Ryuji's fists tightened at his sides, eyes shadowed. At last, his voice broke the silence.
Ryuji (low, reluctant): "...Crimson Veil."
The air seemed to freeze. The campfire crackled; sap popped. For a long heartbeat, no one spoke.
Erza straightened, expression hard. Her thumb tapped the guard of her sword—plan mode settling over her.
Erza (grim): "...I've heard of them. A Dark Guild—users of forbidden magic. So this wasn't chance."
Lucy's hand tightened on her keys; the ring ticked softly.
Lucy (uneasy): "Crimson Veil? That's... not some small-time group, is it?"
Gray flexed his knuckles; a faint frost haloed them, then vanished.
Gray (through his teeth): "Figures. Dark guilds don't fight fair. People always get hurt when they move."
Natsu leaned forward, sparks licking his fists, fury rising.
Natsu: "Crimson Veil, huh? Then we'll smash 'em! No one hurts people and gets away with it!"
Erza cut him a look; the sparks guttered out.
Wendy drew a small breath, a hand at her chest, then half-stepped toward Ryuji—she stopped, respecting his space.
Wendy (soft): "Ryuji... this is what you've been carrying, isn't it?"
Carla's tail flicked; her gaze sharpened.
Carla (firm): "Those bandits' enhancements match the rumors. This was Crimson Veil's doing."
Ryuji kept his eyes low, jaw tight. He hadn't meant to say it, but the name was out now—his past tethered to theirs by a single truth. He exhaled, voice steadier.
Ryuji (adding a clue): "That mark on the leader's neck... a suppression sigil. Crimson Veil uses it to force more power through a body than it can handle."
He held up a charred shard he'd pulled from a pocket.
Ryuji: "Found this in his pouch. A piece of dark lacrima. It's dead now—but it hummed once, like something hollow trying to breathe."
Lucy's eyes widened.
Lucy (remembering): "Wait—the Council posted a notice about unregistered dark lacrima near Clover. I thought it was rumor."
Wendy glanced from the shard to Ryuji.
Wendy (healer's instinct): "When I healed one of them, I felt... an empty echo. Like the magic had been pulled out and a cold place was left behind."
Carla (protocol): "We proceed through the Master and the authorities. No lone hunts."
Erza nodded once, decision crystallizing.
Erza (plan): "We inform Master Makarov, warn the local watch, and pull every record we have on Crimson Veil. Civilians come first."
Her gaze fixed on Ryuji—steady, not unkind.
Erza (boundary): "If there is more, you will share it—before it can harm my family."
Ryuji met her eyes, the firelight caught in his irises. So much for keeping them out of it... He nodded.
Natsu (tempered now): "Report first. Then point me at them."
Gray (flat): "Shortcut power always has a cost. We're seeing the bill."
Lucy loosened her grip; the keyring stopped ticking. Wendy gave Ryuji a small, certain nod—you're not alone without saying it.
Night insects thinned to a hush. Embers sank lower, painting their faces in red and shadow—no laughter now, only the heavy weight of understanding.
Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima/Kodansha. I only own Ryuji Kazuma and this fan story. Non-commercial fan work.