Prologue

It's amazing how one person can make you feel.

Happy.

Sad.

Annoyed.

Satisfied.

Safe.

Terrified…

Gray knew about the consequences demon particles brought on a mages body. He's seen what happened to Laxus and his crew earlier. It didn't take long for the dragon slayer and the Raijnshu's condition to escalade further. Their lungs were burning, their bodies became weak and much too sensitive, and no matter how strong they tried to stay, one by one the four of them were rendered unable to continue to battle. Fairy Tail's faithful Healer and her junior medico had eased their pain as much as they could and as fast as they could while keeping them safe on their respected sheets.

And right now Fairy Tail was back at the infirmary to lie down another friend.

Natsu and Gajeel were in the front, carrying the patient. Lucy came in next and rushed to clear the empty bed. Gray was silent. Porlyusica immediately asked them to leave the room and let her handle things in peace. Lucy knew the boys would start protesting so she dashed forward and pushed them out of the room, leaving herself. She didn't know how bad things were, but for all she cared, every minute was on the line.

This time Wendy wasn't with them so Porlyusica had to treat the patient by herself. After hearing Lucy's brief explanation of what happened, she nodded and pointed to the empty room they were now occupying.

"Can Juvia stay?", -a fragile voice asked.

The Healer turned to the source of the voice, and saw a beaten up water mage standing by the door, clothes torn, covered in dirt, her once flawless skin now covered in bruises and blood. There was a cut on her cheek.

"Please," – she barely whispered.

Gray was still silent. He was lying on the bed and Juvia's eyes were locked on the subtle movements his chest was making. It rose up slowly and even slower it went back down, and with each breath he took, she was petrified it'd be his last.

"Stay out of my way girl," – said the old woman.

Juvia merely nodded. Porlyusica's expression softened. She pointed to the built in sink at the far end in the corner of the room.

"Wash your hands and face. You're going to help me".

Juvia didn't move at first, but then, barely feeling her feet move, obliged. She was being very slow right now. Time around her was passing slowly too. She knew this feeling though. She understood where the numbness, the trembling and the salty-gray taste in her mouth were coming from.

She was afraid.

Behind the door the three mages were trying their hardest to calm down, but it seemed like the effort was only making them more anxious.

"How the fuck did he even find us in the first place?", - wondered Gajeel.

"He must've heard us. Or sensed something was wrong", - proposed Lucy.

They were in a very narrow hallway, made entirely out of dark wood. There were two windows at the end of it letting in white rays of light.

"Natsu?...Natsu," – placed a hand on his shoulder Lucy.

"Huh?"

"He's going to be alright," – she smiled at him, - "Porlyusica will take care of him."

"Yeah…" – he said absentmindedly.

"Oi, cut the crap, Salamander. Dafuq is wrong with you?"

Natsu was leaning on a wall, looking down at the ground, his eyes filled with confusion and it was obvious he was struggling to comprehend something.

"What…. was that?" – asked no one in particular Natsu.

"What are you talking about?"

"That…light? ... Did you feel it?!", - raised his voice Natsu.

"Natsu, please calm down, we are not alone here. Laxus and the rest are resting somewhere here too."

"Are you talking about that creepy-glowy tat on the ice princess's arm?", - raised a brow Gajeel

"It was black when he came in…" – noted Lucy, - "Guys?... What exactly happened back there?"...

.

.

.

AN: the prologue is short, but the chapters will be longer. Another multi-chapter story!

Can't wait to upload the first chapter!