"Would you like to join Fairy Tail?"
That was the question Makarov asked me on the third day after I woke up. I'm currently still resting within Porlyusica's hut. The elderly had kindly allowed me to stay in her home instead of chasing me out, something which I attributed to our shared Edolas roots and also because of the fact that Wendy is the adoptive daughter of her Earthland counterpart.
"I don't know." I admitted truthfully. I had already changed things at a cost. While I believe that the things I changed are for the better, will I always be able to keep it up? To change things for the better? What I think is better?
It feels very egotistical to think that only I know what is best for everyone and I don't like it. I am not God.
"Oh? I won't force you, but I am curious as to why you are hesitant on joining."
"I'm a traitor. I betrayed my father, my nation, my people, all just to save the exceeds, a race that I do not belong to. I don't regret it, but the fact is that I had left my country in turmoil by taking away all traces of magic from it forever, even if I did make arrangements for what I feel is for the best. If I can betray my family once, who is to say I won't betray them again?"
It's a flimsy excuse, but at the same time there are elements of truth to it. Right thing to do or not, it does not change the fact that I had betrayed my people by taking away the most critical resource crucial for their survival when they might not yet be ready for the sudden change. The fact remains that I had left them in their time of greatest need after plunging them into chaos. I may be a hero in the eyes of the exceeds, but I am undoubtedly the worst traitor in the eyes of my people.
Some prince I am. Someone like me should deserve some form of punishment. It will ease the guilt in my heart, even if just a little.
I can see how Makarov's eyes softened at my words.
"It's hard to say what you did was right or wrong, child, but the fact is that you saved the exceeds from a fate worse than death. That in itself is a right thing to do, no? So I believe you chose the best outcome there is. There's no need to beat yourself up over it."
"I know, but it's easier said than done. The more I try to forget and forgive myself, the harder it is to do so. It's weird, but it is how it is."
I remained silent once more as I mulled over my options. Joining a guild like Fairy Tail does have its perks. Not only will it be much easier to find jobs with higher pay, I will be offered the guild's protection simply by being its member. I had openly gone against Grimoire Heart and made an enemy out of them. I am not afraid of them, but I have to think about Wendy and Meredy. I have no doubts that they will follow me no matter where I choose to go but I cannot protect them from a dark guild as powerful as Grimoire Heart right now, not when I had now officially made it to the top of their shitlist.
I cannot protect them alone. This is no longer about me, but about the people close to me and are relying on me to survive. Once my thought process took a turn in this direction it became blatantly obvious what my choice should be.
"I think," I spoke slowly, catching Makarov's attention. I slowly turned my head to face him.
"I think, I would want to join Fairy Tail. Me, Wendy, Meredy. All three of us."
Makarov's grin got wider and wider until it spread from ear to ear.
"Welcome to Fairy Tail, Mystogan."
"PARRRRRRTY!"
I have seen it through the pages of a fictional book, heard it through word of mouth during my travels around Fiore, but seeing the real deal is still the real eye opener on just how hard Fairy Tail mages can party.
Wendy and Meredy are thoroughly enjoying themselves, which is good. I don't really have to keep an eye on them because everyone does so without prompting. Everyone's protective instincts just kicked in upon seeing the young girls running around having fun with such innocent smiles on their faces.
I'm just glad that Meredy adjusted into her new life fairly well. Considering that she had lost her family just a week ago, maybe being affiliated to somewhere that can provide her that same familial warmth is what she needs the most now. She needs an emotional anchor to ground her into reality and Fairy Tail can be that anchor, a safe harbour where she can seek refuge when she needs it.
"Not joining?"
I shook my head from where I am sitting out of sight in a corner of the guild hall, partially hidden with magic that keeps me out of sight of others unless they are actively looking for me. Mira sat down beside me and passed over a large mug of juice to me, something which I gladly accepted.
"Are you really going to wear that mask even in the guild?"
"Until I find out who my Earthland counterpart is, I plan to wear it at all times unless I'm around people who already know my secret."
No need for the extra drama between Erza, Jellal, and me. Count me out of it thank you very much.
"So where are you guys staying right now?"
"Master allowed us to stay in the guild infirmary until we found a place to stay. No luck so far."
"That so? That settles it. I'm going along with you guys tomorrow for house hunting."
"You are not busy with anything?"
"Nope. 'Sides, it will be better if you have someone who knows her way around town to guide you around the place, right?"
"Thanks, Mira. Appreciate it."
"Don't sweat the small stuff." Mira waved it off dismissively before dangling the amulet I had given her a long time ago in front of my face.
"What does this really do though?"
"A marker for teleportation that can be interchangeably used between you, Wendy, and Meredy. It can also erect a dome of barrier around you if it senses you are in mortal danger. However, it is a one-time use only. After it fulfils its purpose you will have to fully fill the lacrima within with magic to be able to use it again."
"So the necklace that Wendy wears and the hairpin Meredy is wearing…"
"They are the corresponding magic tools that can resonate with your amulet. As long as you have it with you, I can teleport you to either of them or either of them to you."
"You gave me this a long time ago. You sure planned ahead, huh?"
"I have to. I don't want to see Wendy come to harm if there ever comes a day where I'm not strong enough to protect her. If that is the case I will send her to where I think is the next safest place for her. That place is Fairy Tail, which you happen to be a part of and I trust you to take care of her for me if I'm unable to do so."
"Wouldn't have come here if you never suggested it in the first place, but I'm glad you did." Mira replied as she flicked her ponytail backwards. "Say, after you and the girls finally settled down and stuff, wanna go on a mission together?"
"Sure." I replied with a smile even if it cannot be seen underneath the mask. "Try to keep up."
"Hah! Big words, mask boy. I'm plenty strong now. I harness the power of demons, remember?"
"Sure, sure, whatever floats your boat you punk."
"You got that right. Imma damn punk!"
It is with a heavy heart that I made that suggestion.
I held out the jet black lacrima orb that I forcibly extracted from Zancrow which had resulted in his death. Lacrimas are not meant to be implanted in humans in the first place and neither are they meant to be forcibly extracted in that manner. Doing so will almost always lead to their deaths.
Back then, I was too blinded by rage to care. Now, I do feel a slight sense of remorse for killing Zancrow with such a painful method even if my opinion of him being the lowest of the low still has not changed.
Meredy has magic, every mage in Fairy Tail can sense that. The problem lies in what magic she should learn and use. Now that she is no longer a part of Grimoire Heart like how it was supposed to happen in canon, the lost magic Maguilty Sense will forever be out of her reach because there is nobody to teach her about it now. We had gone through several types of magic that the other older mages had suggested but Meredy said none of it felt right for her.
I don't know what spurred me to broach the topic, but I ended up explaining to her about the benefits and risks that come from lacrima implantation and about God Slayer magic.
God Slayer magic is not properly explained in canon, but I did manage to find out a thing or two about this obscure magic during my travels. Basically, in this current era one can only be a God Slayer if they are implanted with a lacrima imbued with highly concentrated properties of God Slayer magic. As to where such magical properties can be found, I have no clue. I just know that it can be done.
Once a lacrima with properties of God Slayer is successfully implanted within the mage, the mage would have taken the first step in becoming a God Slayer. The mage would then need to learn how to harness the wild and untamed magic within and merge it with their own magic container. Only then would they be considered a true God Slayer.
However, this procedure is not without risks or side effects. Lacrima implantations are often known to cause irrational and seemingly crazy behaviour in the implantee should things go wrong. This might explain Laxus and Zancrow's occasional psychotic behaviour in canon. Even Sherria displayed psychotic tendencies during her fight with Wendy in canon. It will surface from time to time.
"Before we continue, I will let you know that Master Makarov would definitely not like this. The rewards are great, yes, but you may die if you are not careful. Even if the implantation succeeds you may very well lose your mind in your attempt to tame this wild magic. People may go after you to harvest the lacrima from your corpse if they caught wind that there is such a treasure hidden within your body. There is a very good reason why this is a brand of lost magic, Meredy, because not many survived long enough to be a true God Slayer."
Meredy stared at the lacrima orb containing Zancrow's power with wet eyes. All of her bad memories are probably resurfacing as I speak. I know she wants revenge, she has made that clear. She had said that she will be so strong that nobody can stand in her way, so that she can crush Grimoire Heart like they had crushed her home and family when the day comes where they cross paths once more.
I don't like to see her consumed by hatred and revenge, but I cannot deny her wish to become stronger. There is a reason why Lost magics are so heavily coveted. They are indeed powerful, especially one like God Slayer magic. I have the means and knowledge to help her attain it even if I am unsure if this is a good choice to make. Meredy is someone who thrives on emotions, she is someone who feels very deeply and this is what gives her unwavering strength. She is loyal to a fault, too loving for her own good. It can be a double-edged sword at times, like right now.
If she were to walk on the path of becoming an elemental mage, the element of fire would definitely be the most suited option. Fire burns the strongest when the user is able to feel very strongly about things.
"I want it." Meredy proclaimed with a shaky voice before repeating her words once more, this time with a firm determination in it.
"I want to be a God Slayer, Mystogan. Help me."
"On one condition."
Meredy looked up at me as I ruffled her hair with my free hand.
"Promise to never lose yourself, to never lose your way. Promise me that you will always try to do that, okay? I don't want to lose you to hatred and revenge. I don't want to see you consumed by it. I don't want to regret ever giving this power to you. Do you understand where I'm coming from?"
Meredy managed to choke out a reply after a few seconds.
"I-I do. I promise."
I smiled at her as I bent down to wipe her tears away with my fingers.
"Good girl. Then let's get started, shall we?"