Crystal Heart

Author: Si vera sunt

Fairy Tail original creator: Hiro Mashima

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

August 26th X784

"Come forth Aaron Arclight."

Aaron walked into the room where the four sages were sitting, his golden-brown eyes focused on his black boots as they were stepping on the marble floor. The young man wearing a blue and white long-sleeved jersey ran his hand through his auburn hair as he came to a stop in front of the table where the sages were sitting.

"You came to us as a scared child that had nothing," said one of the four.

"And you are now leaving us as a warrior, just as fierce and strong as any of those that came before you," continued the only female in the room.

"Do you accept to take on the responsibility that comes with the power that you now possess?" asked the third mage. Aaron put his hands in the pockets of his blue slim straight jeans. He had practiced this ritual many times before and he knew not to answer just yet.

"Do you swear to hold the name of Devil Slayer with pride?" asked the fourth sage.

"Do you promise to protect the world from the malevolent nature of the Fallen?" the four asked simultaneously.

"Armed with the knowledge given to me by the Academy, I vow on my dignity as a Devil Slayer to eradicate the Fallen wherever and whenever I might encounter them, and to not allow them to spread their malicious influence on this land or any other," said Aaron as he took his hands off his pockets and looked straight at all four Devil Slayers sitting in front of him.

"Congratulations Mr. Arclight, you are officially a graduate of the Academy. What is your next move?"

"I think I might join a Guild," said Aaron with a slight smile.

"A fine decision. Have you thought about which one?"

"Well to be frank I have not thought that far ahead."

"In that case, may I suggest Crystal Heart? I am quite close with the Guild Master there. I can put in a good word for you," said the female mage.

"A fine Guild indeed," said one of the men.

"I heard they recently helped take down Gorgon's Nest, one of the oldest Dark Guilds in Neazacaris' history," added another mage

"Well then young man? What do you say?" asked the woman.

"I would really appreciate it," replied Aaron.

"In that case you'd better get to Juniper City. I will use a communication lacrima to let Master Prima know of your arrival."

"Thank you," said Aaron as he bowed. He then walked out of the Northern Academy's meeting room.

He walked down the halls that led him to the dormitory. He had lived in this place for almost a decade and in those years, he had seen people come and go and yet he was the only one that graduated.

There was some sense of nostalgia truth be told. This was going to be the last time that he would see the place where he spent the best years of his life so far. Although seeing how he wouldn't have to go through anymore hellish training there was also a sense of relief.

When he walked into his room, he spent some time looking at the view of Garnet Town from the window. Northern Academy was located on a volcano overlooking the small town. He could see the building with the hot springs, one of the few luxuries that the Academy allowed, the farmer's market that was currently empty as they only opened on weekends, and probably most important of all, the small bakery right in the middle of the town.

'I'll probably buy a cookie or two before I leave,' he thought to himself.

His final stop inside the building would be the library. He intended to take a map of Neazacaris with him. It was what tradition demanded after all. When Aaron first set on the quest to become a Devil Slayer, the library was full of curious minds. Yet, as the years passed and the numbers dwindled, it had become empty. The only person there, other than Aaron himself, was one of the four sages he had briefly had the meeting with. After exchanging pleasantries, the young man asked for a map and after he got what he had come for, Aaron left the building altogether.

He walked down the jagged path that lead to Garnet Town, went to the bakery, bought a couple of his favorite cookies, and then sat on a bench near the town's exit to figure out the way to Juniper City.

'I could go to Emerald City and cross the jungle. Although, if I go around the volcano, I can get a magical vehicle from Chiffon Town making my way there less tiring, but definitely more expensive. I could also go to Medallion City and get a boat to take me to Juniper.'

Aaron thought about all three scenarios and decided to go with the boat. He went to the small bus station in the middle of the town and got a ticket to Emerald City, the only destination that was offered from a town as small as Garnet. And once in Emerald City, he took another bus to Medallion City. He really wanted to explore, but he wanted to make it to his final destination as soon as possible.

He went to the port's ticket office and asked for a ticket to Juniper.

"I'm really sorry sir, there won't be any proper passenger ships leaving for Juniper for another week. But, if you ask around the port, there might be someone with a private boat that will take you there in exchange for a fee. Juniper is pretty far though, so you might end up paying quite a hefty price," said the lady at the office.

Aaron did just that. The first two people he asked laughed his request off, but third time's the charm after all.

"Juniper City you say? Today must be your lucky day. It's on the way of where I was going to go," the man who Aaron was talking to seemed like he was in his late fifties.

"Really? Thank you! How much would you like for your trouble?"

"Hmm, how about instead of paying me with money, you listen to my stories? When I was your age, I made a living by taking tourists all over Neazacaris on my boat. I might have a thing or two I can teach you. How does that sound?"

"It sounds great," said Aaron.

"That's good. If you don't mind, help me get these boxes on to the boat. The sooner I get them inside, the faster we will be able to depart," said the old man.

"Sure thing."

Aaron stacked the three boxes that were on the docks and took them inside the small boat. The inside of the boat was very simple, consisting of a single room with a couple of lacrima that Aaron figured were used to make the boat move.

"Oh, the vigor of youth. I used to be able to lift weights like that with no problem. But enough about me. I am Biru, what is your name, son?" asked the old man as he performed some hand movements that made the lacrimae come to life and as a result the boat started moving.

"Aaron, sir."

"That is a fine name. Where are you from Aaron?"

"The Northern Academy."

"Oh, you're a Devil Slayer, are you? In all my years I have only met a handful of your kind."

"All respectable fellows I assume," said the Slayer with a slight chuckle.

Once they were away from the port, the boat picked up considerable speed.

"I never expected a boat this small to go this fast." Aaron stepped outside to feel the wind against his face.

"It is all thanks to magic of course. Now pay attention kid, because I do not particularly like repeating myself. Unless a young lady asks me to do so of course. Do you see that blue dome? That is the Guild Hall for Ragnarök. They are the pride and joy of Medallion City. They are the major guild of the central part of our country. But I assume you'd be more interested in Crystal Heart. After all, why else would a mage go all the way to Juniper?"

"Yes, I will be joining Crystal Heart. Well, that is the plan anyway."

"What made you choose that Guild in particular?"

"One of the sages suggested it, and you cannot say no to those guys."

"Sounds like my mother-in-law."

They both laughed, but Aaron saw something in the distance that disturbed him deeply. A flag that he had not seen since before his years in the Academy.

"Mr. Biru, what is on that island?"

"Up until a few months ago there was nothing there. But the slaver Guilds recently bought it. There shouldn't be any slaves on the island yet as from what I have heard they are setting up the facilities."

'So, I was right.'

"Hey old man, I am really sorry, but it seems I will have to end our trip here. I am sorry for the inconvenience."

"How do you mean?"

"Seraph Devil's Clarity!" Aaron's body was surrounded by a golden aura and he jumped off the boat. To Biru's surprise, Aaron was now moving so fast, he was literally running on the water. And in no time, he had made it to the island.

The Devil Slayer kept going in the flag's direction, reaching a small village.

"Who are you?"

He had been spotted. After all slaver guilds were made up of wizards so someone must have sensed him coming, even if it was at an ungodly speed.

"Answer the question!" he found himself surrounded by the mages that were building the facilities.

Aaron closed his eyes and Requiped into his battle attire: black sandals, black baggy pants tied at the waist by a thick white ribbon, and a red sleeve on his left arm with black markings on it.

"My name is not important," he said.

"Do you know where you are, you idiot? Go back to where you came from or face the might of the slaver Guilds!" yelled one of the people around him.

"I am not going to leave just yet,"

"In that case, seize him! With a body like that he could fetch quite the price," said the man who appeared to be the leader.

"Been there, done that. Seraph Devil's Wrath!" Aaron released a surge of light from his body that destroyed the ground and violently pushed multiple opponents rendering them unconscious. Those that were not affected by the spell came rushing towards him, but he jumped upwards to avoid them.

"Seraph Devil's Clarity!" the aura came back and Aaron could move at an incredible speed again.

He fell back to the ground and delivered an axe kick that knocked down a couple of his opponents. Before the rest could realize what had happened, the young man started violently punching and kicking everyone around him. By the time the spell wore off, the only person left standing other than Aaron was the leader.

"Stop this madness and leave the island at once! If you do, I will not report what happened to my superiors and you will not be in trouble."

"What happened to fetching a price for my body? You people disgust me. Seraph Devil's Rage!" Aaron quickly gathered and released a large quantity of light from his mouth. The spell hit the last standing foe and generated a large explosion that decimated the buildings around them.

Aaron took a deep breath and Requiped back to his usual clothes. He walked to the shore and when he made it there, he was surprised to see that Biru had not only left, but his boat had gotten closer to the island.

The old man was waving at him from the boat and was signaling for him to get back on it. The young Mage used his spell one more time and before Biru could blink, Aaron was on the boat.

"Not a fan of slaver Guilds, are you?"

So, um, funny story. This isn't the first time I upload this. Last time I sort of accidentally (there might have been some alcohol involved), believed I had finished the chapter with a satisfying end. Hope everyone enjoys the first chapter and if you want to submit an OC check out my profile and send me a PM. Also, side note: I will only accept OCs sent via PM because it's easier for me that way, and because it's actually kind of against the rules to accept OCs sent via reviews.