In the cave deep below Britain, a single finger twitched on Merlin’s body. The healing of the damage was almost complete. She could take more time to make sure that Merlin was in peak shape, but he was strong enough that he should be able to at least match the mysterious Beyonder that had appeared.

If Fate had guessed right then the Beyonder likely had a base or fortress somewhere where they were hiding. It would likely take some time to find, and until then Fate could continue healing Merlin back to his full strength. Heal his body so he could fully channel the immense magic he had within himself.

After a few more minutes, Merlin weakly stood to his feet under the control of Fate. He stepped forward and grabbed the handle of the sword in the stone. Excalibur. With weak arms, he pulled up and with the grinding of metal on stone the sword was slowly drawn upwards until it came free.

Merlin waved his hand and a long strap came flying out of the waters of the lake and fell into his hand. It was a sheath for Excalibur. He put on the sash over himself so the sword's sheath rested on his back at an angle. With a single motion he sheathed the sword on his back. He inspected the cave for a moment before Fate nodded. It was time to go. In a crack of air Merlin disappeared from the cave in an apparition upwards through the earth to the surface.

Merlin appeared on the surface in the center of the grassy field, his ragged robes hanging off of his body rapidly shifting and rebuilding themselves out of his magic until they formed a set of gray robes with golden accents on the cuffs and hems. As Merlin shifted one would see that the neck and inner lining of the robes were also golden.

Fate scanned the area cautiously and Merlin’s magic senses billowed outwards to take in his surroundings for miles around himself as he took his bearings.

“Hey? Who are ya, what are ya doin’ in my field?” A rough voice suddenly shouted.

Fate looked at the man in blue overalls standing there staring at Merlin.

Fate apparated Merlin a dozen feet over to loom over the farmer with his golden glowing eyes.

“Where are…” Fate said in Merlin’s rasping voice, “Where is the capital? I will start my search there.”

The farmer jumped and started sweating as Merlin looked at him intently with brightly glowing golden eyes.

“London?” The farmer stammered, “What? I… Jus’ follow the road? Main road’s about ten miles that way!” The farmer pointed in a certain direction. Merlin’s head followed the direction of the man's finger before looking back.

“Thank you, now forget.”

Fate waved Merlin’s hand and the farmer’s eyes went blank. Before the farmer came to, Merlin had apparated away.

The farmer’s eyes cleared and he looked around in confusion.

“Huh. Musta dozed off,” the man mused before turning and continuing to walk to continue inspecting his crops.

— — —

Fate inspected the bustling city of London through Merlin’s senses. She had Merlin cast some true invisibility around himself for this next part. Sight, sound, magic, all were muffled and smeared into the background around Merlin. Unless someone physically bumped into him, no one but ones on the Beyonder’s level of power or beyond should be able to detect Merlin as he searched the city.

Finally, Fate paused as she detected a large underground cavern filled with magic under a certain section of London. That must be the Ministry of the modern wizards. While she was controlling Lupin she had heard it mentioned several times as the center of government. She got vague impressions from those with her chains within them on occasion. But it gave her vague general knowledge on trends and large scale changes in the world. Nothing as granular as the exact location of something or any individual details. Nothing like how it was when she was possessing somebody like it was now.

Merlin apparated into the lobby of the Ministry, floating ten feet in the air above the heads of the crowd. Merlin floated there and Fate simply waited and listened through his ears. This was the center of government, people speaking here might reference the strange Beyonder and give clues of the situation.

“Balthazar left.”

“Wolf-kin.”

“Hear? Can’t believe Dumbledore stepped down. What will this mean for the light faction?”

“Clinic.”

“Wolf-kin clinic.”

The conversations were strange, Fate immediately realizing that they were referencing events that were strange and not at all what should have happened. Caused by the Beyonder somehow.

Fate had Merlin perform a disguise spell to gain the appearance of one of the weak magical men that had just left through the fireplaces lining each wall of the central space. Merlin’s body gently descended and then revealed itself as he mimicked the exact appearance of the wizard who had just left the hall, his eyes only having the faintest golden glow shining through them now. Fate made her way through the crowd to the front desk where a ministry secretary sat.

“Hello,” Merlin’s body rasped, “Do you know how I can… reach the Wolf-kin clinic?”

“Are you a werewolf on an international visa?” The secretary asked, “What’s your name? You shouldn’t be here for that. You need preapproval before traveling here.”

“No, I am not a werewolf,” Merlin’s mouth said, “I simply wish *Cough cough* to see it. Do you have a map?”

“Well, uhm…” The secretary said, “Are you okay, sir? Do you need a healer?”

“No,” Fate said, “I only need the map. It is important.”

“It’s ah. It’s at 22 Beliviere avenue. Just outside of London.”

The woman reached under the desk and handed Merlin a folded up paper map. His body quickly unfolded it and inspected its unfamiliar designs and bright colors.

“And which location is this clinic?” Fate asked. The secretary peered over at the map for a few seconds before placing her finger in the corner of the map on the far outskirts of London.

“And where are we? On the map?” Fate asked. The secretary gave him a confused look before shifting her finger to a spot more towards the center of London.

“I can call the healers if you are having problems with your memory?” The secretary said, “Perhaps you should see the Aurors if you are confused.”

“That will not be necessary,” Merlin’s mouth said, “I have what I need.”

Fate had Merlin walk away back into the crowd and into one of the fireplaces lining the walls. Instead of surrounding himself in green flames, Fate had Merlin directly apparate to the Wolf-kin clinic to begin his hunt for the Beyonder.

At the desk of the Ministry the secretary followed the security procedure and sent a message up to the Auror’s office according to Mad-eye Moody’s new strict rules.

“Yes, I just had a visitor at the front desk,” She said to the little piece of paper in front of her, “He was asking after the wolf-kin clinic. Rasping voice as if he had a cold or hadn’t spoken in a while. Denied being a werewolf. Didn’t know where he was, Asked for a map and needed the wolf-kin clinic and the ministry pointed out on it to identify his position. Possible foreign mercenary. Just left through the floo.”

When she was done, she tapped the piece of paper with her wand and it folded itself into a paper airplane and flew off to deliver her message. She sighed, it was so much work reporting every little suspicious person these days. The man was probably just tired or something. But she had to report everybody or she’d get in trouble, so here she was sending the message up for the Aurors to go deal with.

— — —

Fate entered the Wolf-kin clinic and had Merlin inspect the mural on the wall just behind the main desk. There were chairs scattered about where groups of people with sunken eyes and thin frames waited nervously. Knees bouncing and chewed nails as they sat in their chairs. Werewolves.

Merlin tilted his head as Fate inspected the strange mural in front of her. It was of a transformed werewolf, but also not. The features were softer, less savage. The person on the poster was striking a heroic pose and the colors were bright and flattering on them. Fate noticed that many of the sitting werewolves shot glances at the mural and calmed slightly when they saw it. Interesting.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Hello. What’s your name. Are you here to get on the list or for an appointment?” A girl said as she moved away from a small cluster of werewolves she had been talking to.

Fate turned Merlin’s head to the girl who froze in her tracks as she saw his glowing golden eyes.

“Olivia Roberts… It has been some time since I’ve seen you last,” Fate said, “I should have known you’d be in league with the Beyonders. Ah, your threads are so twisted and out of place. You should have been killed by a dark wizard in a back alley by now. A tragedy to inspire the Auror department to do better in the future.”

“L- L- Lupin?” Olivia stammered as Merlin kept staring at her and she started edging backwards.

“Where is the Beyonder? Where is Balthazar?” Fate demanded as Merlin took a step forward threateningly.

“Hey! Ya leave the lass alone!” A heavyset man with a heavily scarred face said, standing from his chair, “She done nothing but help. Hope of a generation. Back off before I push your face in, old man!”

Fate smiled as she focused on the man and had Merlin looking away from the girl. The man's chains of Fate pulsed as she remembered his destined place in the pattern.

“Jedidiah Jones,” she said, “Truly, a paragon of virtue. Responsible for no less than fourteen deaths when you transformed during the full moon. Ah, three of them were your own family as well. Who are you to speak of helping others?”

The man faltered for a moment and his eyes widened before narrowing in anger, “Ain’t NO ONE gets to talk about that, asshole. You’ll suffer for that, however ya know.”

The man raised his fists and approached Merlin.

“How quaint,” Fate said. She raised Merlin’s hand and a bolt of red light shot out and struck the werewolf and sent him slumping to the floor unconscious.

All the werewolves in the room scrambled to their feet.

“I’ll ask again, Olivia Roberts,” Merlin’s mouth said, “Where are the Beyonders? Where is Balthazar?”

“He’s… he’s not here. He left weeks ago.”

“Where? Where did he go?”

“Hey back off!” A woman shouted from behind Merlin. Fate turned his head and fixed his gaze on the woman who had interrupted. She had her wand drawn as did all the other werewolves in the room, all pointed at Merlin although many of their arms were shaking.

“Jessica Fentilla. Zero deaths on your conscious. Three children borne, three children dead. One to your pack during the full moon, two more to the Aurors after your transformed children entered a populated area near the muggles. Never went to wizarding school. Can barely even cast the simplest spells, let alone a real attack charm.”

“I… You have no right to speak about them!” Jessica said, “I know enough to cast something that’d hurt ya a bit! Get out of here and leave Roberts alone.”

“Yeah!”

“Get out of here!”

“Beat it old man!” The other werewolves joined in to support Jessica Fentilla.

Fate looked curiously back at Olivia Roberts, ignoring the crowd.

“What have you done? What drives all these werewolves to be so loyal to you? I wouldn’t have thought infecting you would have caused you to be such a leader.”

“I… I…” Olivia stammered before puffing up and looking directly into Merlin’s glowing eyes as she drew her wand.

“I am Olivia Roberts! First of the Wolf-Kin! And if you don’t leave right now then I will destroy you where you stand!”

“Tell me where Balthazar is, or die,” Fate said one final time after a brief pause to recover from the girl’s audacity, “My mercy only goes so far.”

“No! Stupif-”

In a blast of magic, Fate let out a burst of magic to send Olivia Roberts and all the other werewolves in the room falling to the floor like they were under immense gravity. All of them barely even able to move through the immense pressure on them. But Fate made sure their lungs were kept free so they could still talk and give her the information she wanted.

“One of you will know,” Fate said, “But first to cut the loose thread…”

She raised her hand… Only for the golden glow to dim and stutter in her eyes.

“Foul cretin!” Merlin shouted, “You’d kill the girl for simply existing? For doing nothing but standing bravely to defend her people? I will not have it! I will not! Not again!”

Merlin’s eyes became golden again, but Fate’s hand didn’t move.

“Merlin, she’s working with the Beyonder,” Fate said, “We can’t allow the infection to spread. She was supposed to die already, every breath she takes disrupts all others that her actions affect.”

“A pox on your blighted pattern!” Merlin growled as the golden light faded from his eyes again, “This is not necessary evil, but fear! I will not let you kill this girl! If I must resist to my last scrap of will!”

“A- Azkaban!” One of the werewolves on floor groaned. Merlin’s eyes immediately blazed golden and his head snapped to the werewolf who had spoken.

“Azkaban? What about Azkaban?” Fate demanded.

“Balthazar, he lives at Azkaban. Bought it a year ago,” the werewolf finished, “He’s not here.”

Fate turned Merlin’s head towards Olivia who was still pinned to the floor along with the others with Merlin’s magic.

“Azkaban. I see. This will be harder than I thought. As for the girl… I’ll spare her, spare her for you Merlin. I’ll– I’ll find a way to fit her back in somehow. The Beyonder has spoiled so much, I will have to spend time reworking the whole thing anyways once Balthazar and his people are dead…”

In a crack of air, Merlin disappeared from the clinic and everyone in the clinic gasped as the magic pressing them down released. They slowly sat up.

“Ms. Roberts! Ms. Roberts, are you alright?” One of the burly werewolf men called out as he rushed towards her in concern. Various other calls of concern came out, Olivia rubbing her head and assuring the crowd that she was fine.

After a few seconds, Dumbledore burst into the main hall, his wand held at the ready and his eyes darting around the space looking for threats. He turned his gaze to the cluster of werewolves all surrounding Olivia.

“Dumbledore!” Olivia called out, “A madman with glowing golden eyes just came in and attacked us! He just apparated away, he’s going to attack Azkaban to try to kill Balthazar!”

The werewolves all looked at Dumbledore expectantly. He let out a weary sigh and lowered his wand.

“I had hoped that Balthazar had been mistaken… Well then, we must alert the Ministry I suppose. I will remain. Anyone uncomfortable here with the Aurors, I will make sure that they do not harm or arrest anyone unjustly within this clinic. Make your full statements without worry about the repercussions.”

— — —

“Dumbledore, what’s the situation?” Minister Fudge asked, “I’ve heard that there’s been an attack on the Wolf-kin clinic? No injuries or deaths I hope?”

Dumbledore shook his head, “Only one man was stunned, the rest had some bruises and scrapes but nothing more. He was mainly attacking young Olivia Roberts here, looking for Balthazar.”

Alastor Moody’s enchanted eye swiveled to focus on the girl standing next to Dumbledore while Amelia Bones frowned.

“Before everyone panics,” Dumbledore said, “Don’t worry, Balthazar knew this person was coming for him. He’s prepared defenses against them. He will not be taken by surprise by this and informed me that something like this might happen. Ms. Roberts, how about you tell the Minister what you told me regarding the glowing golden eyes.”

Young Olivia recited the whole incident with Lupin and explained how the entire time he had golden glowing eyes and spoke of Beyonders and other strange things that didn’t make any sense to her. How it had immediately been sent into a rage and tried to kill whoever summoned the flames to attack it. Even as the flames had burned her as well, whoever that had attacked Lupin largely ignoring her in their efforts to attack the werewolf.

Her own memories was hazy, but Olivia had heard the story from Ginny so she knew the basics of what had happened, more than had been told to even the Aurors it seemed.

Then she launched into her own recounting of the incident that had just happened less than an hour ago with the old man with the same golden eyes that seemed to know her act like he was the same person that had infected her with the werewolf curse. As well as the golden eyes fading and him speaking in another voice to stop the golden eyed one from killing her.

“Does this mean what I think it means, Dumbledore?” Alastor asked.

“I’m afraid so,” Dumbledore said, “Lupin was innocent. It is some sort of possession or elaborate spell similar to an imperius, all controlled by the person behind those with the ‘Golden eyes’. Balthazar did not explain the details. Simply that someone extremely powerful would be coming after him soon and he would have to shelter in Azkaban to weather their assault. It was the reason he has stepped back from the Wolf-kin clinic.”

Everyone in the room looked at Dumbledore, even Olivia Roberts at the information.

“He knew about this?” Olivia asked, “That someone was going to attack the clinic?”

Dumbledore shook his head, “No, attack him. He only told me of the threat as a precaution. You saw, as soon as this person knew where Balthazar was, they left immediately. Presumably to Azkaban to attack.”

“Who is this golden eyed person?” Amelia Bones asked, “What do they want? Are they likely to come back to Britain if they are frustrated with Azkaban’s defenses?”

“I do not know. It sounds like Balthazar and his group are something called Beyonders. Or perhaps that is the name of their group itself. This person seems single-minded on killing these Beyonders and ignoring nearly everything else. They could return… But Balthazar made it seem like they would not. That as soon as they knew where Balthazar and his people were that they would be obsessed and not pay attention to anything else but destroying him.”

“Merlin,” Olivia suddenly said, “The golden eyed one was talking to Merlin. That was the name of the one that stopped them from killing me. I thought it was just nonsense, but… Maybe not?”

“Merlin? The founder of modern magic as we know it?” Fudge said, “Are we saying that Merlin is not only alive but controlled by whoever controls this golden eye spell?”

“Perhaps. We can only hope that Balthazar emerges triumphant,” Dumbledore said, “He has surprised all of us with his knowledge of magic several times over. Who knows what the rest of his Beyonders are capable of? There is still hope yet. And it sounds like Merlin is resisting the spell at least somewhat. Things are not as dire as they appear at first.”

“Still, I do not like this,” Fudge mumbled, “We must up security, prepare for attack. This is a threat... if Merlin were to attack us let alone whoever it is that’s controlling him...”

He kept muttering to himself for a few more seconds before looking up as if noticing the rest of the room staring at him.

“Ah, Dumbledore, Ms. Roberts. Thank you for your information. You may leave now and return to your lives. If you think of anything else make sure to inform Amelia or Alastor as soon as possible. Head of department and security chief. Order and Security, that’s what we need more of…”

Dumbledore and Olivia left the room as the Minister began to discuss security measures with Amelia and Alastor.