Fairy Tail: Master of Deceit

AN: The story just received 5 reviews so here's my part of the deal!

(1/3)

The air in the guild seemed to shift as that confident, almost smug voice boomed from the second floor.

"I've seen Mystogan too"

All heads turned upwards, and there he stood—Laxus Dreyar, leaning casually against the railing, arms crossed with a cocky grin plastered on his face.

"Laxus," Elfman muttered, his voice tinged with a mix of respect and irritation. He straightened his stance and glanced at Lucy. "That's Master's grandson."

Lucy blinked, her gaze flitting between the blonde man and the others in the room. "Wait, that's the master's grandson?"

"Yeah," Elfman replied, his voice dropping a notch. "And just like Mystogan, Erza, and Aurelius, Laxus is an S-rank mage. One of the strongest in the guild... or so he likes to say."

Laxus laughed at that, loud and full of arrogance. "Likes to say? C'mon, Elfman. You know it's true. There isn't anyone in Fairy Tail stronger than me. Except maybe the old man— maybe..."

His words hung in the air, and for a moment, the guild went silent. Even Natsu, ever brash and impulsive, clenched his fists but held his tongue. It wasn't often that Laxus made an appearance, and his mere presence was enough to throw everyone off-kilter.

Lucy leaned closer to Gray, whispering, "He's... confident, huh?"

"That's putting it lightly," Gray muttered back, his jaw tight as he kept his eyes on Laxus.

"Confident, arrogant—take your pick," Elfman said, shaking his head. "But one thing's for sure: he's got the power to back it up. He's one of the top contenders for the strongest Fairy Tail mage after Master."

Laxus smirked, clearly hearing the comment. "Good to see you recognize greatness when you see it-."

With that, he pushed himself off the railing, heading down the stairs with slow, deliberate steps. The room felt tense, every gaze locked on him.

Before he could finish, Natsu's voice erupted like a thunderclap.

"Recognize greatness? Don't make me laugh!"

The room jolted as Natsu launched himself toward the second floor, flames erupting from his fists. "Let's see how great you are when I—"

He didn't get the chance to finish.

With a loud, exasperated sigh, Makarov's voice boomed across the guild. "That's enough, Natsu!"

Before Natsu's fiery fist could connect with Laxus, Makarov's hand expanded, growing large enough to slam Natsu out of the air. The young Dragon Slayer crashed back to the ground with a loud thud, groaning as he lay sprawled on the floor.

"You know the rules!" Makarov snapped, his small frame practically vibrating with authority. "No one who isn't S-rank sets foot on the second floor! That includes you, Natsu!"

The guild was silent for a moment before Laxus's chuckle broke the tension. He leaned over the railing, looking down at Natsu with an infuriating grin.

Laxus' smirk grew wider, his eyes gleaming with the same arrogance that defined him. He stood tall, practically daring anyone to challenge him. "What's the matter, Natsu?" he taunted, his voice dripping with condescension. "You're not even on the same level as Erza or Aurelius. Maybe you should just stay quiet, huh? You can't even beat them, so what makes you think you can even stand a chance against me?"

Natsu's fists clenched as he gritted his teeth, flames flickering at the corners of his mouth. He growled under his breath, but Makarov's glare kept him from making another move.

Laxus turned his back to the room, waving dismissively. "You're all the same. Talk big, but when it comes down to it, none of you can touch me."

The guild was left simmering with unspoken tension, the weight of Laxus's arrogance hanging heavy in the air.

Erza stood up from her seat, her eyes sharp as steel as they fixed on Laxus. "And what exactly are you implying, Laxus?" she asked, her tone icy yet controlled.

Laxus turned back toward the guild floor, smirking. "What am I implying? Oh, nothing much," he said mockingly, shrugging. "Just that if Salamander can't even handle you, Erza, or Aurelius, then he's got no business dreaming about challenging me."

The guild murmured at the audacity of his words, but Erza's expression remained composed. "So, you're claiming you're stronger than me?"

Laxus crossed his arms and grinned. "That's exactly what I'm claiming. In fact, I'm the strongest mage in this guild—"

The rest of the guild members watched, uneasy, but before anyone could speak up, a calm voice interjected.

Aurelius' eyes—sharp and calculating—focused on Laxus, and a slight smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. He tilted his head slightly. "Seems like you've forgotten someone, Laxus."

Laxus' grin faltered for just a fraction of a second as he registered Aurelius' words. He blinked once, and then the realization hit him like a cold gust of wind.

Aurelius didn't wait for a response. "Gildarts," he said plainly, and the name hung in the air, a reminder that no matter how strong Laxus thought he was, there was someone far stronger.

Laxus stiffened, his eyes briefly flashing with irritation before he quickly masked it with arrogance. He shot a quick glance at Makarov, but his focus soon returned to Aurelius.

He sneered, refusing to let his pride slip. "I might not beat Gildarts, but I can sure as hell beat you."

Aurelius met his gaze evenly, his tone unwavering. "Beat me, huh? Funny," he said, a hint of mockery in his voice. "I always thought the strongest knew when to pick their battles, and how to avoid unnecessary conflicts. But then again, not everyone learns from their mistakes, do they?"

Laxus' eyes twitched at the words, but his pride didn't let him falter. He leaned back, uncowed, and taunted, "What are you gonna do about it? You gonna cry to your mommy and Dad-?"

There was a sharp intake of breath from some of the guild members, and a thick, heavy silence fell over the room. Even Makarov's face tightened his jaw clenching.

But before anyone could react, a figure shot up to the second floor in the blink of an eye—Aurelius.

In one smooth motion, his sword was drawn, and it was at Laxus' throat in an instant, the sharp edge grazing his skin, only a millimeter away.

The room froze.

Laxus, once so full of bravado, now had no choice but to freeze. His eyes widened as Aurelius' blade lingered just too close for comfort, the tension palpable in the air.

Aurelius stood there, calm and composed, his gaze piercing. "You should really pick your words properly, Laxus," he said in a voice that was eerily calm.

Laxus then spoke, his tone dripping with disdain. "Old man," he addressed Makarov, his gaze not leaving Aurelius, "why is he allowed upstairs?"

Makarov, his expression hardening slightly, answered in a low voice. "Aurelius is now S-rank," he stated, his tone final.

Laxus blinked once, processing the words, but then his lips curled into a sneer. His posture remained cocky, his pride unshaken. "S-rank? Please. This is nothing but an illusion or some trick. You really think you can make me believe this nonsense? Your magic doesn't faze me."

Aurelius' eyes narrowed, his voice cold and sharp. "You want to test that theory?" His sword inched closer, and in a split second, it grazed Laxus' neck, drawing a drop of blood.

Laxus' smirk didn't falter. "I don't need to 'test' anything. it's jsut a drop of blood. You're not gonna beat me."

But the look in Aurelius' eyes said otherwise. "Well then, if you're so sure, Laxus, maybe you'd like to find out." He pushed the blade just a little harder, and Laxus flinched, the cold steel pressing against his skin.

In an instant, Makarov stepped forward, his hand raised, his voice commanding. "Enough!" he barked.

Before anyone could react, Aurelius vanished, his form a blur as he reappeared at the guild's exit in the blink of an eye.

However, the silence was short-lived.

With a roar of frustration, Laxus sprang into action. "You won't just run away from me!" he bellowed.

With a crack of thunder, Laxus shot forward, his fist crackling with electricity as he aimed for Aurelius' back. The punch was quick, fueled by rage, and slammed forward with the force of a lightning strike.

But when his fist connected, there was nothing but air. Laxus' eyes widened in confusion.

Laxus blinked, his face a mixture of confusion and fury. The air was still, and the power of his punch hung in the air like a dying echo.

Suddenly, Aurelius was behind him. His movements had been so fast that Laxus had barely registered it. In an instant, the cold, sharp edge of Aurelius' sword sliced through the air, cutting through Laxus' headphones with surgical precision. It split in two, falling to the ground, useless.

Laxus froze, his eyes darting to the ruined headphones, then to Aurelius standing behind him, his sword still in hand.

"Continue this," Aurelius' voice was a low, chilling threat, "and your head will be next."

The air was thick with tension, and for a split second, everything seemed to stand still.

Laxus, still frozen with the remnants of his ruined headphones in his hand, stared back at Aurelius. His arrogance was gone, replaced with a simmering fury. Yet, he didn't move. Not yet.

Before anyone could make another move, the guild erupted into action.

"Enough!" Makarov's voice boomed, his voice carrying an authority that could command even the strongest to stop in their tracks. He appeared in front of Aurelius and Laxus faster than either could react, his expression as stern as ever. "Laxus, Aurelius. This is not the time, nor the place."

But it wasn't just Makarov who intervened.

Erza, always quick to act, was already there, her sword drawn, ready to step between the two. "You'll both regret it if you don't calm down right now," she warned, her gaze sharp and unwavering.

Gray, with his usual cool demeanor, took position beside Erza, his fists clenched as he eyed Laxus. "Don't make this worse than it already is."

Lucy, too, had moved to the side, watching the scene unfold. She was still processing everything, but she knew one thing for certain — this wasn't just a petty squabble between two mages. The air itself was charged with danger.

As Makarov stepped between the two, he locked eyes with Laxus. "You're not above everyone else, Laxus. Respect the guild and your comrades, or you'll find yourself outside it."

Laxus' muscles tensed as he glared at Makarov, his chest heaving with frustration. But he didn't speak. He was still processing what had just happened — how Aurelius had made a fool of him without even breaking a sweat.

Aurelius, however, didn't back down. His sword remained raised, though he made no move to strike again. He gave Makarov a slight nod, acknowledging the interference but making it clear he wasn't backing away from the confrontation.

"Watch your mouth next time, Laxus," Aurelius muttered coldly, sheathing his sword. 

The guild members quickly closed in, surrounding the two powerful mages. Natsu, despite his earlier challenge, stood by them, gritting his teeth but saying nothing, unsure how to react to the tension.

"Let's just call it a day," Mirajane suggested, her gaze flickering between Laxus and Aurelius. "There's no need for any more fighting."

The heavy silence in the guild seemed to linger for a moment before Makarov spoke again, his voice quieter but still firm. "You're both valuable members of Fairy Tail. Don't forget that."

With those words hanging in the air, the guild began to settle down, though the atmosphere remained tense. Everyone knew the storm wasn't over yet — this was just the calm before the storm.

After all, it was no secret within the guild: Aurelius was composed, calculating, and always in control. But when his family was mentioned, that persona is like a thread on the verge of snapping.

This was just the beginning.

Those who had been in the guild long enough had seen glimpses of it before. The calm, cautious genius of Fairy Tail, known for his precision and restraint, would vanish in an instant if someone dared to go at the raw wound of his past. It was a wound that hadn't healed, one that some suspected never could.

...

The morning sun bathed the forest in golden light, its rays filtering through the dense canopy above. The air was fresh, crisp, and carried the gentle melody of birdsong. Aurelius stood at the edge of a tranquil lake, his reflection shimmering on the still surface.

In his hand was a smooth pebble, which he turned over absently. The water's surface rippled as he tossed the stone, watching it skip once, twice, before vanishing into the depths.

The peaceful scene did little to quiet the storm in his mind. Memories played before his eyes like scenes from another life—his sister's laughter, his father's firm yet warm guidance, his mother's gentle touch. The joy, the simplicity, and the security of those days felt like a distant dream now.

He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. The lake was the same one he'd visited as a child, a place of solace. Yet, no matter how many times he returned, the weight of what was lost lingered like a shadow.

"You're always hard to find," came a familiar voice behind him, breaking the silence.

Aurelius opened his eyes, his calm gaze meeting Erza's as she stepped into view. Her crimson hair shone brilliantly in the sunlight, her armor gleaming with the same intensity as her determination.

He smirked faintly, his tone light. "If I weren't, you wouldn't be here."

Erza crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Don't flatter yourself. I have a real reason to seek you out."

Aurelius turned back to the lake, his expression neutral. "I'm listening."

"An incident involving our dear guildmates," she began, her voice steady but tinged with irritation. "Natsu, Happy, and Lucy stole an S-rank quest from the second floor."

Aurelius let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "That sounds like them."

"It gets worse," Erza continued, her tone sharper now. "Gray, who was supposed to stop them, ended up joining them instead."

At this, Aurelius turned to face her fully, his brow furrowed. "Gray too? They must've gotten themselves into something dangerous if even he's tagging along."

Erza nodded, her gaze serious. "It's no ordinary quest. It's beyond their level, and they have no idea what they're walking into. I'm going after them."

"And you need my help," Aurelius concluded, studying her intently.

Erza sighed, her expression softening slightly. "It's not just about needing help. You're good at keeping a level head when things spiral out of control. I trust you to make sure no one gets hurt."

Aurelius didn't answer immediately. His eyes drifted back to the lake, a faint smile tugging at his lips as a thought crossed his mind. Lucy... Looks like you're adapting to Fairy Tail faster than I expected.

After a long pause, he turned back to Erza, his expression resolute. "Alright. Tell me the specifics."

Erza gave a small, approving nod. "I knew you'd come through."

As they began to make their way back toward the guild, the calm of the lake behind them gave way to the storm that awaited ahead.