Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Fairy Tail or Blue Exorcist
Rin woke up in an unfamiliar place, though he really should have expected that much. He groaned, rolling over onto his back and gazing up at the ceiling above him. It looked like it was made out of…rock? Clay? He frowned, turning his neck to gaze around. All of the walls were the same material, and it looked like there was a massive hole in one of them that didn't belong. A few places had cracks trailing in spiderweb patterns, showing the age of the building. The room itself was barren of pretty much anything. Rin was on the hard ground, without even a blanket or pillow for comfort. Considering he'd been kidnapped, again he shouldn't be surprised.
Sitting up, he frowned. Behind his back, his arms had been tied together with something hard. He had hoped it'd be rope, so he could just burn it away. However, when he activated his flames and tried to destroy whatever binding it actually was, he was surprised to find it had no effect. "Those cuffs were designed to withstand the flames of a live dragon, boy. Do not expect them to be so easy to dispose of." A voice caught his attention, making Rin turn and see the opening in the wall that was designed as a doorway. There was no actual door, just a gap in the wall leading deeper into whatever this building was.
Rin didn't know who he expected to see, but this man wasn't it. He wasn't Grim, or at least like the Grims he'd encountered before. This man was tall and slender, almost sickly thin in fact. There were dark shadows under his eyes as if he hadn't been sleeping, and his dark clothing and sickly coloring made the healthy waves of blond hair on his head look unnatural. "Rin Huldra…such an interesting prize to add to the collection. Perhaps when we are finished here, you will indeed be readmitted into Grim's army. I'm certain he'd be pleased to have you returned…in one form or another."
"Like hell I'll join him! When I get out of here, I'm going to burn that bastard—"
The man glared at him, and suddenly some force sent Rin flying back into the wall. "Silence. I did not ask you a question boy. I do not tolerate disobedience, from anyone." Glaring at him, Rin snorted.
"Yeah? Well, get used to it. I'm not just going to—" He broke off with a grunt as his head was slammed into the wall again, with the man simply glaring at him harshly.
"I had assumed I'd need harsh interrogation tactics, but before I even began the questioning was unexpected." He tilted his head, walking forward. "Will you remain silent, or shall we begin the true fun already?" For the first time, the man smiled, as if entertained by the idea of this 'fun' of his. Rin stared at that smile, seeing that the man's mouth seemed to be filled with…wooden teeth or something. They weren't white, and they didn't look like the teeth he'd expect from a person.
Rin was tempted to try burning them away, just to spite the man. His sword was no where in sight, Grim wasn't here, and this guy just seemed skilled at throwing people around. Rin was fairly certain he could take the guy. However, that was when a shadow appeared at the door. "Master, you requested my presence?" A yellow-eyed Grim knelt on the ground, bowing his head. Watching him, Rin felt himself grow cold. This was Grim's master, the man they served for some reason.
"I did. I wished to hear your report again…of exactly what this boy could do."
Bowing his head even lower, the yellow-eyed Grim remained on the ground. "Of course. It came to me, when a shadow returned from a no longer sustainable body. He'd witnessed a magic unlike any other, spreading out from this boy and killing all around them. It mattered little if the lifeform was animal or plant; both would decay away into nothing, their lives stolen instantly when coming into contact with the haze of black magic Rin Huldra wielded."
That was…was from when Zeref first took control. Rin blinked, staring at the yellow-eyed Grim. How did he know about that? Were they all connected or something? Maybe there were just a lot of them watching him the entire time. Whatever the answer was, Grim's master spoke before he could even think to ask about it. "True death magic, unheard of since the time of the legendary black wizard, Zeref. That, little Rin, is exactly why you are still alive. I wish to have your magic, and as of right now, only you can teach me how to utilize it."
With the pressure no longer keeping him pressed against the wall, Rin glared at him and stepped forward. "Like I said before, I'm not planning on—"
The master smacked his face, making Rin blink in surprise. Then, he gritted his teeth, igniting his flames for defense and to attack. "Even with his magic sealed, his flames still activate. Why did you not tell me he used a power other than magic, Grim?" The yellow-eyed Grim stared at his master for a moment, before quickly bowing his head again.
"My apologies, Master. Everything we witnessed stated it was magic, controlled by the sword he carried."
"Then you've neglected your work and failed to observe him properly?" Scowling, the master turned his back to Rin, startling the half-demon. However, he wasn't going to let the chance go to waste. He ran forward, sending a chute of flames spiraling towards the master's back. Yet, when they neared the man, they seemed to hit an odd wall. The flames scattered, burning away at…something, but not him. The master didn't even flinch at the attack, keeping his focus on Grim the entire time. "I'm disappointed in you, Grim. First, you fail to retrieve the ancient time lacrima of the Nirvit. Second, you keep me waiting for years for a proper substitute, and still have not managed to bring me news of the magic I seek. And now? Now you bring me a boy, claiming he has great power, and fail to properly observe to just what extent that power reaches."
"We have news of the time magic, Master. An arc of time user—"
"Arc of Time is weak! I need control absolute, at any cost!" The master seemed to lose his composure, while Rin turned around. They were blocking the entrance…so maybe he could sneak out somewhere else? He glanced at the hole in the crumbling wall, seeing little other options. Attacking them did nothing, and they were distracted, so it was his best shot. Yet, as he crawled towards it, Grim's yellow eyes flashed towards him. Something grabbed him, and Rin glanced back to see something gripping his shadow tightly, keeping him in place.
"You belong to Master now. There is no escape." Grim eyed him warily, before Rin rolled over and stared at them. There had to be a way out. Whatever magic this master used was beyond Rin, and his servant clearly was overpowered.
Surprisingly, Grim was thrown back just as Rin was after speaking, and the hold released. "Do not ignore me! If he escapes, I can send someone far more competent to retrieve him once more." This argument was getting heated, and Rin backed away from them. "I've grown weary of your weakness, Grim, and your failure. In the ranks of my army, I will not have weakness showing in any form." Army? Rin frowned at him, only to blink in surprise. There was an odd white glow coming from Grim, streaming towards his master. Grim's mouth was open, almost in a silent scream as the wispy strands continued traveling towards his master, fading away and slowly dimming down. As the magic continued, Grim looked paler every second. Shadows seemed to rush into the building, coming from all directions and joining with the white light, giving it a mixed coloration of black and white. Meanwhile, the yellow started fading from Grim's eyes, turning hollow and empty. When the spell finally finished, Grim collapsed, his body falling over and making Rin flinch. His face…was gone. Everything was. Thin strands of gray hair trailed behind him, but his skin was gone, leaving only bone remaining.
He felt sick, just like he had every time he saw death. Why was this even happening? What kind of magic was that, if not death magic? Grim's master kicked at his bones, sending the body flying down the hall and out of Rin's sight. With a loud breath, the master turned around, facing Rin with a smile as if nothing had just happened. "My apologies for my failure of a servant. He's been taken care of, and will bother you no more. Though, unfortunately his own age did make it impossible for him to survive the removal of such abilities." In the man's hand, Rin saw an orb, reminding him of the one he'd found in Pine Village. It was an ancient memory lacrima…and now, it seemed to swirl with a milky white color, mixed with the dark shadows Rin had seen pouring into the room.
Swallowing, Rin was starting to get a feeling that maybe he shouldn't talk back to this guy so much. His flames just bounced off of some barrier he had, and if he could kill Grim just like that…Rin wouldn't be able to do a thing against him. The man knelt down, holding out his hand towards Rin, that smile still lingering. "I suppose I never introduced myself now, did I? For now, you may call me Master, Rin. If you cooperate, you will find your stay…comfortable. I make sure I reward those that work hard, after all. And if you do not…" The man's eyes gleamed, leaning closer to Rin. "You've just seen what I do to failures in my presence. Take some time to consider your options if you wish, but I think it is obvious which path you should follow, boy."
Swallowing, Rin stared at the door behind the man, uncertain of what to do. His flames died down, and he wondered if he'd be able to figure out a way to escape at all. This man wanted death magic. If he got it…Rin shuddered to think of the consequences. He wouldn't need Grim or anyone like him to succeed. No, this man would destroy the world on his own, just because he felt like it. Even if this wasn't his home or his world, he still had friends here that deserved better. He couldn't let it be destroyed. So, maybe he wouldn't be finding a way to get back to Yukio yet.
Looking up at the man that held him captive, Rin steadied his gaze and remained calm. "Get your answers elsewhere. I'm not saying a word to you."
The man laughed, rising to his feet. "Oh, I was hoping you'd say that, boy." He grinned, setting the lacrima down on the ground by his side. "After all, getting answers is my specialty…and the most entertaining part of all in work like this. You will tell me how to utilize such power…and with that power, I will have exactly what I need to win."
He couldn't help himself, hearing that. "Win what exactly? No one needs that much power, for anything."
"Oh, but I do." Master seemed to be walking towards the exit, making Rin frown. Wasn't he going to torture Rin for answers or something? That was what he'd thought, but he was leaving. "Power is everything in this world, Rin. Just take a look at any nation standing today. They build military, in times of peace, and build their power in times of war. Always, we remain wary of battle and prepared to fight. What do I hope to win? I want to make those societies crumble at my feet…to be the only one capable of ruling this world. For that, I need an army, a disposable one capable of toppling down empires larger than you can imagine. After all, I will need to start with the impossible first to gain allies with great strength."
The impossible? Exactly where was this guy planning to attack? He sounded crazy, like some villain that just wanted to take over the world. The man laughed, throwing his head back and grabbing his head. "Ah yes, I can already imagine stopping him! The man that has taken my title, ruined the legacy only I deserve to have. The immortal Emperor Spriggan of Alvarez will fall, and then, only I will be unstoppable. Only I will have the ability to live forever!"
That name…Rin remembered Zeref giving it to Mira. Was this guy really going after Zeref? He didn't know, but that laugh made it sound quite likely. Master looked back at him, his laughter fading and turning into a simple smile as he seemed to become calm once more. "Oh, Rin. You've given me the greatest prize in the world, and you don't even realize it yet. Worry not, I have my ways of getting magic out of unwilling toys. And, if that doesn't work…I can make you suffer unimaginable pain by granting you a gift of my own. Did you know that I threw away one of these memory lacrima, hating the cost of the magic? It's a powerful wind magic…and much like your gravity magic, the user is affected as well. The user can take away all oxygen from the surrounding air of a given radius…and suffocate themselves side by side with their enemies. As much as I'm willing to throw away my pawns, that just seemed to sacrifice too many, wouldn't you agree?" He laughed again, while Rin closed his eyes. He couldn't use magic anymore, which this man would likely realize soon. Yet, that wouldn't stop him from trying to get answers. As Master left the room, Rin felt cold, wondering what would happen to him now. He…he was probably going to die here, so far away from home with Yukio never knowing what actually happened to him. Closing his eyes, Rin didn't know if he wanted to cry or scream at the thought, wishing he had kept Zeref's magic just a little bit longer so he might've had a chance to survive and get out of this place.
Happy new year everyone! We now have Grim's master in the story, and things are starting to get interesting. I hope you are excited for what is coming! Feel free to review and tell me what you think!