"Uhhh.. Pa said not to bring Merlin up around his friends." Ash grinned, liking having a bit of common gossip to share with his new friend. He leaned in, plucking the leaves off a strawberry. "Uncle Will hates him so Pa said not to set him off. He said there was an old fight about a girl and now Will won't hear of him. I think Pa is okay with him though, so far as I know. Mother is the one who talks to him." He chewed the berry, eyeing up Matthew the enigma. This guy was a normal-looking person, and now it was revealed he was the sorcerer's apprentice! Ash wondered if Matthew knew any spells. "How did you get to be his apprentice? That's so cool. And how do you know Much?"