"Come on, come on! Hurry up! No one, and I mean no one, gets left behind on this unscheduled, dreadfully disorganised excursion!" I shouted, my voice hoarse from smoke and adrenaline, as I helped another group of frightened children and stumbling adults onto the makeshift boats we had 'requisitioned' from the Tower's docks. And by 'requisitioned', I mean some unlucky guards had a very unfortunate encounter with my broken spear and 'donated' their vessels to a nobler cause. "Mind the step there, Gran! We wouldn't want you taking an uninvited dip in the sea now, after all this effort to escape, would we?" A bit of forced politeness never hurt anyone, especially when trying to evacuate a load of traumatised people.
[Look at you, Azra'il, all considerate and concerned for the welfare of the elderly. One could almost entirely forget the gratuitous carnage and display of brutality you promoted minutes ago. Your duality is truly fascinating. And a tad schizophrenic,] Eos commented in my mind, with her characteristic tone of analytical sarcasm.
"Sho! Wally! Milliana! Is Simon still being carried? Are all the brats here and accounted for?" I asked, deliberately ignoring Eos's unnecessary comment and quickly scanning the scared, dirty faces huddled in the boats.
"Yes, Azra'il, I think so, but…" Sho, the little digger, looked around with a worried expression, his large brown eyes anxiously searching for someone. "Erza and Jellal… they still haven't come back from the tower."
I frowned, feeling an uncomfortable knot form in the pit of my stomach. Something wasn't right. That little, stubborn redhead, with her new, freshly discovered destructive power, should have been back with her blue-haired knight in shining armour by now. Even if they'd stopped for a little romantic snack amidst the destruction of the tower, it had been too long.
"Listen up, you two, Sho and Wally," I addressed the two older, less useless boys in the group, my voice now hard and brooking no argument. "Stay in these boats and keep everyone aboard and, if possible, minimally calm. Don't let anyone disembark for any reason. I'm going to fetch those two troublesome lovebirds."
"But, Azra'il, it's dangerous! The guards…" Wally began to protest, his eyes wide with fear.
"No 'buts', no 'howevers', and no 'oh my god, we're all going to die'. That's an order. And I don't tend to repeat orders. Understood?" My gaze left no doubt as to the seriousness of the command.
[To your left, Azra'il. My sensors detect a significant energy disturbance and a concentration of negative emotions coming from the lower dungeons, in the direction of the cell where Jellal was held. And the magical signature… it's strange,] Eos's voice sounded in my mind, this time without sarcasm, just with a cold, worrying data analysis.
I nodded mentally and ran back towards the dark, bloodstained corridors of the tower, my light, swift steps echoing ominously on the cold stone walls. The smell of burnt ozone, corrupted magic, and something else, something rotten and unnatural, saturated the air, growing stronger and more nauseating with every corridor I traversed.
[There's something very, very wrong here, Azra'il. The energy I'm detecting isn't… normal. Even by this place's standards.] The concern in Eos's voice was palpable, and that, in itself, was alarming.
"I know, Eos. I can feel it too. And I don't like it one bit." My ancient instinct, honed by countless aeons of danger and betrayal, was screaming at full alert.
When I finally reached the corridor leading to Jellal's cell, the scene that unfolded before my eyes made me stop abruptly, my ancient heart giving an uncomfortable, painful lurch in my chest. An explosion of raw, uncontrolled magical power had ripped off half the cell wall, leaving a huge, jagged hole that offered a desolate view of the night ocean, choppy and black as ink. The cold, salty sea wind blew violently through the hole, carrying with it the acrid smell of dark magic, the stench of recent death, and an oppressive silence that was almost deafening.
The grotesquely mutilated bodies of the two masked mages – the disgusting fat one and the weaselly thin one – were scattered across the cell floor in unrecognisable pieces, as if they had been blown apart from the inside by an unimaginable force. Dark blood and colourful viscera painted the walls and ceiling in a macabre, surreal mosaic. It was carnage, a work of art of destruction.
[That… that definitely wasn't Erza's doing. The magical signature is completely different. Darker. More… corrupted,] Eos analysed, her voice now tinged with a cold urgency.
And then, amidst that destruction and heavy silence, I saw him. Jellal. He stood near the edge of the destroyed wall, his back to me, his small shoulders tense, silently observing the dark, stormy horizon. There was something… different about his posture. An unnatural rigidity, a stillness that wasn't calm, but rather the sinister stillness of a storm about to break.
"Jellal?" I called, my voice sounding strangely loud in the oppressive silence.
The air around him seemed… distorted, as if vibrating at the wrong frequency. A dark, sickly aura began to emanate from his small body.
[Azra'il… this energy he's releasing… It's some sort of dark, ancient, terribly powerful magic. My databases can't fully identify it, but it's… malignant,] Eos's voice was a thread of alarm in my mind.
The aura around Jellal now pulsed in visible waves of a sickly purple and an absolute black, distorting the air around him like the infernal heat rising from tarmac on a scorching summer's day. The boy I had known, the idealistic, slightly arrogant youth who cared for his friends, no longer existed in those eyes that now slowly turned towards me. They were empty, cold eyes, with a sickly, feverish glint that caused me sudden contempt. The power emanating from him reeked of rot, death, and an ancient madness.
"Ah, Azra'il," he turned completely, a twisted, cruel, utterly unfamiliar smile spreading across his pale lips. It wasn't Jellal's smile. "So glad you finally came to join the party. I was wondering when you'd show up. You will understand, my dear. They will all understand, soon enough." His voice was different too. Deeper, more resonant, with a tone of divine arrogance and a cold insanity that didn't belong to a child.
"Where is Erza, you third-rate demon wannabe?" my voice was a low, dangerous growl, and I was already calculating the best way to incapacitate him without killing him. At least, not immediately.
"Erza?" he laughed, a dry, disdainful sound utterly devoid of any warmth or humanity. "That weakling? That sentimental, pathetic creature? Oh, she chose the wrong path, the path of betrayal to our noble cause. But it doesn't matter anymore. She was insignificant. We have work to do, Azra'il. A glorious destiny awaits us. The Tower of Heaven must be rebuilt, stronger, grander, more… perfect than before."
"What in the blazes are you on about, you possessed brat with a terrible taste for villainous monologues?" My patience was wearing thin. And my concern for Erza was reaching critical levels.
"The people will stay here voluntarily this time, Azra'il! They will understand and embrace our divine purpose! We will free them from the pain and suffering of this imperfect world!" His smile widened, revealing teeth that seemed a little sharper than usual. "With your power, my dear friend Azra'il, with your strength, imagine what we could achieve together! Zeref, the great Zeref, will finally return to guide us, and then, we shall build a true paradise, a new world under his aegis!"
"You've not only gone completely stark raving mad, but you've also been possessed by some sort of cosmic entity with terrible decorating skills and a fetish for towers, haven't you, lad?" The situation was becoming increasingly bizarre and dangerous. And I hated it when things got bizarre and dangerous in a way that involved demonic possession and apocalyptic prophecies. So cliché.
"No! I haven't gone mad! On the contrary, I've finally seen the truth! The light! The idiot cultists were right about the ultimate purpose, about the need for paradise, they just failed abysmally in the execution and leadership!" His eyes shone with a fanatical fervour that was genuinely frightening. "But now, under my leadership, under my vision, we will build a true paradise! A place of peace and order!"
[Azra'il! My sensors have detected a life signal. Erza. She's in the sea, at the base of the tower. Vital signs weak, but present. Approximately 46 metres from the base of the cliff and moving rapidly away with the current,] Eos's voice sounded in my mind, cutting through New Jellal's megalomaniacal monologue.
The instant Eos mentioned Erza was in the sea, with weak vital signs and drifting away, I felt something cold and sharp twist inside me. An overwhelming wave of concern, a concern so intense it was almost physical, washed over me, and a cold, creeping despair began to tighten my chest. The little redhead. My stubborn little redhead. My friend. Was in mortal danger. I couldn't lose her. Not after everything. Not her.
"You raving mad tyrant-wannabe with delusions of grandeur," I snarled, my eyes flashing with cold fury as I looked at the enormous hole in the wall and the dark, furious waves below. "Did you really… did you really throw her into the sea?" The idea was so monstrous, so cruel, that for a moment I refused to believe it.
"She was weak. Pathetic. An impediment to our glorious future," New Jellal replied with cold, absolute disdain, as if speaking of an insignificant insect. "But you, Azra'il… you are different. You understand true power. You can be my queen in this new paradise!"
"The only power you'll be understanding shortly, you possessed whelp with a terrible haircut," I retorted, my voice now laden with a promise of pain and vengeance, "is that of my foot repeatedly kicking your arrogant, deformed face when I come back to teach you a few lessons on how to treat your friends!"
A sphere of black energy, crackling with dark, unstable power, flew towards me with surprising speed. I dodged it easily, with an almost bored movement, feeling the heat of the magic graze my face.
"DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND, YOU FOOL? THIS IS BIGGER THAN ALL OF US! IT IS OUR DESTINY!" Jellal, or whatever was controlling him, screamed, his voice now distorted and full of uncontrolled fury.
"I haven't got time for your delusions of grandeur and your possessed child existential crises, brat!" I ran towards the hole in the wall, ignoring another sphere of energy that exploded where I had been seconds before. "Bugger off, you, this sodding tower of yours, and your pet Zeref!"
[Azra'il, the currents are extremely strong down there! The waves are crashing against the rocks violently! It's far too dangerous!] Eos's voice was a shriek of alarm in my mind.
"BUGGER THE BLOODY CURRENTS AND ROCKS!" I yelled, my self-control finally shattering under the weight of worry and fury.
And with a final glare of pure hatred at the being that had once been Jellal, I threw myself headfirst into the dark abyss and the black, furious waters below, leaving the insane screams and promises of a twisted paradise behind. The only thing that mattered now was Erza.
-----------------(*)----------------
Without the slightest hesitation, I dived headfirst into the dark, turbulent, icy waters roaring at the base of the Tower of Heaven, determined to find and save my stubborn friend. The shock of the cold water took my breath away for an instant, but adrenaline and desperate urgency propelled me forward.
[Azra'il, according to my calculations and her last vital signs reading, Erza is approximately 67 metres away from us, in a north-easterly direction. The waves are dragging her away from the coast. I will try to guide you as best I can, but conditions are… adverse,] Eos's voice sounded in my mind, firm and efficient despite the chaotic situation.
I mentally nodded in agreement, already beginning to fight against the powerful waves, diving deep to avoid the force of the breakers crashing violently against the sharp rocks of the cliff. The rough sea felt like a living, furious entity, wanting to drag me to the bottom at every moment, to crush me against the stones, to swallow me in its icy darkness. But I couldn't give up. Not when Erza's life was at stake. Not when that little, irritating redhead, who had somehow sneaked her way into my ancient, dusty heart, needed me.
[Watch out for the rip currents, Azra'il! They're particularly strong today and can easily pull you under! Stay calm and use your strength efficiently!]
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of worry and fury raging within me, and continued to swim with all my might, following Eos's precise directions, which compensated for the currents and the movement of the waves. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of struggling against the inclement sea, I managed to spot a small, fragile silhouette in the darkness, slowly sinking into the turbulent waters. Her unmistakable crimson hair floated around her pale, motionless face, like a dark, sad anemone. It was her. Erza.
"ERZA!" I screamed, my voice almost swallowed by the roar of the waves, and swam as fast as my small legs and arms could manage, driven by a strength that came from a place deeper than mere survival.
With a final, desperate effort, I reached her and grabbed her cold, limp hand, wrapping my other arm firmly around her small, unconscious body. Fighting with all my strength against the relentless suction of the waves and the growing numbness in my limbs, I began to swim towards the surface, dragging her with me.
When we finally surfaced, choking and spitting out saltwater, Erza coughed violently, her small body convulsing as she tried to catch her breath. Her eyes, previously closed and lifeless, flickered open for a fleeting moment, her dilated pupils trying to focus on my face.
"Azra'il…" her voice was a faint whisper, almost inaudible, but to me it sounded like the most beautiful of melodies. "You… you really… came…"
"Of course I came, you stubborn, reckless little redhead," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady and my tone light, despite the overwhelming relief and worry still tightening my chest. I tried to keep her above water, struggling against the waves that tossed us from side to side. "I couldn't just let you drown and ruin all my plans to annoy you for the rest of your life, could I?" A faint, trembling smile played on her pale lips.
She shook her head weakly, an expression of urgency and fear replacing the momentary relief in her eyes.
"No… Azra'il… you shouldn't… go back… please, don't go back there…" she begged, her voice failing, her eyes now fixed on something beyond me, towards the ominous shadow of the tower rising against the stormy sky. "Jellal… he… he's not himself anymore… he's…"
"I know, Erza. I know. I saw," I interrupted her gently, trying to calm her. "But now is not the time to worry about that possessed brat and his delusions of grandeur. I need to get you to safety first. You're injured and weak."
"No… please…" Erza insisted, her eyes now wide and pleading with an intensity that broke my heart in a way I hadn't known was still possible. "Don't go back to that tower… please, Azra'il… promise… don't go back…"
"Shh, it's alright now, little redhead. It's going to be alright," I murmured, trying to sound convincing, as I continued to swim with difficulty, desperately searching for any sign of dry land. "You need to rest. You need to recover."
But she kept repeating the same desperate plea, her voice growing weaker, more distant, like an echo fading in the storm.
"Don't go back… Azra'il… please… don't go back to that tower… promise…"
And then, her eyes closed again, and her small consciousness seemed to slip away entirely, leaving her body limp and heavy in my arms. I looked at Erza's pale, serene face, unconscious in my arms, and felt a painful tightness in my chest. A concern so intense, so visceral, it was almost suffocating. She had begged me, with her last strength, not to return to the Tower of Heaven. But we couldn't just drift in that infernal sea forever. We needed a safe place.
[Azra'il, the situation is critical. We need to find dry land as soon as possible. What should we do now?] Eos's voice was calm, but there was an underlying urgency that mirrored my own.
"Eos, my dear, you mapped the entire area when we were kidnapped and brought like cattle to this damned tower, didn't you?" I asked, my voice hoarse with effort and emotion.
[Yes, Azra'il. As always, I maintain a detailed, up-to-date three-dimensional mapping of all areas you pass through, including submarine topography and current patterns. It's standard procedure.] Sometimes, her efficiency was the only thing stopping me from completely losing my mind.
"Right. Simply right," I sighed, feeling a small but significant relief amidst the chaos. "So, please, give me the exact location of the nearest coast. Let's get away from this bloody tower and its lunatic inhabitants."
[Understood, Azra'il. Processing… The nearest, relatively safe beach, considering current currents and wind direction, is approximately 8 kilometres south-east from here. It will be a long, difficult swim, especially carrying extra weight.]
I nodded mentally, resigned. Eight kilometres. With an unconscious Erza in my arms. In a stormy sea. Marvellous. What a great way to spend the day. At least it wouldn't be boring. I began to swim in that direction, my body already protesting against the effort, but my determination stronger than ever.
[Azra'il, if I may pose a logical question, why are we not simply returning to the beach where the other boats are waiting? It would be quicker, and we would have help for Erza.] Eos's question was perfectly reasonable. And terribly irritating.
I looked once more at the pale, serene face of the little redhead in my arms. She looked so fragile, so vulnerable. And she had pleaded, with such desperation, for me not to go back. And, for some stupid, incomprehensible, utterly irrational reason, I couldn't, simply couldn't, deny that stubborn girl with absurdly red hair anything. Damn my sudden, inexplicable weakness for troublesome children.
"Because, my dear Eos," I replied with a tired sigh, but with a conviction that surprised me, "I think that, deep down, way deep down, I really do have an incurable soft spot for cute, stubborn girls with a worrying tendency to get themselves into mortal danger. And frankly, I cannot, under any circumstances, leave such an irritatingly adorable little redhead in trouble, or ignore her last desperate request. Call it a momentary lapse of good sense. Or perhaps I'm getting old and sentimental." Which was a truly terrifying thought.
[I understand, Azra'il. Or at least, I am attempting to understand your… peculiar logic. I shall continue to monitor the area and notify you if I detect any excessively large, hungry sea creatures, or any suspicious boats sailing nearby.]
"Right. Marvellous. I appreciate your consideration for my possible encounters with the local fauna," I replied with tired sarcasm. "Now, let's get this small, stubborn troublemaker out of here. And please, Eos, remain extremely vigilant. I cannot, under any circumstances, risk anything that might put Erza in even more danger. She's been through far too much already."
I continued to swim, wave after wave, stroke after stroke, feeling the exhaustion build in my muscles like molten lead, the weariness beginning to blur my vision. But I couldn't stop. I couldn't falter. Not when Erza, my small, irritating redhead friend, depended entirely on me for survival.
"Hold on, you stubborn little redhead," I murmured to her pale, unconscious face, my voice little more than a breath on the salty wind. "I'm going to get you out of here, you little pest. I promise. Even if it's the last, stupidest thing I do in this long, ridiculous existence of mine."
She had begged me not to return to that damned tower. And, for some reason that defied all logic and all my aeons of experience, I couldn't, simply couldn't, deny anything to that stubborn, brave girl with hair that seemed to carry all the fire of hell. Perhaps, as Eos had suggested with her usual sarcasm, it was her annoying way of always wanting to protect everyone, even when she herself needed protection. Or perhaps, just perhaps, it was simply my newfound, utterly inconvenient soft spot for cute, troublesome girls with frightening potential. Whatever it was, one thing was certain: I wouldn't leave her behind. Never.
I took a deep breath, the salty air burning my lungs, and continued to swim against the current, against the exhaustion, against the hopelessness, determined to get Erza Scarlet to safety, no matter what happened, no matter the price I had to pay. Because, somehow, in a strange, unexpected way, that small, irritating redhead had become… important. And that, for a being like me, was simultaneously the most terrifying and the most surprisingly comforting thing in the universe.