This morning didn't go the way the old man had imagined it to go. First of all: a kid, had decided to give him a lecture about names. It was amusing really. He was Merlin now, apparently because the mentor of another Arthur had that name. Strange kid. And than the boy had thrown a tantrum, until he promised to train him to the best of his abilities.

He had thought about this wish a lot, while watching the dance of the stars in the night sky.

He didn't find a perfect solution. He didn't even find a good one.

The only point of reference where creatures from the void or chaos realms, who sometimes intrudet into reality. And himself. Since the system was gone, he hadn't given much thoughts to his abilities. But they were as much part of him as breathing.

So much had been taken from him. But his magic, his body and his soul were his.

He smiled. His first smile since he felt the presence of his wife and son fade from his hart.

More a small tug of a corner of a mouth to be honest. But maybe, maybe there was a new purpose for him here. Only time will tell.

Arthur couldn't remember a time, when he was as exhausted as he was this evening. There he was, proud as one could be, that he was successful in giving the old man a name (Merlin) and talking him in to teaching, when his newly appointed teacher took complety over.

'If I'm going to train you, there will be rules. First: if i give you a instruction, you try to follow it, to the best of your ability. You can tell me if you have ideas for training, when you have a break. Secondly: if I train you, it will be hard and it will be painful. If you don't have the stomach, heart or mindset for it, you should leave that project now. Normally I would let you the sign a contract with duties and privileges that come, with being my student. But since it is what it is, there will be nothing of this. Any questions?'

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

He didn't. He also didn't understand the dimensions of hard and pain, before now. Throbbing pain in his knuckles, from punching different materials, burning pain in his muscles from climbing, running and swimming, fatigue from mental exercises.... But the worst at the moment was the itching. The medicinel bath did wonders, but he was told not to move, and try feeling the energy of the medicinel bath seeping into him. It was also meant as a test, of his mental fortitude.

If he couldn't keep up with this routine for six days, Merlin promised not to bother with any further traing. On the other hand, if he endured, and the results were satisfactory, he would be officially acknowledged by Merlin and tought everything, that the old man knew. That was the deal.

So he endured

Finally, after an hour of intense self control, the itching sensation faded, and the aches and bruises were gone. He exhaled slowly, slouching a bit in the tub.

When he was dry and clothed in a soft robe, which Merlin has given him, he met the old man on the same bench as yesterday.

A comfortable silence settled between the two man.

The silence was broken when Merlin spoke.

'Close your eyes.

Feel the position of your body, as it is right now.

Then imagine, as if each bone of your spine is a building block. And between each building block is a small space.

Your spine is the anchor point of your mussels.

It gives your body structure and protects the nerves.

It isn't meant to hold you upright. You have mussels and balance for that.

Now remember this position. This will be the starting position for the sitting meditations.'

Merlin observed him for a while, giving some advice, correcting his position slightly here and there.

'Now focus on your breathing.

How your breath streams in...

The moment your breath switches from in to out...

How your breath streams out....

And the moment, when your breath pauses between out and in....

Breathe with your stomach...

Feel it raising and falling...

Now focus on the center of your body....

Imagine a small golden pearl being there...

Focus back on your breathing, and keep feeling your center...'

They sat for a while...

'If you find your thoughts wandering, come back to your breathing, be patient with your self' said Merlin, 'And don't force your body to be motionless. Just let him be in the position he is in...'

When Merlin finally ended the meditation, the moon had risen beyond the horizon and the stars shone brightly....