Chapter 125

***

For some, time continued to slow down, but for others it seemed to stop. On that day, in a dark forest covered with countless swamps and impenetrable darkness, there was a meeting of two dark wizards.

In the moonlight, a slender silhouette in a blue cloak stood out noticeably for its forms. Beautiful dark hair and bright red eyes, even in such a dark place, her stunning appearance made you forget, as if in a dream.

Ultear threw off her hood and stared coldly at the little old man ten meters away. He did not hide his disfigured face covered with dark tattoos, now his bald skull resembled burnt flesh - there was a feeling as if his head had been on a hot frying pan, the old letters simply disappeared, and the old man's hands covered with bloody bandages were terrifying, while his right eye completely blind. Now he looked more like some kind of creepy monster. The recoil from the use of the forbidden spell nearly killed him, but he still managed to contact the Heart of the Grimoire and now bowed with noticeable joy:

- Miss, I ... My guild, all my people, they ...

- I know, you already said everything in your message. That's not why I'm here. We want to know who did it?

- I ... - the old man clenched his fists until his bones hurt and croaked: - Fairy Tail!

- ABOUT? Ultear smiled slyly.``That's why I'm here ...

She would definitely not have been sent to these negotiations if the strongest guild in Fiore had not been mentioned.

- So a senior wizard was sent for you? Curiously, this expected, rather, surprises how you survived. As far as we know, there is only one senior wizard in Fairy Tail. But he would have killed you all without any problems, even with your magic, you simply would not have been able to survive. Who was it?

The old man gritted his teeth and replied with hatred:

- Two ... More precisely, one. The girl does not count, the scariest one is the guy with ice magic! Geek! Terrible opponent, never seen such ice ...

- Ice? Ultear narrowed her eyes and wondered. In fact, she has collected information about Fairy Tail long ago. Still, in the near future she needed to infiltrate the council, she simply must know everything about the Legal Guilds and outstanding wizards. So she heard about one person who just fits that description.

- And what kind of ice is there? Ultear asked.

The old man snorted:

- Probably forgotten magic, Ice is black and terribly dangerous, it spread like an infection and began to kill my people. They didn't even have time to squeak! I alone survived, as I was able to escape from this bastard. He is clearly an experienced wizard, albeit young ... I want to kill him! I will do anything if you ...

- So this is it! Ultear did not even pay attention to the old man's pleas, her lips stretched in a reckless grin: - I listened ... The youngest senior wizard, rarely appearing in public. He is even stronger than the grandson of the current Fairy Tail Master. So he really is an ice wizard ...

- You know him?!

"Hmm," Ultear raised her eyes again and narrowed her eyes in irritation.

- Do you even remember what he looks like?

- Hmm, - the old man gritted his teeth, and then snorted:

- Of course, I will never forget that filthy face!

"That's how ..." Ultear smiled sweetly, and then slowly walked over to the old man. He immediately tensed, he understood well who he had contacted, and how dangerous the people of the Heart of Grimoire could be. But, he tried not to show fear. But when Ultear got closer to him, she suddenly grinned ominously and slapped her hand on the magician's head, he didn't even have time to react as on his head, as if red marks had spread like worms!

- Aaaa! Iaaaaaa! - the old man fell to his knees and began to scream hysterically, the power of magic burst into his ears and eyes, gradually Ultear smiled more and more, her ominous look turned into a mad grin.

A minute later, the bloody skull from all the facial openings of which streams of blood flowed down fell to the ground along with the dead body. Ultear sighed and wiped her thin palm on her dark cloak. Then she turned away and raised an interested gaze to the sky:

- Curious ... - something strange flashed in her scarlet eyes:

- And he is pretty, dear ... Such a strange feeling, as if I have already seen him. And his eyes ... How interesting ...

Touching her chest, the girl smiled a little:

- So, Aidan, huh?

That day she saw his face for the first time ... Without realizing the reason, she instinctively wished to meet him. Perhaps this feeling was mixed with a gambling desire to test and torment the ice wizard, but she still felt something special in him and that was what she wanted to find out personally. Long before the day he planned everything, Ultear was already preparing to take her step ...

Then she did not even suspect how intertwined their fates were, and who he really was.

***

Ere. Headquarters of the Magic Council.

One day, several people from the council gathered at an extraordinary meeting, on that day only three seats were empty. This didn't surprise any of them, they had been looking for replacements for retired or deceased wizards for more than a year.

On the open balcony, instead of the windows of which were tall stone arches, there was a large round table and it was at this table that all the main members of the council usually gathered during meetings.

The fattest and tallest of them all spoke first. The old man's name was Crawford Sim, and he was the current chairman - rightfully holding the highest office among all the members of the council.

"So Fairy Tail… For over a year now, the wizards of this guild have been behaving more aggressively than usual. They used to be a nuisance, but over the past year, I've heard of them more often than even in the past decade!

Sim glanced at Yajima and asked:

- Did Makarov give them even more freedom?

- I think he has everything under control, - the little old man was calmly taken away. In the past, he bore the Fairy Tail mark and was a very good friend of Makarov. Therefore, he always looked after his guild, even in the council he always kept the side of Fairy Tail, so he answered such questions calmly and collected.

"I think it's worth considering their merits as well," commented Yajima.

"You can criticize Fairy Tail as much as you want, but they are the ones who were involved in the destruction of the Skull Dynasty.

- Really? - many in the council were surprised: - So it's true ...

A tall, aged woman nodded.

- I heard about it. They say that the youngest senior wizard, unlike the rest of the insolent guilds, behaves much more restrained. Little is known about his strength, but at least he does not destroy cities.

- Ho, Belno, do you think this will last for a long time? - the gray-haired long-bearded old man snorted:

- I assure you, we still have problems with these fools ...

Sim smiled kindly and rubbed his bulky belly:

- In any case, the case with the Skull Dynasty is already interesting, this dark guild also had enough problems. Do not forget who is responsible for the death of Faris, now we have two people missing ...

"They know how to fight in Fairy Tail, but it's not always for the best," Oog snorted: "But I must admit, even though Faris was old, his strength still inspired respect, but they somehow managed to kill him. So even Fairy Tail is useful ... At least they are strong.

- Ha, since we stopped at this, then there is no point in continuing. So, can we finally talk about the important? I still insist on the young generation, the council needs younger people, "suggested a middle-aged man, the only one who had not reached the old age from those present.

Belno nodded in agreement.

- I think Ledgi is right, we need to prepare a replacement and it is better to let them be young talents.

- Well, then it's worth discussing your ideas, - Sim smiled kindly again:

- Let's start ...