[City of Magnolia]
What was darkness to Ivan Dreyar?
Well, it was not the explosions or lightshows the anime had depicted it be, it was far more than that.
Simply put it was the absence of light, but conceptually put it was could also be the void before creation, fear of the unknown, or a symbol of evil.
While Ivan had no interest in the last one but was also not capable of the other two since they were far above his current level of magical power and personal understanding. He could however replicate the first one, the absence of light, a rather simple enough in theory.
It was a good foundation for his magic, but not all his magic should be capable of, darkness was a force of the universe as much as it was an idea. It was a suffocating pressure while also a malleable one.
Funny enough when Ivan thought of darkness magic the first thing that came to mind was Marshall D. Teach, Blackbeard. A character from another anime who held the power of darkness, Ivan remembered the fight between him and Ace vaguely. The only thing that really stuck with him was Blackbeard's power, his own darkness, that was what Ivan modeled his own magic off of, though there of course were small differences.
In the real world, reality, Yajima didn't know what he was staring at. He knew it was magical power, he knew it was supposed to be darkness magic, but he didn't know why it looked such a... unique way.
Ivan's magical power had completely changed, from its once light gray color, to completely black, and to now a liquid that seemed to roil in the air. It appeared more like smoke than darkness to Yajima, but to his senses he felt something else. It was a suffocating pressure, the darkness seemed to pull on him, trying to bring him closer.
It was to no effect of course; Ivan was still a novice mage while Yajima was a far more experience one with at least two times the magical power of Ivan. Though the potential of such a magic did not escape the senior mages notice.
'What a unique kind of darkness, it seems Ivan has a very different view on darkness than most mages. His seems to be taking inspiration from smoke magic and... gravity? That force his darkness is creating seems to be one based on gravity, but how would Ivan even know of such a magic? Has Makarov been secretly training the boy?' His mouth quirked at the thought, it was rather silly in hindsight, but still a possibility.
Ivan's eyes flew open as he stood, the chair he had been sitting on creaking, he looked down at his hands. They were enveloped in a thin lair of darkness, Ivan smiled. A success!
"Well, it looks like I got my magic, ehh?" he glanced at Yajima
Gildarts from the corner stood up grinning at Ivan, his own magical power enveloping him, but not with any properties that would appear like a magic type.
Ivan clenched his fist and willed the darkness to do what he wanted, his hand became covered in darkness like a glove. He smiled, then looked to a nearby book, his hand moved towards it.
Yajima seemed to notice "Ivan you should be care-"
His words were cut off as Ivans hand deepened in color and a sucking sound echoed from it. Yajima looked closely at what the magic on display.
'Is he trying too...'
The book he was aiming at shot up off the ground and slammed into Ivan's hand of darkness, the sucking sound vanished as it was covered by the book.
"Showoff." Gildarts muttered
Ivans grin was broad "Now that was awesome!"
Yajima smiled at the kid like statement; he had forgotten the age of these two, they were still kids. And one of them had just learned real magic.
"Congratulations are in order Ivan, you've awakened your magical," Yajima tone was calm and smile genuine. "I'm sure your father would be proud if he we-"
Yajima's words were cut off as a sound echoed from the libraries entrance, there standing with a broad smile and wistful eyes was Makarov Dreyar. His eyes were entirely focused onto Ivan's figure, his hands clenched.
"I-Ivan my boy, you have awakened your magic. So soon..." He looked to Yajima briefly trying to understand, Yajima smiled and nodded.
Makarov walked over to where Ivan stood darkness flowing off of him, though less than before. Makarov took in a deep breath before looking up at his son, smiling "My boy I want to say congratulations and that...and that I am proud of you, Ivan."
Tears began to well up in the old man's eyes, Ivan smiled shakily.
He had known Makarov for sixteen years and in those past years Makarov had been a true father. He was the guild master and had many other children, but only one that was of his own blood. He had raised Ivan like any other of his children, and though he had been a grown man for a longtime.
It seemed Makarov was just realizing for himself that his son was becoming a man.
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AUTHORS THOUGHTS BELOW!!!