Conversations

"I can't believe it's still raining!" Lucy complained as they walked back towards the guild under the auspices of Striders telekinesis, shielding them from getting wet.

"It's nice," Strider said.

"You're the only one that thinks that," she grumbled.

"Actually, it is kinda pretty," Wendy agreed.

"Oh no! Wendy, you're spending way to much time with Strider! He's beginning to rub off on you!" Lucy said in a panicked voice.

"Well… thanks for making me sound like such a bad influence, Lucy. I really appreciate it," Strider said with a chuckle. The blonde blushed before apologizing several times.

"Really, though - thanks. Now I'll be set for rent for a good, long while!" she said excitedly.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Lucy. You still owe your share for the seventeen homes that Natsu and Gray destroyed on that one job a month and a half ago," Erza sighed.

"WHAT?! HOW MUCH IS THAT?!" Lucy asked, fearful of the answer.

"Around… 4,930,000 jewel," Erza answered. Lucy let out a loud whine; that left just a month of rent for her.

"NATSU! GRAY! IF YOU GUYS DESTROY ANYTHING AGAIN, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE I NEVER HELP YOU OUT WITH ERZA EVER AGAIN!" she roared at the two, who shrunk under her unusually angry gaze.

"Hey, we have to pay too!" they complained.

"DON'T CARE!" Lucy said.

"Here you go, Lucy. Should hold you over for a couple of months, at least," Strider said, tossing her a satchel.

"SERIOUSLY?!" she asked excitedly, getting extremely close and looking at him with bright, wide eyes.

"Seriously," he nodded. Lucy threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly, jumping for joy.

"YOU'RE THE BEST, STRIDER!" she cried out. He chuckled and returned the hug, gently rubbing her back. As she saw what she did, Lucy panicked yet again.

"CRAPIFORGOTSOMETHINGILLSEEYOUGUYSINTHEGUILDWELPBYENOW!" she yelled, tearing off towards Fairy Tail at a record speed.

"Huh. Lucy seems to break down nervously whenever she interacts with a guy," Strider said.

"I know. It's adorable, isn't it?" Mira giggled.

"I'll say. Probably would be a good idea for her to work on that, though," he sighed. They continued on their way, making light conversation and jokes at the absent Fairy's expense.

-o-

Upon reentering the guild, they were greeted by the usual loud, proud and brash demeanor. A fight had evidently broken out between what appeared to be Elfman and Vijeeter regarding the manliness of dance; while Wakaba and Macao were in a corner, smoking and drinking to their hearts content; Cana was, as per usual, at the bar - and smiled at Strider as he entered; while Bisca appeared to be out on a job.

"Welcome back," Lisanna chirped as they made their way through and got settled. To Strider's amusement, Juvia trailed him with her eyes as opposed to Gray. The guild watched in shock as the Water Wizard finally tore herself away from her previous beloved. Strider saw Gray give him a thumbs up; he seemed happy of the new normal.

"Think Juvia has a thing for you now," Cana said.

"Oh? Why isn't she approaching me?" he wondered.

"She prefers to observe from afar," the Card Wizard sighed.

"I see. Juvia, you can talk to me, you know," Strider said, smiling at her. Juvia let out a cute yelp before scurrying out of the guild, leaving a bewildered Strider in her wake.

"I thought she wanted acknowledgement?" he asked.

"Ah… maybe it was the hard to get factor that appealed to her. Guess you can't pull that off, huh? To eager to talk to girls," Cana said with a smirk.

"I'm afraid I don't play at all, my dear. I just make it known," Strider said, leaning in close to her. Cana looked up and saw him smiling down at her; she couldn't help run a hand down his torso, feeling his muscular build as well as the ridges she felt the night he walked her home.

"Oh? Isn't it at least a little fun to play around?" she wondered.

"I can think of far more pleasurable games to play, Cana. Would you care to partake?" he wondered, leaning in and whispering her ear. He smirked as he saw how red Cana had gone. "My apologies. It appears as though I've overstepped."

"Ugh. You're terrible," she grumbled.

"So I've been told. Careful, Cana," he said.

"Careful? Of what?" she asked.

"I can hear your heart racing," Strider replied in a sing song voice. She turned even redder as she felt it; he was right.

"Excuse me for a minute," she said, quickly excusing herself to the bathroom. As she went, Kinana came over and giggled.

"I've never seen Cana so flustered. Usually, she's the one that's outgoing when it comes to guys," she said.

"Everyone gets a bit flustered when they meet their match," Strider said.

"Have you met yours yet?" she wondered.

"I thought I had," he said, almost mindless. Shaking his head, he quickly ordered a drink and downed it, looking around the guild. He sighed as he saw Gray and Natsu get into a fight. Putting the mug down, he went over to stop them.

"Welcome back, Mira," Kinana said as the white-haired beauty approached bar.

"Thanks, Kinana. And thanks again for taking care of the guild while I was out," Mira said graciously.

"Not a problem. So, did you have fun?" Kinana asked innocently.

"You could say that," Mira said, looking at Strider as she answered. Kinana put two and two together and smirked.

"Oh?" she asked.

"What? NO! Not like that!" Mira said quickly.

"Mmm, if you say so, Mira," Kinana said, leaving the bar with a smile as she went to attend to the others. Mira sighed as she left, and yet again her eyes trailed to the newest Fairy.

'It's platonic. Or… is it? I mean, we basically slept together in the tent. But no… no, that was definitely in a friendly way. He didn't even try anything. He just… let me sleep on him. But would I have been mad if he tried something? I keep thinking about him. That has to mean something, right? And I haven't caught him trying to undress me with his eyes, so he's not a pervert or something. But that… doesn't mean it hasn't happened. And why did I get so flustered when he asked me who I liked? And why did I think that I wouldn't mind if it was him!? I barely know him! He's only been part of the guild for a few weeks. But… I've spent more time with him these few weeks than I have with anyone else besides Lis and Elf,' Mira thought. The battle raged on inside her head, making her oblivious to the fact that Strider had broken up the fight and was now trying to get her attention.

"Mira?" she heard him say again, snapping her back to reality.

"What? What do you want?" she asked harshly. He was taken aback by the reaction but recovered quickly.

"I just wanted to see if you want to get get a bite to eat; maybe walk around for a bit?" he asked, hesitant after the reaction.

"Sorry, no. I'm busy tonight. I need to do the inventory and balance the books," she said distantly, turning her back on him.

"Can't it wait? Or maybe I can help you?" he offered.

"No, I don't need your help. I'll see you later," she said walking back to the kitchen, not sparing him a glance.

"Huh. Weird. Don't think I said anything wrong…," Strider said under his breath before shrugging. As he began to walk out the door, Erza suddenly came up.

"Strider!" she said.

"Hey, Erza. What's up?" he asked.

"Leaving so soon? We just got back," she said.

"Yeah, was just going to get something to eat and maybe walk around for a bit," he said, hiking his thumb at the door.

"Might I join you?" she asked.

"But of course," he said, opening the door for her.

As they began to walk, Erza immediately recommended that they go to a cake shop that she was fond of. Chuckling, Strider agreed; he knew that the red-head had quite a sweet tooth. The shop happened to be close by, just a block or two over. Ad they greeted the pastry chef, he immediately recognized Erza.

"Hello. Thirty one strawberry cakes, please," she said casually.

"Ah! Buying for the whole guild this time, Miss Scarlet?" the man asked jovially.

"Mmm, no. One is for him," she said giddily, pointing at Strider. The pastry chef looked bewildered and Strider had to do his best to restrain the laughter that was threatening to spill over. Casting a spell over the cakes so they wouldn't get soggy, they began to look around for a place they could sit and eat in peace. Despite the spell, Erza didn't want to sit in the rain.

"Hmm… follow me," she said. She began to lead Strider up the path to Fairy Hills, much to his surprise.

"Isn't this place supposed to be girls only?" he asked as they passed the front gate and were a few hundred feet away from the entrance.

"It is, but I cannot think of another place where we can talk and eat in peace. Should we be discovered, I'll take the punishment… That said, please enter through the window," Erza said. Strider nodded and did as she asked. He dried off as he waited for her to enter.

"Please, make yourself comfortable," Erza said as she shifted into her strawberry-cake pajamas and dug into the first one. Strider sat himself on a chair near the bed and began to eat as well.

'Guess I can have real dinner later,' he thought.

"I never would've pegged you for having such a sweet tooth," Strider said.

"Oh? Why not?" Erza asked.

"I suppose it's just a preconception I had. You seemed to be a lot more serious than the others. But here you are, enjoying strawberry cake in strawberry-cake pajamas. It's heartening, if not adorable," he laughed. Erza turned red and quickly scarfed a few cakes down before mellowing out.

"I suppose it's often the case that people aren't as you first see them. We're more complex than that," Erza said.

"I agree," Strider said.

"Except Natsu and Gray. They are, unfortunately, as idiotic as they seem," Erza said with a fond laugh.

"You all seem fairly close," Strider said.

"We are. Natsu, Gray, and Mira were the three that I really got along with when I first joined Fairy Tail," Erza said.

"If you don't mind my asking, how did you join? You said that you started to learn how to use swords at age eleven. That's… young in any case," Strider said. Erza carefully considered the question as she ate, wondering if she should answer. Multiple times, she looked at Strider before looking back down; however, he didn't press it. Finally, she sighed and put the cake down, bringing her knees to her chest and hugging them close.

"It's not something I've often discussed before, but as my teammates know the story, you ought to know as well. I… was born in a small town, called Rosemary Village. I never knew my parents, so I lived with another couple there and their children. But… one day, the village was attacked by a group of cultists that followed the Black Wizard, Zeref. He's… a dangerous figure, especially in Fiore - but he's treated more as a legend now than anything else. They ravaged and burned the entire town down, killing virtually everyone except for myself and another boy that I lived with - Simon. He was like a brother to me. They… captured us and some of the other children and took us to an island on the coast of the Caelum Kingdom, south of Fiore. They were building something called the Tower of Heaven, an R-System that can be used to revive a deceased person. Much of it was constructed by child labor," Erza said, her breath shuddering violently as she remembered her time there.

Strider sat stunned by the revelation. While he didn't expect the rosiest story from her, this was far from what he expected. He grimaced and nodded, wondering if he should move to comfort her right now. However, he decided to stay seated as Erza began to talk again.

"I thankfully managed to stay sane, somehow. I had several friends there… Jellal, Shô, Simon, Wally, Millianna… it's where i also got my last name, Scarlet. One of the boys - Jellal - gave it to me for my hair," Erza said fondly, running a hand through her scarlet locks. "I was also good friends with an elder at the Tower called Rob. He was a mage at Fairy Tail and he told me all about it. If not for him, I might not have learned about this place. I was there for years… until the age of eleven, when we planned to break out. We didn't get far; we were quickly captured. Seeing how afraid my friends were, I took the blame. They took me to the disciplinary chamber and tortured me to the brink of death. I… lost my right eye there," Erza said, folding the hair back.

Strider moved to the bed and put a comforting arm around Erza, holding her tight and close. While he wouldn't admit it, he felt his anger surge in a way he hadn't felt in a long time. He had a visceral reaction and could only think of inflicting pain on the people that took pleasure in torturing an eleven year old girl. As he touched her, Erza quickly buried her face in his chest; the memories were difficult to bear and as they came to ahead, she couldn't help but cry. Strider held her tighter as he felt the tears seep through his shirt.

"Shh… don't worry, Erza. You're safe now. I'm here," he whispered. He felt her nod into his chest before picking herself up. Resting against his shoulder, she continued her story after wiping after the tears.

"We revolted after that. Simon got injured; his lower jaw was blasted off and he ended up needing to wear a metal replacement. I was nearly killed but… Rob sacrificed himself. He jumped in front of the attack and took it. That's when my Magic activated for the first time. All the tools and weapons that were just laying around… I was able to use them against the guards. I hurt them and injured them, but didn't kill anyone. The slaves continued to the ships and I went go get Jellal. But something had happened to him. He said that he was possessed by the spirit of Zeref - and that's similar to what the cultists said; that they were doing this for Zeref. He wanted to continue to build the Tower of Heaven. He offered us all a part, but I refused. He cast me out, saying that he would let me live for taking care of the guards. Before letting me go, he told me to keep it a secret and to never return. Otherwise, he'd destroy the Tower and kill everyone in it - including our friends," she said, whimpering as she remembered. The tears came forward again; it was one of the most painful decisions that she had ever made. She felt Strider tighten his hold and was grateful for the compassionate touch.

"Eventually, we did go back to the Tower - myself, Lucy, Natsu, Gray, and Juvia. My friends Sho, Wally, Simon, and Millianna were still convinced that Jellal was doing everything right and that he wanted me to be part of the new world. In reality, he just wanted a sacrifice. They didn't know that initially when they attacked us. They thought that I had betrayed them… and they were right. I did betray them. I should've been more proactive about what was happening there. But I was afraid… afraid of what Jellal could do; afraid… of confronting him. Eventually, I had to. Simon was there as well… he always knew that Jellal was lying to them. Natsu made it to the top and it seemed as though we had a chance of beating him. But… he killed Simon. He would've killed Natsu and I as well had Natsu not eaten the Etherion - crystals made of every element - and taken Jellal out. That nightmare finally ended that day. But… I lost Simon. He was like a brother to me," Erza cried. She lurched forward and took Strider onto the bed, laying on top of him as he tears flowed loose. Strider cast a quick spell to make sure no one else would hear and ensure their privacy. He held her close, trying to comfort her as best he could. Strider began to gently weave his hand through her hair. As he did so, Erza felt a comfort and warmth she couldn't remember ever feeling before. She looked up and saw him looking at her, a frown on his lips but warmth and compassion his eyes. She moved up and bit and buried her face in his neck before speaking again.

"As for Fairy Tail, however… after I left the Tower of Heaven, I washed up on the shore of Fiore and I made my way to Fairy Tail, remembering the stories Rob had told me. It was when I began to wear armor; to protect myself from the pain that others could inflict. Gray was the first one… he began trying to pick fights with me, trying to get me to break out of my shell. It was around that time I spoke to Makarov in depth about what had happened with Rob. He brought me to the healer, Porlyusica, and she gave me an artificial eye. It was the first time I remember crying in joy… I hadn't been that happy in a long time. I could only cry out of my real eye - my left eye - for a while, but that changed after the Tower was destroyed. I was finally able to cry out of both of them," she said with a happy sob.

"Natsu was next. Like Gray, he was always picking fights. Eventually, they were at each others throats and I was the one breaking up the fights. Mirajane joined afterward. Finally, someone around my age was in the guild. I tried to welcome her; I had heard by that time that she was really strong. But, she didn't say anything and just left, giving me the cold shoulder. It stayed like that for a long time; eventually, we became rivals, competing in everything. Both of us were the two youngest S-Class Wizards in the guild. It ended after Lisanna died, though," Erza said.

"What?" Strider asked in surprise. He could've sworn that he had seen Lisanna earlier that day.

"Right… you joined after that happened. The… short of it is this; any more, you'll have to ask Mira, Lisanna, or Elfman. They had gone on an S-Class Request a year after she was promoted to the Rank. It was a monster known as 'The Beast' that had been terrorizing a small town in the countryside. The three had always been close; they lost their family at a young age and so Mira had always taken care of Lisanna and Elfman. Anyways, they managed to beat the monster but Elfman tried to use his Takeover Magic on it. He… succeeded, and promptly lost his mind for a moment. That was all that was necessary; he attacked Mira and knocked her into a tree. Lisanna tried to calm him down, but Elfman smacked her away and injured her. That shocked his system enough to bring him back to his old self, but it was to late. They saw that Lisanna's body began to dissipate - I'm not sure what they made of that - but eventually, it was gone. The event shocked Mira badly and turned her personality around. She used to be pretty intimidating and punkish, bullying some of the guild members. But after this happened, she became much more kind and loving to everyone," Erza said, pausing to take a breath before continuing.

"But it turned out that Lisanna wasn't dead. Her body was transported to another… dimension, I suppose, would be the right word for it - or realm - called Edolas. She spent tow years there, until not too long before your arrival, a portal opened between us and Edolas. Their Magic works differently from ours, you see; they store it in objects, while we produce it from our bodies. After the portals closed, all the Magic began to be sucked out of Edolas and sent to Earthland. Lisanna, being a Wizard, was transported back here as well. I remember her running towards Elfman and Mirajane on the anniversary of her death. It was… a teary reunion. For all involved," Erza said, sniffling and smiling at the recent memory.

"That's amazing. I'm happy to hear that they got her back at least. I'm also happy to hear that you found a home in Fairy Tail," Strider said softly, still weaving his hand through Erza's hair. She noted the position they were in; something she didn't often share with others. Despite that, she didn't feel like moving. His hold was gentle and warm, something she craved right now; especially as the tears were threatening to spill again.

"Might I ask you what your family is like?" Erza asked quietly. Strider smiled and sighed; he expected this to come sooner or later.

"I was orphaned early on," he said.

"Really?" Erza asked, her head snapping up. She didn't expect that to be the answer, but soon sighed in discontent; that was the case for many Fairy Tail Wizards.

"Yes. I suppose that… my past isn't all to dissimilar to yours, now that I think about it," Strider said.

"What do you mean?" Erza asked, frowning.

"Let's see… when I was born, the war was already going on. I was lucky for my formative years. I lived in a small village with my parents in the countryside; no more than a hundred or so people. My parents moved there after meeting in another, larger city; she was the daughter of a farmer while he had served as a ranger for several years before growing disenfranchised with it. They moved to a remote village that they assumed would be spared the brunt of fighting. It turned out to be true for a while - I grew up happily until I was three or four, roaming the hillsides when I could. On day, an enemy horde made its way through the village, though. We were completely unprepared and my father hadn't used his sword in all that time. Food was scarce then - you often had to scrounge for what ever you could. The same went for the enemy; they resorted to cannibalism, eventually. I had just returned from a small hike to find everything on fire. They piled some of the carcasses on one side, which is where I hid for a while. I tried to look for my family, but… found them inside the carnage. After I was sure the horde had gone on, I made my way in the opposite direction. I can't remember how long I walked before I made it to an enclave. It was a long, long stride until I finally got some peace, eating and drinking whatever I could find. Thankfully, I soon met a man there that housed me, fed me, and helped train me in my telekinesis magic. He, and others, taught me how to fight," Strider said.

Erza listened intently, her own heart sinking deep as he continued.

"C-cannibalism?" was all she could muster to say.

"Yeah. It was… gruesome," he replied, trying to push the memory out of his head.

"I'm… so sorry," Erza said quietly, looking up at him, stunned.

"Don't be. It wasn't your fault, Erza. Besides, my ordeal wasn't as long as yours. If anything, it's I who should be sorry," Strider said kindly.

"Why should you be sorry? You couldn't have known or done anything. Anyways… it turned out well in the end. A family like Fairy Tai… they might not be blood, but we've shed so much blood together, it's hard to imagine myself elsewhere. And you're part of that family now as well," she said earnestly.

"Thank you for saying that," he whispered, continuing to stroke her.

"You… mentioned that they trained you?" Erza asked.

"That's correct. I had resolved to fight after spending some time there. I… never wanted anyone else to go through something like that again. It was obvious that the attacks were becoming more frequent, from what I could tell of the people gossiping. On one side, we had them; on the other, us. I looked for the grey… I could never find it," he said mindlessly.

"You were a child soldier?" she asked quietly.

"I was. My parents and my mentor… they always talked about the responsibility of a person to stamp out injustice and cruelty wherever possible. Luckily, I found plenty of both. War would soon envelop the entire continent. By the end of it, there's wasn't a single place left untouched - not even the furthest regions. At the core, there were a few that carried the burdens of the continent on their shoulders," Strider said, whispering the last part mostly to himself.

'I was lucky that I was amongst them,' he thought. Erza seemed to not have heard that either.

"How old were you when you began to develop your magic, then? Immediately after you arrived?" she inquired.

"Around that. I rested for a month before I began to beg my mentor to teach me everything he knew. He's the most adept Telekinetic Wizard that I've ever met. I suppose I had an affinity for this magic as well, though. I learned it fairly quickly and was able to develop it over the course of a few years. I still have a ways to go, however. My mentor, for instance, can rebuild a city from rubble over the course of a day or two using his magic - homes, schools, hospitals, etc.," Strider said fondly.

"Your skill is already very impressive," she noted.

"Could always be improved upon, though. It's a long journey," Strider said.

"You eventually joined the war effort in full?" Erza asked.

"I did. I spent… I don't know how many years at this point… fighting every day. Eventually, I led a small force of about one hundred people towards the tail end of the war. Most of them survived and are living happily now, thankfully," Strider said.

"Strider," Erza said.

"Mm?" he asked.

"Did you ever…," she trailed off, wondering how to pose the question. She felt that she knew the answer, but needed confirmation from him.

"Did I ever what?" he wondered.

"…Kill?" she asked quietly. He had to suppress a laugh at the question. Composing himself quickly, he answered.

"I did," was all he said. 'Guess they aren't big on killing here.'

"I… see," Erza said, shifting a bit. She had expected it, but it was still difficult to hear. In all her fights, she had only ever once hurt someone so bad, that it led to their death - and that was in absolute self defense after they initially attacked her and the team. She had seen death, but would never have partaken in it in such a brazen way. She tightened her hold on him, wondering what she should say next on the matter.

"It's different there. It was a terrible situation all around - for anyone even tangentially involved. There were no other options. Our very way of living was under siege and if we didn't fight back, the results could've been catastrophic. It's not the best way to solve a problem, but it was the solution we had. While we don't condone murder - and I don't think any civilization does - war is necessary at times," Strider said softly.

"I… don't know what to say," Erza said.

"There's nothing to say, really. I came down here to put some distance between war and I. It's been a peaceful change thus far, thankfully" Strider said.

"Don't you miss your home, though?" she asked.

"I do. But… this is what I need right now. Whether there's a place for me in the new age is yet to be decided," he said. Erza had no reply to that; she tightened her hold on him just in case, however. Strider did the same, letting her draw strength and warmth from him while he did the same.

'Guess some things don't change, regardless of where you go,' he thought.

"I better get going," he finally said several minutes later.

"Mm? Yes. Of course. My… apologies," Erza said, getting up and wiping her tearstained face. She felt Strider put an arm around her waist and pull her close. As she turned to face him, he wiped her cheeks for her.

"There's nothing for you to be sorry for. If you ever need to talk or something, you know where to find me," he said quietly. She smiled gratefully at the offer and nodded.

'After all, it's not very often you find a kindred spirit,' he thought, feeling a bit guilty.

"You as well. About anything," she said, giving him one more hug before he left out the window into the rain. She sighed as she watched him go.

'What a remarkable man,' she thought before closing the window and resting on her bed. She quickly fell asleep.

-o-

"Welcome back," Cana said as he sat next to her again.

"Thank you. Feeling better?" he asked.

"Ugh, don't start," she grumbled.

"As you wish. Curious, are you hungry? I'm gonna go grab a bite," he said.

"Didn't you just do that?" she wondered.

"I tried, but Erza had me eat cake instead. I'm going to need something a bit more fulfilling," he said.

"Ha. Let's go. I know a great place," Cana said. Draping his cloak around her, Cana led him to a hole-in-the-wall not to far away. Both got comfortable in a private booth and poured themselves drinks.

"How romantic. It's nice of you to wine and dine me first," Strider said with a laugh. The room was fairly dark, Cana's face only illuminated by the lacrima that lit their table.

"That's your job. The food is amazing, though - no joke," she giggled.

"Guess we'll see soon enough," he said, making his order. He soon picked the lacrima up and began to rove it around his hands, studying it closely.

"Right. They probably don't have lacrima's where you're from, hmm?" she wondered.

"Nope. We do have a few objects that remind me of this, but none are as versatile. This one appears to give off a faint glow. Is this a light lacrima?" he wondered.

"Yup. You can control the settings and make it as bright or dim as you need. They're pretty useful. It's what most lamps and other lighting equipment in Fiore are made of. I think some people still use fire, though. What about you guys?" she wondered.

"In the more rural places, they use fireplace and candles; and in larger towns, cities, and fortresses, they use eternal fire, which is fairly easy to conjure. Some of the people are able to use crystals - not unlike these - that offer a bright light," Strider said.

"Eternal fire?" Cana asked.

"Yup. It requires a slight bit of magic, but it's useful. Rain or shine, it doesn't go out until you tell it to," Strider said.

"Can you use it?" she asked.

"Mmm, I have in the past. It's not something I developed, really, but can probably pull it off in a pinch," he shrugged.

"With your Magic, I can understand why. But what about these crystals that you mentioned? What're they like?" Cana inquired.

"I brought one with me, but it's back in my room. It's a small phial filled with water from a special fountain where I come from. It serves as a light in the darkest places," Strider said with a fond smile.

"It sounds like it's special to you," Cana said softly.

"Very special," Strider nodded.

"Did you bring a lot of stuff from back home?" she asked.

"Some things. I keep most of it in a pocket dimension, not unlike Erza and Bisca. That said, I can't switch as quickly as they can; I have to stop, concentrate and open it, remove the object, and close the pocket - all consciously. Erza, I've noticed, can do it on the fly - on a subconscious level. It's stunning, really. What she does in a second would take me at least thirty seconds to a full minute," Strider said.

"Yeah, she's pretty amazing. Pretty scary as well," Cana sighed.

"I've noticed. Gray and Natsu seem to fear her quite a bit. Kind of funny," Strider chuckled.

"They know when they're beat. I remember that they used to challenge her all the time to fights. She won every single one. They still haven't learned their lesson, now that I think about it; it was just a few months ago that Natsu challenged her. Pretty sure the fight got interrupted if I remember correctly, but as you can see, she knocks him around almost every day," Cana said.

"You've been part of the guild long, then?" he wondered.

"Since I was a little girl. I've been a part of the guild for twelve years now, I think. I joined before Natsu and Erza, so Gray was the only annoying one then. My… mother had just passed away and she told me that my father was a part of Fairy Tail, so I came here," she said, eyes misting over.

"I see. Did you find him?" he asked.

"Mmm?" she wondered.

"Your father," he said.

"Oh. Um… that's…" she trailed off. Strider pierced her gaze with his but nodded.

"Perhaps it's just my imagination, but you seem to be far more serious than I initially gauged," he said softly.

"What do you mean?" Cana asked before smiling at the waitress that brought them their food; dragon rolls for her and fish and chips for Strider.

"One would assume that someone that drinks so much would be laid back and relaxed at all times. But I've noticed that you've usually an intense look on your face, as though you're contemplating something. Not when I talk to you, but otherwise," Strider said.

"Stare at me often?" she asked with a smirk.

"Can you blame me? I'd be blind otherwise," he said. Cana bit her lip as she looked at him before sighing and putting her utensils down, resting her face in her hands as she looked at her drink.

"I try to be focused. We have S-Class trials coming up soon - that's the test we have to pass before being promoted to S-Class Rank. This is my fifth trial… Mira and Erza joined after me and they both beat me to it. I've… recently been considering leaving the guild. It's not that I don't love it but… I dunno. If I can't… move up or something, I don't know if I should stick around," Cana said uneasily.

"I see. Is there any particular reason you want to be an S-Class Mage so bad?" he asked.

"I… it's something I just have to do," she said shortly. She felt his gaze again pierce her before nodding.

"I think everyone would miss you quite dearly if you were to leave. They respect you quite a bit. As boisterous as Natsu and Gray are, they seem to listen to you when you talk. Especially Gray when it comes to his stripping habit," Strider sighed, eliciting a giggle from her. She soon sullied, however, playing with her food.

"Maybe. I dunno. After you try something so many times and keep failing, though… it's hard not to lose hope," she said softly.

"I know. But the most important thing is to keep at it. I don't know if it ever gets easier, but where there's a will, there's a way," Strider said.

"Mmm…," she hummed, going back to her food.

"At the very least, I certainly want you to stick around," Strider said.

"You barely know me," she whispered.

"I know you well enough," he answered. She smiled at the reply, blushing and nodding.

"Can I ask you something?" she inquired.

"Go right ahead," he said.

"Your name," she said with a sigh.

"Ah. Still don't believe it's my real name?" he asked with a laugh.

"It's… not that. It's just that I don't think I've ever met someone with a name like yours. Usually there's the first and last, sometimes a middle. It… seems more like a title, is all," she said. Strider observed her before he sighed and nodded.

"The whole story takes somewhat of an… emotional toll on me, so I hope you'll forgive me if I just give you the basics," Strider said.

"Sure," Cana nodded.

"I was orphaned at a young age. My village was razed to the ground in an enemy attack, and it's where I lost my parents. I was… three or four and lost, walking as far as my feet would carry me. I eventually reached another village, but even so it was a while until I healed - malnourished, a fever, and more. By the time I was coherent again, the only things I remembered was what my parents looked like. Nothing else stuck with me. So one of the men in the village that took me in and mentored me gave me the name 'Strider' after the long walk. He had a single name as well, so I just never questioned it. By the time I met people with a first and last name, I was already used to being called Strider," he said.

"Three or four?" Cana asked in surprise.

"Yeah. I was lucky to get away," he said.

"I'm surprised you were able to do that much," Cana frowned.

"All's well that ends well," Strider said with wry smile. She returned it with a pained one of her own before sighing.

"God, we have some fucked up lives," she said mirthlessly.

"I'll drink to that," he agreed, clinking glasses with her before they returned to their food.

-o-

"You were right. That was a good meal," he said.

"I know, right? Best seafood in town, that's for sure," she said, smiling as he put his cloak around her and walked her to Fairy Hills.

"We should do this again soon," he said.

"I'd like that. There' s a lot of great places to eat here. Happy to show you around," she said.

"I'll take you up on that offer. Hmm… Mira's a pretty good cook as well, now that I think about it," Strider said.

"She's been cooking for her siblings since ever, I think. Thank goodness for that. I've tried Master Makarov's cooking before. I'm lucky it didn't kill me," she grimaced.

"That bad?" Strider wondered.

"Whatever you're thinking - worse," she said.

"Don't let him hear you say that," he smirked.

"Oh, he'd admit it," she replied. Sighing, she looked wistfully at the rain, which continued to pour still. Not long after, they crossed the fence to Fairy Hills.

"I seem to keep ending up back here. To bad it's girls only. Think the proprietor would make an exception?" he wondered.

"Nope. Bad influence, like Mira said," Cana smirked.

"I'm a gentlemen. Now, I suppose this is where we part. I'll see you around," he said.

"Actually, I was kind of hoping you'd something for me," she said.

"Oh? What?" he wondered.

"Mind carrying me to my room?" she asked with a smirk.

"Ha. I'm sorry?" he replied.

"I don't what it feels like to fly. Come on, I don't weigh that much. And if you do, I'll give you a reward," she said.

"Oh? What's the reward?" he wondered.

"You'll see," she said in a sing-song voice. Smirking, Strider picked her up princess style. Cana smiled as she felt his arm under her calf, gentle cradling her close. She put her arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder, leaning in as much as possible. Slowly, Strider began to easily levitate - but to her surprise, continued far above the threshold of her room. Moments later, she was wide eyed, gasping as she saw the beautiful view around her. The rain did nothing to spoil it; she saw the massive cathedral, Fairy Tail itself, the port, and thousands of homes and apartments; she could make out Lucy's specific apartment as well as the river that cut through Magnolia.

"Wow," she whispered.

"I know," Strider replied.

"You see this kind of view all the time, hmm?" she asked.

"Similar or better, yes. It's why I'm so partial to my magic," he said.

"I can believe it. This is amazing," she said. Strider kept them aloft for several minutes before slowly gliding down and entering through her window. After she dismounted and took the cloak off, she rounded and gave him a tight hug.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Not at all, Cana," Strider said.

"Seriously. That… was amazing. I'm never forgetting it," she said giddily.

"Good. Let me know whenever you want to do it again. I'm happy to oblige," he said.

"I will. Now… your reward," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. Leaning on the tips of her toes, Cana licked her lips. Strider smiled before deadpanning as she kissed him on the cheek. Giggling, she winked at him and pulled back.

"That… was not what I was expecting," he grumbled.

"Oh? What were you expecting?" she wondered innocently.

"I think you know," he said.

"You might not like to play hard to get, but I love to play. Sorry, but that's it for now," Cana said, clicking her tongue as she laid down on the bed and smirked at him.

"You're evil, Cana. Absolutely evil," he grumbled.

"I know. But seriously: thanks," she said. Strider sighed and smiled.

"Not at all. Until later?" he said, positing it as a question.

"Definitely," she replied. With a wink, Strider quickly ejected through the window. Sure he was gone, Cana quickly closed it before laying down on the bed, looking at her ceiling.

'He's a really good guy. Handsome. Kind. Strong, from what I can tell. Total package,' she thought, biting her lip. Looking towards her window once more, Cana let out a sigh. She ran her hand over her breasts and stomach before slipping them underneath her jeans. As she began going through the motions, he was heavy on her mind.

-o-

As he reentered the guild, Strider headed towards his room, only half awake. Accidentally, he bumped into Mira.

"Oh. Hey Mira, sorry about that. I didn't see you there," he said tiredly.

"It's fine," she said, beginning to go around him. As she did, he remembered what Erza told him.

"Mira. I just wanted to say I'm sorry," he said quickly.

"For what?" she asked, frowning.

"I was with Erza earlier and she told me what happened with Lisanna. I ju-," he said before Mira suddenly cut him off.

"Wait - what do you mean Erza told you?" she asked, feeling her anger rise.

"Well… we were just talking and she told me about the incident-," was all he said before she cut him off again.

"Why were you talking about me?!" she snapped.

"She was telling about herself and then Edolas and-," before again, Mira interjected.

"Look, if you want to know something about me, just ask me, alright? If I want to share something with you, I will! Otherwise, don't pry into my life!" she said, almost yelling as she poked him him hard in the left shoulder. He winced in pain, but Mira didn't seem to notice - or, if she did, showed no signs of having noticed. With that, she turned and left, tears beginning to form as she headed downstairs.

Strider opened his mouth to speak before closing it and sighing.

'Women,' he thought before heading into his room.

-o-

"Come in," Erza said as she heard a loud banging on her door. Mira soon entered, seething; it was was just before midnight and she had closed up the guild.

"Hello, Mirajane. I wasn't expecti-," Erza began before Mira cut her off.

"What the hell is your problem!?" she yelled angrily. Erza was taken aback by the vitriolic welcome.

"What do you mean?" Erza asked honestly.

"Strider just apologized to me about Lisanna dying! Why the hell did he know that? What else did you tell him?" she asked, her demon aura beginning to emanate slightly.

"We were just talking," Erza replied.

"Why were you talking about me?!" Mira demanded.

"It wasn't about you!" Erza said, her voice beginning to rise along with her anger. She didn't mind explaining the situation, but she felt that Mira was approaching it the wrong way. Yelling at her wasn't going to do anyone favors.

"The hell it wasn't!" Mira snarled back.

"I was telling about what happened with me when I was a child! And then that led to me telling him about how you and I were rivals and why that changed!" Erza said harshly, leaning in closer until their faces were almost touching. Neither could remember being so angry with the other in a long, long time.

"But WHY did you tell him about Lisanna or what happened there?! I could tell him that myself!" Mira screamed.

"It happened, Mirajane! I didn't plan it, if that's what you're thinking! Do you think the only reason I was with him was so I could gossip to him about you? How long have you known me?!" Erza roared. As she said that, Mira backed off, breathing heavily as she tried to regain control of herself; remembering where she was and who she was talking to.

'Fuck! Why the hell did I get so pissed?!' she berated herself. Her anger toned down as she began talking again.

"I… forgive me, Erza. I.. should've known. You're right…," Mira trailed off as she saw on the edge of Erza's bed, regaining control. Sighing, Erza went over and put an arm around her, giving her a hug.

"It's fine. I forgive you," she said. Mira hugged her back just as tight. Her heart fell as she remembered how she snapped at Strider as well.

"I got angry at him as well after he said that. Told him to stop prying into my life," Mira whispered sadly.

"I'm sure he won't hold it against you," Erza said.

"Talking about Strider?" another voice said; Cana was wide awake, wearing some pink pajamas she had thrown on.

"Sorry. Did I wake you?" Mira asked fretfully.

"I was already awake, but I heard you yelling at Erza so I thought I'd check out what the fuss was," she said, closing the door as she entered.

"You were with him earlier, weren't you?" Erza asked.

"How'd you know that?" Cana asked in surprise.

"I see you two walking up when I woke up to eat some more cake," Erza said. Cana let out a laugh before yawning and sitting on the floor, looking at them and sighing.

"Yeah, I was," she said.

"What did you two talk about?" Mira wondered, chastising herself for her hypocrisy. She had just screamed at Erza about talking to Strider about her, and now she was doing the same for him.

"Just the S-Class Trials. He… told me how he got his name," Cana said uneasily. The story stuck with her. Erza and Mira looked at each other in surprise before focusing on Cana, silently asking her to tell them everything. Cana sighed before nodding. As she told them, Mira gulped while Erza grimaced; it lined up with what he had told her, excluding this specific bit.

"Yes, that's about in line with what he had shared with me earlier - although he didn't mention that they gave him his name," she said.

"What do you mean?" Cana frowned.

"I told him about my experience at the Tower of Heaven… and with Jellal. In turn, he told me about his past," Erza said.

"What is it? You look pale, Erza," Cana said.

Taking a deep breath, Erza began to recount what Strider had told her. Wonder turned into the shock and horror as she continued. Cana and Mira shivered at the mention of cannibalism; both felt as though they would be sick. While Mira had seen some grisly things, this was more than she was able to stomach. Even dark guilds in Fiore never resorted to eating the flesh a human. Cana had to hold her dinner in forcefully, her hand over her mouth as an aid. There was bad, worse, terrible, and horrific; this eclipsed and lapped them all.

"What the fuck…?" she said under her breath.

"Yes… that was my reaction," Erza grimaced.

"I feel worse now… if that's even possible," Mira said, recoiling.

"He seems so normal. You would think that if you saw people… eating other people, that'd fuck you up for life," Cana said, aghast.

"I… imagine that he's not completely okay. But he has had a long time to deal with it," Erza offered.

"It doesn't matter how long you have… that's not just something you can put behind you!" Cana said mirthlessly.

"I agree with that…," Mira gulped. She suddenly remembered the scars that she had seen at the hotel after Strider killed the monster in the cavern. Seeing the look, Cana and Mira raised an eyebrow.

"What? What is it?" Cana urged her.

"The last job we went on… Strider got drenched. I… saw him changing. I don't think I've seen such bad scarring in my life. His entire back is… covered in scars and brands," Mira said. The other two were stunned by the revelation.

"You're exaggerating, Mirajane," Erza said, although she couldn't believe what she was saying.

"I'm not. I'm not, Erza. There's three huge ones going down his back. Like… a monster clawed him or something. It's… I… don't know what happened, but… a lot definitely did," Mira said.

"That explains it…," Cana suddenly whispered.

"Explains what?" Erza asked.

"Umm… I ran my hand down his stomach earlier today. There's a lot of what feels like ridges or breaks. I couldn't tell what it was earlier, but if you're right, Mira, I think there might be more scarring on his front," Cana gulped.

"What… happened to him there?" she asked fearfully.

"A lot," was all Erza said.

"I'm… gonna head back to my room. Good night, you guys," Cana said, rushingly exiting. Immediately, she bumped into Bisca, who had a surprised look on her face as well. Cana licked her lips before sighing, nodding at her to follow her. The green haired beauty wasted no time in doing so.

"I'm going to head back as well. I need to go apologize. Thanks, Erza. Again, sorry," Mira said.

"Don't fret, Mira. Umm… let me know how it goes tomorrow," Erza said. With a nod, Mira left.

-o-

"Come in," Strider said as he heard a knocking on the door. He closed the book he was reading and looked to the door, surprised as the white-haired beauty entered.

"Oh, Mira. Hello. What can I do for you?" he asked, getting up.

"Hey. I just wanted to apologize," Mira said softly.

"Apologize? For what?" he asked in confusion.

"For my reaction earlier," she said uneasily, not looking at him.

"Don't worry about it. It's not a big deal," he said.

"I am worried about it. I snapped at you for no reason. I'm so sorry," she said, finally lifting her head up.

"It's fine. I can understand where you're coming from. You were right; if anyone should've told me that story, it should've been you," Strider said warmly. As she looked at him, tears began to well up in her eyes. Worried, Strider crossed the distance between them and enveloped her in a tight hug that she returned just as tightly. She began to cry full force into his chest, her emotions beginning to overwhelm her. Saying nothing, Strider led her to the bed and gently laid down, bringing her on top. She accepted the offer and held on tight, feeling some weight lift off her as he gently rubbed her back in comfort. However, it didn't do much to stem the tears; he would have to wait it out.

Minutes later, Mira slowly began to regain control over herself. She surreptitiously felt his stomach, her heart falling as she confirmed what Cana said; the ridges and breaks felt like more scarring. There didn't feel to be as many as were on his back; however, these seemed to be much longer. Finally, she spoke.

"I was really young when it happened. Our parents had died really early on, so it was up to me to take care of Lisanna and Elfman. It was alright for a while… or as alright as it could be. Then when I was thirteen, my Magic showed for the first time. I didn't even know I was a wizard. A Demon had attacked a church and I ended up using my Takeover on it. I beat the Demon, but the people thought that I was a monster. It was just by luck that I ended up at Fairy Tail. Master Makarov told me I wasn't possessed or anything and he let me join the guild. But I was scared at the time… scared that I might hurt others. I tried to leave, but didn't tell my siblings. They caught me quickly, though and showed me that they were working on Takeover Magic as well so I wouldn't feel alone," Mira said, crying again as she did when she found out what they did for her.

"They love you," Strider whispered comfortingly. She nodded into his chest before continuing.

"I wasn't a good person then. I got into fights with everyone; I bullied Macao and Wakaba; Natsu and Gray; and I fought constantly with Erza. We were like sisters, to be honest; just always at each others throats. Then when I was sixteen, I made S-Class, the year after Erza. When I was seventeen, though… fuck… sorry. When I was seventeen, I made a really stupid choice; I let Elfman and Lisanna accompany me on a mission. I thought I could do anything. We ended up beating The Beast, but then Elfman lost control when he took it over. He attacked me and then Lisanna; but after he saw what he did to her, he reverted back. Her body disappeared and that's when I changed. It just… shocked me so much. I lost my parents… and then I lost my kid sister," Mira said, crying in full force again. She felt Strider rest his lips atop her head and was thankful for the touch.

"I lost my will to fight. I even lost my Magic Power. I couldn't use my Takeover again and Elfman stopped doing full Takeovers as well. He didn't want a repeat of the incident. He finally got control back, though. During our fight against Phantom Lord, he had to use The Beast to save me. And then when Laxus attacked, I had to use my Takeover against Freed. He was so close to killing Elfman, I just snapped. And then… just a few months later, Lisanna came back from Edolas. I've never been so happy… and I had never cried so much," Mira said, her voice shuddering.

"And then… with your fight against that thing. I'm so sorry… I was completely useless. I couldn't… even get the snow out of the way. You could've died… just like them," Mira cried.

"Don't worry about that, Mira. Everything turned out for the best. But… I can understand why you don't like to talk about it. It's draining to discuss something like that. I… thank you for tell me, though. It means a lot to me," Strider said.

"I trust you," Mira said honestly. Despite his short time in the guild, she had very grown attached to him. After learning more from Erza and Cana, she felt that Strider, at the very least, could understand some of what she had gone through - perhaps even much of it.

"I… went to see Erza after I yelled at you. I'm sorry, Strider… but she told me about some of what had happened to you. I hope you're not angry," Mira said quickly, looking up. Strider frowned before cracking an infinitesimal smile. Bringing a hand up, he gently wiped her tears away. Mira noted that his hands were rough, likely from having been used so much in fighting; but surprisingly, they were the warmest thing she could recall in a long time.

"I understand. Curiosity isn't a problem," he whispered.

"She told me about what happened with your parents… and the man that helped you and named you. I… I understand if you don't want to talk about it, but…," Mira trailed off, leaving it open ended. Strider thought about it before sighing; it was bound to happen sooner or later, he figured.

"I don't want to go into much of it right now. It's late and we should get to sleep soon. That said… what do you want to know?" he asked wearily. Mira gulped; she could tell he didn't want to talk about the subject immediately, but curiosity overwhelmed her; she just had to.

"What happened after your training?" she wondered.

"Let's see… I was four when I arrived there. I started my training maybe a month later, after my fever had gone down and I was able to move on my recognizance. My mentor… he began training me in his brand of power - Telekinesis - immediately afterward. I had a knack for it, you could say. I learned the basics in around a year and then began to develop on that for several years afterwards. My whole time there, I made excuses to go back to my village to see if anything had changed. Visit after visit, it was the same hellhole as when it was burned down. When I was around nine or ten, however, I left. While child soldiers weren't the norm, you could still find them easily. Young boys were encouraged to pick up the sword at eight or nine, although most never developed it much - either because they died or simply lacked the resource or training to continue - but usually, the former. I tagged up with small groups of freedom fighters here and there; they didn't have to feed me much and I was taught to be fairly resourceful by then. I did whatever I could - scouting, defending, raids, etc. I was the only one in the group that could use Magic to any extent, so I was always involved in something. Built upon my training as well as I could and it was good for a while - we ended up purging the enemy from our little plot of land for a while. Eventually, we were set upon by a larger force. I was away at the time; when I came back, most of the men were killed. I found out from one of the guys that lived for a few hours longer than two of our men hadn't returned form a scouting mission; I found their corpses later on," Strider said, exhaling deeply.

Mira shuddered as he casually recounted his past. His voice was devoid of any emotion, his tone callous and spouting off facts without any inflection. She wondered if he had seen so much death and carnage that it was all by the by for him? Unable to offer any words of comfort, she held him a bit tighter. Strider smiled at the gesture before continuing.

"After that event, I resolved to roaming the continent. I had to learn more, train more… I had to do everything more. I joined some forces here and there and made a lot of friends. We all had the same goal, so we could always find something to talk about. It was mostly what we'd do after we got some peace. Ha. Some guys wanted to started a family, others wanted to explore, while others wanted to drink the nights away. All valid reasons. Hmm… that's actually around the time that I learned to use Tamer Magic, actually. I had helped an old man out of a forest called Mirkwood. It was famous for being extremely easy to get lost in, but I was able to create sort of telekinetic tethers that I could use to weave in and out. He taught me how to effectively establish connections with animals; immediately after we parted, I began using it on everything. Crebain, Kine of Araw, wrens, Mearas, wargs, ravens. It's a skill that's still paying out in dividends today," he said with a fond chuckle, thinking back to the feathery friend he made on his first job. Mira wanted to ask about the animals he spoke about - the only one she knew of was a raven - but he began talking again.

"But… time flew. A year became two, became five, became ten. I spent those years training and getting as strong as I could. Every year, I found out there was someone stronger or better than me; people that had decades of experience, if not more. So I learned how to adapt. It wasn't enough that I just be able to manipulate things with my magic; it'd eventually prove useless in one situation or another. So I picked up new things here and there; not very often, but what I did learn was useful. I fought in different conditions - against flying beasts; a massive, water dwelling octopus; entire hordes of the enemy by myself. One of my friends that I recruited later on taught me his brand of power. Another taught me how to effectively tap my emotions. He recounted a tale of a group of wild people to the north called 'berserkers'. They could end a state of unhinged rage where nothing, not even deadly wounds, could stop them. It's… not something I use often because of how unpredictable it is, but it's another notch that I added. I joined a small group of fighters again. We did well in removing enemy presence in a small region, but we eventually encountered a large force. It was a massacre on both sides. We managed to win, but only myself and three others survived. Two of them died from their wounds later on," Strider said, his breath shuddering. Mira gripped him tighter as she felt the tears threaten to return and flow again. As she thought about the guild, she didn't think anyone else had a similar upbringing to his. Many of them were orphans, but they quickly found a family in Fairy Tail. With Strider, however, it was battle after battle after battle with seemingly zero rest in-between. Fiore - and Ishgar - hadn't been in a large scale war in a century, as Mira recalled; they had good relations with their neighbors and Alvarez had been quiet. Certainly no one she could think of had been personally involved in large scale warfare; the most they dealt with were dark guilds, and even those didn't end up in mass casualties or the slaughter of entire towns. She wondered what she could do or say to comfort him. Strider had an idea of what she was thinking and sighed, running a hand through her hair. She shivered pleasurably at the intimate touch.

"Don't worry about me, Mira. I'm still alive. There' something to be said for that," he whispered.

"No! That should be a given! You… deserved to have a better life than what you had. I'm so sorry," she said, tightening her hold around his neck as she hugged him.

"You're very kind. But there's nothing to be done about that now," he whispered.

"I know. But that doesn't mean that I have to like it," she said. He had no response to that. After a pause, she was about to ask him to continue but he quickly spoke before she could.

"Hey, if it's alright with you, Mira, could we continue this another time? I'm… feeling a bit drained," he said.

"Sure. That's not problem. If… are you okay with me telling Erza or Cana? I… know they're going to ask me what happened tonight," she said. Strider clicked his tongue before answering.

"Go ahead," he said, sighing heavily.

"Alright. Good night, Strider. Sweet dreams," she said, giving him a tight hug.

"To you as well. Here, take this," he said, wrapping his cloak around her; the rain was still pouring. She smiled and thanked him with a kiss on the cheek before turning the lights off and leaving for home. As she as she closed the door, Strider collapsed into his chair, his head resting in his hands as he tried to shake off the haunting memories. It was to no avail; the faces of the dead began to circle around his minds eye. It shifted into a stream of thought of the events that would finally lead to peace in the land that God-forsaken land.