Darwin arrives at GMS early in the morning to find Saffrey and Tally working on their respective projects. Merrick, ready to head out, puts on his cloak, nods curtly to the group, and makes for the door.

MERRICK: This is my day off. I’ll see you all tomorrow. Lock up before you leave.

{With that, Merrick steps out, the door closing firmly behind him. Darwin watches him, his curiosity piqued. He turns to Saffrey and Tally.}

DARWIN: So…what does Merrick actually do on his days off?

SAFFREY: Oh, when I first started working here, I couldn’t tell if he even had a life. I used to think maybe he just sat in a park feeding…uh, Glimmerdoves.

TALLY: {chuckling} I bet he goes to play Mythic Checkers with someone even older than him.

DARWIN: Mythic Checkers? I can’t see Merrick enjoying a game with anyone.

SAFFREY: {shrugging} I mean, who knows? At first, we couldn’t figure it out. But then Tally got nosy.

TALLY: “Nosy”? I call it investigative curiosity!

SAFFREY: You call it whatever you want. The first time he tried to follow Merrick, he didn’t even get halfway there before Merrick found him and sent him running back like a scared. He shrunk him down and put him in the NeedleAnt farm for 3 days.

TALLY: Okay, fine, yeah. But that’s when I got serious. I designed a spider drone—perfectly inconspicuous. It trailed him all the way to the coffee shop.

DARWIN: Which one? The Dragonclaw Cafe?

TALLY: Yeah. Every week, Merrick meets his two old Guild buddies there. But guess what? Merrick sensed my drone, found it, and smashed it to pieces.

SAFFREY: And that was 2 weeks in the NeedleAnt farm.

DARWIN: {eyes wide} He has former Guild members?

SAFFREY: Yup. Silas the Tall and Falga Lightwillow.

{At the mention of the names, Darwin’s face lights up in excitement.}

DARWIN: Silas the Tall?! Falga Lightwillow?! Are you serious? Those two are legends!

TALLY: {smirking} Yeah, but apparently they’re just Merrick’s coffee buddies now.

DARWIN: I can’t believe it! What do you think they even talk about?

TALLY: {shrugging} Oh, probably us. Complaining about how useless we are.

SAFFREY: Or how much they wish Merrick would retire already.

Merrick arrives and steps into the quaint café, its air filled with the rich aroma of coffee. The shop is a favorite among older magic users because of its supposed "Dragonfire Roasting Method." Merrick smirks at the gimmick but still orders his usual. He sits at his regular table near the window, glancing out as he waits. A bell above the door jingles, and Silas the Tall ducks through the doorway, his towering form immediately drawing attention. Silas spots Merrick and approaches with his usual calm demeanor.

SILAS: Morning, old friend.

MERRICK: {nodding} Silas. Coffee?

{Silas gives a small grunt of agreement and sits. A few moments later, the bell jingles again, and Falga Lightwillow sweeps in, her tracksuit swishing softly as she moves. She grins broadly as she spots the two men.}

FALGA: Look at you two, already brooding like old crows.

SILAS: Nice to see you, too, Falga.

MERRICK: You’re late.

FALGA: {rolling her eyes} And you’re predictable. Now, can we skip the formalities and get to it?

{The three old friends settle into their seats, sipping on their coffee. Silas leans back, his towering frame barely fitting in the chair. He pulls a small cloth bag from his side and places it on the table.}

SILAS: I brought you both a little something from my garden. Moonpears—good for calming headaches. Stardrop Radishes—bit of a kick to ‘em, but they’ll clear your sinuses. Oh, and these. Prismroots—slice them thin, fry them up, and you’ll feel twenty years younger.

FALGA: {grinning} Oh, you’re just determined to keep me spry, aren’t you?

SILAS: Someone’s got to.

MERRICK: {snorts} Gardening. Who would’ve thought.

SILAS: {shrugs} It’s peaceful. Something you might consider trying, Merrick.

FALGA: I’ve been keeping busy by knitting gifts for the great-great-great-grandchildren. A whole set of enchanted scarves and gloves—they change color depending on the weather.

SILAS: Practical and magical. Nice.

FALGA: Oh I almost forgot, I’ll be traveling to Ferundale to have dinner with the queen of the Elderstone Kingdom. Special invitation, no less. She had such a marvelous time at the ski resort last season, and this is her way of thanking me.

MERRICK: {scoffs} Can’t believe it. Dinner with royalty, scarf knitting, and homegrown Prismroots. This is what we’ve come to.

FALGA: Oh, here we go.

SILAS: Merrick’s weekly existential crisis.

MERRICK: I’m serious! Look at us. We used to be feared by villains, respected by heroes, adored by the public. Now, here we sit, gardeners and scarf-knitters, sipping coffee in a shop that claims to roast beans with Dragonfire. THEY ARE CLEARLY LYING!

FALGA: Merrick—

MERRICK: We used to protect kingdoms! We sat beside kings and queens; they sought our advice on matters of life and death. And now? Now we’re just…quaint.

FALGA: Merrick, if you don’t stop, I’m leaving. Every week, me and Silas share a little about what’s going on in our lives, and every week, you hijack the conversation with the same complaints.

SILAS: She’s not wrong.

FALGA: And you can’t even reminisce properly! Every time we try to laugh about the good old days, you spiral into a rant about how they’re gone. You need to let it go.

SILAS: Or find a hobby.

FALGA: Or a date.

{Merrick snorts derisively, but Silas’s face brightens.}

FALGA: Wait a minute. Silas—are you dating someone?!

MERRICK: {rolling his eyes} Dating. What a waste of time.

FALGA: Oh, shut up, old man! Silas, tell me everything.

SILAS: Well, I met her at the farmer’s market.

MERRICK: pfff! Farmer’s market…..

SILAS: Her name’s Seraphine

.

{Merrick’s cup slams down onto the table.}

MERRICK: Seraphine? You can’t be serious.

SILAS: {calmly} I know you two have a past, but that was over a century ago. Surely you’ve moved on by now.

MERRICK: That woman is a liar! A BIG FAT LIAR!. She’ll ruin you.

FALGA: Oh, this is good. Go on, Merrick, tell us how she wronged you.

MERRICK: She stood me up. 127 years ago, I waited for her for two hours at Gilded Griffin Tavern. Two hours!

SILAS: Didn’t you go to the wrong place?

MERRICK: Lies! All lies! She didn’t even try to make amends.

FALGA: {grinning} And here you are, still bitter about it. Silas, good for you! I hope it works out.

MERRICK: {pointing at Silas} She’ll stab you in the back, just wait.

SILAS: So far, she’s been lovely. We’re going on our third date in a few days.

FALGA: {clapping her hands together} Wonderful! See, Merrick? Some of us are capable of moving on and enjoying life.

MERRICK: My crew and I have had some great adventures lately, thank you very much.

{Falga and Silas exchange knowing looks as Merrick crosses his arms, huffing. The lighthearted banter continues, the trio poking fun at one another, the weight of their past adventures momentarily lifted. The trio continues their conversation, sipping on their coffee. Falga leans back in her chair, her gaze landing on Merrick with a glimmer of curiosity.}

FALGA: So, Merrick. How’s the new apprentice? Think this one’s going to work out?

MERRICK: He’s…doing fine.

FALGA: Oh, come on now…”Fine”...that’s it, hes doing “fine”… there has to be more to it.

SILAS: Yeah, Merrick, tell us about them.

MERRICK: {sighing, leaning back in his chair} Fine. He’s…not entirely useless.

FALGA: {chuckling} High praise from you.

MERRICK: {sipping his coffee again, warming up to the topic} He’s clever. Figured out how to calm a rampaging golem.

SILAS: I saw something about a golem in the park on the news. Good job!

FALGA: Go on.

MERRICK: Then there was the bakery incident. A giant evil cookie running amok, enslaving people with dark magic—

FALGA: Wait. What?

SILAS: A cookie?

MERRICK: It was a magical gingerbread monstrosity, thank you very much. And Darwin was instrumental in stopping it.

FALGA: Did he eat it?

MERRICK: {grumbling} Not the point, Falga.

SILAS: {laughing} Sounds like you trained him well.

MERRICK: And just recently, he managed to beat Toro on his first try.

FALGA: Toro? As in Torin Toro?

MERRICK: The very same.

SILAS: {impressed} That’s…actually remarkable.

FALGA: It’s been a while since you’ve talked about any apprentice like this.

SILAS: Not even the other two you’ve had for a while. What’s her name? Saffrey? And that gadget guy, Tally?

MERRICK: They have their…uses.

FALGA: {grinning} That’s the nicest thing I’ve ever heard you say about them.

MERRICK: {deflecting} They’re fine at what they do. They all have potential.

SILAS: Potential, huh?

FALGA: And yet, I get the feeling you’re holding something back.

MERRICK: They show promise. Let’s leave it at that.

{Falga and Silas exchange a knowing look. Silas leans back in his chair, stroking his chin.}

SILAS: You know, the only other time you spoke this way about an apprentice—

MERRICK: {cutting him off} Don’t.

{The table grows quiet for a moment. Falga looks at Merrick with a raised eyebrow but decides not to press the subject. Instead, she shifts the mood back to lightheartedness.}

FALGA: Well, sounds like this Darwin might actually make something of himself. Maybe you’ll actually keep this one around.

MERRICK: We’ll see.

{The trio chuckles lightly, though a shadow of unspoken memories lingers in the air. Silas and Falga exchange one last glance, silently agreeing to leave the past alone for now. The conversation shifts back to banter, the camaraderie of old friends easing the tension. They finish their coffee and lighthearted banter. Falga glances at the clock hanging on the wall, tapping her fingers on the table as she finishes her cup.}

FALGA: Well, boys, it’s about that time.

MERRICK: {grumbling} Oh, yes. Off we go to the MRH—[Magicians Retirement Home]. Maybe I’ll book myself a room this time.

FALGA: {smirking} Not this week, Merrick. That was last week.

MERRICK: Where are we going, then?

FALGA: The Children’s Center.

MERRICK: {groaning loudly} You’ve got to be kidding me!

SILAS: Come on, Merrick. You know you love it.

MERRICK: {gruffly} I most certainly do not.

{Despite his complaints, Merrick gets up with the others, and they leave the coffee shop. They fly out over a great distance to a small orphanage called “Mistress Marple’s Magical Manor”, which has a school, learning center, daycare, and pediatric hospital. The trio arrives at the center, greeted by a chorus of excited cheers from the kids. The children rush to the trio, their faces lighting up as they hug Silas, Falga, and even Merrick, who manages a faint smile despite himself.}

CHILD 1: Silas! Can you make my hair stand up again?

SILAS: {grinning} Oh, you bet I can. Hold still now.

{Silas puts his hands together, generating a bit of static electricity, and gently touches the child’s hair, making it rise into the air like a wild mane. The kids laugh and clap, amazed.}

CHILD 2: Falga! Can you make me a snow cone?

FALGA: {smiling warmly} Of course, darling. What flavor?

CHILD 2: Strawberry!

{Falga waves her hands, conjuring ice, reaching into her bag for a paper cone, and then squirting red strawberry flavor all over it. She hands it to the child with a wink, creating several more for the other kids as they line up eagerly.}

CHILD 3: Mr. Merrick! You have to do tricks again!

MERRICK: Oh, no, no, no. Not happening this time.

FALGA: oh don’t worry little one. Mr. Merrick will definitely be putting on a ton of magic tricks for you all. As soon as he puts on his funny clown makeup and big red nose.

MERRICK: No! I Will Not!

FALGA: SILAS!

{Silas tases Merrick and his body stiffens, Falga drags him to a chair and applies bright clown makeup to his face, plopping the red nose on last. The children roar with laughter as Merrick grumbles but ultimately obliges, performing sleight-of-hand tricks and small illusions.}

CHILDREN: The Magic Song! Please, Mr. Merrick!

MERRICK: {sighing deeply} All right, all right. You lot win.

Silas produces a lute from his bag, tuning it with a hum. Falga conjures a xylophone made entirely of shimmering ice. Merrick takes center stage, raising his hands dramatically before beginning to sing. His voice is deep, resonant, and surprisingly beautiful.

As Merrick sings, he uses his magic to create illusions of animals and glowing shapes. A glowing stag leaps through a meadow of shimmering flowers, and a flock of rainbow birds soars overhead. The children are captivated, their faces glowing with delight.

The performance builds to a climactic finale. Falga’s ice xylophone rings out a triumphant melody, Silas strums the lute with a flourish, and Merrick raises his hands. The sky outside darkens and the center bursts into a dazzling display of magical fireworks—brilliant reds, blues, and golds painting the sky in intricate patterns.

As the fireworks continue to bloom across the sky, Tally, Saffrey, and Darwin stand together outside the GMS, their faces lit by the dazzling colors above. The display bursts with patterns of shimmering animals, glowing trees, and radiant arcs of light, a show of such breathtaking beauty that it stops everyone in their tracks.

All across Havenmere—and even in neighboring towns and cities—people pause to watch the sky. Families gather on balconies, shopkeepers step outside their stores, and children point in awe as the magic unfolds above them. For a brief moment, the world feels a little brighter, wrapped in wonder and joy.

Tally, arms crossed, smirks as he watches.

TALLY: {softly} Still don’t know where it comes from.

SAFFREY: Who cares? It’s amazing.

DARWIN: Someone out there’s putting a lot of love into this.

{They fall silent again, letting the quiet hum of the town and the brilliance of the light show wash over them.}

Meanwhile, far across the town at the Children’s Center, Merrick stands near the entrance, arms crossed, watching as the final bursts of fireworks fade into soft embers. His face, half-lit by the glow, shows the smallest trace of a smile. He turns back to the emptying room, listening to the lingering laughter of children echoing in the air.

Maybe it’s because he doesn’t want his crew—or anyone else—to see his soft side. Maybe it’s because charity, to him, should never be something to brag about. Or maybe, deep down, he just doesn’t know how to say it out loud. But for Merrick, the joy on their faces, the laughter in the air, and the shared awe from the townspeople is reason enough to keep his secret. One of many he carries with him.