New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

Chapter 954  Howard Owens The Third

Amidst the chaos, Alex's thoughts were a world away, trespassing into the depths of another man's mind.

 Howard Owens, a man of great influence, found himself in the midst of a crucial meeting with the English prime minister, when a peculiar sensation jolted his thoughts.

He recognized the familiar sensation of someone attempting to wrest one of his soul-snared acolytes from his control and was prepared to dismiss it when the sensation took an unexpected turn.

The usual response from the soul snare was enough to shatter all the attempts, normally. But this time, it was different.

When the first tether broke inside Killian, Howard instantly knew.

"I'm sorry, Prime Minister. Could I reconvene with you at a later date? Something urgent has come up, and I must deal with it personally," he apologized.

Given the world's situation, the prime minister took no offence at being set as a second priority. He could seldom offend one of the few people who could actually help the ordinary folks with it.

"Of course, Exarch Owens. Just set another appointment with my assistant once you are free, and I'll make time for you. I hope whatever came up isn't too bad?" the Prime Minister said, trying to glean information.

But the Exarch didn't bother replying, as he cut the call immediately.

Clicking his tongue angrily, the Prime Minister ordered his assistant to keep him apprised of the Merlineans' movements before delving into other tasks that needed his attention.

He was a very busy man with the many countries that wanted England's help with the monster uprising. After all, he needed to get all those countries to build adequate offices for the Merlineans to settle in.

However, Howard was a difficult man, and he wanted only the best for his organization, making it an arduous task.

"This man is asking for too much, in this time of crisis. He should know better than to exact demands in a situation like this," the Prime Minister grumbled to himself.

***

Meanwhile, Howard had already left his office and was heading deeper inside the family castle, located far up in the Wales countryside.

After reaching a seemingly innocuous corridor, he stopped at an old painting of one of their most prestigious ancestors, which was kept lit at all times of the day.

The portrait of an old man, whose long flowing beard and expensive-looking silken robes exuded a sense of great wisdom, with the name Myrddin Emrys carved in the frame.

The torches on each side, a remnant of a time without electricity, were kept dust-free by the castle's maids and manservants, all in the vanity of reminding everyone of their great ancestral background.

After bowing to the portrait, and making sure he was alone in the hallway, Howard pulled the torch to the right down, as a loud click echoed.

It was promptly followed by a slight shaking of the wall and ground, before some loud cogs ground behind the wall, and it slid open to the left.

Howard pushed the torch back upright, before shuffling in the already-closing gap in the wall.

With a snap of his fingers, old torches lit his path forward and down, lighting up one set after another almost ominously, as Howard quickened his stride down the path.

He could feel the tethers to his soul snare snapping one after another, and had already focused his mind on making the bramble defence more aggressive. But he could tell it was in vain.

Whoever this mage was, he was much stronger than what the defences could deal with, at least without his direct control.

Reaching the end of the path, he entered a cave deep under the castle. Five pillars supported the ceiling, placed in a pentagonal shape around a raised altar.

On this altar, a bright blue orb was seated.

Almost dashing to the orb, Howard slapped his hands on it.

"Pro viribus Merlini, vires praebe mihi tuas!" he chanted, before his eyes lit like beacons with powerful blue flames.

This was the exact moment his face had appeared in the smoke made by the burning brambles.

And even minutes later, as this other magus invaded his mind, he still stood before the altar, his hands upon the glowing blue orb, and his eyes burning in bright blue fire.

***

Merlin and Alex had been staring each other down for the last minute or so, their mana pressures grinding against each other, as Alexander tried his best not to give his hand away.

But Merlin was no joke of a sorcerer, and for someone to even rival his magical prowess was astounding to him.

He knew that some monsters around the world were his equals, at best, but this young man was standing before him, unwavering and strong, like this was just him standing his ground.

Somewhere in the corner of this fantastical study, filled with grimoires and books on occult sciences, Howard Owens the third's mind was silently watching as his ancestors dealt with this intruder inside their head.

He wasn't a prisoner of Merlin's influence, contrary to what Alexander thought, but more of a co-owner of the place.

It was a mutually accepted pact, that all Exarchs accepted, when they were picked to wear the mantle, to let Merlin's mind inhabit their own, as a continuance of his legacy.

Of course, most of his power was locked inside the orb he was currently holding, but it nonetheless made the Exarchs very powerful mages.

Alex was the first to get tired of this constant pissing contest, and he decided to let go of his ego first.

Recalling his mana pressure, he let Merlin's mana slam into him, as it barely ruffled his hair, making him chortle. He passed his hand in his hair, straightening it up again, and grinned at the sorcerer.

"So. Are we going to have this talk, or would you rather we duke it out inside your little brain? Because I doubt that would be the best for you," Alex mocked, looking at the mountains of books everywhere, and the bookshelves that disappeared above head.

This young man's arrogance ticked off Merlin, but the power he displayed was such that he couldn't just blast him away from here.

Retracting his power, which had little to no effect on the kid, Merlin sighed exasperatedly, before eying the intruder with a severe gaze.

"Fine. Talk. But the moment you sound too annoying to me, I'm flushing you out."