- Merlin will only put his dagger away when the stranger in the cave shows him that he's unarmed. Pretty smart for a kid of seven.
- It turns out that the owner of the cave is an old man—and he seems to know Merlin. To be precise, he tells Merlin that he knew the boy would come one day.
- The man is called Galapas, and Merlin softens up when he offers to share good food with him. Turns out that Galapas calls himself a teacher.
- What Merlin doesn't yet know is that Galapas will be his teacher. Galapas is happy that Merlin can read a bit of Greek (what seven-year-old can't?) and shows him some scrolls.
- The scrolls have cool stuff on them, like drawings of bat anatomy and other bits of natural science. Merlin is thrilled out of his mind.
- Merlin has to leave Galapas to catch up with Demetrius so that no one will know he's been skipping school. But he promises to return.
- Galapas says Merlin can come back whenever he wants, and he will always be there. Merlin thinks it's because of the "bat signal," but it's clear that Galapas has a supernatural second-sight thing going on.
- So Merlin visits with Galapas and learns as much as he can. It's easy for him to get away, because he's left alone all the time. Moravik is busy taking care of new babies at the palace.
- The country is at peace, with occasional rumors of war from Less Britain (Brittany), so Merlin can safely wander the countryside.
- Merlin learns how to make medicines and poisons from herbs as well as how to heal people and animals. Galapas also introduces him to the idea of maps.
- Galapas gives the young Merlin a sense of his geographical place in the world, which is a first for him. Merlin also makes a harp for himself with Galapas' help.
- Time passes, and when Merlin is 12, Galapas opens up about that freaky crystal cave.