Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Fairy Tail
When Sting did return to the guild hall, Invel had finished his discussion with August and had discovered the library within the guild. Overall, he had not been too impressed by the actual structure of Sabertooth's guild hall, but the vastness of their library was enough to catch his attention. Most wizards seemed to ignore the place as well, preferring to speak with their allies or simply stop by to grab a job before leaving. Studying often made for better strategies in jobs of that nature, and as such, Invel spent his time inside the library while he waited for Sting to return.
Other wizards had not bothered him while he was within. In fact, it was disturbing to see how few even entered. The thin layer of dust coating the spines of the books told him few even bothered to care for the area, but Invel had taken to doing so himself. Perhaps it wasn't the information he needed on Fairy Tail, but he could surely find more knowledge of the country itself to know which actions would invoke intervention from Fiore's government as a whole. Technically, he supposed it was likely any attack would bring them into the war, but if possible, it would be ideal to avoid their intervention.
Overall, he had found little of use during his studies. After dusting off a table for his own use, he spent the next few days doing little beyond reading. He read about the history of Fiore, learning how different guilds had formed over time as well as how the nation began from settlers fleeing the war-torn continent of Alakitasia. It was surprising to see the connection between his homeland and Fiore, but the more he read, the more it made sense. The people who discovered Ishgar as a whole had been refugees, barely managing to scrounge enough funds to travel someplace where war would not steal what little remained of their belongings.
The different areas found led to different leaders emerging from their groups. Deciding to avoid the war found overseas, when the settlers came into contact with each other they created treaties of peace and set defined borders for their own people. Trade began to emerge quickly, and before long, numerous countries existed within the land of Ishgar, with Fiore being among them. The royal family was supposedly descended from the first settlers of the land, though the family tree dating that far back was not listed in the texts he had read.
Further studying into the various guilds of the nations did give him some basic history of Fairy Tail. That text had been rather general, simply describing the majority of legal guilds known to have populated the country over the years, and stating the basic origins of each. Fairy Tail appeared to have been founded nearly a hundred years ago, by the former lover of his own emperor. While he knew there was a connection, Invel wondered why his majesty had chosen to leave such knowledge a mystery to them. Studying further showed him where she had gained her tactical knowledge as well, revealing that they had participated heavily in the trade wars that began not long after the creation of their guild.
Invel had moved to return the generic book in favor of a more specific text when the door to the library opened. "I don't get it, Lector. Didn't Invel say he was going to stick around for a bit to at least see if the guild was right for him?"
"I don't know. I guess a guy like him doesn't understand just how awesome it is to have you around, Sting!"
The odd voice made Invel frown, glancing over his shoulder. He was still hidden behind the shelves, but he could see Sting walking in with a small cat at his feet, looking rather tired. "I doubt it. He just seemed like the kind of guy who could use a friend. If you'd met him…maybe you'd understand. It's hard to describe, to be honest."
"Really? Well, you said he was strong, right?" Lector, as Sting had referred to the cat, actually seemed to be the one speaking. "Maybe he just was intimidated by the idea of being in a guild with someone as strong as you competing against him. Some guys don't like the idea of a challenge, after all."
Sting snorted, shaking his head. "Yeah right. He had no doubts about his ability to beat any of us in a fight. Whether it was true or not, he still believed that to be the case." Sting seemed to take a seat at one of the tables, leaning forward on the desk with a groan. "Maybe I was just hoping that I could change something for him like he did for me. He didn't even know a thing about me…yet he tried to help me when I thought you were gone. It feels like I owe him for that…plus, he just looks like he's so alone. Can you believe that he claims to never have made a friend before? Who grows up not knowing anyone else in the world that would support them like that?"
The cat seemed to walk on the desk, his paw resting on Sting's hand. "And that just shows how great of a guy you are, Sting. Helping anyone like that proves that you'd be the best friend anyone could have! He's an idiot for not seeing that and just leaving without a word to anyone."
"Is that so?" Invel walked out from where he stood, narrowing his eyes at the cat. "And just how would choosing to leave this building indicate anything about my intellect, or lack thereof?"
Sting jerked up, spinning around and blinking in surprise. "Invel?" The winter general nodded, setting his book down on the desk with a slight frown. What had them going on about him leaving? He had never set foot outside of the guild thus far, so he did not know the source of this rumor. "But…everyone said that you hadn't been seen since I left! Where the hell have you been?"
"Reading." Invel took a seat, gesturing to the book he had pulled from the shelves. "I find that I am rather pleased with your collection here thus far. Granted, there could be a more in depth history and information on the magic of this country, but what you possess is sufficient to begin educating myself on Fiore and the culture of this land."
"Wait…so this is the guy that beat Rufus in a fight?" Lector crossed his arms over his chest, studying Invel closely. "I can't believe it. I mean, I get that Rufus is still far weaker than you, but this guy doesn't really look like he's tougher than any wizard Sabertooth has."
Shaking his head, Sting gave his friend a rueful smile. "Yeah, well he's stronger than he looks. I can't believe he's nothing but a bookworm either…I thought you at least would have tried sparring with someone, or even talking to the other members of the guild. If you've been in here the whole time, I guess that would explain why everyone thought you'd left."
"Why would I waste my time on such frivolous matters? Sparring with them would not allow me to gain anything in return, and I am not fond of conversing with others unless necessary." Especially with the change in plans. Invel did not want to know these people well, as they were to be killed as soon as possible. Really, he had already witnessed the most powerful members of the guild in action. Knowing any other form of magic would be rather useless since Invel could simply freeze it all.
"You really don't get it, do you?" Sting smiled, reaching over and pulling Invel's book away. "Conversation is how you grow to understand others, Invel. It's how you make friends and learn to understand who other people are around you. If you avoid talking to people entirely, one day you're gonna piss someone off and make a bad enemy just because you accidentally insulted them without knowing."
His emperor had trained him for such situations, and Invel felt confident in his ability to maintain a proper and polite display of mannerisms around others. "Avoiding giving insult is quite simple. I do not need to learn the tendencies of all people to understand such a concept."
"But…then is Sting really right about you? Do you just not like having friends or something?"
Invel stiffened, staring at the table before him. Really, the question should have been simple. Most people desired companionship in some form throughout their life. At one point in time, Invel had wished for such a thing himself. However, that was early in his training with Emperor Spriggan. Once he saw how strong Spriggan was, despite his suffering, Invel realized what he wanted to become like. In the end, the ideal man was exactly as Emperor Spriggan was, capable of doing whatever he desired without concern over how it affected the world. Such a mindset could not be achieved unless one abandoned the notion of friends, so Invel strove to maintain that thought process as well, to ensure he could better serve his emperor.
Even Sting glanced towards Invel, after quickly shushing his friend. "Ah…sorry about that. Lector is a good friend of mine, but he can be a bit blunt too. Kinda like you in that way, I guess." He chuckled, shaking his head.
"I wasn't being rude or anything. If he doesn't want to answer, he can just say so, after all." Lector seemed defensive, but Invel closed his eyes. He could hear August's insistence on war replaying over in his mind, hearing that same tone repeat itself. Was he losing his loyalty so easily? Invel would not allow it.
Opening his eyes, he met the gaze of the cat and slowly began to nod. "I apologize, I am simply not used to anyone being quite so direct with their questioning. To answer your previous question, I would say that yes, I find I rather dislike the concept of friendship as a whole. It creates an attachment that often interferes with what must be done to complete certain tasks that are required of individuals."
The dragon slayer seemed startled by Invel's admission, blinking at him with wide eyes. "Wait…you can't be serious. I mean, even I strove for nothing but strength…and I still made friends of my own. They didn't stop me from my goals, they helped me along the way!" Sting rose to his feet, staring Invel down.
The ice mage shrugged, staring down at the table. "And what if they disagreed with your methods of training? To gain strength, there are darker paths that could result in far more power than you've given yourself. Would you have taken those paths, had these allies of yours dissuaded you from them?"
"I wouldn't have taken them even if they weren't here!" Sting stepped closer, glaring at Invel. "There are some things people just don't do, Invel. I don't get what it is with you and thinking everything is about efficiency and logic…but that isn't how everyone thinks. Sometimes, it is better to think with your heart. Emotions power magic…they can make it stronger, just like Natsu's magic became stronger when he was determined to fight for his friends. You think I could gain that kind of strength by ignoring the people around me?"
It was so much like what he had been taught in Alvarez, yet Invel did not want to hear it from him. "Magic comes from emotion, Invel. However…I see that may not quite be the case for you. Have you considered looking at it from a technical perspective? You dislike relying on your emotions, as they are what led to such a lack of control in the first place…so why not develop the magic circles necessary to both create and negate your magic? From such a comprehension, you will develop a logical mindset that should allow complete control over your magic. Ideally, you would learn to fuel it with passion as well…however, I am under the impression that you will refuse to utilize such advice, even if it comes from me." His emperor's words came to mind, from a time so long ago in his life.
Shaking off his memories, Invel scowled in irritation. "That is not what I meant by my words. Conflict of the heart leads to conflict of the mind, and in the end, it is best of both are avoided."
"So, you're saying you don't want to have friends because they make life complicated?" Invel thought about it for a moment before slowly nodding. Sting glared at him, slamming a fist down onto the table and leaning forward towards the winter wizard. "That's crap and you know it. Life is messy as hell, and things don't go the way we want them to, no matter what we do. All we can do is make the most out of what we are given, so you better learn to accept that and try to enjoy something in life. Do you really want to be this depressed for however many years you have left to live, Invel? You can't be that much older than me, and I know I wouldn't want to be miserable for another eighty years or so."
His emperor had been miserable for centuries, though. Did that misery not grant his majesty strength? Closing his eyes, Invel felt something shudder through him. He knew Emperor Spriggan fought to end that misery, yet it was also the source of his inner strength that Invel admired so much. "Pain teaches one resilience. There is a certain strength to enduring through such emotions…one I've often wished to obtain."
If he understood how to move forward with pain, he'd understand how to move on past what he had done. Wasn't he a monster, after all? A child was not meant to kill his family. A child was not meant to destroy the very place that raised him. "And there's a strength to moving past them as well, to learning how to be happy with life again after falling into that sadness you feel."
Taking a deep breath, Invel remained silent. "One day…I hope you'll find what it is that can make you smile, Invel. I've long since lost sight of that which can do so for me…but there is still hope for you. Once you find that happiness, you will become all the stronger for it, for it will fuel your actions and make your magic burn with a new energy you've never expected to see."
Invel had frowned, glancing up at his emperor in confusion as they sat in the courtyard for training his generals. They had been observing August sparring with Irene, a rather impressive sight for any newcomer to their ranks, so he had been still in awe from the battle. "But…I am happy, am I not? Serving you, the one who showed me how to control this storm is more than enough. My life is forever yours, your majesty. Nothing could make me betray you, not after all you have done for me."
There had been a sad look in Emperor Spriggan's dark gaze as he shook his head. "No…no, I do not think you are. For no matter how much you might respect me, Invel, you are aware that the fact that you live on means I do not care for your life as one should."
"That does not matter. You are strong, and you pulled me away from a place where I would have been killed for my actions." Invel had been likely around thirteen, strong yet not quite involved in the actual military's actions yet. "I've witnessed the power of your generals. I rival their strength with my own magic…and knowing that, I will be happy to serve you for all of my life, just as August has done for you in the past."
Shaking his head, his emperor's smile faded away. "No, you will not be. For doing so will leave you alone for your entire life, and no one can be happy with such an existence. Take it from one who knows such isolation, Invel…the only times in my existence when I found anything remotely close to happiness was when I allowed myself to care…and I do not think I've ever regretted anything more than doing just that."
The conversation echoing in his mind made Invel shaking his head. He did not want to share in his emperor's regrets. He did not want to find joy in being near others, not in any form. "I do not need that form of strength, if that is the case. I…I will not make the same mistakes he made."
"Are you talking about this person you know again, the one that kills his own friends? Because that guy doesn't sound like someone you should look up to, not to me." Sting seemed to be pushing him, in a way the dragon slayer had never done before. Instantly, Invel glared back at him for the insult to his emperor, but Sting was still speaking. "No one should be able to go through that kind of a thing and not care. No one should just kill the people around him and then teach others that it's fine if they just ignore the fact and live on like normal."
"That's not what he's like!" Invel shouted, rising to his feet as his anger finally broke through. A slight chill entered the air with his shout, startling even Invel as he realized the slight loss of control in his magic. It had been so long since he had any lapse in control. It was enough to make him pause, taking a deep breath and pressing a hand to his head. "You…you would not understand. The man I spoke of suffers continually from what he's done. There is no joy in his existence."
"Then why are you trying to be like him?" Sting crossed his arms over his chest, while Lector seemed to have gone silent, watching the argument continue on. "Don't deny that you aren't trying, either. Maybe I haven't known you for long, but I've heard the way you speak about this guy. You defend him, protect him, like you would a friend. Yet, you know he doesn't care at all what happens to you. Why are you trying to make yourself just as miserable as he is? Do you really think that's going to help anyone, even him?"
No one would understand, Invel realized. Sting was not pushing to know his past. No, the boy was simply pushing for him to realize something far greater, something that was broken inside of him long ago. "He…perhaps it is not ideal, but emotions would simply interfere with—"
"No, we've talked that bit over already. Emotions fuel magic, remember?"
Closing his eyes, Invel shuddered slightly. "It looks as if Irene and August are finished. Do you think you are ready to try again, Invel?"
He nodded, stoically rising to his feet and approaching August. The old man gazed down at him, smiling almost pleasantly as he nodded in greeting. "Have you improved since we last practiced? It does not seem as if you've learned of the desires that reside within your heart quite yet, young wizard."
"Because I only live to serve Emperor Spriggan. Everything I do, I will do for him."
"Ah, but there is no passion to your words, nor in your eyes. Can you truly succeed in a goal you are not passionate about?"
He had felt rather confused, frowning at him. "Passionate? That is simply the way things are. Emperor Spriggan saved me from the path that would have led to death. Simple logic dictates that my life is owed to him forever more."
Shaking his head, August had looked rather sad. "Then you will fail in your goals, Invel Yura. I serve his majesty because I know being near him will serve to bring me closer to the answer to a certain question I've had for my entire life. Being near him brings me joy…and seeing him succeed makes me pleased to understand my role in his efforts. Becoming like ice does not mean hardening your heart, Invel. It means allowing yourself to see the world clearly as it is, like crystalline water revealing the truth of that which exists around you."
He had lost that spar as well, within mere seconds. "I see the world as it truly is…I have to." He stared down at his hands, noticing that they had begun to shake slightly. Why was this bothering him so much? More importantly, why did it even matter to Sting? He didn't understand. "I will not fail. I made a promise…I will not go back on my word." He closed his hands into fists, taking a deep breath to try and steady himself.
"I'm not asking you to. Did you ever promise to not become friends with someone else? Considering this guy you know doesn't have friends that are still alive, I'd think he wouldn't ask for you to promise something like that."
Sting held out a hand, almost like a peace offering as he gazed into Invel's icy eyes with a blue gaze of his own. There was something inviting in that look, but Invel couldn't help but feel torn. "I'm sorry. Please…do not bring this subject up with me again, Sting. Perhaps I have interest in being involved with your guild, but I do not have the liberty to make friends with those here."
He moved past the dragon slayer without another word, trying to ignore the odd way his chest squeezed at his own words. Why did it hurt to say such things? Invel never felt pain in pushing others away before. In fact, it was simply an act that had to be done on his emperor's behalf. Anything to achieve success for his majesty's plans.His own previous words came to mind, echoing in his head. Just how far would he go for such a promise? In the end, he supposed it did not matter. What he had said to August back then was just as true as it was now. If it were not for Emperor Spriggan finding him in his own self-created blizzard, someone from law enforcement would have, and then, he would have been executed for the disaster he left behind with his devastating power that could not be tamed by anything other than the knowledge that someone could survive the endless winter that lived around him.
It is a little ways in, but we are starting to get to more of Invel's backstory! I've rather been looking forward to his history, since it is pretty much ignored in Fairy Tail's canon story. It gives me a lot of freedom, and I rather like thinking of how Invel became so loyal and logical to some extent. Either way, feel free to review and tell me what you think!