X792
"Listen up everyone!" calls out a voice from the balcony. The wizards seated below all turn their attention up to their Master. Master Makarov stood on the 2nd floor balcony, looking down at all his wizards with a grin on his face. "As you know, the last S-Class exams were cancelled due to… unforeseen events. So, this year we will be holding the S-Class exams again, but we will have two who can graduate to S-Class! Also, we will be adding a few new candidates that we have judged worthy to participate this year!"
Enthusiast cheers come from the gathered wizards below.
"Who else do you think is participating this year?" asks Laki to Warren.
"Definitely Gajeel and the Raijinshu members, but maybe Lucy too! After all she has gotten pretty powerful since going solo!"
From her corner at the bar, Lucy listens as each person starts to chat with one another. Sipping her strawberry smoothie, she hears Laki's conversation and flinches lightly at the mention of going solo. Yes she had gone solo from Team Natsu, but this was in order to let Lisanna on the team. She was happy to be of help and she loved how much stronger she had gotten since then, but it still stung slightly to hear for some reason.
"Lu-chan! Who do you think will participate this year?" asks her best friend, Levy, as she takes the seat next to her.
"Hmm, Gajeel definitely not sure about others though," answers Lucy, looking over to her friend. The perky bluenette was one of the former participants, so she would definitely participant this year as well.
"I hope you're in it Lu-chan! Then since two people can pass, we can team up together to pass some harder tasks!" Levy cheers happily. Thankfully, everyone else was too busy discussing this year's games to have heard the bluenette's idea.
"That would be a great idea Levy-chan, if I am a participant then let's do that!"
The two best friends stand up giving each other excited high-fives with large grins. "Deal!"
"Okay, okay, everyone quiet down so I can continue!" yells out Makarov. Once everyone had settled down enough to be heard, he continued. "Alright, the participants for this year's test will be, of course, last year's participants.
Natsu Dragneel
Gray Fullbuster
Freed Justine
Levy McGarden
Juvia Lockser
Elfman Strauss
Cana Alberona!
Along with those members, we will be adding three other members!
Gajeel Redfox
Lucy Heartfilia and
Bickslow!"
"Yeah! You made it Lu-chan!" cheers Levy.
From over at the table where Team Natsu sat, the current non-S-Class mages looked at Lucy and Levy who were talking about something at the bar. Gray and Natsu especially paid close attention, as Lucy was now their rival to become S-Class.
"How much more powerful has she gotten in the past few months?" questions Natsu.
"Must be much stronger to be able to be elected for the S-Class trial," says Gray, looking at the blonde.
Lisanna joins in on the conversation at this point, "You could have kept her on the team you know, you didn't have to kick her out to add me…"
Back with Lucy and Levy…
"We already have an advantage of sorts," chuckles Lucy to her friend.
"Yep! So let's win this!" says the petite bluenette.
"We have some tough competition," sighs Lucy, "But we will do our best!"
From on the balcony, Makarov coughs slightly, regaining everyone's attention. "I also have prepared something to help give a slight advantage in the trials to the first two who can answer it! It's a little riddle, so pay close attention so that you hear it!"
"When the snow melts, what does it become?"
"Spring" Come the identical thoughts of the two friends. They look over to the other and grin upon seeing they had arrived to the same conclusion. Both girls jump up to the balcony where they whisper their answers into his ear.
Makarov gives a big smile, "Correct, the prize goes to Levy McGarden and Lucy Heartfilia! Please follow me to my office so that I can explain it to you!"
The two follow him into his office in the room behind them where they close the door behind them softly. The rest of the guild just stayed sitting at their seats dumbfounded. They had barely had time to even process the riddle and the two had already answered it. Some members just shrugged it off, knowing that the two girls were some of the smartest in the guild. Others were frustrated that they couldn't answer before them and get the advantage.
Inside Master's office…
"Alright, let me cast a spell to prevent any eavesdropping," said Makarov happily as he waved his hands slightly to place the spell. After taking a seat at his desk, he turns to the two teens and regards them with keen eyes. "The 'bonus' that you two get, that you can choose to share or not, is that it is allowed to ask current S-Class mages to help you train for the upcoming trials. Am I right to assume that you two already discovered that you can team up for greater chances?" Upon seeing their nods he chuckles, "Thought so, I'm expecting lots from you two. Now go ahead and see if you can convince some S-Class mages to help you."
The two eagerly exit his office, it would be a waste to not get the help of current S-Class mages such as Erza, Mira, and Laxus. Gildarts was sadly out of the guild on a job but he would be back in time for the trial. Three months spanned the time between now and when the trials would be held, so they should spend each minute wisely.
"You ask Erza and I'll ask Mira?" questions Lucy. Levy nods to her friend before heading over to Team Natsu's table to grab Erza. Lucy heads over to the bar where she grabs Mira's attention.
"Hey Mira, could Levy and I speak with you outside the guild privately?" she asks the bartender.
"Oh of course!" says Mira happily. Mira hops over the bar and follows Lucy who started heading to the guild doors. Levy soon joins them followed by Erza.
"Yes what is it?" asks Erza upon coming outside.
"Well… I was wondering if you and Mira could help us to train for the upcoming trials. Master said that it was allowed to receive the help of current S-Class mages and who would be better to learn from than the guilds two strongest women?" asks Lucy nervously. She could already guess of Mira's answer, it was more of Erza's that she was worried about.
"Please?" asks Levy politely.
Mira nods her head showing that she would gladly help while Erza appeared to be thinking. Finally, Erza looks at the two and agrees as well.
"I believe that it would be fine, and it would be a good chance to see how much you have improved Lucy," says Erza with a smile.
"I want to see how powerful you've gotten as well Lucy, you too Levy!" cheers Mira.
"We should head out tomorrow; we will meet at the train at 9:00 a.m. to board the train to Coralia Forest." Says Erza, already planning out their training schedule.
"I take it you won't be mentioning this little fact to anyone else in the guild?" asks Mira with a twinkle in her eyes. The two grin at Mira and shake their heads, "Now why would we do that? That would destroy any surprise that came from winning that little riddle."
"I call a sleep-over at Lu-chan's place! Then we can just head from there altogether to the train!" squeals Levy before Lucy can protest.
"Oh, that's a good idea Levy," says Erza.
"We can discuss so much!" Mira exclaims with a devilish glean in her eyes. For some reason, the two couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.