A lone figure climbed the steep mountain path, carved into a the rock long ago, the winds battered against the mountain side, his cloak restless against the torrents. The figure a young man, dark hair, but eyes that had seen so much. So many scars, not all physical, knowledge that was torment. He was seeking answers. Was this the path to finding them? He'd spent many years searching for answers and every time he thought he'd found one, it led to more questions. This was his last hope to seek what always seemed out of reach, a way to accept who he was, what he'd become. As he climbed the steep path up the mountain, he was lost in thoughts, memories, nightmares of his past. But what had led him to this moment?
Sixteen years ago, he'd been like any other teenage boy with a younger brother he loved, Natsu. He was a simple kid, loved to fight, always taking risks, but he'd always had his older brother to look out for him, Zeref. They had a happy simple life, which was all turned upside down in a single devastating moment. One fall. One knock to the head. That was it, the end of Natsu. In a single moment, Zeref had lost that which was most dear to him. It was too much for him to take, it had driven him insane to the point he refused to let go. He vowed to do anything to anything to save his brother, to bring him back and he meant anything. Snapping back to reality now, Zeref realized he was reaching the top of the steps now. Sounds of birds filled the air as the winds seem to calm at this point, a strange sensation for a peak so high. The last time Zeref had made such a Journey was to seek out the home of the ancient legendary beings, the Dragons. But this was different, the winds calmed but with that, they seemed to warm up, no longer burning against his very skin. On these winds a scent was carried, one of herbs, flowers, pollen, everything that seemed fresh, everything that seemed to speak "life". This washed over Zeref in a moment of relief, he'd made this journey full of doubt, a last hope to find a place where he could learn to be at one with himself, one where he could finally find a way to deal with this curse.
Taking the last few steps, Zeref reached the plateau and with it he'd reached the border of a giant lake. But there was something about this lake, it was so clear that you could see every detail within it, so calm you could see the reflection of the sky, if you swapped both views around you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Fish swam through gracefully, undisturbed, the likes of which he'd never seen before. His mouth opening slightly as he looked around. Every type of tree and plant you could possibly imagine. Leaves and grass the brightest green, every flower almost glowing they were so bright and full of life. Birds sang the most perfect song. By taking that last step into this valley, one word came to mind...
"Serenity...."
He was so lost in the beauty, the peace, the tranquility of this place that even with his eyes, he'd only just noticed the figure in the distance, not just a figure, but the life in it, the chakra. It was strong, stronger than Zeref had ever encountered. He was drawn to it. It's like his very being, the very question of his existence, that was it, this man, this figure, this is where he'd find it. Making his way around the lake he headed towards the figure himself, taking his time. Even though he had a destination, he was still mesmerized but everything around him. He stopped at one point, taking down his hood, closing his eyes and tilting his
head back letting the place wash over him. He'd been the demon lost in destruction for so long, was this what life truly felt like. Taking one deep breathe, he walked forwards, stopping 5 meters away from the man, he drew off his cloak, folding it placing it down on the ground, sat down crossing his legs, taking in a deep breathe then releasing it slowly, but what left was not just a breathe, it was the weight of everything he'd carried with him to this place. Then without meaning too, he felt relaxed...
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