Cursed Soul: Ch.3

“Put the staff down…and the backpack.” Bisca Connell spoke up once more and I dropped both items to the ground while raising my hands, her husband Alzack kicking it towards Romeo who caught it & rummaged through them.

“So, can you tell me why I shouldn't put a bullet in your brain, Zeref cultist?”

“Well, for starters, I'm not a Zeref cultist but a simple runaway slave that killed my former slaver.” I answered, waiting as the two of them walked around towards Romeo while Alzack glanced at the boy as he put the backpack down.

“Got anything?”

“Just some food, a few thousand Jewels & a dented canteen filled a quarter of a way up with water.”

“Cool. I'll be taking that.” Bisca spoke up and I frowned as she took it & placed it on her hip while aiming her pistol at me.

“Well, Mr. Cultist, we shall be seeing you if you do survive the forest.”

“I just told you I'm not a cultist.”

“That's what they all say, buddy. On your knees, hands behind your head and don't move until we're gone.”

“You being serious?”

“Yeah, that's a bit too much there, Mr. Alzack.” Romeo spoke up with a frown and Alzack shrugged as he holstered his gun, with Bisca's turning to motes of light before their eyes widened as I kicked up a lot of sand towards them.

Without wasting time, I dove forward & tackled Romeo out of the way while grabbing both my staff & my canteen from Bisca, the woman spinning around with a rifle & aiming it at my head just as I lowered my staff at Romeo's head.

“Put the gun away & stand back.” I ordered, the woman gritting her teeth as she moved while dismissing her rifle again, Romeo standing up with a frown while Alzack looked both concerned & angered as I glared at them.

“Okay, I think we got off on the wrong foot here. Hi, my name is Eric Creed. I just woke up before I could get burned alive by some Zeref cultist, after which I killed him, took his clothes & walked away. If you walk in that direction for a couple of kilometers, you'll find the camp I was held in as well as the chains they held me & probably dozens of other people. Now, I'm going this way and away from you gun slinging dickheads before you decide tha tyou want to shoot me. I swear, you hear all these good tales about Fairy Tail & their members, but turns out, they're all a bunch of dickheads.”

'Here I thought they would be nice & fun to be around with like in the franchise. Nope, they're just the same as any friend group: nice to their own but unfriendly to anyone that isn't from them.' I thought with a growl as I pushed past the surprised Romeo & made my way into the forest, ignoring them calling out for me as well as the bullet flying past my face as Alzack told me to stop.

Fuck off.

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“Oh, sweet civilization~!!” I cried in relief as I finally caught sight of humans, the two of them looking concerned at each other as I fell to my knees with a relieved groan.

I don't know how long it's been since my expectations of Fairy Tail were destroyed by the hasty actions of two of them, but it has to be at least a day or two since I last saw them, which makes the fact that I finally found intelligent life other than the Vulcans I've been killing over the same course even better.

Thankfully, I also ditched the Zeref cultist robe as I didn't want to get shot and it was the right thing as my tattered clothing drew the men's attention as one walked towards me.

“Hello, sir?! Are you okay?” He asked while keeping a safe distance away and I smiled happily as I fell onto my back.

“I am more than fine. It's just…it's been twelve years under those damn slavers and I finally made it somewhere liveable.” I spoke out loud as I laid on the ground, taking a few deep breaths before being surprised at the shade that covered me, opening my eyes up & staring at the frown on the bearded man's face as he looked at me.

“Forgive me if I misheard, but did you say 'slavers'?”

“That's…right, yeah.” I answered, watching as the man hummed before looking at the other who also had a frown on his face.

“Think they're connected?”

“We don't know, but from the looks of his scars & his description, it fits.”

“Uh, what fits?” I asked as I slowly stood up before being surprised as the one next to me stood up & put my arm over his shoulder while the other took point as we began walking down the path that led towards a large city not too far away.

“Apologies for this, sir, but we have reason to believe that you might belong to a group of people that came into our village a few days ago. Most of them have been escorted back to their home villages & towns, but they did speak of another that stayed behind to make sure they got away.”

“That and a group of Fairy Tail mages came to our town a day ago to tell us of a Zeref cultist on the loose while talking insanity about being a slave while also giving us a description of the person, which fits you.”

“…If you guys try & arrest me, I swear I don't have any reason to live & I'm not keen on living in a cage any more.” I spoke up with a frown as the crystal orb of the staff in my grasp began to glow before I dimmed it down as both men shook their heads.

“Not at all, sir! We are members of the local Rune Knight battalion here to protect the town. We were on a routine patrol check around the city's borders before you found us.”

“…Okay, I'll trust you, but I'm not parting with this and I'm beating the shit out of anyone who tries to take it away from me.”

“Hahaha!! Of course, sir. May we ask what your name is?” The one helping me walk asked and I relaxed as I could see that they really were not trying to hurt/ capture me.

“Eric. Eric Creed.”

“Nice to meet you, Eric Creed. I am Shamon & that is Onus.” The bearded man with dark brown ahir spoke while nodding at his younger & blonde companion, who gave me a nod which I returned as I looked up at the sky.

“Hah, I really hope this isn't just a scam because I would hate having to blow you all up.” I muttered out loud before smirking as I saw the nervous look they shared, both of them sighing in relief as I chuckled & shook my head.

“I kid, I kid. Hah…seriously, though. Try any funny shit and we all will sing in Hell when I blow us sky-high.”

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“Mr. Eric Creed, first, may I say that I salute you for surviving your terrible time under the grasp of those vile cultists.” The portly man behind the desk spoke with a frown as he paced behind his desk, but I was not fooled by that as I could see that his build was more of a strong man than my chubby one.

“It's okay, sir. I survived and that's all that matters to me.”

“Wise words, indeed sir. Ah, where are my manners? I am Sergeant Major Silus Ramsbottom.”

'…Like the guy from Despicable Me?'

“As you said, I'm Eric Creed. A pleasure to meet a man of your rank, sir.” While I usually would laugh at that name, I don't wish to antagonize the man and it was the right call as the man gave a pleased smile while staring with a frown at the nervous Shamon & Onus who brought me here.

“Private Onus, Corporal Shamon, go retrieve our guest. Dismissed.”

“Sir, yes sir!” I flinched slightly as both men barked out with a salute before leaving the room, leaving Silus & I alone in his office as the man groaned while sitting down with a huff.

“So, Mr. Ramsbottom, I hear from those two that saved me that there were others who came here a few days ago.”

“Ah yes, the other captives. Yes, all but one were escorted to their homes as they wanted to see if they still have a life left in their old cities & towns.”

“Wait, all but one?” I asked before turning my head as the door opened, a gasp escaping the lips of a beautiful woman that appeared to be in her fifties with short blue hair & dark blue eyes, feeling a sense of warmth & comfort bursting in his chest as she rushed forward with tears & hugged him tightly.

“You're okay! You're okay! It's all okay!”

'Lisa Adonna, one of the older slaves at the camp and also the one that helped me with my education in secret while we were stuck there.' I thought with wide eyes as I felt my memories with her flashing across my vision, unable to help the tears escaping as I wrapped my arms around her & hugged her tightly.

“I'm okay~I'm…I'm okay~”

“I'll leave you two for some time alone.” Silus whispered with a smile as he stood up, to which I gave a thankful & teary smile and nodded as he left before I smiled as I knelt down besides Lisa, who only hugged me tighter as we sat on the floor together.

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“Hehe~ Sorry for the whole sobbing thing. You probably didn't expect ol' strong Lisa to be crying like that, did you?” Lisa spoke with a smile as she took a deep breath while wiping away her tears, to which I smiled & shook my head as the two of us sat in the two chairs in front of Silus' desk.

“Considering you thought I was…gone, a few tears is a given. How have you been? How has everyone been?”

“Well, from what I hear with the letters they've sent, they all arrived safely & managed to find most of their family still living in their hometowns, though I know that some are devastated to find that their significant others have move on to others or that their homes & towns are completely different than what they remember. A few others are also struggling to adjust especially with the PTSD of our time in that camp, but it's going good so far.”

“You didn't answer the part about you.” I spoke as I looked at her, to which Lisa let out a soft sigh as she grasped her thighs & shook her head.

“I won't lie & pretend that it hasn't been difficult, but Mr. Silus recommended a therapist & she's been helping me through it all. What about you? Last I saw you, you got shot in the leg by a blast.” Lisa spoke while gesturing towards my right leg, where I noted the burn mark on the back of my calf & shook my head.

“I survived that, but then they caught me, chained me up & tried to burn me alive. Don't worry! I kept the keys & got myself out, after which I then killed the one cultist they left back & ran away with some supplies. However, I met up with this Fairy Tail mages a day after.”

“And they're the ones that brought you here, right?” She said with a relieved smile before it faded as my face soured & I shook my head.

“Worse. The kid was okay as he saved my life, but the other two held guns to my head. I mean, I understand that I was wearing a Zeref cultist robe that was bloody and that probably put them on edge, but they didn't even try and didn't even try to understand my position. Are all Fairy Tail mages like that?”

“Well, I hear they're in a tough spot right now after all of their stronger members disappeared five years ago so it would make sense that they're a bit on edge to not lose any more people. That and combine with the fact that the bounty of a Zeref cultist member after the destruction of Fairy Tail's sacred island is equivalent to that of a higher-ranked mission…I could see why they were not trying to listen.”

'So, I still have two years left before the Tenrou team comes ba-Wait, what did she just say?'

“So…they're were going to condemn an innocent 22 year old guy to life in prison…for some quick cash?” Even as I said it, it sounded too far-fetched for my ears as the Fairy Tail I knew was not the Fairy Tail Lisa was describing, but the woman simply smiled & shrugged as she sat back in her chair.

“Like I said, desperate people do stupid things.”

“…Hah, well, there's goes all of my hope I had of joining their guild.” I muttered with a frown as I leaned back in my own chair, to which Lisa gave an encouraging smile & a pat on my leg before we both turned to the door as it opened to reveal a smiling Silus looking in.

“Forgive me for over hearing, but I couldn't help myself. Did you just say that you wish to join a guild?” He asked and I blinked as I turned to Lisa, who smiled & nodded as she patted me on the leg once more.

“You are the only mage that was in our camp and even for your age, you had quite the skill in enhancing yourself with your ethernano.” She answered and I frowned slightly before smiling & nodding as I turned to a smiling Silus.

“I guess I am. Why? Do you have any recommendation?”

“Well, seeing as you are still looking for a guild, why not join the Rune Knights for a year to see if you have what it takes to become a powerful mage?”

“…Is this an army recruit?” I asked before snorting as Silus nodded unashamedly with a happy smile.

“It is, indeed. Don't worry. You go through basic training for three months and after that, if you serve another six months, you're free to do with your life as you please. Most just join a guild after that.”

'Well, this is a good way to lose some weight & gain some skill with my magic. That and I always had friends in my past life who were in the army so I should know a thing or two about what is needed.'

“Okay, sure. I'll join.” I answered before blinking as Silus walked forward with a happy smile and rapidly shook my hand.

“Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! I'll go and draw up the paperwork! You are also quite lucky indeed, Mr. Creed, seeing as our recruitment period ends today.”

'Oh, you clever bastard.' I thought with a narrowed gaze & a wry smile as I looked at Silus, who simply gave me a smile in return before he nodded and turned to an amused Lisa.

“Mrs. Adonna, if it's not too much trouble, would you mind watching over Eric until he is told to come to the training site?”

“Oh, I was going to force him to stay at my house. Besides, my husband would love to meet the young man who saved my life.”

“Whoa, wait! Husband?” I asked with a surprised look and Silus chuckled while Lisa giggled & nodded.

“Yes, my husband. He's quite the softy, especially with young adults who need a guiding hand in life.”

“Mr. Adonna is also the mayor of our lovely city and a former captain of Rune Knight HQ so you won't find a better man of integrity, knowledge & courage than him.” Silus spoke with a proud smile and Lisa giggled as I turned to her with a flabbergasted look on my face.

'…Holy shit.'

A/N: Okay, first off, he's not going to fully join the Rune Knights. Let me just clarify that. He's just using it as a way to get better & stronger like how one would use one job to reference as experience in your CV for another job if that makes sense.

Also, I haven't seen any SI fics that use the Rune Knights(probably because I haven't been looking for ones like that) so I wanted to try this angle before he joins a guild.

Which guild, though? Heh, you guys are going to decide that.

Another thing, before anyone gets mad about the whole 'held-at-gunpoint' thing, I just wanted to show how Fairy Tail has done some not-so-good stuff to keep their guild afloat even with what little they were making. It's not fully illegal stuff, but it's also not fully legal stuff that they were doing to make sure they still kept their job.

If you hate that part, I completely understand.

Anyway, as always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!