Though I had no idea who these three and their leader were, I could tell from Alpha's looks. After the chaos, we all sat in the lounge, trying to make sense of what had happened.

M: Those three must have gotten help from Victoria; otherwise, it would have been impossible for them to breach the barrier.

Af: Maybe the spells aren’t as strong as you think, magician.

Al: Alpha, now is not the time, my friend. Those guys invaded our territory.

L: He’s right.

Af: This place is no longer safe; we need to go somewhere else.

Al: Where can we go?

M: No matter where we go, they’ll be on our tail.

V: Actually, I have an idea.

L: What’s that?

V: Alpha, nobody has seen or heard from Harley for a long time, and no one other than you knows her whereabouts, right?

Af: Yes, why?

M: I know, so you haven’t been able to keep it that well hidden.

Af: What did you say?

M: Calm down, I learned it because your wolf of a brother constantly saw visions.

Af: When this is over, I’ll be skinning you alive.

L: Hey, enough already, stop fighting with each other. Violet is right.

Al: I agree, they can’t breach the guardian; we can hide there for a while.

Af: I’m not sure, but it seems like our only option.

V: I’m really sorry for making you do this, my friend.

Af: Hey, hey, calm down. It doesn’t matter if it’s you or someone else; we’re friends, and I’ll protect you until my last breath.

M: Of course, unless Victor gets to her first and turns her into a lab rat.

Af: Is the pathetic magician who can’t even protect his own home talking to me?

M: There’s no such thing as perfect security; they must have found a small opening.

Al: That’s not our concern; we need to take turns keeping watch tonight.

Af: Exactly, we’ll take turns on guard duty. We can’t predict what they’ll do, and if they launch another attack, we’ll scatter.

V: I think I’ll go down to the workshop; it’s best to stay there tonight, no one would think of looking there.

M: Good idea, I’ll come with you.

Just as Alpha was about to jump in and say something, Alvin grabbed his arm and shook his head in a negative gesture.

Al: Let’s tidy up around here. As we were about to leave through the door, Luna whispered to me:

L: I know, it’s not the right time, but please don’t let him harm you.

V: I think I can handle him, Luna.

And I went out the door and descended to the workshop. Merlin immediately followed me with a basket containing various bottles of different sizes. We entered, and with a snap of Merlin’s fingers, the large cellar transformed into a bedroom and even something like a home. Sometimes, it’s hard to hide my astonishment and admiration for his power, but I learned that he was also in my mind and could choose what he wanted to hear. While preparing dinner in our small kitchen, I changed into my pajamas and went to him. The delicious aroma of the food filled the entire cellar, and his skill was evident, which seemed to increase my interest in him even more.

I silently approached from behind and closed my eyes.

V: You have three chances, Houdini.

M: The Wizard of Oz?

V: Ding! Wrong answer, try again.

M: Hmmm, then you must be the old Mrs. McGonagall.

V: Look, that was good, but still wrong.

I pulled my hands away from his eyes, and he turned around, pulling me close by my waist. We were face to face, and it was impossible to control what I was thinking at that moment. I was excited, trembling, and looking into his bright blue eyes was overwhelming.

Inner voice: He’s going to kiss me, he’s going to kiss me, oh my god, he’s definitely going to kiss me!

M: I told you not to think out loud.

I turned bright red. My excitement was replaced by intense embarrassment; I was frozen, only able to say:

V: I’m sorry, that wasn’t what I meant to think. Please don’t look at me like that.

M: Hey, calm down, I didn’t say anything or get angry. On the contrary, you’re very cute when you don’t understand your feelings for me, and I actually like it.

V: Is this a confession from the great Merlin? grinning

M: Actually, it’s a confession from Merlin who likes you.

What I heard, saw, and my astonishment enveloped my entire being. I just wanted to hug him and thank him for his courage, and that’s exactly what I did. As I was lost in thought, he hugged me tightly and said:

M: Please, let this be a secret between us.

V: I have many questions that have created an army in my head that you need to explain to me.

M: After dinner, whatever question you want to ask, I will answer all of them honestly.

V: All my questions?

M: Yes, all your questions.

We agreed and set the table for dinner. He had prepared such wonderful things that even someone with no appetite would have their appetite whetted. After a meal full of flirtation, he had prepared a bed for us.

V: What do you mean, together?

M: Don’t worry, I won’t bite. grinning

V: No, Casanova, that’s never going to happen.

M: I’ll sleep on the floor, Violet, don’t worry so much.

V: Oh, is that so? Too bad!

M: What do you mean, “too bad”?

V: I was hoping you’d show me a few moves.

M: Why not? fake stretching

V: Haha, got you! I knew it. laughing

M: That was a very bad trap, but don’t be unfair.

V: I play by the rules, magician.

M: Yes, I’m ready.

V: Can we talk now, then?

M: I’m listening, completely.

V: First, tell me about the guys after me; what exactly do they want from me?

M: Good question. How do I explain this to you? Look, my dear, it’s like this: those after you are Victor and his sister Victoria, who competes with him in evil.

V: Look at the names, they must have searched long and hard.

M: I wish they were that stupid. Well, maybe they are a bit stupid, but they’re smart enough to transform the ones we drove away today.

V: So, we’re not dealing with a simple enemy.

M: Exactly, they’re after you because they believe the wish stone can be taken to Rein Orka by you.

V: Why me? What’s in me?

M: Your grandfather V made a wish to save that fox people, and if Rein Orka takes one, it gives one, so your powers must have manifested because of that wish, saving the people and transferring the powers to you. You’re a pureblood, which means you could be a demon, and that can end up being as good as it is bad. That’s why we’re protecting you.

V: And if I were a demon, would you be afraid of me?

M: I’ve dealt with a demon’s game before, V. sighing Shall we go to bed now?

V: Did I ask something wrong?

M: No, just tired of everyone blaming me.

V: Then one last question, and no lies, no hiding, cards on the table?

M: One last question, V.

V: What happened between you and Harley that Alpha and the others warn me so much about you?

M: I’ll have to explain eventually anyway.

V: What happened?

M: I truly loved her, V. Harley. Don’t misunderstand this or compare it to my feelings for you. Just at that time when I met her, we were two friends who got along very well with Alpha. Then a spark happened between Harley and me, and we made a bet, until I found out she was a demon, because when I found out, she had manipulated me, and I realized I had become attached to her against my will. Actually, we had a huge fight; because of it, I tried to leave, and Harley got proud and erased those memories from my mind, replacing them with perfect couple memories.

V: How did you realize and fix it afterward?

M: You know that your closest friend Luna can discern the essence of a person, whether a griffin or a human. Upon her noticing and warning me, I checked a few things; Harley had given me plants with certain spells, so I wanted to research them. After what I learned, I confronted Harley. But she used that to come up with a story everyone would believe. She spread the lie that I harmed her and left her. I proved to Alvin that it wasn’t true by showing him images of my thoughts, but Luna and Alpha never allowed it. Alpha eventually locked Harley away in a distant dungeon.

V: Is she living like a prisoner? How could Alpha do that?

M: No, not as a prisoner, just kept away from me and continues her life in Alpha’s artificial world.

V: What does that mean? Can she understand how he did that?

M: No, but he has a dragon friend; there’s a matter of a debt of life; I’m not very familiar with the details between them.

V: Now I understand, but you should know that I really trust you.

M: I know that; I can feel that feeling in your heart.

V: I guess I need to confess that my feelings for you have a name, which could be love. Whether it’s affection from trust or love, time will decide.

She sat next to me, holding my hands and looking into my eyes:

M: We belong to each other, whether with magic or without it.

V: I guess I know that.

He leaned in and kissed me. Oh my god! What was happening? It seemed pointless to resist any further, so I responded. As I reciprocated, her response encouraged me even more. After a while, she stopped, pulled back, and said:

M: Are you sure about this? I don’t want to force you into anything or make you feel obligated.

Before she could finish her sentence, I was already pressed against her lips.

V: No one is being forced, Houdini. Be quiet and enjoy this moment. Tomorrow, we’ll have to deal with bad guys.

M: And we’ll defeat them all together.

V: You’re so romantic.

The physical connection that continued throughout the night satisfied both of us. The last thing I remember is collapsing into bed from exhaustion and laughing in the warmth of the sunlight on our faces.