A/N : Chapter 20 is here ! Will be the last one before I get to write a little more, even if I have a few already ready. Here we'll start learning more about Haru, so...
Enjoy !
"Haru! Haruuu! Wake up!" I heard, trying to open my eyes.
Wendy was on me, shaking my whole body. "Get up! You've slept enough!" she yelled, cutely.
"Wha... Hey, relax, what's up?" I asked, groggily.
"You slept for an entire day! Get up now!"
My eyes flew wide open. "I slept for a whole day?" I roared, sitting up abruptly. Wendy just looked at me before chuckling.
"Yeah, come on, everyone thinks you're dead," she smiled.
"Great," I deadpanned before getting up.
When I opened the door, I wasn't expecting to face Makarov, waiting for me a few steps out.
"Oh, erm... Hello, sir," I said.
Makarov smiled. "You can call me Gramps." His words were even better than my morning coffee. My face lightened up, and finally, a wide smile appeared on it.
"Thanks, Gramps!" I said, bowing down, earning a chuckle from Makarov.
"You did great, kid. And please, never think I did all that to really harm you. Everything I did was for your own good. And I hope you understand that," he started. "I wanted you to see what happens when someone you love nearly leaves your life. I think you experienced that enough during the last two days. But you see, that's what could happen if one day you decide to go in blindly, taking everyone with you. That was my lesson, Haru. And I very much hope you learned something," he ended.
I breathed out, calming myself. "I do. I understand, however, I still have some reflection to do with myself. I'm still not excused for what I've done. At least I haven't excused myself. I promise I'll be way more careful from now on. Thank you for your help with everything." I bowed again.
Makarov nodded, a proud look in his eyes. "You're a good kid, Haru. Just remember, we're all here for you. You don't have to carry the weight alone."
As I straightened up, my eyes went behind Makarov, landing on Natsu, grinning. Gray, Gajeel, Erza, Juvia, and Lucy were also there, all smiling.
"Listen, sparky, don't you ever get left on the side again," said Gajeel. "I had to train with Salamander because you weren't here. Can't tell ya how much I hated it."
"What did you say, tincan?" roared Natsu, headbutting him.
"Relax, flame brain. It's not a big deal," added Gray. "Good to have you back," he smiled at me.
I grinned, scratching the back of my head. "Well, if you'll excuse me..." I said, before zapping away, reaching the bar counter. "I MISS MY MORNING COFFEE!" I cried, slumping on the counter. The entire guild erupted in cheerful laughs.
"Well, looks like my best customer is back" cheered Mira
"So you only see me as a customer" I groaned, making Mira blush slightly.
"N-No, I mean ye-yes ! Oh hell !" she said, before bonking my head and leaving.
"Ow ! Hey what did I do !" I cried
Erza laughed from afar. "She's still hard going when it comes to her feelings..." she said to herself, smiling.
After my morning coffee, I was full of energy.
Natsu and Gajeel were still playfully bickering, while Gray tried to fend off Juvia's affectionate advances. Erza and Lucy chatted animatedly, their bond evident in their easy conversation. The guild hall was alive with camaraderie and joy, a testament to the strength of our bonds.
"Good to see you back in action, Haru," Makarov said, clapping a hand on my shoulder.
"Good to be back, Gramps," I replied, a wide smile on my face. "Good to be back."
—
They day went on with no issues. I trained with Gajeel, him nearly begging me to take Natsu's spot. I had a chat with Jet, teased Gray, and refused 26 times for a fight against Natsu.
The sun was setting, as a cold breeze came around, sensing the arrival of the cold seasons. I grabbed a beer from Mira, before jumping on the roof. I really loved this spot. I layed down, my back against the highest point of the roof. I cracked my beer opened, and then started thinking everything out.
"I really fucked up.." I mumbled to myself. But before I could think about anything else, my marks on my arms started burning. Both of them? "Ow" I grimaced. After the pain left, I remained surprised. "Mavis, what was that about." I asked to myself, gaze fixed on my arms. I tried getting that out of my head, before thinking about that day we left to hunt down Zorath. I really did go all out. Remembering my actions, made some memories come back to the surface.
Suddenly, the world around me blurred, replaced by fragmented images and echoes of voices. I was back in.. Actually, I had no idea. The exact location was lost to me, shrouded in fog.
I saw glimpses of my younger self, no older than six, standing in the middle of a clearing. The wind rustled leaves—or trees?—and a stormy sky loomed overhead. Aelion, the wind phoenix, circled above, its feathers shimmering like the morning sky. Kirin, the thunder phoenix, perched nearby, crackling with electric energy. Or maybe they were just shadows flickering in the storm.
"Again, Haru!" Aelion's voice echoed, carried by the wind.
My younger self nodded, determination etched on his face. He raised his arms, struggling to control the swirling energy around him. A small cyclone formed, lifting leaves and debris, or perhaps it was dust and sand.
"Focus on the flow," Kirin's voice rumbled like distant thunder. "Feel the energy move through you, become one with it."
I watched as my younger self struggled, the cyclone faltering before dissipating entirely. Exhausted, I fell to my knees, panting heavily.
"Don't give up, Haru," Aelion encouraged. "You've got the spirit of a phoenix. Rise again."
Kirin's presence grew closer. "Power comes from within, but control is learned. Keep practicing, and you'll master it."
Their words, though harsh, were filled with an underlying warmth and belief in my potential. They trained me relentlessly, teaching me the ways of wind and thunder magic, pushing me beyond my limits. But the details were hazy, like trying to recall a dream after waking.
One day, after countless attempts, I finally succeeded. The cyclone roared to life, steady and strong, and bolts of lightning crackled within it. I had done it. I had combined their powers, creating something new, something powerful. At least for my age.
Aelion and Kirin's pride was palpable. "That's it, Haru!" Aelion exclaimed. "You've done it!"
"Remember this feeling," Kirin added. "This is just the beginning of your journey."
The flashback faded, and I was back on the roof of the guild. Once again, I checked my arms. "Where are you guys..." I mumbled. However, this time, the marks pulsated, blurring my vision completely. I had to close my eyes, pain surging under my skin.
When I opened them, I was once again within the past.
The scenery had changed dramatically. I was standing in a desolate, war-torn landscape. The air was thick with smoke, and the ground was scorched and broken. Crumbling ruins of what might have been a village lay around me, the remnants of some devastating battle. The sky above was a stormy gray, crackling with the distant sounds of thunder.
I saw my younger self, around six or seven, standing amidst the chaos. My eyes were wide with fear and confusion. Aelion and Kirin were there too, their voices frantic as they yelled words I couldn't understand. The urgency in their cries sent shivers down my spine.
Then, through the haze and destruction, a figure appeared, walking steadily towards me. His presence was dark and ominous, his expression calm yet menacing. Zeref, the Dark Mage, his black robes flowed like shadows around him, and his eyes seemed to pierce through the very soul.
"You are an interesting child," Zeref said, his voice echoing with a sinister calmness. "Such potential..."
My younger self stood frozen, unable to move as Zeref approached. Aelion and Kirin's cries grew louder, more desperate, but I still couldn't understand their words.
Zeref raised a hand, dark energy swirling around it. He began to chant ancient and forbidden words that sent a chills down my spine. The ground beneath me trembled, and a dark circle formed around my feet, pulsating with malevolent power.
"Remember this," Zeref's voice echoed as he completed the spell. "This is the price of your power."
Suddenly, the dark energy surged upwards, enveloping me in a cold, suffocating grip. My younger self screamed in agony, the pain unlike anything I had ever felt before. The dark circle glowed brighter, and I could feel the sinister magic seeping into my very being.
Aelion and Kirin, their voices filled with fury and desperation, rushed towards Zeref. The wind and thunder they commanded clashed violently with Zeref's dark magic, creating a chaotic storm of energy.
The flashback blurred and twisted, the pain and noise becoming too much to bear. The last thing I saw was the two phoenixes, their forms blazing with light, charging at Zeref with all their might.
And then, just as suddenly, I was back in the present. Gasping for breath, I found myself still on the roof, my arms throbbing with pain and the marks glowing fiercely. I collapsed back, my body trembling and my mind reeling.
"Aelion ... Kirin..." I whispered, tears welling in my eyes, my voice barely more than a rasp. I was completely out of breath, each inhalation a struggle.
"Haru?" I heard someone climbing up. Through the haze of my vision, I saw Gray peek over the edge, his expression a mix of concern and confusion. "Yo man, why are you yelling?"
My eyes widened as I realized tears were streaming down my face. I quickly wiped them away, trying to compose myself. "I—Sorry, I just had a bad dream, I guess."
Gray's gaze softened, though he still looked unsure. "Yeah, if you say so..." he replied, hesitating before dropping back down.
I caught my breath, the cool night air filling my lungs and helping to calm my racing heart. I glanced down at the marks on my arms, their glow slowly fading. "What are these marks anyway..." I muttered to myself.
"Gray!" I called, my voice urgent. Surprisingly, he peeked out not even a second later, concern etched on his face. "I knew it wasn't just a bad dream. Tell me."
I took a deep breath and explained everything to him, recounting the vivid flashbacks, the pain, and the mysterious marks. Gray listened, his expression growing serious.
Finally, I managed to take a sip of my beer, the cold liquid soothing my dry throat. "Yeah that's... weird?" Gray said, again unsure of his words. "You really have no idea where those marks come from?"
"Not a single one. Neither do I know where Kirin and Aelion went. Or even how they disappeared," I replied.
Gray nodded thoughtfully. "Reminds me of those Dragon Slayers. All the dragons disappeared the same day. Still no sign of them," he said, resting against the roof and staring up at the sky.
"Yeah, I don't even have any dates or clear memories. I can barely remember my past, as if something wasn't letting me. Those flashbacks just made me feel like I was fighting against myself," I said.
We both stayed up for a while. Eventually, sleep claimed us, taking us for a night full of thoughts and unanswered questions.
A/N : Done ! Those flashbacks were kinda hard to write, but I'm really pleased with the result. Let me know !
Next chapter will be about relationships development. And I won't say more !
Until then, see ya !
.Ney.