-Zeref’s POV-

(After he ran away from the group)

I stood at the top of the town’s tallest building, glaring over the town with a feeling of hesitation tearing up my chest.

The sky was roaring in anger, bringing out my emotions into reality, ruthlessly covering all light and sending things flying through the air with the impeccable strength of the wind. Rain drizzled down like a shower as thunder started to crackle in the clouds, preparing to attack the unsuspecting town like an animal does to its prey.

After realising how weak I was, I decided I needed to train. If not, I’d be too weak to protect those I love. It was a hard decision but I knew it was the right one. After all, I had a plan.

My hair dripped down, soaking wet as I shivered in the cold comfort of the rain and the melodic sound of the howling wind, as it tried to pierce through me. First step was to reunite with a man I hadn’t seen in a while. The old geezer himself. Zeref Amara.

My shirt clung to my skin, suffocating me as I turned my back against the view and ran.

I ran and with every step I took, my determination heightened. I stomped my feet into the rocky pathway, water splashing out of my way at the harsh contact.

My mind was blank and all I could think of was how weak I was right now. I hadn’t even mastered my lightning element and my fire element was super weak. I relied on my ice and gravity elements constantly because I hadn’t met anyone who I needed to use the lightning element on; well until now. I was distracted for way too long and now it was time to train until my ass fell off because I won’t let another loved one come to harm due to my weakness.

My pulse echoed in my ears and I took a step back before running to the edge of the cliff and… jumping off.

I found my footing in mid air and focused all my ice and gravity mana onto the pads of my feet. Like a miracle, I started leaping across the air, pads of ice creating under my feet to support me. I should be at gramps’ house in no time.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck right next to me, missing by inches. Woah! Jeez, what an ungrateful storm! I created you; have a little mercy! This just went to show how I knew nothing on how to control my lightning powers and how little I knew on what to do with them.

I continued running through the air, the rain stinging my skin mercilessly. This was going to be a long journey. The clouds grumbled in agreement, filling the sky with its thick fog and leaving me in the darkness of the cruel night. Alone to fend for myself.

**

At the edge of the cliff, I stood. It was like time slowed to an absolute stillness. The moment my eyes set its gaze upon the thin veil of haze, laid out in front of me like a piece of pure white silk; I knew the long agonising hike was worth it. The sun could finally be seen; penetrating it’s orange light rays through the atmosphere like knives as it shone onto me like a blessing. The heat and warmth kissed my face, embracing me and getting rid of the cold eating at my skin.

The river ran right next to my feet; the light making the placid water glow, giving a sense of pureness to the atmosphere.

I was finally at Gramps’ house.

**

I walked up to the familiar door and as I approached, I heard loud arguing protruding from the small creaks of the windows. I recognised two of the voices to be Miss Elena and gramps but the other two voices seemed young and I couldn’t tell who it was because they were muffled.

I knocked on the door twice, and all sound went silent.

“Do you think it’s him?” Miss Elena whispered but it was clear enough for me to hear. Who were they talking about?

I knocked again, once this time. I could hear shuffling on the other side but no other noise before someone spoke. “You open the door.” a young girl’s voice spoke.

“What no way. He could still be angry…” Gramps seethed back quietly. Who???

“Yes, way. This is your house.” a young boy’s voice growled back.

“Fine, how about rock, paper, scissors?” Miss Elena suggested and at this point, I had been waiting for 5 minutes.

“Zeref, ya old geezer! Open up! It’s your grandson!” I yelled, knocking the door continuously.

“Your gramps ain’t home!” Gramps replied through the door.

When I heard that stupid reply, I grew desperate and more impatient, picking up the strength and pace of my knocks. My wrists were at its prime, knocking 100 times per second.

“Haha, paper kills scissors.” the young boy spoke.

“No it doesn’t you f*cking fool.” the young girl replied and a smack echoed through the door.

“Fine, let’s just do it again-” Gramps was interrupted by something. I heard Miss Elena grumbling something and shoving them. Forced and hesitant footsteps came closer to the door and I awkwardly straightened myself, waiting for it to open but it didn’t.

I knocked again, growing annoyed. What were they doing in there?

Finally, the door opened but my wrist didn’t stop in time, knocking someone’s nose.

“Ow!” the grumpy voice of my old man spoke, rubbing his nose.

I couldn’t contain myself. “Grandpa!” I sighed in relief, feeling the urge to cry and lean into him. I wrapped my arms around him, patting his back quickly before pulling myself off him.

“Zeref. I heard about what happened.” he looked concerned, closing the door behind him so I could talk, “I was worried that you were still angry and not in control of your emotions yet. That’s why I didn’t open the door. Eheheh. But you look fine.”

“Oh.” I sighed.

Who told him about last night?

Before I could say anything else, Gramps held his hand up to me and turned to the door, opening it. Three people fell through the entrance; they were clearly eavesdropping.

That’s when I realised, I knew them. Miss Elena. Johan. Ciara.

“Agh…” Ciara got up, dazed. Johan grabbed her wrist, pulling himself up and nearly pushing her down while doing so.

Miss Elena looked up at me with a guilty look on her face. “I know what it looks like but it isn’t-”

“It is exactly… what it looks like.” Johan interrupted, smiling at me like he didn’t just eavesdrop in my personal conversation. This caused Elena to roll her eyes.

Wait, how did Johan and Ciara know gramps? I gave them all confused glances, pointing at the gap between them. “Care to explain?” I asked.

Ciara spoke first, slapping her hand over Johan’s mouth so she could speak. He struggled under her grip but she was relentless.

“After that night, Malia fainted so we went home but Johan suggested we go look for you. You seemed like you needed help.” I winced at the mention of Malia but let her continue. “It didn’t take us long to figure out this old man was your relative. You guys have the same name and he was a really famous warrior in his times so it wasn’t a surprise his grandson would be strong too. So the next day, we came here and explained everything we knew and to our surprise, you’re here.” she finished off with jazz hands and a sarcastic smile.

Johan pushed her off of him and grunted. “I wanted to say it. Bitc-”

“No swearing.” Miss Elena slapped the back of his head.

“But we’re 14.” Johan pouted.

Gramps started to get impatient, shooing them off inside and putting up a shield so they wouldn’t listen to our conversation. I smiled at him, feeling a sense of relief wash over me again.

“What were you going to say?” he rubbed his temples.

I looked at him, giving him a serious look and he straightened his posture, raising his eyebrows.

“I met a contestant.”