Darkness? Curses? Devils?

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[Rune Knight Outpost, Four days later]

— Dannis Martell —

I awoke to the blinding whiteness of the Rune Knight infirmary. Every part of my body ached, and my throat felt like sandpaper. It took a moment for the memories to flood back—Grilthos, the battle, the darkness that had surged within me. I shifted slightly, wincing at the pain.

"Easy there," came a familiar, gruff voice. "You've been out for four days."

I turned my head to see Gildarts sitting beside me, a glass of water in his hand. He offered it to me, and I drank greedily, the cool liquid soothing my parched throat.

"Thanks," I croaked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Gildarts smiled, relief evident in his eyes. "You gave us quite a scare, kiddo."

Before I could respond, another presence made itself known. The fairy girl, ethereal and serene, appeared at the foot of my bed. Her expression was one of profound relief.

"Dannis, you're awake," she said softly. "Thank goodness."

"You're…that girl from before." I say with a realization.

"I never really introduced myself to you, did I?" She managed a small smile. "My name is Mavis Vermillion, the First Master of Fairy Tail."

I blinked at that answer. I looked back at Gildarts who gave me a nod. "Well damn."

That certainly surprised me, but I've seen enough crazy shit in this world to not get worked up over it. If there was anyone who was capable of getting back up from their graves, it was definitely someone from Fairy Tail. I know enough to not question the sheer absurdity that the guild was capable of.

Mavis giggled slightly at my reaction as she floated closer. "Do you remember everything that happened?"

"Sort of. I remember almost dying, then woke up somehow able to use Curses. I saw some things when I was unconscious. Memories. I guess it fueled me with enough negative emotions to actually tap into that kind of power."

"...That wasn't the only thing." Mavis mentioned.

I frowned, trying to piece together her words. "What do you mean?"

Gildarts glanced at Mavis, then back at me. "She told me what happened. She said you're a Devil Slayer now, Dannis."

The term was unfamiliar, and it took me a moment to process it. "What's a Devil Slayer?"

"You know about Natsu's Dragon Slayer magic, right? Well this is basically the same thing, only towards Devils. It's the first time I've heard about it too, to be honest." Gildarts informed while shrugging.

Mavis sighed. "When you tapped into that dark energy, black tattoos appeared all over your body. It's a mark of a Devil Slayer, I've only seen it once before. Devil Slayers possess the power to actually hurt demons. Your magic is like poison to them. The Darkness Devil Slayer."

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "But being able to use curses means I'm part demon, doesn't it? Everything about the Etherious mentions that Curses are unique to them. But I'm also a Devil Slayer? That doesn't make any sense."

"Exactly. Your entire existence is a contradiction. Which is probably the reason Zeref is so interested in you. I just don't know the reason why yet."

Her words got Gildarts to lean up in surprise. "Zeref? The Black Wizard? What does he have anything to do with this?"

The first master hesitated before telling us the truth. She told us the story of how Zeref came to be. How he was cursed by the God Ankhseram. How she and the founders of Fairy Tail met him and taught them magic. How Zeref sometimes likes to take a stroll on Tenrou Island. 

Then she told us of what happened back in the S-Class trials. Both she and Zeref were watching the entire thing, and Mavis heard him calling me 'his legacy.'

Gildarts was shocked. As for me, I wondered just what happened in my life that made me deserve all this.

Just a few years ago, I was nothing more than the son of a farmer and a baker. But now, I was the so-called legacy of the most infamous dark mage in history.

All this started when I joined Fairy Tail. This damned guild. I swear. Crazy I tell you.

I could tell from Mavis' expression that she was still hiding something. Perhaps she didn't really tell us the full story. But I didn't push since it was probably a secret not meant for just anyone.

"What's wrong, Gildarts?" Mavis questioned. Her tone made me look into the Ace of Fairy Tail, to see him ponder something in silence.

His face was one of seriousness, one that is rare to be seen on the usually jovial man. "...I might know something about this." He said with a sigh.

Gildarts then looked at both me and Mavis. "Master Makarov mentioned something to me before. Of him having suspicions that you were the Eclipse-born, or something like that. The old man said it was a person born with a perfect affinity for Demonic magic. I've tried to do some research about it after the trials, but came up with nothing."

I was quiet for a second before replying. "It really is ironic. After becoming a mage, I've had to live with so many people calling me a demon in disguise behind my back. No matter how much good I do, how many missions I complete, those words never go away. Guess they were right after all."

The words tasted bitter on my tongue. I've always told people that I never cared for what they called me. That they were just empty words. I guess I never realized just how much it stung.

A weight settled on my chest, a deep, gnawing despair. I hated it.

Gildarts snorted. "Bollocks on that." He said before putting his large hand atop my head. "Those people don't know you, Dannis. I do. Trust me when I say that no matter where your power comes from, It's what you do with it that's important."

He grinned as he ruffled my hair. "Besides, who cares what those people think. The people of Fairy Tail love you for who you are. Ain't that what matters most?"

"Fairy Tail will always stand by you. It's the reason I founded it after all." Mavis smiled wide. "Making a place for outcasts, people who are lost or confused. Makarov has done well to keep these traditions."

Her eyes turned compassionate. For a second there, I saw my mother's face mirrored on the First Master. "Gildarts is right. This power is a gift, one that you can use to protect those you care about. It doesn't matter where it came from."

I looked down, struggling to keep my emotions in check. "Thank you." I say softly.

Gildarts just laughed, while Mavis crossed her arms while tilting her head. 

"Nevertheless, we still need to figure out the truth of this matter. While the fight with Grilthos answered some questions, we still have plenty left unanswered. This is Zeref, it won't do for us to be caught off guard when he eventually makes his move. Whoever contacted Grilthos and told him to escape might have the answers we're looking for."

Gildarts leaned forward, his interest piqued. "And where do we start looking for this person?"

Mavis's expression turned serious. "I have no idea. I'm a bit out of touch with the times to figure out just exactly who Grilthos talked to. Perhaps Makarov might know more."

I nodded slowly, determination replacing my earlier despair. "Then we'll find him. I have some unfinished business with that damned tiger demon anyway. To think he actually ran away. Tch."

Gildarts grinned. "That's the spirit. You and I are gonna have a couple of spars when we get back to the guild. I wanna see just what you could do with this new power of yours."

I knew that he was doing this to help me get out of my depressed funk, but it worked. Fighting Gildarts is exactly what I need to get back to tip top shape. A challenging smirk appeared on my face.

"You're on, old man."

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— Mirajane Strauss —

Mirajane Strauss panted tiredly as she continued to train in the training area behind Dannis' home. He had asked her to look after the house while he was away, and she obliged immediately.

Her fists struck against a large rock, each blow marred with spiderweb cracks that appeared on its surface. Sweat dripped down her brow, but she paid it no mind, her focus unwavering.

The memory of Master Makarov's words haunted her. "Dannis is in trouble," he had said, his voice filled with uncharacteristic worry. "I don't know of his current state, but the report I received was worrisome. I've sent Gildarts to help, but there's no telling what would happen."

He had told her the news in private, along with Wakaba. He did so since they were both Dannis' closest friends and family. 

Fear and panic had gripped her then, a feeling she hadn't known in a long time. Dannis was always so strong, so capable. The thought of him being in danger was unbearable.

She had to become stronger. She couldn't stand the thought of being helpless, of not being there for her friend when he needed her most. This feeling of desperation drove her, pushed her to train harder than ever before.

Mirajane paused, catching her breath. She looked at her reflection in a nearby stream, seeing the determination in her own eyes. "I won't let this happen again," she whispered to herself. "I'll be strong enough to stand by his side."

Her thoughts drifted to Dannis. She had known for a while now that he was a loner at heart. She doesn't know yet the full story, but she's heard from the other guild members that Dannis used to be part of the Thunder God Tribe. He was even a co-founder of the team.

But for some reason, Dannis left. Ever since then, he had preferred to go on missions alone. He would rarely be seen in the guild, and even then, he's not one to initiate conversations with anyone nor would he participate in the guild brawls.

It was the reason why she always went out of her way to approach him first. She made sure to always greet him in the rare times he appeared in the guild, welcoming him back after a job well done. 

She pestered him a lot about the theory of magic, one of the few topics he's interested in. She often asked him to accompany her to go shopping whenever he's available. While he rarely accepts, the moments he did were some of the most fun times she's had with him.

Even Elfman and Lisanna try their best to include Dannis in their antics. They also want to repay the man who saved them however they can.

Despite all this, he still majorly kept to himself. While he has milded out recently, he was still pretty much an enigmatic figure to most of the guild. The only one who could possibly challenge him for that position was their newest member, Mystogan.

She understood his reasons, especially considering his past, but it didn't make it any easier to accept.

"I won't let you fight alone anymore, Dannis," she said softly, her resolve hardening. "I'll be strong enough for you to rely on me."

She resumed her training with renewed vigor, each strike fueled by her determination. She would become strong enough to protect those she cared about, no matter what.

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AN: Dannis' really has been through a lot, huh? Hope I caught most of you off guard with the fact that he's both a curse wielder and a devil slayer.