Chapter 21

After the destruction, Erza and the others were pushed to the beach by the shock wave created.

"is everyone okay?" Erza asks

Seeing they were alright They start looking around to see if they could spot Yami but after several minutes they weren't able to find him.

"How is it Natsu?"

"I can't pick up his scent," Natsu says in frustration.

She was once again disappointed. She kneels in the sand as her eyes turn red.

'this is all my fault. If it wasn't for me Yami wouldn't have fought Jellal'

Everyone looked at her in silence all feeling very depressed.

"what are all of you crying about?" a voice suddenly broke the silence.

Everyone was shocked as they looked up to see a shirtless Yami floating down.

""Yami!!!"" all of them shouted his name as they rush in to tackle him to the ground.

"ouch you guys it is getting hard to breathe"

"We thought you were gone forever" Erza hugs him tighter like she was afraid he would disappear.

Seeing how worried they were, a smile found its way to Yami's face.

"Sorry I worried guys but I'm okay now"

The truth was that what Yami did took a lot out of him. Because the Etherion was about to explode he had to use his {MANA ZONE} to control all the magic into a single attack.

If not for his fast healing fixing his body as it was being destroyed by the excess magic, he wouldn't have been able to hold on for long before he explodes.

'Note to self, Let's not do something like that again'

As everyone got up from Yami he holds Erza back as he whispered in her ear

"I wasn't planning to die till I got your answer"

Erza's face turned red as she pushes Yami and runs away.

"What happened to Erza?"

"Maybe she has something to do"

Natsu and Happy brought the excuse but the others had their suspicion.

"Now let's go back. I'm exhausted need some sleep"

True to his word Yami slept like a log for a whole day. Even with his healing powers, he was mentally exhausted.

It was the morning of the next day when Yami woke up.

"I'm hungry," Yami said with a dull look on his face.

He gets himself up from bed and dresses up in a plain white shirt with black pants.

He walks out of his room down to the restaurant. After settling down he orders a meal that will take 10 hungry men to eat and proceeds to devour them.

When he was halfway through his food. Natsu and Gray arrived

"Yo Yami, how are you feeling better already?"

Yami just nods and continues to eat.

"we went to your room but you weren't there. We were worried since you wouldn't wake up yesterday"

"Aye"

"Just tried. I'm feeling great now" Yami said. "what are you guy standing there for come join me"

All three of them and Happy sat down and start eating

"So what about the others?

"Others??"

"You know Erza's childhood friends"

"Oh they left while you were sleeping"

"We even did a sendoff for them"

"that is nice"

"Oh, you guys are here!!"

Erza and Lucy walked into the restaurant.

"Yami you're up!!"

Yami raises his head. He meets eye with Erza who looks away with a red face.

"Haa!! Seems Erza wasn't worried about me" Yami said with a dejected look on his face

"No, that no it" Erza protested

She turns her head but then looks away again.

"Then why don't you look at me?"

"It is all because of what you said yesterday," she said in a small voice that others couldn't hear.

Unfortunately for her, there was a Dragon Slayer with good hearing

"Hmm!! What did he say??" Natsu asks

Before anyone could react Natsu was sent flying out of the restaurant.

"Natsu!!!" Happy shout as he follows after him.

"Just forget it" Erza pouts as she takes a seat at the table.

Seeing that she was fuming Yami smiles and decides to stop teasing her.

After that team enjoyed their meal. They were all in a good mood as they prepare to leave the next day.

The night before they leave, Yami was sitting inside his room in deep thought. Clenching his fist, he could feel a large amount of magic coursing through his body

'To think my magic would increase this much after using the magic of the Etherion'

Yami was surprised at how much his reserve increased. As an S-class mage, he already had a massive amount of magic that could rival the saints.

However, now he had more than three-time that amount.

'but how do I compare to others?'

In terms of strength, Yami was sure he was at the saint's level as he had already defeated two of them.

However, he wasn't sure how he compares to the 'Gods of Ishgar' especially 'God Serena'. He is powerful enough to take on the rest of the gods without breaking a sweat.

'I wonder how long it will take me to reach Acnologia's level'

He was suddenly brought out of thought by a knock that came from his door.

"Yami are you awake?"

"Yes, come in"

Erza walks in wearing her pajamas. Her eyes were moving around showing she was nervous.

"Need something?" Yami looks at her appreciating her PJ as he has never seen it.

Hearing this Erza takes a deep as if deciding about something

"Yami I wanted to talk to you"

Yami's heartbeat sped up 'is she going to accept my confession'

Yami was a bit shocked. He felt it wasn't right as he hasn't even done a proper one yet.

"I can't be with you right now"

"…"

Yami was stunned 'did I just get rejected'

He wasn't sure how to react to this. He felt like crying.

"it is not what you think" she quickly said seeing Yami frozen like a statue.

"My emotions right now are a mess I don't know if I'm worthy to be by your side" she explains "I wasn't strong enough to handle my past and put everybody in danger"

Yami came out of his shock to see that it wasn't as he thought. Erza was still blaming herself for her past.

"It is okay." Yami comforts her "No need to rush it as I said before Erza you are strong. Now that you know all you need is time"

"But when will catch up to you" Erza shakes her head "it's too long"

"Why do you need to be as strong as me?" Yami said, "do you think I can't protect myself or you?"

"But…" Erza wanted to say something but it never came out.

Seeing her like that Yami knew that they wouldn't go anywhere with this talk.

Yami sighs "If that's your problem, then let's increase your training when we get back"

"Really?

"Really. I will wait for it you feel you're ready"

"…"

Erza felt very emotional seeing how Yami was will go for her.

"I won't let you wait long"

After saying that she quickly leaves the room leaving Yami with several thoughts

'so how should I take our relationship?? 'Pending!''

"Let's not think about it," said as he drops onto the bed.