"Shadow-sama," she began, voice soft but steady, "we have received information regarding a dark guild. They call themselves Eisenwald."
Shadow tilted his head slightly, as though tasting the name. "Eisenwald…"
"Yes," Juvia continued, "they've begun movements toward unsealing a forbidden relic — a cursed flute known as Lullaby. They intend to activate it during the council meeting of Fiore's guildmasters."
She paused dramatically. "The song it plays… is said to kill all who hear it."
The room fell silent.
The lantern flickered once, like it too was afraid.
Shadow said nothing at first. He tapped one finger slowly against the armrest — not in thought, but in rhythm.
Lullaby… huh? he mused inwardly. A magic flute that plays a deadly song. A fitting name for it. I wonder how different it is from earth's lullabies.
He nodded gravely. "So… they plan to help the old geezers sleep on a deadly rythm?"
Juvia blinked, confusion briefly cracking through her composure. "S-Sleep, my lord?"
Shadow's tone didn't change. "Yes. It is… indeed an interesting plan. Quite efficient. Optimal rest through music."
Strange, he thought. Dark guilds in this world are really generous. Back home, gangsters prevented people from sleeping, and here, they are helping a bunch of old men fall asleep with a superb music.
Juvia's heart skipped. "Ah…! Of course! As expected of Shadow-sama. You already saw through their methods."
Shadow turned his gaze toward her, impassive and unreadable — at least, that's how it looked to her. In reality, he was trying to remember the lyrics to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
"I see," he murmured finally. "A cursed melody that silences life itself… interesting. I want to hear it."
Juvia froze. "H-hear it, my lord?"
"Yes." His tone was perfectly calm, measured. "A lullaby that can put to sleep anyone who hears it. I want to know what kind of sound holds such power."
Indeed, each world has it own hidden speciality, I never thought that such backward musical world could produce such a wonderful piece that can put even the most insomniac people to sleep, aaah, the wonders of magic !
Juvia's eyes widened, awe and horror battling in her chest. "To… to expose yourself to such danger, just to understand the nature of its magic and make the demon of Zeref within come out and destroy it—! Truly, your wisdom knows no bounds!"
Shadow nodded slowly, the motion deliberate. "Knowledge is power. To grasp the essence of deathly melodies, one must first listen... Uh, Zeref?"
Isn't that the evil black magician from 400 years ago? What does he have to do with music? Could he be the musician who created this wonderful music piece and sealed it into a lullaby? And because it was done by Zeref, people mistook it for a demon and sealed the flute? Really now, prejudices are heavy in this world too, sigh...
Or maybe… Zeref was a musician from the very beginning? And because he played such divine music, his love rival, desperate to steal the maiden's heart, accused him of demon creation to ruin his name! Hmph, love rival, that was a low and dirty move.
Juvia bowed deeply, her voice trembling slightly. "If it is your will, Shadow-sama, then Beta shall ensure the way is clear, and we will not stop Eisenwald from acting. Even if it means facing the cursed melody myself!"
He regarded her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Good. Observe. Report back. And remember—"
He leaned forward, the lantern's light sliding across his eyes, making them gleam like molten silver.
"Do not fall asleep."
If you fall asleep listening to such a beautiful melody, it would be such a waste. With control over your own magic, it's easy to resist sleeping spells.
Juvia gasped softly, clutching her chest. "Ah…! Shadow-sama is caring about me!"
Shadow leaned back again, satisfied with the effect.
That should cover it. Sounds cool and mysterious. Mission accomplished.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips — small, controlled, deliberate. Juvia mistook it for the confidence of a man who had already foreseen the outcome of a successful battle.
"I shall not fail you, Shadow-sama," she vowed, bowing so deeply her hair brushed the floor. "Your brilliance shall illuminate the path through even the darkest lullaby."
Shadow gave a soft hum. "Good. Go, Beta. See what tune this world sings."
Juvia rose gracefully, the professional mask firmly back in place, though her heart beat like a drum inside her chest. "As you command."
She turned toward the door, her thoughts racing.
To think… he seeks to listen to Lullaby itself! Such courage, such majesty… truly, his intellect transcends human understanding! Shadow-sama, Juvia shall not disappoint you!
Her steps were quick, light, and full of determination as she vanished into the night.
The door clicked shut behind her.
Shadow stayed seated for a long moment, gazing at the flickering light of the lanterns.
He rested his chin lightly on his hand, letting the silence linger, perfectly timed, perfectly atmospheric.
Then, quietly — almost to himself — he whispered, "Let us hear this lullaby."
The lantern flame trembled as if bowing to his words, and the shadows deepened across the room.
---
A few days later, peace—or Fairy Tail's closest imitation of it—had settled over the guild.
Tables were miraculously upright, only one window had been replaced this week, and Natsu and Gray were locked in their usual glaring contest in the middle of the hall.
Cid sat in his corner, newspaper unfolded, teacup within reach.
Main characters identified, he noted inwardly. Flame hero and ice rival engaged in daily dominance ritual. Guild atmosphere: stable chaos.
Lucy sat nearby, nervously nursing a drink while Mirajane chatted with customers. The air smelled of roasted meat, spilled ale, and mild delinquency.
Then, the doors burst open.
A man stumbled in, breathless, panic written all over his face. "S-SHE'S BACK!"
Every sound in the guild froze. Even the ceiling creaked in fear.
Chairs scraped. Mugs clattered.
Within seconds, half the members were running around like a flock of startled chickens.
Lucy blinked. "W-What? Who's back?"
No one answered. Natsu's face drained of color. Gray sighed like a condemned man.
A bottle rolled across the floor. The atmosphere shifted from rowdy to doomed.
Mirajane leaned across the counter, smiling with that serene calm that somehow made things worse.
"Erza's back."
"Erza?" Lucy repeated, tilting her head. "Is she… bad?"
Mirajane laughed lightly. "Oh no, not at all. Erza's wonderful." She paused.
"Just… very strict."
Lucy's imagination instantly supplied an image of a towering ogre woman wielding a club, flames shooting from her eyes.
Her hands tightened on her glass. "S-strict?"
The light from outside cut through the hall, long and red. Through that brilliance came a silhouette—tall, armored, and dragging something huge behind her.
A horn. The kind you might find attached to a giant monster.
Everyone in the guild went pale.
Lucy's jaw dropped. The shadow moved across the floor, enormous and heavy. Her pulse quickened. The ogre from her imagination was real!
Then the figure stepped fully inside.
Silver light spilled over scarlet hair, glinting off polished armor.
She wasn't an ogre. She was stunning—beautiful in that dangerous, perfectly composed way that made everyone stand straighter.
Her crimson gaze swept the guild like a commander assessing a battlefield.
"Everyone," Erza said, voice calm but carrying like a whip crack, "I've only been gone two weeks."
She lifted the horn effortlessly and dropped it beside the nearest table; the floor shuddered.
"And already I've heard a lot of complaints from the Council, three from local merchants, and one from the mayor about a fire in his garden."
Her eyes narrowed. "Would anyone care to explain?"
The guild collectively found the floor fascinating.
Natsu laughed nervously. "Ah-ha-ha… long story, Erza—"
"Sit."
He sat.
Gray raised a hand. "It wasn't all his fault—"
"Shirt."
He realized he'd lost it again and promptly found one.
Erza folded her arms, armored plates glinting in the light.
"I will not tolerate disorder while I'm away," she said simply, and somehow that carried more threat than a dragon roar.
Lucy watched, speechless. "That's… Erza?"
Beside her, Mirajane smiled. "That's her."