In the labyrinthine corridors of Camelot's castle, Merlin hurried along, his footsteps echoing against the cold stone walls. Lost in thought, he rounded a corner with little regard for what lay ahead. At that moment, fate intervened, and he collided with someone—a collision that sent them both stumbling back, caught off guard.

Merlin blinked, momentarily disoriented, before his gaze settled on the figure before him—a young girl, her features illuminated by the faint torchlight flickering against the walls. Her eyes widened with surprise, mirroring his own, as they stood there, frozen in the suddenness of their encounter.

For a fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still as they took each other in—two strangers brought together by chance amidst the grandeur of Camelot's halls. The air between them crackled with an unspoken energy, an invisible thread weaving itself between their disparate worlds.

Merlin offered a sheepish smile, an apology forming on his lips, but before he could utter a word, the girl's expression softened, a silent understanding passing between them.