[A. Ayreon's fate]



AYREON DESPERATELY ATTEMPTS TO CONVINCE MERLIN OF HIS SINCERITY,

BUT MERLIN WON'T HEAR OF IT AND CASTS HIS SPELL ON POOR AYREON.



[AYREON:]

misguided Merlin

you fail to understand

I could never be your rival

I was just a pawn

in a future masterplan

for the purpose of survival



[MERLIN:]

Ayreon, I've cast my spell upon you

I have no faith, you cannot be true

Ayreon!



[AYREON:]

I forgive you Merlin

for you don't know what you've done

even for you, it was all a mystery

one day you'll see

that I was the one

who could change the course of history



[MERLIN:]

Ayreon, you're words are all in vain

close your eyes, there'll be no more pain

oh Ayreon...



[B. Merlin's prophecy]



MERLIN IS STRICKEN WITH GRIEF FOR HE HAS HAD A VISION

THAT PROVES AYREON TO BE GENUINE.

RELUCTANT TO PASS INTO ETERNITY AS THE MARTYR OF MANKIND,

MERLIN VOWS THAT AYREON'S WORD WILL BE SPREAD IN THE 20TH CENTURY,

IN THE HOPE THAT IT WILL NOT BE TOO LATE AND THAT MAN WILL HEED

HIS PREMONITIONS.



[MERLIN:]

I see one day

his story will be told

at the end of the 20th century

I see one day

the truth will unfold

and the quest has now begun

oh Ayreon!



I hope one day

that man will understand

it's in his power to change his destiny

I hope one day

he'll do all that he can

and all the nations will be one

oh Ayreon!



[C. Epilogue]



THE OUTCOME OF THE FINAL EXPERIMENT HAS NOW BEEN PLACED IN YOUR HANDS.