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CHAPTER START---
"Wizard Saint?!" Oberon floats out of his seat, hovering above the chair. "I get to be a Wizard Saint?!"
Gran Doman sighs, "There are certain conditions which must be met."
Oberon frowns and returns to his seat. "Like what?"
"Well, we should start from the beginning. The change in the laws. They took longer than planned, as usual for bureaucracy, but the backlash against the Magic Council went exactly as expected.
Legal or Light Guilds and Illegal or Dark Guilds, with the people loyal to them, drew lines in the sand. We were able to stop them from waging all-out war within most cities, but a lot of people and businesses got hurt.
We expect that now the chaos within Fiore should begin to settle, allowing us to focus on the rest of Ishgar. However, Coral's death leaves a void in the political system. There were ten Wizard Saints, but there need not always be ten. They simply keep each other balanced, so an even number always works best.
Now there are nine, and we need someone to fill that void. You are powerful, and with the population of Ishgar not being in favor of the Magic Council, much of that goodwill has gone to you. The Mages of today have chosen their side, so now we must wage war in media and education to earn the loyalty of the next generation."
"So you want to recruit me because everyone on Ishgar thinks I'm nice?"
"It's much deeper than that," Gran Doman Requips a copy of Sorcerer Weekly into his hand, placing it on the table. "This issue will be out in two weeks, detailing everything we want the public to know about the entire Great Reef Incident. Conflict between Wizard Saints should be controlled in the media after all. But they chose you as the main focus."
Oberon looks down at the magazine, and sees himself on the cover. He's looking up at Gildarts as the Fairy Sphere mark glows on his arm, with the barrier in the background. At the bottom of the page is a smaller picture of what he looked like from outside the Boundless Cosmos, and a tagline regarding Fairy Law and Fairy Sphere.
"The Boy Beloved By Magic," Gran Doma says. "The Prodigy. Magic's Favorite Son. King of the Fairies. So many titles across the different magazines, the people love you. If you become a Wizard Saint for the Magic Council, that will help us hasten the process of bringing order to the continent."
"Wizard Saint for the Magic Council?"
"Well, there are no rules against two Wizard Saints being from the same guild. Technically, Wizard Saints Warrod and Makarov are both members of Fairy Tail. But Saint Warrod is very much retired and has held to his promise of not meddling in the current era.
For you, the Magic Council could recommend you for the empty spot, but a Wizard Saint would have to second the idea. Makarov Dreyar would, but that could cause problems with the power balance of it all, creating animosity between the most powerful Wizards on the continent.
If Makarov Dreyar called for your promotion, the result would be the same after the Magic Council agree with him. Do you see what I'm getting at? No other Wizard Saint would ever vote for your promotion while you're in that guild. This is why, to be promoted, you'd need to leave Fairy Tail."
Oberon is silent for a while, staring down at the magazine, numb to the praise of the masses. Then, he looks up at Gran Doma with an expression so serious it nearly quelled the man's doubts about his maturity. "What else would I have to do?"
"The only other condition is that you retain the ability to use Fairy Sphere and Fairy Glitter."
Oberon narrows his eyes at the man.
"At your own discretion. And even if you can't use them after leaving the guild, we'd still be willing to promote you if that little fact is kept private. The fear those Ultimate Fairy Magics will instill into the evils of this world, especially when this article becomes public…that alone will be enough."
"It's complicated, and I won't be going into details. But if I left Fairy Tail, I would be able to use those Magics, just never against members of Fairy Tail."
"As I said, when and where you use them will always be your choice."
"Because the Magic Council thinks Fairy Tail is growing too powerful," Oberon mutters. "That is why, right?"
"Everything I said earlier is true, but this is also a factor. And even without those Fairy Magics, you'd likely be powerful enough within the decade to get promoted, so it's nothing more the moving that moment forward in time."
"Yeah, well, I think I'll wait for that moment. I'll wait until Master Makarov retires, then I'll just take his spot, that's our plan anyway."
"You're going to refuse? The full breadth of the Magic Council's knowledge is one promotion away, and you refuse. Access to the deepest archives of Magics on the continent, everything we've been told, you always flock to…why?"
Oberon looks up at the man while sitting back in his chair. "Being a Wizard Saint would give me access to a lot of stuff. Maybe make me strong enough to fight Acnologia, yeah. But I'd be all alone. And I don't really want that. Because then I'd be just like Zeref."
"Zeref?" Gran Doma glares at the boy. "Do you know something about Zeref?"
"I've been looking through all the records I could find. Hundreds of incidents were caused by people finding his items. Books, wands, weapons, all carrying different dangerous Magics. And every few years, some idiot finds an old laboratory of his and sells everything inside, so more of them just keep showing up. I've even fought a handful of them by now.
So, I figured I should put it all together and understand what he was trying to do. And I think he was aiming to control life and death, but he never completed his research. So many of them are labeled with a number, but they're all rooted in similar Magics.
I think he wanted to become immortal, or resurrect people. But obviously, he failed and died before doing that, so now we're just left with cleaning up his mess. Think about it, all that power and talent, and he just made things that kill people and drain their lives away. What a waste, right?"
Gran Doma casts a bored expression at the boy. "How does this pertain to the matter of your promotion?"
"Because, I love Magic. And I bet Zeref did too. But if you put Magic above life, well, that doesn't lead anywhere good. So, as tempting as it is to become a Wizard Saint and get access to all those Magics right now. I just can't do it."
"Why would you put your guildmates above access to the knowledge and power of the Magic Council?"
He smiles up at the man. "Because I'm Oberon, I'll always choose Fairy Tail, no matter what…"
---Fairy Tail Guildhall…
The door to Makarov's office slams shut, leaving the man and his one remaining guest in peace. Across from the bandaged-up Makarov Dreyar, who has a cast on his right hand and forearm, is Yajima.
A man of the same age, height, and build, with a head of dull brown hair, along with matching thick eyebrows and a toothbrush moustache.
Makarov glares at the door, massaging the red spot on his forehead. "Old witch…"
Yajima facepalms. "Her bedside manner is always terrible, but you should have expected it to be worse after using Fairy Law. You know the risk that poses to your life force."
"So does she, which means she should be nice to me while I'm recovering."
"You too will never stop bickering like this, but I can't say I don't miss it sometimes."
"Gah, whatever. I only had one target, so casting Fariy Law there didn't cost me any life force. Aside from that damn monster Zeref made, everything else was so much weaker that I would have been fine to wipe out their entire guild."
"Does Oberon know Fairy Law?"
Makarov shrugs. "Last I checked, no. But he's had a few hours, so maybe he figured it out by now…he has talent leaking out of his ears."
"Well, he already has the other two."
"Fairy Law is more complex. It'll be a while before he gets the hang of that."
"That's good. Because I got news on the way here that the Magic Council is going to offer him the position of Wizard Saint."
Makarov nods and hops out of his seat, walking to a small set of drawers behind his desk. "Want some tea?"
"Makarov, did you hear me?"
"Yeah, I heard ya. I'm not worried about him leaving Fairy Tail, kid was born to be here. Honestly, I'm more amazed that it took them this long to approach him. Figured Fairy Glitter would have been enough."
"This really doesn't bother you?"
Makarov finishes making two cups of tea with the aid of his Magics and closes the drawers, walking back and placing one on the coffee table in front of his friend. He then gets back into his seat and sips his tea. "Eh, the kid cares about Magics, yeah, but really, he just wants a family again. He won't abandon one for the other."
"Then I suppose that just leaves the other matter, Ivan."
Makarov's cup cracks, but he uses Telekinesis Magic to catch all the mess before it reaches the rug. "That brat."
"There wasn't any sign of him where he spoke to Oberon. There haven't been any signs of him in Fiore, which doesn't surprise me at all. Last I heard, he was in talks with a trader who travels deep into the continent. After putting you on alert like that, I'd leave the country too."
"And what of the Magic Council?"
"Well, Fairy Tail has always held its position due to the Ultimate Fairy Magics and its involvement in the 4th Trade War. Now those Magics are not myth, they'll be announced to the world soon enough. One of them is already publicly acknowledged.
But Makarov, I always assumed the information Ivan stole was about those Magics, and the existence of Laxus's Lacrima. But something tells me you wouldn't be this worked up if it were just that. After all, the Magics are public, and Laxus has a mighty guild protecting him. Is there more to this?"
"I can't say anything right now. I just need to find Ivan. Can you help me with that?"
"I can, but not subtly. If you want me to be quiet about it and keep it from the other Magic Council members, it'll take a long time. Ivan used to do a lot of Jobs for us before he was banished. He knows how we work and made his own network of contacts. He could hide forever if he wanted."
Makarov pinches the bridge of his nose. "And the fact that I'm hunting him only adds validity to his claims about Fairy Tail having some powerful weapon."
"The hidden Ethernano rich island certainly doesn't help. It's a bad look, Makarov."
"Alright. Be subtle about searching for Ivan. If he pops up against I'll send Oberon and Gildarts to handle him."
"And how will you deal with Laxus? Ivan got away because Oberon didn't know he needed to be captured. Gildarts would have killed him. But if Ivan approaches Laxus…"
Makarov's heart aches at the thought. "You're right. I suppose having Laxus live to resent me is better than dying for his father's greed."
Minutes later, Yajima leaves the office and sends Laxus in, at the request of Makarov. The boy walks in with a small bandage on his forehead and a tired look on his face, smiling at his grandfather.
Seeing the somber look on Makarov's face, a pit forms in Laxus's stomach. "Grandpa? What's wrong?"
"Laxus, the world is changing, and now it seems my worst fears have been realized. One of the greatest threats to the guild, and to us, our family, has emerged from within."
Laxus walks over to his grandfather, having long closed the door behind him. "What do you mean? We have a traitor?"
Makarov taps the seat beside him, and Laxus joins his grandfather on the couch. "The truth is terrible, and will change how you see things, how you see me. But much happened the day you received that Lightning Dragon Lacrima."
Laxus gives him a confused look, but focuses, taking in every word.
"Your father broke into my office and found the journal of Fairy Tail's previous guildmaster, Precht. Inside, he found that there are certain Magic that are passed from one master to the next. He confronted me about these Magics, demanding to learn them.
He believed Fairy Tail should overthrow Fiore, and that he should be king. That those with power should control all, and the things he read about would give him all the power he needed. I refused, of course, and he lashed out. But he knew he couldn't take over the guild while I was here, so he tried to use you against me.
He kidnapped you, crudely placed the Lacrima into you, with a one in ten thousand chance of you surviving. His goal was to turn you into a weapon that could destroy me, because even if you weren't strong enough, he knew I could never bring myself to hurt you."
"He wanted me to kill you?"
Makarov nods. "Luckily, Guildarts, Bob, and Goldmine found out about this, and we interrupted, but the Lacrima was already implanted. Removing poses the same risk that implanting it did, and after I banished him for these acts, that's what he swore to do. He still intends to use it to create a weapon against Fairy Tail."
Laxus places a hand over his chest, feeling the Magic Energy flowing through him even as tears flow down his face. "He wants to destroy Fairy Tail…"
"He wants power, and he believes Fairy Tail is in his way of achieving it." Makarov reaches out to hold the boy's shoulder, but stops himself, unsure how to comfort his crying grandson. "He was in Fiore days ago. He approached Oberon, trying to turn him against us, before the raid. I fear he may come after you, and what he'll do to get that Lacrima back."
"Would he really…but we're family."
"Ivan only sees people as either tools or obstacles to make himself stronger. That is why I, years ago…banished him."
"Banished?!" Laxus's messy, teary expression changes to one of horror. "But, he's my dad!"
"Yes, and he is my son. But I also have to protect the guild. I am the guildmaster of Fairy Tail. I can't allow someone who endangers our members to remain among them. And I certainly won't tolerate anyone who seeks to harm my grandson. I'm not sorry I did it, only that he forced me to, and that I've lied to you for so long about why he's not around."
"Why did you lie? You could have told me?!"
Makarov looks away from his grandson's angry face. "Ivan was always someone you looked up to. I couldn't bring myself to tell you how far he'd fallen, that the person you look up to the most is such a vile being."
Makarov goes silent, looking away and expecting an outburst, expecting and hoping for anything to stop the sound of Laxus's crying, his heart breaking more with each passing second.
But the boy lunges forward, and hugs his grandfather. "You were right, endangering the guild means you get expelled. But you were wrong about one thing. Because the person I look up to the most, has always been you, grandpa…"
CHAPTER END---
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pat.reon: Keanu_Eugene [Read ahead & support me]
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