The way down to Merlin's vault was... numb to say the least. It felt like I was apart from everything, and from the look on Harry's face. He felt the same. The stone around us was growing damper and darker. Soon, the only way for us to see was the blurred afterimages of torches on the wall. Soon, the brakes on the cart squealed to a stop and dust was thrown into our faces.
"Cough... Cough.." the Golden Trio hit the dust out of their faces. I had managed to convince Ginny, Molly, and Arthur to stay upstairs. They were probably getting their memories wiped of this occurance at this very moment. I included Arthur because I had a very good feeling that he was under a love potion from Molly. The Twins and Percy were with us as well. WE got out the cart and slowly we began to walk even deeper down, Yaglsmick and two goblins alongside us were holding torches as if they were sacred and measuring every step they took as if it were holy ground. Merlin must be highly respected even amongst the Goblins.
"Voidic?" I heard Percy ask. I look at him and he had a confused face that was mirrored by the twins, Hermione and Ron. Oh. I know what this is about.
"You're wondering why I left Ginny, Molly and Arthur upstairs aren't you?" I asked. I had taken my mask off because it didn't feel right to were it down here, I could practically feel the latent magic soaking through my skin and tingling every single individual hair on my body. Which felt odd to say the least, but oddly satisfying. It felt like your entire body was erupting in goosebumps.
"Yeah," Fred said. "Why didn't they join us?" I sigh.
"You have to promise that you won't tell anybody else this, and once I do tell you this. I'm gonna lock these memories down so that only you can access them. I'll unlock them once you learn to make your Mind Palaces because it will probably take some sort of permanent magic on my part. Got it?" They all looked surprised at each other while Harry was walking on pace with them and looking awkward.
"Alright, if it's that important. We'll promise." Hermione said determinedly. "This involves Harry, And we want to help him." I could practically hear her heart thumping as she cast a glance at Harry. I nod.
"Well, You know how I know the future?" I look at them as we walked. They nodded. "It's because I read about this world. Pinkie!" I call and she appears next to us, making the goblins unsheathe their swords in shock. I wave them off.
"Pinkie. I need the books and some of the fanfiction that I read." She nods and disappeared for a few seconds before reappearing and giving me a few books.
"Here you go xavy!" She smiled and kissed me on the head before disappearing again. I put the books in my pockets before I showed them the first book. Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone.
"This is how I knew the future, Now. I cannot stress this enough. YOU CANNOT TELL ANYONE ABOUT THIS!" I say. they all nod as they look at the books.
"So..." Hermione began. "We're all book characters to you?" She asked slightly shell-shocked. I nod a little. But Hermione merely smiles a little. "Well, there are worse things." Everyone looks at her as she shrugs. Soon, we are in front of Merlin's vault.
"Only the Heir and one who he trusts above all others can enter," Yaglsmick said as he looked at us. Harry thinks.
"I... I trust them all equally. But I choose Voidic ." Harry answers. Yaglsmick nods before letting us move forward into what looked like an old tomb. Soon, we hear a voice.
"Ah... Magic has finally deemed someone worthy." An old wizened voice sounded. It was undeniably cheerful. But it sent shivers down your spine nonetheless. The voice was laced with magic that permeated through us. It then continued. "And so powerful by themselves too!" The voice laughs. "I can only imagine what they could do with my power." My power? I stand up straight as I realize that this is Merlin's voice. "Come, come. Walk forward. I'm just up ahead."
Harry and I numbly walk forward as we see a snow-white marble tomb that stood upright.
"Go ahead," Merlin said. "Open the tomb. It's stuffy in here." I blinked and looked at Harry, he gathered his courage and nodded. Soon we were opening the tomb. It cracked open and crashed to the floor as... three voices began coughing? Me and Harry, who was the third? I look up in shock to see a very old man. He had to be at least three hundred years old. He stepped out and stretched. There were too many bones and muscle cracks to count as he stretched.
"M...Merlin?" I asked. He looked at me and smiled.
"Yes. I'm Merlin." He looked at us both. "You wondering how I survived aren't you?" We both numbly nod. "Well, have you ever heard a story called Magic's Champion?" We shake our head. "Well, I wouldn't expect you too." He says as he twitches his finger and three chairs appear out of thin air. We all sit down and he sighs.
"Eesh, My muscles are hurting. I haven't sat down in... eight centuries? What year is it?" I look at Harry and cough.
"Um... It's 2019, Merlin." He blinks.
"Really? It's later than I thought I would be able to pass down my power."
"Ok, I'm sorry. What do you mean pass down you power?" Harry asked.
"Well, It all began when Magic first appeared. It wanted to have a say in the world. So it chose a champion of it's own. That person is chosen to be Magic's spokesperson. But, that's not all. Magic's champion has the ability to pass down their magic to the next person. For example, say the original magic champion gave their magic to the next. Their magic would merge to become twice as powerful as normal. And they would give their magic, and the third champion would have the magic of everyone who was ever a champion before."
"What generation of the champion are you?" I sit forward. Merlin smiles.
"I'm currently the sixth Champion of Magic."
"Wait... Isn't Seven the most powerful number in magic history?" I ask. Merlin smiles wider.
"Exactly. So I'm not even the best Champion. The seventh is fated to be the final and most important of all Champions.."
"And... that's harry?" I asked in surprise. Merlin nods and turns to him.
"You must be fated to change the Wizarding World forever. I'm not gonna be modest here. I did things that changed everything for the Wizarding World. But you... You will change the fate of the entire World. When you first entered here, I used my magic to see your potential. And you both have some of the brightest auras I've seen in... ever. The fifth Magic Champion said mine was the size of a house. Yours could very well encompass Britain, And... Voidic was it? His encompasses that which I cannot see." Merlin looked curiously at me. And I knew for a fact, that If I were to go up against this man. I might not be able to win.
"But Harry. I have a few questions for you before I find you worthy."
"What are they."
"One. What are your strongest convictions toward?"
"My friends." Harry said without hesitation. "Without them, I probably wouldn't have made it this far. I'd still be in the cupboard of Privet Drive instead of talking to you." Merlin smiled.
"Two. If you were tasked between saving your lover, or saving a gigantic group of people. Who would you choose?"
"I'd try to save both." Harry said. "Even if it means sacrificing myself." Merlin smiled wider.
"Final Question. What do you value, among all other traits of a being?"
"Fairness. For without that, how can we trust that one's judgement is true? How can we believe that he speaks true?" Merlin smiled the widest smile I've ever seen.
"Harry James Potter. Son of James Fleamont Potter. I have deemed you worthy to bear the title and power of the Seventh Magic Champion. Step forward and accept your responsibility." He stood up and magic swirled around him and left him to go to his hand. Which glowed a rainbow of colours. Harry stepped forward and kneeled, almost instinctively.
"With this transfer, my life shall end. But I am glad as I have lived many centuries and am ready to greet Death. Do not blame yourself for taking my life. This was my choice. Goodbye, Harry Potter. Goodbye Voidic. May you both bring the world to an era of peace and prosperity."
With that Merlin rested the glowing ball on Harry's back, and pushed it into him. Harry gasped as Merlin collapsed to the floor. Harry stood up and I covered my eyes as Harry was consumed in a rainbow flash that almost looked like Fire and Water at the same time. Soon, It was growing smaller. It shrank into Harry's chest as he floated back down to the ground.
"Harry? Are you alright?" I ask as I help him up. I could feel his power bubbling just under the surface of his skin. He gasped and opened his eyes. They glowed a powerful Emerald Green. Soon, the glow faded and the magic calmed. Harry stood up and I caught him as he almost fell forwards. He blinked a few times and promptly keeled over and puked. I had let go just in time.
"Whoa." He said as he stood up. "I feel.... different. Not great, but not bad either. Just... different." He says as he stretched and flickers of magic rolled off of him.
"That's cool." Harry nods as he begins practicing. He pulled out his wand and I smelled burning feather.
"Whoa!" I said as his wand started to blacken from the amount of magic going through the Phoenix Feather. "Put it Away!" I said quickly. But Harry instinctively closed his eyes and it stopped. But his magic seemed to dim as well. "Did... Did you just limit your own power?"
"Y...yeah." Harry nods numbly. "I don't know what I did! I just... thought that was what I needed to do!" He said as he put his wand away.
"Well... that works out wonderfully for us. You can limit your magic and continue to act undercover while we work on getting everything finished. But you'll need to get another magical focus of some sort." I said.
"OOH! Can I get a staff? I heard that Merlin had to use a staff in the prime of his power." I blink and smiled.
"Yeah! that works great. So, let's get out of here." I look at the corpse of Merlin. "After we take him out. We should bury him properly." Harry nods and I pick up Merlin's corpse. I couldn't help but shudder as I felt his weight on me. Slowly, we trudged out of the tomb and the goblins and Harry's friends gaped in shock as they saw the dead body.
"Harry! Voidic! Are you ok?" Ron asked quickly.
"Yeah, we're fine." Harry nodded. "It's just... apparently Merlin never died somehow. He was just... frozen? I guess you could say?"
"Merlin was frozen in the vault?" Yaglsmick asked shocked. I nodded and we slowly went upstairs to the carts. We headed to the surface, to deal with covering this up. The goblins will give Merlin a proper burial. And once we're done with everything. We'll announce where Merlin's tomb is so they can properly pay their respects.