Fairy Tail: Master of Deceit

AN: This is the bonus chapter for the 125 power stones. There's an announcement at the end of the chapter. THIS FF IS NOT DROPPED.

Somewhere...

The council chamber sat heavy in silence. Nine figures stood in a circle, their faces hidden beneath shadowed hoods, their voices carrying the weight of authority. At the center of it all stood Crawford Seam, his sharp gaze sweeping across his fellow councilors before he finally spoke.

"Well," Crawford began, his voice echoing softly in the cold chamber, "the war between Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord has ended. Jose is no longer a Wizard Saint, Phantom Lord is disbanded, and Fairy Tail…" His voice trailed for a moment before continuing, laced with a subtle edge of disapproval. "...was left with no punishment. What are your thoughts on how we handled this?"

The chamber stirred.

One of the councilors, a tall figure to Crawford's right, was the first to answer. "It was a mistake," he said curtly, his tone clipped and cold. "Fairy Tail should not have escaped this war unscathed. Their actions—the destruction—cannot simply be brushed aside because they won. They should have been punished."

Another councilor chimed in, her voice sharp with frustration. "They're a guild out of control. You'd think they'd have learned after past warnings, but no—they defy order time and time again. Allowing them to walk free sets a dangerous precedent."

Murmurs of agreement rippled across the room. The temperature in the chamber seemed to drop further when a particularly angry voice rose above the rest.

"And what of Aurelius Nyx?" the councilor spat, his tone dripping with venom. "That man is a danger, plain and simple! He should have been imprisoned!"

"That is enough."

Yajima's firm voice cut through the air like a knife. The older councilor stepped forward, his face set in calm defiance, though the sharpness in his tone left no room for argument. "You're all so quick to blame Fairy Tail," Yajima said evenly, his gaze sweeping across his peers. "But let's not forget the facts. Phantom Lord attacked them first. They destroyed their guild hall, and attacked Magnolia. Fairy Tail only defended themselves, as any guild would have done."

His words hit their mark, drawing a brief silence from the room. Yajima continued.

"As for Aurelius Nyx," Yajima added, his voice softer now but no less resolute, "he fought to protect his guild. The same guild that took him in when he had no one else. That's not a crime—it's loyalty. And last I checked, loyalty wasn't something we punished mages for."

For a moment, no one spoke. Yajima's words hung in the air like a challenge, forcing the others to consider his argument.

It was Siegrain who finally broke the silence, his smooth voice slipping into the conversation.

"Yajima raises an interesting point," Siegrain said. "But there are… other matters we need to address."

The council's attention turned toward him as he stepped slightly forward, the blue light casting sharp shadows across his face.

"First," Siegrain began, "there's the matter of the open spot among the Ten Wizard Saints. With Jose Porla stripped of his title, we'll need to select a replacement." He let the words linger, as if inviting them to consider the implications. "And second…" He paused, a faint smirk curling at the corner of his lips. "We need to discuss how we deal with the individuals who took down Jose."

Whispers broke out among the councilors, but Siegrain continued unfazed.

"Laxus Dreyar. Mystogan. And, of course… Aurelius Nyx." He said the name slowly, letting it settle over the room. "According to our spies, those three were responsible for taking down Jose. If they were capable of taking down a Wizard Saint—even one as weak as Jose—then their power must be monitored carefully."

"They're not a threat," Yajima interjected quickly, narrowing his eyes at Siegrain. "They acted out of necessity—nothing more."

Siegrain smiled faintly, almost condescendingly. "Perhaps. But can we truly turn a blind eye to what they've shown us? Power of that level is not something we can ignore forever. Especially with Fairy Tail's… track record."

The council fell silent again, each member lost in thought as Siegrain's words sunk in. The war was over, but its repercussions had only begun to take shape.

There was a brief, pregnant silence after Siegrain's suggestion, and then another councilor spoke up, his voice rising with growing conviction.

"I agree with Siegrain," he said. "We need to start thinking about a replacement for the vacant Wizard Saint position immediately. There's no time to waste, especially with the way things are shifting."

Another councilor, a gaunt figure with piercing eyes, leaned forward. "We need someone who is good. What about Hibiki Lates? He's strong in intelligence and has a archive magic."

A few nods passed through the room, but another voice quickly countered. "Hibiki might be smart, but he lacks the power to truly represent the Ten Wizard Saints. Gildarts Clive, on the other hand—he's a force of nature. He might even be stronger than old man Makarov..."

At that, the murmurs grew louder, the room once again filled with skepticism as Gildarts was a Fairy tail mage. But just as the debate started to pick up speed, Yajima interrupted with a calm but firm tone, his hand raised for attention.

"I've been thinking about this as well," Yajima began. "And while I understand your points, I'd like to throw out one more suggestion."

The others paused, their attention now on the older councilor.

"Aurelius Nyx," Yajima stated, his voice steady.

A sharp intake of breath filled the room, and for a moment, the atmosphere shifted from one of casual discussion to one of intense scrutiny. The councilors exchanged wide-eyed glances, whispers quickly escalating into an uproar.

"Aurelius Nyx?" one of them demanded, his voice incredulous. "The same Aurelius who bribed us with the Luluby artifact? That?!"

"Have you lost your mind, Yajima?" another councilor snapped. "What makes you think he should be a Wizard Saint? After everything we've seen from him?"

The room erupted in a chorus of protests, each councilor adding their own criticism, calling out Yajima for even suggesting such a thing. But Yajima remained calm, his expression unwavering as he allowed the outbursts to die down.

When the noise finally quieted, Yajima spoke again, this time with a more deliberate tone.

"I understand your concerns," he said, looking directly at the councilors. "Yes, Aurelius Nyx's methods are unconventional. But the fact remains that he is a powerful and strategic mage. He is a mix of Hibiki Lates and Gildarts. We need someone like him—someone who is willing to make the hard decisions, someone with foresight."

"But—" a councilor began, only to be interrupted by Siegrain, who had been silently observing the exchange.

"Yajima's words are valid," Siegrain admitted, his voice smooth as ever. "But there are better candidates." His tone shifted slightly, a sly glint in his eyes as he leaned forward. "Consider Ultear Milkovich."

The room fell silent once more, all eyes turning to Siegrain then to Ultear, wbho both stood with confidence.

"Ultear is not only a powerful mage in her own right," Siegrain continued, his words measured, "but she's also a member of the council. She understands the inner workings of our world. Her loyalty to the council is unquestionable."

Ultear, who had been standing, nodded in agreement. She was always calm in these situations, but even now, a faint sense of pride crossed her face. Her eyes flickered briefly toward Siegrain, a silent acknowledgment between them.

But the council didn't share their enthusiasm. The murmurs began again, and this time, there was a subtle unease in the air. They did not voice their concerns directly, but many couldn't help but wonder... If Ultear joined the ranks of the Wizard Saints, how much more power would Siegrain hold? His influence had already grown with his position, and adding Ultear to the equation could shift the balance even further.

Their hesitation was palpable, though unspoken. It was as though the council understood the strategic implications, but no one dared say it aloud. Instead, a few of them exchanged wary glances.

Yajima let out a low sigh, rubbing his temple as the council began another round of arguments. The issue wasn't just the candidates—they were more than qualified. It was about what these choices would mean for the future power balance of the council and the guilds.

...

Somewhere...

The dimly lit room was shrouded in shadows, the only light coming from a single, flickering candle on a low wooden table. The air was heavy, thick with an eerie silence. In the corner of the room, a lone figure sat motionless, his face hidden behind a dark, featureless mask. His posture was rigid, his hands resting calmly on his knees.

Then, without warning, the door creaked open, disturbing the silence. The figure did not flinch, but his body tensed. The man who entered hesitated, his face pale, his breath quickened with a mixture of fear and excitement.

The figure in the room spoke first, his voice cold and calm, though a faint edge of menace lingered.

"I don't like it when people barge in uninvited," he said, his tone unwavering.

The man in the doorway swallowed hard, but his excitement won out. He took a step forward, his voice shaking slightly as he spoke.

"I—I have great news. You'll want to hear this."

The figure remained still, not even turning his head. "It had better be worth my time," he replied, his voice a low growl, barely masking the rising threat beneath it. "Or you will pay for your disturbance with your life."

The man's knees wobbled, but he forced himself to continue, his eyes darting nervously. "I-It's true... It has reappeared."

The words hung in the air for a brief moment, and then—suddenly—the figure stood. He straightened, and for the first time, his voice held an undercurrent of something far more dangerous.

A quiet chuckle broke the silence, barely a whisper at first, but it quickly grew, turning into something more—an eerie, maniacal laugh that filled the room. The sound was unsettling, echoing off the stone walls.

"It has... reappeared?" the masked figure repeated, his voice rising with a twisted gleam of anticipation. "After all these years... The time has finally come!"

The laughter continued, wild and unrestrained, a sound that carried the weight of years of frustration, plotting, and anticipation. It was as though the world had shifted just a little, and the masked man could almost taste the chaos to come. His shoulders shook with the force of his laughter, and when it finally subsided, his voice was low again, filled with cold resolve.

"Prepare yourself... things are about to change. This time, nothing will stop us."

...

Meanwhile... Somewhere high up...

An old man sat in a grand, throne-like chair. His eyes, sharp despite his age, were fixed on the window before him. The view was one of isolation, high above the world, with swirling clouds stretching across the sky. 

The silence of the room was suddenly broken by the sound of a door creaking open. A figure entered, and the man quickly spoke with urgency in his voice.

"I can confirm that the dark energy we felt days ago... it was from the battle between Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord," he said, his voice tense, as if hoping for some reaction.

The old man didn't immediately respond. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on the clouds beyond the window, the swirling patterns almost hypnotic. His fingers tightened slightly around the armrests of the chair. 

"Fairy Tail... Phantom Lord..." he thought, his mind racing. The clash between the two guilds had unleashed a power he hadn't anticipated. That energy—it felt strangely familiar. A power he had felt before, years ago, in a time when his ambitions seemed so far out of reach.

The old man's lips parted, as though to speak, but his voice faltered. Where had that energy come from? he wondered. And what does it mean now?

His thoughts turned darker as he thought. "Fairy Tail… is growing..." he realized.

His reverie was interrupted as the man who had entered spoke again, more cautiously this time. "Is... is everything in order, master?"

The old man shifted slightly, his gaze still locked on the distant horizon. "And did Fairy Tail win?" he asked, his voice steady but filled with an unsettling calm.

The figure hesitated before answering. "Yes, master. They won."

The old man nodded slowly. "Very well," he muttered, more to himself than to the man. "You may leave."

The goon gave a quick, respectful bow before exiting, leaving the old man alone once more. As the door closed, the room fell back into silence, but this time it was different—thick with anticipation.

The old man's gaze shifted back to the window, his eyes narrowing. He thought about Fairy Tail again, how they had survived the conflict. They had become stronger, their bonds more resilient. But what was it that drew him to them? What was it that had awakened this long-forgotten part of him?

He chuckled softly, the sound low and menacing. "It seems, after all these years, the stage is set... but the true game has yet to begin."

AN: Once again, the story is NOT dropped. I just needed some time in school and for myself. Once Xmas break starts, I should start to upload more chapters, though I will stick to daily upload but none on weekends(unless it's a bonus chapter) I hope you guys understand and enjoy the story.