Fairy Tail Adventures Await Volume 1: X820 [Edited]

Chapter 8: Forecast

Jace jogged alone in the twilight forest.

Instead of his usual attire, he wore a t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers with socks.

Normally the quiet atmosphere was appealing.

However, today it seemed more ominous.

The fog was heavier than usual and the animals were less rowdy.

'That's strange,' he thought to himself.

Jace passed by a black rock. In his peripheral vision, he saw a large dark gray and maroon snake wrapped around it.

'Wait, what?'

He stopped and took a second glance at the rock.

Nothing was there except an empty pocket in the fog.

"I must be so tired that I'm seeing things," the seventeen-year-old muttered to himself.

He continued his jog.

After a minute he closed his eyes.

'I can hear it. The echoes. They haven't changed.'

As he listened, his mind drifted to the past.

"Big Bro, look! I found a snake!" young Jace called,

He held up a tiny olive snake by its tail.

It had a deadly look in its eyes and a black mouth.

"A black mamba? How did you do that?" an older boy asked while approaching him.

His long, lean legs were evident in the black tights.

"I heard its voice! It was hissing a lot. Apparently someone invaded its territory!" young Jace answered eagerly.

He put the snake down and it slithered away on the forest floor.

The little boy's mouth corners faded to a frown.

"It also sounds like it was forcefully brought here by someone," he added.

Jace looked around as he jogged to a certain spot.

He heard a familiar voice.

"Catch up if you can," he said with a smile.

A frown appeared on the older boy's pale face.

He crossed his thin arms over his dark purple t-shirt. Their pale skin was hidden under black turtleneck sleeves.

"What's wrong, Big Bro?" Jace asked.

"There's no way you could have heard that. Even Dad couldn't hear Cubellios' voice," the older boy stated sternly.

Jace shook his head and smiled.

"Not right away. But remember that Dad did say he managed to hear it eventually!"

The older boy huffed and turned around.

"'Eventually' is the key word there. C'mon, let's go home. Mom's gonna be worried about us," he said sternly.

Jace frowned.

"Big Bro?" he questioned in a worried tone.

The older boy sighed.

He faced Jace, knelt down, and wrapped him in a hug.

The older boy released his little brother and placed his hands on Jace's shoulders.