Natsu had a vague memory of burning.

The sensation was new to him, not entirely unpleasant, but foreign.

Natsu burned with every step he took. The earth burned with him.

He wasn't sure when he lost his body, nor could he pinpoint the moment he became the fire, instead of wielding it. It was comforting. If this was how Juvia felt, he couldn't understand why she would constrain herself to human shape, when she could be so much more.

There were times he missed his old body, times when he felt almost tangible again. Every so often, like an itch he couldn't scratch, he'd grow legs again. Feet that would once more walk with a purpose he couldn't understand. Thoughts that were his, yet Natsu was certain he had not thought them, would swirl in his head once more.

Then he would be reduced to ash. Legs would wonder no more, becoming fire as quick as they had arrived. It was a vicious cycle of self-destruction. An endless loop of suffering.

Natsu did not know why he kept moving.

There was a name that sat on his lips, that, on the days he had a tongue, would sound so very familiar. He could never quite utter it though, the words would burn with his mouth before a sound could escape. The sound would remain however, echoing within the fire that was now him. It would call to him, push him, pull him, drag him towards it. He would continue down the path it commanded, though he felt only misery awaited him at the end of this road.

There were times that his mind was clear. Or perhaps clearer. He could remember who he was, that he was once a person, not just fire. That he was searching for something and that was why he must continue. But awareness came at a terrible cost. His heart told him to continue like this, that he wouldn't like what he would see should he turn around. It whispered of something terrible, of something done that could never be undone. There was something awful that lay behind him, so he never turned back.

Not once.

In those moments of clarity, however brief, Natsu wondered about how his journey would end. That should he find whatever he was searching for; What then? He had a feeling that the path ahead did not lead to somewhere pleasant. Each metaphorical step made with the weight of a man walking to the gallows. Slow, yet desperate. What awaited him at the end of this road? Whose eyes would meet his as they tightened the noose?

He did not want to know the answer.

His body knew the way, even if Natsu didn't. Could it still be called muscle memory if he no longer had flesh? Regardless he walked familiar paths, routes and trails extending minutes into hours into days. Though he did not have eyes, he took comfort in the forests around him. Even on days he did not know his name, he knew that he had walked these paths before. Faceless companions, memories of a better time were contained in the trees around him. So he burned it all.

Natsu knew the end of his journey was rapidly approaching. There was an odd vibration that coursed through him the closer he got. He hoped that whoever was at the end of this path would forgive him for what he was about to do. He hoped they would be kind, though he himself lacked the ability. Malice and pain pushed him forward, increasing as he inched closer. Agony tainted his view, rage clouded what little judgement he had left.

It was time for it to end.

Alvarez was no stranger to foreign invasions, magical attacks or unexplained phenomena. Perhaps it was why mages of such a caliber as the Spriggan 12 gathered here. Perhaps it was a punishment for accepting the Black Mage as their Emperor. Whatever divine intervention, karma or plain misfortune came their way, Alvarez was equipped to deal with it. Which was why it came as a shock to Invel that something had managed to reach the capital without detection.

Numerous ethernano-sensing radars, frequent patrols and an army of millions stood ready, eager to protect their nation. Yet not a soul was prepared for the flame that brazenly waltzed into their city. It moved with purpose, rapidly approaching the castle as Invel rallied the (present) Spriggan 12. It was closer to a Spriggan 3, in this case, but he was confident that August, Ajeel and himself would be able to handle such a display.

Their recently gathered intel, plus reports from those on the ground, indicated that the ethernano reading from the event was so low, that it failed to trip any failsafes. Whatever pitiful magic had been sent their way must have burned through all its reserves before even entering their territory. Invel was certain that what had reached them was the echoes of a dying spell, cast by some incompetent mage.

Despite his confidence, Invel failed to convince his Majesty to remain in his study.

"Your Highness! Really-" Invel puffed as he tailed after the robed monarch, "August and Ajeel have this matter under their control. There is no need for someone as distinguished as yourself to attend to it."

His protest fell on deaf ears as Emperor of Alvarez continued down the grandiose halls of the palace. The Emperor paid Invel no heed as he continued though the place, head buried in a crumpled letter that he'd received this morning. It was a brief and generally unhelpful letter. Only 2 pages in total, one of which was solely taken up by the King's seal and various other titles and official assurances. Alvarez was on terrible terms with Fiore afterall. So much so that when Zeref was presented the letter, he half expected it to be a formal declaration of war. Yet in its totality the letter contained one page of text containing information that Zeref had read no less than 200 times in the past several minutes. Out of that single page of text, only one paragraph had pertained to the so-called 'disaster' approaching them. The remainder contained various references to Fiore's legal immunity from such an event and other nonsense he, quite frankly, did not have the patience for.

His staff were quite competent, they would not be employed if he did not believe that to be true, however the unknown nature of such a disaster sparked something dangerous within him. Curiosity.

Zeref did not fear whatever raced towards this castle at this very moment, the only fear he felt was the passing thought that he would not get to see this 'Eternal Flame' before August razed it from this planet's surface. It had been centuries since he had seen something new, and the thrill of discovery reminded him of his first days at the Mildian Academy of Magic.

Ahhh, the days of his youth, when he had so many unanswered questions, so many things yet to uncover.

Zeref quickened his pace, uncaring of Invel behind him as the itching in his palms increased. Oh, how he longed to take it apart, to meticulously disassemble it, to examine each part with a reverence only observed in the holiest of men. He wanted to know, desperately, what made it tick, what function did it serve and how far could he push it, warp it under his careful hands.

In his haste, Zeref had reached the castle's main entrance in a record time. Masses of well armoured men and women parted as he approached, none daring to impede the Emperor's path. In front of him lay a peculiar sight to say the least.

Ajeel had seemingly been trapped in a glass prison of his own making. Blood, no doubt his own, streaked down the ragged glass towards his prone form. Shards of malformed glass and sand littered the once pristine courtyard as the flames continued its assault.

Moving as one united front, the flames whipped towards August, who hovered above. August remained calm as the flames approached, tendrils of fire condensing and becoming an ocean of countless hands which reached towards him, eager to burn him within its grasp. August's practised hands quickly created countless magical shields which deflected the blows. Fiery hand after hand dissipated as it came in contact with a golden rune circle.

Waving his staff, August began his assault, a barrage of white beams beginning to target the base of the flames. The fire, with unnatural fluidity, manoeuvred around each arc of blinding light, opening and splitting itself so that August's magic drove only into the scorched earth that lay beneath. The barrage continued, the scope narrowing as the fires erratic movements slowed. The beams bore down harder, sending plumes of dust and smoke into the air, momentarily obscuring their vision of the flames. For a long moment, the only sound present was the dull impact of magic against earth as the crowd looked on.

Curling in on itself, the fire condensed, smaller and smaller, darting place to place before a lucky shot managed to graze it. Focused beam after beam rained down, covering the flickering flames with its oppressive force. For a moment, nothing happened. Onlookers held their breath, watching as the two forces of nature clashed, neither backing down. August increased his out, blinding light overtaking the scorched garden as the magical pressure in the air increased. Unable to resist, the fire made its last desperate reach towards August's body. It never made it. As the last beam struck, the fire shuddered then exploded, covering the courtyard in a blanket of embers and ash.

August halted his assault and waited with bated breath for the fire to come together once more.

It did not.

After a tense few seconds, he let out a slow breath and nodded to the onlookers.

"It is done." he spoke calmly, but with little room for argument. His eyes drifting over the clearing smoke, watching with the same intensity as an animal observes its prey. Small flames remained, however they were easily stomped out as the army on standby began their work. Ignoring the sound of Ajeel being freed from his prison and carted off, Zeref stepped forward, kneeling to examine the embers that had fallen on the grass in front of him. He frowned slightly as he scooped the smoldering remains in his hand, examining it. Reaching within the dying ember, Zeref found his answer.

Such a troublesome thing…

Before he could voice his thoughts, all hell broke loose once again.

The ember in his hand became flame in an instant, expanding rapidly under his gaze. Reacting just as fast, August readied his staff, before halting at Zeref's raised hand.

"Your Majesty?"

Zeref, unperturbed by the rapidly growing flames, smiled. It was an unusual sight, a gentle smile that Invel had never seen grace his Emperor's face. The Emperor still cradled the flame within his cupped hands, gazing upon it with pride. Zeref turned to them, Invel and August, uncaring as the fire raced past his hands.

"Do either of you have siblings?" Zeref asked them conversationally, as if his body wasn't being consumed before them. The flames covered his arms, leaving charred skin in its wake. Unperturbed, Zeref made no attempt to dispel the flames; instead to their collective horror, he reached further within. Magic pulsed from his outstretched hand. Wrapped in flames, Zeref reached deep within the fire, his burned hand clasping around something .

Before their eyes, Zeref began to pull.

The flames moved wildly, split between trying to consume the man further, or flee from the unpleasant sensation that emanated from within. The protest did nothing to stop Zeref as he continued to pull. Endlessly the fire began to fold in on itself, strengthening and becoming almost unbearable to the eyes as it did. With a final solid yank, something began to emerge from the fire.

Fire coiled together, knitting itself in a form unknown to them. They watched in stunned silence as a body was pulled from the flame. As though expecting this outcome, Zeref only continued his earlier thought, "Well? Do you?"

Invel and August shook their heads slowly, puzzled as the man continued.

"I see. If you did, you would know just how excellent they are at getting themself into trouble." Zeref, gave one final pull as a figure emerged from the flames and fell into his awaiting arms. Zeref tutted, clearly amused. "When you've been an older brother as long as I have, you become very good at cleaning up their messes."

The Emperor looked down fondly at the unconscious body in his arms. He looked exactly as Zeref remembered him, even if it had been almost a year from their fateful meeting at Tenrou. He allowed his gaze to linger on the minor burns on his arms for a moment before sighing and carrying Natsu inside. Less than a year difference, yet he had become so strong. It wouldn't be long now till Natsu would be strong enough to do what Zeref could not.

Whispering to himself as he walked away, Zeref wondered how much time they had left.

"Welcome home, Natsu."

Having the Emperor's (previously unknown) younger brother in their care proved to be a difficult case. What Zeref had said that day rang true, Natsu really was excellent at causing trouble.

After the initial shock of his arrival wore off, Invel trailed behind Zeref, followed by an equally curious August. It wasn't often they learned much about their illustrious Emperor. His 300 year long reign, beginning from the conception of their nation, was well documented but little else was known about the man. They had concluded, incorrectly, that Zeref's family had passed long before he founded the empire. Typically, having no relatives would complicate matters when it came to succession of power, however Alvarez never faced such an issue. They had only had one Emperor, and as they all assumed, there only would ever be one. Yet here he was, a contradiction to everything Invel believed.

"My Lord, " Invel spoke, finally gaining his voice, "May I enquire as to who exactly that is?" He allowed his gaze to fall over the still form in the Emperor's arms.

Zeref looked amused at his question, as if the answer was obvious. "This," he punctuated, looking down at the man, "is my younger brother, Natsu Dragneel. The resemblance is uncanny, is it not?"

The man, (or boy? He did not appear to be much older than 17, though Invel was aware looks could be deceiving. Case and point: Their own Emperor.) had deeply tanned skin and unruly mop of semi-long pink hair that stood in stark difference to Emperor's own pallid complexion and pitch black hair. This was Invel's roundabout way of saying, they appeared nothing alike. Where Zeref was deathly pale and exuded and aura of cold intelligence, the unknown boy had been feral, almost bestial. Looking closely at the lax face, Invel could see a slight similarity there, the shape of their eyes, the curve of their noses somewhat matched one another. But it was hardly enough to convince him at first glance. Only his Emperor's sheer confidence in the fact stopped Invel from outwardly doubting the claim.

Invel swallowed uncomfortably at the statement, which was clearly not said in jest. "Ah, um- yes, you two are…" he struggled for a moment, attempting to find the correct words, "...similar."

Zeref beamed at this, not at all phased by Invel's uncertainty. Walking through the halls at a much calmer pace then when he arrived, Zeref continued.

"I hadn't quite expected him to turn up when he did, much less in that form, but…" He trailed off, distracted by his own racing thoughts. Whilst he was thrilled Natsu was here, the question of why now? , echoed through Zeref's mind.

Last time we met, the seal was still in place. What could have caused Natsu to break it in such a way? He was nowhere near ready less than a year ago, not even close…what had changed?

As far as I was aware, Tartaros had yet to figure out how to override the seal without completely destroying it. They were still in the early stages of their F.A.C.E. plan. Mard Geer was clever, but not clever enough to have done this.

...Perhaps trauma?

Natsu's powers were closely tied to negative emotions, far more prone to volatile outburst due to his human composition. But why? What could have pushed him to such a limit that he would lose all sense of self? Natsu had abandoned all the safety-guards and self-preservation instincts and allowed himself to be consumed.

Zeref suddenly stopped, cursing himself for his terrible memory.

Acnologia.

He was a damn fool! Zeref had left that island shortly after sensing Acnologia's power. Mavis had been there too but…their relationship was tumultuous at best. Zeref had trusted her to intervene if necessary...so why didn't she?

If Acnologia's roar hit Tenrou, the minimum time needed for an equivalent protection spell was approximately 6 years of ethernano accumulation, perhaps longer. If she cast it, then how was Natsu here? Did it fail? Did she choose not to meddle in the affairs of the living?

A dark thought crossed Zeref's mind. One he wished he could silence. He had not been exactly…subtle when meeting Natsu. Had she known what Natsu meant to him, what he truly was? Had she chosen not to save him?

Did she really hate me that much? Did she mean for Natsu to suffer in my place?

Zeref had initially planned to temporarily mend the seal and send him home, much preferring Natsu to grow at his own pace, even if it meant being apart. But until he could confirm what had happened on Tenrou Island…he tightened his grip on Natsu. Zeref had given them his greatest gift, his best creation, and this was how they returned him? Six months they had let him wander the continent. Six months he had been walking, in agony as he tore himself apart, again and again. They tossed him aside, like a broken toy they no longer wished to play with.

Zeref turned darkly to Invel. Fury could not begin to quantify the anger he felt. "Call the Spriggan 12 to the castle, all personnel on non-essential assignments will be expected. If they complain, tell them it's a direct order from me. There's something crucial I'd like to address. " Zeref paused for a moment, considering his words. "We will also be welcoming a new member, during this time."

Invel nodded, closing his eyes for a moment before responding "The travel logistics alone will take a minimum of a week to process. Then there's the additional time needed to onboard , as well as arranging the security clearances-"

Zeref halted Invel with a single look. "How long?"

Invel was silent for a moment, eyes darting back and forth as he ran though several lists of mental calculations before meeting Zeref's eyes. "Two months."

"So be it. August, with me."

Zeref turned on his heel sharply, signaling the end of the conversation. Behind him, Invel flew into action, barking out a series of lengthy and complex orders to an awaiting guard, who all but froze under his icy gaze. August followed Zeref silently, despite his curiosity, towards his next assignment.

The first two weeks of Natsu's arrival were tumultuous, to say the least.

Whilst several palace staff began setting up a large room for their unexpected guest and Zeref, August began placing several protective wards. Curiously enough, though understandable given what he had witnessed, the wards were concentrated to contain what lay within, rather than outside threats. Shortly after finishing, August was dismissed and the large oaken door was closed and barred from the inside.

That was the last time anyone had seen the Emperor. Occasionally noises could be heard from outside the room. Sometimes the soft lilt of Zeref's voice, or a calm chanting. Other times the crackling of fire and an inhuman screeching that echoed in the minds of eavesdroppers long after the voice had fallen silent.

For thirteen days and nights, the castle held its breath.

Much to Zeref's disappointment, but not to his surprise, Natsu had not been lucid the first time he awoke. Nor the second. Or third.

Or fourth.

In total he had woken on thirty-three different occasions and launched himself at Zeref. Claws made to rend flesh and bone, would reach for him, desperate to find purchase in his body. Fire made to melt souls and raze countries would cover Zeref. And it would hurt. It would burn with the power of a thousand suns, setting his nerves aflame with agony. But it would not kill him.

It would never kill him.

There would be times where Natsu would descend back into flame. His physical body would burn to ash beneath Zeref's fingers, bringing forward memories he'd left behind centuries ago. There would be moments when Zeref plunged his hand into flame, that he could not find anything. Mere seconds of uncertainty lasted hours as he searched frantically. Then the sharp pulses of his magic would bring Natsu's twisted soul forth, knitting him a new body as Zeref would pull . He would pull Natsu forward with every fiber of his being. Zeref would pull him forward into the tightest embrace possible, despite the claws in his back, and he would hold him. Zeref would hold him together for as long as Natsu's body would allow it.

Then the cycle would begin again.

It was a slow change. Barely perceptible, but Zeref knew Natsu better than Natsu knew himself. He had reconstructed him, afterall. Zeref had rebuilt him, with his own hands. He had pulled Natsu apart and sewn him together more times than he could count. Zeref knew Natsu in his entirety. which is why he noticed such changes.

Natsu had begun to speak. At first it was nothing but screams, bloody wails that promised death. Then it became a name. Zeref's name. Over and over, Natsu would repeat it like a mantra.

A prayer.

After that, the flames died. So rarely now did Natsu call the fire out, preferring to attack him directly. How Zeref wished Natsu had tried to hug him, rather than sink his talons in his back. Still, Zeref would think in these moments, watching as Natsu struggled to remove a claw that would catch on his rib cage. Progress is progress.

The moments Natsu wasn't there, Zeref occupied himself with his work. He would layer spell after spell, ward after ward against Natsu's skin. Measures and countermeasures were written on him in an effort to rein in the power that threatened to consume him once more. Zeref hoped they wouldn't be permanent, that he would be able to remove them once he retrieved the book. He hated how much of Natsu's bare flesh had been marked with runic circles and seals.

On the morning of the tenth day, Natsu awoke quietly.

He wasn't really all there, Zeref could tell by the faraway look in his eyes, but he was more aware than he'd been previously. Natsu had looked at him for a long time that morning. He had stared intently at Zeref, peeling back each carefully concealed layer of him, examining it closely before turning it over and over again in his mind. Suddenly, as if finding something unpleasant, Natsu turned from him, rolling towards the covered window. For the first time since arriving, he spoke something other than Zeref's name.

"You should have let me die."

It was said quietly, so quietly that for a moment, Zeref wondered if it was real. He wondered if it was a cruel trick of the mind. A moment passed in silence.

Then two.

Natsu did not speak again that day. Nor the next.

Although neither of them needed sleep, nor food for that matter, Natsu chose to sleep rather than face him. Nothing Zeref did got any reaction, nothing he said made any difference. Natsu would just lay there, his back to Zeref, silent. Reaching the end of his rope, Zeref left the room for the first time in 13 days.

Even at this time of night, the kitchen was a rush of activity as palace staff and chefs pottered around prepping ingredients and idly chatting amongst themselves. The moment Zeref entered the kitchen, they had frozen, becoming stiff as he passed them quietly.

His usual commanding presence was gone, and in its place was a haggard and exhausted man. His face carried a weight unfitting of his eternally youthful appearance and his once grand clothes hung in crooked tatters off his slim frame. Without a word of warning, Zeref began to pick through various produce strewn about the area.

The kitchen staff had quietly gathered, off to one side as they watched him work. His skill was exceeding average when it came to knife work, instead their fascination directed towards items he'd chosen. Fish, onion and leek were taken, chopped roughly, and slid into an awaiting pot of red wine and beef stock. Over the simmering mixture, they watched as Zeref pulled an unfamiliar dried herb out thin air, as well as several common ones and began to prepare them. He tossed most of the common herbs gathered from the kitchen into the pot immediately before turning his attention to the remaining plant. With practised hands, he picked off the dried flower buds and set them aside. Taking the roots, Zeref ground into pungent powder before dusting it into the mix. The moment the powder hit the soup, a delicate aroma filled the room.

As it hit his nose, Zeref was taken back to a time long ago. To when he would duck between his mothers legs as she cooked. He would look up at her, eyes wide, as she would grind the levisticum officinale into a thick paste. Tasting the mix, she would nod to herself before calling to them softly. Zeref recalled fondly how she would bend down to him and ask him to grab some of the fresh flowers from their small garden. She would then lift him up and watch him sprinkle the petals, which bruised in his eager grip, over the top of the finished stew.

Minutal Marinum.

A meal eaten by no one.

Though their home was burned, and their culture with it, Zeref would discover many years later that the plant had survived under a different name, Lovage. It had spread through fiore though it was considered an unpalatable, bitter weed that was no longer cultivated or eaten. It was funny to him, in a way that made his eyes burn, that the only memory of his people that remained, lived on through a detested weed.

Zeref smiled softly as he ladeled a small amount of stew into two bowls before topping it with the last of the dried flowers. He left the kitchen as abruptly as he arrived, pot still steaming as he walked away. Opening the door to their shared room carefully, Zeref slid inside and sat at the end of Natsu's bed.

The gentle aroma of softly poached fish in a flavourful broth reached his nose before it had even been passed to him. Natsu did not look at Zeref as he took the bowl.

How long had it been since he had eaten?

Natsu had no idea how long had passed since Tenrou. Zeref looked the same to him now as he did then. He had lost all sense of time as he wallowed in his grief and the brief moments of awareness he had when he came here (where was he?) gave no indication of how much time had passed, if it had passed at all. Wordlessly, he raised the steaming spoon to his mouth, not bothering to blow as he ate.

The flavour was simple. A rich salty soup, the distinct tang of red wine and a floral burn that covered his tongue. But it was a taste he had long forgotten, yet was so achingly familiar that it made his eyes burn as he tried to remember the first time he had tasted this flavour.

He couldn't.

Frustration mounting, Natsu thought of throwing the bowl at Zeref, though the temporary satisfaction would be short-lived. Instead he settled for taking another spoonful. For a brief moment, he saw a woman looking at him kindly. There was no sign of the wound that killed her. Her face was soft and gentle as she looked at him in a way no one else had since. Natsu quietly put the bowl down to rest. He still did not remember her name.

Zeref watched him closely, not daring to speak as he sat with Natsu, enjoying his stew at a slow pace. Despite feeling Zeref's eyes on him, Natsu did not face him whilst he spoke.

"You can't bring them back like you did for me, can you?" There it was, the reason for his journey here. But he had known the answer before ever setting foot outside his door.

Zeref gently stirred his soup, entranced by movement of the flowers in the broth. "No. I can't. I've already given Ankhseram everything he wants, I have nothing left to bargain with." Zeref stopped, taking a bite of his meal before speaking once again. "You won't be able to either. You have nothing he wants."

The silence continued for a while after he had spoken. Sensing he would have to do most of the talking, Zeref continued.

"It's not just a simple manner of knowing what spell to cast. It's more than that. In order to bridge the boundary of life and death, something must be taken. The toll is steep for those willing to pay. But if you do, the knowledge becomes ingrained in you. When I…brought you back…you glimpsed it too. You may not remember, but it is still within you, the memory of death." Zeref lay his bowl on the floor, appetite lost. "You learned the truth, and so you also had to pay. Our price was different, yet the outcome is the same…"

"...was it my fault they died?"

Zeref hummed, contemplating the question for a moment. "Everything dies eventually. One day, even our bodies will be subject to nature's oldest rule; Erosion . Our bodies may no longer age but our minds will continue to erode, till nothing of what makes You.. you remains. Everything decays with time. Even if your body does not fail, your mind will eventually will. So no. I don't think it was your fault. We are all destined to die from the moment we take our first breath."

Cryptic. Natsu looked straight at him this time, one last question burning on his tongue. "Do you regret it?"

The question seemed to stop Zeref, if only for a moment, before he smiled. "No. Not a day goes by that I regret bringing you back. True yes, I regret who I have become, the things I have done and the people I've hurt, but never you. Given the opportunity, knowing everything I do now, I would do it again."

Zeref left him shortly after that, taking two empty bowls with him.

Romeo was the son of a wizard. He was used to an empty house. He used to coming home to no one. He was old enough now to take care of himself when his dad went away. He didn't even cry anymore when he left.

So why was this time different?

Maybe because his dad had been gone for longer than he'd ever been gone before. Maybe it was because he didn't say goodbye this time before he left. Did he leave because Romeo had yelled at him?

He didn't mean to.

Romeo was beginning to run out of food. His dad usually stocked up before he left, or paid for Romeo to eat at the guild. But there wasn't a guild anymore and his dad hadn't bought anything before leaving. There was an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach the past few days. It was a hollow gnawing feeling that persisted, even when he went to sleep. Romeo slept by the door these days, waiting for it to swing open.

It never did.

Uncle Wakaba hadn't come to see him. He hadn't seen Natsu-nii in a long time either. He'd tried a few times, to leave and go find them. Uncle Wakaba lived close by, he knew the way well. Romeo had knocked on his door for hours, but he didn't answer. Neither did Uncle Wakaba's wife, or daughter. After waiting all day for Uncle Wakaba, Romeo had thought about venturing into the forest where Natsu-nii lived. His dad told him he was never supposed to go on his own, there were monsters and wild animals. There wasn't really a path for him to follow either, it all looked the same.

Romeo always made it to the third tree over the river before he would turn and run back home.

He knew he wasn't supposed to speak with strangers, but this time it would be okay, right? Romeo didn't pass a single person on his way home one fateful night. The streets were empty. Every house light was off.

He was almost 8 eight now, too old to be crying because he was lonely.

Romeo couldn't stop the tears that rolled down his face, nor wipe away the snot that sat above his trembling lips.

As he sat on an abandoned street corner that night, the city had been bathed in an orange glow. Distantly he noted that it was far too early in the night for it to be sunrise. Romeo did not know how long he sat there and cried. As his eyes closed, burning with the residue of his tears, Romeo heard a voice.

"-Shit! Hey Rufus!" A large figure loomed over the boy, beckoning to another. "Looks like this one didn't get the memo. Think we should take him with us?"

A second, more slender figure paused, surprised to see that his comrade had indeed been telling the truth. They had missed one. Taping two fingers to his forehead, the man, Rufus, spoke. "If you recall, all civilians should be taken to the evacuation point C, Orga. Taking a child to the front line of a literal firefight is highly inadvisable. You'd do well to remember that."

The larger man, Orga, huffed before producing a crumpled paper. "Yeah I know that, but look here." He pointed at one of the faded photos on the page, "I think this is that missing wizard's kid, y'know the one that cowboy couple was lookin' for."

Embarrassed, Rufus looked away. "Ah. Erm yes…that kid."

"Seriously? You still got that hang-up with kids, Mr. 'I never forget a face' " Orga laughed in earnest at his partner's flushed cheeks. With ease only possible from his large size, Orga hefted the unconscious child over his shoulder and began to walk towards their temporary encampment.

"Shut-up you oaf! It's not that I can't remember them, I choose not to! Why bother committing to memory a face that's going to change in a few months anyway!"

"I don't think that's how faces work, bud."

"Oh whatever. I honestly can't with you sometimes-" Rufus began to walk towards Orga before pausing. " -where are you going? Evacuation point C is the other way."

Orga smiled as looked behind him. "Back to camp, of course. The Master won't want to let an opportunity like this go to waste."

"...I hope that couple is rich. Master Jiemma won't be letting a Fairy Tail kid go for cheap." There was a small trace of pity in Rufus' voice as he spoke.

The two walked back in silence illuminated by a fiery orange glow.