Kimi woke once more from her sickness.
Being so weak and feeble was horrible. That she had succumbed to an illness like this an insult, and that another forced medicine down her throat- even if it did make her feel better, was just so degrading.
She had to get out of here and find a cure. She just had to! What if the spirits of the forest left? What if this was her only chance? She couldn't live like this forever! She glanced around and she appeared to be alone. She saw some clothes near a burned out fire. They seemed nice and dry.
She quickly put on the leather skins. There seemed to be some kind of tanned leather hood too so he put that on, feeling them brush against her pointed ears. They were certainly better then nothing.
The strange pointy eared girl glanced down at her form, making sure no other changed have happened. So far she couldn't see any, other then she was a girl still. She wished she had a mirror to see her ears better but had to settle for just touching them. They certainly did feel to stick out a little, but perhaps her hair could hide it.
This had all gone so wrong so quickly. She was supposed to be past the border, with hundreds in gold... but... why did she feel bad now about... no! She shouldn't feel bad about it! But some tiny part of her felt...
She tried to shake her head of it. A cure. Focus on the cure. She adjusted her clothes a little, the rough leather felt coarse against the soft flesh of her chest. She winced at the feeling. Girls were so... urgh. To think he was attracted to-
wait a minute.. was...?
She must still be delirious with illness. She wasn't going to go into that either. As soon as she got the cure everything would be back to normal. She opened the flap of the tent, feeling the fresh air. It felt good to move and breathe it even with a cough building in her throat. The wind gently pushed some of her hair. She glanced around and it didn't look like anyone had noticed her.
She carefully walked to the edge of a river. A few glanced in her direction, but would probably think she was just getting water.
This was almost too easy.
She cupped some of the water, to fulfil the illusion. Then she calmly followed up the river, glancing at the other natives in the corner of her eye.
She finally walked out of the camp and as soon as she could, ran.
She ran as quickly as possible towards the forest, trying to hold back a cough. She made another glance behind as nobody had noticed or followed her. She breathed a sigh of relief and quickly found the path she had taken before.
She pulled up the tanned leather hood, hiding her black hair and pointed ears, and continued walking. She sniffed the air a bit, even with her blocked nose she was sure she could smell a skunk if she had to. At least that's what she hoped.
She will force the cure out of them if she had to.
Stacy carefully walked towards the three girls. Due to her size she found it easier to walk around the house then through the living room and into the garden. The dinosaur boy was very happy to see them all talking and not fighting. She worried about her little sister so much. Now she had not one but two friends! It made her present all the better.
"Lilly?" he bellowed.
The squirrel girl glanced up meekly. "Y-yes Big brother?" She asked with wide eyes.
"You forgot your present. You've been such a good girl at shopping remember?"
Lilly blushed at the complement. Why... did it feel nice to hear her brother say that? it shouldn't but- it was still nice.
The dinosaur brought out four colourful bands from a bag. "These are friendship bracelets," He said with a grin. "You give them to your friends."
Lilly took the bracelets unsure. She carefully put one around wrist. It was made of plastic but the colours on it were like a rainbow. She looked at the identical other bracelets. Each pattern was identically played onto each of them.
Lilly offered a bracelet to Jenny "You want a... oh you got one though." She said noticing the curious bracelet Jenny always wore.
"I can wear two," She said smiling. The white haired girl carefully placed the band underneath her magic bracelet. It felt nice to have it there.
Lilly then glanced at Melanie... should she... she didn't really know her and she did hurt her before. But she was in some way related to Jenny so... maybe she should give her one? "H-Here..." She said offering the colourful bracelet.
Melanie looked at the strange object. It gave no obvious purpose, it was clearly not a totem, and was made of plastic. yet it was supposed to be worn? "What is this for?"
"It means... we' er... we're friends?" said Lilly a little unsure saying it.
"Friends?" The word... had no meaning. Still she put it around her wrist. She had lost the magic one when she lost her arms. It did feel nice to have the new bracelet.
"You have one more sis," said Stacy. "Who are you going to give it to?"
"Um- C-can I give it to Artemis?" she asked hopefully
"Of course you can! When you see her in school. I'm sure she'll be very happy. I'm very proud of you Lilly," Said Stacy giving the little squirrel a warm embrace.
Lilly blushed again and hugged her brother back.
Jon read her book, finding passages that were a lot more intriguing to her. These pages looked to have been written by the merlin of legend, the one that Brittany spoke of. However, it was nothing at all like the legend.
To whom would read my words now, know that I am Merlin of Camelot. I know not how my actions will be reflected in history, nor if I would be remembered at all. Perhaps in some shape or form I will be remembered, but I write this now for you. As perhaps you will see, I was involved in a war in the creation of Camelot.
Jon turned the page.
What perhaps you may not know, is that I succeeded. You are now living in the idea of Camelot.
Jon gasped a bit. What did Merlin mean by that?
We have become alive in a way others could not be. We are forever changed by the experience of magic, and have gained insight and knowledge into the nature of the universe itself. I am burdened with the knowledge of things greater then man could ever understand as yet... I knew what would happen if magic was allowed to continue.
Jon paused to wonder that. If a path of magic had been allowed to occur in the past, what would humans become? Completely unrecognisable, probably. Yet would it really be so bad? Or would it be the equivalent of a nuclear civilisation among Gregorian societies? It would boggle the mind...
I had to shut the door. Magic was too dangerous in my time. We are simply not ready for the greater possibilities that await such a responsibility. Morgana, was against it. She believed man was ready to embrace magic. Indeed, she believed man would one day replace the forces that we call gods... She always debated it with me. Imagine if we could ensure a person's destiny truly reflected what was in their heart? Bad fates would befall 'bad' people... A kind of Karma if you will. I had to remove much of her spells because of the situations that occurred. Though I do not know if I am successful or not
Jon wondered about that. So Morgana was actually on the side of magic? She always envisioned Merlin to be. Yet Morgana seemed to be championing humans to become part of a magical community. To become... gods? She turned the page once more intrigued.
So yes... I ended magic. Camelot become a world of freedom where even the worst could be redeemed without fearing punishment by fate. Humanity was once more in control of its own destiny... though at a heavy price. We are cut off from understanding our very nature, burdened by consciousness and the knowledge of good and evil. Many of us cling to a belief in magic even if it is now nearly impossible to access. Yet this gave us time. Civilisation will continue, and our knowledge of self should be given time to develop. The art of science is practically unknown in the greater realms, and this will complement the power of magic if not someday be even greater. All this will be needed, during the next age.
The next age... did that mean where Jon was now?
Take heed new Merlin... You will have to decide the fate of an entire world. I can not offer much to guide you, as I can not imagine the world you now live in. Humans are just one step in an unbelievably complex situation, and I still believe a positive force. There are beings out there that think otherwise, and will end humanity if they could. The greatest power humans have is the ability to name things. This is power... and something greatly feared to realms of magic. Enclosed is a map to my tower. This map changes based on your location. It will take you to a door or portal, which will grant you access. It will have a single trap... but if things go well, you should have a companion that can disable it.
Jon glanced at the map... should she go see Merlin's tower? Perhaps it would help her understand what was going on.
