Soft footsteps echoed through the clearing, each one measured, unhurried. Shadow walked forward, his cloak trailing faintly behind him as the last wisps of purple ash drifted away into the moonlight.
He stopped beside the fainted Juvia, her body resting peacefully on the damp ground, her cloak still glimmering faintly from the residual magic she'd poured out moments earlier.
Shadow tilted his head, studying her with mild amusement. Well, she took her role to heart… he mused inwardly.
She pushed herself so hard she fainted. Now, what to do with her… Send her back to the Clover hideout? Or take her with me to Magnolia? Hm. Decisions, decisions…
Before he could decide, the air around him rippled.
Three figures dressed in the same dark attire as Beta appeared out of nowhere, kneeling with practiced precision. Their hoods dipped low as they bowed.
"Shadow-sama!" one of them spoke reverently. "Allow us to take Beta-sama back to recuperate."
Shadow blinked. Eh? She even arranged figurants for this scene? he thought, genuinely impressed. Not bad, Beta. You've got some taste in dramatic coordination.
The three girls blinked up at him, slightly puzzled by his expression. "Shadow-sama?" one ventured cautiously.
He nodded solemnly, gesturing lazily with his hand. "Yes, yes. Go on. Take care of her."
"As you command!" they chorused, voices full of zeal. In a blink, they lifted Beta gently, their movements silent as mist, and disappeared back into the night.
Shadow sighed, dusting his hands. "Well, that's that for today," he said under his breath, almost cheerfully. "Time to go home. Maybe I'll stop by an onsen on the way back—perfect way to unwind after such a beautiful appearance."
He was just about to turn away when a voice called out sharply.
"Wait!"
Makarov stepped forward, his small frame tense, his eyes sharp. The night wind tugged at his beard. "What are you hiding yourself for?" he demanded. "What are you fighting for, Shadow?"
The air stilled.
Shadow turned slightly, his cloak whispering against the soaked ground. Moonlight glinted off his half-hidden eyes.
When he spoke, his voice was calm—low, and heavy with purpose.
"We are Shadow Garden," he said. "We lurk in the darkness, and hunt the shadows of this world. It is our only reason to exist."
He stepped back once, his figure blurring against the mist.
"Do not interfere with the darkness of this world, Fairy Tail."
Before Makarov could reply, a powerful swish sliced through the air.
Shadow vanished.
Only a faint ripple of displaced air and a shimmer of purple light remained where he had stood.
Makarov's arm was still half-raised, his mouth open. "Wait—!"
But the wind carried away his voice.
He lowered his arm slowly, the tension in his shoulders melting into a heavy sigh. His gaze drifted skyward.
"He went away…" Makarov murmured, his tone thoughtful, uneasy. "That kind of power… and an organization like that, hiding in the dark all this time… The world's about to get turbulent again."
A few meters away, Natsu, Erza, Gray, Lucy, and Happy gathered amid the settling mist.
Natsu's grin was wide and wild, his eyes burning with excitement. "Next time, I'm gonna fight him!" he declared, fists blazing. "Or that Shadow Garden group he talked about! They're strong—I'm fired up!"
Lucy grabbed him by the scarf, shaking him violently. "NATSU! Didn't you see what they did?! You'll get vaporized before you can blink! Don't drag me into your death wish—I'm still too young to die!"
Happy bobbed up and down beside her, nodding seriously. "Aye, they're as strong as monsters!"
Erza crossed her arms, her expression calm but eyes sharp. "If that Shadow is the leader of this 'Shadow Garden,' then there must be others like Beta," she said. "Strong, disciplined… perhaps swordsmen among them." A faint smile ghosted her lips. "It could be interesting to test my blade against theirs one day."
Gray shoved his hands into his pockets, staring off at the horizon. "They said they hunt the demons of Zeref… Do they have leads on others?" he muttered. "If they do…" his eyes darkened, voice dropping, "then maybe we'll see each other often from now on...After all, it's my duty to destroy every demon of Zeref and avenge Ur."
Lucy blinked, confused. "Huh? What did you say, Gray?"
He shrugged it off quickly. "Nothing. Just… there's definitely more than those five we saw. For an organization with such strong leaders, it wouldn't surprise me if it was a huge one."
Meanwhile, a few paces away, the guild masters spoke in hushed tones.
Bob wiped sweat from his forehead, his usual grin subdued. "That was quite the spectacle, Makarov. Should we… inform the Magic Council about what happened tonight?"
Goldmine adjusted his recovered hat, voice low and firm. "Bob's right. An organization with that level of power can't stay hidden forever. The Council must have at least heard whispers of them."
Makarov frowned, rubbing his beard. "Maybe… but is it really wise to alarm them?" he said quietly. "You know what the Council is like. They don't seek peace—they seek control. The moment they hear about Shadow Garden, they'll want to leash them… or destroy them."
Goldmine's brow furrowed. "And can you blame them? If they can cut down a demon of Zeref like that, they might just as easily destroy a guild."
Bob sighed, closing his fan with a soft snap. "Still, it's better we keep our eyes open, hm? Just in case the shadows decide to come closer to the light."
Makarov nodded slowly, his gaze drawn once again to the horizon where Shadow had vanished. "Aye… better safe than sorry. But something tells me… we haven't seen the last of them."
Far above, carried by the night breeze, a black silhouette soared silently through the sky—Shadow himself, cloak fluttering softly, eyes gleaming beneath his hood.
(Hmm… the dialogue, the timing, the exit—all flawless. Truly, a perfect act.)
He crossed his arms proudly as he vanished into the darkness.
(Now… about that onsen, which one should I go to…)