A New Path - Chapter 251

Still, within the cursed forest, the training with the girls was proceeding smoothly. Briar with her ancient light magic proved every day why Amell made the right choice in choosing her. These ancient magics were almost completely forgotten from the world, and all of the ancient magics Amell knew off were notoriously difficult to master. This one was a little different in the sense that Amell created it specifically for Briar. He had based this magic off of how Admiral Kizaru’s devil fruit worked. Though, since this was magic and not a devil fruit, Briar had what could be perceived as a devil fruit without any limits or flaws in the design. This came at the cost of burning a lot of magic to use.

Briar was practising her magic with Amell standing at his usual spot watching over her. Touka was sitting on a branch above him fiddling with a coin. She had been apprehensive towards training so all she did day and night was watching how Briar improved in her field of magic.

“Don’t stress the process, Briar. Moving as light particles take a lot of practice. First, make sure you can transform your limbs one at a time, then after that, we will work on more advanced moves.”

“Master, will I really be able to become light? Are you sure I won’t just lose my body?” The forest was dark and dim at this time of day, so Briar could barely see Amell, and Touka was completely out of sight. This was also part of the training for training the young girl’s awareness.

“You won’t. I designed this magic so it won’t be harmful if you follow my instructions. What your doing is similar to teleportation magic, with proper training it’s not harmful at all.” Scepticism was running high in the girl’s mind, but she trusted Amell so she closed her eyes and concentrated. Slowly, her right hand started turning itself into light particles that floated in the place where her hand used to be. This state remained for four seconds before it reverted.

“Very good! How are you feeling?”

“I feel super tired. Why am I so tired?” Briar had to sit down because she was getting weak in the knees. Touka smiled and shook her head, “Magic deficiency. You’re using what could essentially be classified as ancient magic. You are just a kid, you don’t have the magic capacity an adult has.”

“Touka’s right. That’s something we are gonna work on constantly. You always have to be aware of your magic, if you overuse your it then it’s into the grave with you.” Amell walked up and placed a finger on Briar’s forehead and helped replenish her magic. His eyes suddenly darted in another direction and he chuckled, “We have a guest, welcome, fellow Saint.” His voice rang out and from a couple of bushes walked a man looking scarily similar to an actual tree.

“Fellow Saint? Do we know each other?” This man saw only the back of Amell and not the face. He also glanced up on Touka and his eyes narrowed, but ones Amell turned around, he forgot all about Touka.

“Amell! O my! Am I seeing ghosts now?” He took a step back to stabilise himself after the shock that ran through him. He rubbed his eyes but Amell was still there, so he walked a little closer. “Are my eyes deceiving me? We were sure you had died. You have been gone for…” He took a second to think, “I don’t even know… A hundred years, give or take. My, my, what a surprise.” Amell still hadn’t said anything. He could very well have been a ghost or a shapeshifting monster because this man answered his own question without waiting for Amell to answer.

“Yes, I am real!” Amell flashed a smile and said. “Good to see you’re alive as well, Warrod. I wouldn’t have expected that.” This man was, Warrod. One of the top four wizard Saints on Ishgar and a founder of Fairy Tail.

“Well, yes, that is quite a surprise for me too. Here I came to investigate a strange magic signature and I never would have imagined running into you.” Amell offered a handshake, but Warrod moved in for a bearhug which Amell was forced to accept. Ones they separated, Warrod looked him up and down. “You haven’t aged a day. What’s your secret?”

“I never age, Warrod. Didn’t I tell you guys that way back when we were questing together?”

“No, you certainly did not!” He said with a wide stare. “Though, I’m not surprised. With your amount of magic, I would be more surprised if you even can die, hahaha!” Warrod laughed so hard he tripped over his own foot and fell on the ground.

“This guy is a saint? Like you, Boss?” Touka jumped down with the attitude of a hoodlum. She had her head held high and she was staring down on Warrod that was on the ground still laughing. Amell knocked her lightly on the head, “Never underestimate people. Warrod is still stronger than most mages on this continent. He is simply too humble.”

“I don’t know about that. I am more of the pacifist kind, I don’t like fighting.” Warrod said as he got up and dusted off his knees.

“Then why are you a wizard saint if you can’t even fight? Truly worthless,” Touka was getting more annoyed by Warrod the more time she spent looking at him. She didn’t like his simple and straightforward personality.

“Be careful there, little girl. I said I don’t like fighting, I didn’t say I wasn’t good at it.” Warrod turned serious and the murderous intent in the air you could cut with a knife. Touka actually backed off, and so did Briar.

“JUST KIDDING!” Warrod flashed a smile and let out another big and bright laugh.

“I’m glad you haven’t changed at all, Warrod. Well, that’s not entirely true. I did hope your humour would have improved. But, after a century, it’s still this awful. That’s impressive in itself.” Amell manipulated the earth and raised rock chairs for everyone to sit on.

“I could say the same thing about you, Amell. You have actually become meaner than last time.” Warrod sat down at the table, “So, anyway. Why are you in this forest doing what appears to be training these two?” Warrod shot glances at the two girls. Touka looked annoyed and angry as usual, while Briar stuck as close to Amell as possible, trying to almost hide behind him.

“Maybe I’m starting a guild,” Amell said casually. Without question, Warrrod showed prizeless expression ones again,

“Surely, you are not serious. I don’t see you as a guild master.”

“You’re right. I’m just kidding. You could say I’m performing an experiment.”

“HEY! Don’t round my life up to an experiment!” Touka flicked the coin towards his head, Amell caught it with two fingers and placed in on the table.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to make it sound so bad. Let me rephrase that. I am teaching snotty brats some manners.” His smug smile shone brightly and Touka was almost fuming with anger.

“I’m putting together a small group of mages with a lot of potential for magic. If I ever disappear for real, I want to leave this world with a legacy that I can be proud of and that can also carry on my duties.” Warrod listened in seriously and when Amell was done talking he chuckled.

“That sounds like you. When you joined us way back in the day, everyone always thought you were completely ice-cold, but I knew there was a kind heart sitting in that chest of yours. It makes me glad to know this world still has its guardian watching over it.”

“I’m not a guardian, you brat. I have family living on this continent so I do this for them and no one else. On top of that, peace was her dream, wasn’t it? I have the power to achieve that, so why not give her that.” Amell and Warrod both got quiet, and the girls couldn’t understand why the sudden seriousness had descended around the table. They also didn’t know who “she” was that Amell was referring to.

“Mavis would be proud of you. I am sure she would be proud over how her will has transferred from her to the kids running the guild now.” Both smiled and Warrod wiped a small tear off his face.

“A crybaby, some things never change,”

“There’s nothing wrong with shedding a few tears. There is power in emotion, you of all should be aware of this.”

“You don’t have to cry to show emotion.”

“You don’t cry because you are a cold-blooded psycho!”

“No, I don’t cry because I am five-hundred years old. That’s just wasting time. If you have something to say, just say it. No need for tears!” Amell is often completely aware of people’s feelings, yet most of the time what he displays is just empathy for others suffering. Not everyone would have the honour of seeing him shed a tear.

“Well, well, here I thought we were at least close in age.” Warrod had a look of disappointment in his eyes, “It appears I was wrong. You have been here long before my birth and will be here long after I’m gone. The world’s future might always rest on your shoulders.”

“I don’t see that happening. I have these girls to look after the world ones I’m gone.” Amell chose not to speak about how Warrod was misinformed. Amell had not been in this world when Warrod was born. It was only thanks to his world travelling that he was older than Warrod now.

“I-I hope you don’t disappear, master.” Briar still held apprehension towards Warrod, but she wasn’t afraid of him, just how he looked. His appearance was that of an actual tree, which was why she kept her distance from him.

“I hope so too, but I can’t control the future.” Amell was more informed than most about the multiverse and the like. That was why he wouldn’t act and talk like he would live forever. He knew he could be killed, and he knew there were beings that could kill him. He just didn’t know where they reside or if he was ever going to meet them. That’s why he liked creating these groups as legacies so his worlds would be safe for as long as possible.

“Let’s get back on track,” Warrod cleared his throat. “What do you and your group have planned now?”

“He never tells us anything. We don’t know where we’re heading, and I am pretty sure the reason we are not leaving this forest is that he is lost.” Touka said with a cheerful tone, not because she was glad but in an attempt to rile up Amell.

“We are staying for a few more days, then we are going to visit two other kids. I found them when I passed by the magic council and their potential is very good. Perfect as future mages of this group.”

“I see. How many mages are you planning for this group?”

“I have my eye on a few, but gifting ancient magic to people is a heavy responsibility.” Amell smiled.

“WHAT!? Do these kids wield ancient magic? Amell are you insane? Do you know what dangers they would be in if the council or the dark guilds find out you are raising ancient magic users.” Warrod leaned back while rubbing his brows, “Why did I ask!”

“Don’t worry, I’m protecting them.”

“Can you do guarantee a place of safety for them all their lives? What if a manhunt is started for their heads, are you gonna be there to protect them all the time? Amell I don’t mean to interfere in your business, but please think about these things. What would Sylvia say?”

“Do not mention this to her! I’ll find you and throw you in a volcano if you do!” Amel glared at Warrod. Sylvia was about the most effective way of getting through to Amell. As his former guildmate, Warrod knew about Sylvia as did most of his friends from when he was active in Fairy Tail.

“Hm, that’s true. I didn’t think about that.” Amell looked at Briar and Touka, “I always have Paradise island. There they will be safe. Even if someone found their way there, that place is about as impossible as it gets to get into.”

“I suppose that’s true. Mavis did talk highly about it. Well, as I said, I won’t interfere in your business. It’s not my place. Just, promise that you will keep these kids safe.”

“You have my word. I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t have the capabilities to keep them away from harm.” Amell and Warrod shook on it, and Warrod’s worries seemed appeased after that.

“Should we get something to eat?” Amell threw her coin back to her and said, “Touka, take Briar and go hunt for some food. Would be good training. I will even cook it, you just have to catch it.”

“No takebacks! You said you’ll cook, so now that’s a promise! Come one, Briar, we’re going hunting!” Touka launched herself off her chair and disappeared into the forest with Briar in her grip. Amell turned to Warrod with a smile, “Let’s catch up while we wait for food.”

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End