Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 0.7 - Unity

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Some of the most powerful wizards in the world stood around one another, doing their best not to break into an all-out brawl. It was certainly an interesting way to get the year started, but Zeref didn't mind all that much. Tensions were high among the gathered crowd of humans. He almost invited a few members of Tartaros, but thought better of it. Things there were already figured out.

Among these folk?

Sting barked at Ajeel while Minerva and Orga stared daggers at Jacob Lessio. Invel sat idly while August and Brandish tried to hold Dimaria back from trying to wallop Sorano. God Serena danced around the room absorbing all of the heat like a madman. Perhaps he was stoking some of the arguments here and there. Yukino and Rogue were the only people in the room sitting.

Zeref sat in his throne, head resting against his hand, as if he wasn't there at all.

Arcadios was at the door, standing watch with the pair of guards that towered over him. Darton was behind Zeref's right shoulder while Yajeel was on the left. The latter leaned forward after he received his own title bit of news.

"The kings will make their declaration at noon tomorrow," Yajeel said, loud enough for Darton to hear. Toma's former puppet did nothing. "Tartaros is ready when they do."

"Thank you," Zeref said. "That will be all, old friend."

Zeref stood. August and Irene were the first to notice, and subsequently shut their traps. Sting and Rogue followed. It rippled throughout until only Ajeel was left to continue shouting at Sting about how thoroughly he'd kill him.

"Of that I have no doubt," Zeref said. "At least, for now, Ajeel. By the end of the year, I'll have trained them into powerful enough Dragon Slayers we won't even remember who the best one in the room is."

"Me!" God Serena said, striking a pose.

Ajeel bowed his head. "Your Majesty."

"What I've gathered you all here for is a very important purpose," Zeref said. He folded his hands behind his back and walked to the edge of the dais overlooking the room. "Fiore has fallen under our rule, now. It took some time, and we had some frustrations, but things are operating far smoother now than they were at year's end. August has informed me that Fairy Tail and Ultear's attacks only set us back about six months. We'll meet many of our economic and technological targets so long as we put our best minds to the job.

"You see, as my friends who immigrated here from Alikitasia can tell you, we have managed to pull several of those countries and cities out from the brink of near destruction. Vistarion is a haven because of what the Alvarez Empire was able to do. We utilize a starving workforce to drive progress. We've been busily shipping many of our resources here to do what we must. Improve the transportation system here, and establish reliable airfare between this place and Alikitasia. By the turn of the decade, people will have forgotten that an entire ocean separates Ishgar and Alikitasia. Fiore will become a second home for several in the western part of my Empire.

"And there can, and will, be more. I've just received word about our neighbors to the east and south—Bosco. Their kings have agreed to call forth their banners and wizards and are going to make a formal declaration of war against the Alvarez Empire at noon tomorrow. I'd like to not give them that chance, and so I will be sending a critical portion of my army out to deal with them.

"You, from Fiore, knew them once as the Tartaros guild. But we do not have guilds in the Alvarez Empire. It is an outdated, silly thing. No. Wizards have assigned roles, duties under my watch, and under the watch of those I can trust. Each of you is here because I can, in some way, trust you with a portion of my authority.