Hi again!
Heartfilia
Zeref sits with his chin on his knees and arms wrapped around his leg. He stares at the fire across from him as the blonde takes a seat on the other side of it.
"As Zeref knows, we are no longer human." he states, as if Zeref should already know this. And the raven swallows dryly but nods. He had came to that conclusion a long time ago.
Menho sighs, that was good, that meant he didn't need to talk about that stuff. He looks at the fire.
"From Menho's understanding, we were made to fight in a war." Zeref looked at him in question.
"Ah, you know against the dragons, however the humans have been losing miserably since it started a long time ago.
That's where we come in, they made us, madoshi, to fight against them. Zeref probably wonders why they have to make us like they do. The thing is-"
"Man made ones are stronger than the others since they implement what they want inside of them?"
Menho nods his head, Zeref was smart.
"Then...why would they forcibly take people..?" Zeref asks. They had took his father and his brother away from him.
Menho narrows his eyes at the fire. "Well… back then… people did volunteer. They did have hope but as the decades grew on, they lost this hope once more and were too scared to join. So they resorted to another thing. It is what humans do after all. If they can't have anything, they take it by force." he says softly.
Silence filled afterward in the night, but Zeref wasn't sleepy at all. He was restless, so many questions and things buzzed in his head.
"How long..?"
The other tilts his head in question. "Hmm?"
Narrowing his coal eyes he spoke louder. "How long has it been since… we were taken?" His eyes didn't waver but the others looked away. The blonde's brows furrowed as if he really had to think about it. He began to mumble to himself and Zeref began to think himself as if it had been a long time.
"...een… years.."
"What?"
"Between 70 or 80 years….."
He blinks, once twice and shot up. "W-What?!" he cries out, voice cracking a bit. The blonde finally turns toward him, with a look of confusion before understanding.
"It may not seem that long to you, but that's how long it has been out here. Zeref probably does not even remember most of what happened. "
He blinks, no, he remembers exactly what they did! He remembers all the tests and experiments. Who wouldn't!?
"They do not only put knowledge and power into us. " he says while a dark look crosses his face as he stared at the fire. "They can alter memories if they think it's best Zeref, that can explain why you think you were in there for a small amount of time." he mumbles and pokes the fire with a stick, not meeting the other's face.
He stood baffled, before sinking down to his knees as he took the information in. Blinking slightly he took a deep breath.
"E-Eighty….?"
"Yes…." The other answered, not at all surprised or phased at the fact. Zeref took another deep breath and looked at the ground that reflected the orange glow of the fire.
"How…?"
The blonde seemed completely composed at the question, as if he were expecting it. He looked toward the tree house and pointed.
"Go see."
When he took a step the floor let out a low whine against his weight. He paused before advancing further, scrunching up his nose at the smell of dust in the air. It was as if his senses had heightened and he took a deep breath to regain himself.
First was the bottom floor, their makeshift kitchen. It was in ruin, as if it were raided and black marks decorated the walls, the aftermath of magic no doubt. Tainted plates were on the floor and broke under his foot. He tests out the ladder but instead uses the branches to climb their room. It was just like the kitchen, in ruins.
The sheets were yellow with age, the floor creaked, and the room held the same moldy smell. Everything collected dust and maybe some mold and moss from the tree. He rummaged through everything he could.
"What's that？" the blonde asked as the raven looked at the items in his lap. It was a stuffed animal, Natsu was fond of, and a small necklace their mother used to wear. He puts it around his neck.
"The toy is Natsu's and the necklace used to be our mothers."
No further questions were asked.
"Where are we going?"
It has been a few days of walking. After taking what he needed from his old home they set off. It did hurt him to part but he had no other place to go.
"I have a friend who knows more about the system. She has been studying it for some time with my help.'' He says it carefully. Then turns to look at Zeref. ''She could help find Natsu and many others. She's helped Menho.''
At this Zeref stops walking. He stares ahead.
''It would probably be better to let her explain. Her home is not far now.''
The big house before them made Zeref's nerves go haywire. The last time he was in a building this big he was being held captive as an experiment.
A hand on his head made him jump, however it wasn't removed as the blonde stared at him with an unreadable expression. He then nods to himself and placed his hands on Zeref's shoulders.
''Stay outside then, I'll bring her here!" He said happily and ran forward. Zeref was left to his own thoughts in seconds. He shifts from one foot to the other. Looking around the yard of the house. The grass was green and there were a few well cut trees. Zeref began to feel a bit uneasy and tried to focus on his breathing.
He heard footsteps and two voices. Looking up he saw the blonde with another walking toward him. It was a woman, blonde hair in a bun, and her brown eyes looking from him to the other.
Menho then ran up to him, ''This is Miss Anna, Zeref.''
Anna kept her distance but offered a warm smile, one that reminded him of a mother.
It was ironic since he couldn't remember his.
She held her hands in front of her and gave a small bow. "I am Anna Heartfilia Zeref.''
Zeref took a step back when she stretched out her hand but then retreated and looked to the side. ''Ah, I'm sorry. Menho here did mention your condition. '' She says softly before adding a sad smile. ''You shouldn't be weary of me though.'' She added and turned around.
''So please come in and do not be too afraid.''
Author's notes: Please R&R!