If there was one thing Ren had learned since joining Fairy Tail, it was that quiet moments never lasted.
The guild hall was louder than usual that morning, filled with crashing mugs, loud belly laughs, and Natsu's usual chaos. Ren sat by the wall, eating in silence, trying not to draw attention. It didn't work.
"Hey, Void Boy!" Natsu's voice cut across the room. "Wanna spar?"
Ren looked up, eyes narrowing slightly. "Why?"
"Because you've been dodging me since you fried my arm two weeks ago!"
"That was an accident," Ren muttered.
"All the more reason to settle it!" Natsu pounded his fist into his palm, fire already licking along his arms. "C'mon! Let's see if your spooky magic can handle a real Dragon Slayer!"
Ren sighed. He had been warned by Gildarts, coached by Erza, and glared at by half the guild at least once. But something about Natsu — reckless, genuine Natsu — made him pause.
He stood. "Fine. Just don't burn the yard down."
"No promises!"
---
Outside, the members of Fairy Tail had already gathered around the makeshift training yard. Gray leaned against a post, arms crossed. Erza stood with Mira on the sidelines, observing closely.
"Ten jewel says Natsu goes down first," Cana said, sipping from her mug.
"I'll take that bet," Levy replied, grinning.
As the two boys took their places in the dirt arena, Makarov's voice boomed from the second-floor balcony.
"This is a friendly spar. No killing blows, no magic explosions that tear holes in space-time, and for the love of all things holy — do not level the guild again!"
Everyone chuckled. Even Ren allowed a faint smirk.
---
Natsu launched forward without warning — a living comet of flame. His first strike was a wide arc of fire-imbued punches, meant to overwhelm rather than connect.
Ren's instincts kicked in. Void Form: Slipstream activated instantly — his body becoming momentarily translucent as he dodged with unnatural speed.
He reappeared behind Natsu and jabbed with a pulse of null energy.
Natsu turned just in time, blocking it with a flame-covered forearm. The null and the fire collided — and crackled.
Natsu was thrown back several feet, smoking slightly.
He grinned. "That all you got?"
"You want more?" Ren asked, eyes glowing faintly with voidlight.
"You bet I do!"
---
Round two was faster. Natsu's fire danced with controlled chaos, his fists moving with years of combat experience. Ren countered with rapid bursts of void pulses, nullifying flame strikes just enough to keep himself from getting scorched.
But something was happening — something neither of them expected.
Every time fire met void… the air twisted.
Space warped. Heat vanished, but not like normal. It bent, as if both elements couldn't exist side by side.
Gray noticed it first. "Is it just me, or is the air getting... wrong?"
"It's unstable," Erza muttered. "The Void is rejecting Natsu's flame. But not like with normal magic."
Makarov appeared beside her, brows furrowed. "Of course. Dragon Slayer magic is primal. Living. And Ren's magic is… anti-life. They're opposites in a way nothing else is."
Back in the ring, Natsu felt it too. His flames weren't burning the way they should. The heat felt muffled.
Ren's hand trembled slightly. "Your fire… it fights back. It doesn't want to be erased."
Natsu grinned. "Then don't hold back. Let's make this fun!"
He roared, activating Flame Dragon King's Demolition Fist — a technique gifted by Igneel himself.
Ren reacted purely on instinct, triggering Void Pulse: Inversion Wall — a shield of collapsing energy.
The two attacks collided.
The entire yard was enveloped in blinding white for a split second — like night and day crashing together. Magic pressure exploded outward.
When the dust settled, both boys were still standing.
Barely.
Natsu was on one knee, panting, flame sputtering. "Okay... that was awesome."
Ren fell back, coughing, his coat torn and glowing cracks flickering on his arm. "You're insane."
The crowd erupted in cheers.
"Draw!" Mira announced brightly.
"No way!" Natsu wheezed, holding up a trembling fist. "I had you!"
"In your dreams," Ren muttered.
---
Later, the two of them sat on the guild steps, both nursing cold drinks and bruised ribs.
"You didn't use all your magic, did you?" Natsu asked.
"No," Ren said honestly. "I don't like what happens when I push it."
Natsu looked over. "You scared of it?"
Ren sipped his drink. "Sometimes. It feels like it's not just magic. It's alive. Hungry."
"Then tame it," Natsu said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. "Magic's part of us, yeah? Even if it's scary. You gotta show it who's boss."
Ren chuckled. "Easy for you to say. You were raised by a dragon."
Natsu shrugged. "Yeah. And he told me one thing — power's only as good as your reason to use it."
Ren stared out at the horizon. "I still don't know my reason."
"Then find one," Natsu said, leaning back. "That's what being in Fairy Tail is all about."
---
That night, as stars blinked to life in the sky, Ren stood alone on the rooftop of the guild. He looked at his hand — faint wisps of void curling around his fingertips.
When fire met void, something changed. Not destruction. Not domination.
Something new.
He closed his hand into a fist.
"I'll tame it," he whispered. "I'll find my reason."
And from below, faintly, laughter echoed up through the wooden walls — the sound of family.
For the first time since he'd arrived in this world, the void inside him felt… just a little less empty.