One wish for you

Chapter 14: Reflections

Escanor POV:

When Merlin said that she had brought me back to life, I am still having problem processing the thought of it. Is there really a way to bring back the dead to life? No matter how strong the magic is , there is always a price to pay. And I am not sure what the price is...

As she walked into the bar,  it was nothing like my own bar, the whole place was a mess. Piles of papers and weird instruments were cluttered all over, some even gave a foul odor and looks like a ritual or experiment. As I walked towards the bar counter, there was still some barrel of drinks left. 

"Want a drink?"

"Sure, thanks."

"Nothing like your bar right?" Merlin smirks.

"...I was about to ask you, is this really my place?"

"Well, you are right, since you are gone I was helping to keep the place running for a while but, as you can see here... I stopped and it became my own research lab. My bad..."

"Not at all, I was kinda confused with all that is happening around here.."

"Well I am going to explain it to you."

As she walks towards the pile of papers,  Merlin began to look pale.

"Merlin... are you okay?"

 She casually waived off my concerned for her and proceeded to sit on a chair among the pile of research notes and experimental notes. Among them were written 'Revival possibilities and risks' and 'Human Magic Revival'. Merlin seemed down and disappointed.

As I approached her, Merlin began to slowly changed to a small girl. I was not suprised as my memories had returned, I had seen her true form.

"Are you okay, Merlin?" I asked again.

"...Yes, I had depleted my mana reserved and that's why I became like this."

"...Alright, I will just get straight to the point, how did you revived me?"

Her eyes met mine, the awkward tension was tense. After what felt like eternity , Merlin began to speak.

"As you might have known, all the event that had transpired with you not having any memories about yourself, wandering around and finally deciding to be a bartender in Camelot and then the Kingdom of Glade... was to test  whether the revival magic was going to succeed. All of that was controlled by my Time Magic called 'Infinity'. Basically, it allows me to create an artificial world so that you can be in it. The members of the Deadly Sins were against it, even Meliodas was against it. Everyone knows that I had done this forbidden magic and tried to prevent me from doing  it, but..."

Merlin glanced at her research notes, sighing with disappointment.

"Long story short, the experiment is not successful as you are here now."

"...All of that happening in Glade was all one big illusion??"

"Yes."

"Uhhhhh, ok? I don't even know what to say..." 

Merlin look out from her window, as she is a small child now, she needs to stand on a chair which I find it to be adorable. She mentioned me to come closer to her. As I approached her, I noticed the outside environment was slowly disappearing.

"Looks like we are running out of time." her voiced seemed to be in sorrow.

"Well,  it seems that way."

"Escanor, I have something that we need to discuss. It's important for me..."

"...Sure, what is it?"

"That day that you left, you said that you always loved me...Do you still feel the same? After all that had happened?"

"I still feel the same way, or should I say was?"

Merlin seemed indifferent to my answer. As she stared outside, I noticed that scar on her...

"...That scar... why did you do it? Why did you kiss me knowing of what will happen to you?"

"Why? I myself could not even comprehend my actions. It helps me to remember the only man who had loved me. Maybe something symbolic? "

"I mostly remember everything now...It hurts, to remember your reply. We seemed to be world's apart eh? Well , I said that I could understand you but to be honest...our worlds are far apart right?"

"... I had not yet explained why I revived you."

"Why did you do it?"

"After years of self-reflections, I think I might have missed you... even I think I was incapable of feeling such emotions" Merlin nonchalantly replied.

"....What??? Doesn't that mean you had feelings for me?"

Merlin face turned red was a sight to behold, it was like a rare event which happens once in a blue moon. I might need to record this...

"I--I am not sure, don't jump to conclusions!!" Merlin answered in shocked while blushing.

I somehow saw a side of her that I hadn't seen before. I hope to see more of her unfamiliar sight, but time is...running out...

END

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