The old man motioned. "Come on."
"That stance..." Cedric murmured. "Why?" Ben asked. "It reminds me of Bruce Lee," Cedric chuckled, his excitement surging.
Ben looked at Merlin. "What's up with him?"
"That posture... It's like Bruce Lee." Merlin explained. "Who's Bruce Lee?" Ben questioned.
"I'll show you." Cedric said, advancing a step.
"What are you going to do?" Merlin asked.
"Just watch." Cedric replied.
The trio watched Cedric as he extended his right hand, from a closed fist to an open, slightly curved loose palm. He motioned a rippling wave, his fingers curled toward his body one by one, together in a quick, twitching motion that translates into. "Come on."
"I understand now. Basically what you did just now was a famous move that Bruce Lee used often. Am I right?" Ben said.
"You got it right!" Merlin and Cedric said in unison.
"Oi! Oi!" the old man called out, he waved his right hand at Ben. "What about the battle?" he added, eyebrows raised.
"Apologies, I got a little distracted," Ben admitted.
"Everyone, line up next to each other," the old man commanded, his right hand gesturing.
Merlin and Cedric moved forward, standing with Ben.
"Now it's time for the real test, Brats." the old man muttered. "Before we start, let me introduce myself." He paused for a slight second. "You can call me Van, Van Avaricious."
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Van," Ben said, his left hand placed on his right chest, with his head bowed down.
"You have good manners, boy, so you'll fight last." "I'll wait for my turn." Ben replied, returning to the house.
"Oi!, boy! What's your name?" Van asked his gaze shifted to Merlin.
"Merlin. Merlin Vaxian."
"Vaxian, huh?" Van echoed, slightly tilting his head.
"Is it?" Merlin said. A warm smile emerged on his face. His eyes wide open, sparkling in excitement. "Is this my plot twist?"
However Van remained silent, deep in thought.
"Something is happening. It's finally here." Merlin said his voice cracks.
After a long contemplation, Van finally spoke. "No. Your surname is just quite unique."
"Oh. Unique." Merlin said flatly, his expression shifted quickly back to once it was before.
"Enough talking brat! Come at me." Van commanded.
Cedric stepped back, giving Merlin enough space for the battle.
Afterwards, Merlin raised his staff, aimed high and focused, suddenly the staff tips glowed red, forming a roaring ball of flame. In a span of seconds it blasts off, dashing forward at Van, although he looks like he pays no mind he has tricks up in his sleeve.
Achoo!
Van let out a sneeze. The same fireball that was about to hit him, became a green pea, falling down to the ground.
"How is that possible?" Merlin questioned, his mind felt shattered.
" It's a magic trick ey. An absolute as well." Van said.
"Is that a form of an illusion?" Cedric asked.
"Correct." Ben spoke, leaning behind the tree on the left.
Then he just sneezes away a fire blast?!" Cedric said.
"I change whatever reality I want, kid." Van replied.
"Then how am I going to defeat you?" Merlin asked, losing hope.
"It is true that it is much harder to fight someone who has the ability rather than a person who has not. But it doesn't mean that you'll give up. Find a way boy. That alone matters more." Van admitted.
"Bars." Cedric smirked.
Suddenly all froze staring at Cedric.
"I'm impressed by how unexpected you can be." Ben murmured.
"Let's continue. Come at me." Van said, posturing once again like Bruce Lee.
Merlin froze as he close his eyes, gripping tightly on his staff and his bowed down low.
You can do it, there's a way. His mother once told him.
Still his eyes close with Van waiting, preparing for an attack.
Finally at last, he opened his eyes, his gaze gradually changed. From a hesitant young man to a focused individual.
In a blink of an eye, Merlin with his staff raised, its tip glowed blue.
Van, and Merlin's companions looked upward as the sky and clouds who grew larger turn dark. The clouds form into a massive circle, positioning it to a specific target.
Slow and deliberate, as the thunder loudly cracks.
Van and the others look back at Merlin, his head bowed low.
Van who stands away from Merlin, he narrowed his eyes and saw Merlin mumbling. Van repeated Merlin words, piecing it together. At last he concluded.
"5, 4, 3, 2 ,1— THIS BRAT!!"
With a quick realization, Van instinctively dodged lightning, rolling to the left. Afterwards Van looked at the position he once was, the lightning that was supposed to hit him marked the ground, leaving ashes of the burning small pointed green grass.
"Oi!! You gone crazy ey!" Van snapped. "I ask for battle, not a death battle!"
Merlin stepped back, the staff fell from his hands.
"But that was solid! You have guts my boy!! Don't worry ey! You didn't hurt me."
Then Cedric and Ben at the back clapped, showing appreciation.
Cedric whistled. "I know you had that one."
"Good job." Ben said, with a warm smile on his face.
"Never hesitate. If you saw it grab it firmly. Never let it go." Van said.
That quote alone forms a smile on Merlin.
With that said, Merlin passed the second trial.
"Oi! your name?" Van said.
"Why do you talk like that?" Cedric asked.
"Name!" Van snapped.
"Fine. Geez man." Cedric said.
Cedric froze for a while, coughing softly.
"I go by the great name. Cedric Myward."
"You mental?" Van asked.
"What? No!" Cedric shocked. "Why everyone think I'm crazy!?"
"You act like one." Said Ben.