I kinda change tenses from 2nd to 3rd but who gives a fuck you're not grading this (are you? you're legally required to tell me lmao). Read on~

When you wake up, there is always a beautiful moment of stillness where the world hasn't sunken into your body yet. The rules, the regulations, your worries and fears, none of them exist yet. That absence is a gift that only feels like a burden when you recognize it for the mistake it is.

In those moments Erza can feel her magic, powerful and beautiful and thriving. It hums and kisses her gently awake. It yearns.

Those are the most beautiful and freeing seconds of the day, and she always misses them when her awareness comes back. A secret. That's what magic was in her home. The only one who knows is Jellal and Master and she knows they'd die rather than give away her secret.

If her country found out a general serving the Prince had magic – well, she always stopped that train of thought. She was afraid of the consequences. So Erza made peace with the fact that true freedom wasn't something she could experience beyond a couple seconds.

But those fears paled in comparison to the lives of thousands of her citizens. So when Deliora opened his mouth and blew she acted on instinct.

Her magic wasn't one of peace and love. It was the magic of a hardened warrior. She'd only used it once, on Jellal, when he'd been under the control of someone else's magic, and the vision of it still haunted her to this day. It came in a loud, piercing wave that knocked the opponent to the ground. Nothing could pierce the wall.

Though, Deliora's Energy Beam could always be an exception.

They struck each other violently, causing a crash as loud as thunder to echo throughout the field. Erza didn't dare turn her concentration from the clash but she could've sworn she heard Gray and Lyon fall, cursing.

Deliora's beam was bright and shining, making her squint as she continued to push, push, push her magic. She would not let him kill another soul.

Her wall and his beam struggled for dominance, pushing each other back and forth like a tug-of-war game. Erza grit her teeth, sweat forming on her face.

She'd never held this for so long. With Jellal it'd been a quick burst that she'd quickly stifled. To hold it for so long was making her feel immensely weak.

But she also felt incredibly powerful. The magic sang in her veins, delighted at being freed, and begging to push beyond Deliora.

This had to end soon. Erza wasn't sure how much longer she could hold the wall. Unleashing a mighty scream she put every last bit of energy into her magic. Slowly, so slowly, the wall pushed and continued pushing, his beam shortening and weakening. And then the pressure stopped and her wall hit Deliora, knocking him down.

Erza collapsed to the ground, completely spent, panting. Gray ran to her side while Lyon hurried over to the crumpled figure of Deliora.

"Is he dead?" Erza rasped. Gray grabbed her arm and helped pull her up.

"I don't know. Almost."

Slowly she shuffled over, her body too weak to obey her commands like she wished. He was splayed on the ground, panting, eyes wide staring at the sky. His entire lower half was gone – no legs or feet.

Deliora moved his eyes to Erza, filled with rage.

"If… I'd been… at full strength…" he panted heavily between words. "You'd be…. Dead…"

"But you weren't," Erza said solemnly. "And here you lie."

His body continued to slowly flake away. Even still, he did not stop glaring at Erza.

"Zeref… will win…" he heaved. "Zeref… will… resurrect me. And I will… come for… you."

They did not move as the last of Deliora disappeared and silence reigned. His words chilled her. This battle was over, but the war was not. Zeref was still coming - the one who'd created this monster. The assassin's guild was somehow involved as well.

There was no time for relief or joy at the defeated mage.

Gray let out a long breath.

"What a drama queen," he muttered. Slowly he looked at Erza and her grim expression. Erza had magic. For some reason, that fact didn't surprise him in the least. Maybe, if things ever settled down, they could talk about it.

For now he just said, "Your secret's safe with me," and left it at that. Lyon nodded with pursed lips. Erza examined the two carefully before nodding in thanks.

"Let's hurry," Erza said. "To Magnolia."

They didn't spare a backward glance to the now-empty ground where Deliora disappeared.

Comments, suggestions, thoughts? Yes, no, maybe so?

FINALLY this arc of the story is over good riddance. I miss Natsu and Lucy. Honestly I was ready to give up on this story again but then a reviewer who said they'd been here from the beginning commented and I was SO HAPPY. I'm a sucker for compliments. Also the holidays suck and took all my energy for life. Hopefully yours were better than mine.

ANYWAY we finally get back to nalu good god I can't wait. PLEASE comment I'll update faster.

Love ya~