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Disclaimer I do not own Fairy Tail. Why would I be writing fanfiction if I owned something like that?

Beta Reader: volfwildman

It's been a week since I joined the guild. Turns out Fairy Tail wasn't yet considered the number one guild. That title still belonged firmly to Phantom Lord. Not to say that Fairy Tail wasn't considered a top guild. Just not number one.

I hadn't planned to spend a lot of time in the guildhall but that changed when I learned about a small library in the guildhall. Turns out that the small library had some good books on magic. I ended up spending a good few hours every day at the guild reading those books.

Learned some interesting things, like Deep Bonding. A far stronger Bond between magic and mage that allows a mage to push their magic to the uppermost limit. Unfortunately, it becomes near impossible to use any other form of magic. Interesting but I'm not planning to lock myself with only illusions.

Currently, I was seated at one of the tables in the corner of the guild reading through a book on the magic system in the body. Most of the older mages of the guild had learned that I wasn't a normal kid. At first many of them tried to interact with me like how most adult interacts with an 11-year-old. It was not fun.

But after a few days, they knew that I was pretty much an adult in a kid's body (More than they'll ever know…). The only adults at this point that tried to make conversation with me were Macao, Wakaba, and the guild master. Not sure why both Macao and Wakaba still try but for the most part I just ignore them.

So, when I felt someone walking towards my table I prepared to fully ignore them and keep reading. "Lad." said an old and rough voice that I recognized.

I look up from the book to see the leader of this guild standing on one of the chairs across the table. He had his hands behind his back as he gave me a contemplated look. "How have you been enjoying the guild?"

"It been fine sir," I say with an even voice. Why was he asking? Did it look like being here was horrible and painful?

Makarov let out a little hum before saying "You been thinking about taking any jobs Lad?"

I did think about taking a job or two just to test out my abilities, so I simply replied with a nod. The guild master gives a little smile at this before pulling something out from behind him and placing it on the table. It was a job request.

"Saw it on the board." He says with a smile "Figured it would be a great start for ya lad." He slides it over to me before heading to the bar with a spring in his step.

After staring at his retreating figure for a few seconds, contemplating why he would even keep an eye out for a job for me to do. I then proceeded to look over the request.

Seemed like a standard job sent to mage guilds. Some non-magical bandits had come and taken some valuables. They were currently hiding out in the woods by the town. Simply find bandits, defeat them, and return with them and the valuables. Looked like a perfect way to test my abilities.

It seemed like a bit of a big job for a kid but one thing I've quickly learned about this world was how much of an equalizer magic is. A kid with decent magic power could very easily take on a group of adults with no magic. Just look at how mages like Natsu or Erza could take on B or A rank quest as kids. Heck didn't Erza become an S-class mage at the age of 15 or 16?

Rune Knights could fight mages due to all the enchanted equipment they were given that were made to countermagic. Combine that with years of train and their own personal magic, there's a reason why you don't mess with them.

I take a moment to glance at the guild master and wonder once again why he'd go out of his way for me. Some random kid that joined his guild a week ago.

I ended up just shrugging and getting up from the table to turn the book back in. Afterward, I'd inform mom I would be out late and jump on a train to the town of the job.

Mom had been understanding of the job but still forced me to take food and water with me despite knowing I wouldn't need it. Luckily, I had just enough room in my hammerspace for it all.

The hammerspace Is a pocket dimension provided by Requip magic. The better you are with the magic the larger hammerspace gets and the ability to do it faster. My hammerspace is rather small, only able to fight my saber, some small vials of poison and the food supplies.

I doubted that I'd be able to get it much bigger. The Bond just really messed with my ability to tune to other types of magic. At best I'd probably be able to double the space but that just about it.

After a short train ride, I ended up in Shimmer town. Decently large place, not as large as Kingston but still large. I followed the streets for a bit and after some directions from the locals I ended up at the mayor's office.

He was not impressed. "You're the mage that came to accept the request." He said in an annoyed voice that had a hint of sadness to it.

Ok yes, I'm 11 years old but I'm still a mage. Really wish non-magic users would put in the effort to learn about magic. It would make things so much easier. I cannot wait until I had some height on my body. It would make life so much easier.

"Yes, I am the Fairy Tail mage that accepted the request," I say in a calm and serious voice. He gives me a raised eyebrow before letting out a sigh.

"Kid those bandits stole some rather special things from our town. If you think you can get those things back, then go ahead." He says with a bit of a sad voice.

I give him a nod before heading out of the office. Just before I leave I stop and turn back to him. "You'll get your stuff back," I say in a firm voice before heading out.

I made my way to the woods on the west side of town. The bandits would be in there and I need to get them out. A small smile appears on my face. This would be my first taste of battle, something that would show me what I could truly do.

That small smile slowly turned into the inhuman smile that I inherited from Mom. Unlike her smile which was warm and kind mine was cold and unnerving. I soon went into the dark woods. That smile still on my face as I spread my magic through the trees preparing to cast a spell that I had been waiting to use ever since its creation.

I had been practicing this magic since I had been 5 years old. 6 long years of fine-tuning every small detail. Illusions were not limited by Magic cost nor the strength of the body like most magic but by the mage's mind. My mind that was well into adulthood and is ready to finally see the fruit of its labor.

As the forest soon surround me and the bright light of day seemed to fade to a light gloom, I muttered out three words.

"A Nightmare Cometh"

(Bandits 3rd Person)

The forest of Shimmer was rather thick and gloomy. It stretched for a few miles and was rather easy to get lost in. This was why the Bandits Brothers had chosen to stay relatively close to the edge of the forest to camp out.

The bandits were all brothers. Tom the tall lanky oldest followed by Bob the fat slob, Jim the religious nut, Mac the beef head and the youngest Jon the little guy. If you can't tell by their rather simplistic names and choice in career their parents did not give them enough love.

Now each of the brothers were having a great time. Having stolen some rather nice stuff from a nearby town along load of food and beer too. Naturally, they were consuming said food and beer now as a fire raged in the middle of their party.

Tim and Mac were having a grand old-time arm wrestling, Bob was eating like there was no tomorrow, Tom was keeping watch being the responsible older sibling and Jon ever the lightweight was passed out drunk on the side of the camp.

"Hey Tom, come on man get some food and beer down that belly of yours," said Bob with a grand laugh as he patted his fat belly. Food all over his shirt and left pant leg wet from some split beer.

"Someone's got to keep watch Bob," said Tom with a tired voice. He loved his brothers but sometimes he wished they would act their age.

There was a shout of excitement as Mac beat Jim in the arm wrestle. Mac turned to Tom and said, "Come on bro, have some fun." Tom replied with an annoyed voice "That town is going to eventually hire someone to get the stuff back. Until we leave I'm not taking any chances."

Soon Tom was arguing with his two younger brothers. Jim was nursing his hand ignoring his sibling when he notices something odd. "Hey, is it me or his the forest more dark than before?"

Hearing his brother, Tom started looking around. Jim was right it was far darker than it had been a few minutes before. It should be day out right now, but anybody could very easily mistake it for night. Even in the thick forest, it shouldn't be this dark out right now.

The brothers keep looking around before Mac spoke up "Bros the animals are all quite." He was right all the sounds of the forest had gone silent. No animal made any noise.

The Bandit Brothers tense as they keep their guards up. Soon small but noticeable sounds started up around the camp. Little things like rustling grass and crunching leaves. Just as the brothers were about to act a low howl traveled through the forest as wind picked up around the camp.

If the brother had been paying more attention they would have noticed the fact that they did not feel any wind on their skin.

Soon the howling wind increase as the fire in the middle of the camp rapidly flickered. Before any brother could do anything the fire simply went out and darkness surrounded them with only the lightest of illumination filling the void.

Each brother started to swear and scream but before any could make a true fuss Tom took a magic lantern from his belt and lit it up. The camp was once again filled with light, but the darkness seemed to cling to the edges of the light, trying it's hardest to consume the small light.

None of the brothers notice that there was still a light heat in the air where the fire had been.

The younger brothers gathered around the oldest each with some weapon out. As they looked around Bob notice a rather chilling detail "Uuuuuuuhh guys where's Jon?"

The other brothers' eyes snapped to the location of their youngest brother only to find it empty. Panic started to build up in them as they looked all around the light to find their littlest brother.

Nothing.

Tom started to frantically search around with his lantern. He refused to lose any of his family. "Jonny! Where are you!?" He starts to shout into the dark. That's when he and his brothers heard a low chuckle from the side of the camp.

All of them turned to face the origin of the noise. Ready to attack and save their youngest from danger.

They were not prepared to see what they saw.

It stood beside a small tree as it looked down on them. It appears to be a silhouette of a man but no light cling to it like it was afraid of this being. It was easily a foot taller than any normal man and had lanky arms to its side. What looked like antlers stuck out of its head wildly but its most notable feature was its eyes.

Pure white.

"What the hell," said Tom in a low whisper. The thing in front of him gave off a slight aura of dread. After a few seconds, he regained full control of his voice once again.

"You! What the hell are you?! And where is our brother!?" Tom's voice came out loud but shaken. His younger brothers still hadn't broken out of the spell of fear this creature seemed to have cast upon them.

Another low chuckle was let of the thing as it tilted its head at the brothers. "More lost ones for the forest." It said simply with a deep and calm voice that echoes through the dark woods. It had unnerved Tom to no ended.

"Where is Jon!?" Tom once again shouted. His need to protect his family just barely pushed the fear away.

The thing once again spoke "Don't worry for him lost one. You and the other while soon join him. It is the fate of all lost in these woods." Each word filled the brothers with panic.

"Where is he!?" Tom put his short-sword in front of him to try and threaten the creature. The thing only tilted its head to the other side before turning slightly to face the tree beside it. It took some steps back before motioning to the small tree.

Tom took a few hesitant steps forward before shining his lantern's light onto the tree. Absolute horror filled him, and his brothers as they looked upon the small still growing tree.

It was visually but slowly growing out of the ground but the thing that had all their attention was what was on the side of the tree.

Their youngest brother's wooden face. Twisted in horror and pain.

Every brother took a step back in horror. Bob was soon throwing up all the contents of his stomach onto the ground. Mac was on his knees, muscled arms lay limply to his side as he wordlessly staring wide-eyed at the remains of his young brother, mouth dropped in sheer disbelief. Jim was quietly mumbling swears while also trying to say a pray for whatever god was listening.

Tom just stared at the tree. Millions of thoughts passed through his head before all of them came to a stop. Anger twisted onto his face as he took steps forward to the creature. He shined his lantern onto the creature as he prepared to strike with his blade.

He froze mid-swing.

The thing stepped back into the darkness but not before the eldest brother saw what he was facing.

It was a creature made purely of wood and plants. Branches twisted to form the shape of a man as small vines covered its body. The antlers were just branches shooting out of his head and his eyes were just balls of white light. The thing that made him freeze though was not any of that. No. It was the creature's body that caused him to freeze or rather what was on its body.

Faces. Dozens of faces. Each turned wooden and twisted in pain and despair. Their eye sockets were empty, same with their open mouths but even then, they were more than expressive enough to show what they were feeling in their last moments.

Tom couldn't move as he just stared at the now shadowed creature. "What…. the fuck." He lightly muttered. Fear smothered any feeling of protecting his kin.

The creature let out once again a low chuckle before speaking "The fate of those lost within these woods. A fate that you will soon share." It slowly lifted its hand before quickly swiping it to the right.

Just as the hand swipe the lantern's light was consumed by darkness.

There was a single second of silence as darkness took its place among what was once light before chaos took hold. A chorus of screams were heard as they echoed through the forest but soon that chorus lost number. Before long there was only one voice remaining before it too was silenced. The only sound remaining was a low chuckle filling the gloomy woods.

(Bishop's Pov)

I counted my newly gained jewels. A solid 10,000 jewels. About 100 dollars in this world. As I did a Rune Knight was loading the still bodies of the Bandit Brothers into a jail transport vehicle.

All the while the Mayor could only stare at his recently returned wedding ring, the only thing he had to remember his deceased wife. After a few seconds, he proceeded to stare at me instead. "How?!" He lightly shouted. I just roll my eyes as I say "Magic."

The mayor continued to look at me before throwing his arms at the bandits "Ok but why are they literally frozen in fear?" At this, I give a side look at the criminals.

I had used an interesting poison on them. It was called Stone Flesh. It would tighten the muscles and toughen them up too. In little amounts, it could make flesh act as armor and even slow down bleeding at the cost of some mobility. In large amounts it caused the person to go into a coma (for only a few hours of course) while their body completely frozen in whatever position there were in.

It was one of the more expensive poisons on the market but it had been rather simple to grow so that was a nice way to save money. Wasn't very fun testing the stuff out though.

This poison was why all the bandits were in various positions all with utter fear etched into their faces. One even had his hands together in a pray stance as he looked up to the sky.

I turn to the mayor before just shrugging and started walking to the train station "Guess they saw something scary."

I took a step out of the guildhall before taking a few more steps to the right of the doors and started leaning against the building.

I had just got done giving the guild master a report on my job. The man was very happy and gave me a very hard pat on the back before heading off to go drink.

The guild master just kept confusing me. He didn't need to be the one I reported the job completion to, but he insisted he do it. Why was that man so invested in me?

I just sighed as I started to think about the job itself. It was far too easy. The bandits didn't even once suspect that nothing was real even after I failed to produce the feeling of wind on their skin nor the failed suppression of heat from the fire. I need to do a few more jobs to see what my limits are. The money was a rather nice bonus though.

At least I got to test out A Nightmare Cometh. It basically an illusion took whatever horror the caster could conjure up in their mine and showed it with a slight aura of dread for effect. It turned out good but there is always room for improvement. Mainly getting the sense of touch down and improving the dread aura.

I stayed leaning against the wall for about a minute as I went over the details of the nightmare illusion in my head and what I could do to improve when someone stepped out of the tavern. It was Cana.

She took a few steps forward before stopping and letting out a slow groan of misery. She apparently hadn't noticed me.

I could tell something was wrong with her. It was just in the aura that she gave off. I debated saying something or just letting her leave. Not like she was my problem. I was just about to go with option B before a feeling started up in me. The same feeling from the funeral. One that I had been able to fully feel since then.

Guilt.

Why? Why was I feeling guilty? I had no obligation to help with whatever her problem was. I was trying to get the feeling to go away when I looked at her again. I saw a little girl who was sad and depressed. One that I provide help for.

"What's wrong," I say in an even-toned voice. Cana nearly jumps in the air before turning to face me. A look of shock and surprise written all over her face.

"Bishop?" She says confused. Oh, good she remembered my name. It makes this a little easier. I continue looking at her and say "Again. What's wrong."

She gives a flustered look before looking down and mumbling out "Nothing."

I raise an eyebrow. "Really because it looks like something wrong," I say with a skeptical voice.

She gives me a determined look before saying "Yes, now will you-." She stops talking as loud gurgling sounds comes from her stomach.

She looks to the side embarrassed as I raised my eyebrow even higher "So nothing's wrong huh." I say in a tad bit of a teasing voice. She looks to the side before sigh and looking at me.

"I had to spend all my money on rent ok. Fairy Hills is expensive, even with the kid discount. I don't have any food at home either." She says in a bit of a pained voice before her stomach starts up again.

"And you didn't ask for any food from the guild why?" I say with a bit of a deadpan stare. She just looks to the side before saying "I'm a Fairy Tail mage. I don't need help." she says this with a bit of a grumble before turning away from me. Ah, so she was just being a stubborn little kid.

"Doesn't matter. I'll just go to bed and do a job for food in the morning." I wanted to just leave. She had just said she would be fine and didn't need my help. I could just go home and treat this like it never happened.

But she would go to sleep hungry. A little girl no more than six years old. I grit my teeth before sighing. "Come on," I say as I walk ahead of her.

She gives me a confused look. I just look back at her before saying "My Mom has dinner waiting for when I get home. I'm sure she has enough for all of us."

"But-." she starts before her stomach lets out another grumble. She looks a tad bit embarrassed before looking up at me. "Well, I guess a little food would be fine."

I just roll my eyes before I started to walk down the road to head to my house. Sorry I meant mansion. From the corner of my eyes, I could see Cana follow be from behind. At least that annoying feeling of guilt was going away.

This was fine. I would lead her to my home. She would get a little to eat. She would go to her home. Then next morning we would both forget about it and nothing would change. At best she would owe me a favor for later. This changed nothing.

I should have realized that I was just tempting fate again.

AN: Whelp that was fun. A bit longer my standard chapter-length but I really like writing that horror part. Can anyone guess what the creature is based on?

Thanks once again to volfwildman for being a Beta. Just updated his Naruto story if you want to check that out. A thank you to verycoolname for the nice little chat we had about the story. Also thanks to Rain Sennin for leaving a review about why he left the story rather than just leaving the story.

You know what helps a little story grow into a novel? Reviews, good or bad. Feed the literature.

Have a great day.

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