NOVEL NEXT Chapter 16: Linda
"Are you awake yet? Come here immediately. Your breakfast is ready," Livia called softly, glancing at Merlin in the doorway of the dining room.
Merlin smiled and gave a small nod. He walked over to the seat to Catrine's right and sat down.
"Good morning, Catrine. Did you sleep well?" He asked softly, popping a grape into his mouth.
Catrine felt a little embarrassed but didn't ignore him, giving a small nod in return.
"Good morning too, Big Brother. I slept very… well," she replied, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Memories of last night came rushing back. She hadn't expected to hug Merlin so tightly.
On top of that, she had cried in front of him, which made her even more embarrassed.
After all, she had hated him so much before, and this sudden change still felt unfamiliar.
Merlin naturally noticed her embarrassment but said nothing. Over the past two years, his treatment of Catrine had been extremely harsh.
The little girl had suffered a lot, so it was only natural that she wasn't used to kindness.
Still, Merlin wasn't worried. Her favorability score toward him had already reached seventy points, proving she no longer hated him.
Meanwhile, Ardhis and Livia, who had been observing the exchange, glanced at each other in surprise.
"Have they made up?" Livia asked quietly.
Ardhis shook his head. "I don't know. But judging by their actions, they clearly have."
His tone was filled with relief and gratitude. The past two years had truly been a harsh test for him.
Catrine was his best friend's daughter, and Ardhis had always treated her like his own. Yet that damn boy, Merlin, had somehow started treating her rudely two years ago.
In truth, the one who loved Catrine the most was Merlin himself. When he was only four years old, he had even vowed to protect her from any future harm.
Yet strangely, he had become the one who hurt her the most, which angered Ardhis and made him begin to resent his own son.
He didn't know what had caused such a drastic change. He had even taken Merlin to numerous mages to check both body and soul, but the results always showed nothing wrong.
Now, seeing the two getting along again, Ardhis finally felt a sense of relief.
"By the way, kid," he said in a softer tone than before, "today's the day of your awakening. You know that, right? Be prepared. The Transitioner will arrive in half an hour. I don't expect you to awaken a four-star spirit, let alone a five-star one. The most important thing is that you do it safely, without getting hurt."
Awakening a spirit was no easy process. Most of the time, one felt extreme pain—even to the point of fainting. This happened because the spirit had already merged with the consciousness, and summoning it meant forcibly pulling it out from within.
Merlin's expression grew serious. "Don't worry, Father. I'll do my best."
He understood the meaning behind his father's words. In the novel, Catrine had mentioned that Merlin Clay had fainted while awakening his spirit.
That embarrassing incident had even become a joke—one that Catrine would later use to tease Merlin Clay, along with the protagonist and the other heroines.
Ardhis nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Catrine. His gaze softened as he reminded her, "This goes for you too, Catrine. Try not to faint, okay? I trust you."
Catrine gave a small nod and replied confidently, "I understand, Father! Leave it to me!"
Livia, who had been watching silently, smiled slightly. This peace and harmony had been her dream for two long years.
She had never imagined that the day would finally come, filling her with so much joy and gratitude toward the gods.
The breakfast in the dining room was warm and cheerful, filled with the smiles and laughter of the four of them.
***
In the courtyard of the mansion, Merlin and Catrine stood side by side, both clad in black training clothes and special shoes designed to resist friction.
About twenty meters away, an exceptionally beautiful woman approached them with leisurely steps.
Her long, grayish-white hair was styled half-up, half-down, and her hazel eyes caught the sunlight, gleaming softly.
She wore a purplish-black dress that fell to her calves.
Her long white legs were clearly visible, and her slightly exposed cleavage made her an impossible sight to ignore.
Merlin swallowed hard, trying to compose himself. This was the first time he had seen such a stunning, alluring woman in person.
In his previous life, he had always been consumed by work and had never had time for a girlfriend. In fact, until his death, he had never once held a woman's hand—a disgrace he would carry forever.
"Jezz..."
Suddenly, Merlin felt a sharp gaze from beside him.
He turned his head and realized it was Catrine.
"Ahem!" Merlin coughed awkwardly. "Is something on my face?"
Catrine pouted, snorted coldly, and turned her face away.
Merlin panicked, about to say something, but she had already stopped in front of them, wearing a satisfied smile.
"So, you're Merlin Clay and Catrine Clay, huh?" she said softly. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Linda, and I'll be the one helping you awaken your spirits."
Merlin froze the moment he heard her name.
"Linda? Are you… the headmistress of Saint Freya Academy?"
"Oh?" Linda looked surprised. "Do you know me, or did Ardhis tell you?"
Merlin opened and closed his mouth, unsure how to respond.
The world of the novel The Lost Hero was vast and inhabited by many races—demons, dragons, elves, dwarves, and more.
These differences often led to long-standing conflicts that were difficult to resolve.
But at the Academy of Saint Freya, all animosity had to be set aside. The academy was the largest on the continent, standing majestically at its center.
It was a place where all races gathered to train and learn. In the novel, the Academy was a pivotal point where the main character met many important figures, including the heroines and the very person standing before him now: Linda.
She was no ordinary woman. Linda was the headmistress of Saint Freya Academy—the one who held the highest authority there.
And now, this incredibly powerful figure had come to the Clay family mansion to be the Transitioner who would awaken his and Catrine's spirits.
Cold sweat ran down Merlin's body as he whispered in panic, 'Damn… how did this happen?'