Year X376, Middle of the Second Month of Spring.
14 months after Natsu's revival.
…
When they arrived at Port Apallon, Zeref headed straight for the harbor. There was a delicate balance between price and comfort, something which Zeref planned to teach Natsu.
But first…
"Is it really okay for me to come with you…?" Acnologia hesitantly asked while carrying his bag of books.
"You don't have money for room nor food. I hope you're not planning to camp outside the walls or sleep in the streets before you earn some money." Zeref raised a brow while looking down at the young teen.
Acnologia's silence was all he needed to confirm his assumptions. The boy was surviving on nothing but pure drive.
"Asking for help is not something to be ashamed of."
"…okay."
Zeref nodded. "Natsu, let's go." He gestured by patting his little brother's back.
Together the newly formed group headed for the harbor, Natsu and Acnologia following the eldest through the main roads. Unlike the previous town, Port Apallon was on another level. It was a port city, a major trading hub located on the coast of the Dragnof Kingdom. By normal standards, the city was already big for its time, but with the dragons, its size was more than doubled. They were walking down one of the major avenues and Natsu spotted a group of dragons flying together above them. Back in the previous town, Natsu had only been able to see individual dragons. So, seeing a jump in their numbers only made him more excited.
Once the ships were within sight, Zeref diverted from the major avenue and led the two down a slightly smaller street. It was a street parallel to the harbor but without a view of the bay, a row of buildings standing between it and the dockyards.
"Natsu, why do you think I led you both here?" Zeref asked out of nowhere.
His little brother was still peeking at the bay between some of the buildings when he turned to Zeref.
"We're renting a room right?"
Natsu had been taking in the sights and noticed a few of the inns along the street.
"There's more to it than that. Why are we looking for room here exactly?" Zeref paused in the middle of the street, around him were numerous taverns with signs that labeled their rates for each night.
"How about you, Acnologia? What do you think?"
"…price."
Natsu looked at their new companion, gears grinding in his mind. "Why price?"
Acnologia pointed out the signs all around the street. "The location is close to the pier for accessibility and its distance from the city center means it's cheaper."
Zeref nodded. Acnologia's experience on the road tempered his ability to manage his money, a skill he wanted to teach Natsu.
"Correct. We need to be near the harbor to catch the first ship heading to the Royal Port of Dragnof. It also helps save money since the taverns are not expensive."
He took one look at the signs around them along with their respective taverns.
"The trick is to balance the price and comfort. Most of the taverns here have similar prices, but you can pick up little clues like how sturdy the floor is when you enter. Some taverns will look nice, but you won't see that until you see the rooms. If the tavern structure is decent, then you can trust that the rooms are too. The building is more expensive than each room after all."
Acnologia looked at the taverns around them. He hadn't tried them before, too busy trying to make enough money just to eat. He had gotten used to sleeping at alleys to avoid trouble, but sometimes it would still find him.
A small hopeful idea popped into his mind. Was Zeref really going to let him sleep in a tavern with them? It didn't really matter if he had a bed or not, sleeping indoors meant warmth, something which was already a luxury for the teen.
One by one, the trio entered taverns along the street. Zeref would walk into the entrance to ask about the available rooms before leaving, Natsu and Acnologia following along. After each one, he would point out his observations about the interior before moving to the next.
Once they were finished looking around, the trio headed back to the middle of the street.
"So, where do you both think is a good place to stay?" Zeref asked the two.
Natsu and Acnologia pointed at two different taverns, blinking at each other at their answers.
"There are no wrong answers, you both picked your preferences."
Both of them didn't actually have preferences. Natsu was new to staying in taverns and Acnologia avoided them to save money.
"Follow me." Zeref led them to one of the last taverns they visited. "It will take some time to learn how to appraise objects, but it is an important skill that could help you down the line."
After renting a room, the trio explored the docks to look for ships heading to the capital.
.
.
.
"Pick an order." Zeref gestured to the counter with a small propped menu. They were at a corner near the harbor, still looking for a ship they could ride to the capital. Once lunch came, Zeref paused their search for a meal. He picked one of the seaside restaurants to dine in, bringing along Acnologia with them.
"W-what?" Acnologia was caught off guard.
"We're going to eat lunch before we go back."
His eyes widened. Zeref was already helping him get to the capital, but now he was also buying him food. Weight settled inside him as Acnologia hesitated.
"I-I'm fine…I-"
"I'll take two servings of my dish. Give the second to him." Zeref gestured to him before sitting down on one of the empty tables with Natsu. Acnologia followed behind them nervously. He didn't have money to pay for the meal and would have to find a means to pay the cook through work.
As he opened his mouth, Zeref interrupted him.
"There's no need to pay. I'll do it."
Instead, confusion bubbled up within him.
"W-why? You're already helping me to the capital…"
"Because you need it."
Zeref's tone was adamant and it stopped Acnologia in his tracks. The teen sat down across the brothers, inwardly shaking. He couldn't help but hold back the heavy feeling inside him. Acnologia had been on the road for a year now and had faced the difficulties of surviving alone. He lived off scraps he scrounged, stole books to study, and slept wherever he could. Hardships had become normal to him ever since he left his village.
But all of that only made the sense of gratitude all the stronger.
Acnologia could remember the number of times strangers offered him charity.
Today was one of them.
As the plate of hot steaming lunch was placed in front of the him, Acnologia shuddered and hugged himself tightly, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. The meal had been ordered by Zeref, free of charge. Across him, Natsu dug into his meal hungrily while Zeref calmly ate his.
When Acnologia ate his first spoonful, the tears fell, making the taste all the more heavenly.
Hot delicious food after spending the entirety of his travels starving.
The thick juicy meat squelched inside his mouth as Acnologia chewed. His tongue dancing on the flavor and the warmth it released once it reached his belly.
.
.
.
That night, Acnologia was surprised once again.
His own bed.
Zeref had rented a room with three beds.
The blue-haired teen kept staring at the piece of furniture as if he couldn't believe it. Lunch was already too good for him, even more so when Zeref also bought him dinner.
But to rent a separate bed just for him?
"Why? You're doing this much for me…" Acnologia whispered.
"Because you need it."
It was the same answer Zeref gave him during lunch.
"I've survived without it."
"Then work for it. Show me that you earned this." Zeref wanted to push the teen harder. Determination would go a long way, but Acnologia was alone. He wanted to show the boy that someone acknowledged his efforts.
Those words clamped down on Acnologia.
"Why do you care so much…? Do you want something from me?"
Zeref continued staring out the window, watching the street below quietly.
"Do you know the story of The Black Wizard?"
"The Black Wizard?"
"Yes. Do you know it?"
"…not really."
"What do you know about him?"
Acnologia looked at the ceiling while recalling the stories of the infamous wizard on Ishgar.
"He created demons…demons that terrorize lands. Demons so powerful that even other races consider them threats."
"Correct. Now, do you know why?"
Acnologia looked at Zeref, who had walked over to his sleeping brother. Natsu was tired after the day's activities and went straight to sleep. The older sibling watched his brother sleep soundly and combed his hair out of his eyes.
"…because he was determined. Spending decades creating monster after monster for a goal."
Zeref's eyes flickered upwards to meet Acnologia across him.
"Determination is a powerful tool, Acnologia. But it alone does not create miracles. For that, we have our minds and tools."
Acnologia's eyes continued to stare back into Zeref's. For a moment, he glimpsed the tired soul behind them. Just a flash, fast enough for him to question if he truly saw anything unusual inside those black eyes.
"You remind me of myself…back when I started. So full of determination, so willing to commit everything…so alone."
Zeref closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
"I was desperate…and it cost me dearly. I had no one to help me, no one to warn me. And just like you, I did it all for someone special."
Acnologia's gaze flickered to Natsu's sleeping form.
"Now, I stand here to give you a helping hand. Something that I should have sought in my times of need. I cannot tell you what to do, nor can I tell you what is right, but the least I can do is help and guide where I can. I do not want you to end up like I did. Throwing everything for a chance."
A small smile crept on Zeref's face. A smile filled with emotion.
"Though mine paid off, it came with a price too heavy to bear. Still, it was a worthy trade to me."
For Natsu to live, Zeref had to die.
To learn the power of death, Zeref had to become one with it.
He did not want Acnologia to go down the same route. No longer could Zeref consider himself a good man after embarking on the teachings of Ankhseram, but it would go against his principles to see another follow in his footsteps.
As such, he intended to assist the teen away from it.
"So, do not turn away my assistance Acnologia. I do not want you to make the same mistakes I did."
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.
.
Natsu hefted the nibbled on the small snack with him as they lined up in front of the ship. It was still dark out, the moon just floating near the horizon and the stars twinkling far above when the trio lined up at the docks.
The ship they picked was a galleon outfitted not for trade, but for transport. It was a new kind of enterprise, one that was only available between heavily traveled sea routes between cities.
"Next!"
The richly dressed family in front of them walked to the ramp beside the ship and boarded it. Acnologia watched them, awkwardly shuffling in place as he adjusted the crisp new outfit Zeref bought for him. It was their turn next, and they stepped forward. Zeref showed the crew member three tickets he purchased for the trip to The Royal Port. Their entry was approved with a nod and they were directed towards the boarding ramp after receiving some keys.
"These keys are for your room. If you lose them, come to me so that I can summon them back." He grunted the same instructions he gave the previous group before waving them off.
The three boys stepped aboard the ship and made their way to the quarters for passengers. Natsu watched as the crew prepared the ship for departure, sweeping the floors, securing supplies, and checking inventory. He couldn't watch for long as Zeref entered the stairway heading into the passenger cabins. The large opening led into a hallway packed full of doors. Weirdly enough, it seemed almost as if there were too many doors inside. The room sizes wouldn't be able to fit beds at all.
But that wasn't what attracted the attention of the younger travellers.
Zeref inwardly smiled while watching Natsu look around. Acnologia also had an equal bewildered expression when taking in the interior.
It.
Was.
Grand.
"T-this place is expensive!" Acnologia gasped. From outside, the ship looked normal. But inside, it was lavish, the wood was polished with wax, the hallway was lined with carved doors and artistic rugs, and affluent passengers wearing posh clothing.
No wonder Zeref had them wear luxurious clothes before boarding.
"W-what's going on?!" Acnologia whispered to Zeref.
"Maritime passenger ships are only affordable for the wealthy. I want to reach the capital soon so I picked the earliest trip for convenience."
"B-but this is expensive! A-and the clothes you bought!"
"They were bought for us to fit in. Drawing attention to ourselves would be the last thing we need."
Acnologia's eyes darted at the other passengers and themselves. Their clothes really made them fit into the crowd. A fair number of affluent passengers had arrived ahead of them and were roaming the ship interior.
"It is risky for individual passenger ships like this to travel. Pirates love to target them so they make sure to resemble the normal galleon. Because we are heading for the capital, only larger pirates would dare to raid ships. Even then, they pick the extravagant passenger ships because those are the best targets. Capturing trade galleons pay less when you could be using rich folk to ransom."
Acnologia's eyes observed the people when he noticed the hallway's peculiar design.
"How can there be so many doors?" The blue-haired teen whispered to himself. Zeref heard Acnologia mumble to himself and replied with an answer.
"Space expansion magic. It is common for big ships like these to have interiors expanded to carry more load. Trading and transport are big business for ship captains."
Zeref stopped in front of an ornate door and inserted the key into the engraved lock. The door swung open and the trio finally saw their accommodations for the trip.
Acnologia and Natsu were stunned.
The room inside betrayed their expectations. It was larger, far larger than what it looked like from the outside. A wide-eyed Natsu entered the room behind Zeref while taking in the big room. It was big enough to fit a family travelling together and the interior looked far beyond any room he had been in before. Behind him, Acnologia carried a gobsmacked expression at the room.
This must be a dream.
Acnologia never imagined that he would ever see such luxury, but here he was- standing in front of one. The room was at least three times the width of the hallway- with a bed arranged on three walls. They had thin red drapes flowing from a frame above them, tied neatly to the bedside posts. Fur rugs adorned the floor, three separate closets, a table complete with a mirror, and a larger mirror on another wall. Beautiful lamps lit up the room, bringing a vibrant lively atmosphere in it.
Zeref started pulling out clothes and filling out the cabinets. The trip was going to be long and they needed a minimum amount of clothes to fit in.
"While we wait for departure, let us begin teaching both of you some etiquette. Contact with other passengers will be inevitable and they will expect the bare minimum of it."
Zeref had been alive for many years. In that time, he had met with many nobles and royals. He was a sought after individual known for his magic. Many had reached out to him for his services, and Zeref accepted them. He worked for their interests, and in return, they gave him the funds to conduct his own. In some way, it was thanks to them that Zeref managed to complete Natsu's resurrection.
For a price.
"We will begin with greetings." Zeref turned on the two younger boys. "I shall teach you how to talk like them, and you shall use this voyage as practice for future encounters."
His eyes moved to look outside the window. Once he and Natsu reached the capital, there was no doubt that they would attract the attention of nobles and the like.
There was simply no way the Black Wizard Zeref could stay hidden in such a kingdom for so long. Not to mention that news of his sibling would undoubtedly shake the world.
One legendary wizard was enough. Another would be too much.
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.
.
The sky was turning violet when the ship began to depart. The sails were unfurled, pushed by wind magic from a couple of mages. Many passengers were on the deck, watching as the ship floated away from the dock, reorienting itself to face the open ocean.
The trio stood on the deck, Natsu and Acnologia watching as the dock grew smaller behind them. A salty breeze whipped by bringing with it a sense of adventure as the ship accelerated away from the port. The ship underneath Natsu's hands thrummed in unison with the excitement growing inside him.
It was the ocean. The grand blue expanse that Zeref told stories about. A completely different world from that which he had known. Natsu couldn't help but keep watching the shoreline retreat behind them, quickly becoming a green line on the horizon at the speed the ship went.
The sky changed color slowly as time went by, violet turning into dull red as the sun crept closer to the horizon.
A new day. A new horizon. A new adventure.
Natsu grinned, excited for the future.
.
.
.
When Zeref said the world was large, he was being serious. Their trip was to last a month, with two stops between Port Apallon and the Dragnof Royal Port. When they finally arrived, Natsu and Acnologia had both gotten tired of seeing the same blue horizon.
Sailing into the Royal Port was an eye-opener. Natsu couldn't help but stare at the two grand lighthouses that stood guard over the gulf entrance as they neared. The gulf mouth was packed with ships entering and leaving the bay, far more ships than there were compared to Port Apallon.
The ship moored itself on one of the outer dockyards, mainly because capital port was crammed full. As the trio walked down the ramp, they heard a fair number of grumbles from the other passengers about their location. On the dock, Acnologia watched the upper-class call on some stage coaches waiting for passengers.
Zeref waved one of the horse-drawn carriages and informed the driver of their destination. They were still dressed like rich folk when they disembarked, keeping up the appearance to avoid suspicion. He paid the coachman and soon the trio were riding towards the capital port. The outer dockyard was a fair distance away from the city proper and walking the distance wouldn't fit their cover.
Natsu watched through the carriage window during the entire ride. The royal port was massive, even bigger than Port Apallon. More people, more coaches, more wagons, more dragons. The city walls were bigger and so were the buildings. A thunder of dragons flew in the distance, numbering more than two dozen heading outside the city.
It was amazing.
As they passed underneath the city gates, Acnologia couldn't help but notice something odd.
"Why aren't they checking the people entering?"
There was a whole platoon of guards overlooking the gates and another stationed right at the entry. Yet, they were only watching the people go by.
"There are too many of us. Checking everyone will make the traffic worse." Zeref clarified while they passed through.
For half an hour, the carriage waded through the busy avenues and streets until they stopped in front of a high-end establishment. The coach dropped them off and drove off into the crowd. The trio was left standing in front of the premises until Zeref led them inside.
"We're staying here…?" Acnologia gulped.
If the ship's interior overwhelmed him, this place was a tier above that. He felt like fainting from the bright lobby and marble floor. The ship had a nice wooden interior that passed aristocratic standards, but this place was designed to impress.
"Only for a night."
Acnologia looked perplexed.
"We will slowly downgrade hotels until we can slip into the masses without looking out of place." Zeref assured him. "There are still things to prepare for. Now that we are in the capital, we must prepare you and Natsu for the Dragnof Magical Academy entrance exams."
"Entrance exams?!" Acnologia gasped. He hadn't bothered to learn much else aside from the books of medicine he bought. Even then, most of them were still beyond his comprehension. It was rare to find them already, so he made sure to pick them up in his journey.
Zeref nodded.
"The Dragnof Magical Academy rivals the best institutes in the continent. For the privileged and talented, it is the best place to be educated. Enrollment in the academy is highly contested and only those with high potential and talent are accepted. There are a limited number of positions open each year and the academy has a high turnover rate for archmages and the like. Not even the aristocrats can bribe the entrance exams because the academy is directly funded by the royal family's treasury."
"I-I don't know what to start with…" Acnologia gulped. He had known about Dragnof Magical Academy, but that was never his goal in the capital. His intention was to find a clinic or hospital and begin from scratch until he made his way up to become an apprentice to the doctors.
Now Zeref was going to make him prepare for Dragnof Magical Academy?!
"Because it is your best chance. Being a scholar under the academy will offer you more opportunities than anywhere else. I can help you reach your goal."
"I-I'm not sure we can do it. This is the Dragnof Magical Academy!"
"And I am sure you doubt my capability." Zeref smiled.
Acnologia eyed him warily.
"I can give you what you want right now. Lessons in Medicine? Magic? Alchemy? I can do teach you. I have a year to prepare you and Natsu for the exams, and in that time- you will also learn to apply basic medicine." Zeref was well-versed in these subjects because of the time he spent studying and researching ways to revive his little brother. He was easily one of the best medical practitioners on the continent.
Acnologia had gotten this far because of Zeref. What was the harm in believing this man?
"…okay." Waiting one year was nothing compared to how many years it would've taken the younger man to reach this close to the capital, and it was all thanks to Zeref.
"I plan to start a small clinic while we stay in the capital. You will have all the practice you will want while we prepare for the exams. Not only that, but you and Natsu will learn under me."
Acnologia had seen Natsu's exercises in their room during the trip. Watching him practice magic while also learning read and write was impressive. He had to learn how to read alone and still struggled since most of the books he had were too advanced for him to understand. In a way, observing Natsu study allowed Acnologia to learn a few words.
Maybe Zeref was telling the truth after all.
In a year's time, Natsu and Acnologia would take the Dragnof Magical Academy entrance exams with help from the Black Wizard Zeref.