Aurelius remained silent, his gaze unwavering as he studied Ultear, the tension in the air growing thicker with each passing second. His expression was unreadable, but there was a quiet intensity in his posture, as though he was waiting for something.
Ultear's lips curved into a playful smile. "I thought you were the mysterious kind, Aurelius," she teased, her voice smooth like silk, tinged with curiosity. "So what's with the theatrics? You were showing off during our fight earlier. And why did you let me escape?"
Aurelius' eyes narrowed slightly, his voice cold as he spoke. "It's none of your business."
Ultear giggled softly, as if enjoying the mystery of his silence. She tilted her head, her amusement evident. "Oh, but I do wonder," she mused, taking a step closer. "What brings you all the way out here?"
Aurelius stared at her, the faintest flicker of frustration passing over his features before he spoke, his tone sharp and knowing. "Stop pretending,. You've been sending out bursts of magic every few minutes. I've felt it. You were practically inviting me here."
Her smile deepened, and she raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "How perceptive," she said, almost admiring the way he could sense her magic. "I suppose I've really underestimated you."
The air between them crackled with unspoken tension as Aurelius remained still, his mind working quickly. He knew that this encounter was no coincidence—Ultear's actions were far from random. But what was her true goal?
Aurelius watched Ultear with calm, unwavering eyes, his expression unreadable as he took in her words. After a long moment of silence, he spoke, his voice cold and composed. "Why were you calling for me?" he asked, his tone not betraying any emotion.
Ultear's lips curled into a sly smile, and she gave a small shrug, her eyes glinting with amusement. "I just want to inform you," she replied smoothly, "I'll be breaking our deal. I figured you'd want to know."
Aurelius nodded, as though this was exactly what he'd expected. His expression remained unchanged, but his words carried a sharp edge. "Then, I'll be doing the same," he stated. "You can report it to your boss, and I'll report it to mine."
Ultear blinked, slightly taken aback by his smooth response. It wasn't the reaction she'd anticipated. She tilted her head, a mix of surprise and intrigue flickering across her features. "Hm?," she was surprised and she said almost teasingly. "I didn't expect you to take it so calmly."
Aurelius didn't respond. He merely stared at her, the briefest flicker of annoyance passing through his gaze. Then Ultear, ever the strategist, pressed on, her curiosity growing.
"Now again, why were you showing off?" she asked, a sly smirk playing on her lips. "You know I can tell the council about your powers. Why risk that?"
But Aurelius didn't answer her this time either. His face remained impassive, as though he didn't find it necessary to explain himself.
As Ultear opened her mouth to press further, something in Aurelius' expression shifted. The calm, composed look he had been wearing darkened into something sharper, colder. Without another word, he turned his back on her and began to walk away, his movements quick and purposeful.
"Goodbye," he said, his voice carrying just enough finality to leave no room for further conversation.
Ultear was left standing there, her mouth slightly open in surprise. She had been ready to speak, to probe deeper, but before she could utter another word, he was gone, disappearing into the shadows with a swiftness that left her speechless.
...
The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale silver glow over the village. The night air was cool, and a soft breeze carried the faint scent of the ocean. The village was alive with the sounds of laughter and music, a stark contrast to the harsh battles of the day. Natsu, Lucy, Happy, and Gray had gathered in the village square, their faces lit with smiles as they celebrated their victory. It was a rare moment of peace, and they made the most of it.
Natsu and Happy were darting between the lantern-lit tents, their laughter ringing out into the night. Lucy and Gray stood nearby, chatting with the village chief, who was recounting tales of the island's past. The flickering flames from nearby bonfires danced across their faces, adding a warmth to the cool night.
But then, the atmosphere changed. It was subtle at first—a shift in the air, the quiet stillness that seemed to spread like a shadow across the celebration. Gray was the first to feel it, his smile faltering as he looked around, sensing the tension in the air. His instincts were sharp, and something felt wrong.
Before anyone could speak, a figure appeared in the darkness, stepping into the light of the bonfire. Aurelius. His presence was like a storm breaking through the calm, his usual calm demeanor now replaced by something more serious, more urgent. His sharp gaze swept over the group, and the playful atmosphere immediately faltered.
"We need to go back," Aurelius said, his voice cold and direct. "Now."
The cheerful sounds of the village party died instantly. Natsu was the first to step toward him, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What? Why? What's going on?"
Aurelius didn't answer immediately. His eyes were distant, focused on something only he could see. The moment stretched out, heavy with unspoken tension. Finally, he spoke again, his voice clipped. "I'll explain on the way. Just get ready."
Lucy took a step forward, her concern mounting. "Aurelius, what's happening? Why do we need to leave so suddenly?"
Her voice was edged with worry, but Aurelius remained stone-faced. He didn't even look at her directly, his attention solely on the village chief who had been watching in silence. The chief, sensing the urgency in Aurelius' tone, stepped forward, his voice filled with a mix of concern and confusion.
"You need to leave already?" the chief asked, his brow furrowed. "If you must, I can offer you a ride back with our ship. The ocean's calm tonight, it won't take long. I'll also leave the reward on the boat."
Without missing a beat, Aurelius nodded. "That will do."
Natsu, still confused but willing to follow, looked at Lucy, who shared a similar expression. The sense of unease grew, but there was no time to question him further. They quickly moved toward the boat, the quiet tension between them palpable.
The boat was a small, sturdy craft, its lanterns swinging slightly in the breeze. It was ready to depart, and the group quickly boarded, the sound of their footsteps muted by the water's gentle lapping against the hull. The village faded into the distance as they set off, the only sounds now the soft creaking of the boat and the distant hum of the night.
As they sailed across the water, Aurelius stood at the front of the boat, his back straight and his gaze distant. The others watched him in silence, waiting for him to speak. When he finally did, his words cut through the quiet like a blade.
"Fairy Tail is under attack," he said, his voice steady but laced with gravity.
The words sank into the group like stones thrown into still water, sending ripples of shock and tension through them. Natsu's usual fiery energy faltered for a moment, his fists tightening at his sides. Lucy's heart dropped into her stomach. Gray's face hardened, a coldness settling in his eyes.
Aurelius didn't offer any more details. He simply stood there, looking ahead, his face a mask of calm determination. The others exchanged looks, their minds racing with what they knew was coming. No one spoke as the boat glided through the dark water, heading toward the storm that awaited them back at Fairy Tail.
Natsu's usual confidence faltered for a moment, his brow furrowed as he stared at Aurelius. "Wait, what do you mean Fairy Tail's under attack?" He said while he was carried by happy to avoid motion sickness, his voice rising in panic. "By who? What happened?"
Happy's usual carefree attitude vanished, his ears flattening against his head as he hovered beside Natsu. "Aye, what's going on, Aurelius? You gotta give us the details!"
Lucy and Gray shared a similar look of confusion and worry, their eyes darting from Aurelius to each other. The unease that had settled in their chests grew heavier with each passing moment.
Aurelius remained eerily calm as the others pressed him for answers. His expression was unreadable, his gaze unwavering as he looked out over the water. He paused for a moment, as if weighing how much to share. Finally, he spoke again, his voice low but clear.
"I left a thought projection at the guild incase something happens. I only gave it a small fraction of my ethernano as I only left it to observe..." Aurelius began, his tone steady despite the situation. "Gajeel trashed the guild hall, and when my thought projection fought with him, It didn't have enough ethernano to keep up. It was defeated."
The boat rocked gently beneath them, but the sense of calm it had provided earlier quickly evaporated as the group absorbed Aurelius' words. The tension in the air was thick, and their questions hung unanswered as they tried to make sense of the situation.
Natsu clenched his fists, his frustration mounting. "Wait, Gajeel? Who the heck is that? Why would he attack Fairy Tail?"
Aurelius' gaze remained focused, unwavering as he turned to the group. His voice was cold, but the weight of his words hit like a hammer.
"Gajeel is part of Phantom Lord," Aurelius said, each word deliberate, as if to ensure its full impact on the group.
The effect was immediate. The cheerful mood they had shared just moments before vanished, replaced by a deep, unsettling silence. The village, the celebration—everything felt distant now. Lucy's face paled as she exchanged a look with Natsu, who was scowling with confusion and anger.
"Phantom Lord?" Natsu muttered, a dark flicker crossing his face. "You mean..."
Aurelius nodded, his expression still unreadable. "That's right. And Gajeel isn't just some low-ranking grunt. He's an S-rank mage of Phantom Lord."
Gray's expression darkened, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. "S-rank? You're telling me he's that strong?"
Aurelius' gaze flickered momentarily to Natsu, before continuing, his voice unwavering. "He's also a dragon slayer mage. Just like you, Natsu."
Natsu's eyes widened in surprise, but the shock quickly turned to something darker. His fists clenched, and the air around him seemed to spark with the beginning of his usual fiery energy. "A dragon slayer?" he repeated, his voice low and dangerous. "Like me?"
Lucy, her mind racing, finally spoke up. "But... why would he attack Fairy Tail? If he's one of Phantom Lord's top mages, what's he doing coming after us? And... why destroy the guild hall?"
Aurelius didn't have the answers, not fully. "I don't know," he said, his tone grim. "But whatever the reason, we need to get back now. The guild's in danger."
Happy, who had been silent until now, fluttered his wings nervously. "This is bad. Really bad. If he's from Phantom Lord, we're in even more trouble than we thought."
Natsu's expression was dark, his usual fire replaced with a cold determination. "I don't care who he is," he growled, his fists tightening. "I'll take him down."
Aurelius' eyes briefly flicked over to Natsu, then back out to the open sea. "We'll need to be careful. Gajeel's no easy opponent. And with Phantom Lord behind him, things are about to get a lot worse."
The boat continued to glide through the water, but the tension was palpable. Each of them was already mentally preparing for the battle ahead. They knew the fight with Phantom Lord wasn't just a personal rivalry—it was a battle for Fairy Tail's survival.
The tension in the boat was thick with the weight of the news. As they continued to digest Gajeel's threat, Aurelius suddenly cut through the silence.
"Don't get too fired up..." Aurelius spoke. "You do realize that you just stole an S-rank mission, right? Although the guild was attack, your punishment won't be forgotten" he said, his voice sharp.
Natsu's eyes widened as he shot Aurelius a defiant look. "What's the problem with that? We completed the mission, didn't we? We got the job done!"
Gray groaned, quickly trying to quiet him down. "Natsu, now's not the time to argue!"
But Natsu wasn't deterred, his frustration building. "No, seriously, it should be fine! We finished it. That's what matters, right?"
Before Aurelius could respond, Lucy cut him off. She looked directly at Natsu, her voice firm but tinged with a hint of concern. "Natsu, we barely did anything. You know that, right? Aurelius fought Zalty, and he was also the one who... released the curse. We were practically just following along."
Her words hit like a cold wave, and the mood shifted immediately. The sense of dread that had been lingering in the air grew even heavier as the realization set in. They had completed the mission, yes—but not without consequences. It wasn't just a success; it was a breach of the rules. They had gone against the guild's protocols, and now they would have to face the consequences.
The group's faces darkened further, and they exchanged uncomfortable glances. The weight of their actions finally hit them. They had broken the rules—and they knew they would be punished.
"Please, don't punish us," Happy whimpered, his little wings fluttering in distress.
Aurelius remained calm, his expression unchanging as he turned to face them. "I won't be the one to deal with you," he said coldly. "I'll leave that to the master."
The group looked relieved, a collective sigh escaping them as they relaxed slightly. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, after all. They had Makarov to face—not Aurelius.
However, Aurelius wasn't done. He glanced at them, his eyes narrowing with a hint of warning. "But don't get too comfortable. Erza will have a talk with you as well."
The group froze, the cheer dying instantly. Their relief evaporated in an instant, replaced by a sense of impending doom. They knew all too well what Erza's "talks" were like. And this time, there would be no escaping it.
...
The first light of dawn broke over the horizon as the group finally arrived in front of the Fairy Tail guild hall. The familiar warmth of the sun only made the destruction before them stand out even more starkly. What was once a place filled with laughter, strength, and memories now stood as a haunting reminder of the attack.
The guild hall was a shell of its former self.
Enormous iron beams pierced through the building at irregular angles, some sticking out of the walls like jagged spears. The beams were twisted and crooked, as if they had been shoved into the guild hall by some unnatural force. The walls were scarred, with deep gashes running down them, and parts of the roof had caved in, leaving gaps where the sky could be seen. A thick layer of dust hung in the air, making the once lively place seem eerie and abandoned.
The group stood frozen at the sight, their eyes wide in disbelief. Natsu's hand clenched into a fist at his side, his fiery temper flickering just beneath the surface. Gray's brow furrowed, anger and concern warring in his expression. Lucy's heart sank in her chest, a cold shiver running down her spine as she took in the extent of the damage. Happy's wings drooped, his usual cheer replaced by a palpable sense of unease.
"Aurelius…" Natsu murmured, unable to tear his gaze away from the devastation.
"This... this is insane," Gray said, his voice low and tense.
Aurelius stood motionless, his face expressionless as he surveyed the scene. He had warned them, but even he couldn't have predicted the full scale of the destruction. Gajeel had left his mark.
"It seems he didn't hold back..." Aurelius finally spoke, his voice cold and unwavering, as though the destruction before them was just another consequence of the choices they'd made.
They all stood in stunned silence, the gravity of their situation weighing heavily on them. The guild hall, the heart of Fairy Tail, had been shattered. But they weren't about to let it stay that way.
Natsu's fists tightened, his fiery resolve igniting. "We'll fix this," he said through clenched teeth. "We'll take them down. Phantom Lord won't get away with this."
The group nodded in agreement, the bond they shared fueling their determination to rebuild and fight back. They knew that this was only the beginning.
Note: I completely forgot about Natsu's motion sickness, this will not happen again in the upcoming chapters. So, for this chapter, just think that Natsu is beeing carried by Happy.
AN: This just reached 100 power stones so here's the promised bonus chapter. Also, I'll be releasing another bonus chapter once this story reached 10 reviews, only 2 more are needed. Enjoy!,