History: A Touch of Color in the Gray

Book 1 : Shading the black.

Date : March 25, 2021

Beta: Nouilleverte

Fandom : D Gray Man

Disclaimer : No, I do not own D Gray Man and I am not making any profit from this story.

Summary : After waking up in the 19th century, Ennaël took the name Eve, became the companion of Tricia Kamelott and decided to make her own opinion on the charac ... people of this new world despite her knowledge of the manga. Little by little, she became aware of the difference in social codes for women of this time and began to fear for the future, especially when Road, the twins, Allen, Tyki, The Earl, Lulubell and Skin Bolic arrived little by little.

While trying to flee the Earl, Eve meets Victor Hugo who gives her a lot of information on the holy war before dying. Eve discovers she has a strange talent for musical instruments and wonders with horror if she could be the 14th. It doesn't help that the Earl has discovered her talents and seems to be more and more interested in her.

She then argues with Tyki who fails to kill her with his Noah powers, begins a correspondence with Conan Doyles and again nearly dies of Tuberculosis. And since things always come in threes, she once again avoids dying by falling into an icy lake after having celebrated Christmas with the Noahs. Yeah, not her best year. But the next will be better!

Kof ...

And in the last chapter : Eve has a beautiful open-hearted conversation with Tyki about her powers aaand discovers that she can do magic herself.

French version: ...FINISHED !

English version: A moment of silence for Lyra, AxZi, Koneko, Nouilleverte and Fluffyluffy our wonderful past-Beta (... I'm going to think there is a curse)

Fanart: You can see drawings of Eve and some fanart made by readers on my Tumblr (Ennael too). Also, Elogane made a canon side-fic but in french, It's "Nuancer les sentiments"

Italic: french, important thought (or both)

Guess what? I need ANOTHER BETA ! Exam season took away Fluffyluffy unfortunately… This chapter was betaed by one of the past béta, Nouilleverte, but she can't do it each month ^^' So If anyone would be interested in betaing the last 9 chapters and maybe the rewriting after this, this would be awesome !

I'm beginning to think there is a curse on this story... it will be the 6th béta when I only had one or two on my other stories X')

Anyway, good reading :D

After reassuring Tricia, Road, Tyki and just about the whole family that "There was a spider on my bed, it surprised me, that's all, I'm very sorry to have disturbed you for nothing… yes Tricia, I assure you, everything is fine now." I had collapsed on my bed exhausted, cheeks flushed with shame and my voice perhaps a little too shrill having discovered that I had magical powers. I had barely rested my head on the pillow, ready to spend a good part of the night in full debate with myself on what had just happened that I fell immediately asleep. The next thing I knew, it was already the next morning and Tricia was shaking my shoulder with a worried expression.

"I'm just a little tired of all of these emotions." I told her but I knew it wasn't much reassurance. And neither do I. It must be said, I had been sicker and weaker in recent months than the last two years combined. Yet despite my best efforts to show her my newfound health, I couldn't help but yawn all morning and regretfully went to take a nap at the same time as her after lunch. I wanted to take advantage of the afternoon to finally think about what had happened the day before… Was it the magic that had tired me so much? On the one hand, I did not hope so, it would put a considerable brake on my experiments but on the other, I did not see what it could be otherwise and it was a little terrifying to be so tired without know the source.

A second problem was what I was supposed to do with it. Obviously, as soon as I was on my feet, I wanted to try again! The possibility of doing magic, no matter how simple, was exhilarating. But seeing how a simple spell (if that was it) had tired me, it was worrying… Should I tell someone? The one who could best help me would surely be the Earl, maybe even Road, but I had no idea what they might think. Would he be surprised if I could do magic? Would they ask how I could have found out? Or angry? Magic was so poorly described in D-Gray Man… we knew that some people could practice it like the Crow with their seals or the Chan with their guardian spirits like Fon and Atuda and especially Cross Marian from whom I had freely borrowed the magical formula. But that was about it. I was also assuming that the Noahs could make it or at least the Earl, wasn't there a story with the Skulls being created by magic? Before I landed in this world I hadn't read the first DGM's chapters for years so now, after living with the characters, Everything was getting muddled up in my mind. In vain I took the most detailed notes possible on the manga,in a mix of French, English, Japanese and Spanish with a touch of expressions directly from the internet and as many personal references as possible, even I was having a hard time figuring all this out during the first few weeks of my arriva l,butfrantically browsing them again on the bedroom floor hadn't really helped me on that point. Especially since Tyki had chosen this moment to go through the door to my room.

"Tyki!" I shouted with a start, hurriedly closing my notebook and infinitely happy to have repositioned the slat covering my secret hiding place with, among others, the notes of Victor Hugo.

"What ?! You know my powers now." He replied, shrugging his shoulders.

"The fact that I know your powers doesn't prevent you from having the common decency of knocking before entering someone's room." I responded in my harsh tone hiding the panic he had created by encrustation as I looked at my manga notebook.

"Ho? Are you hiding things from me, Eve?" He smiled and before I could even blink he was already behind me, my notebook in his hands, leafing through it curiously.

It was totally cheating.

"Tyki!" I groaned again and jumped to my feet, trying to grab the book without much hope. Damn the day I fell in this lake, he was going too far ever since! As soon as Tricia, Sheryl and the Earl were away he immediately took the opportunity to display his powers as much as possible, walking on the air to grab a book high up without the ladder or using them to move from his room to Road's one without using the corridor ... Knowing that, I had to use the ladder or the hallway, was the most frustrating thing in the world! Alright, it was pure and simple jealousy but… urgh! In revenge, I jumped as high as I could to grab the notebook but I literally walked through it and stumbled to the other side.

"I don't understand anything, in what language have you written this?" He asked, puzzled. He didn't even bother to dodge, that bastard!

"That's the goal! For people not to read what I obviously do not want them to !" I groaned before making another attempt at reaching my diary and, miracle! I was able to touch it this time. I wasn't expecting it so I ended up knocking it rather than grabbing it and the notebook flew off with a nice curve ... out the open window.

"Is that a diary?" Tyki asked as I looked at the window in despair.

"What?" I asked, my brain picking up again. "Ah, uh, yeah, sort of." I answered.

"I thought it was a drawing or a new score." Tyki apologized with a genuinely contrite expression. "I didn't know you had one, it's not your style and I've never seen you write in it and… yeah, sorry." He grimaced. "For that and for coming in without knocking, it really wasn't very gentlemanly… especially with what happened the first time I met you at the mansion."

This time it was I who was grimacing. It had been a bit strange and above all very embarrassing for both of us when he had the wrong room and saw me naked. "Come on Lord Mikk, gossipers would say you are doing it on purpose." I laughed nervously, using the clever dodge-joke tactic.

Fortunately, he followed me on this one. "They can try all they want, Lady Campbell, I won't let them say anything." And added an exaggerated wink before glancing towards the window. "I'll go get your notebook before anyone else finds it, promise I won't read it anymore!" He reassured me. He passed through the window and I thanked him, relieved. As promised, he immediately brought it back to me and I put it back in its hiding place once he was gone, nervously thinking about the day the hole under the floor would be discovered. Victor Hugo's notes were not encrypted other than by his curly handwriting and the many references to documents not available and obviously I knew having them was already dangerous before but with Tyki now using his powers all the time. ...

Unless they already knew about the hiding place? It was only covered by a floor plank, not the most imaginative hideout...

...

Naaaaaaah.

Refusing to think about the huge problems that could emerge from the possibility that the Noahs knew that I knew that they knew… anyway, I decided to think about my most pressing problem: my sudden magic powers. So, again, what to do? Had I been in the Harry Potter world I wouldn't have worried as much about hiding them but here… Maybe it was like Atuda? And the more I used them, the more it drained my life force? Or on the contrary, maybe if I didn't use them, they would get out of control? I had no idea and frankly it was a bit scary.

But hey, maybe it was also the anxiety that was taking over me.

Either way, it took three more days before I was alone, Tyki being in town with Sheryl, and felt confident enough to try magic again. Having taken a nap just before, I was at my peak and hoped that if it exhausted me too much, I could still survive through dinner and sleep right after. Except, what to try? Fire again? Even though I knew it was dangerous, I couldn't help but get a little excited about doing magic and wanted something different. I scanned the room in the library, and soon spotted an open window. It should fit in the parameters of the formula, right? Whatever, I didn't really know what that meant ...

Approaching the window, I looked at it without quite knowing what to do. Should I raise my hand? Closing my eyes? Did I have to do a magical girl dance? I chose to try to faithfully reproduce what I had done a few days earlier and outstretched my fingers towards the window.

"Abata, ura, mazarakato ... On!" I was whispering and… yeah, nothing happened. The window didn't even creak, it was depressing ...

Maybe it didn't work on windows? Lighting a fire wasn't too complicated, I only needed three elements, an oxidizer, fuel and energy. Knowing that there was already an oxidizer (the air in the room) and fuel (the logs in the fireplace) the magic had only brought energy, a spark in itself. While opening a window required not only energy but also something to turn the handle. A little harder to visualize… I didn't know how that magic worked in that situation, but at least it made some sense. It's always more complicated to create refined energy than raw energy… Maybe… Oh, damn, I was trying to theorize about magic…

I sighed, as I started to feel the start of a headache , I got back into position but this time near the fireplace. Maybe it would be more useful, although less interesting, to try to replicate what I had done rather than create something new?

"Abata, ura, mazarakato ... On!" I was huffing and… nothing. Nada. Rien du tout. It became annoying! See, I was even starting to wonder if my first burst of magic really happened. What could I have done that was special to make this work last time? Letting myself fall on the couch sulkily, I grabbed a small notebook from my belt and began to note down everything that came to my mind regarding the problem of the day. Scribbling diagrams with a frustrated sigh, I finally got up again to grab a match pack Tyki had slipped with cigarettes behind the frame above the fireplace. As I grabbed one, I began to stare at it intently before speaking the words again. Once again , no result... or rather, this time I thought I felt my fingertips tingle. A little skeptical, I started again and… yes! I had distinctly felt something in my hand. Focusing on the feeling, I started again a third time and finally the match ignited!

Blowing hastily on it, still not very comfortable with fire, I threw the used lighter into the fireplace before turning resolutely towards the window once again. Taking a few steps I started to breathe in and out slowly, trying to focus on the feeling of… energy? Between my fingers and when I almost felt I had it I said the words again: "Abata, Ura, masarakato… On!"

CRACK

Startled, I opened my eyes to see in horror the window shattering outside with a loud, shrill noise.

Moaning like a slaughtered pig, I didn't freeze for more than three seconds before grabbing my discarded notebook from the table and scampering out of the library as if hell hounds were running after me.

It was a bit silly in retrospect. If I had gone to tell him, Sheryl would barely have raised an eyebrow before mumbling about his overly excited daughter and filling out the bill. Even before dinner time, the bits of glass would have disappeared and the window would have been changed. No one would have known. But by then, my logical brain was gone to smell the daisies and my body had barely heard the "Ho, shit, I did bullshit" before taking the loose.

Which made it terribly hard not to throw myself under the dining table when Tyki asked why one of the library windows was broken that night.

"It's still cold, it could damage the books." He said and I looked at him almost in disbelief. Really, was that the first thing you thought about? not who smashed in the big window? But strangely, one asked the question. I wasn't sure Tricia had overheard Tyki, arguing that she was with Road, but the Earl and Sheryl certainly had. Why weren't they saying anything? Did they already know it was me ? I thought nervously. Yet, if they knew, they didn't say a word about it, and instead, the discussion moved to another related topic without other questions.

"By the way Tricia, I thought, maybe you could come to the mansion next weekend? The social season is over and there is a party at the Vicomte de Druitt's with a most interesting auction! That would be less tiring to come to my place for a few days rather than leaving here, what do you think? " The Earl smiled and I noticed that he wasn't even asking her if she wanted to go to this party but rather how she wanted to go.

"Oh yeah, that's a wonderful idea!" The hostess was enthusiastic. "I hope I'll be well enough to join you but otherwise it's been a while since the kids left the mansion a party would do them a lot of good." Considering the three-foot-long grimace Tyki was pulling, not everyone was of this opinion… For my part, I felt quite sheltered, having not needed to take part in a social event since... Road's birthday ball, over a year and a half ago. But obviously my brain hadn't updated my incredible new position in the family dynamic because immediately after, Tricia turned to me, her eyes clearly predatory. "It will also be an opportunity for Eve to use what she learned in her dance lessons again!"

"I'm not sure this is a great idea, it didn't go so well last time around." I answered doubtfully as Road coughed what sounded like the word "disaster" into her fist. I could hardly contradict her and I didn't want to anyway.

"Nothing to do with you, these ladies were very rude, I have no doubt that everything will be fine this time." The Earl smiled and was it me or that clearly looked like a threat ?!

"Besides , an auction is very different from a ball, we'll be together all the way, so don't worry, Eve." Tricia reassured me and Sheryl clearly restrained himself from saying anything, stuffing a big spoonful of apple pie in his mouth in the least elegant way I had ever seen him do, . The only one who didn't seem involved in the conversation was Lulub… uh, sorry, Lucie Belle, who was eating her dessert without even looking at the rest of the table. It was crazy how it had been months since I had met her for the first time and yet we had not spoken more than five times. I couldn't be friends with all the Noahs, I guess… Then, again, I don't think the Earl or Sheryl count as friends, do they ? Skin certainly doesn't ...

"Just smile and listen. Dad will make all the boring conversations anyway." Road explained to me and Tricia looked torn between berating her daughter and wiping her sugar-filled mouth with loving eyes. She chooses the last option, of course. Even I found it hard to resist Road's supreme cuteness and I knew what was underneath!

"Thanks for the little mercies…" Tyki hissed so low I thought I was the only one who had heard it but the Earl's quiet slap behind the young Noah's head taught me something else. Damn, I really underestimated their enhanced senses, I had to be more careful ...

Anyway, the case was closed and the following Thursday Tricia, Road and I took the carriage to the Earl's mansion. I was a little curious in spite of myself, especially after the long hours it took us to get there. I understood why Tyki and Sheryl were leaving later… Supposedly they had too much "work" to leave on Thursday and would join us on Friday night instead. Every time they took advantage of the ark instead of having an unpleasant carriage trip… Besides, Road must have really wanted to skip school to endure it with us.

Fortunately, we did eventually arrive and it was the Earl himself who welcomed us to the manor. Without much surprise, Tricia was exhausted and as soon as the Earl showed her her room and excused her, she went to take a nap. Strangely enough, I still had energy to spare and the Earl must have noticed it because he offered to show me around the mansion. Road disappeared at about this time, not needing to hold the charade of the child of good family without her mother and the servants around, but the afternoon was very pleasant, Adam showing me things. interesting. I guess, he too had gotten to know me over the course of all these months, because he didn't even bother to show me the luxurious salons or the grandiose ballroom, no, he barely passed over the main rooms of the house so that I could find my whereabout and then came straight to the secret passages and other hidden rooms. It was a lot more fun, for sure , and as usual, he had a thousand stories and anecdotes to tell if we just bothered to listen to him. As for example when, slipping out of a passage of servants, we came across a much too well-known painting in the main corridor.

"Is this the Mona Lisa?" I asked, looking at him with wide eyes before fixing my gaze again on the practically insignificant canvas in the midst of all the others. Ho damn, I was pretty sure I saw Delacroix's "La liberté guidant le peuple" down the hall ... and there! It was completely "Le radeau de la méduse" by Géricault! I didn't even dare to look at the rest of the works, having already recognized most of the ones I had seen even though I didn't know all the names. I had the impression of walking around the Louvres even though I noticed a very clear lack of religious painting and I wondered what the museum could look like, without its key pieces.

"This is it." Replied the Earl, blinking in puzzlement. "I didn't know you knew a lot about art history."

"Only what I learned at school…" I mumbled absent-mindedly as I took a few steps down the hall, practically gawking at a painting I didn't know the name of but was pretty sure I have seen in a museum in New York… in the 21st century anyway.

"At school…" He whispered, causing me to come to my senses. "But I think about it, you draw a lot don't you? Do you paint too?" He asked curiously and it was still with that same spark of interest in his gaze that made it seem like he was genuinely interested in the answer and not just asking for the sake of conversation.

"I tried watercolor a bit but not yet oil painting, it's in my future projects." I answered nervously, having the very strong impression that I had done something stupid without really knowing what .

"Oh I would love to see your works! But first of all I have one last piece of my own to show you, I'm sure this will help you with your projects…" he said and that's right at that moment I noticed that we had stopped in front of a big double wooden door which he pushed with impeccable timing: The library. "I have a lot of reference books, I'm sure you will find what you are looking for." He said with a smile.

"I have no doubt about it." I responded excitedly, looking around me with a smile that was probably too big for decorum. Tyki was right, it was huge and my fingers were itching to run it back and forth.

At the limit of running around between the shelves with a maniacal laugh, feeling like I found some semblance of the internet, I barely restrained myself and tied my hands together to keep myself still. Not long, however, because the Earl undertook to give me a particularly detailed account of the operation of the library and the location of books and subjects. Every time we walked down a new aisle, his eyes focused on a book that seemed "exceptional" or "indispensable" and he added it to the rapidly growing pile in our arms. So much so that we hadn't made a third of the library that we had to stop at a study table to put down our rickety piles.

"I already doubt I will be able to read all of this this weekend, let's stop there for now." I offered him with an amused laugh.

"It's such a shame, the books just sit there collecting dust and no one takes advantage of them anymore." The Earl lamented before suddenly straightening up. "Oh I know, instead of reading this weekend just flip through them and you just have to borrow the ones that interest you."

"Oh, I don't want…" I started but he cut me off immediately adding three more books to my arms.

"Yes that's perfect, let's do it like that! They're not lost at Sheryl's and anyway I'm spending enough time there, I would just have to pick them up on one of my stays and… ho, this book is also particularly well written, the author has a very interesting point of view on the life of Baldir III "And he had left in a new anecdote, another book added to the pile on the way. I couldn't complain though, his stories were always captivating and before I knew it, it was dinner time.

It was quite strange eating only with Tricia, Road and the Earl, I don't think I ever ate with the Earl without Sheryl talking politics next to him. It was neat, all in all, the Earl couldn't be happier talking rag, having a frenzied debate with Tricia over the top hats as I watched the whole thing, half-fascinated, half-incredulous. But I must admit, I had a little trouble not swinging in my chair, eager to return to the library. Fortunately, Tricia was still tired from the trip and went straight to bed after the meal. I had no idea where Road and the Earl had gone but I was too busy rushing to the library to care.

Not having had time to see everything earlier, I began by exploring the rest first, smiling from ear to ear as I unearthed a hidden staircase leading to the upstairs balconies. I smiled a little less when I got up there to see that everything was much dustier and more disturbed than downstairs. A little worried about whether I was allowed to be there or not, I cautiously walked over to the nearest table, a dusty pile of books covering it. A notebook had remained open in front of a half-spread chair, an inkwell and a long-dried quill beside it. Unable to resist the temptation, I leafed through a few yellowish pages, wondering why the Earl would have left it all there. It really felt like no one had touched it for years… But no luck, I couldn't recognize the language and the diagrams scribbled here and there didn't help much… All those runes looked like equations but I wasn't even sure. I left the notebook in annoyance. I grabbed the first book in front of it which handwriting was so good it looked like printed pages and turned it over to read the title: "Treatise on Magic and Its Practical Uses."

...

"AH" I expressed all my disbelief, my eyes stared at the damaged book.

There are too many coincidences for there not to be something fishy down there… But at the same time… "Well that's gonna be useful!" I was trying to be optimistic, and decided to deliberately ignore the fact of literally finding a manual of magic right after finding out that I could, in fact, do magic.

It was just luck.

Totally.

Haha.

...

So Eve is in denial. Again. Nothing new I guess X') Well, anyway, that was the last chapter before the last ark of tis story ! The end is near :p

Again, we need a new Béta for this story ! If you are interested in helping a poor clueless french girl making her translations edible, send me a PM !

Anyway, think about letting a review and see yah next 25th!