July 7, x?
The richness of Ishgar's land housed all types of creatures in the lush forests.
Deer and wolves played a cat-and-mouse game through the nights, fish littered the raging rivers and sparkling streams, and various insects buzzed in the wind.
A misty spring breeze splashed from the waterways, and the sun trickled through the dense canopy. The forests of Ishgar were some of the most beautiful in the world, and the animals it housed were finely attuned to their environment. Prey was constantly vigilant of the next predator out for their hide, from the darkest night to the brightest morning.
That's why when a boy with studded eyebrows and long, shaggy black hair trailing down his back like a lion's mane, clad in a sleeveless black tunic and white pants, stepped on a twig, the deer he'd been stalking didn't hesitate to bolt.
"OI! GET THE FUCK BACK HERE!" The boy, no older than 12, roared, red eyes latching onto the fleeing deer as he hurriedly booted through the woods. His boots crunched against the ground as he jumped to the nearest tree, scaling it with the skill of a mountain cat and continuing the chase from above. The boy had been hunting the stupid deer all night, following it till it got to a stream for a morning drink. He wasn't letting it escape.
"You're not getting away!" The boy laughed, an excited grin crawling up his lips as he glided through the canopy. His eyes flashed hungrily as the deer took a straight away and left the boy an opening he couldn't refuse. Not when breakfast was on the line.
"Iron Dragon Slayer Magic"
The boy pulled back his arm, the familiar feeling of cold durability and strength becoming his skin as he threw a metal-coated punch.
"Iron Dragon's Lance"
The end of his fist turned into a giant iron pole and extended straight into the deer's back, slamming it into the ground and killing it instantly. The blood of the animal splattered across the ground as the force of his attack cracked the earth through the dead deer. Leaving splinters in the dirt that he knew Metallicana would get on his ass about.
"Shit," the boy murmured, scratching his head as he retracted his Lance, walking to the deer carcass with a groan, "Too much power again."
Metallicana had recently been training him to control his power, babbling on about how 'too much force was just as bad as too little.'
The boy let the parental speeches go in one ear and out the other. Metallicana could spin it however he wanted, but hitting the deer too softly might cause it to escape.
Hitting it too hard still meant breakfast.
"Thanks for the meal." The boy said to the dead deer, tapping its belly with his foot before he turned his right hand to iron. He used the same magic as before to sharpen his fingernails until he had an iron claw ready to skin the animal quickly.
Halfway through skinning his next meal, he heard a voice intent on running his morning.
"GAJEEL!" A booming roar echoed through the forest, startling birds into flight and eliciting a loud groan from the boy.
"Fuck," Gajeel cursed as he looked up. He scowled as a giant, four-legged beast descended from above. It had silver scales reminiscent of armor plating lining its jagged wings and body. It had razor-sharp teeth and giant claws the size of branches. Its black eyes were shadowed by the armor-like scales covering its face, leaving only its thin white pupils visible.
When the dragon fell from the sky and landed, it left a hole in the canopy and shook the ground. Its claw rested on the dead deer as it growled, "What's this?"
"Breakfast."
"Breakfast doesn't usually have broken ribs." Metallicana accused, holding up the limp carcass as dirt chips fell off it.
Metallicana's eyes narrowed before the dragon pointed to the broken ground, "Nor does it normally crack the ground it dies on."
"Must've been a fat deer." Gajeel clicked his tongue, "Where were you anyways? You left days ago. I've already been hunting this shit all night."
"I was talking to an old," Metallicana scowled, as if it was impossible to use 'friend' when referring to whoever he was talking about.
"Red bastard." Metallicana shook his head and directed his scowl at Gajeel. "Now stop changing the subject. Why'd you hunt the deer this way?"
"I was hungry."
"No shit," Metallicana scowled, "I mean, why did you use so much force. How often do I have to teach you something before it sticks."
"Apparently more than a million fucking times since that's how much I've already heard it." Gajeel's irritation boiled over as he shouted, throwing his hands in the air, "So what now? Gonna take away my food after you bore me to death, old man."
"You! You, insolent little boy," Metallicana growled as he leaned down to be nose-level with Gajeel. "This is what you humans call puberty, isn't it?"
Metallicana scowled, "Isn't there a 'talk' I have to give you now? I have no idea how human mating rituals work, but if it's anything like dragons, your wimpy ass won't have many prospects."
"Fuck off," Gajeel snapped reflexively before his brain processed something besides the insult, and he sputtered, "Wait the talk? No! Who- just no!"
Gajeel's face burned as he slammed his hands over his ears, "Ru already gave me the damn talk, so just fuck off!" Gajeel growled, "And I ain't going through puberty! You're just an asshole!"
"Agree to disagree," Metallicana huffed, relaxing slightly as he leaned back and said, "But remind me to thank Ru later. I was not looking forward to that particular conversation, brat."
"Trust me, neither was I," Gajeel grumbled as he removed his hands from his ears.
Covering his ears hadn't really done much; thanks to his heightened senses, he could hear more than the average human, so if Metallicana had given him the dragon version of the birds and the bees, he probably would've just had to suffer through it.
Compared to that, whatever punishment Metallicana was getting ready to doll out seemed minor.
"So," Gajeel clicked his tongue, "What you got for me this time? Let's just get it over with it. I'm starving."
"I'm sure you are," Metallicana rolled his eyes, leaning back so he was sitting at full height. His lips quirked in a mischievous smile as he nudged the dead deer, "Share half of it with the village."
"What! Why!" Gajeel snapped, pointing at the deer corpse, "They wouldn't even want it! Anytime I go, there all they do is talk shit behind my back. They don't even believe me when I tell them you're my dad! Why should I give up half my deer for them?"
"Because you were the one that wanted to kill it recklessly."
"Who cares if it's reckless?" Gajeel's eyes twitched, "It's dead, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it's dead," Metallicana said, handing Gajeel a half-skinned deer carcass, silencing Gajeel's protest with a silent gaze as the dragon left.
"But humans are more fragile than deer, Gajeel." Metallicana said, "Most humans, anyways."
Gajeel flinched, clenching his teeth as he watched Metallicana take off into the morning sky and fly toward the mountain cave where they lived.
Gajeel looked down at the half-skinned deer in his arms, its soft muscles and broken bones protruding from odd places as it lay limply in his arms.
He imagined he was carrying a human and decided to get to the village before noon.
Gyre village was on the outskirts of one of Ishgar's many countries. Its population was less than a hundred, and its houses were made of wood and hard work. Located deeper in one of Ishgar's more dangerous forests, it was hard to imagine they lived unprepared. Monsters were common.
Dragons were less so.
Maybe that's why only one person in the village believed Gajeel when he said his father was a dragon.
"Hey, look! Gajeel's back. Maybe his 'dad' gave him some deer meat to share with us." One of the village boys laughed as Gajeel walked out of the woods with a deer on his shoulders. Blocking out all the usual taunts thrown his way, he walked towards the other edge of town, where Ru lived.
He tried keeping his head down. Metallicana would get pissed if he beat up someone that wasn't a mage, even if they were his age and asking for it.
If Gajeel's ears weren't so sensitive, he might've actually been successful.
"He was out talking to his 'dad' again." One of the boys whispered to another, "What do you think happened? Did he get tired of him and fly away?"
"What'd you say, dickhead!" Gajeel growled, scaring the whispering assholes as he dropped his deer and stomped towards them, "Try saying that to my face next time, you fucking pussies!"
"Scatter! He's gone mad!" one of the village boys yelled, and the rest ran away as Gajeel moved to curb-stomp them.
Fortunately for them, his hunt was halted as a hand grabbed his shoulder. "Come on, Gajeel. Spare them, would you? If they get hurt, I'll have to bandage them, and I just woke up. Don't give me extra work."
Gajeel glanced back, his scowl faltering slightly, as he saw a young man in a red long-sleeved tunic and white pants.
He had lightly tanned peach skin, angular facial features, and long black hair, partially fashioned in a ponytail and the rest hanging over his right eye. Hiding the burn scar, Gajeel knew to lay beneath it, leaving his right pupil pale white, and the left its natural, deep black coloring.
"Fuck off," Gajeel grumbled without venom, shrugging off Ru's hand, "Maybe you shouldn't have woken up at fucking noon then, dumbass."
"But I was sooooo tired."
"And I was sooooo hungry, but here I am." Gajeel clicked his tongue, glancing at the deer, "Oi, Ru, can you cook that? I'll give you half."
"Really? You? Sharing food?" Ru chuckled in disbelief, "What's the special occasion?"
"Metallicana said I have to give half to the village."
"Ah, that makes more sense." Ru nodded, walking towards the edge of town where he lived, "Well, I won't say no. I'm assuming I get half, then."
"Fucking obviously." Gajeel grinned, picking up the deer as he followed, "You count as village. Besides, you're the only one who will appreciate my deer. Everyone else would probably spit on it."
"I think you underestimate how tasty good venison is." Ru laughed, walking through the villages as whispers from nearby families followed. He didn't acknowledge he heard them, but Gajeel could hear the rumors. The whispers by the closed-off villagers, trying to keep their distance, were annoying.
"What's he doing with him..."
"So casual with a god..."
"Kid's bad news..."
"What if he angers the god..."
"Jungle boy..."
They were also stranger than he remembered them being. He was used to whispers calling him a delinquent or a rabid kid and the looks of caution and disgust that came with them. It wasn't new.
The god shit was new.
The fact that they were looking at Ru with the same caution was new, although the disgust they showed Gajeel was replaced by reverence. It was weird.
"Oi, Ru, Why do they call you a god?" Gajeel asked, trying to seem uninterested as they got to Ru's small lodge on the edge of town. Gajeel set his deer in the fire pit in the center of the yard and scaled a nearby tree, waiting for an answer as he picked an apple.
"I guess people think I'm strong."
"Strong as a god?" Gajeel frowned, munching on his apple, "That's dumb."
"It is, isn't it?" Ru laughed, holding up his finger as black fire flickered to life. He set it to the fire pit, and the sizzle of cooking meat instantly filled the air.
"I don't really get it myself," Ru shrugged, making sure his black fire didn't turn the deer into charcoal, "but when people find something so strong they can't understand it, they consider it divine. Even though my magic isn't anything special."
"Oi, I wouldn't go that far." Gajeel clicked his tongue, "Of course your magic is special, Ru. Don't be a dumbass."
Gajeel didn't buy the whole god shit, Ru was Ru, he'd always been Ru. Still, Gajeel wouldn't act like Ru wasn't an incredible mage.
His fire magic was next level.
"Metallicana said he hasn't seen stronger fire magic than yours." Gajeel rubbed his neck, "He said that your fire magic is, and I'm quoting, so don't say shit, 'good enough to give that old red bastard a run for his money.' That's a compliment."
"How?"
"I'm pretty sure the dumb red bastard is a fire dragon." Gajeel tilted his head, "I think I met him once while fighting his kid, but I didn't catch his name. Pretty sure he's a fire dragon, though, got red scales and everything."
"I guess it is a massive compliment then." Ru chuckled, closing his fist as he tapped the back of the deer corpse, "But I'd have to disagree. Compared to a dragon, my magic isn't there yet. I'd still have trouble burning a dragon's scales and hide. Or outlasting a dragon in a firefight. My magic may burn hot, but it isn't perfect. Much less godly."
"Well, what else could you change about it?" Gajeel asked, glancing at the quickly cooking venison. He never really thought about it, but Ru's magic was different. If fire were meant to burn, then his fire magic would have done that better than anything else.
It seemed complete.
That was special.
Ru disagreed.
"I'm thinking of adopting what the dragon slayers do." Ru said, flicking his finger as wisps of black fire spouted from his fingertips, curling into branches before sizzling, "My fire still burns me. I'm thinking of getting rid of that drawback."
"You're gonna become like me?" Gajeel grinned.
That would be fucking awesome. The only other dragon slayers he'd met were the kids Metallicana introduced him to, and they were cool, but he could beat them in a fight if he wanted to. No matter what, the pink-haired dumbass said otherwise.
He couldn't beat Ru in a fight, so if he became a slayer, it would be like having the strongest slayer up for grabs as a sparring partner, and Gajeel would be damned if he didn't get first dibs. Besides the other dragon slayers and the nice lady with blond hair, Ru was the only person Gajeel considered a friend.
"You serious?" Gajeel asked, smiling, "You're not yanking my chain here?"
"Dead serious. I'm going to try to become like you, and if I can't, I'll at least ensure someone else could become like you," Ru murmured. "From what Metallicana told me, there's an important physical aspect. That's why a lot of the original dragon slayers died. They couldn't handle it."
"They were wimps." Gajeel scoffed, trying not to think about when he first learned magic. Coating his skin felt like knives, and eating iron was like swallowing lead. It hurt, and it took years for the pain to end, but once it was over, Gajeel could use Iron Dragon Slayer Magic.
"I survived it because I was strong." Gajeel smirked, "You're strong, too, so I'm sure you'll survive."
"That's good news." Ru chuckled, "In that case, I'll try to make my body like yours. You don't get hurt by your own element and can even eat it. I'm going to try and make myself into something similar."
"How?" Gajeel asked, "You going to ask Metallicana? He doesn't use fire, though; he uses iron. Unless you want him to introduce you to the big red bastard he always complains about. They could teach you."
"No, I think I'll pass. I already know who Metallicana is talking about, and he's too busy to see someone as ordinary as me." Ru smirked, "Besides, Metallicana's already told me all he could."
Ru pointed his finger as a group of smaller children that didn't know any better arrived, tempted by the smell of roasting deer corpse. The children looked around aimlessly as Gajeel huffed, annoyed because these were five-year-olds, and he couldn't punch them.
They didn't know fear yet. They weren't scared of him.
But they were curious—curious about the black fire cooking the deer. But before they could wander too close, Ru flicked his finger as a whisper of black fire escaped, blooming into a cherry blossom. Its black petals were taken with the wind, gliding above the children, just out of reach, and moving them away from the dangerous bonfire.
"There is a woman in Dragnof who's said to be an expert on dragon slayer magic," Ru murmured as his magic steered the children away. "I'm going to try asking her. Then I'll try to create a magic similar to dragon slayer magic. Except this time, I'll use my magic as a basis instead of Dragon's magic. It'll be something else entirely. Something new."
"It'll be Fire God Slayer Magic."
"Yeah- wait, What? No." Ru frowned, "Why would I call it that? I don't want to slay a god with my magic. That sounds painful."
"You got no fucking taste." Gajeel grumbled, "Look, You're already a 'god' ain't cha. You might as well lean into it. Hell, your magic is Fire God Magic."
"I never agreed to that name."
"So when you become like me, call it Fire God Slayer Magic." Gajeel grinned, ignoring Ru's tired expression. "It makes sense."
Gajeel smirked, and the fire god looked around helplessly, "You're not helping the rumors, Gajeel."
"Fuck the rumors! If they want to call you a god, that's their problem!" Gajeel smiled and pounded his fist into his open palm, "All I care about is that you fight me after you become a Fire God Slayer. Metallicana said he'd consider it a miracle if I could beat you. So when you return from meeting that chick in Dragno or whatever, let's fight."
"You seem too excited about this."
"I'm gonna wipe that damn smirk off his dumb metal face!" Gajeel laughed maniacally, already planning on what he'd do. Metallicana always let him get a new piercing whenever he did something cool, so beating Ru would be at least enough for the nose studs he wanted. Or maybe even the arm ones.
"Actually, fuck it," Gajeel grinned eagerly, standing up on the branch as he reared back his fist, "Let's fight now!"
"Oh look, lunch is ready," Ru said, casually sliding to the left as an iron lance slammed into the ground where he'd been standing. Shattering as Ru leaned over to dull the fire and cut the deer, his back wide open as Gajeel took the opening.
"You're mine, Ru!" Gajeel roared as he jumped towards Ru's defenseless back, rearing another Lance as he aimed and fired. His lance extended out, and Ru turned fresh venison in his hand before snapping a spinning kick into Gajeel's head, sending the dragon slayer flying into the woods.
"Thanks for the food, Gajeel!" Ru waved as Gajeel was sent through tree after tree, smashing through at least ten of them before he stopped, stuck in the bark and lacquer of the old forest vegetation.
When Gajeel passed out, it was to the smell of fresh venison.
When Gajeel woke up, he was greeted by the smell of cold venison. He blinked away the concussion as he looked up at the afternoon sky.
He also saw Ru standing over him, holding half of the cooked deer carcass in his hands, "You woke up quicker that time, Gajeel. You've gotten better."
"Dammit," Gajeel scowled, ignoring his headache as he jumped up and snatched the deer carcass with his mouth. Tearing into it angrily as he grumbled through each bite, "How long was I out?"
"Only an hour or two."
"Fuck, next time you're fucked." Gajeel muttered, viciously eating his deer as he used it to take out the rest of his anger. "I'm gonna kick your ass Ru."
"I'm looking forward to it," Ru smirked, leaning against a nearby tree as Gajeel instantly tore through half his portion.
Gajeel was about to eat the rest until his sensitive ears picked up Ru's stomach grumbling.
Gajeel looked up from his deer, narrowing his eyes as Ru looked at him curiously.
Gajeel growled, "What happened to your food?"
"I ate it."
"You fuckin liar," Gajeel clicked his tongue as he tore off a deer leg and tossed it to Ru.
"Gajeel, I," Ru tried to say, before Gajeel cut him off, "Shut the fuck up, I can hear your stomach growling. Now eat that shit before I get mad, dumbass."
Gajeel refused to listen to any of Ru's excuses as he ate the rest of his meal.
He already had an idea of what happened. He'd bet jewels that those little kids from earlier came back and asked for food, and Ru, the pushover he was, didn't refuse.
"Next time those little shits ask you for food, just say no." Gajeel scoffed, "Dumbass. It's not hard."
"But they were adorable," Ru sighed, gingerly biting into the deer's leg. "They even said, please. How could I say no?"
"No," Gajeel said flatly. "There. Easy."
"How can one kid be so cruel?"
"I ain't cruel; I'm tough." Gajeel slammed his fist into his chest. "I'm a dragon slayer; that's the definition of tough. You, on the other hand..."
Gajeel looked at Ru and scowled.
"You're a pushover."
"So mean!" Ru cried, tears dripping down his face as he ate his deer, "You're the meanest in the world!"
"Mean, my ass!" Gajeel roared with a full mouth, "I just say it how it is! You let people walk all over you!"
"Name one."
"I can name fifty," Gajeel declared, proceeding to name every member of the village. Gajeel had lost count of how many times they'd asked Ru for a favor, and he'd complied without asking shit in return. That was the definition of pushover.
Gajeel got halfway down the list before Ru conceded, "Okay, okay, I get your point."
"Then why don't you do something about it?" Gajeel snapped, biting deer meat off the bones, "Everyone knows you're strong. Just show off a little, and they'll stop asking you for shit. They should know you have better shit to do than shit they can do themselves."
"One. I think you're exaggerating. I can help people and practice my magic simultaneously. It doesn't have to be one or the other," Ru lectured, finishing his meal, "Two. I'm not too fond of using my magic to justify how my time is spent. It feels like an excuse, and more than that, I don't believe magic should be used to show off."
"Then what should it be used for, huh?" Gajeel grumbled, glancing at Ru curiously, " Why did you even learn magic?"
Gajeel didn't know a lot about Ru.
No one did. He came from an eastern country and settled in the village years ago.
He never talked about his past or why he was trying so hard to perfect his magic when all he usually used it for was cooking food or entertaining children. He only used it seriously to slay a monster that got too close to his home two years ago. That was it.
It's like he didn't even have a reason for being strong.
"That's." Ru cringed, looking away as he picked at his fingernails. Gajeel knew he did that sometimes when he was uncomfortable.
"Fucking Nevermind." Gajeel huffed, finishing the venison as he started eating the bones, "If you don't want to tell me, don't. Not like I care or nothin."
Gajeel shrugged, going to take another bite before Ru murmured, "A fire mage burned me."
Gajeel froze, his eyes darting to Ru's as he imagined the burn scar underneath his bangs. Gajeel assumed it was a training accident, but it was worse. He didn't really know what to say.
His mouth chose the most natural option.
"You fuck him up?" Gajeel asked, watching as Ru's eye widened, and he laughed. Ru's face was lighter than it had been a few moments ago.
"I did," Ru sighed, smiling bitterly, "But it cost me."
Gajeel hummed, finishing his meal as Ru looked at him silently. Ru's eyes lightly pleased as he walked to a field and began practicing his magic. Black fire flowed from his fingertips like a stream of smoky flower petals.
Ru whispered, "He burned my village to the ground. Burned my family alive. I chased that man down to the ends of the earth, and I... I... I killed him."
Ru moved the flower petals, letting them fall to the ground and leaving a trail of burnt grass and charred dirt, "But by the time I did, I realized I had already burned more than he ever could have. I became worse than him, and in shame, I fled."
Ru flicked his eyes to Gajeel, smiling softly as he walked over, "I wanted to go to a place where no one could find me. No one could remember me. I came here and met dragons and you. And after staying here, I learned something. I realized it."
Ru stood before Gajeel, looking down with a fond and straightforward gaze. It was the oddest yet quietest thing Gajeel had ever heard.
"Magic is beautiful."
Gajeel couldn't understand how such a simple concept felt so heavy... Weighty, like it was the only truth in the world.
"Thanks for showing me that, Gajeel," Ru said, and Gajeel blinked, refusing to show how... funny he felt with Ru being all philosophical and crap. Gajeel set his jaw and looked away, "Whatever... dumbass."
Gajeel huffed as Rue laughed. The Fire mage shook his head as he said, "Hey, Gajeel," Ru hesitated, seemingly debating something before he sighed.
"You're a good kid." Ru smiled, gently touching Gajeel's head and ruffling his messy black hair, "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
"Oi!? What," Gajeel shouted in embarrassment, his face burning as he shrugged Ru's hand away, "What- what fucking ever. You- You're being weird, sentimental, and shit. Dumbass."
"You need to work on your insults," Ru laughed, holding back Gajeel with a single hand as the dragon slayer tried to fight off his embarrassment. The two were messing around a bit before Ru looked up and noticed the sun was lower in the sky.
"I think you should start heading back, Gajeel," Ru said, sitting cross-legged atop a pissed dragon slayer. The dragon slayer, having nearly blown a blood vessel after eating shit for the last hour, then getting pinned to the ground on top of it.
"Fuck you!" Gajeel squirmed, shooting to his feet the second Ru jumped off with a laugh. Gajeel glared at Ru before he noticed the sun.
Gajeel cursed, "Fuck, we'll settle this later! Got it!"
"I'm looking forward," Ru flinched, his eyes settling as he smiled softly, "I'm sure you'll be able to kick my ass eventually, Gajeel."
"Damn right!" Gajeel grinned, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he walked into the forest, "See ya later, Ru! I'll tell Metallicana to save you some food tomorrow! Don't let those brats eat it!"
Gajeel turned back to glare, surprised to see Ru laughing. The fire mage shook his head before returning to the village.
"Goodbye, Gajeel," Ru murmured before walking away with a silent step. The silence was strangely oppressive as Gajeel watched the fire mage leave.
Gajeel frowned briefly before clicking his tongue.
"Weirdo."
Next time, he'd give Ru a bird or something. Venison made him sentimental.
An hour or two before sunset, Gajeel returned to his home at the foot of a mountainside a few hours from the village. He found Metallicana resting just outside the cave entrance.
"Oi!" Gajeel announced, earning a tired sigh from Metallicana as the dragon cracked open an eyelid and sighed. "What brat? Did you hit your head or something?"
"How the fuck do I beat Ru."
"Maybe live a few more centuries," Metallicana snorted, "Then you'll have a chance."
"Come on. You can beat him, can't you?" Gajeel asked, "Teach me how to beat him."
"I'd sooner teach a frog how to fly. At least that way, I'd have a chance of succeeding." Metallicana grumbled, lazily glancing at Gajeel, "What spurred this on? He kick your ass again, wimp?"
"No!"
"So he did, well, such is life." Metallica shook his head, ignoring Gajeel's fist as it struck his metal scales. The dull ring echoed through the forest like a gong, and a second later, Gajeel was holding his red knuckles and letting out a muffled scream.
"Dumbass," Metallicana shook his head, lying down as he murmured, "If you keep challenging things you shouldn't, you might end up dead one day. You're lucky, brat. Ru and I tolerate you. Who's to say the next opponent out of your weight class will do the same."
"Fuck off," Gajeel spit out through clenched teeth as he tried to ignore the pain traveling through all the fucking in his hand, "I'll beat both of you one day."
"Ha," Metallicana laughed, "I'd love to see it."
"Just watch me," Gajeel said, getting over the pain in his hand as he did a 'come here' gesture, "My Magic's pretty much designed to beat you, and I know Ru ain't invincible either. Imma fuck both of you up."
"Hilarious." Metallicana chuckled, smirking, "One. Your magic is my magic, dumbass, so at best, we'll be even," Metallicana's smirk wavered, and he looked out towards the distant village, "And you're right, Ru ain't invincible, but he's pretty damn close. By human standards, at least."
"So," Gajeel scoffed, "It doesn't matter how strong he gets; he can't beat a dragon, and a dragon is training me, so I'll catch up to him eventually."
"Life ain't that simple, kid."
"How?" Gajeel raised an eyebrow, "He's human, ain't he? Unless he's a dragon slayer, he can't beat a dragon. It's impossible.
"Impossible is a big word," Metallicana said lowly, his eyes gazing over the horizon. Gajeel didn't know who Metallicana was thinking about, but whatever it was, it must've been serious. Severe enough for Metallicana to say something Gajeel never thought he'd say. Not in a million years
"Ru," Metallicana said calmly, his words ringing like a toll. "Ru could probably kill a dragon."
Gajeel blinked, his eyes wide, as he swore the forest responded silently. Gajeel sputtered for a few seconds. His first instinct was to gawk, and his next was to doubt: "Seriously?"
"Shut it, brat, let me finish," Metallicana huffed, "Don't get me wrong, I don't know how he'd do it, and he wouldn't stand a chance against me or other greater dragons; he'd have to try his luck with one of the weaker ones, but it's not like it's impossible. Everything dies, and if there were a mage that could grant death to a dragon without dragon slayer magic, it would be a mage like Ru."
"A fire mage?"
"No idiot, a master." Metallicana clicked his tongue, "Or a 'god' or whatever the humans call him these days. Mages that have mastered magic to the point that it can contend with dragon's magic. I've heard rumors of a few. Twin wind mages somewhere on the east continent and a lightning mage across the seas. Supposedly, there's even a time mage to the north."
"You think they could kill a dragon?" Gajeel scoffed, "That's dumb. They aren't actually gods. I don't even know if actual gods exist."
"How do you think we were created then?"
"Fuck, I don't know." Gajeel shrugged, "Luck?"
"You truly are a genius among your species." Metallicana clapped sarcastically, "Maybe in a hundred years, they'll call you the god of intellect."
"Oh fuck off." Gajeel snapped as he kicked a stray pebble, "So what? Do you think actual gods exist?"
"I think something created us—humans and Dragons alike." Metallicana shrugged. "Whether I'll ever get to meet them is another matter entirely.
"Then what about Ru?" Gajeel crossed his arms, "Isn't it weird that he's being called a god."
"Somewhat," Metallicana admitted, "But if a human can raze an entire kingdom in a day, something I know he's is capable of, is there really that much separating him from divinity? At least as far as other humans are concerned."
"Dragons can do that."
"And humans aren't dragons." Metallicana smirked, "Nor are they capable of doing things only dragons are thought capable of. Hence why humans struggle to call Ru anything other than 'god,' because a god can do the impossible and a human can not."
"Whatever," Gajeel grumbled. "It still feels like a stretch to say he would kill a dragon."
"A stretch I would never make. I'm not saying he would kill a dragon; I'm only saying that I think he has a chance. Or at least a chance of defeating one, if not outright killing them, "Metallicana said, flicking a disbelieving Gajeel in the head, "What? You think I'm giving Ru too much credit, brat?"
"No," Gajeel scowled, rubbing his forehead, "But fuck, I don't know old man. Maybe?"
"Not very reassuring."
"Can you blame me?" Gajeel clicked his tongue, "Besides me, Ru's the only human you like. Ever think you're a little biased?"
"Ru isn't the only human I like. He's just the only human I respect." Metallicana grumbled, "I can't speak for the other 'gods', but Ru is a human mage who will reach the pinnacle of his magic if he hasn't already. I respect his ability."
"Enough to think he could kill a dragon."
"Enough not to discredit his chances."
"I still can't see it."
"Neither can I," Metallicana shrugged, "But just because I can't see something doesn't mean it's impossible. Two decades ago, I never would've seen myself taking you in. A human brat with an attitude. I used to hate humans more than anything."
"What changed?" Gajeel asked, surprised to see Metallicana smile gently before blowing a bit of steam in Gajeel's face.
"I'll tell you when you can kill a deer correctly."
"Oi! Bastard!" Gajeel coughed, "What was that for!"
"For some quiet," Metallicana grumbled, closing his eyes, "Now get ready to sleep. You're giving me a headache."
"It's not even night yet!"
"Better reason to get a head start."
"You bitch." Gajeel scowled, watching as Metallicana made some fake snores to avoid his glare. Gajeel clicked his tongue, "I can't believe you're this lazy."
"Not lazy," Metallicana murmured, "Efficient."
"Efficient my ass," Gajeel muttered under his breath, "If you weren't so efficient, you'd stop by the village at least once. Instead, all you do is hang out here."
"Why would I stop by the village?" Metallicana cracked open an eyelid curiously, "Ru is the only human that interests me, and he stops by once a month. I have no reason to see the rest."
"Well, if you did, it might help." Gajeel growled, his irritation from the day boiling over, "I'm so sick of the other villagers saying you don't exist. If you just fucking flew over once or twice, they'd believe me and stop talking shit about me every time I see Ru."
"Humans have lived for millennia," Metallicana rolled his eyes, "I doubt they'll ever stop 'talking shit.'"
"Yeah, well, these humans would stop talking shit if you just showed up," Gajeel hissed, "The hell is the problem anyways? You scared or something?"
"There are very few things that scare me, Gajeel." Metallicana snorted, "Children gossip isn't one."
"Then," Gajeel was about to go on a tangent before he stopped, his eyes wide, "Wait, you're scared of something?"
"Everyone's scared of something."
"I'm not."
"You just don't know what you're scared of yet," Metallicana hummed, stopping Gajeel with a stern look, "As for the question I know you're dying to ask, what I'm scared of is none of your concern."
"Really?" Gajeel narrowed his eyes, his emotions running high, and huffed, "Because right now, it sounds like you're scared to tell people I'm your son."
Gajeel flinched as the air got heavy, his eyes wide.
He clocked what he actually said and saw Metallicana glare. The dragon's white eyes slit with anger and frustration, solely focused on Gajeel.
Metallicana growled, "What did you say?"
Gajeel felt a shiver down his spine. His arms instinctively tightened around his side as he fidgeted, looked down, and muttered, "Sorry... I wasn't... Wasn't implying nothing. Just mad."
"It's okay," Metallicana said, the glare softening as the air returned to normal.
His voice was deep and soothing, like a bell that rang with honesty and some form of warmth. "You spoke before you thought. You're like me in that regard."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay, just remember that my not wanting to settle human squabbles has nothing to do with what they say about you," Metallicana grumbled, opening his eyes to gaze intently at Gajeel, "Because make no mistake, brat. You are my son. Regardless of who birthed you or how much of a little shit you are."
"Hey!"
"So, as a favor to my son, I'll give you a hint as to what I'm so 'afraid of," Metallicana ignored Gajeel's outburst, leaning so his large slit eyes lingered before Gajeel. Metallicana's nose puffed hot air, making Gajeel squint as he remained frozen under Metallicana's eerily quiet gaze.
"You're my son, but the scariest part of you doesn't belong to me."
It was the first time Gajeel had heard Metallicana's true, unfiltered thoughts.
"The human inside you is far scarier than anything I could ever give you," Metallicana said, blowing a bit of steam in Gajeel's face before returning to his cave.
Gajeel stumbled, trying to escape the steam as he growled, "Oi! What the hell is that supposed to mean!"
Metallicana never answered. The giant lug just curled up in a ball, falling asleep in the deep cave they called home.
What the hell... how's he gonna say cryptic shit like that and just fall asleep. Asshole.
Gajeel eventually had to give up and retire for the day, sprawled out on Metallicana's back as the dragon's snores filled the quiet cavern.
He's a dragon. Gajeel thought before he drifted to slumber.
What the hell's so scary about humans?
When Gajeel woke up with a headache later that night, Metallicana would be gone.
Most of them are just annoying.
Gajeel's father, along with the memories of the nice blond woman and the other dragon slayers, wouldn't return.