Chapter 2: The Vanishing Merlin - Whispers in the Flames

Hello and Welcome to Honors Corner!

Time to dive into the adventures of Ignatius and the disappearance of Merlin. Has Merlin gone off his own free will or are more murderous intentions afoot? Will the suspicion that somehow Ignatius is involved lead to him being arrested on circumstantial evidence? And what of Zenobia, how is she coping she seems to have melted into the background. Surely, Himiko the great detective of the Norheim police force can’t have forgotten her!!! There seem to be too many loose ends and not enough information about what is going on. The clues will present themselves but be aware of red herrings, you don’t want to be misdirected and tripped up because you followed the wrong clue. Pay attention and you might just beat Himiko to the answer to the question - Where is Merlin? Well, get comfy, grab a drink and immerse yourself in a tale of the disappearance of Merlin.

A Brief Recap

The fires of suspicion still smouldered over Norheim.

Merlin — the Kingdom's most brilliant mage and reformer — had vanished. His last known ambition: was to rewrite the ancient Dragon Treaty, allowing dragons to bond with immortals outside of their elemental affinity.

A radical, dangerous idea.

One known only to a small circle of trusted allies.

Yet somehow, word had leaked.

The stolen note from Zenobia and Merlin's table.

The secret arguments between Merlin and Papa Ignatius.

The ominous clues beginning to surface: a Shadowed Sigil, an Ember Echo in the corridors, a fleeting glimpse of a Crimson Veil in Ignatius's eyes, and the haunting presence of a Silver Omen seen whispering to a figure cloaked in mystery.

Norheim held its breath, awaiting the spark that would ignite a conflagration.

Nightfall Tavern – Loki's Magic Show

The Nightfall Tavern buzzed with unnatural tension that night, the kind that slithered into your bones and made even seasoned immortals glance nervously over their shoulders.

Loki — gleeful and mischievous — took the stage under the crumbling chandeliers, ready to perform his famed illusion act. A thin mist of magic sparkled in the tavern as he conjured twenty Lokis, each bickering loudly, swapping faces, shapes, and genders, while throwing glittering void orbs through the air.

The immortals laughed nervously. But not all.

In a far, darkened corner, a group of immortals huddled together, speaking in low tones.

Their faces were hidden behind cloaks, hands cupped over their mouths, casting furtive glances around the tavern to ensure they were not seen.

But they were being watched.

In the flickering torchlight, a lone figure stood near the back, their green staff barely visible. The gleam of it hinted at powerful enchantments.

Friend or foe?

No one knew.

No one dared to approach.

And above all the clamour and dazzling illusions, Himiko sat poised, watching everything — her senses razor-sharp, her Void Magic thrumming beneath her skin like a tiger ready to pounce.

She was determined to find Merlin.

Himiko's Investigation

Earlier that day, Emperor Qin Shi Huang and Cleopatra had been summoned to form a temporary investigative force. Their skills were unmatched:

• Qin Shi Huang's strategic mind and unbending logic made him an unparalleled tactician — the detective general.
• Cleopatra, with her mastery of charm, poison, and influence, could squeeze secrets from the tightest-lipped conspirators.

They swept through Merlin's home.

What they found deepened the mystery:

• A hidden scroll, its seal broken, marked with a faded Shadowed Sigil.
• Traces of Ember Echo magic lingered near the shattered back window, suggesting Merlin had not left willingly.
• A torn piece of parchment with a rough map… labelled: "Phase 1: Dragon Lairs".
• And disturbingly — the lingering scent of burnt herbs, used only in dark binding spells.

Merlin hadn't just disappeared. He had been taken.

The Interrogation of Ignatius

Back at the Tavern, Himiko cornered Ignatius.

She towered before him, her Void Magic swirling like a storm, her eyes like black holes of accusation. Her magic snared his aura, rendering him incapable of lying or attacking.

Sweat poured down Ignatius's scales.

"Where were you the night Merlin vanished?" Himiko demanded, her voice low, dangerous.

Ignatius glanced away, fire flickering weakly in his throat.

"I swore an oath," he rumbled. "To Empress Wu. We took flight that night. I cannot betray her trust."

"Trust," Himiko repeated coldly. "Or conspiracy?"

Ignatius said nothing. But the flicker of Crimson Veil that briefly crossed his gaze did not go unnoticed.

The gathered immortals murmured, the tension in the tavern growing unbearable. Was Ignatius guilty? Or was he hiding something darker, something he was terrified even to speak of?

Meanwhile: Merlin's Ordeal

Deep beyond the borders of Norheim, Merlin's journey grew even stranger.

Led by his captors — if they were indeed captors — he stumbled through a dank, terrifying forest. Yellow eyes blinked from the shadows; goblins and gnomes whispered curses. The path clung dangerously to the edge of a sheer cliff — far below roared the River Ymir, its furious waters crashing against the rocks before plunging over the 1,000m Ymir Falls, the deadliest waterfall in Frostborne.

Merlin slipped, his footing lost.

Death seemed certain — but a strange, long-fingered hand, almost monkey-like, caught him. A brush of fur — a wolf's tail? — flickered in the corner of his vision.

Was he rescued… or merely preserved for something worse?

At last, they arrived at a grotesque building, formed from giant shells, encrusted with barnacles and dripping stalactites. Inside, the damp walls echoed with slow, mocking drips.

In the centre of the cavernous hall, lit by a single cold-blue torch, stood a vast map of Norheim, dotted with dragon lairs. Across it, scrawled in thick black ink:

"PHASE 1 COMPLETE"

And in the shadows behind the map… a figure waited.

The figure's face was hidden by a cowl embroidered with strange, ancient runes. Only their gauntleted hands could be seen — fingers inlaid with silvery veins, pulsing with forbidden magic.

Backstory of the Shadowy Figure:

Known only in ancient whispers as the Scarab Lord, an outcast sorcerer of Norheim's first council, exiled for attempting to enslave dragons to his will. Long believed dead, some said he had found a way to live on — neither alive nor dead — plotting revenge on the Kingdom that cast him out.

"Was your journey acceptable?" the Scarab Lord asked, his voice like sand scraping over stone.

Merlin stiffened. "I survived."

The Scarab Lord chuckled to himself.

"Good. We can only hope… there will be a return."

Conclusion of Chapter 2:

The web tightens.

• Ignatius grows more isolated.
• Empress Wu's silence grows more suspicious.
• The Shadowed Sigil, Ember Echo, Crimson Veil, and Silver Omen all point to a greater conspiracy.
• Merlin stands on the edge of an unseen war.
• The Scarab Lord's Phase 2 is about to begin — and if the immortals of Norheim don't uncover the truth in time, dragons, mages, and mortals alike will all be consumed.

What to Expect in Chapter 3:

• The secret council of Norheim is convened.
• Loki unravels a secret he didn't even realise he had witnessed during his magic show.
• Himiko lays a trap — but who will walk into it?
• The Scarab Lord begins Phase 2.
• A shocking betrayal that will shake Norheim to its core.

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I hope you have enjoyed the story, are excited to see the adventures of Ignatius and solving the puzzle: What has happened to Merlin? See you soon until next time:)