Chapter 7 : Calm Before the Storm

"Sorry..." he said quietly, his voice steady with resolve. "I'll make sure to get revenge..."

Aurelius stood alone before the graves of his family. His gaze remained fixed on the stones, his heart heavy with sorrow, but his expression hardened by resolve. The past was something he could never escape, not entirely. But it would fuel him. It always had.

His mind slipped back in time, back to the final moments with his family. The memories were sharp, vivid—each one burned into his mind.

The air was thick with smoke, the chaos of battle raging around them. His mother, standing tall against the enemy, had looked back at him with desperation in her eyes.

"Go, Aurelius! Take your sister and run!"

Her voice was fierce, yet there was a tremor of fear beneath it. Aurelius was still too young to fully understand the stakes, but the urgency in her voice made his heart race. His sister clung to his side, too terrified to move, but Aurelius didn't hesitate. He gripped her hand, pulling her toward safety—but just before they could flee, his mother's protective barrier shattered.

His sister screamed as his mother was struck down.

"No! Mom!" Aurelius cried out, reaching for her, but it was too late. His mother fell, her body crumpling beneath the weight of the attack. Her final words were a soft whisper, barely audible above the battle's din. "Protect each other..."

Then, it was his sister. She tried to run, tried to escape the inevitable, but in her youth, she was no match for the darkness closing in on them. Aurelius could only watch as she was struck down, the light leaving her eyes in an instant.

And then, his father.

The final memory was the clearest. Aurelius had found his father at the very end, bleeding and broken but still alive. His father's hand grasped his weakly, and with a trembling motion, he pressed a small, wrapped box into Aurelius' hands.

"Take it... For your future..." His father's voice was raspy, barely a whisper, yet filled with urgency. "Protect yourself... Don't forget..."

Aurelius had tried to speak, to cry out for help, but his father's final breath escaped before he could say another word.

And just like that, his world was torn apart.

Sitting alone in front of the graves, Aurelius slowly lifted his hand to his covered eye, his fingers brushing over it as he thought about his father's last words. His gaze lingered on the gravestones, the weight of his family's sacrifice pressing down on him. He could feel the power coursing through his body, a steady reminder of the responsibility that came with it.

"It's time again..." he murmured to himself, a deep, unspoken understanding growing in his chest. The past was no longer just a memory—it was a driving force, a reason to keep moving forward.

"I won't disappoint you guys..." Aurelius said quietly, looking over the graves of his mother, father, and sister. "I missed everyone..."

The resolve that burned within him would never fade. It couldn't. The past had shaped him, but now, it was time to shape his future.

Aurelius slowly stood up from the graves, his fingers lingering for a moment on the cool stone before he turned away. The weight of his resolve was heavier than ever, but he knew what he had to do next. He began walking toward the distant silhouette of a massive structure, barely visible against the horizon.

The mountain path was well-worn, and with each step, his mind wandered back to the purpose of his visit. This wasn't just about confronting the past—it was about the future. And the future required more than just illusionary tricks and the raw power of a demon's eye. It required knowledge.

As he approached the building, its true size became apparent. It was a colossal library, far grander and older than any structure he had ever seen—bigger even than the Fairy Tail guildhall itself. This library, built by his ancestors, was a testament to their mastery of magic and knowledge. The spires of the library reached high into the sky, an awe-inspiring edifice that seemed to stretch across time itself.

The ancient stone walls were adorned with runes, intricate carvings that had been added over generations. Each ancestor of his family had contributed books and research, accumulating a vast, unparalleled repository of knowledge. The library had been standing for centuries, predating even the great dark mage Zeref. Its age was tangible—every crack in the stone, every dusty tome inside whispered of history long passed.

Aurelius approached the entrance, a heavy stone door that creaked as it opened with his touch. Inside, the air smelled of old parchment and ink, thick with the scent of ancient magic. Shelves upon shelves stretched for miles, filled with countless books, scrolls, and magical texts. It was a place that held centuries of accumulated knowledge, and for someone like Aurelius, it was a treasure trove waiting to be explored.

The library's name echoed in Aurelius's mind: The Nyx Repository. It had been named after his family, a legacy that had lived on even through the devastation of his childhood. This was where his ancestors had poured their souls into preserving their magical knowledge, each generation adding their discoveries, secrets, and magical innovations to the ever-growing collection.

Aurelius made his way through the towering aisles, passing by books bound in rare leathers, ancient scrolls sealed with magic, and fragile tomes written in languages that few could even read anymore. He knew that this place held the answers he was seeking, even if they weren't easy to find. He had learned to be patient over the years, but today, he had a singular purpose: to learn more about Lucy, to understand what was so unusual about her, and, if he have more time, to expand his magical arsenal.

Aurelius walked deeper into the library, his destination in mind. As he passed row after row of shelves filled with books, his gaze flickered across the ancient spines, but he knew where he needed to go. This wasn't the kind of place where one could simply pick a book off the shelf and expect immediate answers. No, there was a more sophisticated way to find the knowledge he sought—one of his ancestors' most prized inventions.

The machine he was heading toward was old, its design an odd mixture of intricate mechanical parts and arcane runes that pulsed with faint light. It was located in a secluded corner of the library, almost like a forgotten relic of a past era. Despite its age, the machine was still functional. Aurelius had learned to trust its capabilities over the years.

When he arrived, he stood in front of the machine for a moment, letting his fingers trail over the runic symbols etched into its surface. It was almost like a living thing, powered by both ancient technology and magic. A soft hum emanated from it as he began to input his query.

He took a deep breath, his mind focused. He had a specific goal in mind, and nothing would deter him from it.

"Time to uncover more about Lucy... or rather, Lucy Heartfilia," he muttered quietly to himself, his voice carrying a quiet intensity.

Aurelius remembered the first time he met Lucy—during one of his missions. He was took a job, or rather, was forced to take a job of protecting a noble in a party. This party was hosted by Jude Heartfila and during that time he had observed her from a distance, watching as she interacted with the others, but something about her stood out. The way she moved, the way she talked, even the way she seemed to be hiding something, though she wore a smile as bright as the sun. It wasn't until later that he realized what that "something" was... It was the pain from her mother's death.

He also knows that the Heartfilia family was no ordinary family; they were one of the wealthiest and most influential in Fiore. So why would Lucy hide her last name? And why, despite her strength and potential, did she seem so… weak at times?

Aurelius didn't know the full story, but he would. He needed to.

The machine hummed again as he inputted his queries: Heartfilia, Celestial mages, Celestial spirit. These were the threads he needed to follow, the answers he hoped to uncover. He stared at the machine, his mind racing, as a series of symbols flickered on the screen in front of him. Books, scrolls, and ancient texts appeared in a list, categorized by relevance to the topics he had entered.

As the machine presented the results, Aurelius's eyes narrowed with determination. He ran a hand through his hair, the wheels in his mind already turning. The Heartfilia name was significant—he knew that much. It wasn't just a wealthy family name. There were whispers, stories, legends. And Lucy… Lucy might be the key to unlocking all of it.

"I'll find the answers," he said to himself, more a vow than a statement. He didn't know what the future held for her, or for him, but for now, this was the path he had to follow.

With a steady hand, he selected the first book on the list and began walking to the shelf it was on.

...

Days later,

Aurelius entered the Fairy Tail guild with a quiet urgency, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a subtle hint of distress. His sharp eyes scanned the room, catching the eye of a few guild members who looked up briefly but quickly returned to their conversations. It wasn't like him to show any sign of distress, but something felt off, something was gnawing at him.

His steps were swift as he made his way toward the bar, where Mira stood cleaning glasses, her usual smile faded as she noticed the change in his demeanor.

"Mira," Aurelius said, his voice slightly more tense than usual. "Where's the Master?"

Mira looked at him with a touch of concern. "He's in a guildmaster conference right now, it might take some time..."

Aurelius nodded, unbothered by the delay. It wasn't the first time the Master had been tied up with such matters. As he turned to leave, ready to give the Master go to the master himself, Mira's voice stopped him.

"Wait," she called, her tone more serious. "Erza's back. And she's already taken Lucy, Natsu, Gray, and Happy with her. They're going after a problem..."

Aurelius paused, his gaze flickering back to her. "A problem?" he asked, not surprised that Erza had returned, though he was curious about the specifics.

Mira lowered her voice, her expression darkening. "The Luluby... Erza found out that the Eisenwald guild wants it." She looked around briefly, then leaned closer. "It is..." before she could continue, she paused as someone talked over her.

Aurelius's gaze sharpened, and he interrupted her, speaking as if he already knew everything. "The Luluby," he said, his tone flat, as though recounting something he'd read in a history book. "A demon from the Book of Zeref. In flute form, anyone who hears its music dies."

Mira's eyes widened as she processed his words, surprised by his detailed knowledge.

Aurelius gave a brief nod. "If I were to guess, Eisenwald wants to use it on the guildmaster?" he added, his voice calm and composed.

"Yeah..." Mira nodded, though her concern was still evident. She watched him turn to leave, her brow furrowed as he exited the guild hall without another word.

The guild hall grew quieter as Mira processed his words. She opened her mouth to speak, but Aurelius held up a hand, signaling her to stop.

"Don't worry," he said softly, but with an intensity that left no room for argument. "I'll take care of it."

Mira blinked, still not entirely convinced, but she nodded slowly. "If you're sure..." she murmured.

Without another word, Aurelius turned, his footsteps steady as he moved toward the door. Mira watched him go, her brow furrowed in quiet concern. There was something about his calmness that didn't quite sit right with her. She had a feeling there was more to this than he was letting on.

The guild hall remained still for a few moments, the others in the room exchanging quiet, uncertain glances.

"Do you think he'll really handle it?" someone asked, their voice filled with doubt.

The question hung in the air, but no one had an answer. The others were used to Aurelius's calm, confident demeanor, but this time, there was something different. Something dangerous.

What none of them knew, though, was that Aurelius wasn't following Erza and the others to deal with Eisenwald. Instead, his path led elsewhere—toward the guildmasters' conference. And he was going there for a different reason.

Meanwhile...

"Dammit, they're everywhere!" Gray shouted, dodging an attack from one of the Eisenwald mages, barely managing to counter with a blast of ice.

"We've got this, guys!" Natsu grinned, flames erupting from his fists as he barreled through a group of enemies. Lucy summoned her Celestial spirits to help them fight, but the sheer number of enemies was overwhelming.

"Stay focused!" Erza barked, her voice cutting through the chaos as she cleaved through another opponent with her sword. Her eyes scanned the battlefield, the strain of the fight starting to show on her face. "We need to finish this quickly before they can activate the Luluby!"

As another wave of Eisenwald mages rushed at them, Erza's mind wandered for a moment. If Aurelius had been here, things would have been far easier. His abilities to manipulate his surroundings, his skill in illusions, and his ability to hide his presence would have made short work of this fight. But instead, they were stuck facing a full-scale battle with the Luluby's curse looming over them.

A small sigh escaped her lips as she swung her sword with deadly precision, taking down another mage. She muttered to herself, "It would have been a lot easier with Aurelius here."

Before she could say anything further, the train station erupted in a new wave of chaos as Eisenwald brought out more of their hidden tricks. "Keep fighting, everyone!" Erza shouted, her resolve hardening once again as she charged forward.

But deep down, she couldn't help but think how simple it would be with Aurelius with them.

AN: That's it for today! I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. I'm here to make a deal with you guys. Give me 5 valid reviews, and no, I don't want the reviews that are a few words or spam of words, I want a real, reasonable review, I need to see things from your perspective to better improve the story. Once I get my 5 reviews, I'll mass release 3 chapters. Furthermore, starting from now, I'll be giving out a spoiler in the form of chapter titles, I'll reveal the title of the next 3 chapter at the end of each chapter.

Next chapter titles:

Chapter 8: The Weight of Recognition

Chapter 9: Shadows of Change

Chapter 10: Hidden