The Unbroken Spirit (A Fairy Tail fanfic)

The Face of a Demon

Many days went by and Keira made her way down to Magnolia and hung around Fairy Tail studying their wizards, trying to figure out the questions she had about her unknown past. She didn't even remember where she was born. She often followed the one with the pink-haired boy, Erza Scarlet, Titania, was also in his party which meant that the boy was talented in magic. There was also three other wizards and two cats. They took on a lot of jobs and worked well together. Today, the group was coming back from a job and were walking through the forest, laughing and sharing stories. Keira envied their closeness but currently she envied a lot of things normal people had. She stayed a good distance away from them in case they turned around suddenly. A flicker of movement between the trees caught her eye but she couldn't tell what it was, probably a squirrel. She saw it again, now gaining on the group of unsuspecting wizards. She realized the group was about to be attacked by something that was smart enough to wait until they were in the forest and quiet enough to follow them without being suspected yet. Something compelled her to rush foreword and put up her shadow barrier just before the magical attack hit one of them. The Fairy Tail wizards turned around sharply, Keira pulled out her sword and slashed deep lacerations into the attacker. He screeched in agony and retreated immediately. Keira turned around to be face to face with the group of Fairy Tail wizards. She didn't plan this far in her head so Keira was stuck staring at them, wide eyed. Erza Scarlet went to the front of the group, a katana in her hand, she held it up to Keira's throat. Keira took a step back but Erza took a step foreword.

"You again? What business do you have here?" She demanded.

"I-I mean your guild no harm, I promise. I'm just passing through," Keira said staring at the ground. Erza glared at Keira, unconvinced, but she turned away and walked confidently back to the group and told them to continue back to the Guild. Keira heard the pink-haired boy protest but she threatened him and he obeyed her. When they had left Erza turned back to Keira,

"Walk with me," she ordered. Keira bowed her head and followed Erza back the way they came.

"As you wish" Keira said solemnly as she turned and started off, catching back up with the S-Class wizard. They walked to the river and continued by the riverbed, silently. Finally, Erza spoke,

"Before the meeting I had never heard your name, but in the last couple weeks I have sensed your presence and I can't help but wonder why."

"As I said before, I bring you and your guild no harm. The day of the meeting I disobeyed the Law set forth by the first Guardians, I cannot return or I will face death." The thought of Keira being afraid of death was idiotic to her, she had killed more people than all the others but she had to play Erza, this was her chance to find some answers. "I'm not asking for protection, I just need a place to stay for a little while." Keira said not looking at Erza, she kept her head down as if she were shaken up. Erza stopped and gave Keira a stern look, why would she follow them for two week and now show herself? Where had she been staying before today?

"A guild cannot have a member who does not participate -"Erza started but was cut off by Keira.

"I'm not joining the guild, but if I must work then so be it. I won't be looked at like a burden" Keira retorted, an edge to her voice of challenge. Erza paused, why was she so touchy now? Erza then nodded and told Keira to follow her back to the guild hall. When they got there Erza went to talk to their master, Mokarov. Keira stood near the door while Erza talked with the master at the back of the guild hall. Erza approached Keira,

"our master agreed to let you stay for a little while but you must always be with an S-Class wizard." Keira nodded, it sounded fair to her. In the next couple of days Keira was travelling with Erza on a job. She had met the rest of her party: Gray an Ice Maker, Lucy a celestial mage, Wendy the Sky Dragon Slayer, the exceeds Happy and Carla, and Natsu the Fire Dragon Slayer. Natsu didn't like that he had to be in a party with Keira but he couldn't complain to Erza. Keira felt uncomfortable being in a group of strangers who didn't like her but she had no choice. The group traveled through a dense pine forest with thick undergrowth. The bramble tendrils kept on snagging her black cloak and tearing holes in it. The job today was to apprehend a group of burglars whose hide out was in a forest the catch was they had a powerful wizard protecting them. They searched through the dark forest until sunset. The group set up camp in a small clearing, all eight sat around the fire warming themselves from the chilled, evening wind. Night fell and everyone laid down to sleep, except for Keira, she was jumpy out in the open, she had gotten accustomed to the floating fortress of the Guardians so much that she forgot what it meant to sleep under the stars. She sat with her back rested on a tree trunk, watching the fire dwindle down to little embers. The moon dipped under the horizon and was replaced by the warm pale rays of the sun. The seven sleeping wizards were stirring in the dawn light when movement behind them caught Keira's eye. In the next moment they were attacked. A large group of burglars charged into the clearing, along with a wizard, backing them up. Still drowsy with sleep the Fairy Tail wizards were not yet aware of the situation. Keira stood up, her sword was by Erza so she couldn't get to it. She created a shadow barrier that held off the attackers. Keira stepped out of the barrier and started to counter attack, beams of shadow flowing from her hands, hitting the oppressors head on. The shadows coiled around the wizard's body and tightened their grip, he screamed and writhed in pain as his bones were being crushed. Keira released him, an unorthodox mercy she usually never showed. The burglars fled once they saw the wizard on the ground, gasping for air. Keira turned around and saw that everyone was staring at her.

"Whats the matter?" She asked, confused to see everyone was wide eyed and mouths gaping. It was Lucy who answered her question after a minute,

"your f-face its.." she trailed off, unable to speak again. Keira froze, now she noticed the morning wind blowing her dark hair away from her face. Her hood had come off during the commotion now everyone was staring at her grotesque face. No one outside of the Guardians had ever seen Keira's face. She took a step back, her sword was out of reach and made her feel vulnerable.

"I-I think its time for me to g-go." Keira stammered and turned and raced off into the forest, her black cloak flowing behind her. She could hear the Fairy Tail wizards giving chase but she was too fast for them. Keira ran until her lungs burned for oxygen. She had come to a canyon, gasping for air she went and sat down on the edge and looked down to the bottom of it, a large river rushed down to the unknown end of the canyon. Keira pulled her hood up again, her ears hot with embarrassment. She looked back to make sure no one had followed her, no one showed themselves so Keira sat waiting for her breathing to return to normal.