"Listener! You have something!" squeals Cicero, running towards me from the inside of the cafe we're at. His red and black checked jester costume garners a lot of attention, but most people in Fiore are rather used to seeing weird getups, what with wizards running around every which way, in every outfit imaginable.
I set down my teacup, as it's still too hot to drink. "What is it, Cicero?"
"A letter, expressly delivered, just for you! It has something to do with the saving of the world at the Capitol."
I frown slightly. "Why would they send me a letter?"
"I took the liberty of reading it before you, Listener. I hope you aren't angry- I just couldn't help myself! A letter to you, from the Magic Council themselves! It's so exciting, Listener. Anyway, they're asking you to come back to the capital, to celebrate the ending of the Magic Games and the saving of the world. Compensation will be delivered on account for the inconvenience for traveling back there, and for any future disturbances by Dragonkind. They don't know that about you, do they Listener?" he looks up at me expectantly.
I laugh. "Cicero, why would I play my trump card when I have so many left?"
He smiles, sliding over the letter across the tabletop.
"It's a competition for the Wizard Saints- to induct any new members, and to see if anyone can beat them."
I smirk. "Child's play, but regretful. I cannot help you with this job. Cicero, you must arrange the contract and carry it out, collecting the reward and such. I'd take a novice for it, but we can't afford any mistakes now. Once you're done, gather our siblings if they'd like to join you to watch the Games. It's in four days' time."
He smiles at once, glad to go off on his own. "Yes, Listener. I look forward to watching you in the Games."
Running out of the cafe, he jumps aboard a train bound to Magnolia, where the client is. I sigh, happy to see him go. He's a dear brother, but he is a bit tiring.
"Farewell, dear brother. May you walk always in the shadow of Sithis." I whisper, and an extra spring in his step tells me he heard it, or at least, he knows me well enough to know I'd say that.
I call to the waiter. "Bring me the check. And how far is the capital?"
I get off the train, bag swinging behind me, full of my armor, weapons, potions, and various other things I happen to carry around like they weigh nothing. In actuality, it weighs about eight hundred pounds.
Looking around, I don't actually know where to go, but after glancing at the invite, I head to the Palace.
One glare at the guards and they let me through. Pfft. Pathetic.
Doormen open the overly-large doors for me, and after living with the grandeur that I have myself, even I admit it's a bit overwhelming.
Gold shimmers from everywhere, from the tapestries to the cutlery. Looking closer, I see it's an illusion. Well done, but nowhere near perfection. Interesting.
"And you are?" says a cocky voice, standing next to the door with spectacles and a ponytail.
I smile at him, my illusion skills far outstripping the ones next to me. "Listener is the name I'm under, I believe."
He scrolls through the names, encountering Listener almost immediately. It has to be a rather short list, although this is the first time there's been a competition to become a Wizard Saint. I'm aiming, however, for something much, much higher.
There's a select set of Wizards on the Council that thought they had no control over the Wizards, so they effectively use the Saints as their pawns. The Legendary class, however, no one has ever accomplished, because you have to beat all ten Wizard Saints when they're at their highest level of magic, at the same time.
You have to be at least an S-Class wizard to compete, and it helps if you're at the best of your field. Which all the competitors are, probably, and their will most likely, be at least one other Dragon Slayer.
The wizard points me to the tables around the main one. "You can find a seat anywhere you like. You're the first one to arrive."
I smile at him. "Thank you very much."
He smiles back, blushing slightly, and I move on, smirking. I choose a seat at random, and sit down, pulling out a book.
45 minutes later, a few more wizards burst in. The wizard at the door checks them off, and they look around for me when he mentions they're not the first ones here.
They rush over to me, the younger boys basically trying to charm me, and the older one that looks like he's the weakest person I've ever seen, starts spouting off nonsense and steals my book. The woman with them sits down at a different place, looking annoyed.
"A fine woman like you shouldn't damage your eyes reading trash like this! Pffah!" He throws it behind him.
My eyes go wide, and I dive for the book, barely managing to catch it.
"Could you please, go bother someone else?" I ask, barely managing to keep my voice under control.
The boys look stunned, and the older male seems to have shrunk in on himself in worry.
Just then, another group bursts in, a girl with red hair and armor followed by an entourage of three people, a blond girl, a dark-haired man that was in the process of taking off his shirt, and a boy with pink hair with a black and white striped scarf on. Accompanying them was a flying blue cat.
I mentally shrug. I've seen stranger things. Sadly.
The other group previously swarming me go to them, and I return to my cushy seat, continuing my reading.
Thirty minutes later, the door opens again, revealing a guy with blond hair and a coat over his shoulders, standing side by side with a man that looked slightly older. Both were laughing as they said their names to the man at the door.
"You'll be okay here, Laxus?"
"You win for us, all right, old man?"
They turn and smile, offering reassuring waves to their accompaniments. Other people arrive soon after, until the doors close.
Everyone in the candidacy is here, and the wizard at the door turns to speak to us. "The Games will take place here, tomorrow. Today, however, is the preliminary testing round. We only have a limited amount of time, and budget, to do this, so we cannot let it go on for the 5 days it was last time.
"Each of you will be allowed to run around the town, much like the last challenge in the Magic Games. Your task will be to take as many other players as you can out of the running. We can only accept the top three, and even then, we might overdo it. Two is much more likely, so don't be disappointed if you don't make it. You're all the best of the best in your field of magic. These guards will escort you all to a different part of the city. Everyone has been evacuated to the stadium, and therefore, no one will be harmed outside of those competing. Competitors, please step forward."
"Laxus, of Fairy Tail. Gildarts, of Fairy Tail. Erza, of Fairy Tail. Sherria, of Lamia Scale. Jenny, of Blue Pegasus. Sting, of Sabertooth. Rogue, of Sabertooth. Kagura, of Mermaid Heel. And last, but certainly not least, Listener."
I knew people would be muttering about me. Oh, the things that Cicero would say.
"Let the Legendary Games, begin!"
I smile, and go invisible.
I do so love being sneaky.
I find the one called Jenny first. As no one knows who I am, they might go for me first. But, I'm way more than they could possibly hope to handle.
I sneak up behind her, and knock her out instantaneously.
"Listener has taken out Jenny of Blue Pegasus. And what's this? Erza has once again taken out Kagura, while Kagura has taken out Rogue in a split-second attack!"
A running commentary. How fun.
"Laxus of Fairy Tail has taken out Sting from Sabertooth and Sherria from Lamia Scale! What will happen next?"
I follow the sound of the Dragon Slayer and God Slayer shouts, and find Laxus standing there, looking at the two laying at his feet.
"Voice Fool Far!"
"What was that?" he turns and runs towards the voice, and I send a doubly-charged Ice Storm at him, freezing him to the spot. When he turns to see me, I've already sent another one his way. He falls over, and hits his head, knocking him out.
"Only three people remain, folks. Gildarts, Erza, and Listener. Who will take out the next one, to become one of the two who may become a Legend?"
I cast a Detect Life spell, and notice one to my right. I follow it, and smile. It's Gildarts.
"I'll win this for you, Cana."
"FUS RO DAH!"
He flies through the air, and I'm there in an instant, knocking him out.
"I don't believe this! Gildarts is down! Listener and Erza Scarlet are the last ones standing!"
The competition taken care of, I trek to the stadium, eager for a real challenge.
"Listener! Since you took out three people, you have the honor of choosing who you're fighting, and when you'll be facing them!" says the announcer. I'm in the arena, surrounded by hundreds of cheering people.
I smirk. "I'll take all of the Wizard Saints on at the same time, today."
"That's- that's insane. Are you out of your mind, lady?"
I smile, and laugh. "I assure you, I am still perfectly in my rational mind. But we all have a bit of madness in us, do we not?"
The announcers can't seem to move. "I'll need some time to make some preparations, of course. Change into armor, check my weapons, et cetera."
"Wait, you use holder magic?"
I wink at the announcer. "I use all kinds of magic."
As I said before, I can use all kinds of magic, although Illusion is my strongest point in the magical chain. These modern magics that pop up all the time, they're tricky, and they favor people that focus on them their whole life. Devoting one's life to mastering a single type of magic would be way too boring for me, so I keep a general knowledge on most magic, and generally master the ones that are closest to the older magic styles. Enchanting, Alteration, Illusion, Destruction, Restoration, Conjuration. Those ones are the easiest, and most powerful of them all, although most people don't realize it.
Using Telepathy magic, I get into contact with Cicero, who's brought Babette and several new recruits, as well as Nelkir and Aventus. All of them are vampires like me, and Babette serves as the Alchemist for our Family mainly. Nelkir and Aventus stop by occasionally, and take a bunch of contracts.
I shudder, hating the sensation of probing into someone's mind, even as close as our Family is.
'Cicero, please use a Bloodcursed arrow on the sun with Auriel's bow. I'll need it.' I send to him.
He smiles. 'Yes, Listener. As soon as we get off the train.'
I frown. 'How far are you?'
'Still in open country.'
'Perfect. Do it there. We can't have anyone suspicious about it, now.'
He grins, taking out the bow and the arrow.
A few moments later, I hear frightened shrieks from the crowd everywhere.
I chuckle, and get into my armor, taking only a few choice weapons with me.
Walking out onto the field of the arena again, I see no sun in the sky, only darkness.
'Perfect,' I think.
The Saints won't walk out into the field until I give the signal I'm ready. In my bag, I pull out my helpful little summoning things.
With my enhanced hearing, I can seem to hear only one voice. "Is she going to write Jutsu-Shiki?" says a deep male voice.
"I do not know. Evergreen, why aren't you with Elfman?"
"Yes, you two little lovebirds are getting awfully close now, Ever! The wedding bells might be ringing any day now!" There's that voice again, laughing.
"Bickslow, Freed, shut up. Just because you two have no lives doesn't mean you can pick on mine."
"Oh, defensive!"
There's something strange about that voice. I wonder what it is…
I turn my mind back to my task, and place stone blocks at relative points, enlarging them from their shrunken states with a sprinkle of a potion I have with me. They're actually enchanted to know when I'm in overwhelming danger, and need help, so then the Gargoyles will burst out.
I line the place with an intricate circle, of yarn. That's right. Yarn. I place a cabbage leaf every so often, in a random pattern. Finally, a petty soul gem is thrown up into the air and shattered, spewing it's tiny particles all over the field.
Giving the announcers a nod and a thumbs up, they get the Saints into the arena via Teleportation magic.
The first to jump the gun is Jura, using his regular attack. I familiarise myself with any enemies I might face someday.
I pull out a cheese wheel, look him straight in the eye, and drop it.
"Is that a cheese wheel?" say the announcers.
My form shimmers just as his spell almost hits me.
He withdraws it, and instantly I'm back, and in different armor. Two people accompany me, both in slutty armor like my own.
I do believe I hear several men fainting of blood loss.
Dark Seducers and Golden Saints. A helpful summons for the Champion of Sheogorath.
Using my magic, I fight, twirl, dodge, and bring pain to the people who are classified as Wizard Saints in Fiore.
They all go down, eventually.
The last one standing is Makarov.
Both of us are panting, tired, and using magic like we have a limitless supply.
I relax my stance for a bit. "Tell me, Makarov, in the last games, they made bets, did they not?"
His eyes narrow. "Yes…"
I smile. "I think we should do that as well." Of course, he can't see my face, as the armor faded with the Saint and Seducer a while ago. They were extremely helpful, though.
"What do you propose?"
Smirking, I start. "If you win, I won't bother you, or anyone in your guild until you die, and then fifty years after that."
"And if you win?"
"I chose one person in your entire guild to become my apprentice. They won't have to do anything else; just that. They won't even have to join my organization, if they don't want to."
He considers the offer, then grows to astronomical proportions. "Deal."
I hear various cries of 'Master!' and the like, and mutterings among the crowd.
I smile, looking down. "That's what I wanted to hear."
Conjuration magic summons powerful things, and I use it to my advantage, letting the trap I set long ago gear up and take him out.
"Ah, Gargoyles. Such a shame that no one uses them anymore. Such useful creatures."
Makarov's giant hands make short work of several of them, and I summon a Storm Atronach and a Frost one, trying to make him fall.
I myself grab onto his hand as he tries to crush me, and climb up his arm, taking out Dawnbreaker and slicing up as I run, setting him on fire as well.
I drive it into him at the shoulder, and he goes down.
Retrieving my sword, I wipe it off. "I'll be by to collect my prize tomorrow. Goodbye, Makarov."
I'm walking back to the room I entered the arena from, and pause, looking around the stadium. The Fairy Tail people are stunned, their minds not comprehending what just happened. I find one in the crowd though; he's wearing a mask like a knight, with a little poof at the top. It's rather adorable and badass at the same time.
He looks over at me, and we make eye contact, maybe for a second. But I've seen all I need to.
That man…. I'll choose him. Just to be sure. Well, if I can.
Once I exit the stadium, dressed in my regular Ancient armor, I'm nearly tackled to the ground by Cicero.
"Listener!" he squeals yet again.
"Can't….. breath… help….. me!" I plead to my Dark Sister.
"I would, but this is too entertaining. Besides, Nelkir and Aventus still have to greet you." says Babette. Cicero finally stops hugging me, backing off.
"Did it go well? Did you win?" he asks eagerly. Before I answer, however, Nelkir approaches me and gives me a small, calm hug, retreating quickly.
Then Aventus actually does tackle me to the ground. He's still so grateful for what I did, I think he loves me more than Cicero does. In a very platonic way, of course. Nelkir and Aventus are a couple, after all.
Who'd a thought? I may have made them train together, and paired them up for jobs.
In my defense, it was just a matter of time. They used to be rivals.
Aventus lets up quickly, and I get up, panting. I've been around them for a very long time, and they still do that. I don't think I'll ever get used to it.
"Yes, Cicero, I did win. And aside from a few cuts and bruises, I'm fine."
"You didn't win, you cheated!" I hear a voice yell. Turning around, I find it's the pink haired man from before, when he was following Erza Scarlet. With him are the others too, although the girls look rather reluctant, like they don't want a fight to break out.
"Uh, Natsu, maybe we should just go…" says the blond girl.
"I'm not going anywhere until she admits she cheated!" Natsu yells.
"I didn't cheat." I state calmly and clearly. I need my rest right now, because I feel exhausted, but they clearly won't let me go without a fight of some kind. Considering how long I've been on my feet, I should feel more tired. Definitely need to sleep more, though.
"Yes you did! No one can take down the Master!"
I smirk, cocking my head to the side. "I did. And if you try anything, I'll take you down, even easier. I mean, Erza might pose some challenge, but the rest of you? Pfft. I'm leagues ahead of you."
Natsu roars, fire appearing, engulfing his hands. "I'm a Dragon Slayer!"
"That's not actually a very impressive boast, youngling. You're Igneel's son, right? The Fire Dragon Slayer? Hah. I'm the best there is, and there is no other competition compared to me. You were watching what happened in the arena, did you not?"
Cicero grins behind me, and so do Nelkir and Aventus. Babette just sighs. "I really didn't want another street fight… they're so annoying."
I hear another sound, and it's Titania Erza, requipping into Heaven's Wheel armor, holding a sword out to me. "No one disrespects my friends. I don't care who they are."
"You think you can take us? I mean, I just had a challenge that you can't measure up to in any way. What could possibly make you think that you'd win?"
She smiles, and shouts. "We have the whole power of Fairy Tail behind us!"
"And I have a scroll of Mass Paralysis, and those that are too weak to take the spell, might die. Do you want that on your conscience?"
"It's on yours, you monster!" Natsu screams.
I laugh, turning away and my Family does the same. "I have no conscience, for I serve the will of Sithis. Now, where's our hotel?"
Their stunned looks were extremely satisfying.
I meditate in my suite in the hotel, trying to decide when the facts are laid out before me.
The most powerful wizards would be an obvious and predictable choice, as would be a weak wizard. And I hate doing something predictable. It's almost never any fun.
I won't take a child- I'm not that cruel. So my candidates are narrowed down to the most promising candidates. The lists of their powers include their basic attacks, defensive stats, and what specific type of magic they use.
I look at several of them, and toss them in the elimination pile. No, no, no…..
Sighing, I pick up one last one, before almost dropping it in surprise. It's that man.
Curious, I read the file, and blush when I find a picture of him without a helmet on, although his eyes are closed. A second later, I find out why, and nearly incinerate the paper in shock.
Figure Eyes.
Most people don't know what that really means. What it truly means is that they're gifted in their specific type of magic, and any branch of magic, actually. It's all very strange and complicated, but the amount of control needed to use them effectively and accurately is extreme. Anything else in terms of raw power would be considered downright easy. They're not only extremely powerful, but they haven't been seen in a hundred years, due to the dangerous nature of the magic. At times, it can possibly burst through the will of the person wielding them and killing those around them. As such, it's usually considered dark magic.
Especially one like that, with Seith Magic, Human Possession being his specialty.
I toss Gildarts' and Laxus' files aside along with one called Gajeel, and write out on a sheet of paper his name, placing a complicated spell on it, before stamping it with my thumbprint and sealing it in an envelope addressed to Makarov. Upon opening it tomorrow morning, the designated person, once they hold it, will be transported instantly to my side. It's a very useful magic, and it's happened to help me in my assassinations on many occasions. Now I usually have to be more careful; they can track your magic signature now.
I pack my things, and head to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.
Makarov POV
I can't believe I let that snake make that bet! Why did she even want someone in Fairy Tail?
"I don't get it!" yells Natsu, slamming his hand down on the table. Lucy's startled, and Erza's unmoved. The red-headed girl probably thinks that she'll be picked, either in retribution for what happened afterwards, which I heard about from the Rajinshu, or because she almost did the same thing. Gray looks up.
"What do you mean?" he says in his flat, monotone voice, his shirt off casually. Juvia would usually be simpering over him for this, or anything really, don't know what's in that girl's head, but she's in the same state as Lucy and Erza.
"Why would she want someone from Fairy Tail specifically? She said she wanted one of us as an apprentice, right? Well, why not someone from a Dark Guild! That'd make much more sense, they'd have no reservations."
I straighten. "It's because we're the most powerful guild. The biggest threat to her. The Magic Council can't even stand up to her, and neither could the Kingdom itself. We're just lucky she doesn't want that."
"Yet." says Laxus, strolling over to me. "If she's taking an apprentice, I say it should be me. I won't let her sway me, and, I might find a way to defeat her."
An outcry from the Thunder Legion follows his first statement, and I tense. "No fair! No fair!" cry Bickslow's puppets.
"It's not that simple, Laxus. She's the one picking; if anything, she'll pick the most powerful wizard in Fairy Tail."
Natsu stands. "Then she'll pick me!"
"Oh yeah? Then why aren't you an S Class Wizard yet?" steams Laxus.
Gajeel and Gray join in the fight sooner rather than later, and I sigh. "Listen! We're not going to be able to beat her if we're fighting like this! She'll come in, and we'll defend our guild."
Lucy stands with Levy at her side. "Yeah! No one in Fairy Tail gets left behind!"
"I have a message for Master Makarov of Fairy Tail…"
"Huh?" everyone in the guild simultaneously stops fighting and screaming or whatever they're doing, as a messenger walks up to me.
"It's from her." I say, looking at the seal. A thumbprint seems to be the seal, and I break it open, withdrawing the letter as the messenger disappears, to make more deliveries.
I read the one word printed on the parchment.
'Bickslow'
My eyes scrunch up. "What?"
"Who is it, Master?"
I clear my throat. "Bickslow."
"What?" everyone seems to say.
"I thought for sure it'd be Laxus…"
"Gildarts seemed to be the biggest chance…"
"Maybe Erza…"
"Not Natsu?"
Bickslow seems to be in shock, and Laxus grabs the letter, reading it to make sure.
"There's nothing else in here! Just your name!"
Bickslow himself grabs the paper, and vanishes.
"WHAT?"
