Prologue (The Steampunk Adventures of Sorcerer's Apprentice)

Britain, 740 AD.

“Balthazar, please”, Veronica pleaded.

“I can’t, Veronica! You shouldn’t have done that, and made me have to seal you within this crest!”

Her eyes said it all. She was forced to used Fusion Spell on Morgana Le Fay due to both she and Morgana cannot overpower each other. Because both Zacros and Ravage’s betrayal, Camelot and Merlin’s Merlinean group not ready enough against Morganian invasion to Camelot.

It was true that before this battle, Merlin had predict Morgana’s betrayal despite her being a part of Pendragon’s family. Morgana’s betrayal was due to her being disgusted with Uther’s prehibition to let magus and humans to learn or uses magic nor let them live coexist. But the king went too far by execute anyone whom caught being uses magic and worse, being a magus themselves no matter whether they good or evil in Camelot. Maguses forced to live in the forest, far from the king’s territory.

Arthur also disgusted with his father’s atrocity as much as Morgana’s. But unlike her however, he wanted to settle this matter in the peaceful ways. This was the very reason why he chooses to consult with Merlin, whom known as a just and powerful sorcerer. Merlin is also known being a sorcerer whom having a father magus and mother human, but uses his powers for good as well as formed Merlinean, a group of sorcerers named after himself whom goal is to ensure mankind and magus able to peacefully live coexist as well as ensure magic not to being abused nor used for evil. He also possesses a powerful artifact, which is named Dragon Ring.

Unbeknowist to both Arthur nor Merlin, nor even Uther either, Morgana, whom had banished herself earlier out of disgust, has formed her own group of sorcerers like Merlin was. Her group were called Morganian, named after herself. Majority of Morganian members are magus and humans whom disgusted with Uther. This group has been hiding from the plain sight for a long time unlike Merlinean, but watch over Camelot in secret, waiting for te moment to strike their enemy. Aside droven by pride, wrath, and hatred, they also sees those whom not mastered any kind of magic as a mere slave.

Within a month, Morgana has formed an army more that enough to attack Camelot. Not only that, one of Merlinean, namely Zacros, and his bloodthirsty, canine-like familiar Ravage, has join forces with her and abandoned Merlinean ways. He prove his loyalty to Morgana by giving her two dark scrolls. One of them contain The Rising, a dark spell that enable her to summon and control an army of the dead. The other being are Scroll of Dark Essence that enable her to reborn as skeletal demon by absorb both essence within the said scroll and the dead ones.

When Uther angered with his son for bring Merlin to the castle to convince him regarding his ideals, Merlin openly called the king as a coward. Merlin revealed that he has known why the king was very cruel toward magic user folks; Uther has became paranoid towards magic usage for a long time, in which most of them are deadly and powerful, as well as brought fear to normal humans includes Uther himself. However, his fear towards magic has turned into hatred, that eventually ascended to homicidal level. Merlin claimed that he has been watching how Uther control Camelot during his reign, and had warned Arthur that instead prosperity and peace, Uther only brough nothing but fear and hatred, and in time, they would brought forth destruction and death to Camelot.

Before this argument became tense, Morgana and her Morganian army have launched their assault towards Camelot. Many Camelot residence are injured or killed during the assault, and Uther Pendragon was murdered by Morgana in front of Arthur and Merlin by stabbed with molten dagger from behind. Dren and Ravage appears before them, revealed that he has betray Merlinean and prepares to kill them after lend his master a hand to kill Uther. Fortunately, Merlin’s most trusted two apprentices, namely Balthazar Blake, and Veronica Gorloisen, along with a group of other Merlinean members, came to save Camelot.

Despite their valiant effort, Morganians are proven more powerful in terms of numbers. Although, Balthazar and Veronica able to make their way to the throne room where Merlin, Arthur, Morgana, Zacros, and Ravage are. Both of them defeated the treacherous Zacros, left his familiar Ravage no longer has a master. Veronica and Balthazar then proceed to fought Morgana to save Merlin and Arthur. However, Morgana was very powerful since her exile, and easily overpowers Balthazar and ready to kill him. Just then, Veronica save Balthazar in time by distract her, allows Merlin and Arthur to drag him away from the battlefield.

Veronica and Morgana battles without anyone and anything that stand in their way, but none of them able to overpower each other as their powers were equal: Everytime Morgana corners Veronica, Veronica immediately turn the tide of the battle, and the otherwise occurs as well. As both desperate and last resort to stop Morgana, Veronica eventually uses the Fusion spell, a forbidden spell that enable one to absorb and seal the target’s soul into his/her body as a prison, and turn the target’s body into the dust. Arthur, Merlin, and Balthazar tries to stop her as she did, but it’s too late.....

“I had no other choice, Balthazar”, said Veronica tearfully. “I know that the only sorcerer who can truly overpower and destroy her for good is Prime Merlinean. That was what Merlin said to me if we can’t defeat her for good before being ascended as The Beast someday. But none of us nor our friends are the said sorcerer!”

“That’s right”, Merlin grimly confirmed. “But this is not reason why you conjure such that forbidden spell, young apprentice. She will possess your body or lived as a disembodied entity that can possesses anyone. Either way, she will become The Beast that intended to extinguish all life like the propechy said!”

“I had to do this because i must!”, she insisted. “I can’t fought Morgana forever nor let those who around me, even those i care about died at hands of a dark sorceress like her. I know that the legend would come true someday as well as her ascension as The Beast, and i will hold this evil sorceress inside me, until that day comes where Prime Merlinean destroy her for sake of us and this world.”

“But—”, exclaimed Balthazar, but is interrupted by Arthur who place his hand on his shoulder. “Have faith on both the legend and her, Balthazar”, said Arthur solemnly to convince Balthazar. “It’s not her fault nor Morgana’s that she did so. But rather my father’s. I am not same with my father and this is why i had to consult to your master to prevent this. I also unable to accept that my father’s damage would be too great like this. He indirectly has turned Morgana to the dark side, and thus, someday would ascend into The Beast like Merlin said. If you can find the Prime Merlinean, you can save her life and destroy Morgana for good.”

“It may took a long time to find such the legendary sorcerer, but you have to do whatever it takes to find him or her”, Merlin added. “I know that you love her as much as i love her like a daughter. But now, take this.” Merlin gave Balthazar a ring that resembles four legged, winged dragon. Balthazar took the ring, and examined it.

“Master, is this?”, Balthazar asked as he finally recognize the ring on his hand. “Yes”, Merlin answered. “Dragon Ring. This ring has power to detect any individual who has immense powers like me as I was the who create it. This ring may look ordinary, but it’s powers will guide you to find the Prime Merlinean as it can detect those whom powers potentionally surpasses mine and their pure heart. You must use the ring both to find the Prime Merlinean, and then, save Veronica and defeat Morgana!”

Balthazar initially hestitates as now he have a quest that may took a long time to finished, but then accept the ring. “I promise i won’t let you down, Master. I’ll do whatever it takes to destroy Morgana and save Veronica.”

Suddenly, Veronica groaned in pain. Her right eye turns green, shows that Morgana either tries to possesses her, or killing her from the inside. She clutches her head, struggle to keep her mind as Morgana tries to possess her.

“Hurry, Balthazar, seal me into the Grimdisk!”, she exclaimed. Balthazar immediately reveal a disk that Veronica referred within his robe: A disk with a black orb in it’s center. A magical inscription can be seen around the orb, indicating it’s magical nature. He then pointed the orb onto the woman in front of him. Veronica still struggling, but it seemed that she may not last long, as her left eye also glows into green colour like her right eye did.

“I’ll promise that i will save you, Veronica”, Balthazar said as he activate the disk’s power.

Orb at the center of the disk glows, emit the white light that projected at Veronica. Just then, Morgana gains total control over Veronica’s body. However, it’s too late: As she did, Veronica’s body reduced into mass of glowing dust that immediately absorbed by orb in the Grimdisk. The disk absorb Veronica’s body until none of her remains left, and the orb reveals the visage of both Veronica and Morgana’s after the absorption completed, each are located in the respective side of the disk. The light from the orb went out, and Balthazar put the disk back into his cape.

Balthazar sighted, tries to retain his composure as possible. He was struggling with the fact that he had to seal a woman that he had crush to. But she has done the right thing, and thanks to her, he will have more time to search the Prime Merlinean, those who will potentially became Merlin’s successor. But there’s a catch: Zacros’s death would made Ravage has a grudge to him, and someday may claim his vengeance at all costs. Balthazar then left Camelot, but not before tell both Merlin and Arthur that the Prime Merlinean that he may found someday, may not truly wanted to be Merlin’s successor. But at least, whoever he or she will be, will destroy Morgana anyway. He cannot truly trust anyone in his journey, not only because some of them would to hinder his path under Ravage’s manipulation, but also because Merlin has told him that he cannot passes this quest to someone else.

Despite this, Balthazar never gives up, and his search continues even after centuries passes. He had to consume elixir of life, powerful substance made from a Philosopher’s Stone to prolong his lifespan so he still have more time to search the Prime Merlinean. He also had to guard the Grimdisk at the same time, in which it’s sealing power degradated as time passes, which means he had to search the very sorcerer he seeked as fast as possible. Merlin and Arthur may died as his journey continues, but thanks to both of them, now Merlinean has been developed int a larger organization called CrossMages, in which anyone that associated with the such large organization may being the Prime Merlinean he seek.....

Prev: None

Next: Coming Soon