A sudden flash of light enveloped Aelius, bright but fleeting, pulsing through the air like a ripple in reality. He felt the shift immediately—not painful, not foreign, just… different. Something clicking back into place. Something settling.
By the time the glow faded, his mask was back.
Same design. Same fit. As if it had never been broken.
But his cloak…
Aelius glanced down, his brow twitching beneath the mask. His usual deep, nearly black-green cloak was gone.
In its place was something lighter. Muted green, like moss or the first leaves of spring—too soft, too different.
His fingers curled around the fabric, testing it. It felt the same, but the color…
Makarov hummed, his tone far too amused. "Well, well. Looks like someone's wardrobe got an upgrade."
Aelius immediately scowled. "I didn't have a cloak in the same color."
Makarov's smirk was almost audible. "Oh?"
"It was either this or purple," Aelius muttered, clearly irritated as his mind flashed back to a pair of violet eyes. "And I really don't like purple right now."
Makarov actually laughed. The small old man perched on his shoulder was laughing with obnoxious satisfaction like Aelius couldn't throw him the rest of the way to the guild.
Aelius rolled his shoulders, exhaling sharply. "Don't start."
"I didn't say anything," Makarov said, his smirk undeniably there.
Aelius didn't dignify him with a response.
He just started walking again.
Fairy Tail wasn't far now.
The road stretched ahead, winding through the trees, the air still and quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. The closer they got to Fairy Tail, the heavier the air felt—not with magic, not with the lingering weight of his own power, but with expectation.
Aelius kept walking, his pace steady, but his mind was anything but.
His cloak—this lighter shade of green—still bothered him in a way he couldn't quite articulate. It wasn't important. It was just a color. And yet, the fact that it had changed at all meant something.
He didn't know if he liked that.
Makarov, still perched comfortably on his shoulder, had thankfully gone quiet, though Aelius could feel the old man's satisfaction radiating off him. No doubt he was enjoying every second of this.
The path began to widen.
The trees thinned.
And then, in the distance—there it was.
The Guildhall.
Fairy Tail.
Aelius stopped.
The sight of it shouldn't have meant anything, shouldn't have stirred anything in him. And yet… There was something about standing here again, seeing it with his own eyes after all these years, that made his fingers twitch at his sides.
Familiar. Unfamiliar.
Everything he expected. Nothing like he remembered.
He took a slow breath. His magic had settled. His anger had faded.
But the weight of this moment?
That remained.
Makarov finally spoke, his voice quieter now. Less amused. More knowing.
"Still think this place isn't home?"
Aelius didn't answer.
Not yet.
He stood at the edge of the clearing, his putrid green eyes locked onto the guildhall. It loomed in the distance, unchanged, just as sturdy, loud, and infuriatingly alive as ever.
And the worst part?
He had stood in that very hall less than two days ago.
He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "It's not like I've been gone for years again. I was just here. I was in that hall, sitting at a table, telling a damn story." His voice was flat, edged with something bitter. "And yet, it still feels like this should mean something."
Makarov hummed from his perch on Aelius's shoulder, his small frame relaxed, his expression unreadable. "Maybe it does."
Aelius scoffed. "You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"
Makarov smirked. "Wouldn't say enjoying, exactly."
Aelius clicked his tongue, tearing his gaze away from the guildhall for a moment as if breaking eye contact with it would lessen the weight pressing down on his chest. It didn't.
He could still walk away.
He could still turn back, disappear into the woods, and let this place become nothing more than a distant memory.
But he hadn't.
Not yet.
His hands twitched at his sides, his magic contained but restless, waiting. The last time he was here, he had spoken like a ghost passing through—a visitor, a presence meant to be forgotten the moment he left the threshold.
And now?
Now, he was standing at the edge again, pausing.
Lingering.
Makarov's voice broke the silence. "Still think this place isn't home?"
Aelius scoffed, rolling his shoulders. "…Let's just get this over with."
Makarov chuckled, patting his shoulder. "That's the spirit."
Aelius ignored him.
Then, without another word, he took the first step forward.
Magnolia was exactly the same as when he left—too loud, too bright, too full of people who cared too much about everyone else's business. People who would never deal with the kind of problems he had.
And Makarov? He thrived in it.
Perched on Aelius's shoulder like some kind of wise old gargoyle, the guild master waved and called out to every damn person they passed. It was infuriating.
"Ah, Mrs. Hargrove! The bakery smells wonderful today!" Makarov called to an elderly woman setting out fresh loaves.
She smiled warmly. "Master Makarov! And—oh my, is that a new member?"
Aelius pretended not to hear her.
Makarov patted his shoulder. "He's feeling shy today!"
Aelius almost threw him off right then and there.
They kept walking.
"Ah, Marco! How's the shop doing?"
"Could use more customers that don't destroy the front door!" the shopkeeper grumbled, eyeing Aelius a little too long.
Aelius ignored him, too.
Makarov, however, chuckled. "Aye, aye, I'll have a word with them."
They passed a group of children playing near the fountain, and even they recognized Makarov, waving excitedly.
"Mister Makarov!"
One of the kids, a little girl with messy brown hair, tugged on Aelius's sleeve, looking up at him with wide, curious eyes.
"Hey, you look scary. Are you a bad guy?"
Aelius stared down at her, blinking once. Then, after a beat, he replied flatly, "Yes."
The little girl gasped, eyes growing even wider. "Really?"
Makarov chuckled from his perch, shaking his head. "He likes to lie a lot."
The girl squinted, clearly trying to decide who to believe. "Are you sure? 'Cause he sounds like a bad guy."
Makarov grinned. "Oh, he wants you to think that. But deep down, he's just a big softie."
Aelius exhaled sharply, already done with this conversation. "I kill people, Makarov."
The little girl's eyes lit up with excitement. "Whoa! Are you, like, a bounty hunter?"
Makarov laughed harder. "See? Big softie."
Aelius groaned, rubbing his temple. "I hate this town."
The little girl giggled and ran back to her friends, and Aelius chose to walk away, choosing peace before Makarov could say anything else.
Of course, Makarov was far too pleased with himself. "Good to see you bonding with the younger generation."
Aelius ignored him.
They were getting close now. The guildhall was just ahead, too loud, too lively, too Fairy Tail.
Makarov sighed contentedly, watching the entrance grow larger in their view. "Feels good to be home, doesn't it?"
Aelius didn't answer.
But he didn't turn away, either.
Aelius inhaled slowly through his nose. "You are impossible."
"Aye, I know."
They were getting close now. The guildhall was just up ahead, its familiar weight settling into Aelius's vision like a specter. The voices inside could already be heard, too loud, too lively, too Fairy Tail.
Makarov let out a satisfied sigh, watching the entrance come into view. "Feels good to be home, doesn't it?"
Aelius didn't answer.
They continued walking, and it didn't get any better.
Makarov, still comfortably perched on Aelius's shoulder, greeted everyone they passed like an old friend. No one was safe. No one.
"Ah, Mr. Donovan! Your son finally get that job at the blacksmith?"
"He did, Master Makarov! We owe you for the recommendation!"
Makarov laughed. "Nonsense! That boy's got talent—he'd have gotten it with or without me!"
Aelius barely contained a sigh.
A few steps later—
"Lillian! You ever get that new roof?"
"We did! And, by the way, tell Wakaba he still owes me for those shingles he broke."
Makarov chuckled. "Aye, aye, I'll make sure he pays up!"
Aelius chose to ignore the fact that Makarov knew every single damn person in this town by name.
Then, of course, came the kids again.
Another small group, this time a pair of boys who had clearly been roughhousing near one of the market stalls, spotted them. They whispered to each other before one of them, grinning mischievously, pointed right at Aelius.
"Hey! You're that scary guy from before! The one who said he was a bad guy!"
Aelius stared.
Makarov grinned. "Aye, that's him."
The other boy nudged his friend excitedly. "Cool! What kinda bad guy are you?"
Aelius sighed heavily. "The worst kind."
Both kids looked ecstatic.
"Whoa! Like a bandit? An assassin?"
Aelius tilted his head. "Worse."
The first kid gasped. "A war criminal?"
Makarov nearly fell off Aelius's shoulder laughing.
Aelius exhaled slowly. "No."
The second boy looked thoughtful. "So, like, a cool bad guy?"
Aelius folded his arms. "Depends on who you ask."
The first boy nodded seriously. "Yeah. Super cool."
Aelius, against all better judgment, let out a short, amused breath. "Hmph."
Makarov clapped a tiny hand on Aelius's head. "See? You're popular already."
Aelius chose to walk faster.
They were almost there.
The guildhall was looming ahead now, the voices from inside louder, the warmth of the place almost tangible in the air.
Aelius felt his magic settle even more, the last remnants of his anger buried somewhere beneath all of this nonsense.
Makarov sighed happily. "Not too late to run, you know."
Aelius snorted. "I'd like to see you stop me."
Makarov grinned. "Oh, I wouldn't. But the kids?" He gestured back. "They'd probably chase you down."
Aelius glanced back.
The little girl from before and the two boys were still watching him.
They waved.
Aelius groaned.
And then, with one last, reluctant sigh, he stepped toward the guild.
Aelius could already hear the familiar mix of laughter, shouting, and the unmistakable sound of something breaking. It was always breaking. He half-expected to hear Natsu and Gray getting into another pointless brawl, or Cana calling for another round of drinks before noon.
Some things never changed.
But for Aelius, everything had.
Makarov, still lounging on his shoulder as if he belonged there, hummed contentedly. "Sounds lively today."
Aelius rolled his eyes. "When isn't it?"
"Fair point."
They reached the edge of the guild's main doors. The building towered over them now, too familiar and too foreign all at once. Aelius slowed, just barely, but Makarov noticed.
"Oh?" Makarov smirked, leaning forward slightly. "Getting cold feet, boy?"
Aelius clicked his tongue. "Tch. I don't get 'cold feet.'"
"Ah, of course not." Makarov nodded sagely, but his tone was far too smug. "You're just… appreciating the scenery?"
Aelius exhaled sharply, his fingers twitching at his sides. The scenery. Right.
Before he could respond, the doors to the guild slammed open.
A crash followed immediately after, then a loud, exasperated voice—
"NATSU, YOU FLAMING IDIOT, YOU CAN'T JUST THROW TABLES AT PEOPLE!"
Gray.
A beat later—
"IT WASN'T A TABLE! IT WAS A CHAIR! TOTALLY DIFFERENT!"
Natsu.
A second crash sounded from inside, followed by at least three different voices yelling at once.
Aelius stared at the open door, expression unreadable.
Makarov grinned. "Ah. Home."
Aelius sighed. Deeply. "I've made a mistake."
Makarov patted his shoulder. "Aye, but you're already here, so no use thinking about that now."
Aelius ran a hand down his face. "You're enjoying this way too much."
Makarov beamed. "Oh, absolutely."
Aelius inhaled slowly, bracing himself.
And then, with one final step, he walked through the doors.
The moment Aelius stepped inside, the chaos hit him like a wave.
The sheer energy of the guild was palpable—a swirling mess of shouting, laughing, and furniture flying through the air.
A tankard whizzed past his head, smashing against the wall.
A table had already been flipped over, its previous occupants now in the middle of a full-blown fistfight.
Cana was sitting on the bar, completely unbothered, downing an entire barrel of beer. Elfman was lecturing some poor soul about what it means to be a 'real man' while Juvia, seated nearby, was too busy sighing over Gray to care about anything else.
And then there was Natsu.
Standing on top of another table, grinning wildly, mid-swing as he aimed a punch at Gray.
Gray, shirt already missing, ducked just in time before tackling Natsu back down, both of them crashing into a pile of chairs.
The noise, the movement, the pure insanity of it all—
It was exactly the same.
Aelius stood there, letting the scene wash over him, his arms folding across his chest as his mind caught up with reality.
He had not missed this.
Absolutely not.
But—
Damn it, some small, stubborn part of him had expected it to feel different.
It didn't.
The realization hit him hard, but he pushed it away, rolling his shoulders as if physically shaking off the thought.
At that moment, Makarov cleared his throat.
Loudly.
Instantly, the entire guild froze.
Chairs stopped mid-throw.
Fists paused inches from their targets.
Cana, mug halfway to her lips, glanced over with mild curiosity.
All eyes turned toward the entrance.
Toward him.
For a few heavy seconds, silence.
Then, someone finally spoke.
"…Holy crap, Aelius is back?"
The tension snapped.
Immediately, voices exploded across the hall.
"AELIUS?!"
"No way—"
"When the hell did he—?!"
"DID HE JUST WALK IN LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED?!"
Aelius sighed.
Here we go.
The moment Aelius stepped into the guild hall, the usual noise of the place fell silent, and every eye in the room locked onto him. The tension was palpable. Natsu was the first to break the silence.
"Wait, hold up," Natsu growled, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Didn't you leave with that weird guy? The one who smelled like blood? You didn't even say anything to us. What the hell's going on?"
Aelius's eyes flicked around the room, the guild's intense gaze weighing on him. It had been a few days, yes, but now, as the dust settled from his sudden return, they were all looking to him for answers. Makarov was perched on his shoulder, but the Master said nothing, content to let Aelius handle the situation.
He let out a sigh, his patience clearly thinning.
"I told you I was leaving." His voice was sharp, but calm, as he glanced around the room. "After Caius showed up, I said I needed to handle something. And no, I didn't make a big deal of it because I didn't need to. It's not something I wanted to drag everyone into."
Gray crossed his arms, eyeing Aelius with suspicion. "You just left with him—no explanation, and now there's a death line through the forest. What the hell happened out there? What did you get mixed up in?"
Levy stood beside Jet and Droy, concern visible on her face. "You didn't even tell us why you had to leave like that," she said softly, looking at Aelius with worry. "Why the secrecy?"
Aelius's annoyance became more palpable with every passing second, but he still answered, albeit through clenched teeth.
"I didn't want to tell you. It's complicated." His hands clenched, the air around him flickering with a surge of magic, but he quickly contained it. "Caius... wasn't someone you needed to know about. He had his own reasons for being there, and I had mine for going with him. It wasn't your fight."
"That's a load of crap," Natsu shot back, stepping forward. "You think we're just gonna let you leave like that without asking questions? You're a part of this guild, Aelius. We look out for each other!"
Aelius met Natsu's angry gaze, his voice growing sharper with each word. "And I told you I would be gone for a few days, that's all I'm giving you. I didn't leave to hide anything. You wouldn't understand. Nobody would."
Erza stepped in, her tone more composed but still filled with concern. "The forest. Why did it happen? Why did you leave it like that?"
Aelius's gaze flickered for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as he seemed to measure his response. A deep, resigned sigh escaped him, and his tone, when he spoke, was laced with quiet frustration. "That, Titania," he said slowly, almost as if forcing the words out, "is what happens when I get angry."
The guild went silent, a few of them exchanging uneasy glances. The line in the forest had been no small thing. They'd heard the whispers, maybe even seen the aftermath of that path of destruction. But to hear Aelius, the usually calm and collected Aelius, speak about it so plainly… It made the entire room uneasy.
Erza frowned, not one to let anything slide easily. "You're telling me that's your power? That line, the chaos that came with it—was that really you?"
Aelius's gaze hardened, but there was a weariness in his eyes, a tiredness that made his usual cold demeanor seem even more distant. He let out a deep breath before answering, his voice low, carrying an edge of something older, something buried deep inside.
"It's just like when we were kids," he began, his tone flat, almost detached. "Nothing more, nothing less. Something happened, I got angry... it's as simple as that."
Erza's frown deepened. "That's it? That's all it takes? You just... lose control like that?"
Aelius's eyes flickered with a sharp intensity as his jaw clenched. "You know as well as I do, Titania. When I was younger, things were different. We didn't have the same kind of control we have now. We weren't even aware of what we were truly capable of. I didn't have the training, the restraint, the understanding of my own abilities like I do now."
"And what caused you to go off like that?"
The voice wasn't Erza's—it was Levy's, calm but full of curiosity. Aelius's eyes flickered over to her, his gaze hardening beneath his mask. For a moment, there was a brief flash of annoyance, the kind of emotion that always simmered just below the surface, ready to explode when pushed too far.
Levy's question felt like a trap, probing into a past that he was content to leave behind. He could feel the weight of the guild's eyes on him now, each one waiting for an answer, each one expecting an explanation. His hands clenched at his sides, the flicker of anger in him urging him to lash out, to shut them all down, to retreat back into the darkness where they couldn't touch him.
But that wasn't how it worked here. This was Fairy Tail. He wasn't going to lash out at them, not over a question, no matter how much he wished she hadn't asked. He was too tired to entertain unnecessary questions, too weary of explaining things he couldn't fully put into words.
Aelius took a slow breath, his gaze drifting away from Levy, out into the distance. The air between them thickened with the tension of an answer that he didn't want to give. He glanced back at Levy, his mask hiding the exhaustion in his eyes, the corners of his mouth tightening into something that wasn't quite a smile.
"It's not something I want to discuss," Aelius began, his voice colder now, his tone sharp but not unkind. "But to put it simply, I stopped a really bad black magic ritual. That's all you need to know. And I'm leaving it at that."
The guild fell silent, the weight of his words settling heavily in the room. Aelius stood there, his posture rigid, his gaze never wavering as he awaited the inevitable follow-up questions that would surely come.
But there was no barrage of further inquiries. No one pressed him for more details. They had heard his answer, and for now, that was enough.
Levy seemed to sense that, nodding slowly, though her expression still bore a touch of concern. "Alright," she said softly, but the uncertainty in her eyes was clear. She didn't push any further.
Aelius turned his attention to the rest of the guild, his expression unreadable. "Is that enough for you all, or should I start getting into the gory details?" he asked dryly, his words not meant to be a joke, but a challenge. He wasn't looking for sympathy, not from anyone. He never had been.
The guild, for the most part, stayed quiet. It was clear that, even if they didn't understand all of the nuances of Aelius's past, they respected the fact that some things were simply not to be asked about.
Makarov, sensing the growing tension, decided to steer the conversation in a new direction. "Well, that's enough for today, I think. We've all been through a lot. Aelius, we're just glad you're back. That's what matters now."
And with that, the room settled back into its usual chaos, the questions dissipating, leaving behind only the hum of voices and the familiar warmth of home. Aelius, his mask hiding most of his emotions, allowed himself to take a small breath. He might not have wanted to share everything with them, but for now, this would do.
Aelius's footsteps echoed as he made his way to the staircase leading to the second floor, the area of the guild reserved for S-Class mages. He didn't need to look behind him to know that the guild had started to return to its usual, raucous chaos. Their questions, their concerns—they would all fade into the background as they settled into their routines. It was the way things worked in Fairy Tail. But that didn't mean he wanted to be part of it right now.
Reaching the top of the stairs, he pushed open the door with a creak, stepping into the quiet solitude of the second-floor corridor. It was a familiar place, one he hadn't visited in a long time. The space here was more personal, reserved for those who had proven themselves time and again. The walls, decorated with faded awards and certificates, held an unspoken weight of expectation. The very air seemed heavier up here, as though the responsibility of being an S-Class mage hung over every room.
Aelius didn't mind. He had earned his place here, after all. What bothered him was the silence—the absence of the usual noise and laughter that filled the rest of the guild. Up here, there was no one to distract him from his thoughts, no one to force him to confront what he'd left behind. It was just him and the echoes of the past days, a heavy reminder of the things he wished he could forget.
He felt the heavy weight of his mask against his skin, the familiar presence of his cloak wrapping around him like a barrier from the world. He couldn't remember the last time he'd gone without it. Couldn't remember a time when he hadn't hidden himself behind this mask, behind the persona he'd built over the years. The world had a way of breaking you down, of pulling away at your layers until nothing was left but raw, exposed parts. And Aelius? He didn't want to be exposed.
His fingers traced the edges of the railing, lost in thought when the sound of footsteps finally broke the silence.
He didn't need to look to know who it was.
Erza. The only person in Fairy Tail who had the same unwavering resolve, the same weight of responsibility, and perhaps, the only one who could truly understand the kind of struggle Aelius was going through right now. The kind of weight that came with holding power—power that could destroy everything in a heartbeat. She appeared in the doorway, standing tall with her arms crossed, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene before her.
Aelius didn't look up immediately. He just stood there, staring out at the city, the light of the setting sun casting long shadows across the room.
"Still brooding, huh?" Erza's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, a subtle challenge in the way she spoke.
Aelius let out a breath, his voice quiet. "Not brooding. Just thinking."
He could hear her footsteps approach, and then, she was standing beside him, looking out at the view as well. There was a long pause before she spoke again, her voice softer this time.
"You know, you can't keep hiding up here forever."
Aelius finally turned his head to glance at her, his gaze piercing. "I never said I was hiding."
"Then why are you up here alone?" she asked, her eyes locking onto his. "We're a family here, Aelius. Whatever you're carrying, you don't have to carry it alone."
Aelius didn't respond at first. Instead, he looked back at the horizon, his face unreadable. "Some things are better left alone," he said quietly, almost to himself.
Erza stood there for a moment, her eyes softening. She knew better than anyone that Aelius wasn't one to open up easily, but that didn't mean she wouldn't try.
"Well," she said after a pause, her tone shifting back to something more matter-of-fact, "when you're done sulking, there's still a guild down there that wants to see you, whether you like it or not."
Aelius snorted softly, but there was no humor in it. "They can wait."
Erza's lips curled into a faint smile, but it was filled with understanding. "You always say that."
"And I always mean it." Aelius's voice was firm, but there was an undertone of something darker there, something he didn't want to acknowledge.
There was another long pause before Erza finally spoke again, her gaze still focused on him. "You're not as alone as you think, Aelius. Don't forget that."
Aelius didn't respond. Instead, he simply turned away, heading toward his room without another word. Erza watched him go, but she didn't follow. She knew better than to push him further—at least not yet.
He was a different person now, and that was something only time—and perhaps the weight of his own choices—would make him realize. Until then, she'd just have to be there for him, quietly and without expectation. Because she knew, deep down, that whatever darkness he was carrying, it wouldn't last forever.
Not as long as Fairy Tail was here.