Snowflakes were drifting down from the sky, piling up in thick layers. As people walked across the snow, they left a trail of footprints behind them.
But soon the falling snow would fill those footprints, covering them once more under a pristine white sheet, as if the steps had never been there.
Noel walked alone through the snow, wanting to see the place where he had once struggled to survive.
It had been a year since he last returned, and it seemed the place had changed quite a bit. But it should be noon now—so why was the entire town so eerily quiet?
The air felt dead, as if all life had been drained away.
Residents of the town looked up in surprise as they noticed an outsider entering, their eyes flickering with complicated emotions. But it only lasted for an instant before they resumed their usual guarded expressions.
What happened to this place to make it like this? Noel felt something was off, though he couldn't say exactly what. Whatever it was, it probably wasn't good.
Seeing the state of the residents, Noel didn't bother trying to strike up conversation with anyone. Instead, he headed straight for the slums.
Politics and the slums were worlds apart. No matter what changed outside, the slums never did. The same dilapidated houses stood, just as they had when he once lived there.
But there were fewer people now, and some unfamiliar faces mixed in with the few who remained. The only thing certain was that the population had shrunk, though Noel didn't know why.
"Um… who are you?" a small boy approached him, though his hands were trembling—perhaps from the cold, or maybe out of fear.
Noel, who had grown up in the slums himself, understood immediately why the boy had approached. After all, he was dressed in clean, well-kept clothing, looking like someone with money.
If the boy was lucky, he might get a copper coin or two. If not, the worst that could happen was getting scolded—a risk worth taking for a slum child.
"I'm just here to find someone," Noel said calmly.
"A person like you would come to the slums looking for someone?" the boy asked, puzzled.
"Just answer what I ask." Noel took out a bright copper coin, letting it glint before the boy's eyes.
The boy's eyes widened, locked onto the coin.
"Something's wrong with this town, isn't there? Why does it feel so strange lately?" Noel asked.
"You're an outsider? If you want information, it'll cost you at least three copper coins." The boy immediately raised the price.
Noel's interest was piqued. The boy clearly had a sharp sense for business. Had he been born into a better family, he would have made a good merchant.
But it was a pity. Born into the slums, most people's lives were decided the moment they entered the world. Even with such wit, without education, it was nearly impossible to truly change one's fate.
"Fine, three copper coins it is. But you'll answer exactly what I ask, and if I find out you lied to me, I will find you." Noel warned him.
He knew how slum kids thought, having been one himself. This was just a simple transaction—and a psychological game. But in the end, his goal was information, and the price was acceptable.
"No problem. We're honest businessmen," the boy said, unafraid.
"Then answer my question from earlier."
"Lately, a dark guild has been killing people all over town, so everyone is living in fear," the boy explained after a moment of thought.
"But don't worry, the town's mayor has posted a request for help, and the guild has taken the job, so mages should be coming soon to deal with it," the boy added optimistically.
"If you plan on staying here, you need to be careful. The dark guild doesn't plan to stop. They want to turn the town into a base for their activities." The boy continued.
"A dark guild, huh? What's its name?" Noel asked.
"I think it's called 'Black Dusk,' but I'm not sure. There have been rumors since last year that they've already infiltrated the town."
Noel could tell the boy wasn't lying. There had already been unrest in the town last year, and rumors of dark guilds had been spreading.
People had been disappearing mysteriously, only to turn up dead in alleys the next day. The city guards had investigated, but came up empty-handed. Now it all made sense—it was the dark guild operating underground.
"Do you know someone?" Noel asked, getting to the point of why he came—to find Oliver. He didn't know if Oliver was still in the slums.
"There are too many people in the slums, I don't know everyone. But if I know them, I'll tell you." The boy replied.
"Fine. Do you know a boy around my age named Oliver?"
"You know Oliver? Really?" The boy's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Yes, I know him." Noel nodded.
"Oliver is dead. He was out begging one day and got on the dark guild's bad side."
"The people from Black Dusk didn't even blink before using fire magic to blast him to the ground."
"I was there that day too, but because of the dark guild, I didn't dare help him." The boy said, looking down.
Noel's emotions erupted. "Why?! Tell me, why didn't you stop them?!" he shouted.
"I couldn't… Why would I cause trouble for myself? Those people are monsters, I was scared too!" the boy said, trembling, shocked by Noel's sudden outburst.
Noel grabbed the boy by the collar. "So you just—"
"I can't… breathe…" the boy gasped.
Noel realized then that he was lashing out at the wrong person. He understood—no sane person would have stepped forward in that situation, risking their own life.
"I'm sorry. I lost control," Noel said, calming himself.
The boy wanted to yell at him, but remembering that Noel was going to pay, he swallowed his anger.
Knowing he had wronged the boy, Noel not only handed over the three copper coins but added a silver coin as well.
When the boy saw the silver coin, his eyes lit up, unable to believe he had received something of such value.
"Don't tell anyone I was here," Noel warned him again.
Noel found a quiet, empty place, where he broke down in tears.
Why was it that everyone he cared about left him, while he was left alive?
Master Mond was gone, and now Oliver was gone too. What meaning was there in living when everyone closest to him had died?
Was he being selfish, continuing to live while they were gone?
But he remembered—he still had important things to do. For example, avenging Oliver.
Noel made up his mind. He would act immediately. Even if he had to face an entire dark guild, he would not back down.
But first, he needed a place to rest. After days of travel, he was exhausted, and he needed more information.
Of course, the place would need to be somewhere with a lot of people, and ideally somewhere he knew. But as a former slum beggar, he didn't exactly have many connections.
Noel thought for a long while, and finally decided to seek out Uncle Sam. Perhaps Uncle Sam could help him with this.
Author's note: Black Dusk is an original dark guild created for this fanfic and is not part of the official Fairy Tail series.
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