A Twist in Camelot

The sun hung high over the ancient city of Camelot, painting the castle walls a brilliant gold. Inside these grand, stone walls, things were bustling with excitement. Servants scurried like ants, and voices echoed through corridors.

“Merlin! Where are you?” Prince Arthur's voice boomed as he searched for his trusted—but often late—servant. Arthur found him juggling a pile of dusty books in the corner of the library. “We need to be ready! We’re visiting the neighboring kingdom tomorrow.”

With a sheepish grin, Merlin set down the books and hurried after Arthur. They almost collided with King Uther Pendragon and his ward, Lady Morgana, who was overseeing the preparations with her usual composed grace.

“Be careful, you two,” Morgana admonished, giving them a knowing look.

As they moved through the castle, Merlin’s curiosity got the better of him. In a forgotten corner of a dusty hallway, hidden behind a tapestry, he discovered a gleaming stone, quietly pulsating with an unusual light.

“What do you think it is?” asked Arthur, equally intrigued.

Curiosity piqued, Merlin reached out and touched the stone, setting off a wild chain reaction. Sparks flew, and a swirling portal opened up, changing the atmosphere instantly.

“I think we just made a big mistake,” Merlin murmured, watching the portal with eyes wide. Camelot’s history had taken a sudden twist, and an extraordinary quest was about to begin.

The Ripple Effect

Tumbling through the portal, Merlin and Arthur landed—quite unceremoniously—on the cobblestone streets of Camelot. But something wasn't right.

"Why does everything look... different?" Arthur wondered aloud, brushing off his clothes.

Merlin looked around, taking in the bustling scene. People were dressed in odd clothing, some wearing peculiar hats with gears spinning on top. Metallic wagons zipped by without horses, and everywhere, there were lights that flickered on and off with the push of a button.

Merlin scratched his head, "This isn't the Camelot we know..."

They exchanged bewildered glances, realizing they must've been flung into an altered timeline.

A voice interrupted their thoughts. "Ah, travelers from afar!" A middle-aged man emerged from the crowd, his gray hair wild like a stormy sea. He wore a patchwork coat full of pockets, and every pocket jangled with gadgets. "Name's Sir Kadmus. Inventor extraordinaire! Need a tour of our bustling ingenuity?" he asked, a twinkle in his eye.

Arthur hesitated, then nodded. "We could use some guidance..."

Merlin added with a friendly smile, "Besides, you seem to know your way around this place."

With that, Sir Kadmus led them deeper into the new Camelot, leaving Merlin and Arthur to wonder how they would unravel the shifted history.