Zeref held the book against his chest, hidden away in his private chambers where none of the Spriggan Twelve dared bother him.
Losing Natsu as a child had been heart wrenching, and all those years of work trying to get his brother back were practically wasted effort. Sure, Natsu had the chance to live, and sure, as E.N.D., Natsu had the power to kill him, but between his curse and Natsu's hatred, Zeref's original dream was forever out of reach. Four hundred years he'd wanted his little brother back, and this was as close as he knew he'd ever come.