At ADF headquarters, everyone is throwing a party celebrating your first day officially being in the ADF.

Max: "Congratulations, Y/N. You're an official member now."

"Thanks, Dad."

Max walked you to a corner away from the others.

Max: "I tried so hard to keep you out of this ADF stuff, but with your power, and Merlin appearing after God knows how long, I guess this was kinda inevitable."

"Well, this is a choice I made for myself. I do know that you were just looking out for me."

Max: "Thanks. I better head to level 40. John and the others are about to bring out the spray kegs."

"Just pace yourself."

Max: "I will. Welcome to the Ark Defense Force, Y/N."

As Max entered the elevator, Merlin appeared next to you, holding a glass of wine.

Merlin: "This celebration is for you officially joining the ADF?"

"It's nice to celebrate and take your mind off things every once in a while."

Merlin: "I get that. Hey, Y/N?"

"Yes?"

Merlin: "Have you ever been in love with someone?"

"Not really. I was a little focused on studying and making sure I'm ready to be in the ADF."

Merlin wrapped her arm around your neck.

Merlin: "Hey, you're still young. I'm sure you'll find a good girl in your life. Until then, I'm certainly available."

"Well, you certainly are beautiful," you said, blushing, "and I do enjoy being your partner."

Merlin: "Well, if you work hard, maybe we can be more than just partners after all this is over."

"I'll think about it."

Merlin: "Hey, since they are allowing you to have off tomorrow, want to just hang out? I would like a day to just relax."

"I suppose so. There's a movie playing about the world long ago. Want to check it out?"

Merlin: "Sounds interesting. I'd like to check it out."

"Okay."

The next day, you were walking out of a movie theater with Merlin, and you noticed she looked sad.

"Merlin...?"

Merlin: "The world. It was greatly flawed, but it was perfect. I failed to help Meliodas and the others protect it."

"Do you think there's any chance some of them may have survived?"

Merlin: "Beings of magic were the first ones that Chaos attacked when it went insane. Humanity managed to build this because the Rayonne were busy hunting down every bit of magic. They now target the Ark because it holds the last remnants of the present humanity."

"Well, that's what you and I are here for, right?"

Merlin looked at you and gave a small smile as an explosion occurred, causing the alarms to go off. Everyone sought shelter as Merlin formed your uniform onto yourself and took you to where the explosions are taking place.

You saw a large creature of Chaos and another Rayonne prophet with the Delta symbol on their robes. The prophet turned around and reveals his face having a mutation that causes it to resemble a crown with several eyes.

The prophet held a hilt with no blade and looked at you and Merlin.

"Bow to the Prophet Delta and I may spare your lives."

You fired at Delta and he dodged the shots while Merlin threw a lightning bolt at him and hit him.

Delta: "You little bitch!"

Delta threw his arms out and causes several buildings to get blasted apart. You activated your power, but Delta formed an energy blade on the hilt and threw it at you, impaling yourself into the ground.

Merlin: "NO!"

As she fired more magic at Delta, you found yourself in a blank void. You saw images of Merlin during the magic era of Britannia, as well as images or her succumbing to despair over the years due to the actions of Chaos.

The last image showed Merlin regaining her resolve and vowing to stop Chaos.

"Merlin has amazing magic and she's been around longer than me. I just started all this a little bit ago. But still, I will fight to bring back this world!"

The void became brighter and engulfed you. Back in the present, Merlin continued to fight Delta and the battle appears to be a stalemate.

Delta: "You were called the most powerful wizard, but the truth is you can't do shit on your own."

As Merlin closed her eyes, your eyes open and both Merlin and Delta saw this.

Delta: "H-how!?"

The hilt still hurt you, but you powered through it. Your blood spurt through your back and took on the shape of a blade.

You grabbed the hilt in your chest and pulled it out. The blood went back into your wound and the hilt came out with a blade that has several lines throughout it. Delta fires several eye beams at you, but you deflected them all with ease.

"I figure I've got 4 minutes before I end up facing the consequence of using this power," you thought.

Your power activated, causing marks to form around your body. You appeared in front of Delta and slices a few of his eyes.

Delta: "DAMN YOU!!"

Delta formed several blades of energy and prepared to launch them, but the blade on your sword separated, and each piece slashed through the energy swords. You then swung your hilt and the separated blades slash through Delta as they return to the hilt.

Delta split into several pieces before his soul and flesh are absorbed into a tear in reality.

Merlin: "Either this is Dark Eve's doing, or XV has something to do with this."

Your power deactivated and you fell, but Merlin caught you.

Merlin: "Y/N? Y/N?! What's happening?! Stay with me!"

After passing out, you found yourself in a hospital room. You looked around and saw Merlin watching you.

Merlin: "You're finally up. Thank god."

"What happened? The prophet... Did we-"

Merlin: "You got him. Everyone saw it."

She pointed to the TV, where the news is covering the events.

Merlin: "You were unconscious for two days. Though I'm not surprised, considering the energy you used."

"Do you have a clue as to what my power might be?"

Merlin: "That power you have? It's Hope. That's its name. As long as people believe in you, their faith will reach you and be converted into power. And that sword?"

She pointed to the sword leaning against the wall.

Merlin: "That hilt was part of a powerful weapon. Its blade was lost, but your power helped it forge a new one. I have a few ideas of how you managed to use it expertly, but I still need to observe it more."

"Hey, Merlin?"

Merlin: "Yes?"

"Do you have any dreams? Anything you'd like to do if you had the chance?"

Merlin stayed silent before smiling.

Merlin: "I want to go into the stars and see what's out there, although, I fear loneliness would be inevitable."

"I'll take you there."

Merlin looked at you in surprise.

(A/N: This was the highest-quality image I could find of this specific scene without subtitles. I have a feeling that a proper-quality image exists without subs, but I'm not gonna bother looking for it.)

"When we stop Chaos and bring back the world, I'll take you to the stars myself. You offered to help us. It's only right I do the same for you."

Merlin then planted a kiss on your cheek. You were left surprised while she is flustered.

Merlin: "I think we should head to what remains of Britannia soon. If there's anything that can help us get an idea to stop Chaos and bring this world back to life, it'll be there."

"Sounds like a plan."

Merlin: "In the meantime, rest. You need to train to get better at using your power and be able to use that sword properly."

"Sure thing. Thanks for looking after me, Merlin."

Merlin: "Anytime."

You closed your eyes and began to rest, knowing that the path to saving the world would be a long one you and Merlin must complete.