Chapter 4 This Time, I Will Save You
Three more years had passed since Clark awakened his powers. And with each passing day, I felt increasingly grateful for my decision to hide mine. Using Clark as a shield, letting him be the focus of our parents' attention and training… without a doubt, had been a stroke of genius.
Every time I saw him subjected to exhausting training sessions and endless lectures about discipline, responsibility, and power control, I felt relieved not to be in his place. He endured it all with admirable patience — well, most of the time — and our parents were relentless. They didn't let a single day pass without pushing him even harder. And all this before we even started school.
Now, sitting on the school bus, I watched him again — my younger brother — trying to make friends with the other kids. He was still kind and awkward, with that same innocent smile that often got him into trouble. But I could see he was trying, reaching out to others despite his shy nature.
I turned toward the window, letting my reflection blend with the passing scenery, and lost myself in thought. My mind wandered back to everything I'd done in those quiet, hidden years. While Clark was under our parents' strict supervision, I had trained alone — no rules, no limitations, no oversight.
I used my Devour power first on small creatures — fleas, ants, anything insignificant. But I didn't stop there. Fire came next. Then stone. I absorbed them, letting their essence become a part of me. I experimented, pushed boundaries, and when I was ready, I activated my Fusion power.
By fusing what I had devoured, I reshaped myself.
Now my body was as hard as stone. I could ignite flames with a thought. My muscles allowed me to leap high into the air and lift enormous weights with ease. I had become something… different.
I smiled to myself. "That should be enough preparation… for now," I thought.
But the real breakthrough happened recently.
The Dimensional Portal. The strange, ancient portal I had discovered in the forest behind our house — it had finally reacted to my presence. After years of slow growth, silent humming, and faint glows, it had fully awakened. And for the first time… I could see through it.
The other side had become visible. Clear. Alive.
And what I saw made my heart race.
Fairy tale.
Yes. That Fairy Tail. The world I had loved so much in my past life. The world of magic, epic battles, friendship, and sacrifice. And there, in the middle of that beautiful chaos, I saw her.
Erza.
She was just a child, like me. Small, alone, and unaware of the darkness approaching. She didn't seem older than nine — exactly how old I was now. Her red hair shimmered under the sun as she played near a modest village surrounded by trees and farmland.
And then the memory struck me. A painful realization. The timeline.
That night. The one I remembered so vividly. It would happen soon — today, maybe. The night dark mages would attack the village. The night her life would change forever. The night she would be taken.
"No," I whispered, clenching my fists. "Not this time."
I knew those dark mages. Their power wasn't great — not compared to mine. I could handle them now. I wasn't the same helpless observer I once was. I had trained, prepared, evolved.
This time… I could save her.
"Don't worry, Erza," I murmured to myself. "I won't let anyone hurt you."
My thoughts turned to her again. Erza. The girl I had admired so deeply in my past life. Brave, fierce, loyal. Someone who carried the weight of the world on her shoulders and never let it break her. I remembered how much I admired her… how I wished I had been there for her.
But now I could.
Now she was real.
And I had a chance.
"Now that you're real," I whispered to myself with a soft smile, "I'll definitely make you my wife."
The day passed quickly after that. School went by without incident. Clark returned to his cheerful self, and I kept to the background. I didn't want to draw attention. Not yet. Not until I was ready.
That night, our family gathered for dinner. Laughter filled the dining room as everyone shared how their day had gone. Clark talked about helping a kid on the playground. Our parents praised his kindness. I added a few harmless stories — nothing too impressive, just enough to keep their attention off me.
After dinner, everyone went to their rooms to sleep. The house grew quiet. Peaceful.
But I couldn't rest.
Not tonight.
Tonight would be the night I entered a new world.
I waited patiently, lying in bed, until I was sure everyone was asleep. Then, I rose quietly, moving through the hallway with practiced stealth. No creaking floorboards. No loose hinges. I had planned everything.
When I reached the back door, I slipped out and headed toward the hidden clearing in the forest. Then I used my power to summon the portal. It was there, glowing faintly, pulsing with ancient energy like a heartbeat calling me home.
I approached slowly, heart racing — not with fear, but with excitement. Determination.
The gate reacted to my presence, humming and coming to life. Runes lit up, swirling with color and light. A soft hum became a steady rhythm, and the portal's surface rippled like water.
I took a deep breath.
This was it.
"Erza..." I said aloud, staring straight into the heart of the portal. "I'm coming. This time, I won't let anyone hurt you."
Without hesitation, I stepped in.
And vanished into the world of magic.