[Third Person's PoV]
Arthur and Merlin walked up the steps to a warm-looking home. He wore a rolled-up blue dress shirt with a vest over it, his gloved hands tucked into his pockets, while a coat was draped over his shoulders, its sleeves swaying in the wind.
Merlin was dressed in a purple witch's gown with a matching hood that complemented her eyes. She held her staff like a walking stick in one hand while cradling Cosmo close to her with the other.
Arthur knocked on the door, and after a few seconds, Perenelle opened it with a sigh.
"Arthur, dear, how many times have I told you? You don't have to knock. This is your home as well, after all."
"Sorry, it just feels rude to barge in without notice," Arthur replied with a polite smile.
Perenelle stepped aside, allowing Arthur and Merlin inside. As they entered, she leaned in and whispered, "Dumbledore is already here. Nick is entertaining him while waiting for you."
Arthur nodded, and Perenelle was surprised to feel the air around him shift.
As he moved forward, leading the way, his stride was perfect, exuding an air of nobility and quiet authority.
'It's like I'm letting a member of the royal family into my home,' Perenelle thought with amusement before her brows furrowed in confusion. 'Seriously, just what is this boy's background?'
Arthur soon reached the living room, where Nicholas and Albus Dumbledore sat across from each other.
Albus, a tall, much older man with long gray hair and a white beard, wore a deep blue wizard's hat and matching robes.
The moment Arthur entered, he immediately drew everyone's attention.
Dumbledore's blue eyes sparkled as he appraised the young man from head to toe—from his well-groomed golden hair to his polished dress shoes.
Both Nicholas and Albus stood from their seats, and instinctively, Albus nearly bowed in greeting before catching himself just in time.
Arthur spoke first, taking the lead in the conversation. He placed his right hand over his heart and nodded his head in a courteous greeting, closing his eyes briefly.
"Good evening. You must be Headmaster Dumbledore—I've heard much about you. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Arthur King, the author and creator of the books and magic system that have come into your possession."
The adults stared at Arthur, momentarily dumbfounded by his formal and refined demeanor.
Dumbledore, caught off guard, stumbled slightly over his words. "Ah, oh, yes—I am indeed the Headmaster."
However, with a lifetime of experience behind him, he quickly regained his composure.
"But you may simply call me Professor; 'Headmaster' is far too formal. I am delighted to meet you, Sir Arthur."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Albus internally frowned. 'He's been trained in the art of nobility—and trained well. I was so caught off guard I even added 'Sir' before his name without thinking.'
"In that case, Professor, just call me Arthur or Art," Arthur said as he shook Dumbledore's hand.
'What frightening magical power,' Arthur thought cautiously. No wonder he's known as this era's most powerful wizard.
'What strength,' Dumbledore thought in surprise. 'It's not just nobility he's trained in—he's trained his body extensively as well. Even through his gloves, I can feel the roughness and calluses beneath. Signs of someone who works hard. I can't help but be impressed.'
As Arthur withdrew his hand, he gestured toward Merlin.
"And this here is my companion, Merlynn Syrme. She assisted me greatly in completing my book—she is, in a way, my editor."
Merlin grasped the hem of her witch's dress and bowed. "I, Merlynn Syrme, graciously greet the Headmaster."
"The same applies to you, young lady. You may simply refer to me as Professor," Dumbledore said with a chuckle.
"If that is your wish, Professor," Merlin nodded.
"I hope you'll forgive me for being direct, Professor Dumbledore," Arthur continued, his tone shifting slightly. "Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, I'd like to begin discussing the reason for your visit."
With that, Arthur took a seat across from where Dumbledore had been sitting—essentially taking Nicholas's spot.
"I'll go get some refreshments," Nicholas said, quickly excusing himself.
"I'll help!" Perenelle added, hurrying after him.
Merlin remained behind Arthur, standing silently as an observer.
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, I understand. After all, pleasantries can be a bit tiresome at times, can't they?" he said lightheartedly.
Arthur couldn't help but nod in agreement, a faint smile gracing his lips.
"Before we discuss the matter of me endorsing your work, Arthur, I was hoping you could enlighten me on a few things. After all, I can't help but be curious about the boy who plans to revolutionize the magic works."
"Ask away, Professor. I'll answer to the best of my abilities. However, just to be clear, I'm not revolutionizing how magic works—I'm merely shedding light on the potential it has, which many fail to perceive," Arthur responded in a scholarly manner.
Dumbledore chuckled softly, nodding in understanding. "Alright. Then tell me—how did you come up with such an ingenious way to use magic? Your book is truly remarkable; the depth of knowledge within it is astounding."
Arthur smiled at the question. "Nicholas has asked me the same thing before." He let out a small chuckle before continuing. "Ever since I was little, I dreamed of practicing magic—summoning flames from my fingertips, levitating objects with just a thought… all the wondrous things magic can do."
Arthur sighed, his expression turning wistful. "But as you can probably guess, none of that is possible for me until I turn eleven. I was disheartened by the fact that I couldn't actively practice magic, so I did the next best thing—I chose to study it. I focused on the branches of magic that didn't require a wand or spellcasting."
Leaning forward, Arthur rested his elbows on his knees, pressing his fingertips together.
Dumbledore was surprised to see Arthur's eyes briefly glow with a faint blue light as his expression turned serious.
"As a Headmaster and a professor, I'm sure you understand this better than most. When we encounter limitations, it isn't a sign to give up or turn back. No, limitations exist so that we can find ways to overcome them." Arthur's voice was steady, his gaze unwavering.
Dumbledore felt a slight tremor in his heart as he stared into Arthur's eyes. He was taken aback by the sheer willpower behind them. Eyes are the window to the soul, after all, and Arthur's soul radiated an unyielding determination.
'What a powerful mental fortitude!' Dumbledore thought in awe, Dumbledore could practically see the strong will deep within Arthur's gaze. 'With a will as strong as his, I have no doubt he will become an extraordinary wizard. How delightful! This is exactly how youth should be!'
Then, just as suddenly as the tension had built, Arthur smiled, breaking the heavy atmosphere. He leaned back casually.
"And the way I chose to overcome my limitations was through preparation—preparing for the day when I can finally wield magic. I studied everything I could: magical theory, potions, magical creatures, and runes…"
Arthur's expression softened into one of fondness. "When I picked up my first book on runes, I couldn't put it down. The more I learned about the intricacies of the language, the more ideas began to form in my mind."
He placed a hand on the glass ottoman in front of him and traced an imaginary rune with his finger. "A single rune holds meaning on its own, but if you add another beside it, its meaning can change entirely. For example, this symbol means 'protection.' Now, if I add this one, it transforms into 'force field.'"
Arthur continued miming additional rune inscriptions with his fingers. "The more I studied, the deeper I delved. That's when I started asking myself questions: What would happen if I constructed full sentences using only runes? If runes are the language of magic, could I influence the magic around me through written words? Could I, theoretically, bypass the need to control my own magic and instead harness magic purely through runes?"
"I see…" Dumbledore nodded, his lips curling into a smile. "What an inquisitive child you are," he teased.
Arthur scratched his cheek. "I wouldn't necessarily call it that. You might call it the curious nature of a child—I call it impatience."
Dumbledore let out a hearty laugh. "Hohoho, yes, I can certainly see why you'd think that!"
Then, regaining his composure, he nodded approvingly. "Truly, Arthur, my boy, I am deeply impressed by your way of thinking."
Arthur's eyes gleamed with amusement as he leaned forward slightly. "Impressed enough to give me an endorsement?" he asked, a hint of playfulness in his tone.
Dumbledore chuckled again. "Not quite there just yet, but you're certainly getting close," he teased, already finding Arthur a fascinating conversationalist.
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