Merlin sat on the ground of the field he had just finished clearing.
His scythe lay beside him. His breathing was heavy, and his clothes were soaked with sweat.
Suddenly, a disturbing hum resonated inside his head.
It shook his entire body.
That's right. This is all just a simulation, Merlin thought to himself.
I wonder what Sera might be seeing. Or are we all in the same simulation?
Merlin sighed. There was no way to find out. Not that he even felt like finding out. Right now, he was just hungry.
Merlin got to his feet and picked up the scythe beside him.
He walked back toward them.
His breathing had finally begun to settle, but his stomach was another matter.
Kate looked at him.
"You're hungry, aren't you?"
Merlin glanced at the bag beside her.
She smiled.
"I thought so."
Harvey laughed.
"Come sit down. You've earned it."
Merlin sat beside them.
After eating, Kate looked over at him.
"We should get you some things."
Merlin looked at her.
"Like what?"
"Clothes, for one. You can't keep wearing that."
She glanced at his robe.
Merlin hadn't really thought about it, but his robe wasn't exactly good for combat.
"You'll need some supplies too if you're going to travel with us."
Merlin nodded.
---
Later that day, after they returned from shopping, Merlin placed his new clothes and supplies beside his sleeping spot.
He stared at them for a moment.
It still felt strange having things that belonged to him.
He looked around.
The others had already gone inside. Well, most of them. The captain, for starters, still sat there praying.
Harvey was about to head inside when Luna called out to him.
"Harvey, can I talk to you?"
He turned.
"What is it?" Harvey asked.
Luna paused.
"Don't you think bringing Merlin with us is selfish?"
Harvey looked at her.
"Why?"
"Our work. It's dangerous."
She paused.
"He can stay here and live a normal life."
Harvey said nothing.
"After all, he's only a lost boy."
Luna turned and walked away.
Harvey remained where he was for a moment, staring after her.
He turned back and looked at Merlin.
Merlin was watching the captain pray.
Harvey sighed.
He turned and went to his room.
The building went silent.
The night came and went, the same way it had the day before.
This time, instead of Luna, Merlin woke up to sunlight.
He stepped out of his shade.
Everyone was packing up.
Brody glanced at him for a second.
"Pack up. We're leaving."
Merlin looked back at his supplies and clothes. He hurriedly shoved them into his bag.
The captain came in.
"Let's go," he said as he turned to leave.
The crew followed behind.
Merlin swung his bag over his shoulder and followed.
The crew exited the building and then Lilith itself.
Unlike before, the wind was calm, and the sky was clear.
Now that the wind wasn't getting in his eyes, Merlin could clearly see the charred ground and buildings outside the walls of Lilith.
The crew walked through the rubble, keeping close to the walls.
After walking a few miles around the city, Luna suddenly stopped.
"There are Husks ahead of us," Luna said. "And they're coming this way."
"How many?" Brody asked.
"Only five this time."
Brody turned to Leon.
Leon gave him a nod and walked forward.
He didn't even bother to draw his dagger.
What does he plan on doing? Merlin thought to himself.
Leon reached into his bag and pulled out an orb.
He threw it into the air.
The orb released a glowing green light, illuminating the area around them.
Three figures slowly emerged from the rubble.
Merlin was shocked when he saw what they were.
They were people.
Or at least, they had once been.
Their bodies were covered in a black substance. Their eyes had no color, and their pale white skin was covered in wounds.
Leon opened his palms and spread his arms wide.
The orb above his head responded.
Everything around them suddenly went black.
The Husks collapsed to the ground.
They didn't move.
Merlin stared at them, unable to understand what had just happened.
And I thought Harvey was the magician, Merlin thought to himself.
Leon looked back at the crew. They advanced.
They finally made it out of the broken remains of Lilith.
Harvey walked up to Merlin.
"I forgot to give you this."
He handed Merlin the scythe.
"Next time, you'll be battle-ready."
Harvey smiled.
Merlin sighed and hung the scythe over his shoulder.
This isn't very convenient, he thought to himself.
They continued along the road.
Merlin quickly noticed that everyone was carrying more than they had when they first left.
Bags were strapped to their backs, while some carried crates and sacks by hand.
Merlin looked at his own bag.
It was heavier than before.
"What are we carrying all this for?" he thought to himself.
He didn't ask.
After several hours of walking, they finally stopped near the remains of an old road.
The captain pointed toward the horizon.
"We'll reach the settlement tomorrow."
Everyone stopped to rest.
Merlin dropped his bag onto the ground.
His shoulders felt heavier than usual.
Harvey sat nearby, stretching his arms.
"We're delivering all the extra load to the residents of that settlement," he said.
Merlin looked at the bags and crates scattered around them.
"So that's why we brought so much."
Harvey nodded.
"The people in Lilith don't have much to spare, but they gave us what they could."
Merlin looked back at the ruined city they had left behind.
They were carrying what remained of its supplies to another place.
He sat down.
The others began setting up their shelter.
As the sun disappeared, the group settled down for the night.
Merlin sat beside his bag, staring at the scythe hanging from his shoulder.
He still hadn't gotten used to carrying it.
Brody walked past him.
He stopped.
"You know, there's a better way to carry that."
Merlin looked at him.
Brody pointed toward the scythe.
"You don't have to carry it around all the time."
Merlin frowned.
Brody sat down beside him.
"Have you ever heard of a weapon contract?"
"No," Merlin answered.
"So Harvey didn't bother to help you with that?"
Brody shook his head.
"Alright. I'll be the one to teach you."
He picked up the scythe and held it out toward Merlin.
"First, you need to give it a name."
Merlin stared at the weapon.
"A name?"
"A contract isn't something you make with just any weapon. You need to acknowledge it as your own."
Brody handed the scythe back to him.
"And the first step is giving it a name."
Merlin looked down at the blade.
He hadn't really thought about naming it.
It was just a scythe.
At least, that's what it had been until now.
"Take your time," Brody said.
Merlin stared at the scythe.
How do you even name a weapon? he asked himself.
He thought for a moment.
"Requiem."
The name came to him almost immediately.
"Are you sure you want that name?" Brody asked.
Merlin nodded.
"Okay. Now place it on the sand."
Merlin did as Brody said.
"Now take this."
Brody handed him a small dagger.
"You're going to cut your palm with that."
Merlin stared at him for a moment.
Why? he asked.
Brody sighed.
"Because the contract needs blood to be sealed."
Merlin nodded.
He pressed the dagger against his palm and made a small cut, just deep enough for a few drops of blood to fall onto the scythe.
"Now place your bloody palm on it."
Merlin did as Brody said.
"Now think about the name you just gave it. Acknowledge it as your weapon."
Merlin closed his eyes and concentrated.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
Merlin felt something.
A strange presence came from within the scythe.
His blood began spreading across the weapon, crawling along the blade and shaft like veins.
Merlin opened his eyes.
The blood continued spreading.
Then the scythe began to dissolve.
It didn't break apart.
It simply melted away, sinking into the sand until there was nothing left.
"And that's it," Brody said as he got to his feet.
Merlin stared at the spot where the scythe had been.
"Don't worry. It's always with you now."
Brody looked at him.
"It's part of you. As long as you remember its name, you can call it back."
Merlin looked down at his bleeding palm.
He could feel a presence inside him.
One that hadn't been there before.