Fairy Tail : The Eminence in the shadows

The dim light of dawn filtered through the dense canopy of the forest, casting soft golden rays onto the ground below. Ultear stood alone in a clearing near the capital of Crocus, her gaze fixed on the small, fragile leaf resting on the palm of her hand. The quiet rustle of the trees and the occasional chirp of birds were the only sounds accompanying her solitude.

The memory of her failure yesterday replayed in her mind. The leaves she had tried to control had crumbled into dust, a stark reminder of her lack of finesse. Too much magic power, and it would destroy the leaf. Too little, and it would simply fall. It seemed simple enough in theory, but in practice, it was maddeningly elusive. She clenched her fist, crumpling the current leaf. Frustration boiled beneath her surface.

"Why can't I do it?" she muttered under her breath.

Ultear took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "Focus," she whispered, placing another leaf on her forehead. The cool touch of its surface felt oddly grounding. Closing her eyes, she reached inward, seeking her magic core. Her magic was vast and powerful, a swirling tempest of energy that felt like both a gift and a curse. It was because of that vast magic that she nearly died and she became an experiment for years, but it was also thanks to that magic that she had a chance to follow someone as great as Shadow.

She exhaled slowly, channeling her magic toward the leaf. At first, nothing happened. The leaf wobbled, then slid off her forehead. Opening her eyes, she groaned in frustration.

"I am too stupid," she spat, kicking a nearby rock. "I can't even complete the first stage, maybe Shadow-sama will also abandon me…"

Memories surged unbidden—images of her childhood, of being experimented on, of being abandoned by her mother, of the despair loneliness that had shaped her into the person she was today. She had built walls around herself, brick by brick, to keep the world out. But those walls had also trapped her, isolating her from any real connection. And now, as she struggled to master something as simple as balancing a leaf, she felt those walls crack.

"Is this what I've been missing?" she wondered aloud.

The wind picked up, carrying a handful of leaves past her. She watched them dance in the breeze, their movements seemingly random yet perfectly in tune with the forces around them. It struck her then: the leaves weren't fighting the wind. They weren't trying to impose their will on it. They simply moved with it, finding harmony in the chaos.

Ultear's lips curved into a small, bittersweet smile. "Flow," she repeated. "That's what I'm missing."

Standing up, she picked another leaf and placed it gently on her forehead. This time, she didn't try to force her magic. Instead, she let it flow naturally, like a stream finding its way through a forest. The leaf trembled but stayed in place. Ultear's heart leaped. She steadied her breathing, focusing on maintaining the delicate balance.

For a few fleeting moments, the leaf clung to her forehead, buoyed by her magic. But then, a surge of doubt crept into her mind. What if I fail again? The thought disrupted her focus, and the leaf turned into powder. She clenched her fists, fighting back tears of frustration. Why was this so difficult?

"I'm not weak," she said to herself, her voice trembling. "I'm not...I've been chosen by Shadow…"

Ultear sank to her knees, the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her now that she was alone. Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't fight them this time. She let them fall, each tear a release of the pain and frustration she had carried for so long. Maybe I need to let go, she thought. Maybe the key to control is surrendering to the flow.

Wiping her eyes, she stood up again. The forest around her seemed different now, as if it had been waiting for her to reach this moment of clarity. She picked up the leaf from the ground and placed it on her forehead once more. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. This time, she didn't try to control the leaf. She let her magic flow naturally, not forcing it but guiding it gently.

The leaf stayed in place.

Ultear's eyes snapped open, and she almost laughed in disbelief. It was working. The leaf balanced perfectly, supported by the delicate balance of her magic. She held it there for a few moments before letting it fall gently to the ground.

A wave of relief washed over her, followed by a sense of pride she hadn't felt in a long time. It wasn't just about the leaf. It was about proving to herself that she was capable of change, of growth, that she wasn't the crybaby that longed for her mother love in her lone cell. She could face her fears and overcome them. She could find harmony within herself.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Ultear stood in the clearing, practicing with renewed determination. Each time the leaf fell, she picked it up and tried again. And with each attempt, she grew a little stronger, a little more confident. The walls she had built around herself didn't crumble all at once, but she could feel them weakening, brick by brick.

By the time the sun began to set, she was exhausted but content. She sat on the mossy rock, watching the sky turn shades of orange and pink. For the first time in a long time, she felt a sense of peace. The journey ahead would be difficult, but she was ready to face it. She would master her magic, and dance with it like Shadow.

"I can do this," she said softly, her voice steady and resolute. "I will do this. I will become someone Shadow can rely on. I will not be a burden !"

And for the first time, she truly believed it.