As the sun set over Magnolia, Riven found himself sitting on the roof of the guild hall. This had always been his favorite spot for thinking. The town spread out below him, its windows glowing with warm light as people settled in for the night. Above, the first stars were beginning to appear in the darkening sky.
The events of the day had given him a lot to think about. The failed transformation during training with Erza had been humbling, but Lisette's research had shown him there might be a path forward. He just needed to be patient, something he had never been good at.
The golden gauntlet flickered into existence on his right arm again. This time it stayed for almost a full minute before fading away. Progress, even if it was tiny.
Baal's presence stirred in the back of his mind like a great creature waking from sleep.
"You are troubled, young bearer," the Djinn's voice whispered in his thoughts. The words felt warm and ancient, like distant thunder.
"I'm scared," Riven admitted, speaking quietly to the night air. "I wanted power to protect my friends and guild. But what if I become something that threatens them instead? What if I lose control and hurt the people I care about most?"
"Fear can be wisdom when it guides you toward caution rather than paralysis," Baal replied. "You show wisdom in your desire to learn rather than simply take what power you can grasp. That restraint is part of why I chose you as my bearer."
Before Riven could respond, he heard soft footsteps on the roof behind him. He turned to see Mirajane climbing up, her long white hair catching the moonlight. In her hands was a small wrapped package that smelled wonderfully of fresh bread and cooked fish.
"Levy mentioned you were back, but nobody saw you at dinner," she said with her characteristic warm smile. "I thought you might be hungry."
Riven's stomach growled as he accepted the food gratefully. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until he smelled the meal.
"Thanks, Mira. I guess I had a lot on my mind today."
She settled down beside him on the roof, looking out over the peaceful town with a contented expression. For several minutes they sat in comfortable silence while he ate the delicious fish and bread.
Mirajane had always had a calming effect on the guild members. No matter how stressed or worried someone was, her gentle presence seemed to make everything feel more manageable.
"You know," she said eventually, "when I first learned to use Satan Soul magic, I was terrified of it. All that dark power, all those demonic transformations - I was afraid I would hurt Elfman and Lisanna, or lose myself to the darkness completely."
Riven looked at her with surprise. It was easy to forget that the kind, gentle barmaid was also one of Fairy Tail's most powerful S-Class mages.
"How did you learn to control it?" he asked.
"Time, practice, and trusting the people around me to keep me grounded," she replied. "The same things that will help you master this Djinn power. Fairy Tail has always been about growing together, supporting each other through the difficult times. You don't have to face this challenge alone."
As if her words had summoned them, more footsteps echoed on the roof. Levy appeared at the edge, followed by Gray, Wendy, and several other guild members. They spread out around Riven and Mirajane, creating an impromptu gathering under the stars.
"We heard about the ancient magic situation," Gray said, settling down with his hands behind his head. "Figured you might want some company while you work through it."
"Besides, Levy brought a deck of cards," Wendy added with a smile, producing a worn deck from her pocket. "We thought we could play some games and just hang out."
As his guild mates gathered around him, sharing stories and laughter while the stars grew brighter overhead, Riven felt the heavy weight of worry lift from his shoulders.
Whatever challenges lay ahead with mastering Baal's power, he wouldn't have to face them alone.
He had the strongest support system any mage could ask for - the chaotic, loving, unbreakable family that was Fairy Tail. And with their help, maybe he really could learn to control this legendary power without losing himself in the process.