Merlin sat in in his shop patiently awaiting Katie's arrival. He had done this many times now, almost too many to remember at this point. He enjoyed Katie's adventures with the ring and anxiously looked forward to seeing what type of adventures were unfolding for the young girl. The ringing of the front bell caused the old wizard to smile. "Ah Katie," he said with a smile. "I've been expecting you please come and sit down."
Katie paused and giving the old man a concerned look. "Do I know you," she said cautiously. Merlin smiled. "Yes and no," he said. "We've met previously or at least will meet..it's complicated, multiple outcomes to different stories, I won't bore you with the details. Needless to say that no matter what choices you make you eventual end up here."
Katie continued to look at the old man cautiously. That the old man knew her was disconcerting but the ring seemed to tell her he was friendly. "I was hoping you could help me." She asked. "Oh yes," Merlin exclaimed. "Your ring, you wish to know about its origins. Don't worry I know about its origins after all I created it. If you come in for a moment I'll tell you about it."
Katie was alarmed by the old mans forwardness yet something seemed to tell her she had nothing to fear. Katie slowly approached the counter the old man was standing at and sat down. "So we've met before and you know about my ring."
Merlin nodded and smiled. "Well we have met yes," he smiled. "Or should I say are going to like I said it's complicated, multiverse and all. I can answer all your questions though if your willing to listen."
Katie nodded and inched closer in her chair. "Well before we continue I should ask have you met Mary Elise and her friends?" Katie looked at the old man and shook her head no. "Okay that helps clear things up," he said. "Shame you haven't met you would of liked her and her friends. Anyway I'm guessing you made Kellie younger is that correct." Katie nodded. "Is she your twin?" He asked. "No," Katie said. "We switched ages, she's seven now and at school. In fact I'm supposed to be at work...I hope I haven't gotten her fired from her job."
Merlin chuckled softly. "Don't worry," he said. "I've already taken care of that your mothers job is safe. In fact you'll be in for a surprise later when her co workers stop by." Katie gave Merlin a confused look. "Co workers," she asked. "Yes," he answered. "Later today their is the possibility you will be visited by her friend Colleen or Derrick or both the future is always a little foggy but it will likely happen. The choices from there are up to you."
Katie now stared down at her ring. She still had so many questions about the ring. "Can you tell me about the ring sir," she asked. "Oh of course," he exclaimed. "Where are my manners, you came here looking for information and here I am babbling about things that may or may not come to pass."
Merlin now walked around the counter so he could take a closer look at the ring. "Well as you've already figured out this ring controls peoples ages," he said. "The ring however has a small catch to it, which you may have realized. You see the ring wants you to make people younger to a point while you yourself become older to a point. That's why your mother is seven while you a currently a woman in her late twenties. Fortunately that's the extent of the catch at least for right now. You haven't unmade anyone yet have you."
Katie gave Merlin a confused look. "Unmade?" She asked. "What does that mean?"
"Did you age anyone out of existence?" He asked. Katie shook her head no. "Okay well than that means the ring will only compel you to make people your original age. The other catch to the ring as you've probably figured out is that as you become older you gain the knowledge of someone that age just lacking the experience. This means you can function as an adult you just might be perceived as a little naïve. Don't worry about it though the world could use a few more innocent people in the world."
Katie took in this new bit of information. The ring was magical but still she wondered how it came to her as well as what would happen next. "I know your wondering how you got the ring," Merlin said, which stunned Katie. "To be honest it was a bit of an accident the boy that took the ring lost it and you just happened to find it. As far as what happens next that is up to you. For now enjoy yourself and please make sure you use the ring kindly and innocently. If you use the ring cruely it will not only affect you as a person but the ring will leave you. I made the ring as a kind of party favor, something to have fun with it doesn't like to be used maliciously."
Katie stood up ans smiled. "Okay I'll try to be responsible," she said. "By the way I didn't catch your name."
"It's Merlin dear," he said. "Don't worry we'll meet again soon.mfor now why don't you enjoy the rest of you day, I'm sure you will have an interesting night and plenty of more adventures."