Extra To Protagonist-Chapter 31: Training (1)

"So, you were here."

A familiar, sultry voice greeted Merlin from the side just as he stepped through the door.

'Oh, come on...seriously her..?'

Turning toward the voice, he found Morgana leaning casually against the wall, hands stuffed in the pockets of her hoodie. Except... she looked younger? Had she shrunk?

"That was amazing, Merlin!"

Grinning, she pushed off the wall, shutting the doors behind Merlin before pulling out a lollipop and slipping it between her lips.

"..."

Merlin's smile twitched as he took in the sight before him. Morgana, the feared and respected headmistress, was standing there in nothing but an oversized hoodie and a pair of gray sweatpants.

'...Real professional look for a headmistress.'

Shaking off the thought, he met her gaze.

"How can I help you, Headmistress?"

Morgana stepped closer, her lollipop lazily shifting from one side of her mouth to the other. Now face to face, her eyes locked onto his.

'...?'

"We had an agreement. I plan to hold my part of the deal."

Without warning, she grabbed Merlin's wrist firmly and started dragging him away from the arena.

"Wait—"

"Yes."

She cut him off before he could even finish protesting.

And just like that, they teleported.

—

Merlin's stomach flipped as they suddenly reappeared inside the headmistress's office.

'Was that seriously necessary?'

Morgana casually tossed her lollipop stick into a bin before snapping her fingers again—

And in the blink of an eye, they were standing in the middle of a vast, open field. The scent of freshly cut grass filled the air. Which should have been impossible...since no one should be cutting grass there...

Merlin hit the ground.

'...Oh, great. We are in the domain again.'

"We're starting your training today," Morgana announced, tying her long hair into a ponytail. As she did, a long sword materialized in her hand, gleaming in the sunlight.

"From now on, I'll be handling it personally. Reinhardt and Vivienne are off the case."

"...Wait, what? Off the case..?

"And we can train for as long as we want," she continued, completely ignoring Merlin's question as her lips curled into a mischievous grin.

"Time moves slower here."

She stepped toward him, licking her lips...almost seductively..?

"Slower...?" Merlin echoed warily.

Morgana giggled at his confusion before letting out a full-blown laugh.

"One hour here equals one minute in the real world."

"..."

Merlin's face twitched. His brain short-circuited.

'What the fuck?'

His thoughts raced—then froze—when he noticed Morgana whistling as she approached him.

"I said I'd train you," she cooed, raising her sword. "I just never told you how."

She lunged.

"If you don't fight, you die."

'Wait—'

Before he could finish the thought—

[Trickster's Reflex]

He used his skill quickly, barely being able to dodge the incoming strike.

But then—

The sword changed direction at the last second.

Merlin's eyes widened.

His head went flying.

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Darkness.

—

"...Whoops. Guess I overestimated you."

Morgana covered her mouth with her hand, as if she hadn't just beheaded him, then snapped her fingers.

—

Merlin gasped, suddenly alive again, kneeling on the grass.

His hands shot up to his neck. No blood. No wound. But he knew what had just happened. His stomach swirled from the thought alone...

'Did I just—?'

He looked up to see Morgana casually whistling like nothing had happened.

"You died," she said flatly. "But thanks to my domain and time magic, I can just rewind things and bring you back. Sorry darling, I overestimated you a little...tiny bit."

'...I died?'

Merlin's brain shut down for a second. Then, finally—

"You're actually insane...."

Merlin was still kneeling on the ground, his brain frozen as he tried to process what had just happened. Meanwhile, Morgana casually whistled, as if she had just brewed a cup of tea instead of decapitating her own student.

"You..." Merlin finally managed to speak, his voice shaky. "You just killed me."

Morgana tilted her head, sucking on another lollipop she had seemingly conjured from thin air. "Mhm."

Merlin's eyes twitched. "And you're acting like it's nothing?"

"Well, it is nothing," she said with a smirk. "I told you—this domain allows me to rewind time. No harm done."

"No harm—?!" Merlin nearly lost his mind.

"That's not how this works! I felt that! My head—my whole body—just—"

He clutched his neck, the phantom sensation of the blade still lingering.

Morgana crouched down to his level, meeting his eyes with an amused glint.

"Well, congratulations. Now you know what it's like to die. So you'll get used to it, and the good news is, you can do it over and over again without actually staying dead."

Merlin paled. "That is not good news."

"Oh, don't be such a baby." Morgana stood up, stretching her arms. "Now, let's get back to training."

Merlin scooted back instinctively. "No...is this seriously even needed? Can't you train me another way..?"

Morgana cracked her neck and rolled her shoulders as she kept licking the lollipop. "Oh? But I thought you wanted to get stronger?"

"I do, but preferably without losing my head again—"

Before he could finish, Morgana had already disappeared.

'Shit—!'

[Trickster's Reflex]

He activated the skill just in time, and narrowly dodged a sweeping slash. However, just like before, the sword abruptly changed direction mid-swing.

'Not again—!'

A sharp pain flared in his chest.

Merlin looked down. A sword had pierced straight through him.

"Ah—"

His vision blurred. His knees buckled. And then—

—Darkness.

—

"Whoopsies~"

Morgana clicked her tongue and twirled her sword, then snapped her fingers.

—

Merlin gasped, suddenly back on the ground, perfectly intact.

His hands instinctively flew to his chest. No wound. No blood. He was fine.

But he had definitely just died. Again.

"Alright, lesson two." Morgana casually tapped the flat of her blade against her shoulder. "You're gonna have to dodge better than that."

Merlin's eye twitched again. "You are secretly enjoying this aren't you..?"

Morgana took another lick of her lollipop, smiling. "A little..No, I'm enjoying this a lot actually."

As soon as she finished her sentence she disappeared instantly again.

'Fuck my life.'