pause.

"Just not completely."

Nathan nodded slowly. "That’s... fair."

Ethan leaned sideways. "I prefer trusting nobody. That way disappointment hurts less."

Adrian thumped him on the back. "You are the reason shops don’t let teenagers near expensive items."

Dorian cut in, calm as ever. "What matters is this: does Morgana expect something from you?"

Merlin inhaled deeply.

"Yes."

"What?" Elara asked.

Merlin’s answer was simple. Quiet. Heavy.

"To be ready."

They all fell silent at that.

Because they’d heard the rumors.

Seen the increasing patrols.

Felt the pressure building in the curriculum.

Noticed the faculty tightening wards and lectures shifting toward real combat.

Something was coming.

And Morgana, of all people, was preparing her strongest second-year to meet it head on.

Nathan clapped Merlin’s shoulder. "Well. Lucky for her, you’ve got us."

Merlin actually winced. "I am suddenly less reassured."

Elara stepped closer—not dramatic, not possessive, just quietly anchoring him with her presence.

"We’re not letting you handle this alone. Morgana should know that too."

Merlin met her gaze.

"...She does. That’s why she didn’t tell me to stay away from any of you."

Elara blinked. "She said that?"

"She didn’t have to. She knows how I operate."

His expression softened.

"How all of us operate."

Nathan grinned. "We’re a package deal. Buy one, get six idiots for free."

Ethan raised a hand. "I object. I am worth at least two idiots."

Dorian sighed. "Tragically true."

Adrian shrugged. "I’m worth four idiots. In physical intimidation alone."

Liliana raised her hand timidly. "I’m only worth one idiot but I bake cookies."

"You’re worth five," Merlin said immediately.

She beamed.

Elara smiled—soft, brief, real.

Nathan slung his arm around Merlin. "So. Headmistress trouble, world-shaking threats, looming doom, mysterious expectations—"

Adrian nodded. "Tuesday, basically."

Ethan groaned. "I should’ve gone into alchemy. Explosions are safer than Merlin’s life."

Before Merlin could retort, the bell rang.

Elara motioned toward the classroom door. "Come on. You survived Morgana. Don’t die by being late to Professor Iren’s class."

Nathan shuddered. "She’d kill us all."

And just like that, they walked in together—Merlin at the center, Elara beside him, Nathan on the other side, the rest flanking close.

Not because he needed protection.

But because that’s where they belonged.

Merlin breathed in once, letting the tension finally break.

For now...

they were still students.

And that was enough.

Merlin felt the day settling into something almost normal as he and the others took their seats. Professor Iren’s lecture washed over the class—precise, sharp, filled with so many diagrams that even Nathan gave up taking notes halfway through.

But Merlin was only half-listening.

Half of him was replaying Morgana’s words.

The other half was waiting for the moment the consequences would arrive.

They didn’t take long.

—

It came at the very end of the period, just as Professor Iren dismissed them with a stack of assigned mana-calculus work. Students flooded toward the door—complaining, laughing, groaning.

Merlin stood to follow.

Then Iren’s voice cut through the noise like a blade.

"Merlin Everhart.

A moment."

Every other second-year in the room froze, then parted around Merlin like he’d suddenly become radioactive.

Nathan whispered, "Oh that’s not ominous at all."

Elara muttered, "She’s not angry. She’s... neutral. That’s worse."

Adrian frowned. "Want us to stay?"

"No," Merlin murmured. "Meet me outside."

The others reluctantly slipped out.

Only when the door shut behind them did Professor Iren move.

She didn’t walk toward him, she flicked her fingers, weaving a silent ward that sealed the room, muffling sound. The air tightened.

When her eyes lifted to his, they were sharp in a way that felt strangely familiar.

"Morgana spoke with you," she said. Not a question.

Merlin kept his breathing even. "Yes."

"And she gave you nothing."

"...Not directly."

Iren nodded once, as if she expected that. Then she reached into her desk and withdrew a thin, rune-marked envelope, dark, heavy parchment, sealed with the Headmistress’s personal insignia.

She held it out.

Merlin didn’t move to take it at first.

Iren’s voice softened only by a fraction. "This is not a disciplinary matter. Nor an academic one. The Headmistress instructed that only you receive this, and that you open it only when you are alone."

"...And you don’t know what’s inside?"

Her mouth twitched, not quite irritation, not quite amusement.

"She trusts me enough to carry it. Not enough to read it."

Merlin finally reached out and accepted the envelope.

It pulsed faintly against his fingertips.

Ancient wards. Old magic. Morgana’s magic.

Iren stepped back, folding her arms.

"Everhart," she said quietly, "be careful. When Morgana starts moving pieces, the board is already changing."

He nodded once.

Then he left.

—

Nathan pounced immediately. "What happened? What’d she want? Are we dying? Blink twice if we’re dying."

Merlin just held up the envelope.

The entire group froze.

Ethan whispered, "That’s... that’s her personal seal."

Adrian let out a low whistle. "Well. You’re definitely involved in something."

Liliana blinked. "Is it... dangerous?"

Merlin didn’t answer immediately.

Not because he wanted to be dramatic, because he genuinely didn’t know.

Elara stepped closer, lowering her voice.

"When will you open it?"

"Now," he said.

But he didn’t move to open it right there, in the hallway full of second-years, passing students, and too many ears.

He looked at his friends.

"Training courtyard. South wing. Five minutes."

Nathan nodded instantly. "Got it."

Dorian tilted his head. "Privacy runes?"

"I’ll set them," Merlin said.

They followed without another word.

—

The moment they stepped into the empty arena, Merlin lifted his hand.

A shimmering, multi-layered barrier unfolded around them, sound wards, vision distortion, mana interference. Strong enough that even a professor would have to push through intentionally.

The others watched in silence.

Only when the final rune settled did Merlin kneel and place the envelope on the ground.

Elara stood directly beside him.

Nathan flanked his other side.

The rest formed a loose ring, every face alert.

Merlin broke the seal.

Mana rippled out, violet and cold.

Inside was a single sheet of parchment.

No crest. No signature.

But the handwriting was unmistakable, elegant, sharp strokes, every line precise.

Merlin read it once.

Then twice.

The courtyard became painfully silent.

Nathan leaned in. "Well? What does it say?"

Merlin exhaled.

And read aloud:

"There is a disturbance in the boundary layer behind the eastern forest. Report alone, two hours before dawn.

Do not bring your friends.

Do not inform faculty.

Bring nothing that can be traced.

If you are followed, abort.

If you hesitate, do not come.

—M."

The group stared at him in stunned silence.

Then—

Nathan: "WHAT—"

Adrian: "Absolutely not."

Ethan: "That is how people die."

Liliana: "Two hours before dawn is when ghosts come out..."

Dorian folded his arms. "She’s testing you."

Elara’s voice cut cleanly through the panic.

"Merlin. Are you going?"

There was no fear in her voice.

Only a quiet, steady certainty, waiting for his answer.

Merlin looked down at the parchment again.

At the words Morgana had chosen.

At the instructions that were less a request and more a doorway.

"...Yes," he said.

Nathan groaned loudly. "Of course you are."

Elara’s eyes didn’t waver from his.

"Then we’ll be nearby."

"No," Merlin said immediately.

"Too bad," Elara replied just as immediately.

Adrian crossed his arms. "We won’t interfere. We’ll just make sure you don’t end up kidnapped by shadow cultists."

Ethan nodded. "Or eaten by boundary creatures."

Liliana added, "Or possessed by ancient old magic!"

Dorian adjusted his gloves. "Or vaporized because Morgana underestimated a threat."

Merlin sighed. "You can’t follow me. It literally says—"

Nathan clapped him on the back, nearly knocking him forward. "We won’t follow you."

He grinned.

"We’ll just happen to be in the forest at 3 a.m. for... recreational reasons."

Liliana nodded seriously. "Star-watching."

Ethan said. Night jogging."

Adrian continued. "Illegal weapon testing."

Dorian finished. "...Shut up, all of you."

Elara stepped closer, lowering her voice just for Merlin.

"You’re not facing whatever this is alone. Even if you walk into it alone."

And Merlin, despite everything, felt himself exhale.

Not because the assignment was less dangerous.

But because he wasn’t carrying it alone.

He folded the parchment, slipped it inside his coat, and looked at each of them in turn.

"Then we prepare tonight."

Nathan grinned. "Hell yes we prepare tonight."

Elara said quietly, "We’ll handle the rest."

And as the sun dipped lower over the courtyard, Merlin realized something:

Morgana’s assignment wasn’t the beginning of a secret mission.

It was the beginning of another war.

And this time, he had people walking into the shadows with him.