"Master?" everyone asked in surprise.
"I am the Master of Cait Shelter. I am deeply grateful to all of you. Thanks to your efforts, the Oración Seis has been defeated and Nirvana has been stopped. Thank you, truly," Roubaul said, bowing deeply. Behind him, other people began to appearmembers of Cait Shelter.
"Please, there is no need for such formality. We only did what we had to. But what did you mean by your earlier words?" Erza asked, helping Roubaul up.
The others looked to Roubaul for answers. Roubaul glanced at Chen Fan, who nodded.
"Everyone, I must apologize for hiding the truth about the Nirbit tribe."
"That isn't important now. As long as everyone is safe, right?"
"Indeed...!"
"First, I must say that we are not the descendants of the Nirbit. We are the Nirbit! And the one who created Nirvana 400 years ago... was none other than myself!" Roubaul said, looking up.
"What?"
"No way... 400 years ago!" Those hearing this for the first time were stunned. They had never met anyone who could live for 400 years.
"400 years ago, to stop the wars ravaging the world, I created the magic that flips good and evil: Nirvana. It became the symbol of peace for our nation and ushered in a new era. But power that is too great inevitably gives birth to an opposing force. Nirvana turned darkness into light, but in return, the darkness eventually consumed Nirvana." Everyone listened, entranced.
"To maintain balance, a person's personality cannot be infinitely turned toward the light. For every emergence of light, darkness must be bred."
"That makes sense," Gray muttered, thinking of Richard from Oración Seis and Sherry from Lamia Scale.
"The lost darkness entangled itself with us Nirbit. It was hell. We slaughtered one another until our tribe was destroyed. I am the only survivor."
"How could that be?" Wendy whispered, covering her mouth.
"No, that isn't quite accurate now. My physical body perished long ago. I am currently something akin to a Thought Projection. I have been waiting all this time for someone who could replace my weak ghost and destroy Nirvana. For 400 years, I have watched and waited. And now, my mission is finally complete." A smile spread across Roubaul's face.
He closed his eyes, and the people behind him began to dissolve into points of light.
"What's happening? Everyone...! You're... Maguna, Bebal!" Wendy cried out. The faces of those vanishing were filled with smiles of relief.
"What is this? People are disappearing!"
"No! Don't go!" Tears streamed down Wendy's face as she cried out in despair.
"I am sorry for keeping it from you. The members of the guild were all phantoms I created... things similar to a Thought Projection," Roubaul explained.
"What did you say!" Natsu shouted in shock.
"Phantoms with independent personalities..."
"What incredible magic power," Jura remarked.
"To guard Nirvana, I lived alone in this abandoned village. Seven years ago, two boys brought a little girl to my home. When I saw one of those boys, I knew my mission was nearing its end!"
"Who were those two boys?"
Roubaul looked up at Chen Fan. Chen Fan remained silent, arms crossed.
"The moment I saw Chen Fan, I knew he was the one I had been waiting for. He saw through my true form immediately. He and the other boy pleaded with me to take Wendy in."
"But! I don't have any memory of Brother Chen Fan from back then! Didn't we meet because he was passing through on a mission?"
"That was a lie. Back then, he asked me to erase those memories from your mind."
"Why? Why would you do that!"
"I don't know, but I couldn't refuse him. He told me that one day, he would witness the destruction of Nirvana with his own eyes. My task was simply to raise Wendy."
Everyone looked at Chen Fan again, but he kept his eyes closed.
"I understand now. He did it for me. He didn't want me to have any regrets. The days I spent with Wendy and Carla were truly happy. Thank you, Chen Fan!" Roubaul finished, closing his eyes.
"No! Please don't disappear, Master!" Wendy cried, clinging to Roubaul's legs.
Roubaul opened his eyes one last time, stroked Wendy's hair, and said, "Wendy, Carla, thank you for the joy you brought me all these years. You no longer need false companions." He looked up at the group.
"Don't you already have real companions now?" Roubaul's body slowly turned into light and faded away. Even the guild mark on Wendy's shoulder began to vanish.
"Chen Fan, thank you. Thank you for letting me feel the warmth of a family before I faded. I leave Wendy in your care." With those final words, Roubaul disappeared completely.
Wendy collapsed to the ground, sobbing. Chen Fan walked over and gently pulled her into his arms. As Wendy wailed, everyone present felt the sharp pain of losing a loved one. They stood in the heavy, sorrowful silence of a family torn apart.
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