I follow Lucy out of the infirmary and down a hallway with a few closed doors. We stop at the entryway to the balcony. We stand there as I gawk at what's before me. Several fights are going on while others simply sit at tables talking with one another avoiding flying mugs. Before I get to fully take in what's happening in front of me Lucy grabs my arm and runs down the stairs practically dragging me. She weaves through the chaos like it was nothing. We slow down as we approach a bar with a platinum blonde cleaning a mug behind the bar.
"Mira!" Lucy yells as the platinum blonde looks up and smiles at her. Soon enough we are standing before her. Her smile is innocent and reassuring.
"Hey this is our newest guild member!" Lucy excitedly tells the platinum blonde with a stupidly wide grin. The blonde then looks down towards me, as I'm about a headspace shorter than the two woman before me.
"Well hello there, I'm Mirajane, but you can call me Mira. Master told me a new member would come over soon. What's your name?" Mira's smile never changes, and she leaves the same warm feeling as her smile does. Then the words she says sinks in. I told Lucy, Natsu, and Master my name without a second thought, but they were clearly close friends and my saviors. Even with Mira's innocent and reassuring demeanor I have never met her. I have never been able to trust anyone as far as remember, but no one has ever tried to betray me because no one has ever tried to gain my trust. Something as simple as my name has brought destruction so many times before. I couldn't say my name to her... not yet.
"I'm sorry, but you can't know… at least not yet." Irritating me my true voice hides as I speak sheepishly. I look down to avoid looking at the woman, so they can't see the annoyance and shame filling my eyes.
"Oh now don't be silly." Her demeanor doesn't change. I don't know what to do. I try to think of what to say, but before I have the chance Lucy speaks up.
"Hey Mira, Natsu and I found her on the floor of a basement that had magical restraints in the walls. Who knows what else she's been through. Trust that I know what damage a name can do, even though we don't think about it for some people even a name needs trust." Lucy spoke in a tone that was almost the one I heard when she saved me, but it had a more understanding or a sympathetic tone to it. I was in awe. Lucy spoke as if her own name had betrayed her before. I couldn't believe it. It felt like my heart took control of me as I wrapped my arms around Lucy hugging her tightly. I feel a tear fall down my cheek as I close my eyes. Lucy is clearly surprised as her arms spread outwards, and I feel her body strain. Then she falls into the hug as she slowly pets my head lovingly.
"I'm sorry… I really didn't mean to push you. Would you like your guild emblem now Sweetie?" Mira's voice has sadness in it as she tries to cheer me up at the end. I quickly wipe my tears away, and take a deep breath. Letting go of Lucy I turn to Mira and nod yes to her.
"Alright where do you want it?" After noticing Lucy and Natsu's Emblem I wondered where mine should go. I took me less time than I thought it would to decide. I look up at Mira and I point to under my left collarbone. Once Mira nods I move my hand, and let her press the stamp onto my chest. It's magic reaches me. It's calming and warm, unlike any magic I've felt before. There's no sharp pain, terrifying heat, or stinging cold… just a calming warmth. Mira then steps back and puts the stamp away. I smile at the two women happily.
"Thank you." I then turn to Lucy wanting to meet more people. "You mentioned Elfman and Lisanna earlier?" I question Lucy as Mira walks towards the other end of the bar where she's being called. Lucy giggles as I give her a confused look.
"You seem very interested in the Strausses." Lucy notices my look of confusion. "Mira, Elfman, and Lisanna are siblings." I realize what was so funny and giggle as well. She looks around the guild hall, and when she looks back at me she furrowed her eyebrows. In response I raise one of mine own eyebrows. She smiles and turns towards the stairs.
"HEY NATSU!" Lucy's yell surprises me as I look up to see Natsu staring back at us while leaning against the wall near the stairs on the second level.
"WHAT!" Natsu responds just as loudly. Which phases no one as for the loudness of the guild hall.
"WHERE'S LISANNA?"
"HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW?" Natsu's voice is filled irritation, but to my surprise I also hear shock and maybe even embarrassment. To top it off Lucy's face contorts into a smirk at Natsu's response.
"BECAUSE EVER SINCE SHE GOT BACK YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING HER!" Lucy yells back at Natsu as I watch his face turn bright red, while Lucy's smirk just grows bigger. I can't help but wonder what the hell they were talking about, but I shrug it off as I watch the conversation between the two.
"YEAH RIGHT!" He practically growls at Lucy with her response clearly trying to ignore his embarrassment rising up.
"OH COME ON! NOW, WHERE IS SHE?" Lucy's tone clearly shows how much she enjoys toying with the pink haired man, but this time I hear the slightest bit of irritation or more likely boredness.
"SHE'S IN THE RESTROOM" Natsu quickly states as he glares at Lucy, and walks toward another person on the balcony. Lucy seems to be a little disappointed, but smiles as she notices some one at a table nearby. She grabs my hand and walks us around the guild hall to a table with a giant muscled man. I couldn't tell how tall he was since he was sitting down, but his muscles were enough to show that he was a giant. His bright white hair stood out telling me he must be related to Mira.
"Elfman! This is our newest guild member!" We arrive next to him. Then he turns towards us, so that I can see his rigid face with a scar pulling down from his right eye.
"Hey kid." I have no clue of what to think or say as stare at the burly man in front of me. His is as rough as his appearance. I suddenly remember how I had heard of him.
"Hi… are you the Elfman who made those chicken nuggets?" As it's the only thing I have to ask him about currently I go for it. I looked at him with an eyebrow raised waiting for him to respond.
"Well I usually don't cook for anyone other than my sisters now a days, but it wouldn't be manly to refuse cooking for a young lady." His words make sense in a way, but still my shock or confusion (I can't even tell which) is placed clear on my face. Lucy's giggles shake me out of my trance as I stare at Elfman as he takes a sip from his mug.
A moment later one of the brawls nearby causes he drink to fall over and spill. Just like that he spits out some nonsense about being manly and joins the brawl. I stare in shock at how quickly he got roped into it.
"Hey while we wait for Lisanna I want you to meet Erza." Lucy puts her hand on my shoulder getting my attention. Then she smiles sweetly as motions with her head to follow her. I grab her hand smiling back at her as she leads me through the chaos at a reasonable pace.
"It seems strange but not only is Mirajane older than Elfman I think she might be stronger than him." I look up at Lucy in shock. She just said that the sweet barmaid we met was stronger than the burly man who just joined a brawl because his drink was spilled. Lucy's usual giggle at my awe slipped through her lips once again.
"Well Mirajane actually is an S-class wizard who used to be called The She-Devil." At that moment I stopped dead in my tracks, as yells stating The She-Devil was attacking from those years ago echoed in my head. I remember the explosions that shook the lab enough to break my room, more like a cell, open so I could run into the woods far away from that hell hole. Even though I only ran into another dreadful place nothing could be worse than that hell hole they called a lab. I always wondered who The She-Devil was, and if she was possibly a good person or just another monster attacking other monsters claiming to be human.
I hope you guys enjoyed! I'm going to continue posting every Sunday night.
I wanted to thank Alkus & avaiaal for following this story.
I also wanted to thank Alkus & Gabbicat18 for favoriting this story.
Special thanks to Gabbicat18 for reviewing I hope you only find it getting better.