I woke up with a heavy body. Sunlight filtered through the thin curtains of my inn room, but the pain in my left shoulder made it difficult to move.
Turning around, I saw a white bandage wrapped around my shoulder. There was a faint scent of herbal medicine.
"Thank goodness, you're awake."
Lucy sat down in a chair, closing the book she had been reading. Her gaze was filled with relief, but also worry.
"You passed out after yesterday's fight. Your injuries were severe. Luckily, the village potion was quite effective."
I just stared at him for a moment, then closed my eyes again.
"Partner, that wound was indeed caused by dark magic. Your body can withstand it thanks to Boosted Gear, but you must be careful. If you're exposed to it too often, your body could collapse from the inside."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.
Lucy was silent for a moment, then said softly, "You… are not like a normal witch. Your powers… are different."
I didn't answer.
"If you don't want to talk now, that's fine. But remember, at Fairy Tail… we're not just comrades. We're family. You don't have to carry everything alone."
The words stung, but I remained silent.
A few hours later, Natsu came in as excited as ever.
"Hey! You're awake!" he shouted, placing a tray full of food on the table. "Eat! If you want to get better soon, fill your stomach first!"
Happy flew beside him. "Aye, sir!"
I just nodded, took a piece of bread without saying anything.
Natsu frowned. "Why are you so quiet? If I had that kind of power, I'd show it off every day!"
Lucy glared at Natsu. "Natsu! Don't force it."
I looked down, letting the conversation pass.
"Partner, they want to know who you really are. But I know you're not ready."
That night, I sat outside the inn, gazing at the moon. The night breeze carried the damp scent of the forest.
I opened the Boosted Gear. The red gloves glowed faintly, as if alive.
I could feel the pulse. The power was incredible, but also… gnawing.
"Ddraig…" I whispered. "Can I really control this?"
"Boosted Gear isn't just a weapon. It's a part of you now. But remember, partner… the more you rely on this power without a clear purpose, the faster you'll be destroyed. You must find a reason to fight, not just to vent."
I was speechless. Reason… did I have a reason other than survival?
Memories of the past came flooding back—blood, fire, my parents' screams. The world had taken everything from me.
Maybe that's the reason why I choose to remain silent, to close myself off from other people.
—
The next day, before we left the village, a resident ran in hastily carrying a tattered letter.
"This… we found it in the forest, after the battle…" he said as he handed over a black sealed letter.
Makarov has taught me, black seals like that are only used by dark organizations.
I opened the letter slowly.
It contained only one sentence, written in red ink:
"The initial experiment was a success. The next unit will be sent to the southern region of Fiore." – Grimoire Shade
My fists clenched. So this wasn't just some ordinary dark wizard. There was an organization behind it all.
I looked far to the south.
Lucy looked at me. "What is it?"
I crumpled the paper until it was crushed. "Just a small matter."
Natsu lit his hands on fire, his eyes burning with passion. "If it's a dark organization, we'll just beat them all up!"
Lucy sighed. "You never think things through…"
I didn't say anything. But deep down, I knew—this was just the beginning of something much bigger.
And I have to be ready to face everything.