As the door clicked shut behind Makarov, the room fell into silence, save for the rustle of leaves in the forest outside. Aurelius let out a soft sigh as his body relaxed. His body ached in places he hadn't realized were still sore, but his mind felt heavier than his muscles.
A faint breeze swept through the open window, carrying the scent of the forest. Aurelius's gaze shifted toward the window instinctively, half-expecting something—or someone—but all he saw was the swaying treetops beyond. Dismissing it, he turned his focus back to his thoughts.
Then, before he could even process it, there was movement.
Aurelius's sharp senses picked up on the change in the room, a presence that hadn't been there before. When he turned his head, the door to the room creaked open. His eyes narrowed instinctively. No sound of footsteps. No knock.
Standing in the doorway was Mystogan.
As usual, his face was covored. His staves was in his back as he looked the Aurelius.
Aurelius blinked, not entirely surprised but still mildly irked at Mystogan's habit of appearing unannounced. He was about to comment when a sharp voice cut through their ears.
"You insufferable humans!"
Aurelius flinched, turning toward the corner of the room where Porlyusica stood, her arms crossed and her expression stormy.
"Do you think you can just barge in like you own the place?" she snapped, her piercing gaze locked onto Mystogan. "Honestly, what is it with you people and your utter lack of manners? You're no better than wild animals!"
Mystogan said nothing, his silence seeming to irritate her even more.
"Don't just stand there gawking like some mute fool!" Porlyusica barked. "You come stomping into my house, uninvited, disturbing my peace, and then you don't even have the decency to explain yourself?"
Aurelius bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. This was hardly his first encounter with Porlyusica's wrath, but seeing Mystogan—a fellow S-class mage—endure it was somehow refreshing.
"My apologies," Mystogan said finally, his tone measured and calm. "I came to check on Aurelius—"
"Interrupting me now, are you?" Porlyusica cut him off sharply, her voice rising an octave. "As if barging in wasn't bad enough, now you've decided to talk over me? The audacity! Typical human arrogance, thinking you can do whatever you please!"
Mystogan stiffened, his attempt at reasoning abruptly halted.
"And another thing," Porlyusica continued, clearly on a roll. "Don't think your quiet demeanor is fooling me! I can see right through you. You're no better than the rest of them—selfish, disrespectful, and insufferably smug under that hood of yours. I should throw you out right now!"
Aurelius sighed, his relaxation now ended as he watched the spectacle unfold. Mystogan turned his head toward him briefly, as if asking for support but Aurelius merely gave a subtle shrug, deciding to let the situation play out as he watch the entertainment.
...
The room was utterly still, the kind of silence that almost felt oppressive, pressing against Aurelius's ears. Alone now, he stared at the closed door, his thoughts a chaotic storm behind his calm expression as he thought about Mystogan's words.
Mystogan's warning lingered. "You need to be more careful—especially with your left eye."
Aurelius's hand unconsciously moved toward the bandage that concealed the Eye of Malphas. He didn't touch it, but the faint pulse of energy was there." Careful?" He thought bitterly. "How could anyone be careful with something as uncontrollable as this? I would have destroyed this already if I can..."
"I'm sure you'll thinks of this soon, but the council may have learned about it, too. About the demon, and your eye..." He thought about Mystogan's words.
If Mystogan was right, if the council had any inkling of what lay hidden behind his cover, they wouldn't hesitate to act. To them, he wouldn't be a Fairy Tail mage. He'd be a threat. A weapon to be contained or destroyed.
He let out a long breath, his fingers drumming softly against his leg as he tried to suppress the unease gnawing at him. The council was relentless, and annoyingly thorough. They didn't need hard proof to make his life difficult.
Yet Mystogan's warning wasn't entirely surprising. Aurelius had always known the risks. The Eye of Malphas wasn't just a secret; it was a ticking bomb. He had kept it hidden for years, but hiding wasn't the same as solving the problem. And now, with the council possibly aware, time was no longer on his side.
He relaxed his body once again, tilting his head to stare at the ceiling. His mind replayed every decision, every step he had taken since that fateful day. His family's estate in ruins, the attackers reduced to nothing but ashes. And the Eye. The cursed Eye that now lived as part of him.
No, Mystogan's warning wasn't news to him. But it was a reminder—one he needed to take seriously.
His jaw tightened. The plan he had so carefully constructed over the years, with every step measured and deliberate, suddenly felt inadequate. He had hoped for more time, for more preparation. But time, it seemed, was a luxury he couldn't afford anymore.
A bitter smile tugged at his lips as he whispered to himself, "I'll have to change things… speed it all up."
His gaze then shifted again to the open window, where the forest swayed gently in the breeze, oblivious to the turmoil inside. He could almost hear the voices of the past—his father, his mother, his sister. Their laughter, their cries, their final moments.
A pause lingered in the room, heavy with unspoken words.
"It's almost time to set things right."
...
Soon, many members of Fairy Tail came to visit Aurelius. They arrived in groups, however, Purlyusica doesn't seem to like that...
Mira was the first to arrive, She explained Elfman's condition, explaining that the injuries he sustained from Malphas were not life-threatening, even if it were. "Don't blame yourself," she said firmly, her hands clenched. "If anything, I should thank you. You've always looked out for this guild, even when it puts you in harm's way." Her smile carried the strength of someone who refused to hold grudges.
Lucy came next, her gratitude evident in her every word. "I don't know how to thank you," she began, fidgeting nervously before finding the courage to continue. "You stood up to Phantom Lord… for me. I don't think I can ever repay that." She hesitated, looking away, then added, "You make Fairy Tail feel like home, even for someone like me who's still figuring things out."
Erza's visit was short. She stood by the bed, her piercing gaze scanning Aurelius's injuries before offering a single nod. "You're alive. That's what matters," she said, her tone matter-of-fact yet carrying an unspoken weight of concern. She left without saying more.
Natsu and Happy arrived shortly after, dragging Gray along with them. "You look terrible!" Natsu announced with his usual lack of tact, while Happy added with a chirp, "But at least you're not dead!" Gray shook his head, muttering, "Idiot…" under his breath.
Predictably, their visit turned into a brawl as Natsu accused Gray of not being grateful enough for the Aurelius' efforts, and Gray retaliated by questioning Natsu's manners. Happy joined in, picking Natsu's sides, which only escalated the chaos. Their antics earned them a swift and stern dismissal from Porlyusica, who shooed them out of the room with a broom.
Later, Shadow Gear arrived together, their gratitude palpable. Levy spoke first, her voice trembling slightly. "You… saved us. From Gajeel, from Phantom Lord… I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't stepped in." Jet and Droy nodded, their usually boisterous selves uncharacteristically subdued as they offered their thanks. The trio lingered, as if their presence alone could express the depth of their appreciation.
As the day went on, more guild members filtered in, each leaving their own mark.
...
A day later, under the quiet veil of night, Makarov sat atop the partially reconstructed Fairy Tail guild hall. The air was cool, and the faint hum of the night filled the atmosphere. The sight of the guild's slow revival was comforting to the old master as he stared at the stars, lost in thought.
His friend Yajima's words from their recent conversation played in his mind: "You've given enough, Makarov. It's time to step down and let the next generation take over."
The suggestion had weighed heavily on Makarov since. "Was it time?" The question gnawed at him as he pondered who could possibly take the mantle of guild master.
His first thought landed on Aurelius. Makarov chuckled softly. "He has the power and the brains," he mused aloud. "And he's certainly respected by the guild..."
But the image of Malphas flickered in his mind, and his expression darkened. "Damn demon," he muttered, his voice carrying both frustration and weariness. A brief pause later, he comedically added, "Next time it shows itself, I'll kill it myself, mark my words."
Shaking his head, he moved on to Gildarts. The thought of the famously laid-back and powerful mage made him smile briefly. "No doubt he's strong enough… but the man's still on that 100-year mission. Always too busy chasing challenges to settle down."
Next came Erza. Makarov leaned back slightly, sighing as he imagined the passionate, hotheaded young woman. "A fine warrior… but still too brash and hot-blooded to lead..."
Then, his thoughts drifted to Laxus, and his face twisted into a grimace. "Laxus…" The name hung in the air like a weight. "That boy has the strength… but his arrogance, his belief that power is everything? Too problematic." He sighed, rubbing his temples. "A guild master must care for the guild as a family, not treat it like a battlefield."
Then, he considered Mystogan. His mind lingered on the mysterious mage for a moment before dismissing him with a shake of his head.
And then, reluctantly, Mira crossed his mind. He hummed thoughtfully but quickly waved the idea away. "Mira's come a long way, but she's not ready to lead. Not yet."
As Makarov's thoughts lingered on Mirajane, he was startled by the sound of her voice calling from below.
"Master, are you up there? Come down, please," Mira's gentle but insistent tone reached him.
Makarov sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "So much for a moment's peace," he muttered as he climbed down from his perch, landing on the ground with a practiced ease.
"What's up, Mira? Something wrong?" he asked, noting the slight tension in her expression.
Mira hesitated for a second before delivering the news. "It's about Erza's group…"
Makarov's brow furrowed. "What now?"
"They've destroyed half a town," Mira said, her voice steady but carrying a note of exasperation. "The council's furious and is demanding a written apology and compensation for the damages."
The words hit Makarov like a brick. A heavy sweatdrop rolled down his temple as his face darkened, his lips tightening into a grimace. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I can't ever retire at this rate..." he grumbled, his tone a mix of exhaustion and resignation.
Mira suppressed a chuckle at his reaction but then took a deep breath, her tone shifting. "Master… there's something else I wanted to talk to you about."
Makarov glanced up, raising a brow. "Hmm? What is it?"
Mira hesitated for a moment before speaking again, her voice quieter but steady. "Master… would it be fine if I started taking missions again?"
Makarov froze, her words hitting him like a thunderbolt. His pipe slipped from his fingers, clattering to the ground as he stared at her, wide-eyed.
"Wha—?!" he spluttered, his jaw dropping. "You… want to take missions again?!"
Mira simply nodded, her expression calm but resolute.
Makarov blinked rapidly, his brain struggling to catch up. "Y-You're serious about this?!" he finally managed to choke out.
Mira tilted her head slightly, a small smile playing on her lips. "Of course, Master."
AN: Here's the chapter... and yes, Update schedule would be changing for possibly this week and next week as I don't want to fail 2 of my test. The Bonus chapter still stands, but it might get delayed. It will come though, just late...