Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 82 - Kings and Queens

A new day brewed for the Twilight Empire, and with it came a slight chill. Not much of one, not one in the air at all. One from within Mercurius palace. August had a sense for all things within, a sense for and all magic in particular. A wizard's coming and going was known to him at all times. He could pinpoint precisely where any wizard was, though, admittedly, for the weaker ones, it was harder to keep track of them.

Yet there was a shift in magic. He'd felt shifts before—when Tartaros did their demonic resurrections or transformations, one's magic was often altered. Jiemma, Mirajane, Kip—they'd all undergone a shift, but August knew about those.

This one was unpredictable. This one...this one he had not foreseen. But what was it?

For some time, he had been alone on a balcony overlooking much of Crocus below. This solitude ended as he was joined by Empress Sonya, who strode up with her shoulders rolled back and hands clasped behind her back. She stopped, sliding her hands over the railing.

"It can be beautiful, can't it?"

August raised an eyebrow. Ah. So, it'd finally happened.

There was no change in her voice, no change in her appearance save for a slight glint of red in her eyes that could be mistaken for a trick of the light.

But it was in her demeanor and her power.

Or, rather, his.

"At times. It is nothing compared to Alikitasia, though I assume you, a cave-dweller, never had reason to venture far beyond your home."

Animus sneered and accepted the jab. "You are wise, Captain. Very wise. Sonya has reason to be hesitant with you."

"You don't?"

Animus gripped the balcony railing tightly.

"I must congratulate you, August, for I fear this is an accomplishment long overdue of its praise. To have contained Acnologia for well over a year is nothing short of phenomenal. Unprecedented, even."

The wind shifted, swirling slightly around the balcony before minding its business elsewhere. August let his staff rest against the stonework.

"I was wondering when, or if, Sonya would get around to discovering that. I imagine you have conflicting feelings with her about it."

"Acnologia being the single greatest threat to this Empire is cause for death, not containment. What game are you playing at August?"

Each word had a bitterness and spite that Sonya could simply never muster. It was as if she feared to speak. Animus had stirred within the little girl for the better part of two decades, never quite able to get loose. And even when he finally learned to, Zeref came and shut that down. It was Sonya whom Zeref wanted.

A smart move, August had to admit. Sonya was pliable, easy to manipulate. She didn't have the stubbornness of a dragon, and so Zeref was able to mold her and their relations like clay.

"How'd you do it, then?" August asked. "Finally slip by the girl's defenses?"

"I sent her on a trip down memory lane," Animus said. "One that I don't suspect she'll ever return from."

"Wise as you are, dragon, you are well aware that much as she cannot simply destroy your soul, you cannot do the same to hers. Not without intervention."

"And where is the Dragon Cry these days?"

"I don't know. But Sonya does."

Animus snarled. "No matter. In time, I'll adjust my magic to this body and become as powerful as any of those pesky Dragon Slayers running around, if not more powerful. Don't worry. I'll catch up to you soon, August." Animus leaned against the railing. He fluttered his hair into the wind. "Now, enough getting around the point. What is your game with Acnologia, Wizard King?"