Chapter 28: Sun Village (3)
~Rou POV~
We rushed as fast as we could seeing an area of sorts where the Giants kneel down as we wait from the side our eyes couldn't help but see the creature in front of the Giants is bigger than even them.
Atlas Flame Dragon…
Atlas Flame is an enormous creature with looks that follow the usual characteristics of a Dragon: having a massive body, a pair of wings that allow him to fly, four limbs with claws, and a tail.
However, unlike most of the known Dragons, Atlas Flame's body is not covered with scales, but it seems to be entirely made of flames, giving him an overall impression of a burning skeleton.
"We praise thy Eternal Flame!"
"Praise thy Protector!"
"Eternal Flame!"
"Eternal Flame!"
"Eternal Flame!"
Waiting for a bit I felt a tug on my shoulder as Mavis looks at me happy seeing a literal dragon whispering to me, "Rou you were right!! The rumors of a Magical Beast or Creature are actually a real Dragon! Like those in fairy tales of old! Legends! Even just meeting a Dragon is said to be a legend but… look they really exist!!!"
Nodding my head seeing a real-life dragon is actually intimidating but I know this guy should be friendly because of how Igneel friendly was to Natsu.
When the prayers were done as Atlas Flame kneeled down for his peace, his eyes or lack thereof merely meet our no not our illusions but our real forms as the Giants disperse only leaving us.
Waiting for the Giants to leave the dragon made of literal fire began to speak to us shocking Mavis as his head lowers to our real bodies, "Human Wizards… have you come to take the Eternal Flame again? Or are you lost in my Village I protect…"
No reaction.
Not a good sign.
This is not the reaction I need!
If Atlas Flame doesn't recognize the Fairy Tail emblem then I'm in the first timeline no wait…
It has been more than a few hundred years for him it could be he just forgot about it in that time period but for now we could ask him questions to see if he reacts.
He stands up a bit as Mavis began to introduce herself along with myself taking on a respectful tone of her voice, "We apologize to bother you great Eternal Flame. We are merely wandering around and hopefully asking our questions if you can. I'm Mavis Vermillion Wizard Guild Master of Fairy Tail and my friend Rou Ake is a member!"
Come on say something…
Please any reaction…
…
Nothing.
He didn't react when we called ourselves Fairy Tail just mild curiosity nothing else.
That's bad.
Very, VERY bad.
Because if Atlas Flame doesn't remember the Fairy Tail emblem or even the name then good chances are that he doesn't have memories of the branching timeline of where Lucy time traveled back in time that warned everyone the chance to win.
But these pretty much cinches where in the bad timeline.
The original one.
The fated one where Fairy Tail was DESTINED to lose against 'fate' itself of the dark timeline ahead of us.
The original one where everyone died or the very few remaining in a war-torn land of Earthland where Dragons rule.
Great…
Now I have a lot of things to worry about and certain villains that got to go.
Argh…
Why couldn't I have the second timeline without worrying about the dark future ahead?
Perfect now I have to erect some future plans and ideas to implement to ensure a better future…
I hope.
Listening to Mavis's words Atlas Flame began to introduce himself to us in a neutral tone, "Very well young ones. I'm the Protector of Sun Village the Eternal Flame. I'm the Hell Flame Dragon Atlas Flame. What business do you seek with me?"
He seems pretty talkative with us so at the very least he doesn't mind humans…
Igneel was pretty neutral before so it might be the same for old Atlas here.
So long we don't attack him anyway.
At this Mavis began to ask her question immediately in a childish tone recklessly wanting to know, "Oh great Eternal Flame we merely seek an audience with you to ask a few questions. I have one that I would like to ask great Eternal Flame… do Fairies in this day and age still exist and if so, do they have tails?"
The dragon soon replied hearing the question after a bit of pausing before finally answering her question, "Hmm… it has been a long while since Fairies existed little Wizard. But for a time, they have existed as for where they are, I have no recollection, nor do I know if they have tails or not. It has been 300 years or so since I have last seen any."
Mavis merely smiles thanking Atlas Flame because he just confirmed her a long-lasting question tearing up a bit in joy, "Thank you very much Eternal Flame. You helped answer a question I have been searching for. Fairies do exist… I merely need to find them."
Atlas Flame nods his head before turning his head towards me asking me if I had a question for him, "And you young one? Do you have a question for me as well?"
Nodding my head I thought carefully about what to ask Atlas Flame about coming here.
But better to show my respect to him when I ask this question.
Bowing slightly to Atlas Flame I requested him something I would need to learn right away learning this is the original timeline, "Yes Eternal Flame! I know this is rude and you can wish for me to ignore this question but… would you please teach me your Magic under you!!"
His eyes narrowed.
Not good.
Mavis looked at me surprised before Atlas Flame began to speak to me in a neutral tone, "Why should I? We have merely met, and you dare ask of this? For what reason do you wish to learn my Magic human…"
There was a low growl at the end speaking to me…
Shit, I pissed him off.
But regardless though I replied to Atlas Flame in a determined tone eyeing him not wavering the second in his skeleton-blank eyes of fire, "Because I need strength! I wish to defend myself and those I care about those who would seek them harm!! I wish to protect my friends if I had the power in the future!! Surely you have such feelings to defend or help your fellow Dragons in your life have you, not Eternal Flame!"
Atlas Flame merely kept eyeing me…
There was an unreadable gaze as he looks at me while I sweat bullets as he keeps eyes face directing at me.
I never left my eye contact with him waiting for a response from the Dragon as Mavis gulps down heavily before Atlas Flame finally responded, "… perhaps. In a time long forgotten I had a friend by the name of the Fire Dragon King Igneel. He was brave and reckless as you both are to dare such say things from me. And yet unafraid and courageous…"
Bingo.
However, I'm sensing a but…
And to prove my point Atlas Flame shook his head not going to train me as he began to speak to me politely, "But extremely dangerous. Some became corrupted by their immense power and began to rampage; some developed severe motion sickness because of the dissonance between their human bodies and draconian senses. However, all Dragon Slayers were planted with the Dragon Seed, which would begin their eventual, irreversible transformation into a Dragon."
Listening to this Mavis looked mortified of learning the consequences of learning this Magic but I was still insistent on learning from Atlas Flame by replying to him, "In that case… what if I were to find a way to negate one of those conditions. The corruption with another form of Magic and learning Transformation Magic to change my body back into a human!"
Intrigued by my answer to the damaging side effects Atlas Flame tilted his head replying the response I like to hear, "Oh? If you somehow manage to deal with the corruption and change back into your human form, then I will consider teaching you. But unless you show me how by then I won't be teaching you my magic."
I could only simply nod at this as Atlas Flame began to fly up in the air as he gave us a farewell for now, "It was interesting discussing with you Wizards of Fairy Tail. But I must be off please do enjoy my Village I protect till then farewell."
*WOOSH*
Like that, he flew off as Mavis looks at me with a breath of relief before finally speaking up, "So… you really are thinking of a way to learn Dragon Slayer Magic from a Dragon huh? Any idea of how to deal with the downsides?"
"Nope."
"Ah…"
Instantly giving my reply to Mavis of having no way currently to deal with those issues I already have an idea of who to ask for help in this regard though.
And who else but the Law Dragon Slayer to help me out?
Elefseria is the first person to hold the title of Guild Master, and the founder of Magia Dragon.
He is the practically self-taught Dragon Slayer without the use of Enchants to learn only through his sheer knowledge he made it possible.
Elefseria is my best bet for letting Atlas Flame agree to let me learn his Dragon Slayer Magic since having a teacher is better than not going through trial and error without going insane in the process.
But the issue is he hasn't invented Law Dragon Slayer Magic yet so I'm out of luck learning Dragon Slayer Magic...
Still, though I could consider this mission a success though.
I got to learn the most important facts that I'm in the original timeline not the second timeline means I have to start planning on one of two options.
One is the hard way of fighting a whole group of Dragons…
OR go the smart second way…
Just destroy the Eclipse Gate with Alchemy and boom!
End of the apocalypse and I save the day.
Feeling my arm being tugged as I turn to see Mavis having a smiling expression with stary eyes pointing towards the Giants, "Anyway looks like we meet an actual Dragon! I bet the guys are going to be jealous of the news!! Since we have the time how about we search more around Sun Village and collect souvenirs for our adventure right?"
Smiling at this I nodded and agreed as I followed behind her with a shrug, "Yeah. Maybe something to help Yuri get a girl right?"
"Hahaha!"
Mavis merely laughed at that as we took our time to enjoy ourselves now in Sun Village now.