Erza took the mission to get out of the guild. Really, it's not that she wasn't happy for all her coupley friends and their new families, but it hurt a little. Erza knew there was no way she could get over her childhood love enough to love someone romantically like she wanted to. So, she settled with being the best sister she could to her friends- and the best aunt Erza to their kids.
Today's job wasn't a fighting one like she usually prefered. She had to help out at a fair this time around providing waitressing to a large mobile restaurant. It was definitely a change of pace. Erza checked into her inn first. It was a nice place made of logs with metal accents. The front desk lady had recognized her and gave her a discount. Something that definitely improved Erza's day as now she had extra money for cake.
Now walking down the crowded streets she was in a good mood. Heading to her job for the week. The people were chattering happily, a few recognized her and gave her a wide berth. Busy little shops lined the streets and the redhead made a mental note to visit them later in search of gifts for her unofficial nieces and nephews. Erza noticed children playing, and they reminded her of the guild's all rambunctious and loud.
Finally though she made it to the fair grounds she looked for the tent of the client and near the beast tamer and fire eating attractions she found it. A small but successful traveling cafe that served sweets and coffee. Just as she entered a little ball of blue and grey almost hit her as what must've been a child raced out. After them was shouted, "Stop! Thief!"
Erza instantly jumped into action taking off after the little speedy ball of person. Through side streets and through other fair stands Erza gave chase. Slowly though she was losing the kid. under normal circumstances that would be impossible, the kid must of had some kind of magic that made them speedy. Erza slowed to a stop eventually and started panting, her hands on her knees. Damn, Erza needed to learn whatever this magic was.
She turned and started walking back to the fair. The grounds were full of people as it was about noon now. Erza made it back to the traveling cafe, the owner apparently was the large man who had shouted about the thief in the first place. They went through the usual client-mage proceedings and the man, Mr. Emilio, gave her a uniform that was rather skimpy but no more so than some of her armors. "It's a damn shame really," the man had remarked when Erza asked about the thief, "The orphanage on the edge of town is so over run you get kids on the streets and in the forest just struggling to survive."
"That's… sad." Erza decided, frowning. But she couldn't dwell on it. So, she turned and went to the back room of the tent to change clothes. She came back out in something akin to a maid's uniform. Erza didn't mind it though she liked how she looked plenty fine.
"Now then, your job, it'll be to serve customers and keep peace, for a coffee shop this place can get a little wild." Erza nodded along to what he was saying, all usual stuff, "And you'll need to catch our little thief. Do that and i'll add an extra bonus to your pay." The scarlet haired woman nodded. Though she was a little perplexed because just minutes ago Mr. Emilio was just saying how he felt bad for them. But business was business she supposed.
Erza worked the day away, besides a few handsy customers that she had to deal with today was a good day. She worked a good few hours until the sun completely set. Now was her off time, she had really wanted to go to those shops but frankly she was exhausted, geez was she getting out of shape? Erza decided to go straight to the inn she had checked into. She walked through the hall and when she got to her room it was when she heard it.
A shuffling in the room that was definitely hers.
Carefully she summoned out a sword, an average one, one she used for her sword dance just because her space was limited. She entered the not so surprisingly unlocked door with her sword drawn. "Show yourself!" She called. Just after she realized she had given up her element of surprise. Damn.
Emerging slowly from behind the bathroom door was a little girl. A blue haired girl with dark skin and light grey clothes. The thief! Erza realized. What the hell was she doing here though? The blue haired girl raised her hands like someone would for a scared animal. "Hey hey hey. Don't stab, I'm givin' up see?" The little girl had an odd accent lisping her words.
"What do you think you're doing?" Erza asked commandingly. The girl flinched a little like she was expecting an attack before she looked back at Erza, brown eyes meeting brown eyes.
"Looking for food. You… you're the mage people in town where talking about right? The cake stabby lady?"
Erza almost had to laugh, she had never been described that was before. At least, described that way to her face. "Yes, I suppose I am. You're one of the orphans right? That live in the shelter on the edge of town?"
The little girl shook her head, "No, I live in the forest outside a' town. What are you gonna do with me?" she put on a tough facade, cheeks puffed out and all.
Erza's heart almost broke as she looked over the little girl. She was practically skin and bones hidden under a dirty, stained grey sweater and matching ripped up shorts. Her dark cheeks were hollowed and dark circles made her look like an emaciated raccoon. The little girl's dark blue hair was curly but matted like it hadn't been brushed in a long while. "I won't turn you into the thief… on one condition." The mage was getting an idea, "you tell me your name…"
This seemed to really confuse the little girl. Why would this woman want to know her name? But hey, seemed like an easy trade so she didn't have to get out of punishment another way with that scarey baker man. "Jayden. My name is Jayden." the little girl held out a tiny hand to shake Erza's. Erza clasped the little girl's hand and shook it probably a bit too roughly.
Something sparked in Erza, and in the little girl as well. An understanding. "I'm Erza… and I suppose you can stay here tonight." Erza paused, "But only if you don't steal anything…" Erza gave her a hard glare that made Jayden squirm a bit and nod spastically. Erza returned to normal with a big smile. "Now… I was planning to go to sleep… But… do you want to get something to eat?" The four year old nodded excitedly. Food sounded so good. "Alright. First here," Erza summoned a dress from her inventory from when she was six (the girl was a little tall), "go clean up."
Jayden paused for a second, she was startled by Erza's niceness, it wasn't every day a person you try and steal from offers to get you food. "T-Thank you miss." She darted into the bathroom before she could get a response. Jayden reached and fiddled with the knobs of the shower for a moment before she finally got a good temperature. Erza, while this was happening, laid down on the queen sized bed in the room. Jayden took the quickest shower possible, using Erza's plain smelling toiletries. Dirt washed down the drain and Jayden quickly turned off the water. She took her time now brushing all the intense knots out of her hair and putting on the sleeveless white play dress on. It was a little loose on her but fit well enough that she couldn't complain. She walked out of the bathroom.
Erza opened her eyes to look at her little guest and almost had to do a double take. "You… have tattoos?" she asked, Jayden nodded.
"Two. It's my magic miss." Erza got up to inspect the little girl's arms, each shoulder had elegant black ink tattoos. One was of a oxen like monster with moss and vines hanging from it's horns. The other was of a cat like creature sitting at attention with large ears and a tail winding around itself. "That," she pointed to the oxen monster, "Is Borj, and that," she then motioned to the cat, "is Paprah. I can summon their souls from the ink and they come to fight with me." Erza decided this was a very interesting magic. Like some combination of Elfman's and Lucy's magic.
"That's very unique. Come, let's go eat. We can talk more about this."