The Sorcerer's Apprentice

In 740 AD in England, Merlin has three apprentices: Balthazar Blake, Veronica Gorloisen, and Maxim Horvath. Horvath betrays Merlin by allying with Morgana le Fay, an evil sorceress trying to steal a spell called "The Rising," which will revive dead sorcerers and enslave mankind. Morgana mortally wounds Merlin, but Veronica absorbs Morgana's soul. As Morgana tries to kill Veronica from within, Balthazar stops her by imprisoning both in the "Grimhold", a magical nesting doll. Before dying, Merlin gives Balthazar a dragon figurine to identify the Prime Merlinean, his descendant who can defeat Morgana. Throughout history, Balthazar searches for Merlin's heir and confines Morganians, sorcerers who tried to free Morgana, including Horvath, in the Grimhold.