Merlin Parnassus

This is a work of fiction in the genres of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. The novel is in the 'Rings of Gaia' domain. ‘Merlin Parnassus’ is a prequel to the series "Samantha’s Journey”. The theme is ‘reincarnation’. The stories contain adult material. Do not read if under 18 years of age or are oversensitive.
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Gaia is the soul of Planet Earth. She serves God the creator by looking after herself. Gaia’s intention was to create leaders who could educate and protect the Earth. Man is self-destructive, and Gaia needs agents who would go out and repair the damage. Gaia gave Merlin Parnassus long life and real magic.
Merlin kept his lovers young, but lives were finite. He was the wizard at King Arthur's Court. He used conjuring tricks to entertain the children and illusions to baffle the adults; he kept real magic hidden for healing. One slip would be death.
Merlin was born in the glades of Mount Parnassus, Greece, in 850BC; his mother lay dying beside him. Gaia appointed a wise woman, Sibyl, to adopt and raise Merlin in her woodland home. Sibyl taught Merlin about herbs and medicine. Nine years later, the Apothecary moved to the Temple of the Oracle at Delphi. In 825BC. Sibyl became the voice of the Oracle; it was a precarious life, exposing herself to the heady fumes below the Omphalos. In her dying breath, she asked Gaia, “Let Merlin take my place”. Merlin blindly accepted, and Gaia promised him “a long life of learning Real Magic”.
In 560BC, a merchant presented five rings to the Temple; they were headbands for the champions of the Pythian, Olympic, Nemean, and Isthmian Games, and one for the Supreme Champion. Gaia blessed the rings with permanent magic-essence; the rings became magic-artefacts.
Merlin had the same dream every night: 'Gaia crowned the supreme champion, removed the ring and put it on Merlin’s head'. He took the problem to the Oracle; she deliberated. She did not know which ring had been used for the supreme champion, so she placed all five rings on Merlin’s head. She held them in place, and they shared the visions. Crowning a champion added knowledge and permanent magic to the victor.
Pythia lost her virginity that night; I sensed the new magic-essence.
'What was that?' I thought.
'Sexual intercourse creates magic-essence,' came the replying thought from the ring.
Pythia was still connected to my thoughts; she was smiling.
'How do we avoid pregnancy?' I continued the thought conversation.
'Make yourself sterile; Make your woman sterile or avoid sex.'
We laughed until it hurt. Pythia resigned from her position as the Oracle and reverted to her birth name of Penelope. We raised two beautiful children. Adam was killed in the chariot racing. Daphne became a priestess at the Temple. Penelope died aged 65 in 530BC. Daphne was distraught and pleaded to become the next Pythia; she saw it as an easy way to follow her mother.
"Dad. I am getting old!" There was great pain in her voice. "How can you ask me to stay when you are still so young?"
Her words stabbed me deep in my heart. I knew this was coming. I was at a complete loss; how could I placate her?
"I am deeply sorry that I failed you. It is at moments like this that my blessing of a long life feels more like a curse. Every day, I wondered how I might keep you young; I am sorry that I don't have that knowledge." I was hurting bad and voicing my pain with a strangled voice.
Daphne fell into my arms, crying.
"Dad. I wouldn't want a long life like you. I am not even sure I want to remember this life when I have entered my next."