Chapter 14 - Dire state of Herdin

"what, where am I again" Leona woke up, as she was chained in a metallic wooden chair.

"Sister" he whispered at her in ears, with Freya's voice.

"Who the hell are you" Leona panicked.

"I'm your beloved sister, can't you see?" said Zeref, as he wore some clothes for now.

"you're not FREYA" she screamed at him. ofcourse he was nonchalant by the whole ordeal, but still decided to prove that he was still Freya.

"Leona, you thought that I'd come back without getting prepared?" zeref said in her voice.

"How did she get this strong" Leona thought, as she was furious to the gap between them.

"Freya, you freaking black witch, What vile tricks did you learn when you weren't in the Jehovich plains" Leona asked her.

"You don't have to know sister, unless, if you're willing to tell me everything about this family" said Zeref.

"Why would I tell an outsider whom I even doubt if she's my sister or not" said Leona as she grinned.

"Well then, time to make you spit it all out then" Zeref's hands or Freya's hands suddenly glowed as he touched her on his head. To read all her memories. Leona felt excruciating pain while he peered through all her memories.

"I see" Zeref said, now it's even more hopeless because Freya's actual sister died when she was 8 years old attending magic academy. Even her parents had the same fate as her. So judging by that, most relatives she knew right now, weren't her relatives anymore.

"Freya, I'm sorry" said Zeref. but even if he took her body when Freya was 16 years old, it was already too late to save them.

"it's fine" she said, as Freya started tearing up, inside the mindscape. Yuko hugged as she comforted her for a while, even she was furious by all these acts.

Zeref kept torturing Leona until she gave up, eventually killing her as blood dripped on her ears.

"Your family is dead, unfortunately there's no going back, by the way from Jeane's memories, The strongest saint is a guy named Ruthor, but he's cynical and evil, I'd have to kill him eventually. plus Jeane takes the second as a powerhouse" he said.

"Are you serious? I didn't knew about this, I only thought she was one of the ten people who are the strongest" said Yuko.

"Yeah, but I believe it has something to do with his strange powers from another world. I don't think I'd stand a chance to him now, it's better to leave with Jeane's body than staying here, or else they would be capture us" He said.

"Good point" said Yuko. but inside the mindscape, she stared at Jeane unconscious beside her.

Zeref Morphed from Freya to Jeane. As he put his old clothes on inventory and wore the knight Armor Jeane wore. There was a magic which was as used as a tracking device beneath her Armor. Ofcourse she couldn't remove it because of some curse, but Thanks to Zeref, the curse was eventually removed and he even destroyed the tracking spell.

"They were using Jeane this whole time huh, this whole empire deserves to burn, especially the Aristocrats" he said.

"That's true, ordinary people are treated like subhumans here, there's a lot murders going around here and there, some had brutually died under circumstances, it makes me sick to watch" Yuko said.

"True, it's as if the cult is running this empire now, it truely is pathetic" said Zeref, as he sighed.

"we can't just stay here now, since you have taken her body, it's better to leave, if Jeane wakes up it'd be chaos" said Yuko, assuring him that it's better to leave that commit genocide over it.

"Alright then" Zeref stared at the moon, as he teleported fast. Jeane's power was much more handier than it seemed that he even learned her skills.

"Alright, I've returned" he said looking at his new castle.

"Hide you fucker" said Yuko.

"...." Zeref hid behind the bushes. meanwhile Sasha could sense immense power nearby, as she stared at the bushes. it's too late now. Meanwhile Celine felt that Zeref is nearby.

"Ma'am I could feel him nearby, he's here" Celine said to Sasha.

"Zeref?" Sasha was curious, because she could sense the power of a saint nearby.

Sasha teleported behind, only to find Zeref laying naked beneath the bushes.

"What were u doing all this time" she exclaimed as she picked him up using telekinesis, wondering how he had those new powers now.

"it's...a..long story..hehe" said Zeref.

"Fucking hell, I messed up" he thought.

Sasha picks him up, as she head towards the mansion, meanwhile Arthur Jr and Froya laughed at him watching from a distance.

"This kid, was he kidnapped or did he just go to some clubs to get laid" said Freya teasing him.

"I wonder" said Arthur Jr, as Freya burst out laughing.

Meanwhile, Zeref wore his clothes, now it's his mother Sasha, who kept asking him about the power he have, because of his suspicions.

"I can sense Nether arts within you, are you really Zeref" She said, this time she was serious, as she scowled at him.

"I am your son, if you're suspicious about Dein inside me, my brother can confirm, since Reish is inside him" he said, but it was a bad idea, this angered Sasha as she suddenly attacked him.

"Something's not right" said Arthur Jr.

"What's with this pressure" Said Froya, seemed like Arthur Jr's fears became true.

Air of blood was evident, Arthur Jr feared the worst has awakened within his mother, both of them rushed to the main hall to support his mother. Celine tried to protect Zeref but was pushed off by Zeref via telekinesis, since she could die if she was stubborn.

"I'LL KILL YOU DEIN" Sasha screamed at Zeref, she grabbed Zeref's throat and fling him towards the entrance door, eventually destroying it.

Zeref wiped the blood out of his mouth oddly enough, he didn't felt that hurt, normally this would have killed him. His mother frantically attacked him again, with magic projectiles, Zeref dodged them all until she faints because of overusing her power.

Zeref catches his mom in mid air, as she gets weakened because of using her powers. Arthur and Froya were dazed at this scene.

"it's me mother, I'm Zeref not Dein" he said.

"How can I trust you? I don't even trust myself, I tried to kill you when i didn't even realise what i did, you're not my son, I can sense his powers in you and I know how it hurts to see him inside you. please leave my children alone, Please leave them alone" she begged as she teared up heavily.

"Zeref are you alright?" asked Freya

"Mom" Arthur Jr took his mother as she became unconscious.

"Yeah I'm fine, just a minor injury that's all" said Zeref.

"Dude, what made her to attack you, that's suspicious as hell" said Freya.

"It's Dein's powers that's been like this, it's because of him that I was able to massacre those spies with ease" said Zeref.

"So that time you beat me was-" Freya was astonished.

"yeah, it's definitely because of that, but I'm not really Dein, eventhough I have his memories and skills, I must say this guy was an asshole and I hate him deeply, maybe it's my divine protections that saved me, since I don't really know how it happened" said Zeref, honestly assuring them that he was on their side.

"Ah aight I understand" Freya said, being envious of his powers. As Zeref suddenly teleported from his mindscape again.

"I wish I could be stronger" thought Froya, since his father's death, and as his mother rarely ever seen them ever since the incident and after six years, she left them for their own good. besides now all he can rely on is the Valgurid house and his sister.

Thankfully, Freya changed in this span of time, thanks to Arthur Jr, his new Dad Arthur and Zeref. it was a welcoming family but when he heard about Sasha being in coma for six years, he felt sad, because he thought suffered the same as them.

"This world it's rotten, totally fucked up" thought Froya.

Meanwhile Celine woke up in the midst of a storage room.

"ouch" she said.

'I'm sorry Celine" he said.

"Why did you push me out, are you hurt somewhere?" she asked.

"it's fine, all healed up now" said Zeref.

"what about ma'am" she asked.

"Mom's taking a nap right now, I hope she wakes up tomorrow"

"Now then shall we take a bath" he said.

"sure~" Celine was too excited as blood dripped through her nose. Zeref face-palms watching her like this.

"I know she's attractive but you're still a kid, it's kinda creepy don't ya think so" said Yuko.

"I understand, but I'ma lot stronger than her now" said Zeref as he grinned.

Now, As they bath together on this new giant bathroom, Celine noticed some odd rune markes on his back.

"Zer, what's this?" she asked.

"Oh that? well, it's a long story" Zeref explained all the incidents that happened in Gelraud Palace. Even about Dein and how he messed up Sasha. Then the last time Zeref fainted.

"So Dein's inside you?" she said, with a frown and worried expression.

"Not really, his soul got pulverised, leaving behind his memories and skills. His nether arts became quite handy for me, even took care of that robber pretty easily" he said, assuring safely that he won't harm her.

"you made me worry too much you know" said Celine, as she gently thumps his head.

"oww" Zeref squealed.

"Hmph, idiot" she said.

"She turned from yandere to tsundere real quick" said Yuko.

"I mean I used to flirt with her and.." he thought to his mind.

"you're a hopeless romantic, just die, kys" Freya scowled inside his head, visibly being jealous at him.

"Why? why me" Zeref wanted to cry on the inside.

"by the way, Celine, Where's my father i haven't seen him anywhere" Zeref asked her, being curious about his dad's disappearance in that scene.

"Mistress told me about it, Our lord had to leave in search of Jehovich spies so he left us without warning.

"Dammit I wish I could talk to him now, why is he stubborn to leave alone" he thought to himself.

"I do have information regarding the empire and how the spies work, such a shame that he left before I could tell him about it" Zeref sighed as he didn't have anything to put a track record on him.

"He didn't leave at the moment, I was spying him, right now he lives with Gen and Albert discussing their plans on taking the spies down" she said.

"Then I don't have any time to waste" he said.

Meanwhile inside Zeref's mindscape. Jeane woke up from her slumber only to witness a scene, nothing but vast shallow ocean with cloudy skies. beside her, she could see Freya and Yuko staying naked beside them.

"Why are you here Freya, and who is that?" she asked to both of them.

"I can explain" as she told her everything about Zeref and how she ended up in this predicament, to how Jehovich empire was corrupt beyond repair.

"So now We're all inside him right?" Jean said.

"Exactly, but he said he has a way to get us out so we can have our own lives" yuko dismayed by staying here on this vast but shallow ocean.

"I wonder what kind of person he is, I doubt that he'll do something about it" Jeane was way perceptive about her situation, since she felt pathetic as to being robbed of her powers. Freya and Yuko could feel her, because this subspace connects them all.

"Don't worry, I don't think Zeref has robbed your powers it's more so like we're being buffed than being robbed" Yuko asserted, Freya nodded with aggreement.

"Really?" Jeane wasn't certain but since Freya believes it so, she had a bit of optimism.

"yes, it's also fun watching him fight Haha" Yuko was glad that she could just sit around and do nothing. or just throw some inner dialogues here and there.

"I know right, plus we can annoy him as much as we can" Freya giggled at the thought of distributing him on sleep or inbetween the training hours.

"I don't think that's a good thing Freya" said Jeane awkwardly smiling while being concerned.

"Well, it's not like I have anyone else except you, Yuko and Zer, all my parents, the people whom I considered relatives are all dead by now" sighed Freya. Yuko and Jeane were empathetic with her.

Meanwhile Zeref after he had wore some clothes, as he was prepared to head out for Gen's estate. he also put Celine to sleep while doing so. Arthur Jr stepped in and asked.

"Where are you going at this hour" Arthur was quite concerned about his brother, since having power doesn't mean they could easily overpower someone ten time stronger than them.

"I'm going to where my dad is staying, I'll come back tomorrow morning, if I change my plans I may tag along with him" said Zeref.

"you realise that you're not only putting yourself in risk, but the souls you consumed as well" he said.

"yes I know, I'll make preparations for it as much as I can" Zeref coldly stated without hesitating. Arthur Jr was furious since he just came back only to leave without warning.

"you'll regret it if you face opponents who aren't a match for you" he said.

"Brother I'm not that capable to do something like that, don't worry about it, I'll come back right after" Zeref leaves the castle and disappears in a flash of light.

Gen, Arthur and Albert were talking about how Jehovich empire had been putting spies on their empire, Suddenly they felt a huge presence inside their mansion, it was akin to an expert, Arthur was alarmed eventhough he could face experts easily.

Door on their room opened on it's own, as three of them saw Zeref standing outside.

"Son, Why are you here?" Arthur was a bit suspicious but sure enough, he could feel Yeingard's power in him.

"I know something about the Jehovich empire" said Zeref, which left Gen and Albert dazed. Arthur smirked as he welcomed his son.

"Tell us about it" Gen said, as he was curious yet frightened as to this kid being capable of spying over an empire without getting noticed. He can't comprehend what kind of future lies ahead for him.