If there was one thing Ren had quickly learned about Fairy Tail, it was that peace was a temporary illusion. Especially when it involved Natsu Dragneel.
Barely two days after returning from the Ruins near Fiore's border, the guild had returned to its usual chaos. Chairs flew across the hall, Gray was shirtless again, and Natsu was in a fistfight with Elfman over a dropped meat bun.
Ren sat quietly near the window, nursing a small cup of tea. Erza had insisted on rest, especially after the vision he'd received near the black crystal, but rest was hard when the building shook every ten minutes from explosions labeled "friendly spars."
He watched Natsu launch himself over a table, flames erupting from his feet. Gray threw up a wall of ice in response, and the blast sent a chunk of wall flying into Cana's cards.
"I SWEAR TO ALL THINGS SACRED, ONE OF YOU IS PAYING FOR THAT!" she yelled, hurling an entire keg at both of them.
Ren sighed. "This place is insane."
Erza stepped beside him, arms crossed. "Yes. And yet… it's home."
Then came the moment Ren would remember for a long time.
---
It started with a joke. The worst kind—a Natsu joke.
He stomped over to Ren, flames flickering off his fists.
"Oi, new guy," he said, grinning. "I heard you've got some weird magic. Anti-what now?"
Ren sipped his tea. "Anti-Dragon Slayer Magic."
Natsu's eyebrows shot up. "Hah?! You're an Anti-Dragon Slayer? What, you eat dragons backward or something?"
Ren blinked. "… That's not even logically sound."
"Pfft. Sounds made up," Natsu said, poking Ren in the forehead. "Magic that cancels dragons? Get real. The only thing that cancels a dragon is a bigger punch."
"Or, you know," Gray muttered, "a bit of actual strategy."
"Shut it, snow cone."
"Make me, matchstick."
Ren stood up slowly, placing his cup on the window ledge. "You want a demonstration?"
"Ohhh no," Mirajane said from behind the bar, already holding a towel in one hand. "Not again."
"I just wanna see if it actually works," Natsu said, stretching his arms. "C'mon! One tiny blast!"
Makarov, who was scribbling paperwork behind a stack of barrels, didn't even look up. "If you destroy the roof again, you're both on plumbing duty for a month."
"Noted," Ren said calmly, cracking his knuckles.
The guild gathered around as Natsu and Ren stepped into the training yard. Word spread quickly—Natsu was about to throw down with the new kid, the Anti-Dragon. Bets were placed, chairs were dragged, and Levy started writing "Day Natsu Got Burned" at the top of a notebook.
"Alright," Natsu said, fists lighting up. "Don't hold back!"
Ren didn't reply. He just lowered into a stance, eyes calm, focused.
Natsu charged like a wildfire. "FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST!"
A straight punch wrapped in flame rocketed toward Ren.
Ren raised his hand and let his Anti-Magic pulse.
Fwoomp.
The fire vanished mid-air. Natsu's fist hit nothing but a strange wall of cold pressure—like the air had turned into stone. His momentum collapsed, and he stumbled forward.
"What the—?"
Ren stepped aside and flicked Natsu's forehead. A ripple of black mist flared, and Natsu tumbled backward, coughing smoke.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"
"You asked for a demonstration."
Natsu got up, face singed. "Okay, okay! Round two!"
This time, he leapt into the air. "FIRE DRAGON ROAR!"
A swirling inferno surged toward Ren like a flame tsunami.
Ren narrowed his eyes, thrust out both arms—
"Void Seal: Dragon's Silence."
The blast vanished.
Not dispersed. Not reflected.
It was just… gone.
Erza, arms crossed near the sidelines, let out a breath. "He's improving."
The crowd was stunned.
Even Natsu just floated in midair for a moment before crashing into the dirt.
Ren walked over, offering a hand. "Want to try again?"
Natsu groaned. "Ugh. I got burned… by someone who doesn't even use fire…"
Gray strolled up with a smirk. "Looks like the salamander got snuffed."
"Shut up, Ice Princess."
Erza walked over and placed a hand on both their heads. "Enough. Good spar. No fatalities. Let's call that a win."
The crowd dispersed, buzzing about the fight.
Ren felt a tap on his shoulder. Mirajane handed him a glass of juice. "Not bad. You're the first one to shut Natsu down in under two moves."
"Wasn't trying to hurt him," Ren said.
"Oh, we know," Mira giggled. "You just hurt his ego."
---
Later that night, Ren sat alone on the rooftop, the stars above glittering like scattered sparks.
Natsu joined him, bandages wrapped around his forehead.
"You're strong," he admitted. "But your magic… it's weird. Feels like it wants to erase everything."
Ren nodded. "It does. That's why I'm afraid of it."
Natsu leaned back. "You shouldn't be. If you've got power that strong, just means you've gotta find a reason to use it right."
Ren looked at him, surprised.
Natsu smiled lazily. "We all got stuff that makes us dangerous. Fire, ice, swords, explosions. It's not about what it is. It's who's holding it."
He stood and stretched. "Next time we fight, I'm gonna hit you before your void eats my roar."
"Next time," Ren said with a small smile, "I won't hold back."