July 15, x778
On the edge of a town near Crocus, a small cottage rested atop a lonesome grassy hill that extended well into the surrounding forests. The nearby stream provided water, and most would assume the family that lived there lived a quiet life.
"That Scarface bastard!"
If only the townsfolk could see it now.
"Next time I see him, he's dead!" The little dragon slayer roared, tearing through a few of the weaker monsters that had wandered nearby after Belno's long trip to Easteria. Their blood and guts sprayed in the afternoon sun and stained the yard.
They weren't anything special, just a group of Gramblers, D-rank porcupine-type monsters, but the boy was doing quick work even then. His iron skin shattered any quills that would keep regular hunters at bay.
He was pretty good for a kid.
An angry kid, but a kid nonetheless.
"You done yet?" Belno asked, unimpressed, watching as the kid tossed aside a final Grambler corpse. His breath is heavy with anger before he let out a final rage-induced growl and simmered down. He stubbornly kicked the dead monster and grumbled, "Peachy."
"Good." Belno rolled her eyes, "Now, why don't you make yourself useful and go get some firewood? We can talk about what to do next when you get back."
"Eh?" The brat scowled, "You making me your chore boy, hag?"
"Abso-fucking-lutely brat." Belno said, "Unless you take my job for the day."
"What's that?"
"Cleaning up after your tantrum." Belno chuckled knowingly, pointing to the massacre the brat had left behind in his vendetta. He looked around, scanning the lawn full of dead monsters, before groaning, "Fuck."
"You realize the consequences of your actions?"
"Nah," The brat grumbled, "It's just that if Metallicana were here, he'd chew my ass out."
"Good, sounds like he was a good dad." Belno smiled as the brat's cheeks burned red. His embarrassment cut off as she chuckled, "Now go chop some firewood, brat. And jump in the river while you're at it. You stink."
"Why can't I do it in that shower thing you have."
"Cuz you're not staining my shower with monster blood." Belno humored, "And if you don't get some firewood, you'll sleep in the cold. So you better get to it, brat. You don't get all day."
"Tch. Whatever." The brat grumbled moodily, still obviously pissed about his loss. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and sulked into the tree line. Belno shook her head and stood, ready to make tea for herself and her new guest.
At least until she was surprised with a visitor, she hadn't expected for at least a few more hours.
"Well, Belno, what a surprise." A smug voice echoed above Belno, catching her attention.
Belno looked up, scowling as she saw the wizard she called to help with the brat's god situation.
"I can see why you took a liking to him." He said, floating clad in a blue uniform and with an all-knowing grin. The same cocky grin as when she met him, probably over a decade ago. He never changed. He always had the same confidence in every situation, regardless of the possibilities.
"He does look so very familiar."
Although she would, too, if she were a wizard saint.
5 minutes later
Gajeel wasn't having a good time. He wasn't having a fucking good week.
"That fucking piece of shit," Gajeel growled as he walked up to a tree, soaked after jumping in the river, before turning his arm into an iron sword and chopping it down. Letting out his pent-up anger on the timber as he cut it into pieces.
He was so fucking pissed. It was one thing to lose a fucking fight, another to be goddamn humiliated.
And being told he was only getting knocked out so he could be easier to fucking carry, like unconscious luggage, was the definition of humiliation.
"Next time I see him, I'm gonna rip him a new one."
Gajeel was already daydreaming of the ways he could fuck up Scarface to get revenge.
"Just you fucking wait," Gajeel promised as he finished chopping the tree into logs and tossed them on his shoulder. Taking the short path back to the cottage where the hag would be waiting.
When Gajeel returned to the cottage, he was surprised that the hag was already outside talking to someone. The man had a thin scratch on his cheek and was in what looked like an azure blue military uniform, with tanned skin and black lipstick. He had maroon hair tied in a ponytail and facial hair to match. He stood and talked with a confidence that bordered on arrogance.
He looked strong. Stronger than the monsters.
Gajeel immediately dropped his quarry and pounced on the opportunity.
"Hey, you!" Gajeel shouted, drawing the attention of the two waiting outside. Gajeel's grin was feral as he jumped and angled towards the stranger, dismissing Belno's pale expression as his arm turned to iron. Gajeel was itching for redemption after Scarface beat his ass and disappeared.
"Let's fight!"
This guy looked like a good substitute.
"Fight?" The man asked, and instnatly, his eerily quiet voice silenced any urge of conflict Gajeel had.
"You want to fight?"
His amused drawl stirred something primal inside Gajeel.
"You're hilarious."
Gajeel couldn't explain it; he'd never felt it before, but there was a sense of urgency. The way his skin prickled and his heart forgot to beat. There was nothing he could've compared it to.
The second the man's eyes, flowing a violet hue turned his direction, everything in Gajeel's body revolted. In a way, that was worse and more sharp than the sickness he felt on the train.
It was like his body was screaming at him to flee.
"You believe you have the right to even think of fighting me?"
Gajeel forgot everything, his eyes wide and his breath stalling as he watched a monster burst from the man's back, curling like a serpent with a human skull for a head. Its hauntingly hollow eyes stared back at Gajeel as it screeched, its body of purple ghastly body writhing with displeasure.
"It's unfortunate, little vermin." The man flicked his hand with a bored expression, "Hopefully, you can acknowledge your mistakes in the afterlife."
Gajeel felt his breath leave him as the monster opened its gaping mouth. Its giant teeth angled to smash Gajeel's head open like a grape. Its breath smelling like death and screech sounding like hell.
Oh...
Gajeel saw the back of the creatures mouth, able to count its molars as it hung its open maw over Gajeel's head.
I'm gonna die.
The last thing Gajeel heard before the monster's teeth snapped shut was the man's chilling taunt.
"Oh, how I despise stupid children."
The only thing that stopped death from happening was a large dirt hand stretching out of the ground and smacking Gajeel away. Putting him out of the range of the monster as it chomped down on the fingers now before it and swallowed them whole.
"Jose!" The hag yelled as Gajeel landed harshly on the ground and groaned. There was a dull throb in his body from where the giant dirt hand slapped him to safety. That, paired with the vivid memory of death just inches from his nose, made it hard for him to catch his breath, but when he did, he saw the hag confronting the stranger.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!"
"Oh please, Belno, save your nagging for someone who cares." The man rolled his eyes as his creation dissipated, along with the dirt hand Gajeel had to assume was the hag's. He didn't know she was a mage.
He also didn't know she could look so angry.
"He's just a child, Jose." The hag spat, her fury interrupted by a harsh cough she was forced to cover. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve, returning her attention to the stranger.
He looked unimpressed.
"So? What of it?" The man replied, his violet eyes flicking back to Gajeel with a sharpness that made Gajeel's muscles freeze.
"Last I checked, youth doesn't excuse one from consequences."
The man shifted his gaze back to the hag, and only then did Gajeel release a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His eyes wide and shaking as the man tilted his head at the hag and spoke callously, "Now then, if that's all, I think I'll be taking my leave."
"That isn't what we discussed, Jose." The hag frowned, "You said you'd help the brat."
"No, I said I'd repay a favor." The man leaned forward, challenging the hag without a single hint he'd lose, "I let the mutt live. Therefore, I've repaid the favor I owed you. So unless you want to get the vote of your fellow councilors to make me comply, I believe I've wasted enough time here."
"Wait." The hag tried, gritting her teeth as the man floated off the ground and hovered over the house. His eyes lingered on Gajeel for a second before he moved to leave. His departure was only halted because of the hag's quick thinking.
"If you help the brat," the hag ground her teeth, "I'll owe you one."
Gajeel blinked, his eyes wide as he turned to the hag and watched her bite her lip. Her gaze was still steady and unbending as the stranger descended and matched her stare. The man smirked.
"And who said age makes one heartless." The man taunted, ignoring the hag's icy glare as he returned to Gajeel and said, "Well then, little mutt."
Gajeel felt his skin crawl without warning. His body moved instantly as he jumped back, crouching and shaking. His eyes never left the man's gaze as he appraised him with an amused smile: "I heard you needed to learn a thing or two about gods."
Gajeel couldn't understand why his body was defying his orders.
Why he couldn't stop trembling. Why did his mind keep flashing back to the creature that was an inch from taking his life? Why did his breath keep coming up shorter than it should've? Why did his mouth refuse to open and his voice refuse to work?
Gajeel couldn't understand it at first but realized it after he struggled to look the stranger in the eyes.
"My name is Jose Porla."
It was because Gajeel learned to fear—not the Gods or Dragons he was used to, but a human who reeked of death and malice.
"Try not to waste my time."
The same fear Metallicana must've warned him about.
A few minutes later, after Gajeel collected himself enough not to freeze up, the three sat at the round wooden table on the hag's porch. Each had a cup of tea and a plate, idly waiting for the others to start the conversation.
Gajeel sat between the hag and the strong dude, Jose Porla, and tried not to fidget. He hated it. This new anxiousness clouded his every thought just because he sat beside someone.
If this was the fear Metallicana felt, he must've done a great job at hiding it, because Gajeel was sure he was giving the asshole a show. Shivering next to him like a fucking leaf.
"Well little mutt," Jose said casually, startling Gajeel so badly he visibly flinched.
Gajeel instantly tried to hide it behind a growl, "The fuck do you want?"
The asshole just smirked knowingly, "Belno has already informed me of a few details of your little plight. She claimed you were a dragon slayer, and your dragon disappeared, but I want you to fill in a few blanks."
"What do you want to know?" Gajeel grumbled, forcing to focus on the tea in front of him, sniffing it before gagging slightly and putting it down.
"Let's start with your name, little mutt," Jose said, eyeing Gajeel critically.
Gajeel felt his lips loosen instantly, as if by force, "Gajeel Redfox."
"Interesting." Jose murmured, sipping his tea, "Well then, I hear you want to know about gods. Care to elaborate about why?"
"The fuck's it to you," Gajeel muttered, shivering involuntarily as the man narrowed his eyes.
"I didn't come here to play guessing games, mutt."
Gajeel couldn't stand it. He couldn't understand it. It was like every time the man liked his way, a feeling of panic emerged out of fucking nowhere. Gajeel had to bite his tongue so as not to show any signs of it, but he was sure he had failed.
He flinched as the man whispered grimly, "Don't waste my time."
Gajeel tasted blood as the temperature dropped, cursing himself as he averted his gaze and spat, "I knew one. A fire mage named Ru."
The man relaxed his gaze, and Gajeel hated how his shoulders relaxed against their will.
"He disappeared a year ago." Gajeel grumbled, "Said he was going to Dragnof. Figured another god might know where the fuck it is since no one else does."
"Not a terrible idea," Jose shrugged, stirring his tea with a hint of boredom. "Well, unfortunately, the god I know didn't go into much detail about his past, but I can attest that the name Dragnof doesn't ring any bells. Nor does a fire god named Ru."
"Fuck."
"However," Jose said, "If your god is anything like mine, and he disappeared a year ago, then I can say in full confidence you're most likely wasting your time chasing after him. Or your dragon, for that matter. Don't bother looking for them."
"The fuck?" Gajeel scowled, "Why? You just telling me to give up?"
"Of course not." Jose rolled his eyes, "Giving up is for weaklings and cowards. I have no use for either. I'm simply telling you it's a waste of time."
"Why?"
"Because if there was ever a time I couldn't locate Hyberion." Jose pointed a spoon at Gajeel, "It was because he didn't want to be found. The same logic applies to your god and dragon. You'd have already done it if they wanted you to find them."
"That's," Gajeel started, getting lost in thought, his eyes furrowed as Jose continued, "Think about it, mutt. Gods and Dragons aren't on levels that can be properly controlled. They could level kingdoms if they wanted to. So if they wanted you to find them, you'd find them. There would be very few forces in this world that could say otherwise."
"Then where the hell are they!" Gajeel growled, his eyes narrowing at his cup as he spat, "Where did they go? Why'd they fucking leave!"
"How should I know?" Jose shrugged, stirring his tea with a spoon as he yawned, "But you aren't doing yourself or them any favors by wandering around the continent asking strangers for advice."
Jose's lips twitched upwards, and Gajeel noticed the bag frowned from her side of the table.
"It would be better," Jose said, "if you put yourself in a public place. That way, when they decide to locate you, it'll be nice and easy for them to do so."
Gajeel felt conflicted as he heard the reasoning, his simmering doubts and frustrations put to rest as he clicked his tongue. Shit made sense. It was annoying, but it made sense. If out of all the people he'd asked, no one could point him in the direction of a giant fucking dragon; chances were said the dragon was hiding. In which case, there was no point in asking.
"Fucking, fine." Gajeel crossed his arms and slumped, "Go somewhere public so Metallicana and Ru can find me, but where the hell am I supposed to do that?"
"Why in my guild, of course." Jose smiled, stunning Gajeel and earning an instant rebuttal from the hag, "This wasn't supposed to be a recruiting problem, Jose. You were supposed to help the kid."
"And I am." Jose continued suavely, "Phantom Lord is the number one guild in Fiore. It's very much in the public eye."
Jose frowned, seemingly having to spit the next words out of his teeth.
"Paparazzi," he said, collecting himself, "Would not have any problem getting his face out there. My S classes and a few others are already well known throughout the magic community. They are practically household names. Assuming he does well, his Dragon or god wouldn't have a problem locating him."
"He can easily do that in other fields or guilds." The hag argued, "he doesn't need to join your guild to do so specifically."
"No, he doesn't." Jose admitted, slyly commenting, "But I guarantee Phantom Lord is better than any other alternatives. Especially for him."
"How?" The hag asked in obvious suspicion.
"Because of his potential." Jose shrugged, "He has a bright future as a mage. Animalistic instincts and strong magic. It's like he's a stone waiting to be polished, but other places will never do it."
"That's a matter of opinion."
"It's a matter of fact." Jose snipped, "Phantom Lord is the strongest guild in Fiore. It has the best mages, with a few rivaling him in age. If he joins, he will be pushed to grow more than any other guild or organization."
Gajeel's body trembled slightly at the hint of the man's magic seeping to the surface. His neon-purple eyes flowed dimly with pure, unfiltered power.
"Phantom Lord is a place where he can be in bright lights for his loved ones to find, as well as reach his full potential as a mage." The man retracted his power, as if proving his point.
"It is his best option," Jose said casually.
"That doesn't mean it's his only one." The hag persisted, clicking her tongue, "And what is this sudden recruitment speech you've cooked up, Jose? It's unlike you. I never expected you to be so invested in a child you just met."
"How could I not." Jose smiled into his tea, "He's like a dumber version of my apprentice."
"Oi! What the fuck does that mean!"
"Louder, too." Jose chuckled, drinking his beverage as the hag shook her head.
She murmured, "Regardless," subtly gesturing to Gajeel not to talk or disagree with anything she was about to say. Gajeel frowned slightly but complied. For whatever reason, the hag wasn't showing any signs of hesitation around the dude, so it was probably better to follow her lead.
Gajeel was still having trouble finding his voice when the threat of that man's magic lingered in his mind.
"I'm his guardian," the hag lied, and Gajeel raised an eyebrow but didn't disagree.
She continued, "I'm not selling him to join your guild of criminals at the ripe age of 13."
"Now, Belno," Jose said coyly, "I thought you were a fan of my guild's policy. Haven't I converted more former inmates into upstanding mages than anyone else?"
"More like cowed all of them into submission." The hag rolled her eyes, "And those are two separate matters. Even if I approve of the tight ship you run, the fact remains: a guild is no place for children."
The hag frowned. "I thought we agreed on that front, Jose. It's one of the reasons I supported your bid for Wizard Saint."
"Yes, something I'm eternally grateful for." Jose kept up politeness, but his eyes narrowed as he tapped his cup lightly, "And as for children joining a guild, I've never changed my views. There's still an age limit of fourteen in Phantom Lord. That won't change."
Jose seemed to ponder something briefly before collecting himself and casually saying, "It's just that I've found two runts that have forced me to make an exception to that rule. Nothing more. I have no plans to make more unless someone catches my eye."
"And I suppose this brat caught your eye." The hag gestured to Gajeel, causing the dragon slayer to flinch involuntarily as Jose glanced his way.
"Somewhat." Jose smirked, returning to the hag, "He's like a well of pure instincts and good magic. He'd do well in Phantom Lord, where he's forced to use those talents to their fullest or get left behind."
"Sounds like a puppy being thrown into a fighting pit."
"Exactly." Jose affirmed, "If he can't hack it, he'll get tossed out, but if he does, he'll be a prize fighter."
"You're a real scum bag, you know that?"
"Scum is subjective." Jose shrugged, "I'm simply offering him a place where he can be the strongest version of himself."
Jose glanced at the hag, a serious glint flashing past his eye. "You, of all people, should know how important strength is for an aspiring mage."
Gajeel flinched as the hag's cup cracked under her grip, a grim conversation flying between the two's stern gazes before it subsided. Jose took one last sip of his drink before standing up and asking, "So, Belno? Will you let the mutt accept my offer?"
"Fuck off, Jose."
"Pity, guess I'll have to try again some other time," Jose said, taking a serious off the patch and floating an inch off the ground. He glanced back confidently and smirked, "Hey, mutt. If you ever want to shatter that baseless misconception that you're strong just because your teachers were, come find me."
Gajeel's fingers dug into his arms so tightly that they drew blood. He glared, fighting off the instinctive shiver crawling up his spine as the man smirked. Jose left him a parting message before taking to the skies on his way to the guild master's conference.
"I guarantee you'll be lucky even to be the fifth strongest mage I have under me."
Not even two weeks later, news spread of how two wizard Saints battled in Clover. Rumors spreading of how harsh words were exchanged over drinks.
"The world's a big place, mutt."
During that battle, the first person to make Gajeel feel true, undiluted fear. The genius that mastered Shade Magic and one of the Wizard Saints of Ishgar.
"Try not to stay in such a tiny pond."
Jose Porla would be thoroughly and utterly defeated.
Hours after Gajeel's conversation with Jose, sitting on the edge of the porch, watching the horizon. He was still thinking about the earlier. The offer. His father and Ru, and more importantly, the gnawing unease that lingered even hours after the man had left. He hated it. This fear he learned to feel.
He was so lost in it that he didn't notice the hag come out with a blanket, tossing it on his head and saying, "Better hurry up and build a fire, kid, or come inside. You're going to freeze if you stay out all night."
"I can handle it." Gajeel shrugged the blanket off.
"Sure you can, " the hag chuckled, wrapping the blanket around herself. She sat next to Gajeel on the porch, silently watching the sunset, not bothering to speak or ask.
Gajeel looked her way and huffed, doing the same.
They sat like that, in silence for a while, until Gajeel recalled how she had helped him earlier in the day. He tucked his head into his knees so the hag couldn't see his face when he said this.
"You didn't have to do that, hag." Gajeel murmured, waiting quietly as the hag scoffed, "Do what? Stop you from getting killed? Sorry, kid, I'm not sorry."
"No, hag." Gajeel frowned, lifting his head and glancing away moodily, "Going into his debt for me. I fucked up. I should've been the one to deal with it. You didn't have to do that."
"I didn't," the hag agreed, sipping some tea. "But you don't know Jose as well as I do. I'm sure he planned to wring out a little goodwill of me no matter how the conversation played out."
Gajeel quirked an eyebrow as the hag murmured, "As long as I've known him, he's never done anything without purpose. He's always been like that. Since his master died." She tilted her head, thinking quietly, before frowning, "Actually, never mind. He might've just been born that way. Petty bastard."
"Wait." Gajeel interjected, raising an eyebrow as he latched onto the most interesting tidbit: "His master died?"
"Yeah, one of them. A long time ago. The third guild master of Phantom Lord. Mikhail II," The hag sighed, "he was a real genius. A whiz at whatever he touched but was most well-known for his time collecting books. Studying history. Although I learned about him from a mentor who claimed him also to be a genius mechanic."
The hag smiled, ignoring Gajeel's curious gaze as she shifted the conversation, "But the point is, Jose's been an opportunist for a long time, so don't worry about it. I'm sure he would've found to weasel me into debt regardless of whether you challenged him or not."
"I'm not worrying, " Gajeel stubbornly denied, rolling his eyes as he muttered, "I just don't want you croaking because you sold your last cigarette pack to get out of debt."
"I'd sell you before I sold these."
"Damn smokaholic," Gajeel grumbled as the hag laughed. Gajeel rolled his eyes as the two shared tasteless barbs until sunset, when it was dark out, signaling the time for them to retire.
It was around then, when the stars became visible in the sky, that Gajeel was able to voice his thoughts.
"I'm going to join Phantom Lord."
"You want to join Jose's guild?" The hag raised an eyebrow, "You sure that's the best option brat? Once you join, he isn't the type to let you change your mind."
"I don't care."
"Other guilds'll allow you to get your name out there," The hag tried again, "same as his."
"I don't care," Gajeel whispered, his eyes gazing at his fingers with a growing sense of urgency. A need. It had to be that man's guild. Gajeel felt that truth searing into his bones. Nestling in the same place as his newfound fear rested.
Whenever he thought of Jose Porla, his bones shook faintly, and he became all that sure of his choice. It had to be that guild.
Because if Gajeel chose another guild, regardless of the reason, it would be the same as running away.
"I have to join and show that fucker I'm not gonna back down," Gajeel muttered, clenching his teeth as he stood up and walked over to the woods.
He stopped halfway as the hag called out, "Now, where are you going?"
"To join Phantom Lord."
"Please, you don't even know where it's at." The hag scoffed, smoking a cigarette as she smirked. "You're also lawfully underprepared. What makes you think you'd even do well if you joined now?"
"I'm strong. I can handle it."
"Doubtful." The bag laughed, ignoring Gajeel's scowl as she opened her cigarette box. "And let's not forget you owe me, so don't think you're gonna be walking away without my permission. You're stuck with me, brat."
"You're not my guardian."
"And you're not my son." The hag snapped harshly, stunning Gajeel cold before her eyes softened.
"But you look like him," she whispered. "and you act like him, so you can't be all that bad."
"You have a son, hag?"
"Had." The hag corrected, and Gajeel flinched. Stuck at a loss for words. He shifted uncomfortably.
The hag just chuckled, "Relax, brat. It happened a long time ago. There's no need to walk on eggshells."
"I ain't walking on shit!"
"Good," the hag smoked her cigarette, "Cuz if you join Phantom Lord now, you won't be walking at all. I've met some of their S ranks and even had a pleasant conversation with their ace. He was kind, and the others were reasonable, but they'd eat you alive."
"The hell they would," Gajeel growled instinctively, his mind flashing back to Scarface and how easily that fight turned out. Gajeel remembered the hag saying he would've been S rank if he was in a guild, the same rank he probably needed to ensure Metallicana or Ru could find him.
Gajeel hadn't been able to do shit to Must.
Who's to say he'd be able to do shit to other S-class mages like him.
"Fuck." Gajeel cursed, kicking the dirt as he snarled, "Well, the hell does that matter? I'll go there and fucking deal with it. Nothing's going to stop me."
"And nothing has to." The hag said, "But instead of going there and getting your ass beat, stay here. You could pick up a thing or two from me before you go."
"The hell can you teach me, hag?" Gajeel scoffed, "I already know everything I need to know."
"Please." The hag rolled her eyes, "You know jack shit."
"The fuck does that mean?"
"You know how to hunt animals and fight monsters." She continued, snipping Gajeel's fury in the bud as she leveled, "But you need practice fighting mages. Otherwise, you're gonna keep challenging people out of your weight class till the day you fucking die."
"I've fought tons of mages."
"You've fought a ton of low-level bandits."
"I've fought Ru."
"And I'm certain he took it woefully easy on you."
"Fuck off, you don't know shit," Gajeel snapped, turning away and walking to the woods, only for a dirt hand to slam into his face and launch him back towards the cottage. Crashing through the wooden door as the hag laughed, "Oh, I don't? Then let's make a deal, brat. Just you and me."
Gajeel saw red as she pushed himself out of broken furniture and shattered glass, stomping on a mirror as he walked out of the living room. He growled as the hag stood in the front yard, a giant brown magic circle spinning at her feet. "We'll fight once a week. If you can beat me, I'll let you join Phantom Lord."
Gajeel snarled, turning his arms into iron as he watched a giant dirt golem stand behind the hag, easily as tall as the cottage he'd walked out of. He couldn't help it. Despite his anger and frustration, he couldn't help but smile.
He'd never realized how big the world was when the only mages he knew were Ru and Metallicana.
"What's wrong, kid?' The hag smirked, smoking dutifully, "Too scared for a little bet?"
Even the hag was a better mage; he just hadn't considered it a possibility.
"Fuck no." Gajeel laughed, turning his body to iron.
His mind was clear and excited as he ran towards the golem made of dirt and stone. He felt relieved, in a sense, to finally begin moving his body after the wizard saint had scared him stiff. He couldn't stop the ferocious grin from crawling up his face.
"Bring it on, hag!"
There were a lot of strong mages out there. Not just Ru and Metallicana.
"I'll fight you till you croak!"
Stronger than him. Faster than him. Smarter than him. Scarier than him. He wasn't shit compared to a lot of them. Not yet. But he wasn't going to stop till he was.
He would grow stronger, in a place that would make him stronger. Because when he met Ru and Metallicana again, he had already decided.
He was going to kick their asses for ditching him.