Groaning in pain, I tried to grab my head, but when I did, I felt pain and noticed both my arms were restricted by something; inwardly scoffing, I attempted to channel my magic power through my body, intending to strengthen myself and forcefully break whatever that bound me. 'What the? Why can't I use my Magic?' Furrowing my brows in confusion, I tried to use my magic several more times, but for some reason, I could not channel my magic out of my magic pool.
Grunting in irritation, I used my head to push myself upright, though just as I did so, I heard approaching footsteps, prompting me to glance to my left, eyeing the door that suddenly opened, revealing the man who manipulated flames that I had fought against. "What? Surprised you can't use your magic?" Asked the man as he glanced at me with a faint smirk before sitting opposite of me while folding his arms, though I just remained silent and narrowed my eyes.
"Not going to say anything? Actually, can you understand me?" The man looked at me in confusion while rubbing his chin, causing me to grunt. "If you're going to kill me, just make it quick." I said nothing else and simply closed my eyes while leaning against the wall behind me, yet after a minute, I opened my eyes and stared at the man.
"Kill you? I'm not a monster. I don't even think Dark Guilds would kill a child, especially not one as powerful as you. You gave me and my buddy a real beating, you know that?" Said the man with a disgusted expression before shaking his head, only to wryly smile while pointing to his numerous bandages.
"Anyway, if you don't mind me asking a few questions. First off, what's your name?" Blankly staring at the man, I scoffed before closing my eyes and lying on the seat. "If you're not going to kill me, just leave me alone."
"Damn, not the talkative type? Well, I know an old guy who can probably get you to talk, along with an old woman who can heal you right up." Just as the man finished talking, the door opened again, revealing the second man who used smoke to fight me. "So, he's awake? Got him to talk, Macao?" "Kind of?" While the two men talked, I rested, letting my body continue to recover as I was still significantly injured, but I was also trying to see if I could manage to use my magic, though after around an hour, I felt whatever I was on slow down, causing me to fall onto the ground, right onto my broken arm.
'Ouch.' With a twitching expression, I pushed off the ground and stood on my feet, only for me to suddenly be hoisted onto the man's shoulder. "Hey kid, don't bite… I don't need another bite mark." The man said while rubbing his neck, the exact spot where I had bitten him during our battle.
The two of them walked out of the room, with me being forced to tag along as we maneuvered through a hall with many windows, though as I looked out the windows, I saw numerous people and several buildings. 'Were we on a train?' I thought with a slightly surprised expression while I looked out the windows, only for us to disembark from the train and step onto the ground. "Welcome to Magnolia!" Stated the Man with a deep breath while faintly smiling, though I just rolled my eyes and rested my head against his back.
The duo walked through the city of Magnolia, taking their sweet time, though I didn't mind since I was using this chance to observe the city as it was my first time; all I knew was my previous village and the forest. However, I was suddenly assaulted with a wonderful scent, causing my body to go stiff as I nearly escaped from the man's grasp.
"Woah, kid! Relax, I'll get you one." Said Macao lightly with a wry expression as he tightened his grasp on Cooper while approaching a food stand. "Two, no, three kebabs, Mam." He said while holding up three fingers toward the older woman, who nodded while handing him three kebabs. After giving her some money, he gave one kebab to his friend before handing me one, prompting me to bite down, only to growl in annoyance when I saw that he was teasing me.
"Tell me your name, and I'll give you the kebab." Said the man with a smirk as he waved the kebab in front of me, causing me to growl aggressively. "Ohh, scary." He added while laughing.
"Cooper… My name is Cooper." I said with a growl while glaring at the man, who smirked before handing me the kebab, prompting me to quickly devour everything within a few bites, only for my eyes to widen. 'Oh, s-so tasty.'
"Well, my name is Macao, and that pervert is Wakaba." Said Macao as he pointed at himself before gesturing to Wakaba, who was ogling a passing woman, a sight that caused me to scoff. "C'mon, we're almost there, so just sit tight, Cooper."
Closing my eyes, I silently yawned while Macao continued walking, only for us to slow down as he arrived at a large, massive building with a weird emblem atop the entrance. "Fairytail?" Tilting my head in confusion, I stared at the symbol, only for Macao and Wakaba to continue before entering the building, which was bustling and rowdy; people were shouting, drinking, and fighting, though it was happening in a somewhat controlled manner, if you could even call it such.
"Yo, Master! We've returned and with cargo!" Stated Macao loudly with a smile while approaching the bar, where a tiny old man was seen sitting down. "Huh, Macao, Wakaba? Why are you two so injured? Didn't you just take a scouting job?" Asked the old man in curiosity while glancing at us, only for his eyes to widen when he noticed me, though as our eyes crossed, I felt a shiver of fear. However, my fear was short-lived as rage quickly consumed me; forcefully breaking free of Macao's hold, I landed on the ground while bringing my cuffed arms in front of me as I lunged at the old man.
"Oi! Look at his injuries; what did you two do to this poor boy!?" Exclaimed the old man, who ignored all of my attacks that harmlessly bounced off his skin while he glared at Macao and Wakaba.
"Um, w-we'll tell you about it later, Master." "W-We've got to turn in our job. S-See you later, Master." Macao and Wakaba wasted no time avoiding the question of the old man before quickly running away, leaving me alone with the old man, who still hadn't reacted to my numerous attacks.
"Haa, those two brats. C'mon, kid, I'll take you somewhere to rest." Shaking his head in annoyance, the old man rubbed his face before shifting his gaze to me and grabbing me as his arm rapidly grew.
Instantly getting restrained by his giant hand, I repeatedly hit him, but it was pointless; I couldn't harm him at all. Still, I didn't give up and continued to do everything in my power to resist, only for me to suddenly be dropped onto a bed while he grabbed my arms and brought them toward him.
"Grown men cuffing a child, tch, I'll punish them later." Said the old man while unlocking my cuffs and setting me free. Immediately, I leaped backward while channeling my magic, causing my skin to shimmer bright gold.
"Okay… I now understand why they cuffed you and why they were so injured." Baring my teeth at the slightly shocked old man, I pushed off the wall, destroying it while I lunged toward the old man, who suddenly grew big. Punching his stomach as hard as possible, I felt my already broken arm give way from under the strain of my overflowing magic, as my arm broke into numerous pieces while some bones jutted out of my skin.
The pain of my arm shattering didn't faze me; I've long since gone numb to pain, and the only thing that still hurt was my heart, an ever-aching wound that would never heal.
"Sorry, kid, but you're clearly a danger not only to others but to yourself." Stated the old man in his gigantic form with an apologetic expression, and before I could attack again, I felt a heavy thud on the back of my head, followed by my consciousness quickly fading.
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Snapping my eyes open, I stared at the ceiling and quickly sat up, only to be pushed down by an older woman with pink hair. "Lay boy, you're still injured." She spoke sternly, her tone offering no room for objection, though before I was given a chance to challenge her authority, a small yet mighty hand grabbed my shoulder and gently forced me back into the bed.
"I can tell you're confused, Cooper, but we're just trying to help; neither of us intends to harm you." Said the old man earnestly as he looked at me, causing me to grunt, though in the end, I remained lying. "Hmph, speak for yourself, Makarov." Remarked the old woman with a grunt as she glared at the old man, who goes by Makarov.