Read Part One here: s/11064991/1/Titan-s-Grasp
Titan's Grasp Part two
"This is the place," Levy said. A smile beamed across her face and she wrapped Gajeel in a quick hug. "Thank you for coming with me."
"I, uh, yeah. Of course. You're welcome," Gajeel said in a surprised voice.
Levy swore she heard his tone soften just a little and her face went pink. She stepped forward so he couldn't see her.
"It's a dump," said Gajeel.
Levy smiled to herself at the quick return of his gruff attitude. "I guess I never noticed that. Casnan has the best collection of rare books in Magnolia." She looked up at the run down storefront on the northern edge of the town. White paint on the shut door was peeling, and the frosted window displaying books hadn't been cleaned making the titles impossible to read. 'Casnan's Book Shop' was imprinted on the glass in faded golden script.
"The shop looks as ancient as the books he sells," Gajeel said.
Levy laughed again. "Stop it. Ok, Casnan's bit of an eccentric so don't frighten him too badly ok?"
"Sure, as long as he gives you a refund then I don't care."
Levy still couldn't believe Gajeel came with her. She'd mentioned the idea as more of a joke, but Gajeel had nodded and asked her when they should leave. She should return books more often if it meant time alone with him. Who knows what could happen between the shelves of Casnan's store...
Stop it Levy, she thought, he's just being kind and that's it. He probably thinks you're ridiculous for being so nerdy.
Levy pushed open the door of Casnan's shop and took a few steps inside. "Hello? Mr. Casnan?" The smell of musty books, old times and dusty shelves filled her nose. She took a deep breath, the scent of a bookstore was one of her favourite things in the world. Rows of bookshelves filled the centre of the room. To her left was the catastrophically messy desk that Casnan usually occupied, but his chair was empty and parchments lay askew on it.
"He usually sits right there," Levy said.
"Maybe he went for a walk," Gajeel said.
"Maybe."
"Think there's any books on dragon slayer magic in here?" Gajeel said. His dark eyes roamed over the bookshelves suspiciously, as if he expected them to come alive and fly at him.
"I don't know, we'll have to ask Casnan," Levy said.
"I'm afraid that will be impossible at the moment."
Levy and Gajeel jolted at the unexpected voice.
"Who's there?" Levy said.
A man stepped out from behind a bookshelf in the back of the store. Levy could feel Gajeel tensing behind her. A slight hum of magic power filled the air and she wasn't sure if it was from Gajeel or the mysterious strange who'd appeared.
Dressed in sweeping and dark purple robes, the man looked about thirty, had a shaven face and deep blue eyes. His dark hair was gathered into a ponytail and he carried a walking cane of black wood. "My name's Lamiad. You are Ms. Levy?"
"How do you know her name?" Gajeel said, a hard iron edge seeping into his voice.
Lamiad smiled. "Casnan told me you were the one who had purchased the document I have been seeking. Titan's Grasp."
Levy shared a glance with Gajeel. "It won't do you any good. It's practically unreadable. I worked at it for weeks. Where is Casnan, why is it impossible to find him?"
Lamiad shook his head. "Not unreadable. You are missing a key component." He pulled out a scroll from a cloth sack he had strung around his torso. "Have you heard of Troj's Compendium."
Levy scoffed even as her heart leapt into her throat. "Of course I have. Every scholar interested in ancient culture has."
"What is it?" Gajeel said.
"A codex supposedly able to translate any language," Levy said. "Also a myth. It's never been more than a rumour.
"I assure you it is much more than that," Lamiad said. His ice blue eyes flicked to the parchment Levy held in her right hand. She didn't the hungry look in his eyes.
"Just give him the scroll, Levy. It's useless anyways, isn't that what you said back at the guild?" Gajeel said.
Levy bit her lip. She turned to Lamiad. "Are you saying you have the codex and you can translate this?" She held up Titan's grasp.
Lamiad nodded. "Yes."
"What do you think is in it? You must have a theory and I want to hear it." Levy gripped the scroll tightly in her hand and crossed her arms.
"Better listen to the lady," Gajeel said.
Lamiad licked his lips. "Alright, shall we find a place to sit? We can use Casnan's study in the back."
Levy and Gajeel followed Lamiad through the tight bookshelves. Levy's heat was pumping. Trof's compendium. The ultimate tool of scholarly interest, and this man possessed it. Was it a fake? Troj was said to have been a powerful wizard, advisor to the King of Oridanas from the first age of Fiore. How could this Lamiad use such a tool? He had to be a wizard, but she'd sensed no magic power coming from him. And where was Casnan? She glanced back at Gajeel and saw that his face was set. He nodded slightly at Levy and she relaxed. Gajeel was with her. She'd be safe with him, he was a dragon slayer like Natsu and Wendy. She knew that he would do anything to protect her. The thought made her heart beat even harder.
At the rear of Casnan's shop was his personal study. The door was ajar and they followed Lamiad inside. A neatly kept desk was against the back wall and two chairs.
"I'm afraid your friend will have to stand," Lamiad said in a cold voice.
"Fine with me,"Gajeel said. He moved beside the door and leaned against. Levy felt better knowing he was here watching over her. There was something not right about Lamiad, but the opportunity to possibly see Troj's compendium and translate Titan's Grasp was just too good to pass up. Her and Lamiad sat down opposite sides of the desk.
"Before we start," Levy said. "Tell me about Titan's Grasp and why you want it. I won't go any further until you do." She clutched the parchment close to her chest.
Lamiad leaned his cane against his desk, pursed his lips and nodded. "Titan's Grasp refers to the Titans. Beings of incredible power from the Primordial plane."
"I've never heard of anything like that. You mean the celestial spirit world?" Levy said.
"No. The Primordial plane is different. It's not a realm that's linked with Fiore like the spirit world, but another plane of existence."
"Like another world?" Levy said with wide eyes.
"You could put it that way," Lamiad said, his blue eyes dancing. "These creatures are deadly. Full of magic power unlike anything I have ever encountered. Even the smallest of them could wipe out Magnolia."
"You mean you've summoned one?" Levy said, eyebrows rising.
"Summoning is a crude term, but you could say that. Creatures of the primordial plane do not make deals with humans. If you want their services, you must take it," Lamiad said. His sharp cheekbones were more pronounced in the faint light filtering in from the high window. Levy suddenly got the impression that Lamiad wanted power and she didn't know exactly how he would go to get it.
"I see," she said, and glanced back at Gajeel. The Iron Dragon Slayer was scowling, his harsh gaze directed squarely at Lamiad. I'll be ok, she thought, he's here with me.
A thought struck her. "Can you prove any of this? Maybe this is worth a fortune for other reasons and you want to spin these tales to get me to give it up."
Lamiad inclined his head. "Fair point," he said. "Allow me to demonstrate."
Gajeel stepped up beside Levy, arms at his side.
Lamiad smiled. "She'll be quite safe." He shut his eyes. Magic power began to radiate. Levy bit back a gasp as the air shimmered around Lamiad's cane that was leaning against the desk. The top of the cane, a bird's claw grasping a round orb, began to move. The talons of the claw were opening. The orb rose into the air over the desk. Levy squeaked and stood up, moving away. Gajeel's heavy arm went immediately around her shoulders. The orb started to melt like dripping wax and suddenly in its place was a creature.
An Imp stood on the desk. Three feet high and red skinned with a black tail, it's face was like a bat, the nose scrunched up and ears sticking straight out. Two dark, beady eyes stared at Levy. They shone with intelligence.
The Imp whipped around to face Lamiad. The end of it's dark tail burst into flame and it swished in the air like a cat's. "You called, master?"