Hello everyone, welcome to my second story.
This story is going to be a multi-chapter but it's not going to be as long as my other story probably between 7000~10000 words.
I'll try to update regularly, most of the story is already written.
Disclaimer: I don't own FT.
Note: This story set after Tartaros arc, pretend that the guild disbands never happened.
End of despair
Chapter 1
A number of men were laid down on the ground unconscious. Gray mission was simple, teach a group of thieves a lesson they won't forget.
"What a bunch of losers, running to a place like this."
When they met Gray, they laughed, mocked the guild for sending only one mage to take care for all of them. They believed that they are strong, stronger than Gray who just learned the ice demon slayer, a magic they probably never heard of before.
Of course it turned out to be the opposite, after realizing that Gray is indeed strong. They ran deep in the forest, afraid of him. They were trying to distract them and make him lose their tracks. Ironically, there was a dead end ahead them, a cliff overlooks the ocean below.
Gray in a mere of minutes beaten all the thieves and accomplished the mission; all he had to do is return the stolen item to his client who was a rich man.
Each of the thieves had his own bag, carrying a lot of stolen stuff in it. Gray sighed; it will take time before he find the item the client described.
His first choice was to search the thief who claimed to be the group leader. He was unconscious near the cliff. Gray started to search his belongs; there was too many stuff in his bag, variety of valuable gold jewelry. Gray frowned; the client told him the stolen is a gold ring with the shape of heart underneath. It belonged to his deceased wife. He needs to look at each ring he pulls from the bag.
Gray was focused on finding the ring fast so he can return and pick another mission. He made a small mistake; he didn't notice what's coming behind him. A giant wild wolf leapt at Gray in incredible speed, intended to eat him alive. Gray created a shield to protect himself, but the ice shattered upon the strong impact.
The ice mage didn't expect this, to think that an animal could break his shield. He wanted to cast another spell but the wolf was very fast, biting Gray's shoulder. He screamed in pain, he created a spear and stabbed the animal.
Despite the wound Gray caused to him, the wolf was still clenching on his shoulder. Gray was about to lost his consciousness because of the great pain he is feeling. He stabbed the wolf again and again.
They were at the cliff; it couldn't hold their weights so it collapsed, throwing Gray and the wolf in the ocean.
XX
It was full moon night; there weren't any sounds but the water waves. Mary, a girl with a beautiful long brown hair was taking a walk at the beach. Enjoying its smell, sight and the peace she can feel.
She saw someone that seems to be thrown from the water. She came near to him; he was a man with a raven hair. He was wearing a long black coat. He was unconscious.
Mary rolled the man on his back, checked his pulse and sighed in relief, the man was alive. She looked at the sea, he was lucky to be alive. Then, she noticed the blood both in his head and shoulder.
Such injuries could be dangerous. She was trembling, not able to determine what to do.
"What should I do? I can't leave him with injuries like this! But then…I can't take him with me." She muttered to herself.
She stood; her intention was to leave the man as it is. Leaving him here would be much better than the hell she was living in.
He would die eventually, his injuries were deep and the weather was cold.
She was walking slowly as guilt was eating her; she bit her lip and slapped herself "What are you doing Mary? I can't leave him! I'm going to help him." She returned and carried the unconscious man to her place.
She laid him down on the bed and wore her long white coat. She started to treat him. Minutes later, someone opened the door and saw her. His eyes widened.
"What are you doing Mary? And who is this?"
Mary was silent, she know that her big brother Aiden knows exactly what's she is doing. As if he needed a confirmation.
"YOU..! Do you know the consequences for such action?"
Mary kept working without answering him. She knows that his could be the death of her, her brother or the man she was saving.
"You know that Nolan will take advantage of this! Our taxes will increase because of him; we don't have that money to cover it!"
"And the demons will take you… away from me. I-I-I don't want to lose you!" Aiden was tearing when finished saying his last sentence.
Mary turned her look to him; she had a sad smile "Thank you Aiden but I still can't abandon someone who needs me."
XX
Multiple scenes were flooded in his mind, scenes that he doesn't recognize.
A caring woman with a short dark purple hair was smiling at him.
A tall man with a short black hair was hugging him in warm.
A young man with spiky pink-colored hair, who had a big grin on his face, was calling him
"Yo! Ice princess. "
.
.
Gray opened his eyes, confused. He looked around; it seems he is in a small infirmary. He turned his head to see a man, leaning on the wall. He could be at his mid-twenties. His glare was angry and fierce. It was directed to none other than him.
A girl opened the door "Oh, you are awake. Why didn't you tell me Aiden?" Aiden frowned. She smiled at Gray "Hey, my name is Mary and this is my brother Aiden. How do you feel?"
"My head and shoulder hurt." He looked and noticed the bandages warped at his head and shoulder "What happened to me?"
"Unfortunately, I don't know. But you seem to be hit by something, bitten by an animal and not that only, you were almost drowned. Hmm, so what's your name?"
He doesn't remember neither of them. In fact, he doesn't remember anything at all. All his memories are blank.
"I-I don't...know." Gray was getting to panic a bit.
Who am I? Were the scenes he saw part of his memories? Why it feel very painful?
"Oh great! Now we have a man with amnesia." Aiden said in annoyance.
Mary put her hand on Gray shoulder, calmed him down, she suspected him to have amnesia "Don't worry. Your memories will return to you eventually."
"Hmm, but what should we call you?"
There was silence in the room; Mary was thinking for a suitable name, Aiden didn't care about it.
"Gray."
"Huh?"
"You could call me Gray. For some reason, this name kind of familiar."
"I see, nice to meet Gray." She gave him a gentle smile.
"Thank you for helping me, Mary."
XX
Mary guided Gray to his room on the second floor "You will be staying here." It was an old and small room. "I brought you some of Aiden old clothes; change and the come down, I'll prepare the dinner." He nodded at her.
Wearing the clothes was kind of a difficult task to do with his shoulder like this. Mary told him not to move it or carry anything for a whole week.
He headed down stairs as he started to feel hungry. When he was coming, he heard the sibling whispering something in low voice. They stopped when they saw him.
Fear was covering Mary face, Aiden looked troubled. What happened to them so suddenly?
He came at the table and pulled a chair; he didn't say anything and started eating. Soon, the sibling ate their dinner as well.
After they finished, Aiden sighed and said "Listen well Gray, because I won't repeat this again. I'm going to tell you something really important."
Aiden took a breath and start explanation "This town is called Friour; it was once a beautiful and peaceful town." He stopped and his glare turned hatred. "Until demons invaded us."
Gray eyes winded, Demons? Do demons really exist?
"They forced us to follow their order. Anyone who will oppose them will be executed. The rules are simple; every person has to pay a tax in order to stay. If you can't, they will force you onto hard labor for god knows what. Oh, and once you entered the town, you can't leave."
The siblings were looking at Gray, waiting for his reaction.
"Do they know about me?"
"Yeah, some guards probably saw Mary dragging you here."
"So, I have to follow these rules and pay the tax?"
Aiden nodded at his question.
"How much we must pay?"
"50,000 jewels per person."
"Why do we have to pay? They can easily force us working for them."
"Those massive numbers of materials are not going to buy by themselves. He wants the money to buy them from other towns."
"I see."
Both the siblings didn't expect such reaction, Gray was calm. For someone who lost his memories and was told that he must live under demons. He was awfully calm.
"I'm sorry. It's my fault, if I didn't drag you here…"
"No it's not, Mary." Gray looked in her eyes. "Beside, this is my problem. If I don't pay the tax, I'll work for them."
"I wish that." Aiden spoke "If you didn't pay, they will be taken Mary not you."
"Huh? WHY?"
"Maybe the psycho is interested on her or wants to get rid of her."
"That's absurd!" Gray was getting angry.
"Heh, so what are you going to do?" Aiden smirked.
"What else, I'll be working here and pay my own tax."
"No!" Mary yelled "Not with the condition you are in now!"
"But I can't stay still and let you guys do it for me!" Gray said.
Aiden interrupted their little conversation "Haha, that if they hired you."
Gray was irritated by Aiden way of speaking "What do you mean?"
"People here, don't want to waste their money. They already hired enough not to mention you are completely stranger."
Gray didn't realize it but Aiden got a point, but still he won't give up "I'm going to try!"
"Good luck with that but hear me out, if you failed and Mary was taken…I'll kill you."
Gray didn't respond as he understood Aiden actions. It's for the sake of his sister and he can't blame him.
XX
Gray headed to his room; the remaining was the siblings Mary and Aiden.
"Aiden, what do you think about that symbol in his chest?"
"He is certainly a mage. But to think that he belong to that guild." Aiden face darkens.
"You know about his guild?" Mary asked him, for her it was the first time she saw this symbol.
"Yes, it called Fairy Tail, the strongest guild in Fiore."
Mary was surprised "Strongest? Can't we use him against…?"
"No! Remember Mary that earth mage, he was strong but the demons were stronger. Do you want him die? Gray wouldn't be able to beat all of them."
Mary depressed "You are correct."
"The best choice is to wait, hide his identity from everyone. His friends will search for him and they may come across this town and help us."
"But Fiore is far, they may not know that Gray was drifted here."
"Don't lose hope Mary" He smiled at her "We will make it."
A/N:
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Until next time