Chapter 12: The Days to Come

"Roy...ROY!"

I blinked when my memories were broken apart. I turned to my side, where Lucy was looking at me with worried eyes. I mentally slapped myself that I was caught in my own problem when I came here so I could cheer her up from hers.

But Lucy didn't look like she minded. In fact, she made an understanding gesture by rubbing my shoulder reassuringly.

"Sorry Lucy, your mother is bedridden, and I was supposed to take your mind off her."

"It's okay, Roy, it's only been...a month since that incident." She hesitantly brushed off my yellow bangs, showing off the burned scar underneath. It wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be since I could still cover it, but Zancrow did leave me a souvenir.

But hey, it's a prove I got out alive. If I wasn't a noble, I would have proudly shown it off.

Lucy trailed off her finger at the rough, jagged skin on my temple and gave her a weak smile, "It's not as bad as it looks, you know."

Lucy just smiled wryly in reply, "I'm just glad you're okay, that's all, I...I don't know what I'll do if I somehow lose you at the same time my mother..." she bit her lips but it still trembled.

"Hey, hey, hey, Lucy... Lucy looked at me." Lucy reluctantly lifted her gaze to lock on mine and gave her hand a firm squeeze. "I will never ever leave you, Lucy. At least never willingly, and I will fight hell and high water to stay by my best friend's side, you understand me?"

Lucy looked briefly happy before she pulled me into a hug and started bawling out, I did the only thing I could do in this situation and hugged her back while giving rubbing her back in circle.

"She's not going to make it," She said, bawling, "I overheard the doctor said she only has a week left. She's going to die, Roy, my mom is dying!"

"Shush, shush, it's okay, Lucy. Let it all out. Everything is going to be okay."

And so she did, missing the beautiful sunset her balcony room would always show. Lucy cried and cried for the inevitable. I was then reminded about the gloomy Lucy of who I watched from my past life after she lost her mother. Layla hasn't died yet, but the energy she always has was lost and her smile became strained at times.

After crying her share of tears, she looked back up at me, her eyes shimmered in conflict, "How could you say that? How is everything going to be okay?"

"Because I'll be here when you need me," I said to her, me eyes met hers determinedly as I meant every word I said, to the little girl who was the closest thing I find as a friend, "You only need to call on my lacrima and I'll fly to your side no matter how far you'll be."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

I pulled her into a tight hug to reassure her and myself as I meant every word of it. Ever since the Fated Day, it made me treasure how much I care for Lucy. That whatever plan or plot in store for her shouldn't hold me back to how I feel about her. It's not love if you're wondering, at least not the romantic kind. Especially when I see her as a 10-year-old kid right now. But I don't think I'll ever see her outside of platonic love.

That doesn't change the fact she's the most important person to me.

Besides, I ship NaLu anyway.

Though I'm going to give him hell for barging into her room like he did and even had her sleep on the floor, the future is going to be fun I can tell you that.

The door to her room was knocked, and we allowed whoever it was to come in. I smiled when I saw Rebecca's form, sliding a cart full of sweet and few kinds of tea available.

"Your snacks, Milady and Sir."

"I see you've begun to get used to this maid stuff," I said with genuine gladness to her.

Rebecca showed me a small, content smile before she wore back her neutral work face, "It's an honor to be working with you. I can't imagine going anywhere else," she replied with a bit grateful tone laced in them.

At the time of that particular night, Torri was able to bring her to the ground where it's safe until the shoot of Jupiter. Rebecca survived, but Torri...

Torry died with half his body crushed under massive rubbles.

Rebecca was adequately horrified, and I gave her a good scolding so she would stop blaming herself. I had a feeling Torri must have said something to her because before she could grieve the loss of her home, her friends, and her family, she asked me to take her in and my personal maid.

And me?

Well...you could say I felt like losing a family member.

No, that's wrong. I did lose a family member.

From the moment first moment I truly met him as 'me'; finding my three-year-old self hiding on the rooftop while I was sulking from existential crisis, I knew he was different. Instead of asking me to come down as any other rational person, he stayed beside me while giving me optional hiding places that are more secluded and safer than on top of my mansion.

He made me laugh.

Since then, I knew I could trust him more than anyone else in that house. Because I knew he would never question or doubt me unless I might endanger myself, and he'd always be there, like the mother hen he is, if I needed him to catch me when I fall. My dad will always be my dad, but Tornillious was the person I looked up to in this world.

He was everything I could have hope for and more, as a friend, a confidant, and my reassurance. He knew when to act professionally and when to act as a guardian, I...

I miss him.

I miss him.

I miss him.

Torri... why...

Why did you have to die?

Blinking back the memory of him before I broke down like an unstable person, I spotted the hungry-looking face of a child behind Lucy's door and smirk.

"Oh right, hey Nick, get over here, the two of us can't eat all this by ourselves!"

Behind the door, the face of young and very much alive Nicholas Glade pop out, "Aaa Roy-Sama, isn't that a bit unprofessional of me to do that? I'm supposed to be your bodyguard."

"Oh come on, you can't even beat me, let alone protect me right now." Nick mumbled something, but I didn't quite hear him, "Besides, when it's just us four, you can call me Aniki if you want."

While Nick brightened at that notion, I notice Lucy's expression became slightly peeved.

"Lucy, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," She huffed, which clearly says it wasn't nothing, but I'm not going to push seeing as she does not want to answer me, I shrug it off and enjoy a nice blueberry cheesecake.

As I ate, I presume you all wanted to know how in the hell did Nick survive.

Well, if you remember, I had given Nick a bottle of water I had him forcefully drink. That water, in a simple word, is an Elixir.

Yes, a real working elixir that somehow patched up Nick from losing half his back in crystallized form. That's how much of a miracle worker that is.

Where did I get such a convenient item you might ask, well we have to go to that year where TJ had me forcefully survive in the woods, and I had to go against a goddamn Manticore.

I had finally cornered the monstrous winged lion to a corner, its body parts were apart and could finally put its very much alive head to a spear.

However, before I could do just that, the manticore began shimmering in sparkling light before disappearing into thin air.

I was confused because this is not the normal way any being would die. I wasn't sure what was happening until a slow aggravating clapped got my attention.

"Bravo Young Master, you got to defeat a manticore that not even brave men could do,"

"Then why in the world you got me against that kind of monster?"

"The main point was for you to know how to avoid and sneak the prize without its attention, not defeating it. You surprised me more than anyone in my 30 years experience as a knight."

I stared at him that felt like hours when it had only been seconds and slapped myself in the face, "Of course, that's how it is," I mumbled. "Then what about the manticore, I can assume you're responsible for its disappearance?"

"Being my summoning spirit, then yes, I am."

What?

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

TJ only respond was a smug grin before pulling out a ring and wore it on his left pinky finger. The blue gem had a picture of a lion head. "I summon the Man-Eater Beast, Manticore!"

And therewith, in all its glory, was the same manticore I fought.

I was gobsmacked at the scene, and everything clicked all together at what TJ had done.

Keys for Stars

Coins for Angels

Rings for Mythology Creatures.

And he used it for the sake of this stupid Trumping trial.

"Hey TJ, you said you have some sort of reward for this, right?"

"Uuh...yeah, why are you asking?"

"Because if it's not worth all this trouble you've given me, then you better be prepared how much I swear I'm going to make your life a living hell."

TJ gulped and nodded vigorously, "Good reward, definitely good reward, you'll love it, now come and follow me!" He said hastily.

We walked toward the waterfall and went past it, leading me into a cave. I stopped for a moment to admire the few shining crystals embedded on the wall and dimly lighting the cave before continued following him until we reach the end of the cave and at a spring. One thing odd about was the fact it sparkles like a bowl of mercury.

"A spring?"

"Not just any spring," TJ said as he pulled out an empty bottle, crouch down, and scoop it up to fill it. "This spring has many official names, but once a bottle of it got out, people know this as the Health Elixir. Capable of healing anything and anyone, or in simpler term; the drink that cheats death."

My eyes became saucer and searched TJ's face for any reason he would lie to me.

"You're flippin me..."

"Oh trust me, I don't 'flip''

"...What's the catch?"

"Pardon?"

I pointed at the holy spring of medicine and looked back at him seriously, "There's no way ERA would not know something like this and not safe caution it so it could get into the wrong hands, so what's the catch for this?"

"No catch really, unless working only once in your life could be called that."

"So...you only get a one second chance in life. Good to know."

And that's how I got the Elixir and saved Nick's life. I was pretty skeptical at how potent it was and had thought I lost him until I watched in fascination his crystallize back began to grow back like a lizard made out of crystal. My tears of remorse changed into one of joy, and I knew I couldn't leave him on his own. So I brought him back while he was recuperating and asked my dad to make him my personal bodyguard because of the unique potential his magic has.

So now Nick is trained to be the best bodyguard, and as his savior, intends to offer me the best bodyguard... or so he says.

I'm just glad he's where I could keep an eye on him. That little guy has a way to warm inside you, so now I can't get him off me, and I don't want nor plan to do that.

"All right guys, I have an announcement to declare to all of you because I trust you guys more than anyone I know, so I want to let on my plan."

The maid, the dragon slayer, and the heiress looked at one another before looking back at me with curiosity. I'm sure there's a bar joke somewhere. I took a deep breath and stretched out the silence, giving more suspension for what I might need to provide some grand news for them when in reality, it was just a simple statement.

A statement, I need to let out.

"I have a dream."

The silence continued even after I said such, and it took them to comprehend that it had only been just that. Lucy was the first to react, beaming and even lunging to hug me, saying 'That's great!' and may have decided on that spot she would support my dream anyway she can. Nick was next to react, blinking many times before telling me he will support my dream alongside his own, and make sure we both get our goals as he protected me. Last was Rebecca, she was still silent, and in thought, her eyes never left me as she thought what might be in my mind and my purpose for saying it.

"Well Roy, what is it?" Lucy asked in glee. I thought I might drag more suspension silence to give me some dramatical flair, but this question somehow brought up the answer naturally as if it was the fact of life itself.

"To change the Kingdom of Fiore."

Silence stretched once more, Lucy and Nick more because of confusion and Rebecca because of dawning comprehension.

"How are you going to do that?" Rebecca finally let out her real voice come out. "And what do you mean by changing Fiore?"

I smiled in a bit of shamed and rubbed the back of my head, "Honestly, I'm not so sure of the answer to that but...after what happened to me, to us, I don't know if I can leave the problem and not do anything by it."

"Roy-sama, this problem isn't something you can fix just because you want to. Dark Guilds are just as many as regular guilds. Not to mention, the Zeref Cult has existed long before the kingdom was made, you can't get rid of something that's been festering in the country for so long."

And it's true. Not just the Zeref cult problem, but of Baram Alliance and ERA. Mostly on Zeref though, seeing as 2 out of 3 Baram Alliance are Zeref loyal subjects (or so they say). See... if you forget what I said before, I'll say it again. ERA doesn't do shit against Dark Guild, reason being they're in a stalemate with Baram Alliance whose strength and identity are mostly in the dark to them. So they couldn't bring a fight to them and risk an all-out war that could create anarchy inside Fiore, not when another kingdom could be aiming for us. I could have maybe forgiven ERA for the reasoning and let it slide, but sadly since I read the comics, I am certain those old bags are all stupider than Justin Bieber! You know why I said it? Because is it too much to ask to have a FUCKING MOLE IN BARAM ALLIANCE!

Good god, do those people know anything about National Defense Tactics! For Gautama's sake ERA had three moles at the innermost circle of the council with information of the deadliest weapon in history and giving it to the three most dangerous Dark Guild! How am I not concern about this?

Which is why when guilds and dark guilds fought, it's usually an independent decision on their end that has nothing to do with both ERA and Baram Alliance.

Ugh, enough ranting. It's time to answer Rebecca's question.

"Maybe...doesn't mean I can't try. I can't lay down and not fight back, Rebecca. I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure something like this can't happen again so easily to anyone."

Honestly, I'm not even sure why I feel this way only that it felt to be the right thing. I've watched in my past life before on documentary of terrorist attacks or war victims in Pakistan. But being in it? Seeing first hand and surviving was an all-new experience. I can't properly explain. Maybe it's my survival guilt talking, maybe it's my hero complex because I'm starting to feel I have one. But I can't let that tragedy go without doing anything.

"Roy, why are you telling us this?" Lucy found herself asking.

This time I didn't purposely stretch the silence as I really thought about the answer, "I want someone to make sure I stay true to my words and never give it up. I may change my mind, or even doubt if I'm capable of doing it, which is why I want you guys to remind me of my dream and help me reach it. Because this is far too big for me to do alone."

The three looked at another and somehow were capable of exchange silent agreement. "We're all with you all the way Aniki, but how are you going to change things?"

"I still don't have a clear picture of the kind of future I want for Fiore, it's more of a lofty goal, and that's my second reason for telling you all this, any ideas?"

All of us began pondering, having identical furrowed eyebrows and tilted head, lost in our own minds we swim for ideas.

"Well, the first thing that came into mind would be becoming part of ERA I suppose," Rebbeca offered. I frowned at the idea but nodded.

"That would be the logical choice, but any other idea, preferably a non-political affiliated choice." Because becoming ERA would be a gamble, you are either used or be used by them, and it would take years before I get actual influence done. However, I then thought back of Ur and Jelal and how young they were and decided it to be a back pocket idea.

"Oh, oh, I know," Nick raised his hand, "Marry the princess!"

"Denied, next!"

"Becoming the richest man in the world?"

"Not good enough, next!"

"Becoming a businessman?"

"Already working on that, next!"

The four of us gave each other ideas after ideas, some were pished out of the window, some stayed in the back pocket.

"Well, Roy, do you have anything in mind?"

"I do actually, but...it's not my best solution, and I doubt it could influence much until the coming years."

"Why don't we be the judge of that Roy-sama?"

I pondered in silence for a moment before giving them my answer, "I was thinking of building a magic school!"

They all blinked at me, surprised evident in their eyes, "A...school?" Nick let out.

"Not just any school, but the biggest, most resourceful, and best school there ever existed! Heck, I'm more surprised why there isn't one."

Not that I'm surprised, Fiore has 7 million in population and regarded as one of the backwater countries, yet it's where a lot of shit is going on. Of course, there are magical school if you actually look carefully, but the government doesn't seem to support education as much as their national security. The fact that none of the characters mention any magical academy is proving enough. Instead, young magicians targeted guild right off the bat and learn their way up from there.

Which is why instead of aiming to change the future for the better, I will shape it instead, and what better way than by guiding the future generation?

"Pardon my rudeness Young Master, but how are you going to set up a school?" Rebecca asked, hiding her tone of curiosity.

"Obviously, I'm going have to raise money, and thankfully my patent on my magic tool discovery had me saved quite a lot."

"Money? But can't you just ask your da-"

"No way!" I cut Nick to deny with my hand crossed into an X, "This is something I decide and I need to be responsible with my own decision. That's why I feel I'm already asking a lot for your help."

"Again, I repeat myself, what do you want us to do?" Lucy asked once more.

"Not a lot. All I'm asking you is to support me when I feel emotionally or physically burdened down. I mean, you guys know I could be a workaholic when I got lost inside my work."

"""True."""

My eyes twitched but ignored them, "And this is something I don't even know what my ultimate goal is or what my signs of success would be in the end, but I do know I can't do it alone so at least when that time comes, I know I have someone I can rely on." It was deafeningly silent after, but there was no tension once I saw the smile graced on all their lips.

"How else are you going to raise money...or do you think researching new magic would be enough to save money?"

"...maybe enough to buy a building, but not enough to keep it in management for 10 years or so, especially when I know there isn't going to be that many students from the start so I can't rely on money from them. Heck, most might not be able to afford them if I really try to reach out all magical kids in Fiore. That and I need to find the finest resource to get people to come to me, which means books, and not just regular books, but books most collector would want to buy for more than 10.000 jewels, I want the best teachers out there that knows more than what they teach on paper and know how to deal with children."

"You really serious...about this. I mean, I know you are, but hearing all this from a ten-year-old is...shocking to me."

"First, I'm eleven Rebecca, get your facts straight. Second, I'm a genius, I've done my research so get used to me being a smartass." Rebecca rolled her eyes at my cockiness while the rest just grin at me.

I'll be straight. What happened that night was tragic to us, but I can't stand still and forget as if it was another memory. Not when their scream and their agony was etched within me now. I need to fight, especially with my memory and knowledge, I cannot not fight.

I'm serious about the school, though. Despite the potential of magic the mages this country has. The times are still only a little ahead of renaissance times, everything and anything is powered by magic. I'd be lying if my visions weren't to make a similar society to what my past life was used to, but if it makes things safer, if things like those nightmares get reduced then I won't complain, I'll use every resource I can to make the best fucking school Earth Land ever known.

Like Malala had once said, "With guns, you can kill terrorists, but with education you can kill terrorism."

"Is that really all the reason?" Lucy asked me.

"Well, there's that...and I realized that being a teacher was a lot of fun so yeah, I guess I want to try being a teacher." And it's true, teaching Nick was a new experience for me and I have more fun than I first expected so yeah, maybe being a teacher is my dream, but I know I won't be satisfied with just that. At least not until the war had come to pass and there's true peace for this country.

Unknown to me, Nick shuddered and secretly prayed for my future students that would have to deal with me.

. . .

When all resident inside the manor was asleep, only one was awake, striding across the moonlit lighting the hallway.

Me.

Discretion was key, and when I found the room where the sicken lady of the manor was asleep, I swallowed any guilt I might have to wake her up late at night when she was already this weak and opened the door.

When I finally saw her, my heart sunk considerably.

It was one thing to hear the condition of another, but to see the person I knew what she's like when she was alive and seeing her on the verge of death, the manga certainly did not depict her condition justice. No longer was she the beautiful stricken mother of Lucy I always saw her to be. There were dark shadows under her sunken eyes despite being asleep most of the time, her cheeks had paled like white ash, and even under the dim candlelight, her hair looked paler and thin.

And Lucy had to see her like this every day.

Oh, god, how must she feel to wake up knowing she must not have long, waiting for the day her eyes would never wake up once more, to never talk with the most important person in your life, to lose sight of her right in front of you.

"Lucy...is that you?"

My thoughts were jerked back by the soft voice of Layla, green eyes met her brown one, and despite not being the person she thought, her mouth smiled ever so slightly. "Roy, it's good to finally see your face again."

I huffed, "The doctor wasn't sure non-family members would give you stress."

She chuckled, "Is that so? So you sneak in?"

"May~be~"

She chuckled again. I smiled, feeling a little light that I could make her smile like that. "It's lonely being in this big room all alone, especially when now that I don't have my spirits."

My smile fell when I was reminded of why I had gone here in the first place. Layla seemed to notice the change of air around me, "Roy, is there something you wish to ask me?"

I took a deep breath and prepare myself as I determinedly met her eyes to show how important this is to me.

"Tell me everything about Eclipse and what you did on 7th July X777."

AN: You thought Nick was dead, but I pull off a page on Mashima's book and raise a life flag instead, haha jokes on you guys.

Instead, I killed of Poor Torri but trust me when I say I didn't want to.

But his death...has more potential than his life so...yeah. You just need to wait for what I have in store for him...or specifically, his impact on Roy in memory of him.