The sound of laughter, clinking tools, and the distant thump of a brawl slowly faded behind him as Y/N stepped into the guild's quieter hallway. Though the walls still bore the scars of the recent attack—charred wood, cracked beams—there was an eerie stillness here. His boots echoed against the wooden floor, each step measured, heavy with purpose.
This wasn't just a debrief.
There were truths Y/N couldn't speak in front of the others. Not yet.
The wooden door at the end of the corridor creaked open before he could knock.
Master Makarov stood in the doorway, arms folded, his gaze sharp beneath his bushy brows.
Makarov: "Took you long enough, boy."
His voice was warm, almost teasing—but his eyes? They'd already read Y/N's tension.
He stepped aside.
Makarov: "Get in. Let's hear it."
Y/N entered without a word, closing the door behind him. The familiar scent of old parchment and enchanted ink clung to the air, comforting and weighty all at once. This room had witnessed more secrets than any hall in Fairy Tail.
He approached the desk and pulled a black crystal shard from his coat. About the size of a coin, the shard pulsed faintly with a malevolent red light—slow, like a heartbeat.
Y/N: "We found this at the heart of their lair."
He placed it on the desk. Makarov's eyes narrowed.
Y/N: "The guild we took down? They weren't just some ragtag dark mages. They were part of something organized. Religious. Cult-like."
Makarov remained silent as he picked up the shard, inspecting the slow pulse of its corrupted magic.
Y/N: "It's cursed magic—but not raw. Refined. Like someone engineered it to blur the line between demonic and divine. Ritual-grade stuff."
The old master's fingers tightened around the crystal.
Makarov: "Who were they?"
Y/N: "They called themselves The Broken Circle. Said they were one of seven. Each group is tied to a sealed ancient beast."
That got Makarov's full attention.
Makarov: "…Seven?"
Y/N: "Yeah. And the one we ran into… they weren't just there to kill. They were looking for something. Or someone."
Y/N exhaled and looked the old man in the eye.
Y/N: "They were after me."
Makarov's silence was deafening.
Makarov: "…Tell me everything."
Y/N nodded slowly.
Y/N: "Their leader kept chanting something about The Green Flame of the Abyss. Said the gods sealed it in a dragon centuries ago. He called me the vessel of Verdant Destruction. One of them even tried to siphon my dragon essence mid-fight."
Makarov: "So they know…"
Y/N: "…About the Dragon Force sealed inside me? Yeah. They know."
The room turned cold.
Makarov set the crystal down with reverent care.
Makarov: "This doesn't leave this room. If word gets out that someone's hunting Dragon Slayers to unseal ancient forces…"
Y/N: "Panic. Division. We'd be exposing everyone."
Makarov: "Exactly."
Y/N folded his arms, the flicker of green flame dancing faintly across his skin.
Y/N: "So what now? What do you want me to do?"
Makarov leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples.
Makarov: "Lay low. Train. Keep close to the guild. If they come again—and they will—I want you at your strongest. I'll spread word through trusted ears. No official postings."
Y/N: "Masumi's already suspicious. I haven't told him everything yet."
Makarov: "Good. Don't. Not until we know more. And Diana?"
Y/N looked away, uncertain.
Y/N: "She knows something's off. Always does. I'll have to tell her eventually."
Makarov: "When you do… make sure she's ready. Because if this cult is what they claim to be—no one close to you is safe."
A long silence settled between them.
Y/N (softly): "You think they're connected to the guild attack?"
Makarov didn't respond immediately.
Then—he nodded.
Makarov: "They were testing something. And Fairy Tail was the proving ground."
Y/N's fists clenched at his sides. Flames licked his coat sleeves but didn't ignite.
Y/N: "Then next time—they'll regret it."
Makarov (smirking grimly): "Next time, we'll be ready. But we'll fight smart. Power alone won't win this war."
Y/N turned to leave, his mind already racing with preparations—but he paused at the door.
Y/N: "When they come… I'll fight them. With everything I have."
Makarov (quietly): "I know, son. I know."
Back in the Main Hall…
Diana leaned against the wooden banister of the second floor, her eyes locked on the hallway Y/N had disappeared into. Her brow was furrowed, lips tight. Her fingers tapped rhythmically against the railing—a sign of nerves she rarely showed.
Masumi joined her, arms folded, sparks of static crackling off his coat.
Masumi: "He's hiding something."
Diana (nodding): "Yeah. He always does. Thinks it protects people."
Masumi scoffed, clearly irritated.
Masumi: "Idiot. We're Fairy Tail. We don't need protection—we fight together."
Diana let out a small, knowing smile.
Diana: "He'll tell us when he's ready. Until then…"
She looked toward the guild door again, heart beating a little faster.
Diana (thoughts): 'I'll stand by you, Y/N. No matter what comes next.'