The wind howled as Erza's ship neared the cursed island. Stepping onto the sand, she surveyed the gloom with sharp, calculating eyes.
The villagers shrank back at the sight of her. Not out of fear — but awe. Like a storm had descended in armor.
She didn't ask where the others were. She knew.
With swift steps and unmatched purpose, she ascended the path to the temple.
---
Temple Interior --
"Why didn't you tell me you knew curse seals?" Gray hissed at Shinra as they examined the sealed door deeper in the ruins.
Shinra glanced over, calm as ever. "I didn't say I did. I said I understood them."
"Same thing!"
"Not quite," Shinra replied. "But if it makes you feel better, I'll explain more after this."
Gray opened his mouth to argue, but at that moment—
**A thunderous crash echoed through the corridor.**
A door blew off its hinges, and standing in the cloud of dust was the storm herself.
**"YOU. HAVE. A LOT. TO ANSWER FOR!"**
Natsu flinched. Lucy yelped.
Erza's eyes locked on all of them — then narrowed sharply at Shinra.
"Even *you*, Shinra?"
He didn't flinch. "I came because I knew they'd need help. And they do."
Erza stormed forward, her red hair whipping behind her. "You're all insane. Do you know how dangerous this mission is? You took an S-Class job without permission!"
"Because no one else would help them!" Natsu shouted. "The villagers were cursed!"
"That's not your call to make!" she snapped.
"But we're already here," Shinra said calmly. "And it's too late to undo what's begun."
Her glare lingered on him. Searching. Testing.
"...You're lucky you're useful," she finally muttered, turning away.
Lucy let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.
---
Later, as they made camp deeper in the temple, Gray stood alone by the fire, staring into it like it held answers.
Erza watched him quietly. "You've been distant."
Gray said nothing.
Shinra approached from the side, but didn't speak either. Just sat nearby, letting the silence build naturally.
Finally, Gray muttered, "This place aura… It reminds me of Deliora."
Lucy turned her head. "Deliora? The demon?"
"Yeah," Gray said, voice low. "The one I helped unleash."
He stood slowly, pulling his coat tighter.
"I used to train under a woman named Ur. She was strong… kind… colder than snow, but warm deep down. She took me in after Deliora destroyed my village."
A pause.
"I was a stupid kid. I wanted revenge. I ran off after hearing rumors… and Deliora found me."
Everyone listened now. Even Natsu stayed quiet.
"Ur and my friend Lyon followed me. They… fought Deliora. Ur ended up sacrificing herself to trap him in ice."
His fists clenched. "But now, here… it's like something's stirring again."
Shinra finally spoke. "What was Lyon like?"
"Jealous. Competitive. But he looked up to Ur."
Gray's voice turned dark. "I'm getting a bad feeling."
---
At the summit of the temple, atop the highest broken altar, a lone figure stood, gazing at the cursed moon.
His white hair was longer than Gray remembered. His robe danced in the wind like frost.
**Lyon Vastia.**
"The time is near," he whispered.
Behind him, a cloaked woman with violet hair and a curious smirk approached.
"You've done well gathering the necessary tools," she said smoothly. "Deliora stirs."
Lyon didn't even look at her. "I don't do this for you."
"I know," she purred. "You do it to surpass Ur. To finish what she was too weak to complete."
Her eyes shimmered red for a moment.
*Ultear*, though she called herself "Zalty" here, hid her identity well. And in Lyon, she had planted the seeds of obsession perfectly.
"Soon," Lyon whispered. "Gray will arrive. He will witness me become the master Ur never allowed me to be."
Ultear smiled behind her mask. *Perfect.*
---
Down in the temple, Shinra stood alone again, gazing at the cursed seal.
Erza approached silently.
"You knew, didn't you? That something like this would happen?"
Shinra turned slightly, eyes calm. "I didn't know. I suspected."
She studied him. "You're not like Natsu or Gray. You don't rush into things. But you're still here."
He offered a small smile. "That's because even calm people believe in doing what's right."
Erza paused, then nodded once. "You're… hard to understand, Shinra."
"But easy to trust," he said softly.
She blinked, caught off guard — then looked away, cheeks lightly flushed.
"Let's finish this mission."
He nodded. "Together."