The City by the Sea

One

There is a city by the sea, which has no name. It is hardly a city, but its residents are proud. The City by the Sea is settled on the westernmost tip of Fiore. It's an isolated place where family trees were seeded, and where they grow with only rare cuttings transplanted away, or brought into their sea-side forest.

It is a place of rumor and mystery. And it is a place for fish. Many fish. Lots of fish. Some of even the best kinds of fish. The water on Fiore's western coast is wild, and creatures from those wild waters make good dinners for people throughout their country.

One might wonder how it is possible that such a place, rich with such bounty, could stay so isolated. Could stay so close-knit. Well, it is a place of rumor and mystery. Rumor and mystery enough to weaken the courage of many a man interested in nothing but money and control.

The people of The City by the Sea are bred in rumor. In mystery. In courage greater than that of urban industrialists who know nothing of the violence of open water. The City by the Sea is a place all its own, and no one, but no one, can bring it down.

How were things done, Levy wondered, in The City by the Sea? She'd heard stories, of course, and the mission seemed to confirm those stories, but she preferred to believe her own judgment. Rumor was for fiction. Enjoyed, yes, but labeled – rightly – as fiction.

It was beautiful, she'd give it that. The road curved over a hill, providing a lovely scenic view of the blue horizon, white strip of beach, and colorful buildings. Each was unique, painted in a riot of bright colors, dotting the view like a cluster of jewels.

"And more than one of them is haunted," she smiled. She was not, perhaps, the best mage for this job, but she was knowledgeable about the subject, if not an expert, and the very idea intrigued her. She'd read a lot about such supernatural phenomenon, and the possibility of actually encountering a non-violent but malevolent spirit, something unlike that of her guild's First … something of motive and emotion but not thought or being...

It would be a job that required cleverness, she had decided, not strength, so she had come alone. The mission request had also noted that a female mage would be preferred. She would do fine, she knew. Her confidence had grown in recent months, and she took pride in the fact that she walked the long road on her own and with her head held high. Eager. Unafraid.

"Miss?" The voice, hesitant, came from behind her. "I'm sorry, miss, but if you wouldn't mind..."

She turned to see a man in a cart, stopped because she was gawking in the middle of the road. Caught up in her thoughts and ego. So caught up, in fact, that she didn't hear the cart's approach. She blushed.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" Levy moved right, out of his way, and offered a small bow. "I didn't mean to slow you down."

"'s no problem. Saw your guild mark," Levy reached up to touch the mark on her back. "You here 'bout our monster?"

"Monster," she turned her eyes back to the colors down the hill. "I heard … the request said ghost." She looked up at him, shading her eyes from the falsely cheerful sun, glaring at her and the man as it traveled nearer and nearer to the sea. "What makes you say monster instead?"

"It feeds, miss. Ain't never heard of no ghost that does that. And we hear of most everything down here."

"Why do others claim it's a ghost, then?"

"No one's seen it. Actually seen it. We've seen it feed. Watched chunks of a gal vanish, bite by bite, and drops of blood fall through empty air. Nothin' t'see but the dyin'."

She lowered her hand, looking again towards the sea, towards the city. "Has anyone attempted to touch it?"

"Tried. Saw it eat a boy. More than one of us tried to throw the thing off. Boy's mama wrapped herself 'round the body, but it did no good. Still ate. Still died."

She leaned forward to listen to those final words before rocking back onto her heels. Shifting. She bit her lip waiting for a thought, and then settled on flat feet.

They obfuscated on the request. A job like this, monster … if it's not S-class, it would still draw a team like Erza, Natsu, and Gray … maybe even Elfman and Mira. She repressed a shudder, not wanting to think less of her own abilities. But then it is not slowed by physical means. Barriers might help, but not physical ones.

It had been a long time since she picked apart one of Freed's runes. She had studied them, and knew how they were made, but she'd only played at making her own. Not even her own, she had used his style, just in case she was forced into a confrontation with him in the exam. Years and years and years ago.

She put a hand on her bag, mentally sorting the books she had brought with her. She had two that might give her some help. Only two. Why had they lied about what their problem was?

"I'm going to need access to the town's records, and I would like to speak with all witnesses. Has anyone managed to survive an encounter with the creature?"

"No, miss, not a one."

She clicked her tongue. A survivor would have been extremely useful. Ah, well.

"I can give you a ride in, if you'd like," he gestured at the back of his cart. Town center's on my way to port, and the mayor's place is right next t' that."

"Thank you." She climbed in with a grunt. "What is it you do, may I ask?"

"Transport the catch inland. Come to the City for the evenin' catch," he pointed at a lacrima nestled in the cart floor, "turn on the frost a bit, take it to the next town in – that's Longroad – drop it off for the mornin' market, kiss my wife good mornin' then sleep 'til it's time to head out again."

"Ah, so you're only in the City at night."

"Dusk til near midnight, that's right, miss."

"And you've seen an attack."

"Two."

"Ah." She chewed on her lip. "Have they all been in the nighttime?"

"No, miss. Least two durin' the early hours of light."

"And how many, all told?"

"Fourteen as of last night. Twelve at night, and two early in the day." The cart swerved slightly to the left to avoid a small creature running across the road. Levy couldn't tell what it was.

She looked out at the sea. "Foggy?"

"Miss?"

"The mornings, was there fog?"

"Likely. Fog comes some mornin's. This time of year, more than most."

"I'll need witness of the morning attacks," she muttered to herself. She sat in silence for several long minutes with the rocking of the cart and the steady thrum of wheels on dirt and gravel to provide a background music to her thoughts.

"You say you saw two?"

From behind him she watched as his shoulders stiffened, but the tone of his voice remained the same. "Yes."

"Were there any sounds. Things you wouldn't normally hear?"

The man turned to look at her. Levy caught a shadow of fear lingering to darken his eyes.

"The screamin'. That wasn't normal."

No. She supposed it wasn't.

Author's note: I'm not sure if there will be much (if any, I'll be honest) romance in this story. This is about Levy, a job just for her. I'm a complete Ga/le fangirl, no question, but I wanted to see something that was her and only her. Not finding what I wanted (not that there aren't good Levy stories out there, I just couldn't calm the craving, if you will), I decided to write one myself.

I know that romance is the fanfic crowd's drug of choice, but I hope you'll stay around without a guarantee of that.

But Al (you might say, if you felt the need to abbreviate my account name in such a manner) what about Forever Night, that story you wrote like 100 years ago and never finished that takes place actually IN the sea?

Eh...'bout that. No clue if I'll finish it. I hate it. I can't stand it. I have no idea what to do with it, and it's no one's fault but my own. But, I don't think that will be a problem here since I already have the final chapter worked out (and put on paper for the most part).