Season 2, Episode 9: Behind the Darkness
The dragon's roar had shaken the entire world in an instant. The sky trembled with the echo, and the earth quaked beneath weakened people who stood frozen as if caught in a hallucination. While Merlin felt the thrill of his regained power and the hope of the people's freedom, he was also overwhelmed by a deep sense of loneliness.
The dragon had regained its strength, but the darkness within Merlin made him question the price he would have to pay for that power. After years of waiting, the beginning of everything once more brought not just victory, but a heavy responsibility. Was he truly ready to wield such immense power?
Though he felt satisfaction in controlling the massive creature in the sky, Merlin was caught in an internal conflict. While the people celebrated their newfound freedom, his mind was focused on one thing: the dark sorcerers. This freedom could very well be the beginning of destruction. Merlin knew it, because the dragon's awakening was not just a beacon of hope for the people—it was also a spark that accelerated the rise of his enemies.
Taking a deep breath, Merlin looked up at the sky and began an inner battle. The dragon gave him some comfort, but he didn't want more. If he failed to control this power, it could lead to total devastation.
Merlin (to himself):
"Such power… I can control it. But at what cost?"
While the people viewed the dragon's presence as a triumph, to Merlin it was merely an awakening. Gliding like a shadow behind the dragon's colossal wings, Merlin calculated every move with precision. Though he maintained his connection to magic with years of discipline and technique, the questions within him remained.
He paused for a moment, then raised his hands. At that moment, a series of ancient and mysterious words echoed through the air. It was the same spell he had used to awaken the dragon. But now, he needed something more—something stronger to defeat the sorcerers standing against him.
Yet as the spell progressed, the expression on Merlin's face changed. Instead of bringing a burst of radiant light, the spell weighed him down with an even greater burden. His eyes darkened in a way they never had before. A void formed inside him—a sense of unease.
Merlin (thinking):
"Can I truly do this?"
At that moment, another tremor struck. The dragon let out a cry from the sky. Under the influence of Merlin's spell, even the creature's presence began to take on a darker shade. This only deepened the unease inside Merlin.
Merlin (raising his voice):
"Enough… That's enough!"
He knew he would have to make peace with the darkness inside him. Awakening the dragon's power couldn't just be a physical victory—it had to be a spiritual one too. As the pressure of darkness grew, Merlin's soul bore a heavier weight.
A few minutes later…
Merlin was circling the lone dragon soaring through the sky. He realized everything around him had fallen into silence. In his mind, the silhouettes of his enemies still lingered. Before entering the battlefield, the most crucial step was yet to be taken: to rediscover himself, to control the power within… Every movement had to be calculated. If the enemies came at him all at once, he might not be able to face them alone.
But what should he do for the people? They had gained their freedom, but fear still lingered inside them. Merlin knew that they needed more than just physical liberation—they needed spiritual freedom as well. This journey would place even more responsibility on his shoulders.
As he looked up to the sky, Merlin continued strengthening his spells amid an inner struggle. When the dragon once again began to align with his control, Merlin took another step forward.
"Freedom must be more than just physical—it must be spiritual too."
He closed his eyes and activated his magic one last time. This time, the power within him lit up in a completely different way. As the dragon fully attuned itself to Merlin's spell, he was no longer just a wizard. He was someone who had accepted both the power within and the responsibility he bore toward his people.
But this… was only the beginning. Merlin's greatest trial would not only be against his enemies—but against the darkness within himself.