Chapter 20: Pulling Back a Layered Curtain
Makarov looked between the children that now populated his office. Erza sat strict in one of the chairs before his desk, her eyes focused on him and only him as she finished her report of what happened at the investigation of the destroyed laboratory. Only a few steps behind her was Mira, arms crossed over her chest as her eyes shared the same severity as Erza's with the addition of a firm scowl beneath her narrowed blue eyes. Behind them both, occupying the plush sofas that were relatively unused, was Lucy who sat with her legs crossed and her body tilted to face Makarov's desk with Gray seated leisurely on the arm of the sofa across from her. Separated from them all, Natsu Dragneel stood silently with his body leaned against the wall to the Makarov's left. With the light of the early evening stretching the shadows outside the window behind Makarov, the room itself was darkened considerably save for the lamp on his own desk. The dancing flames made it seem like Natsu positioned himself within the shadow of the chair to the left of Erza's and the small girl that sat rigidly in bloodstained clothes within it. While the others in the room kept their eyes on him, little Wendy Marvel kept her eyes with her hands as fingers danced amongst each other in her lap. The small feline companion the girl walked in with showed just as much trepidation within the room, neither saying a word since Erza began her report.
"What are your orders, Master?" Erza asked, nearly making Makarov scoff at the question. Orders, she says, he huffed to himself with the only indication being the slight frown that deepened the caverns of his wrinkles on his face. He was in no place to simply make orders. His mages were in close proximity to one of the heads of the Balam alliance and have come back unscathed. Mostly. Weary eyes trailed over the faded scars that sat beneath a pristine locket, burrows and discolorations of flesh that seemed otherwise untouched just the day before.
"Orders? The only order I could give is to prepare yourselves." Threading his fingers together before his face, Makarov made it a point to make eye contact with each of his mages within the room. "Dark forces are on the move, children. Much more than this simple skirmish is to come and it is up to us to be ready for it. I have no doubts that the Council will send someone personally to hear what Natsu has to say of his experience with Oracion Seis. We must hold ourselves until then, at the very least." Makarov didn't let the gleam in Erza's eye go unnoticed at his words, knowing that she was looking forward to seeing councilman Jellal once again. Had it been a different discussion, the old guildmaster would share his happiness for her, but now wasn't the time.
"So we just sit and wait until they blow up another building? Kill a few more people?" Gray called from his spot on the couch's arm, his harsh words too loose to keep little Wendy from flinching at them. To his credit, the boy had the decency to look at the girl's back with some regret after he said it. Though, Lucy's fist thumping against his shoulder as she lurched across the distance between him was likely a good motivator as well.
"What do you propose, Gray?" Makarov sighed as he leaned back in his chair, tired eyes matching Gray's lively discontentment. "The only one here that could find Oracion Seis when standing right next to them was dumb enough to challenge them all on his own. Clearly we lack proper preparation to simply hunt them down." Even if he wasn't looking the boy's way, Makarov saw the twitch in Natsu's body when he quickly deduced who Makarov was talking about.
A quiet understanding fell within the room at the old master's words. While an energetic, and most times idiotic, group of children, Makarov could be proud that they all could properly think if they so choose. Granted, this only brought more agitation once he was met with blatant stupidity once again, but he supposed he would be asking too much if he tried to change anything.
"So we just train until the Council points us in a direction or another attack happens?" Mira asked with what could only be described as disgruntled defeat. Her eyes no longer gazed forward at him in favor of glaring out of the corner of her eye at nothing particular. At Makarov's nod, Mira only sighed heavily before turning on her heel and walking toward the door.
"Yes, yes, you may go. I still need to speak with Wendy and Carla about what their plans may be." No arguments came from his dismissal, only silent compliance as the sound of footfalls filled the air. That is, no verbal arguments came. Despite his words, Makarov watched as Natsu made no effort to move from his position, eyes trained on Wendy with visible concern on his face. Makarov raised an eyebrow at the boy, but nothing came of it until the office's door slammed closed behind the exiting mages.
There were many questions that arose around Natsu that went beyond the general intrigue of a faceless rogue mage. His magic, his past, the surname he gave to Jellal Fernandes, and now the behavior he was displaying towards Wendy. From the moment the team returned from the emergency mission, Natsu hadn't been more than a few strides from the girl. He lingered like a protective specter that refused to move away from her. Sure, it could be dedication and appreciation to the one that saved him, but the visible worry that was reflected through dark eyes made the old man reconsider that thought. Choosing to ignore the boy, for now, Makarov again sat up in his chair to look at Wendy. She had yet to look up from her lap and her fingers had yet to settle themselves. Makarov was sure that the girl would be bouncing her feet with a similar energy had they been able to fully reach the floor below her.
"Wendy." Makarov called to her in a calm, quiet voice that attempted to goad the girl into meeting his gaze without any fear. Big, wide as met Makarov's with an obvious tremble, her bottom lip pinching between clenched teeth so the girl could hold herself together. He could only imagine how overwhelmed she was. So much lost so swiftly and now she must navigate the change long before she was ever prepared to. Unfortunately, it was Makarov's duty to push that just a little further so he could help her along her path forward. Wherever that path may lead to. "This is the part where I ask you what you want to do."
Makarov kept his voice gentle and encouraging, hoping to give the young girl strength as understanding joined the swirl of storming emotions within her eyes. Carla gave words of encouragement into the girl's ear she was perched near and Makarov acted as if they were unheard in the distance between them. Despite the encouragement around here, Wendy seemed uneager to answer in any way. Makarov couldn't tell if it was merely indecision or the poor girl simply being too overwhelmed. Any time she opened her mouth to speak her jaw snapped shut to clamp down on whatever words threatened to come. As he watched, Makarov made sure he showed no signs of impatience. There was none to be found in the first place, but he wouldn't risk appearing as such. He would wait as long as he needed to hear an answer.
"She can stay with me here. I'll watch over her." Natsu spoke up, unmoving from his position against the wall. When Makarov looked up at the boy, there was nothing to see but determination in the young man's eyes. An eyebrow rose, arching high in questioning as he turned his attention to the boy before him. In his short time in Fairy Tail, there wasn't one instance where the boy made it a point to fit in, to integrate himself within the guild in any meaningful way. Yet, after only a day of knowing this girl he had taken her as his responsibility. No house, not even a proper shirt on his back, and he was extending a hand to another in aid. Makarov was at a loss. Did he smile in approval or did he shake his head in disbelief?
"As noble of you as that is, my boy, this is not a decision to be made lightly. This also isn't a decision that can be made for her. If she joins the guild by your decision, what then? We do not want to stifle those we care for even when we believe we have their well being at heart." Makarov explained carefully to Natsu, only to be met with a tilted head and naked curiosity. Natsu's brow furrowed ever so slightly as he thought of Makarov's words for a silent moment.
"If Wendy wants to leave, then we'll leave. She doesn't have to join forever." There was no grinning pride or quiet disbelief when Makarov heard those words. It was pure shock. Eyebrows tried their hardest to reach his non-existent hairline.
"Mister Natsu, you don't have to–" Wendy tried to argue against Natsu's words, her face betraying the same shock Makarov bore. Before she could get her thoughts out, however, Natsu was already speaking again.
"I told you, Wendy, it's just Natsu." The boy said lightly, a hand raising to awkwardly push his fingers through his hair, but gave her a small, gentle smile nonetheless. It was something so far from what Makarov had attributed to the boy that he almost didn't believe he saw it once it was gone. "I won't let you and Carla just go off on your own. And I told you I could show you one or two things with your magic, didn't I?"
Makarov listened to the boy's explanation and suddenly felt all the weirdness of the past few moments snap together in his head. He saw the gentle look in eyes that were so commonly fierce and dangerous, the scowl that melted into a gentle upward curl of the lips, and the soft voice that was usually a gruff grunt in place of words. This wasn't the Natsu the old guild master knew, the grizzled man that spent his years fighting and only fighting. This was a young man that was trying to help. A boy trying to be what he wished he had when he was young Wendy's age. When Makarov looked across his desk at the young girl before him, he could only see the teary eyes and shaking body that could no longer be held back. In a burst of wind, Wendy was out of the seat and wrapping her arms around Natsu's waist in a powerful grip, her feline companion being thrust off her shoulder and forced to conjure angelic wings from her back to stop her fall. The wide eyes of Natsu shot up to look at Makarov, arms raising almost all the way up as if they'd hurt the poor girl, and a desperate confusion was sent toward Makarov.
Help me. A cry from a man painfully out of his element that made Makarov only laugh. It was a sweet sight, one that he wished he could have had the guild's most talented painter up here to save it for eternity on a canvas. Muffled words of thank you were spoken into a scarred torso until arms slowly came down and unnaturally returned the hug. The old master wouldn't be surprised if it was the first hug Natsu had been a part of.
"Wendy, child, please get a hold of yourself. You shouldn't be so happy to have such a hooligan as your guardian." Carla huffed with crossed arms and a high-held chin, but Wendy only laughed in her embrace one last time before she stepped away from Natsu.
"Thank you, Mis–Natsu. I promise that I will make it up to you." Wendy bowed in front of Natsu, letting her long blue hair drape over her hair in deference before the man for a long moment. Natsu looked to reply again, likely to tell her she didn't have to make anything up, but Makarov cut her off with his eyes glued on Natsu.
"Nonsense, Wendy. If you're going to be a member of Fairy Tail, even for a little while, you're going to have to learn that we all look after each other." To the boy's credit, he didn't look away at the clear implication behind the old man's words. A shallow nod came from Natsu and a smile stretched further on the old man's face. "Good, now you two can go, unless there is another issue to mention. Although, I must tell you not to wander too far, Natsu. While you reported to the Rune Knights already, I am sure that your report will be needed once more with fine detail."
With those final words, Natsu, Wendy, and Carla left Makarov alone within his office, an office that was darkening with every passing minute. Fingers danced atop the old desk before him that looked just as it did decades ago when he took up the office for himself. His mind delved deep into thought, a thought that had the stout man standing from his chair and looking into the evening falling through the window behind his desk as his fingers threaded themselves behind his back. There had been signs of things shifting around them, of the darker forces within the world stirring, but he hadn't known it to be so soon. There was a difference in expecting something and experiencing something. Expecting something dire to come from the world that sat on a knife's edge was caution. Experiencing that world lose that unstable equilibrium was terror. Oracion Seis will not stop at a laboratory. The rest of the Balam Alliance will not sit stagnant in a time ripe for opportunity.
Then there was Natsu Dragneel.
When he heard the man speak his name to Jellal Fernandes, Makarov had hoped he had simply been a victim of aged ears. It was a fool's hope, but it was there still. Here, in this land, such a name means nothing. Elsewhere… Makarov sent out word to his guild's Ace immediately after hearing it. The services of Gildarts Clive would have been needed for the boy one way or another, but now it became a personal matter as well. Too many mysteries were wrapped up in a single child and it was about time that Makarov took an active role in revealing those mysteries as he could. With the Council likely to be at their doorstep within days, Makarov would prefer to get some answers before then. Natsu stood against the entirety of Oracion Seis and lived, leaving him to be the most knowledgeable on the previously anonymous group of mages. He would be who they called during the next incident. Makarov would like to know who they were calling on, who they would be depending on, if the boy would be thrust into such a position so soon.
As much uncertainty as there was around the boy, Makarov couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope at the sight that just left his office. In a single day, Wendy Marvel has induced more initiative within Natsu to be more a part of their guild than had been present in the weeks he's been there. Natsu Dragneel seemed stubborn to cling to what his life was before they met, what his life was for years and years, but in a moment he was willing to abandon that. With a word, Wendy could sever that loyalty the man has to his own way of life so he could be at her side and protect her. There was an opportunity in which Makarov would be foolish to ignore, even if he preferred less…indirect tactics.
With a sigh, Makarov turned from his window and exited his office. He was expecting to be met with the raucous energy that was the staple of the Fairy Tail guildhall. Instead, it was the isolated sounds of a heated argument that had somehow been kept from coming to blows. Only words.
"In the woods?! The woods aren't a home, Pinky, not for normal people at least!" Mira's voice called out just as Makarov exited his office and a smile quickly replaced whatever contemplative expression had previously taken up the old man's face. Peeking through the railing before him, Makarov saw Mira and Natsu standing face to face with matching scowls on each of their faces as the rest of the guild looked on in wonder.
"The hell is wrong with the woods?! It's not like there's monsters to worry about out there! I haven't gotten attacked once in my sleep!" Natsu shouted back with a rare show of exuberance as he matched Mira almost flawlessly, not backing down an inch from the infamous Demon Mirajane. As Makarov turned the corner to walk down the stairs he caught sight of the concerned looks of Lucy and Wendy as well as the amused face of Gray as he heartily drank from his mug next to a passed out Cana. Amongst them, as dependable as ever, was Erza, who stood watch as if she was waiting for things to boil over too far.
"She's a twelve year old girl, not an animal! She needs to be somewhere with a roof at least!" Mira's right arm shot out to point at the girl in question, who ducked as if the hand would cross several feet and thump her on the head. Watching Natsu grit his teeth, Makarov made his footfalls on the stairs below him heavier to draw attention toward himself before more arguments could be made.
In mere moments, his first chance at opportunity was presented to him.
"Mira has a point, my boy. If you want to take responsibility for Wendy, very well, but you must be able to grant her the basic necessities." Makarov raised his hand before him, "Food, water, and shelter. As it stands, the wilderness is not a shelter." A finger rose for each of the three necessities to emphasize his point. The scowly pinched face that Natsu was making fell into something more subtle that still clearly showed his discontent. After a moment's thought, a hand was extended out in front of him, prompting Mira for something unspoken.
"What the hell is that?" Came the incredulous reply to the wordless demand.
"You have my money."
Makarov had reached the bottom of the stairs, already leaping onto the countertop and sitting down only a few feet away from Cana's downturned head as he stole the half-filled mug still in her hand. Mira's annoyed face dropped for a moment of surprise before her right hand was filled with a golden glow that revealed a sack of what was presumably Natsu's funds from their mission together. Natsu took the bag quickly before his gaze turned back to Wendy with a bout of thought overtaking his face.
"Don't worry, Natsu. She can room with me until you find a place. I can also find her some clothes that are less…bloody." Lucy chirped a few feet in front of the bar, taking a step closer to Wendy so she could wind an arm around the smaller girl's shoulders. Natsu looked between the two, contemplating something for a short moment before he nodded and turned on his heel to walk purposefully out of the silent guild. Peering eyes shifted between Natsu and the group he walked away from, trying to understand what it was they missed, but before the silent questions could be addressed Mira was already groaning in frustration.
"Does that idiot really think he'll find a place tonight? It's practically night already." Her gaze lingered on the doors that closed behind Natsu before she, too, turned around and walked away from space granted for the pair's bickering. Mira settled herself at the bar, only a few seats to the right of the passed out Cana, and called her order to her sister. Slowly, the guild around them picked up again as the source of their attention officially ended, allowing the gaudy sounds that were commonplace to return to the hall.
"I'm surprised you didn't speak up during that, Erza. Cat got your tongue?" The sarcastic voice of Gray split the calm atmosphere that covered the bar only after Lucy and Wendy left the guild to procure a clean set of clothes for the girl. Erza remained where she had been, slightly removed from the staircase at Makarov's left but away from the bar enough to remain simply an observer. Gray turned to receive a refill from Lisanna, letting Makarov see the mischievous smirk on his face. Makarov's eyes turned to Erza as he lifted the mug in his hand, keen on emptying what Cana didn't, peering just over the worn wooden rim to see the contemplation on the woman's face.
"It is clear I was wrong." Erza started, the short admittance already halting Gray in his tracks. "I was expecting him to withhold from his violent tendencies until he couldn't and became a threat to our loved ones, like one would expect from domesticating a feral animal. Natsu is violent and dangerous, but he has shown that he is only that way to those he deems deserving. Whether it was Siren Song or Oracion Seis, he showed he was still the same violent mage the rumors told of, but he's been docile otherwise. Let us hope he remains that way." Makarov watched Erza pause, her eyes turning back to the door once again. "He is passionate about watching over Wendy. We just have to make sure he doesn't steer her the wrong direction."
The armored woman took the finality of her explanation as her own cue to leave, rigid strides carrying the woman toward the door. Only when she was out of sight did a scoff come from Mira who was heavily hunched over the plate of food Lisanna provided. "About time. I thought we'd have another week of her with a stick up her ass." The woman mumbled to herself before filling her mouth once again with a full fork of food. A smirk grew on Makarov's lips as he set the mug in his hand to the right of him, two delicate taps on its rim to let Lisanna know to refill it when she could.
The old guildmaster's eyes turned toward the guild as he watched it die down slowly in tandem with the sun setting below the horizon. Draining beer from the mug pilfered from Cana, Makarov slowly watched his guild empty of its lively members until it was only the staunchest of dedicated loiterers that remained. Even then, the guildmaster continued to sit to see those out and give a reassuring goodbye to Lisanna before she distracted herself into an all-night shift. Again. Soon it was only Makarov in the disheveled guild hall, gently settling his once again empty mug on the bar top that was only shared with the snoring woman to his immediate left that had her face buried in her arm and her body delicately balanced between the stool and the bar at a creative angle. Most nights, Makarov would have already gone home. He likely would have even been in bed at this late hour, waiting for sleep to claim him for the few short hours his mind would allow in his old age. However, as he felt the telltale prickle of volatile strength tickle the edge of his senses that were fine tuned to detect magic around him, Makarov knew that he didn't have that privilege tonight.
Reaching an arm out to the girl next to him, Makarov shook Cana's shoulder lightly to try and ease her awake. The light jostle got nothing more than a half grunt that quickly switched back to rhythmic snoring. Narrowing his gaze, Makarov pulled back his hand only to tuck the point of his middle finger behind his thumb before he unleashed a devastating flick to the side of the woman's head. A dull thud and a violent jerk of Cana's body to indicate her waking was followed by a deadly glare through disheveled hair.
"What the HELL, you old bastard! That hurt!" A delicate hand pushed through messy black hair to soothe the scalp beneath, grumbling all the while to the Master's satisfaction. Reflexively, Cana reached out to pick up the mug Makarov set down, only to groan when she found it was empty. "You should have just left me for Lisanna to find me in the morning. I might have been able to get an early start if I asked nicely enough."
Makarov chuckled at the woman's grumblings as she eased herself off the stool, hands sliding down the front of her black pants to wake up her legs from the uncomfortable slumber. "I would have, my dear, but I'm afraid I'm expecting someone and it's something I'll need privacy for. I'll send him your way when I'm done." He replied almost coyly, keeping an eye on the woman's reaction as he did. It was clear she was hardly paying attention because it took a moment longer than it should have for her body to halt at the implication of his words. Wide eyes turned upward at the old man with unrestrained surprise as Cana tried to voice her thoughts.
"He's coming back?" She asked in little more than a whisper, a smile growing on her face as tanned skin practically glowed in her growing joy. Gone was the usually unconcerned woman who usually only gave a thought to which drink would be occupying her hand or what fleeting entertainment sat before her more than anything else. Not to say the woman was empty-headed. In fact, it was because she was so smart that she could get away with such things. Perhaps she wasn't as knowledgeable as Levy in terms of raw information and facts, but Cana's awareness of the world around her granted such a lackadaisical attitude most of the time. Seeing true emotion in the woman's eyes, even as they glazed with the punishment of coming sobriety, was a treat to see.
"Indeed. I attempted to call on him recently, hoping he would be close to finishing his job, but I received nothing in return. It seems as if he ignored me in favor of simply arriving just to grate on my nerves." Makarov let an amused smile grow on his face as he knew that the woman before him was almost as familiar with the man's childishness as he was. Still, the sudden return of their Ace wasn't wholly comforting to the old man. A job that was nothing short of impossible was what sent the man out of the guild for the last two years. Suddenly appearing without an update didn't bode well.
Worrying wouldn't do anyone good, so Makarov maintained his smile for Cana's sake, knowing answers would come to him soon. The titanic magical presence that the man emitted drew ever closer to Magnolia's gates, warning every magic user of the potential catastrophe that could be caused if it was desired. With a lingering glance toward Cana, the girl snapped herself from her thoughts and picked up the brown leather satchel and slung its strap over her shoulder so that it rested loosely just under her hip.
"Well, let the old bastard know where to go when he's done clearing the bar out." With a haphazard wave of the hand, Cana danced out of the hall with her feet slipping between the gaps of the wreckage caused by the day's activities. She didn't need to look back for the old guildmaster to know her smile was growing with every step she took, the enthusiasm that grew with every little hop clear as day to any who saw.
When the old red door clattered closed behind Cana, Makarov was left alone within the guildhall. His eyes trailed over the upturned tables, displaced chairs, and array of various kinds of litter that included anything from an upturned mug to a random undergarment that would go forever unclaimed. It was a right disaster, but Makarov knew that no matter how messy it would be left, he would return to it spotless as it always did. With a smile at that thought, Makarov closed his eyes and waited.
However long it took, none of the time that passed before the guild doors exploded open with a tired sigh following them felt like an eternity. He was simply at peace with everything around him until he heard his old friend and former apprentice make his entrance to the guild with the raw essence of his magic filling the enclosed space like water in an empty glass. Some would have thought it was magical power left unchecked, freely releasing into the air from a mage flexing their muscles, but Makarov knew better. This was Gildarts's strength heavily checked and maintained just under the point he wouldn't be a threat to the regular public. A gift that came with lethal costs if he wasn't keen on addressing them.
"It's been some time, old friend." Makarov called, opening his eyes to see the tired eyes of Gildarts Clive narrowing at the mess sprawled before him. Despite acknowledging the remnants of the day that lay between them, the man's feet never halted. Old, worn leather boots padded forward, swaying the old, ragged brown cloak draped over his broad shoulders enough to reveal the loose black pants and tight black shirt beneath it. The glimmer and gleam of bracer covered forearms, greaved legs, and a faulded waist showed between the shifting cloak and clacked with every heavy step. Debris was launched from the contact of lazily stepping feet as if they were kicked with an urgent prejudice, flying around the guild with a percussive boom as the lazy trailblazer approached the bar. Not a single orange hair broke from the slick back the man had kept it as various shrapnel of the punished objects flew up and past his head.
"I can't tell if it's too long or not long enough." Gildarts muttered when he made it to the bar, his aged face showing the wear of a man approaching middle age and his eyes showing the wear of something not even Makarov could guess. A gloved hand rose to rub a stubbled cheek as Gildarts's eyes surveyed the scene behind Makarov, the plate of metal on the back of his palm gleaming in the light of gleaming lacrima hanging around the guildhall. Without so much as an inquiring glance, Gildarts reached over the bar and grabbed a bottle filled with a dark brown liquor that was quickly flowing into his mouth after the cork was pulled and spit into the mess behind him. Only when he swallowed with a heavy gulp did he speak again. "I guess I'll know after you tell me why you were calling me back."
When Gildarts met his gaze, Makarov saw the old warmth he was used to from the man. Gildarts was the epitome of "rough around the edges" and it showed in the smile that stretched across his face at Makarov. If it was someone who hadn't met him before, it could be described as savage. A promise of things to come and those things likely being pain. Yet, the old man knew it was genuine happiness that was shown the only way the man knew how. His own way. With a careless lean, Gildarts fell into the stool a few spots removed from Makarov's right and took another swig from the bottle.
"We have a new member," Makarov started lightly, but not light enough to catch the glint of seriousness that settled in his old friend's eyes. It took a short time to relay the happenings around Natsu's joining of Fairy Tail and less so for him to relate the boy to the rumors that had just started gaining traction before Gildarts left on his quest. "Now, after his most recent meeting with Oracion Seis, I'm afraid I can't risk waiting. He needs to be tested."
Gildart rose an eyebrow at that, the master's words meaning another contemplative drink of the quickly diminishing bottle. Then another after a moment of silent contemplation before the bottle was set gently on the bar top, earning an array of cracks dancing through the glass as Gildarts's hand released it.
"You want him to take the test already? Sounds to me that you know he's going to fail, so why bother?" The test, their test, was one that should be managed with great care. There were few things that could break a person down to their baser traits and reveal who it was they really were. It was a test left for S-class prospects, usually the most favorable, to prove that they were worthy of the responsibility of a senior mage within Fairy Tail. This would be the first test conducted outside of the S-class testing grounds, however. That fact likely being the driving factor in Gildarts's skeptical gaze. "I get the kid is a special case, but why not give him more time. Hell, now that I'm back I can put my eye on him and see what I can do."
"Unfortunately, that's not an option." Makarov said with the shake of his head. His arms crossed over his chest as his head fell to rest his chin on his chest. "With the Balam Alliance moving, we need our strength to be consolidated and unshakeable for the times to come, whatever they may bring. Once the Council hears his report of what happened, how he survived against one of the Three, he will become their most used weapon against any further strikes from Oracion Seis. He's the only one who's done it and the Council will ignore their hesitations of the boy if he proves useful in this. It must be done."
Fingers danced over the bar top, rhythmically digging indents into the sturdy surface as Gildarts stared off in thought. A sigh blew through his nose more than once before he returned his attention to Makarov, a frown deepening on his face. He was going to argue against it, Makarov knew. He could tell. Gildarts never liked conducting the test, but there was none better than he. Before the answer could be made, Makarov's voice sliced through the stagnant air.
"His name, his whole name, is Natsu Dragneel." At his words, Makarov watched the lightly tanned skin of his old friend drain into a concerning pale. His jaw slacked lightly, possible responses coming in choked gurgles, and his eyes widened in shock to drown his dark eyes in the whites around them. A lifeless nod came minutes later, but the conversation remained dead. Both sat in the understood silence for some time, sharing in the bottle Gildarts pilfered between the two of them until Gildarts was ready to speak once again.
"You wanna hear a story about a dragon?"
I'm fucking graduated. It's over. No more school, no more assignments. No more tests. I'm done. That's all I have to say about anything today.