89
Recap: "You will learn how to control your power while under my guidance. As for getting rid of such power, there is only one way. You have to complete what fate has laid out before you, and once you do, your power, as well as your immortality, will no longer be yours."
'I'll be mortal again too!? Please, someone, tell me I'm not dreaming!'
It had been a year since Zeref started his training. He had learned to understand his powers and how to use them, but he still had a lot to learn. His powers were made to kill those who were meant to die, and if someone didn't die when they were supposed to, Zeref's death magic would let him know and he could hunt that person down and kill them. That is what his powers were supposed to do, but since he feared it and didn't understand it he lost control of it. When someone cheated death, be it in front of him or not, at that very moment, his death magic killed everyone and everything around him.
Zeref had relearned how to use the spells he already knew from his time of insanity, and he learned one new spell in under a year. This new spell will allow him to take the life of someone who is already dying from an injury and give the remaining life to someone who wasn't meant to die. Death said it is necromancy, but this type follows the rules of nature. Harry will have a similar ability, but he doesn't have to take a life to save another – he can just bring them back to life, but will be only temporarily.
"He is waking up," Zeref heard Death say. He turned his head to face the giant snakehead and waited to see him open his eyes. But they didn't open like Zeref expected they would. Instead, what happened was Harry's spirit just fading into existence.
Harry looked around in confusion, seeing all the stuck-in-time bodies, and when he turned around, only to see himself in his snake form, he jumped with a small squeak of shock and slight fear. Zeref knew Harry would deny ever squeaking if asked. This did bring a question to Zeref's mind though.
"Death, how come Harry's body is still a snake, but his soul is out, and why am I not like that?" Zeref asked, catching Harry's attention.
"You are out of your body too, Zeref. It's just that some of the dirt that kicked up from the blast Acnologia caused covered it," replied Death. Both Zeref and Harry follow with their eyes to where Death was pointing, and all they saw was a little bit of white from Zeref's toga and a small tuft of his hair sticking out of the ground.
'How did I miss that for a whole year?' Zeref questioned mentally.
"What about Zeref's second question? Also, why isn't anyone moving and how long was I out for?" asked Harry, who was fighting to remain calm.
Death told him that he was out for a year and that time had stopped. He told Harry just what he told Zeref a year ago.
"As for why you're out of your bodies, time has stopped your bodies from moving, but the time zone does not stop me from removing your souls from your shells. Your bodies and magic will grow to fit your level after training, but they will only catch up to your strengths after you leave the time zone. All that magic and physical strength will enter your bodies in one fell swoop, which will be painful for the both of you; however, your bodies will not age, since aging is life's trait, not death's," Death explained.
Harry lets out a breath. "Sounds like fun…" he said sarcastically. "The pain can't be worse than when Voldemort tried to possess me."
Zeref snapped his head around. "He can possess people?"
"He can only possess someone because he is nothing more than a wraith. He may have a body, but it's not a real one. So this makes him more of a ghost than a living human," explained Death. "As for if the pain will be worse or not in comparison to possession, I have no idea. Now let's move onto more important matters."
Harry and Zeref turned their focus to Death, waiting for him to continue.
"I have already started your training, Zeref. So now you are more ahead than Harry. For that, you will be helping me in his training while I also help you further your own. As for you, Harry, we'll start off with what it means to be the Master of Death.
"Being the master means that you have the power to control every aspect of death. You will be able to sense the lifespan of every living creature including plants, you can't be killed with death magic, but any other magic that has lethal force can still kill you, and you have the ability to control the dead, but not the living. You have a few more abilities, such as turning invisible and becoming as silent as death. What this means is that no one will be able to find you while under your cloak – not even a dragon slayer will be able to sniff you out, and no one will be able to hear your footsteps, breaths, and words. You can hide others with your cloak, but not completely, like yourself, unless you are under the cloak with them," Death explained.
Harry nodded his head in understanding. "Alright, is there anything else I need to know?" he asked.
"I think for now that is everything you need to know. …Oh wait, there is one more thing. I forgot that I only told Zeref this. When you feel like someone is on the verge of death, you can give them a peaceful passing by simply touching them with your hand. Don't worry. They have to be on my doorstep already for your touch to be able to kill them. Anyone who is not close enough to knock on my door will not be killed if you touched them," said Death.
Harry bowed his head with a thoughtful expression on his face. "I see… I don't like that last one because I don't like killing, but if that person is in pain, I guess I could do it…but only if it will end their suffering," he said with sadness. He hoped that he would not run into that kind of situation anytime soon.
Zeref understood how Harry felt. He felt the same way when he learned he'll have to hunt down people that try to cheat death.
Death bobbed his head. "Good. Now, these are for you, Harry," he said as he handed him three books.
Harry took ahold of them. "What are these for?" he questioned. He looked down at the titles of each book and read: Soul Manipulation, Necromancy, and How to Tell When Someone is Close to Death. Soul Manipulation was the thickest of the books, Necromancy being a close second. The last one was much thinner compared to the others, but something stuck out to Harry. "Why isn't there a book for invisibility?"
"As I'm sure you already know, the three books I gave you are to help teach you how to use your death magic, and there is no book for the cloak because, well, there is no book. I'll be teaching you all you need to know about it," said Death. "We'll be going through each of these books, learning new things each day. Now, I want you to open up Soul Manipulation and read the first spell. I'm sure you'll find it familiar."
Harry did as told, and both he and Zeref looked at the spell: Anima Devoratrix. This was the spell Harry used against that demon that created dementors.
"I want you to read that spell and learn what else you can do with it as an after-effect," said Death.
Harry sat down on the ground and began to read: Anima Devoratrix is a spell that takes the soul from the target and absorbs it into the wand of the caster. This will then let the caster use the soul in battle; however, there is a limit for how long the caster can keep the soul out. The stronger the soul is the less time the caster can use it in battle.
The process of stealing a soul while using this spell can be tricky at times. If the target's will to live is stronger than the caster's will to use the soul to protect, then the spell's connection will be broken. Another way to break this connection is to sever the magical strain that connects from the wand to the soul of the target – which takes on the form of Death's hand – however, to break the strain, it would need to be from an outside source. It cannot be broken by either the caster or the target.
Harry finished reading the page and looked at the pictures at the bottom of it. The first one showed the caster using the spell to steal the soul of the target, and the other picture showed both ways on how the connection was broken; although, Harry was less than impressed when he saw a leaf being the outside source of breaking the spell. That only meant that just about anything can destroy it. Other than that, he didn't know that he could use the soul to fight. It would seem that the information on how to summon the soul forth was on the next page.
"I see you finished reading the first page. The next page will teach you how to summon and control the soul that you absorbed. We'll be starting with this spell once we reach the spot where I've been training Zeref. I doubt you would want to train by where your friends are, right?" said Death.
Harry nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah... yeah, I wouldn't want that," he said as he moved to get up. Once he was standing straight, he gestured with his hand. "Lead the way, you two."
"Follow me then," said Death as he began to float down a path with both Harry and Zeref following.
TBC
I think there might be more character development than training. I think this because I don't have a lot of powers and spells for either Harry or Zeref. So there might be only 2 or 3 chapters before this small arc ends. I'm still open to suggestions, now is a great time to tell me your own ideas. Don't worry, I'll give you credit.
Harry: So the next chapter is me learning this new spell? Which book is Death Shield in?
Enj/Dark: I decided to put that spell in Necromancy. Since it is saving your life, and Necromancy brings the dead back to life. So it is like saving them from death just like the shield saves you from death. Understand? :/
Natsu: Makes sense, but do I really have to wait so long to reenter this story? :(
Zeref: It would seem so, but look on the bright side, Natsu. It won't be much longer before you return along with the others.
Voldy: When will I show up again? -_-
Enj/Dark: You will appear again two years before Fairy Sphere drops.
Harry&Natsu: Why is that so specific?
Zeref: *looks at Enjali's notes* You'll see. :)
Enj/Dark: Please review! XD