I... don't know what to say about this one. I've already pre-written the first five chapters. I would say expect a release every 5 days, but I'm also an impatient bastard, so I might release the five chapters within three days of each other rather than five.
-Isolated island in the southeastern sea of Fiore, X775-
A small blond boy groaned as he struggled to lift himself. His gaze flickered from left to right, taking in his surroundings. A filthy, dark jail, it seemed. Other people. Old and young. They looked at him with pity and… resignation? A slight panic erupted in his chest. Where was he? Where were his parents? Where—?
"Easy," A calm, gentle voice called out. The boy's blue eyes snapped over to the owner of the voice. An old man, though it looked like he was injured, beaten.
"Where—?" the boy croaked out.
"Later," the old man spoke regretfully, "For now, try to center yourself. Who are you? How old are you? Where are you from?"
The boy fell silent before speaking softly, "My name is Minato Namikaze, I am ten years old. I'm from Marigold village."
The old man nodded, giving Minato a small, somber smile, "My name is Rob. A pleasure to meet you, Minato. I just wish it were under better circumstances. What is the last thing you remember?"
"It's fuzzy," Minato said, wincing. His hand reached up instinctively to his head, fingers probing the tender spot where a throbbing ache pulsed. "There was... screaming. Houses were burned, people killed. My mother..." He trailed off, eyes wide with sudden fear. "My father! What happened to them?"
"We are all captives here," the old man replied, his voice a soft blanket of sorrow. "Taken by malevolent forces we don't understand."
"I don't—"
"It's work time, you rotten rats!" A gruff voice growled. Heavy footsteps echoed as the clang of a key tore through the silence. The door swung open, causing each of the prisoners to flinch.
"Get moving!" the guard sneered, his face twisted with sadistic glee. He reached down and hauled Minato out from his shared cell, throwing him onto the floor. Minato grunted as he hit the floor with a thud. His eyes refocused at the sudden light, taking in his surroundings. He felt his heart drop. There were others, so many others. All dirty and bruised while being corralled from their cells. More adults and children were scattered about, working under the watchful oversight of guards armed with whips and scorn.
He felt a warm hand pat his back. It was Rob, his face a mixture of pity and stubbornness, "Stay strong, Minato."
He was shoved toward a group of children around his age, each wearing the same expression of hopeless resolve, except for one blue-haired boy.
With bright, defiant eyes, the boy leaned closer. "They got you too, huh?" His voice was a whisper but carried above the noise of chains and shuffling feet.
Minato's mind spun. "Where are we?"
"Dunno exactly. Only that they call it 'Paradise'." The blue-haired boy scoffed as he mimicked the guards' voices with a sneer. "I'm Jellal, by the way."
"Minato," he replied, grateful for any connection in this new nightmare. Eventually, they arrived at a large, open quarry.
Hundreds of slaves toiled under the scorching sun, swinging pickaxes at unyielding stone and hauling massive carts filled with rubble. Guards patrolled the perimeter, their whips cracking against the backs of those who faltered.
"What are they building?" Minato whispered, his voice barely audible over the rhythmic clanging of metal against rock.
Jellal shrugged, his face darkening. "Something called the R-System. They don't tell us much, just work until you drop."
Minato cringed slightly, "Then there's nothing we know about it?"
"Nope," Jellal snarled darkly, "They just say that this is a Tower to Heaven."
Minato looked down, "Seems more like a tunnel to hell."
Jellal's laugh was bitter but quiet. "You got that right." He looked around furtively before leaning closer. "But we won't be here forever. I'm going to escape someday."
A whip cracked nearby, making both boys flinch. A guard towered over them, his shadow stretching long and menacing across the ground.
"No talking! Get to work!" The guard thrust pickaxes into their hands. The tools were almost too heavy for Minato to lift, but he managed, mimicking the other children's movements.
For hours, they labored under the relentless sun, and by sundown, Minato could barely feel his body as his hands blistered and bled.
Minato's legs trembled with each step as the guards ushered them back to their cells. His shoulders hunched forward, the weight of exhaustion pulling him toward the ground. He'd never known such fatigue could exist.
"You'll get used to it," Jellal whispered beside him, though his own voice was ragged. "First day's always the worst."
Back in the dank cell, Rob was waiting, his weathered face creasing with concern as he examined Minato's raw hands. Without a word, he tore a strip from his already tattered shirt and wrapped the cloth around the boy's palms.
"Thank you," Minato murmured, wincing as the fabric pressed against his open blisters.
"We take care of each other here," Rob replied softly. "It's the only way to survive."
"How long have you been here?" Minato murmured, flexing his hands.
"Years," he sighed. Minato's face snapped to him in shock.
"Years?" he whispered.
"Too many to count," Rob admitted, his eyes distant with memory. "I was a guild wizard once. From Fairy Tail."
"A wizard?" Minato's voice held a tinge of excitement despite his exhaustion.
"Yes," the old man nodded, a flash of happiness and nostalgia going through his mind, "Do you know what magic is, Minato?"
"I do," Minato nodded, "I kind of studied it a bit in Marigold."
Rob's gaze shifted in interest, "Oh? What did you study?"
"I studied the Sealing Arts," Minato murmured quietly.
Rob felt his jaw slacken. Sealing Arts? The predecessor to Letter Magic? But Letter Magic is already hard enough to learn, and it's said the Sealing Arts are far more complicated. How has this boy learned them?
"Who taught you such things?"
"A wandering hermit," Minato admitted, "He dropped by every now and then, tutoring me for a day before leaving the next. He would leave behind books and a goal for me to meet for his next visit. I guess I'm actually kind of self-taught, but he did come to check up on my progress and offer advice."
Rob stared at Minato, eyes glimmering with newfound respect. "A self-taught sealing artist at your age... remarkable."
Minato shrugged, embarrassed by the attention. "It's nothing special. I just... understand patterns well."
Rob chuckled with a small smile, "Well, you should rest, Minato. Tomorrow will be just as harsh as today."
Minato nodded grimly. Seating himself near a corner. The exhaustion of today had finally hit him in full force as his lids became lead, bringing him into a dreamless sleep.
Days melted into weeks, weeks into months. The Tower of Heaven grew taller against the horizon, built on the backs of slaves and the foundation of their suffering. Each morning brought the same routine: wake at dawn to moldy bread and brackish water, then twelve hours of backbreaking labor before returning to cells too cramped for comfort.
One day, he saw another kid fall, and the guards growled at him, "Stand up, you little runt!"
Minato flinched as the whip cracked against the boy's back. Minato bit his lip before shaking his head. He couldn't let this stand. He bolted over and covered the boy's body with his own. He flinched as the whip lashed against his skin.
"What the hell?" the guard bit out in anger and surprise. This kid was…
Fast… the younger boy murmured, his eyes wide.
"Hurting him won't produce results," he grunted in pain, "You'll only make him work more slowly!"
The guard's face contorted with rage. "You dare speak to me, slave?" He raised his whip again, eyes gleaming with cruel intent.
"Wait." Another guard approached, his voice measured. "The blond one's right. Dead slaves don't build towers." He gestured with his chin. "Get back to work, both of you. Double shifts for the troublemaker."
Minato helped the boy to his feet. The child, no more than ten, stared at him with wide, frightened eyes.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Minato gave him a strained smile, helping him up, "No worries. I'm Minato. What's your name?"
The kid sniffled, taking Minato's hand, "Sawyer."
Minato nodded, "Let's get back to work, Sawyer, before they change their minds."
The boy nodded gratefully, working alongside his fellow blond. Later that night, Rob was tenderly applying a cold cloth to Minato's new scar.
"That was very ill-advised," Rob murmured, though Minato could detect a hint of approval in his voice.
"You're remarkably fast, you know that?" Rob commented, remembering his shock at how quickly Minato had bolted across the quarry. He had turned into a yellow blur.
Minato shrugged, "The hermit told me the same thing. I don't know what to say; I've always been fast. Even back in the village, I was known for it. I used to race the older kids for fun."
Rob nodded, his eyes narrowing in thought, Such natural swiftness is remarkably unique.
As time passed, Minato worked his hands to their bone marrow when another kid was thrown into his and Rob's cell. It was a girl in rags, though the most noticeable thing about her was her vibrant red hair.
Minato watched as the guards shoved her forward, causing her to stumble and fall to her knees. Unlike him when he first arrived, there were no tears in her eyes—only a burning defiance that seemed at odds with her trembling hands.
"Are you alright?" Rob asked, his voice gentle as he helped the girl to her feet.
She nodded stiffly, keeping her gaze fixed on the floor. Her red hair fell in tangled curtains around her face, hiding her expression.
"I'm Rob," the old man continued, "and this is Minato. What's your name?"
"Erza," she whispered after a long pause. "Just Erza."
Minato shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to say. The girl's posture reminded him of a cornered animal, ready to either flee or fight at the slightest provocation.
"They took your village too?" he finally asked.
Erza's head snapped up, revealing a single brown eye—the other covered by her bangs. The visible eye narrowed. "Rosemary Village. They killed everyone who resisted."
Rob placed a weathered hand on her shoulder. "You're not alone anymore, child. We look after our own here."
"I don't need looking after," she insisted, but her voice cracked on the last word. Minato shook his head.
"In this place, you do," he murmured bitterly.
The following morning, they were thrown back into work. Minato noticed how the guards singled Erza out, pushing her harder than the others. When she stumbled under the weight of a stone too heavy for her small frame, a whip cracked against her back.
"Work faster, red hair!" the guard snarled. A pattern he had noticed. They target the newest ones first in an attempt to break their will. That evening, when they were herded back to their cells, Minato noticed Erza limping slightly. Her hands were raw, blood seeping through her fingers. Minato's eyes softened as he tore a piece of his own clothing and wrapped it around her hands, just as Rob had done for him a few months prior.
Erza flinched at his touch, her posture rigid.
"You'll get used to the pain," Minato said quietly, securing the makeshift bandage. "Not that you should have to."
"Why are you helping me?" Suspicion laced her voice.
Minato gave her a raised brow, "Is there a reason I shouldn't? You're not secretly a killer, are you?"
Erza's eye widened, and for a brief moment, her lips quirked upward. "No, I'm not a killer." The almost-smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
"Then there's no reason not to help," Minato said simply. "We're all we've got in here."
As the days turned to weeks, Minato found himself gravitating toward Erza during work shifts. Eventually, she slowly opened up to Minato. Though she kept her own counsel for the most part, Minato could see the fire behind her eye that matched the color of her hair. She was a fighter, this girl, even if she didn't know it yet.
One day, as they chipped away at the unyielding stone side by side, Erza spoke without prompting.
"How do you do it?" she asked, her voice barely audible over the rhythmic clinking of pickaxes.
"Do what?" Minato wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, leaving a streak of dirt across his forehead.
"Stay so... calm. Like you're not even afraid."
Minato paused, considering her question. "I am afraid," he admitted. "But fear leads to inaction, inaction leads to stagnation, and stagnation leads to death. And I have no plans on dying anytime soon."
Erza stared at him, her single visible eye widening slightly. "That's... a strange way of thinking."
"Is it?" Minato shrugged, swinging his pickaxe with practiced precision. "The hermit used to always say that a clear mind is the strongest asset you can have."
"What was the hermit like?"
Minato paused for a moment, a fond, exasperated smile blooming on his face.
"He was a pervert," he chuckled lightly, "every time he would visit, the moments where he wouldn't be tutoring me, he would be off ogling the women of Marigold village."
Erza's face scrunched up in confusion, "A pervert? And he taught you magic?"
Minato gave a loud laugh, startling Erza. The blond boy had always seemed so quiet and composed.
"Despite his obvious flaws—" Erza snorted as Minato continued, "he was smart. He could create these intricate seal matrices that would leave me floundering. He was also the only one that fostered my speed…"
"Fostered?"
Minato nodded, "I was fast naturally, but he really put me through the ringer. He would add these sealing formulas on my legs that would dampen my mobility, forcing me to put more effort into my legs. When he finally released the seals, I was fast. I mean, really fast!"
Erza fell silent, processing his words. Then, with a decisive nod, she returned to her work, swinging her pickaxe with renewed vigor.
As the months dragged on, Minato noticed subtle changes in the red-haired girl. Her shoulders straightened, her gaze became steadier, and occasionally, when the guards weren't looking, she would help the younger children with their loads. She seemed especially protective of Sho.
Later that night, Minato noticed Erza curl into herself, her shoulders shaking. He bit his lips, conflicted. Should he go and comfort her? Would she even want him to comfort her? He gave her one last look before turning to Rob, giving her the dignity of private grief. As he moved to Rob, he noticed the old man etching something into the stone walls.
"What's that?" Minato whispered quietly, kneeling down to take a closer look.
Rob gave a small, wistful smile as his fingers traced the mark. It looked like a bird with a rather long tail.
"The Fairy Tail guild mark. A reminder of freedom."
Minato sat down. Over the past few months, he learned more about Rob and his past, but he never did ask directly about his guild.
"Tell me more," Minato requested softly, his gaze focused on the old man.
Rob's eyes lit up with a burning flame- as if the memories of Fairy Tail had brought back his youthful vigor.
"Fairy Tail is far more than a guild, Minato! It's a family. We fight, we laugh, we cry! Our Master, and my old friend, Makarov always said that magic isn't just power; it's heart and will!"
From her corner, Erza's shoulders stopped shaking, listening.
"What kind of magic do you use?" she asked quietly but no less curious.
"Fire magic," Rob replied, lifting his palm as if he could still cast a spell.
"What was the guild like?" Minato asked, leaning forward eagerly. Despite his aching muscles and the cold stone beneath him, stories of the outside world were precious treasures.
"Fairy Tail is chaos incarnate," Rob laughed quietly, the memories of the many, many, many bar fights still etched into his mind, "You will never find a guild that's more than willing to pummel it's own members while still putting their own lives on the line to save them!"
Erza had inched closer, her single visible eye wide with wonder. "And... everyone had magic?"
"Oh, yes," Rob nodded with a quiet grin, "There were many types of magics used. There was flame magic, ice magic, puppet magic, script magic, and even people that could talk to animals!"
"Could I..." Erza hesitated, then forced the words out. "Could I learn magic too?"
"Anyone with the dedication can learn," Rob replied gently. "Magic flows through all living things but manifests differently in each person."
Minato glanced at his calloused hands. "Even here?"
"Especially here," Rob nodded fiercely, his expression brimming with a burning passion, "The darker the pit of despair you are in, the brighter the light at the end shines!"
Erza's eye widened at Rob's words, a flicker of hope igniting in her gaze for the first time since her arrival. Minato felt something stir within him, too—a desperate yearning for that light Rob spoke of.
One night, Minato found himself staring intently at the lock, his eyes focused as a multitude of thoughts ran through his mind. He wanted to escape; that was obvious. But how? To use seals, he needed ink and paper. Minato cringed sightly, the hermit's words coming back to him.
"The end goal of a Seal Master is to inscribe seals without ink! It's a high skill and ability, but absolutely worth the rigorous training!"
Minato sighed, and apparently, Erza had heard him. As time passed, Erza would slowly open up to Minato. He and Erza were often separated from the others, left only with Rob. They would often huddle together for warmth.
"What are you thinking about?" she murmured, sitting close by.
"Magic," he admitted, "Seals, specifically."
Her head snapped over to him, a flicker of hope passing through her, "Can you use them to help us escape?"
"Maybe, but I have three issues," he admitted, "I need ink and paper for one, and more importantly…" he tugged at the collar around his neck. Her eyes drooped in understanding. The collars served a dual purpose; to torture them if they act out of line and to suppress anyone that could use magic. She pursed her lips in thought, before she gave soft gasp.
"What if we used the charcoal in the northern part of the quarry? And we can tear parts of our clothes to act as paper!" She said excitedly, keeping her voice low.
Minato ran the thought through his mind, his expression furrowing, "That could work, but I still have the collar…"
Erza looked down, her mind racing with thoughts as Minato furrowed his brow. What seals did he even have access to? Did he have any that didn't require any ethernano to activate…? A small thought entered his mind. It seemed outrageous, but it could work…
"Maybe," he murmured, standing abruptly, causing Erza to fall back in surprise. Minato grabbed a sharp rock and began drawing an intricate, curvy pattern into the ground, his eyes focused.
Erza watched, her single visible eye wide with fascination as Minato's hand moved with surprising precision. The crude pattern was elaborate—concentric circles with strange symbols between the lines.
"Is that a seal?" she asked, awe in her voice.
Minato nodded, "Yeah, but this is just a sketch. If I can apply the proper characters, I can turn a simple storage seal into a siphon and storage for ethernano."
"What would that do?" Erza leaned closer, trying to understand the complex design.
"The collar suppresses our magic," Minato explained, his finger tracing the outer ring of his drawing. "But it doesn't eliminate it completely. Think of it kind of like a dam. It's holding back our magic, not eliminating it. So, if I apply this seal to myself, I might be able to create a small funnel or channel in the dam. Which may give me just enough magic power to activate an explosive tag."
Erza's eye gleamed with newfound hope. "You could break us free?"
"Potentially. But I'd need time to prepare everything correctly," Minato whispered, brushing away his sketch with a quick sweep of his hand as footsteps approached. "One mistake and..."
"I'll help you the charcoal," she promised, determination hardening her features, "we could even get Jellal and the others to help!"
Minato frowned as he thought about it. It wasn't that he didn't trust them, it was more about secrecy. The less people know, the less chance for someone to blurt it out.
"Just Jellal and Simon," he nodded towards her.
Erza nodded in agreement. "I'll tell them tonight when the guards change shifts."
For the next few days, their plan took shape in hushed whispers and stolen moments. Jellal's eyes had lit up with fierce determination when Erza explained Minato's idea, while Simon remained cautious but supportive.
"How much charcoal will you need?" Simon asked one afternoon, carefully positioning himself to block the guards' view as Minato sketched another practice seal in the dirt.
"As much as possible," Minato replied, his brow furrowed in concentration. "The seal needs to be precise—one wrong stroke and it could backfire."
Jellal kept watch, his back to them as he pretended to work. "What about the cloth? The guards might notice if we start tearing our clothes."
Minato hummed to himself, closing his eyes, "I don't think they'd care. All they want from us is labor. Our state of dress could bother them less."
Erza nodded in agreement. "We're already in rags. They won't notice a few more tears."
Over the next week, they gathered supplies in secret. Simon smuggled tiny pieces of charcoal by hiding them in his mouth during work hours. Jellal created distractions when needed, drawing the guards' attention with minor infractions that earned him lashes but kept suspicion away from their activities. Erza carefully tore strips from their clothing, selecting the cleanest sections to serve as paper.
All the while, Minato kept carving out sketch after sketch in the dirt, his brain analyzing every component to this new seal. When it came time, the three kids and Rob huddled around Minato as he inscribed the sealing formula. His lips were set in a firm line as his two fingers, dipped in charcoal, wove intricate lines and symbols.
"This is so incredible," Jellal whispered, his voice filled with wonder as he watched Minato's fingers dance across the cloth. "How did you learn to do this?"
"Shh," Simon hissed, glancing nervously at the cell door. "Keep your voice down."
Minato didn't respond, his concentration absolute as he completed the final stroke. He gave a soft sigh before grabbing the cloth. He needed to apply to an area where no one would look. His chest? No, that's the first place they'd look. His brow furrowed before sighing. With the small tunic he had on, he couldn't really place it else where. He slipped it under his clothes and applied it to his chest.
The cloth stuck to his sweat coated skin. For a moment, nothing happened. Minato bit his lips. Did he draw it incor— Minato stiffened as he felt a spark in his chest. The others looked at him in worry, but he shook his head.
"I'm fine… I think," he murmured. He closed his eyes, feeling the seal slowly collecting his ethernano, drip by drip.
"It worked," he muttered quietly.
"How long before you have enough ethernano?" Jellal whispered, leaning forward eagerly.
Minato frowned, calculating. "A few days, maybe a week. The collar is suppressing most of my magic, so the collection is slow. I could use that time to draw an explosion seal… hopefully."
Simon narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean 'hopefully'?"
Minato cringed slightly, "I haven't actually finished an explosive tag. I was focusing on Sealcraft, not Formula Weaving."
The group stood silent for a moment before they all blinked at him in confusion. Minato sighed, "The Sealing Arts are divided into two main branches: Sealcrafting and Formula Weaving. Sealcrafting focuses on creating seals that store, transport, or bind objects and energies—like my storage seals. Formula Weaving is about creating seals that actively manipulate elements or energies to produce effects, like explosions or barriers."
Jellal's face fell, his previous excitement dimming. "So this might not even work?"
"I didn't say that," Minato replied, his voice calm despite his own doubts. "I understand enough of the principles to create something functional. It just might not be as controlled as I'd like."
"Meaning?" Erza asked, her single visible eye narrowing.
Minato hesitated. "Meaning it could be more powerful than intended... or less. I won't know until I try."
Rob, who had been silent throughout their planning, finally spoke. "This is risky, children. If the guards discover what you're doing..."
"We'll die here anyway," Jellal cut in, his voice hard with conviction. "Slowly, breaking our backs for their 'Tower of Heaven.' I'd rather risk everything for freedom."
Simon nodded reluctantly. "I agree with Jellal. But we need to be smart about this."
Minato was quiet for a moment before speaking up, "I need to know something…" The group turned to him, his blue eyes shining with determination, "if this works, are we escaping by ourselves, or are we revolting with the others?"
The silence that followed his question hung heavy in the air. Jellal's eyes narrowed, a spark of something fierce igniting within them.
"We free everyone," Jellal declared, his voice barely above a whisper but carrying the weight of absolute conviction. "What's the point of escaping if we leave others to suffer?"
Erza nodded firmly. "I agree. We can't abandon the others."
Simon looked less sure, his practical nature asserting itself. "That's much riskier. There are hundreds of slaves and dozens of guards. We'd need more than just one explosion."
"Mr. Rob?" Minato asked, turning to the older man. "What do you think?"
The former Fairy Tail wizard sighed deeply, his weathered face lined with both wisdom and sorrow. "In my guild, we believed in never abandoning those in need. But I also don't want to see you children throw your lives away on a plan too ambitious to succeed."
"I don't think—" Minato paused, attempting to calm himself, "I'm not sure I could live a happy life knowing I could have saved someone and didn't even try."
Jellal's lips quirked into a small smile. "Then we're agreed. We free everyone."
The group nodded firmly, and over the course of several more days, the group collected more materials for Minato. Minato himself was sketching into the dirt whenever he could, trying to fill in the gaps in the formula with speculation. He worked through as many character combinations as he could, but without the original framework, he couldn't remember. Some parts of the formula he could speculate from context, but there were other parts that, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't finish it. After four days, he had crudely finished something resembling an explosive tag.
"I hope this works," Minato muttered, examining the crude explosive tag in his hands. The charcoal lines were smudged in places, the cloth fraying at the edges. It was nothing like the pristine seals the hermit had shown him.
"It has to," Jellal replied, his voice tight with anticipation. Minato nodded, before walking up to the lock on the door. Gingerly, he placed the tag on the lock itself before rushing back to the group.
Minato formed a simple hand sign, concentrating on directing the stored energy into the explosive tag. The tag began to smoke slightly, but ultimately just sat there.
"What happened?" Erza whispered, her voice tight with disappointment.
"The tag wasn't written correctly," Minato murmured, his eyes analyzing the formula. He grimaced slightly as realization poured into him.
"This isn't going to be a quick solution," Minato warned them, "but if you're willing to keep helping me, I'll try a new formula again and again until it works."
"How long do you think?" Simon asked carefully.
"I don't know," he muttered, "there are countless combinations I could try. It'll only be through trial and error. It could be next week, or it could half a decade."
Jellal's face hardened, "We might not have half a decade. We should try to find another way!"
Minato nodded solemnly, "I know, and I understand if you do not wish to continue assisting. But that would mean leaving everyone behind, no? I refuse to do that. You all can escape. I wouldn't blame you. But I'm staying."
The boys stared defiantly at each other as Erza looked between the two. Shaking her head, she forced herself in between the two, "We can try both approaches can't we? We'll still help Minato as our basic plan, but that doesn't we should stop searching for alternatives."
Jellal considered this for a moment before giving a reluctant nod. "Fine. We'll keep all options open."
For months, they continued their clandestine work, the year slowly slipping from x775 to x776. However, it grew more difficult. The prisoner rotations amped up, Minato and Erza were separated from the rest most of the time, with very few days in entire months were they could actively work together. Throughout that time, Minato experimented with different seal configurations while the others kept watch and gathered materials. Each failure brought frustration, but also new insights. The explosive tags would sometimes smoke at most, but never anything more.
Then, one day, they heard a small crack. The trio looked at one another before rushing over to Minato. As they grew closer, they noticed a smoking lock, but it was still intact.
"Another bust?" Jellal murmured.
"Not quite."
Erza turned to Minato but stopped at the slight smile on his face.
"What's that smile for?" Jellal murmured.
"Even if I had half the formula memorized, if even a quarter of the rest of the formula was incorrect, nothing would have happened," Minato elaborated, his eyes darkening with racing thoughts.
"Yeah," Jellal spoke slowly, "and?"
"The tag sparked."
Jellal's eyes widened with understanding. "Which means—"
"I'm close," Minato nodded, already reaching for another strip of cloth. "The formula nearly worked. I need to adjust a few characters and strengthen the conversion matrix. Maybe wait for some more ethernano just to make sure I have enough magic power. So that would be… a month."
The atmosphere fell with a grim determination, but Jellal felt a bit doubtful. Half a month passed and Jellal felt himself grow impatient as time grew closer. Minato's tag was still experimental. Eventually, he spoke to Minato and the group about a tunnel that Wally found.
"A tunnel?" Minato repeated, his brow furrowing. "Where does it lead?"
Jellal's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Wally says it goes underneath the eastern wall. The guards don't patrol that section as heavily."
Simon crossed his arms, skeptical. "How did he even find it?"
"He was working in the lower levels when part of the floor collapsed," Jellal explained. "The guards didn't notice—they were too busy arguing about shift changes. Wally managed to explore a few meters before having to return."
Erza leaned forward. "Is it big enough for all of us?"
"Barely," Jellal admitted. "We'd have to crawl single file. But it's a way out that doesn't rely on magic we can't fully control yet."
Minato's fingers traced the half-finished explosive tag in his pocket. The formula was nearly complete—he could feel it—but Jellal's impatience was understandable. Every day in this place was another day of suffering.
"When do we go?" Minato asked.
"Tonight," Jellal whispered. "During the midnight guard rotation. There's a five-minute window when the eastern section is unwatched."
Erza and Simon nodded, but Erza mumbled back, "What about everyone else?"
Jellal gave her a comforting smile, "We can always come back with help on the outside!"
Erza gave a tentative smile back, turning to Minato as he stood.
"I'm staying," Minato spoke resolutely.
The entire cell fell silent. Jellal's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at his friend.
"What do you mean you're staying?" he demanded, his voice rising slightly before Simon hushed him.
Minato's blue eyes remained steady, resolute. "I told you before—I can't leave everyone behind. The explosive tag is almost complete. Another few weeks, maybe less, and I'll have it working."
"You can't be serious," Jellal hissed. "This is our chance! We might not get another one!"
"Then take it," Minato replied calmly. "I won't stop you. But I made a promise to myself, and I intend to keep it."
Erza stepped forward, her single visible eye shimmering with emotion. "Minato, please. We can come back with help, like Jellal said."
"Then that's better," Minato retorted calmly, "We'll take this place down from the inside and outside."
"Minato…" Jellal's voice was burdened with both anger and respect, "You're being stupid! What if they discover what you're doing! What if—"
"Then I'll die knowing I tried." Minato spoke calmly, though to be truthful, he still felt some tremors of fear coursing through him. For all his calm bravado, he was still just a ten year old.
Rob stared at Minato for a moment before nodding in respect, "I agree with Minato. Sometimes, we must sacrifice ourselves and our freedom for what we believe in."
A tense silence deafened the cell. Erza's hand trembled. She walked over to Minato's side and grasped at his arm.
"I'm staying too!" Erza stated unwaveringly. Minato's head snapped to her, his usually calm composure shattering in shock at the girl's words.
"Erza!" Jellal's eyes widened in disbelief.
"I can't leave him alone," she said firmly, her single eye meeting Jellal's gaze without flinching. "And... I think he's right. We promised to help everyone."
Simon stepped forward. "If you both stay, then—"
"No," Erza murmured, her eyes pleading, "Go with them. With all of you together, you could convince people on the outside to look for us."
Simon paused, his face clearly conflicted when Rob cut in, "Look for Fairy Tail," the old man spoke softly, "They will help you if you make it out!"
Jellal stared at Rob, then at his friends, his expression cycling through disbelief, anger, and finally, reluctant understanding. "Fine," he said, his voice tight. "But I swear on everything, I'm coming back for you—both of you. I'll find this Fairy Tail. I'll bring an army if I have to."
"We'll hold you to that," Minato replied with a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
That night, as the guards changed shifts, Jellal, Simon, Milliana, Wally, and Sho crept toward the eastern section where Wally had discovered the tunnel. Minato and Erza watched them go, their hearts heavy with both hope and dread.
"Do you think they'll make it?" Erza whispered, her hand finding Minato's in the darkness.
"They have to," he replied, squeezing her fingers gently. "Otherwise, what's the point of any of this?"
As night descended, Minato and Erza slept close to each other, with Rob nearby, giving them a warm glance. The peace didn't last.
"Wake up, you little runt!" A brutal kick forced Minato awake.
Minato gasped as pain exploded in his ribs. His eyes snapped open to find a guard standing over him, face twisted with rage. Erza quickly woke up as well and tried to dash to him, but another guard quickly pinned her.
"Where is it!?" the guard growled lowly, his teeth bared.
"What?" Minato coughed out.
"The charcoal you were using to plan an escape with!"
Minato's blood ran cold. How did they know? Had someone betrayed them? He quickly glanced at Rob, who appeared just as shocked as he was.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Minato managed, trying to keep his voice steady despite the pain radiating from his ribs.
The guard's face contorted with fury. He grabbed Minato by the collar and slammed him against the wall. "Your little friends are already caught trying to crawl through that pathetic tunnel. Did you really think we wouldn't notice?"
Erza struggled against her captor, her eyes wide with horror. "Leave him alone!"
The guard holding her yanked her hair, causing her to cry out. "Shut up, red hair! Your turn's coming."
Minato's mind raced. If they'd caught Jellal and the others, then everything was lost.
"Found it!" A guard called out, carrying the small amount of charcoal they had gathered.
The other guard sneered gleefully, unceremoniously dropping Minato before delivering a final kick. Minato coughed out he felt the air leave his lungs. Erza struggled and writhed underneath the guard, keeping her pinned.
"Let her go already, we got what we came for."
The guard did as he asked, allowing her to bolt over to Minato. He looked over at his superior, "Shouldn't we punish them? They might try this again."
The man snorted, "We're already punishing that blue-haired runt. Considering what he'll go through, it should be enough to deter everyone else for a while."
His words sent a chill down Minato's spine. Erza's hand trembled as she helped him sit up, her eye wide with fear.
"Jellal," she whispered, her voice breaking.
The guards left, slamming the cell door behind them. Minato winced as he tried to breathe deeply, each inhale sending sharp pain through his chest.
"What will they do to him?" Minato asked Rob, who had moved, to examine his injuries.
The old man's face was grim. "Nothing good. The cultists who run this place have... methods for breaking those who resist."
Erza's face paled. "We have to help him."
"We will," he coughed out, "I just need to place a tag. I think… I think that kick might have jarred something loose in my head."
"But they took all the charcoal!" Erza exclaimed, her mind trying to come up with a solution.
"That's fine," Minato murmured, ripping a piece of cloth from the rags they called clothes, "I just need this and a medium."
Erza stared at Minato as he picked up a rock, "But without charcoal, how—" she covered her mouth in shock as Minato cut his palm open with the rock, causing blood to seep down his hand.
"This will work," he panted, still feeling the kick from earlier. As long as he managed to write the proper formula, the medium only affected the quality of the blast. He tried to use the charcoal earlier to create a decent explosion, but at this point, all he wants is to blow the lock. The quality no longer mattered.
Using his finger dipped in blood, Minato began to draw on the cloth, his movements precise despite the pain. His eyes narrowed in concentration as the crimson lines formed intricate patterns. This was it, the last try he had to save Jellal and his friends. He needed to get this right. His eyes flicked over the formula, double, triple, and quadruple-checking his explosive formula. He bit his lip. It was all or nothing.
He ran up to the lock and placed a tag on the lock. Sprinting back with remarkable speed, he grabbed Erza and Rob and hauled them to the farthest corner. With two hands clasped together, he used all the ethernano his siphon had stored up.
It happened in an instant.
An explosion rocked the entire tower, throwing people off their feet.
Erza and Rob looked up with widened eyes at the torn and warped metal bars, the seared earth. Minato's voice called them out of their stupor.
"Come on! We have to hurry!"
The trio rushed through the blasted doorway, acrid smoke filling their lungs as they entered the dim, earthy corridor. Alarms blared throughout the tower, their shrill wails echoing off stone walls. Guards shouted in the distance, their voices tinged with panic and rage. On the floor in front of them stood the bodies of two guards. Their uniforms were singed. They must have been too close to the explosion.
"Which way to where they're holding Jellal?" Minato asked, his voice steady despite the chaos surrounding them.
Rob coughed, struggling to keep pace with the children. "The punishment cells are in the lower levels. But we should focus on freeing as many prisoners as possible—create enough confusion to overwhelm the guards."
Minato nodded, already searching through the two bodies in front.
"Where is it?" he murmured to himself before lighting up with joy. The keys. Three sets. He quickly undid his own collar before moving over to Erza and Rob.
Erza gasped as the heavy collar fell away from her neck, feeling a surge of something warm and powerful rush through her veins. Rob's weathered hands trembled as his own collar clattered to the floor.
"My magic," he whispered, staring at his palms where small flames flickered to life. "After all these years..."
"We have to move quickly," Minato muttered, primarily to himself, before tossing Rob a set of keys. "Mr. Rob, start heading west and releasing the prisoners in that direction. Erza and I will head east and start releasing the prisoners in that direction!"
Rob nodded, his eyes burning with renewed purpose. "Be careful, children. The guards won't show mercy now."
"Neither will we," Erza declared, her voice hard with determination as she grabbed a fallen guard's staff. With a nod, the two groups separated.
It didn't take long before the duo found their first set of prison cells. The prisoners inside it pressed themselves against the bars, eyes wide with confusion and hope. Minato fumbled with the keys, his hands shaking with adrenaline as he unlocked the first door.
"We're breaking out," he told the stunned prisoners. "Spread the word, free as many as you can!"
The prisoners didn't need to be told twice. They surged forward, some grabbing discarded weapons, others simply running toward freedom. Minato and Erza continued down the row, unlocking door after door, the tide of liberated slaves growing with each cell. Sounds of battle erupted all across the quarry. Yells and screams of liberation charged the atmosphere.
Eventually, the two of them arrived at a cell with those who tried to escape with Jellal.
"Simon!" Erza cried out, rushing to the cell. Inside, Simon, Milliana, Sho, and Wally huddled together, their faces bruised but their eyes lighting up at the sight of their friends.
"Erza! Minato!" Simon gasped as Minato fumbled with the keys. "How did you—"
"No time," Minato cut him off, swinging the door open. "Where's Jellal?"
Sho trembled. "We heard him screaming earlier."
Erza's face paled, but her grip on the staff tightened. "We're getting him out."
The torture chambers should be directly above us, Minato murmured, picking up two knives on the ground. He could hear the sounds of multiple guards coming towards him. Minato bit his lip before nodding to himself.
"Erza!" he called out, startling the redhead, "Go to Jellal! I'll keep the guards busy enough out here for you rescue him, got it?"
Erza's eyes widened in alarm. "But there are too many—"
"Trust me," Minato cut her off, his blue eyes flashing with determination. "I can handle this. Jellal needs you."
For a moment, Erza hesitated, torn between staying with Minato and rescuing Jellal. Then she nodded sharply, her red hair swinging with the motion. "Don't you dare die," she commanded, her voice cracking slightly.
Minato's firm facade melted slightly, giving her a soft grin. With a hesitant nod, she burst into action, running towards where their friend should be.
"Simon," Minato murmured, his eyes narrowing, "Grab everyone else and try to find Mr. Rob. He should be helping to free the prisoners in the west, but I'm a little worried."
Simon nodded grimly, ushering the others away. "Be safe, Minato!"
Before Minato could respond in kind, six guards blew past the corner.
"There's a brat!" one of them shouted, pointing his spear at Minato. Minato's body moved before his mind even thought about it. He had always been naturally fast, the fastest in his village. He ducked under the first guard's swing, slashing at the man's leg before pivoting away from another attack. With a flick of his wrist, one of his knives flew through the air, embedding itself between the man's eyes.
Minato flinched at that. It was the first time he had ever taken a life. He pushed down any feelings of regret. Right now, all that mattered was saving his friends. His guilt came later. The other guards took a more cautious approach, choosing to surround him with their superior numbers.
I'm still the faster, and I'm small, Minato analyzed, though even now, he could tell his reflexes and speed were atrophied alongside his body. His back pressed against the cold stone wall. Five against one—the odds weren't in his favor. But he couldn't falter now, not when Erza was counting on him to buy time.
"Die, you little runt!" a guard lunged forward, thrusting his spear towards Minato's chest. In a quick, snappy motion, dove underneath the thrust, wrapping his arm around the shaft.
"What in the—!?"
With a quick twist, the spear snapped in half, allowing Minato to close in and thrust the knife into the man's throat. Warm blood sprayed out, some of it splattering on Minato's face. The warm feeling and irony scent caused him to retch slightly, but quickly rolled out of a sharp slash.
He hit the ground hard, blood still slick on his cheek. His stomach twisted, but he forced it down. There wasn't time to feel—not yet.
"A demon kid!" one guard yelled frightfully, dropping his weapon and fleeing. Minato couldn't help but let out an uncharacteristic snort. He was the demon here? The other guards stared nervously at each other.
"Screw it, Kota was right!" another yelled out, mirroring the actions of his comrade. One by one, the others did the same, leaving Minato alone in the hallway
Minato fell to one knee as he looked over at the two corpses. For a moment, everything was silent. Then Minato doubled over, puking what little food he had.
His shoulders heaved with each retch, hands trembling as they pressed against the cold stone floor. He'd killed. Two men, in the span of seconds. Their faces—surprised, frightened in their final moments—were already burning themselves into his memory. He shook his head, reminding himself of his mantra. "Guilt comes later."
Minato tried lifting himself back onto his legs, but the exertion he had just pulled and the loss of adrenaline meant that his malnourished body had hit its limit. His breath became labored, as his vision became blurred. But there was still a vision in his mind. A flash of scarlet red. With a grunt of intense effort, he hauled himself to his feet. Using the wall as leverage, he began walking towards the torture chamber.
The corridor seemed longer with each step, stretching endlessly before him. Minato's legs felt like lead, his lungs burning with each breath. But he pressed on, driven by the thought of Erza facing unknown dangers alone.
Distant shouts and the clash of metal echoed throughout the tower. The rebellion was in full swing now—slaves fighting for their freedom against their captors. Minato hoped Rob was okay, that the old man's rekindled magic was enough to keep him safe.
An explosion rocked the tower, throwing Minato into the air and slamming him into the rubble. A scream echoed in the halls as Minato coughed up the dust that entered his lungs. His eyes widened as he saw a familiar looking boy: black hair, yellow eyebrows, and a pointy nose. He was surrounded by three cultists, each brandishing a weapon. His face filled with fear as the trio slowly closed in.
Sawyer!
Disregarding his own exhaustion, Minato bolted towards him. He quickly threw his last knife, the blade sinking into the nape of the nearest cultist while slamming into another.
The third stepped back in surprise at the blitz attack, "What the—urk!"
Minato had pulled out the knife from the man's nape and slammed it into the throat of the third. The cultist fell back, clutching his gurgling throat.
All the while, Sawyer looked at him wide eyes.
He's so… fast!
"Are you okay?" Minato panted, turning to Sawyer.
The boy nodded shakily, his wide eyes fixed on Minato with a mixture of awe and fear. "How did you move so fast?"
Minato shook his head. There was no time to explain. "Can you walk?"
"Y-yeah," Sawyer stammered, rising to his feet.
"Get to the western cells. Look for an old man named Rob. He'll protect you."
Sawyer hesitated, looking at the bodies around them. "What about you?"
"I need to find my friends," Minato replied, already moving again despite his body's protests. "Go, now! As fast as you can!"
Sawyer flinched before nodding, sprinting down the corridor, repeating a single phrase in his mind, As fast I can! As fast as I can!
Minato stood for a minute, watching as Sawyer became a small blip before vanishing around a corner. The moment Sawyer left his line of sight, Minato fell onto a single knee, taking in deep breaths, his chest heaving.
Erza, he thought to himself, shaking his head and pulling himself back up and sprinting at full speed, ignoring the seething protests of his body. He burst through the door of the torture chamber, his heart hammering against his ribs. The sight before him froze his blood.
The room was in ruins, chunks of stone and metal scattered across the floor. In the center lay Erza, unconscious.
"Erza!" Minato yelled, his face shifting to deep concern.
His limbs moved before his mind could process the scene entirely, carrying him to her side. Blood pooled beneath her head, but what made his heart stop was her face—or rather, what was missing. Her right eye was gone—a bloody, raw wound where it should have been. Blood streaked down her face like crimson tears.
"Erza…" he whispered, his composure completely evaporating. His hand swiftly moved to her neck, searching for a pulse. He didn't realize he let out a breath as he felt a faint pulse beneath his touch. However, his relief quickly twisted into a cold fury. "Who did this?"
"I did."
Minato's danger instincts flared, but wasn't quick enough to dodge a savage knee into his gut. He collapsed near Erza as the air left his lips.
What is it with people and kicking me today?
Through the haze of pain, he made out a figure standing tall amid the destruction. Blue hair, a familiar face—but the eyes were all wrong.
"Jellal?" Minato wheezed, struggling to rise.
The boy who stood before him wore Jellal's face, but everything else about him seemed twisted, wrong. A sinister smile stretched across his lips, and his eyes gleamed with an unnatural light.
"Not anymore," he replied, his voice cold and hollow. "I've been... enlightened."
Minato's mind raced through the fog of pain. "What did they do to you?"
Jellal rolled his eyes, his smile still plastered on his face, "I've already explained everything to our dear Erza, so instead, I'll simply give you the deal I gave her."
Deal? Minato thought to himself. He let out a choked gasp as he felt an iron grip around his throat. How? He's faster and stronger now!
Jellal leaned in close, "I will allow you and Erza to leave," Minato's eyes widened, "however, you must accept three conditions."
Minato's expression darkened as he clutched Jellal's grip, "First, you must never speak of this place to anyone. If I found out you told anyone, I'll massacre whoever comes and the people inside this tower."
… He's not kidding. Minato felt himself slowly losing consciousness. Could he fight Jellal right now?
A single beat passed before…
…No, Minato concluded. The exhaustion of his body, combined with Jellal's sudden power boost, meant he couldn't even scratch Jellal.
"Second," Jellal continued, his grip tightening, "you will never return to this tower. This is my domain now."
Minato's vision began to darken at the edges, but he managed to choke out, "And... third?"
Jellal's smile widened, becoming even more twisted. "You will pretend this tower and I never existed. You will live your lives and never look back."
With a brilliant flash of dark magic power, an explosion caved in the side of the tower, revealing the sun. Jellal grabbed Erza by her throat as well and dangled them both outside.
"I'm not an unfair person," Jellal chuckled darkly, "I will keep my end of the promise. Leave me be, and you two can live your lives peacefully."
"Wait!" Minato choked out, "I need to know… did you sell us out?"
Jellal paused for a moment as if debating something in his head. Eventually, he met Minato's eyes, "No."
Minato narrowed his eyes, logic telling him this was a lie, but for some reason, he felt inclined to believe Jellal.
With that, Jellal dropped both of them outside the tower. As they plummeted toward the land below, Minato twisted his body with what little energy he had left and pulled Erza to his chest. He angled their bodies so he would take the brunt of the fall. With a loud thud, Minato and Erza hit the side of the tower, skidding along it to the ground. Minato's world exploded in pain as they hit the ground, his body cushioning Erza's fall.
It wasn't that long a fall, but he was certain his body had just about reached its limit today. Minato looked out to the ocean, scanning the beaches of the island before his eyes settled on exactly what he was looking for. With one hand around Erza, he used the other to drag them both across the sand. His legs had given out, he couldn't walk, and his arms seemed just about to follow. He needed to be quick.
Behind him, shouts and screams still echoed from the tower. The rebellion was in full swing, but Minato couldn't focus on that now. His vision swam, darkness encroaching at the edges. He needed to get Erza to safety.
A small boat bobbed in the water, likely used by the guards for supply runs. Minato's arms burned with effort as he dragged Erza across the sand. However, before he could make it, sinister screeches filled the outside. Minato turned around and saw floating ghouls chasing after them.
The remnants of the cultists!
Minato threw his body over Erza's in a last-ditch attempt to protect her. He could feel the magic power building up and closed his eyes.
Erza, Mr. Rob… I'm sorry!
A deafening roar shattered the air. Minato's eyes snapped open to see a wall of flames erupting between them and the cultists. The magical fire twisted and turned with purpose, forming a protective barrier. Through the dancing flames, Minato caught glimpses of a figure—weathered and battered but standing tall.
"Mr. Rob!" Minato croaked, his voice barely audible over the roaring fire.
The old Fairy Tail wizard stood with his arms outstretched, his entire body glowing with golden flames. On his lower back, Fairy Tail's guild mark shined brightly and proudly. His face was a mask of determination and pain as he poured every ounce of his rekindled magic into the barrier.
"GO!" Rob bellowed, his voice carrying over the chaos. "LIVE, CHILDREN!"
Minato watched in horror as the cultists' magic struck Rob from all sides. The old man didn't falter, didn't try to dodge. Instead, he absorbed the attacks, using them to fuel his flames even higher.
"Wait!" Minato screamed, trying to rise but finding his body wouldn't respond.
Rob turned slightly, just enough for Minato to see his face. The old wizard was smiling—a genuine, peaceful smile despite the agony he must have been feeling.
"Find Fairy Tail," Rob called out, his voice growing weaker. "They will take good care of you, I swear!"
Minato's eyes watered, "Mr. Rob…"
"Minato!" Rob yelled out, "Protect Erza so Erza can protect you!"
With a sense of despair coursing through his body, Minato nodded, determined not to let Rob's sacrifice be in vain. With a final herculean amount of effort, Minato dragged Erza into the small boat, and pushed it off into the sea, throwing himself inside it. He looked to the side and saw Erza, still unconscious, still injured. He grit his teeth as he tore another strip from his tunic. He wrapped it around her missing eye. With a grimace, Minato looked back at the war torn island. Rob's figure could still be seen, holding back the tide. The ocean current carried them away, and after several more minutes, Rob's flames finally flickered out, and with them, Minato's lucidity. He fell back onto the boat, staring blankly at the sky.
Protect Erza so Erza can protect you!
His head slowly turned to Erza. She was still breathing, still alive. As was he. Despite everything, they had survived. Minato's body trembled as, for the first time since he was taken by the cultists, he relaxed. And it all crashed down at once. Pain from the first moment he got to the Tower to now finally broke through his guard. The loss of his village, parents, family, his second family at the tower, Jellal, Rob… it all hurt. Minato's head fell back as darkness consumed him, tears freely escaping his eyes.