It had been a week since then and I was on my own, wandering through the unknown. I still had some food left but not much. I needed to find a town soon so I could buy something to eat with the little bit of money I did have.

I stumbled out of the forest and into sunlight. Before me, I saw a bustling city full of life. I hadn't talked to a person in a week...and I was all dirty from sleeping in the forest...I needed a nice hot bath...then I wanted some food...but could I afford that with 1,000 jewel? I had never bought anything before so I had no idea if that was a lot or not.

I stumbled into town, worn out and sweating. Never in my entire life had I felt like this. Nearby, I saw a sign that said "Magnolia". Magnolia...wasn't that the town where the infamous wizard guild was? What was its name again...?

"Hey kid." a voice jeered me from my thoughts.

I looked up and saw a blonde haired boy in a red shirt with a lightning bolt on it. He looked a little older than me. I studied his face. He had grayish blue eyes...like the sky before it started sprinkling. The most notable feature on his face was the lightning bolt shaped scar over his right eye.

"Um, yes?" I finally answered him. "C-can I help you?"

"Are you alright? You looked like some scared wild animal…" the boy said.

"Yes...I-I'm quite alright, thanks for asking…" I answered, well knowing that I wasn't alright...but I didn't want to risk him finding out who I was and returning me to my old home.

"Whatever man.." the boy answered. "My name is Laxus. Laxus Dreyar. What's yours?"

I was hesitant to answer but finally said, "Freed."

"Just Freed?" Laxus asked. "No last name?"

"I-I have one.." Freed protested. "It's just...I hate it…"

"It can't be that bad." Laxus pried. "What is it?"

"I don't hate it because of how it sounds…" I paused a moment. "I just want to leave that name in the past...I don't want to have anything to do with it."

I started to walk away but Laxus grabbed my wrist, the one that my mother always grabbed roughly. I yelped from the pain and fell to my knees, recoiling my hand away from Laxus.

"Whoa, are you okay? I didn't know you were hurt!" Laxus apologized frantically. "Come on. Let me take you to my grandpa's guild. There's sure to be folks there to help you."

"Guild…?" My mouth dried up. "Like, a wizard guild?"

"Yep! The one and only Fairy Tail!" Laxus said proudly with a dopey grin on his face.

I really didn't want to go with him but I gave in to that happy smile Laxus wore when he talked about his grandpa. "Alright...I suppose.."

"That's the spirit!" Laxus said as he put my arm around his shoulder. "Lean on me for support, okay Freed?"

"...Alright…"

Before I knew it, we were at the doors of Fairy Tail. Laxus grabbed the door handle and opened it. We walked inside together.

I sneezed...only then had I realized that I was feeling worse than I thought. I must've caught a cold..

"Hey gramps! Where are ya?" Laxus yelled. "We need to get this kid some first aid or something!"

"Laxus my boy!" a short old man said. "Bring him to the infirmary. I'll take a look at him."

"Right!" Laxus said then looked at me. "Don't worry. My grandpa is the best guild master ever!"

Laxus led me to the infirmary and let me sit on a bed. "There you are. I'm going to get you a glass of water. I'll be back, I promise Freed!"

Laxus scurried out the door. Only a few seconds later, the master of the guild, and grandpa to Laxus, walked in the room. "Well, my boy, you need first aid? I'm no expert but I can treat minor injuries." He started walking towards me. "My name is Makarov Dreyar and I'm the master of this guild. What is your name?"

I didn't say anything. I gripped onto the handles of my backpack.

"Well, if you don't want to say your name, that's alright." Makarov said gently. "Just tell me where you're in pain."

"W-well, sir...My name is Freed...and I hurt all...o-over…" I looked away with tears pricking my eyes. Why was I crying all of a sudden?

Makarov sighed. "You've been through a lot, haven't you Freed?"

I didn't answer. I just choked back my cries of pain that were still buried deep inside me.

"Why don't you get changed out of that filthy outfit and into this." Makarov handed him a t-shirt and a pair of shorts, along with a pair of underwear. "I'll have Laxus take you to the bathhouse later so you can get washed up. For now, just show me your injuries."

I hesitantly took my backpack off, placing it at my feet on the floor. Then I took my long-sleeve shirt off, revealing my too skinny frame and countless bruise that remained there from the countless beatings of his mother and father.

"Goodness!" Makarov exclaimed in a panic. "How did you get all of those bruises?"

"I-I am...very clumsy sir.." I lied. "I bruise easily as well so...yeah.."

I was pretty sure the old man didn't buy into it, but he shrugged it off and started applying ointment to the bruised areas. Afterwards, he wrapped him up in bandages to keep the ointment from rubbing off on his new clothes.

"There we go." Makarov said. "You should be better in a few days. For now, you should rest up. I can tell you've been through a lot."

"Freed!" Laxus' voice rung through my head. He opened the door, holding a glass of water. "Sorry I- took so long!" He was out of breath.

He handed me the cup and I thanked him as I downed it. I hadn't had cold water in so long...It felt so good going down my sore throat. "Thank you Laxus." I managed shyly.

"No problem man!" Laxus grinned.

"Come on Laxus!" Makarov said. "Let's leave the boy to rest a bit. Then later, I want you to accompany him to the bathhouse."

"Sure gramps." Laxus answered, then to me: "See you later Freed!"

I sighed as they left the room. I looked around then grabbed a hand mirror that was on the bedside table. I hadn't seen my reflection in a week, so naturally I was curious on how I looked.

I had prominent bags under my eyes from the lack of sleep I'd had. My hair was messy, my lightning bolt shaped cowlicks stuck up like they usually did, but were more poofy, as was the rest of my hair. Dirt covered some of my face, making me look like I had just stumbled into a puddle of mud. I sighed and put the mirror down.

I flopped back on the bed, surprised on how comfy it actually was. I grabbed one of the pillows and curled into a ball, holding the pillow tightly. This was how I slept ever since my parents started changing...I felt safer like this. Sometime after that, I fell asleep.