After Aelius's… incident, the clearing slowly settled back into something resembling normal.
He relaxed. Or at least he put on the appearance of it. His shoulders loosened, and he leaned back against the bench, one arm draped over the backrest like the outburst from earlier had burned itself out and left nothing behind. Anyone who didn't witness it might have believed it. His breathing had steadied, his expression had gone flat again, though it was unseen under a newly cleaned mask, and the sharp tension that had filled the air before had faded. But it was a performance, whether anyone could tell was a guess, but it didn't change the facts.
Levy stayed quiet nearby, pretending to be busy herself with straightening a few of the scattered pieces of wood from the shattered table, though there wasn't really anything left to salvage. Makarov had returned to his seat, the bottle still in his hand, watching the treeline with the patient calm of someone waiting for the rest of the day to unfold. Gajeel had leaned back against one of the posts outside the cantina, arms crossed, eyes half lidded as if he were bored, though he kept glancing toward Aelius every so often.
Luckily, it didn't take long before the others started to trickle in. The first one to stumble into the clearing was Natsu, and traumatized was the only word that fit. His steps were slower than usual, his posture hunched slightly, and his eyes had that distant, hollow look people tended to get after being reminded just how large the gap between themselves and someone stronger really was. His clothes were still mostly intact, but the way he moved suggested his entire body ached.
Aelius didn't need to ask what happened. Gildarts had let the punch first dragon slayer feel his full power. Probably just for a second, but that was more than enough. If Aelius was a monster, then Gildarts was the hunter, the man himself had a terrifying amount of magic power, it wouldn't surprise Aelius if he was on par with one of the four gods of Ishtar.
Natsu dragged himself toward the cantina, muttering under his breath, something about rematches and how next time he'd hit first before the old man even moved. No one bothered correcting him.
Then two more figures appeared through the trees. Elfman stepped into the clearing first, shoulders straight and expression steady. He looked worn but satisfied, like someone who had pushed himself to the edge and was still standing afterward. Behind him walked Evergreen.
She immediately made it clear she was doing everything in her power not to look toward Aelius. Her head was angled slightly away from the center of the clearing, her gaze fixed somewhere off to the side as if the trees themselves were suddenly fascinating. She walked carefully, almost rigidly, like someone trying very hard not to think about something standing only a short distance away.
Aelius noticed immediately, it wasn't like it was subtle. His mind flashed back to the memory of her eyes popping under his touch, her screams. She had been healed since then. Completely, from what he understood. But knowing something had been fixed didn't necessarily erase the instinctive fear left behind by the experience.
As she walked past the edge of the clearing, she turned slightly, probably trying to adjust her path so she could pass through without ever looking his way. And that was when it happened, her gaze had slipped, or perhaps she had taken the chance to look, hoping Aelius wasn't in her sight. Her eyes met Aelius's.
The reaction was immediate. Evergreen froze so abruptly that it looked unnatural, like someone had turned her body to stone mid-step, ironic considering her magic. Her entire frame locked in place, shoulders going rigid and spine straightening as if every muscle in her body had suddenly forgotten how to move.
Then the shaking started. Her whole body began to shake hard enough that faint cracking sounds echoed from her joints as the tension forced her bones and muscles to strain against themselves.
Elfman turned halfway toward her, confusion flashing across his face as he noticed she had stopped moving entirely. The mountain of a man followed her gaze before his eyes went wide with understanding. He stepped in between them, breaking the line of sight, and crouched and began speaking quietly to the horrified woman.
Makarov, still seated beside Aelius after the outburst earlier, spoke for the first time since then. The old master had been watching the clearing quietly, observing the way the others filtered back into camp, but his attention eventually shifted back to the man sitting next to him.
"I suppose I should thank you," he said calmly, "for not taking her sight permanently. I'm sure you could have, if you'd wanted to."
Aelius gave a light snort at that, the sound quiet but genuine. His gaze had been resting on Elfman's broad back as the man tried to coax Evergreen into moving again, but he turned slightly back toward Makarov.
"Figured it'd be more of an annoyance listening to the guild whine about it if I went too far," Aelius said dryly. He lifted a hand and rubbed the side of his temple again, the lingering headache still pressing faintly behind his eyes. "She learned her lesson. I'm certain of that."
Across the clearing, Evergreen had finally managed to move again, though she still looked stiff as stone. Elfman was saying something quietly to her, trying to calm her down while guiding her toward the cantina.
Makarov watched the scene for a moment, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint smile.
"Very protective, aren't you?" he said after a moment. His eyes drifted back across the clearing as more of the participants trickled into the camp, some wearing proud grins while others carried the heavy disappointment of failure. "Stone cold Aelius is secretly a soft-hearted puppy."
The laugh that escaped Aelius this time was short, "Don't need to lose a lot to start hoarding what's left," he replied, the words quieter than his usual tone but no less sharp. He leaned back slightly, resting his arms loosely against the bench again. "Besides, I'm sure over half the guild would disagree with you there, Master. I like maybe three of you."
Makarov's grin widened at that. "Ah," he said, stroking his mustache thoughtfully. "But I'm willing to bet I'm one of those three."
Aelius glanced sideways at him, his eyes hiding any emotion. Then he shrugged. "You're on thin ice."
Makarov chuckled softly at that, clearly pleased enough with the answer. Around them, the camp continued to fill as more mages returned from their trials, voices rising and falling with stories of fights won, fights lost, and the occasional exaggerated complaint about Gildarts' idea of a "test."
Once everyone had arrived, Makarov stood muttering that he'd talk to Aelius more after he sent the others on their way. The old man clapped, drawing attention as he stood on a table to make himself equal in size to the rest of the guild present.
He congratulated the winners, Natsu and Happy, Gray and Loke, Cana and Lucy, Levy and Gajeel, Elfman and Evergreen. And fed the losers the stereotypical 'there's always next year' speech.
Aelius would admit he felt a bit of pride when Gray was shocked that Levy and Gajeel had gotten past him, even if it was cheap. His thoughts were cut as Makarov explained they had six hours to find Mavis's grave. That was all he needed to say. The remaining contestants gathered their things and, after a few quick words from Makarov about the next stage of the trials, ran off into the jungle to begin it. Their footsteps faded quickly into the dense trees surrounding the clearing, leaving the camp strangely quiet once again.
The only ones left behind were Juvia, Lisanna, Aelius, Makarov, Mira, and Erza.
Gildarts had already left earlier, apparently satisfied with the damage he had inflicted on the candidates. Freed and Bickslow had gone with him, deciding they would rather return to the guild than sit around waiting for the next round of the trials to finish.
That left a much smaller group occupying the camp. The girls had gathered near the small kitchenette area attached to the cantina. Lisanna and Juvia sat across from one another at a rough wooden table, talking quietly while Mira leaned against the counter listening in. Erza had tied on an apron and begun assembling something in a pan with the focused intensity of someone preparing for battle.
Aelius watched her for a moment. Judging by her personality and the amount of force she was applying to the cooking utensils, whatever she was making was probably not going to be edible.
He chose not to comment. Across the clearing, Aelius and Makarov hadn't really moved much since the others returned. The old master had stood up briefly to explain the conditions of the next trial and send the contestants on their way, but once that was done, he came right back and settled beside Aelius again as he had never left.
Now he sat there quietly, smiling slightly at nothing in particular as he watched the camp. Aelius didn't ask what he was smiling about. After a long moment of comfortable silence, Makarov spoke again.
"You'll be alright." The words came out of nowhere. Aelius turned his head slightly. Makarov was still looking out across the clearing as he continued. "Even if you somehow become a god," the old man said, his voice calm, "you killed your grandfather to get your power." He shrugged faintly. "No reason you can't be killed as well."
Aelius opened his mouth immediately, ready to fire back with something sarcastic or cutting. But Makarov raised a hand before the words could come out. "No," he said firmly. "That's not a threat."
His eyes shifted toward Aelius now. "And it's not me telling you to kill yourself if that day ever comes." He sighed quietly, shaking his head. "I wish you didn't think that way, especially when I can already predict the words you were about to say." Aelius closed his mouth slowly, the retort dying before it ever reached his tongue. Makarov leaned back slightly on the bench.
"I just meant something simpler," the old man continued. "If the one who gave you your magic wasn't immortal… then you aren't either." He glanced sideways at Aelius. "Power doesn't make you untouchable." His voice softened slightly. "Even gods fall, son."
For a moment, the clearing was quiet again. The only sound for a while was the steady scrape of Erza stirring something in the pan behind them with far more intensity than the task probably required. The smell drifting from the kitchenette suggested whatever she was making was at least edible, though the way she attacked the pan made it sound like she was trying to defeat it rather than cook with it.
Aelius felt the comment rising in his throat. For once, he swallowed it. Instead, he let out a slow breath and rubbed the bridge of his nose, mask. "…It makes sense," he admitted quietly. "What you said." Makarov didn't interrupt, so he kept going. "But everything in my life has done its best to break me," Aelius continued after a moment, staring out toward the treeline where the others had disappeared into the jungle. "And when it can't… it breaks the people around me instead."
His fingers tightened slightly where they rested against his knees. "I…" The word caught in his throat. For a second, his breathing hitched, the rest of the thought refusing to come out. The silence stretched long enough that Makarov turned his head to look at him again.
Aelius stared down at the dirt for another few seconds before finally forcing the words out, "I'm tired."
The admission came out low, almost embarrassed. Not dramatic. Just honest. "I want to do normal things," he continued slowly. "Date someone. Have fun. Hang out with friends without worrying about whether my magic is going to rot the water or poison the ground beneath us."
He huffed out a weak breath that almost resembled a laugh. "I'm trying," he said. "I promise I'm trying." His gaze lifted briefly toward the small group by the kitchenette. Lisanna and Juvia were talking quietly while Mira leaned against the counter, watching Erza cook like she was supervising a battlefield operation.
"But it's hard," Aelius muttered. "Every time I get somewhere… every time I think maybe I've figured something out…" His shoulders sank a little. "Something happens that makes it worse." He dragged a hand down his mask, exhaustion written plainly across it now, even through the barrier. "It feels like all I do is repeat the same problems over and over," he said quietly. "Different place. Different people. Same outcome."
The words lingered there for a moment. "Nothing changes." Makarov listened without interrupting, his expression softer now than it had been earlier. When Aelius finished, the old master let a few seconds pass before speaking. "That's because you're looking at it the wrong way."
Aelius glanced sideways at him. Makarov leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on his knees. "You think nothing changes because the problems keep coming back," the old man said. "But that's not the part that matters." He gestured vaguely toward the clearing. "The part that matters is how you face them." Aelius didn't look convinced.
Makarov chuckled quietly at that. "Four months ago, you would have faced those problems alone," he continued. "You would have run from everyone here the moment things got difficult." His gaze shifted toward Juvia, who was still lingering near the kitchenette with the others. "Today you broke a table instead." Aelius snorted faintly despite himself.
"Progress," Makarov said with a grin. "I know you're trying, and I know how hard it is. Life hasn't exactly been fair to you." He shifted slightly on the bench, resting his hands on his knees as he studied the younger mage for a moment. "But if I can give you a piece of elderly advice, what's actually stopping you from doing those things? Hanging out. Dating." His hand made a small gesture toward the rest of the camp. "Most of the people you'd do those things with are already here on the island. I'm fairly certain they would agree to at least two of those. And one in particular might even agree to the dating part." The old master chuckled softly at his own comment.
Aelius tilted his head a little, clearly trying to process that in the most literal way possible. "I… suppose that's true," he admitted after a moment. "Even when I try to push them away, they just stick harder." His eyes drifted toward the small group by the kitchenette again. The scene looked annoyingly normal. Almost peaceful. The kind of thing he had spent most of his life assuming he wasn't supposed to be part of.
"But…" he continued slowly, looking back at Makarov. "Who would actually agree to date or something like that with me of all people?"
Makarov stared at him. Not the patient, the amused stare he had been giving him earlier. This one looked more like the expression of someone watching a man miss something so obvious it bordered on painful. After a few seconds, the old master dragged a hand down his face and sighed deeply. "You are really hard-headed, my boy."
Aelius frowned slightly at that. Makarov turned his head again, looking across the clearing at the others. His gaze lingered for a moment before he gave a small shake of his head, half amused and half exasperated. "You see a monster when you look at yourself," he said. "That much is obvious. But the people around you don't."
Aelius opened his mouth to object, but Makarov cut him off before he could start listing examples. "Yes, yes," the old man waved a hand dismissively. "You've terrified half the guild at one point or another. You have plague magic. You occasionally act like a walking disaster. None of that changes what I said."
He nodded toward the kitchenette again. "Those girls over there aren't sitting at that table because they're afraid of you. If they were, they'd be on the other side of the island."
Aelius glanced back over his shoulder. Lisanna laughed at something Juvia said, Mira shook her head with an amused smile, and Erza lifted the pan to inspect whatever she had created like a general reviewing a newly forged weapon.
None of them looked particularly frightened. Makarov continued speaking before Aelius could say anything. "You protect them," he said simply. "You look after them, even when you pretend not to care. People notice that sort of thing."
Aelius snorted faintly. "Pretty sure most of them just notice the part where I threaten them."
"Yes," Makarov replied dryly. "And yet they're still here." That point hung in the air for a moment. Then the old master leaned back slightly. "As for who might agree to that particular idea," he added casually, "I suspect you'd be surprised if you ever actually asked."
Aelius narrowed his eyes slightly at that. "That sounds suspiciously like you know something I don't."
Makarov chuckled. "I'm an old man," he said. "Observing people is one of the few hobbies left to me." He glanced toward the girls again, then back to Aelius. "Let's just say you are not nearly as unappealing as you seem convinced you are."
Aelius looked unconvinced. Makarov sighed again. "You know," he added, "most young men your age would be thrilled to discover there are women around them who enjoy their company."
Aelius muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like "most young men aren't plague gods."
Makarov laughed outright at that. "My boy," he said, shaking his head. "You're not the only strange person in this guild."
He gestured broadly toward the camp. "We have dragon slayers, a woman made of water, a demon, a woman who can turn people to stone with her eyes, and whatever it is Gildarts counts as. Your competition in the 'normal person' category was never very strong to begin with."
Aelius couldn't help the small laugh that escaped him at that. Makarov caught it immediately and grinned wider. "There," he said. "See? Not impossible."
Aelius shook his head slowly, still looking faintly skeptical as his gaze drifted back toward the others. "…I wouldn't even know where to start."
Makarov shrugged slightly, the movement loose and unbothered. "That part's simple." He nodded toward the kitchenette again, where the others were gathered. "You walk over there," Makarov said calmly. "And you talk to them."
Aelius gave him a flat look. "Normally," the master added before the younger mage could start listing objections. "First names. No sarcasm. No thinly veiled insults disguised as observations. And yes, that includes Mira."
Aelius grimaced slightly at that part. Makarov noticed. "Yes," the old man continued, clearly amused. "Even with her." He folded his arms loosely across his chest and leaned back against the bench. "If you want to stop viewing yourself as a monster, you need to start acting like you aren't one," he said simply. "And that means doing normal things. Being polite. Being patient. Tolerating people instead of testing their limits every time they speak to you."
Aelius stared at him for a moment like he had just been asked to wrestle a dragon with his bare hands. "That sounds exhausting."
Makarov snorted. "It's called social interaction."
The younger mage rubbed a hand down his face. "You're asking a lot."
"I'm asking you to try," Makarov corrected. He gestured again toward the group across the clearing. "They already tolerate you. Most of them even like you. The least you can do is meet them halfway."
Aelius glanced back over his shoulder again. It looked… normal. Which somehow made the idea of walking over there feel more complicated. Makarov watched him quietly for a moment before speaking again. "Just try to be normal," he said. "Like when you were a kid."
That made Aelius pause. Not because the advice was complicated, but because, honestly, it wasn't. He remembered what that had been like. "…Talking has always been a difficult thing for me. Kinda hard to hold a conversation when you're trying not to rot the person you're speaking to," he admitted quietly.
Makarov's expression softened a little."You'd be surprised how quickly it comes." Aelius looked unconvinced. The old master chuckled and nudged his shoulder lightly. "Go on," he said. "Before Erza forces everyone to eat whatever she made. If you wait too long, you'll be trapped at that table for hours pretending it tastes good."
Then he looked back at Makarov. For a second, he didn't move. Then he stood.
The motion was slow and stiff, like he was bracing himself before stepping into something far more dangerous than it actually was. He took a deep breath, letting it out through his nose as if trying to steady himself.
"Soft-hearted," Makarov said again, the words carrying the same amused tone as before.
Aelius rolled his eyes slightly but didn't argue. The old master watched him for a moment longer before the humor faded a little from his face. His expression shifted into something quieter. More sincere. "I'm proud of you, my boy."
That made Aelius pause halfway through turning toward the others. Makarov rested his hands on his cane and looked up at him, the usual joking glint in his eyes replaced by something steadier. "You've come farther than you think," the old man continued. "Even just being willing to attempt this."
Aelius didn't respond right away. For a moment, he simply stood there, the words settling somewhere in the back of his mind where he didn't quite know what to do with them. Compliments weren't something he handled well. Especially not ones that sounded genuine. "…Don't make it sound like I'm about to march into battle," he muttered finally.
Makarov chuckled. "Given your track record with conversations, I'd say the comparison is fair."
Aelius snorted faintly at that, shaking his head. "Encouraging."
"Honest," Makarov corrected.
The younger mage looked toward the kitchenette again. The conversation there had grown louder, Juvia gesturing dramatically about something while Lisanna laughed. Mira noticed him standing there and tilted her head slightly, clearly wondering why he was hovering on the edge of the clearing like he was waiting for permission to approach.
He immediately looked away. Makarov noticed that too. "Go on," the master said gently.
Aelius let out one more slow breath before starting across the clearing. Each step felt oddly deliberate, like he was forcing himself to move forward through something invisible. He could feel Makarov watching from behind him, which somehow made turning back feel less like an option.
By the time he reached the edge of the kitchenette area, the girls had all noticed him.
Lisanna looked curious. Juvia looked surprised. Mira looked away. Erza looked up from the plates she was arranging with the calm seriousness she applied to everything.
Aelius stopped a few feet from the table, suddenly very aware that he had no actual plan for what he was about to say. For a moment, the silence stretched just long enough to become awkward.
Aelius stood there with his hands loosely at his sides, suddenly aware that he had walked over without the faintest idea how conversations like this were supposed to start. Every instinct he had built over the years told him to deflect with sarcasm or make some sharp comment to regain control of the moment. Instead, he remembered Makarov's words. Be normal.
"…I'm here to talk," Aelius said after a moment. Then he tilted his head slightly, clearly hearing how strange that sounded even as it left his mouth. "I guess."
The uncertainty in his voice earned a couple of small giggles from the table. Lisanna tried to hide hers behind her hand but failed immediately, while Juvia simply smiled in open amusement. Even Mira's lips twitched slightly, though she kept her composure far better than the others.
Aelius shifted his weight awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Uhm…" he started again, clearly forcing himself not to retreat back into his usual sharp tone. "I'll start by saying I may have been harsh… Stra—" He stopped halfway through the name, catching himself. "—Mirajane," he corrected.
Mira's eyebrow lifted slightly at the pause, eyes brighter than he'd seen since his return, which admittedly wasn't a hard bar to pass, but she didn't interrupt. "I stand by what I said," Aelius continued, glancing briefly toward the ground before meeting her eyes again. "But… Fairy Tail seems to be about forgiveness."
He gave a small shrug. "So. Yeah." For a moment, none of them spoke. Mira leaned back slightly after his awkward explanation. She did look happier at what he had said, the corner of her mouth lifting in a small smile, but there was still tension in the way she carried herself. It was subtle, but obvious once someone noticed it. She held herself a little lower than usual, shoulders drawn in just slightly, and when her eyes met his, they never quite stayed there long enough to fully settle. Aelius also noticed the way one of her hands had curled into the fabric of her dress, fingers clenching and relaxing against it as if she were reminding herself to stay calm.
Lisanna laughed quietly again while Juvia tilted her head at Aelius, studying him like she was trying to solve a puzzle. "But Juvia believes it still counts," she said thoughtfully. "Aelius walked all the way over here just to say that."
That only made the giggling start again, Lisanna covering her mouth while Juvia leaned slightly toward her with bright curiosity. Mira watched the whole exchange with the calm amusement of someone who had seen many strange conversations unfold at this guild table.
"It's nice to see you again…" Lisanna said softly once the laughter faded, her smile gentler now as she looked directly at Aelius. "We haven't really talked since you came back. Or… well, since I came back."
Her voice carried that quiet weight the words always seemed to have whenever someone mentioned her return. The years she had been gone still lingered around her in small pauses like that, he could relate; he's been back months, she's been back, a week, maybe two.
Aelius shifted slightly in the chair, clearly not used to being on the receiving end of that kind of warmth. His fingers tapped once against the edge of the table before he answered. "I am glad you're… well alive," he said, the sentence coming out a little stiff but still honest. "You were one of the few people I was actually looking for when I came back."
Lisanna blinked in surprise at that. "Really?"
"Shouldn't be that surprising," Aelius muttered. "Not like you used to call me big brother, and we were one of the people who actually hung aro—" The rest of the sentence never came out because his head had snapped. Not metaphorically. Literally, his neck twisted so violently that the sound of bone cracking echoed across the clearing, a sharp, sickening pop that made everyone at the table flinch. The movement was so fast it looked wrong; his body was still half-turned toward Lisanna, his head already locked onto something far beyond the camp, eyes staring deep into the jungle.
For a split second, there was silence. Then Aelius stood up. The chair behind him slammed backward into the dirt as he moved, the calm awkwardness from moments ago gone so completely it felt like a different person had taken his place.
His voice cut through the clearing. "Erza. Mira. Find the others. Bring them back here. The trials are over." Every trace of hesitation or social discomfort had vanished. What remained was sharp, focused, and deadly serious.
Erza's head snapped toward him immediately. Mira straightened where she stood at the counter.
Aelius didn't wait for a response. "Master," he continued, already moving, "use your magic. See if you can call anyone back."
He was halfway across the clearing before he even finished the sentence. The speed at which he moved was startling. One second, he was at the table, the next, he had already crossed most of the camp, boots tearing through the soft ground as he accelerated toward the treeline.
"Aelius!" The voices came from everywhere at once. Erza stepped forward sharply. Mira's demon transformation flickered into existence as her magic reacted to the sudden shift in tension. Lisanna stood so fast her chair scraped loudly across the ground.
"What is it?" Erza demanded.
"Aelius, what happened?" Mira called.
Even Makarov had risen from the bench now, his earlier calm gone as he watched the young mage sprint for the jungle.
Aelius didn't stop. His cloak snapped violently behind him as he ran, magic already beginning to stir faintly around his body despite the headache it caused. The ringing in his ears had returned the moment he reached for it, but he ignored it completely.
Because what he had felt was impossible to ignore. His voice carried back across the clearing as he disappeared into the trees. "Death magic." The words were sharp and certain. "Stronger than mine."
That froze everyone. For a brief moment, no one in the camp moved. The air itself seemed to grow heavier as the meaning settled in.
Aelius's magic was not something most people in the world could rival. His connection to plague and decay was ancient, monstrous, something inherited from a being that had ruled over entire lands of rot and disease.
For him to say something stronger existed nearby meant only one thing. Whatever was out there was not normal. Makarov's face hardened immediately. "Erza," the master said.
"I know."
She was already moving. The armored mage grabbed her sword from her requip space, her expression turning cold and focused in an instant.
"Mira," she added.
"I'm already on it."
Mira's transformation completed in a flash of white light, her wings unfurling behind her as she launched herself upward into the air above the camp. From there, she could see far deeper into the jungle than anyone on the ground.
Lisanna stepped back toward Juvia instinctively.
"What does he mean stronger than his magic?" she asked quietly.
Makarov's eyes followed the direction Aelius had disappeared, his expression darker than any of them had seen in a while. "It means," the old master said slowly, "that whatever he sensed…"
His voice trailed off for a moment. "…is something even he considers dangerous."
Across the clearing, the forest canopy shook violently as something moved through it at terrifying speed. Aelius was no longer holding back.
Branches snapped as he tore through the jungle, his feet barely touching the ground between strides. The ringing in his ears had already grown worse from the magic leaking out of him, but he pushed harder anyway, following the presence he had felt.
It was distant. But it was unmistakable. Cold, ancient, pure death, his magic tingled in resonance with it. And as the oppressive weight of that magic grew stronger, one thought echoed through his mind with growing certainty.
Whatever it was… It had no right being on Tenrou Island.