Leon stood in the clearing, Wooly and the shadow beast pacing lazily around him, their dark form shimmering faintly with an otherworldly energy. It was powerful, sure. Intimidating, even. But the more he looked at it, the more he realized one thing.
"While they look cool," Leon muttered to himself, "damn, they're too conspicuous."
The creature wasn't exactly subtle. Its glow made it stand out against the backdrop of the forest.
Leon scratched his chin, a thought forming in the back of his mind. Wait a minute…
A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as the memory of Sung Jinwoo's abilities flashed through his mind. He'd seen how he could store his summoned creatures, not just in their usual physical form, but tucked away into the shadows. In his shadow.
Shadow Preservation.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, "let's test this out."
With a mental command, he focused on the two shadows beside him. He didn't need to say anything out loud; the connection was already there, like the strings of a puppet he controlled from the shadows themselves. He concentrated, the shadows beneath the two creature's feet responding to his will, shifting and swirling in preparation.
The two beasts blinked once, their glowing eyes watching Leon, but it didn't resist. Slowly, the beast's form began to blur. The edges of its body became indistinct. Its yellow eyes flickered one last time before they, too, vanished into the darkness, woven into the shadow beneath its feet, its form now indistinguishable from the darkness around it.
"That's more like it," The shadow beast was completely undetectable, even to his eyes. Its presence was still there, but it had become as silent and unseen as the very shadows surrounding him.
After a moment, Leon raised his hand, a subtle shift of focus in his mind, and snapped his fingers.
The shadows around him rippled as the two beasts emerged once again, solidifying from the darkness with a soft pop.
"Well, that worked like a charm," Leon said, grinning like a kid.
He could send them into the shadows, where they would be undetectable, and then call them back at will, ready for whatever came next.
Leon gave a small nod of approval.
Leon didn't even have to think twice. "You're staying hidden for now."
With another snap of his fingers, he dismissed the creature back into the darkness, with only Wooly left by his side.
"Alright," Leon said with a grin, stretching his arms. "Now that's how it should be."
Leon wandered through the forest, his thoughts drifting as he walked. The world felt a little safer now that he had a better handle on his abilities. He'd spent the last few hours testing out the limits of his power.
He'd been walking for a while, and it was time to find some shelter before nightfall. His stomach grumbled, reminding him that his food stash was running low. He'd need to hunt or scavenge something soon, too.
But just as he was about to turn and head deeper into the forest, he spotted a figure ahead—someone standing tall by the edge of the clearing, his posture exuding confidence.
Leon slowed his pace, his eyes narrowing as he studied the stranger. The man stood with his arms crossed, a solid presence, his body radiating a certain energy that immediately put Leon on edge. But there was something about him… something that tickled at the back of Leon's mind. He looked… familiar. As if he'd seen him before, but from where?
The man didn't seem to notice Leon at first. But as Leon took another step forward, the stranger turned his head, locking eyes with him.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
"Who are you?" The man's voice was deep, carrying an unmistakable weight of authority, but there was something casual about it too.
Leon blinked, trying to make sense of the encounter. "Uh... I'm lost, actually," he said, offering an awkward shrug. "I'm not really sure where I am, or where I'm going, to be honest."
The man studied him for a moment, his sharp eyes narrowing as if trying to figure Leon out. After a few seconds of silence, he nodded.
"I'm Laxus Dreyar" the man said simply, his voice calm but carrying a hint of pride. "And you are?"
Leon hesitated for a moment, eyeing the man. Something about his presence was stirring something in his memory, but it still wasn't clicking. Where had he seen this guy before? Dreyar…
"Leon," he said finally. "Leon Ashborn."
Laxus nodded.
Laxus's eyes flickered for a second, as if Leon had said something that didn't quite fit. "I figured as much. You don't look like you belong around here otherwise."
Leon scratched the back of his neck, still feeling that nagging sense of familiarity. Where?
Suddenly, it hit him.
Fairy Tail. The world he had only known through stories, mangas, and anime.
"Oh damn. Oh damn. Oh damn!" His voice was a barely controlled mutter, each word echoing in the still air around him.
His mind raced. Tartaros.Zeref.Acnologia.
Everything he had read, everything he had known, now seemed so much more real. No wonder that beast looked familiar, it was a Vulcan.
"You alright there?" Laxus asked, his tone casual, but with a slight edge, as if he could sense Leon's unease.
Leon took a deep breath, trying to ground himself. "Yeah... just... surprised, I guess."
Laxus raised an eyebrow, eyeing Leon with mild curiosity. "Surprised, huh? You're acting like you've seen a ghost."
Leon forced a chuckle, trying to ease the tension that had settled in his chest. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."
Laxus crossed his arms and leaned back slightly, scanning the surroundings. "So, where exactly are you from? You don't look like you belong around here, and I doubt you just got lost by accident."
Leon hesitated, struggling to figure out how to answer. What could he even say? He wasn't from this world, but... he didn't know how to explain that. He wasn't even sure if he could.
"I'm... from a place that's a little far from here," Leon said, his voice a little uncertain.
Laxus raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying the vagueness of the answer. "Far away, huh? You mean another country"
Leon's eyes flickered to the trees around them, then back to Laxus. "Something like that. Not really sure how I got here, to be honest."
Laxus studied him for a second longer, his gaze unreadable. "That's... convenient," he muttered under his breath, but then he shrugged. "Alright, well, what's your plan now? You seem a little lost, if I'm being honest."
Leon sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Yeah, I'm... still figuring that out. Honestly, I have no idea what I'm supposed to do next."
Laxus studied Leon for a moment longer, his eyes narrowing slightly as he assessed the situation. After a beat, he let out a small grunt, clearly not impressed but not entirely put off either.
"That's... convenient," Laxus muttered under his breath, then shrugged nonchalantly. "Look, if you're really lost, you're gonna need to get to a town at least. Can't just wander around aimlessly."
Laxus scoffed, pushing a hand through his hair, and gave Leon a pointed look. "Well, you're not exactly the first guy to end up lost in the middle of nowhere. There's a town a little ways from here, not far. It's as good a place as any to start. If you're looking to get your bearings, that's where you'll want to head."
Leon blinked, surprised by the offer. "You're... going to help me?"
Laxus gave him a dry look, crossing his arms. "I'm not doing this out of the goodness of my heart. But if you're going to survive around here, you'll need some basics, and that town's where you'll get them. Besides, it's not like I've got anything better to do."
He turned and began walking toward the edge of the forest, his footsteps purposeful and firm. "So, you coming or what?"
Leon hesitated for a moment, then nodded, following Laxus as he led the way. "Yeah, I guess it's the only choice I've got."
"Good," Laxus said, not bothering to look back. "Don't slow me down."
Leon caught up, the weight of the situation still settling on him. But for the first time since he arrived, he felt like he might have a direction.
One step at a time.