Keeping Secrets

Alive Again

I'm going to say I've never been so dissatisfied posting a chapter as I am posting this.

A certain conversation here I have been working on since before I started posting this fic, and honestly I am still not entirely pleased with how it came out.

I had a few people look over this chapter before I uploaded it, and opinions were divided.

But alas I don't know how to move forward without re-writing this entire arc and I'm not gonna do that, so here it is. If I'm anymore of a perfectionist on it than I've already been the story will never move forward.

Just know- it's a divisive one.

Anyways, I hope you still enjoy it.

Chapter title taken from the song of the same name by Matt Maher

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KEEPING SECRETS CHAPTER 40- ALIVE AGAIN

"E-e-emperor?!" Ruth stammered out, her voice cracking with disbelief. Shocked didn't begin to describe her current state of mind. "H-h-how? Of what empire?!"

Zeref offered a sheepish smile. "Well you see, Mother... I'd developed quite the- unwanted- reputation in Ishgar. So, at one point during my wandering, I actually fled to Alakitasia-"

"Alakitasia?! But it was overrun by dragons!"

Zeref shook his head. "Remember that dragon slayer, I told you about- Acnologia? He really did drive dragons to near extinction. By the time I made it over here, about a hundred years ago, they were all gone- or what few remained were in hiding. What I did find was a continent embroiled in chaos . To be honest, it started as a game for me. Everyone else was declaring themselves king, I thought, why not toss my name into the ring?"

He scratched the back of his neck. "Well, next thing I knew... the fledgling kingdom August and I had founded had grown to encompass nearly the entire continent."

"You should be quite proud of your son, Lady Ruth." Invel added. "The Alvarez Empire isn't just vast- it's  prosperous. Our citizens enjoy advancements in technology, medicine, and magic. We boast the world's most powerful military and maintain the highest quality of life known today. We are, without a doubt, the world's current leading superpower. And we owe it all to the policies your son enacted."

Zeref shifted uncomfortably under the praise as Invel gestured proudly in his direction.

Ruth stared at her son, still wearing that bashful little smile- as if Invel had just praised him for getting the highest grade in the class. Her Zeref... the bright, soft-spoken boy who had cried for his daddy when he had climbed too high in the apple trees near their house- was an emperor!?

Trying to collect herself, Ruth took a deep breath. "I always knew you'd grow to do great things, Zeref... but this... this is so far beyond anything I could have imagined!" Her voice quivered between awe and disbelief.

Still looking bashful, Zeref tried waving her off. "It's really nothing, Mom..."

Behind them, a door creaked open. Ruth turned to see a young woman step into the light, her long blonde hair a tousled mess and her shirt rumpled like she'd slept in it. She was blinking slowly in the light, as if she hadn't quite realized she had woken up yet.

Zeref smiled at her warmly. "Good morning, Lucy."

"Morning." Lucy mumbled, not fully awake or aware of who she was addressing.

Ruth tilted her head in curiosity. This girl looked oddly familiar. "Zeref... she looks like that professor- the one that came to our home, that wanted to sponsor you for the Academy! What was his name... Heart... something?"