Combust (Fairy Tail)

Chapter 27 - Not Human

Calium's POV

I followed after Eliot to where supposedly the interrogation room was at, passing through the many halls that all looked so familiar but yet foreign to me. This was the new and improved Headquarters of T.I.M.V.E.R and no doubt T made sure to keep basically everything remotely the same, also has been that way from what I have been told. They are a very complex person and yet very tidy and neat when it comes to small things, Headquarters being an example of that. I struggled to keep up with Eliot and his long strides, silently wishing to be at least his height to keep up with him... Or have rollerblades and drag me along the corridors... I shook my head at the silly idea, coming to a sudden halt when Gajeel came in sight, rounding a corner and power walking towards us

"All yours, short stack." He patted my shoulder as he passed by, leaving me stunned for a moment. Eliot stopped, looking back at me with an raised eyebrow

"You coming or what?"

"Y-Yeah, sorry." I apologized with a faint blush before jogging to catch up to him. We began walking again, determined to know how and why T could be so easily overpowered. Why would they be? It just doesn't make sense in my mind. T is literally the leader of a secret organization that takes odd jobs whether it be for good or evil. 'Criminals.' I couldn't help but think of the word in my mind, knowing exactly that is how the Magic Council views us, or well them

"We are here." Eliot announced stiffly, stopping both of us in front of the door with the soft tug of my hood. I stared at the door, mentally not remembering this door being here before

"We made a few 'minor' changes when we created the new location. T thought of it as necessary for development." As if reading my mind, Eliot explained to me, his purple eyes glimmer in the soft hues of the sun peeking in through the dark drapes behind us

"Okay then... So do we just go in or-"

"If T is hiding something from us, we certainly hell are going to go in without asking for permission to enter." He thrusted the door open, it nearly banging against the outside wall before strutting in, his usual calm expression now drawn with suspicion. I spotted T sitting down on a comfy leather chair, casually sipping on tea as if they had not been held hostage a few hours ago

"Well. that certainly was fast-"

"Why?" The exposed side of T's lips curled up in a smirk, a small him passing their lips

"Oh. So you did notice, Eliot." I gawked at them, they knew?

"It was quite obvious, I'm surprised the others didn't notice." Eliot crossed his arms, walking towards T. Wait, where is Luciel? He is nowhere in sight. Before I could ask T, Eliot continued

"What is the point of letting Luciel over power you?"

"Letting Luciel over power me? Watch your choice of words, Eliot." T warned, their smirk still evident as their icy gaze stared the Plant Mage down

"You planned this."

"Why of course. It is better to be one or steps ahead to defeat your opponent. Now, Calium-"

"We aren't finished here!" Eliot rose his voice, clenching his fists tightly together, "I know we aren't. So, I'm speaking to Calium now who looks pretty confused at the moment. Calium, what is your take?"

"M-My take?" I asked, not completely understanding the question as my heart hammered against my rib cage

"Yes. What do you think why I was kidnapped by Luciel? How he could so easily do it?"

"Your magic?" I asked in a form of a question, not really knowing much about their magic, Drain. T clicked their tongue, glancing briefly over at Eliot who became silent, currently watching me with careful eyes

"Part of it, I let him inject me with a serum that would weaken my magical energy."

"So you did let him." Eliot spoke, his voice back to being calm and elevated, "On the contrary. But, I didn't let him take me hostage. That was entirely on his own accord."

"Eh?" I tilted my head to the side, but didn't they just say they let Luciel inject the serum?

"That makes no sense, T."

"Precisely. Now, Calium. With our line of work, we are acquired to undergo many different scenarios, along with pain tolerance." I shivered at the memory of the many months during my training, I was only 10 at the time and would cry out in pain at the smallest of scrapes, it was horrid for me to undergo

"I see that you do. We had also used the same serum Luciel used on me to practice how much we can take before we are completely drained of magical energy/power. I used what I learned during my time in training to store my magic into one spot in particular, my other eye." T tapped their mask placed on the right side of their face, elaborating what they meant

"That makes sense. But get to the point, T." Eliot stated, growing impatient

"I am dying.".

Both of our breaths hitched simultaneously in shock. Wait, what?! 'No, T is just messing with us, they can't be dying-'

"How? There is no visible wounds-"

"I am not human, Eliot. You have already held a suspicion for a few years now, especially with your line of work in plants."

"N-Not... Human?"

"Correct. I was created as a experiment for pain. How far they could push a human body until it completely gives up. One of the reasons why I conceal half of my face."

"Did Talia know this?" 'Talia?' I asked in my mind, who is that? T nodded

"She knew I was a test subject but, didn't know I would die so early in the game. Because of this, I wanted to find out a way to draw out my life force, using minimum of my magic power and strength is what I have concluded so far, but that is only a small fraction of my life span."

"Wait, you said you weren't human, but yet you have a human body?"

"I am merely a conscious, this body of mine is only a meat sack for me to use. The lab I was held in didn't make time to make me my own body."

"Okay, wait. Not human, but hold a body, and you are only a mere conscious?" Eliot stated, trying to wrap his head around it. T nodded in confirmation

"This body of mine was designed without a gender, no kind of genitalia of any sort. Another reason why I prefer the pronouns, they, them, and they're." I nodded slowly, my mind racking to understand all of this

"How much time do you have left?"

"I estimated a year by how damaged mentally and physically this body is-"

"Wait, then who will-"

"Take my place? I have yet to decide a successor, especially with a small amount of time." The room became silent for a moment, letting the information T told us process in our minds. I took a deep breath, realizing something

"Why let Luciel do this?"

"I didn't particularly let him per say, I merely just provoked him to do."

"What do you mean?"

"Luciel Arch is from Edolas, a place of no magic. The world opposite to ours. I have only recently concluded this theory."

"Which is?" Eliot pressed

"He is trying to get back to Edolas.".

To Be continued