Chapter 363: Promise

Emery took her to a clearing in the forest, For a few minutes, silence reigned between them, as Emery tried to circumvent the filter to no avail.

After multiple notifications about his current restriction, Emery was able to say one sentence.

"I was taken away against my will by a force I can't explain. When I was able to return, I came to search for you right away."

It was too ambiguous, it told her nothing about what actually happened during the months, but it seemed to be enough to calm her down. Emery hoped one day he could properly say the exact reason, but for now, this would have to do. Fortunately, her expression softened and her anger was gone, for now.

"What about you? I thought you were locked up or worse. Now, I see you actually free to roam as you wish, Why didn't you return to the forest?"

Morgana was silent for a second before she frowned and said.

"You come found me, not the opposite. Village no problem, they understand."

The girl said only a few words, but that was enough to give him a headache. That was quite the twisted logic, but for now, it would be a mistake to say that to her face…

"Yes, I can understand that… Again, I apologize and I am glad you are fine."

Emery's apology seemed to be working, as she appeared to calm down.

Emery glanced at the prince and the old man waiting a bit far from them, before whispering to her. "Anyway, why are you helping them?"

"They help me, so I help them"

He half-expected a long explanation and had taken her to the clearing partly so they could speak freely with each other. To his surprise, the reason was much simpler.

Emery shook his head and said. "Those people could be using you, or even tricking you they must have their own agenda for helping you!"

When these words came out of his mouth, somehow it points to himself as well. He too has been fooled many times. 

"I don't understand, don't think they are bad." Morgana answered with a flat expression.

He took a deep breath, calmed down, and scratched the back of his head. He cant believe this girl was more naive than him.

"That's it, you shall follow me now. I will take you back to the Forbidden Forest."

She thought for a while and said.

"No!"

"Why not?" Emery asked.

"Not now, I have many things to learn, so no!"

These words somehow remind him of what the lady of the lake said that Morgana was on her own path, but Emery really not comfortable leaving her to that two face prince at all.

"Look, Morgana, I can teach you whatever it is they can do. As for magic, believe me, I can do it much better than that old man."

Morgana was silent for a second then replied

"If you do that, then I will follow you."

"Great, then-"

Before Emery managed to finish his words, Morgana stared at him with a serious glare and said.

"Promise me. Tell me that you won't just leave me like before and you will do all those things you said."

Her speech was still a bit stilted, her tongue unused to speaking common, but that was the longest sentence he had ever heard from her. It only showed how serious she was.

Emery couldn't really understand women and all he knew from his interactions were they were so different from each other and guessing what they were really thinking was completely futile. But, it appears Morgana was much easier to understand. 

She knew what she wanted and say it clearly. Emery just needs to make sure he can give what she asked.

Briton's language was something he could teach her easily, while fire magic was a little bit tricky as he has no affinity for the fire element, but not impossible. 

To fulfill that, he thought about the possibility of taking her to the Khaos space. He knows the dragon possessed a fire affinity, so Emery believed he would be more than capable to help her… If that didn't work, at the very least he could find something to give her from the academy after returning from the third year.

Emery stared at the girl in front of him and nodded.

"I promise."

Emery was surprised to see her smile, he just realized the girl rarely do, but she looked away right before he could see it clearly.

"Okay, Morgana. We should go now!"

Morgana looked back at Arthur and for a moment, before looking back at Emery and nodded.

"Great."

As soon as they were about to leave, the knights quickly surrounded them. 

"Wait, stop!" The golden prince shouted. He and the old man approached them.

He stared towards Morgana and said.

"You are leaving?"

Morgana didn't answer, she merely nodded in response.

"I see, so I guess, this is the one you have been waiting for…" The prince was silent for a moment, before smiling with his usual friendly face. "But, seriously, are you just going to leave like that with no words for us? You also haven't introduced your friend here"

Morgana still didn't answer and kept on staring at him in silence. Emery knew she was never good with words and this incident only confirmed it. 

Emery sort of understood the situation decide to speak for her

"I believe you have been taking good care of her. For that, I thank you." Emery said and gave him a slight bow of respect. No matter how much he couldn't stand this prince, he believed Arthur actually did help Morgana. 

The prince smiled, looked at him, and said.

"I am guessing you must be... Merlin, am I right?"

Hearing that made Emery remember why he hated smart opponents. At this moment, he regretted removing his disguise abruptly before. Hence, there was only one answer he can give.

"Yes. I am Merlin"

The prince appears excited for a second before returning to his serious expression.

"I apologize, Merlin, but Morgana is currently a suspect for a murder of a gold knight. Unless she is proven not guilty, I cannot let her go."