Chapter 2

I sat in my corner quietly as everyone carried on about their normal days. It had been 12 years since I d joined the guild and there were many new and old faces that surrounded the guild hall. The rowdiest of the group, Natsu, was busy darting around the hall looking for someone to fight to prove his strength as the ice mage, Gray, taunted him from a table near the center of the hall. I sat in a dark corner near the bar where people wouldn't notice my small, cloaked figure. I avoided most everyone in the guild, many of them being too hyper for me to be able to handle. I jumped as a voice drifted over the bar, Carolyn, would you like something to eat or drink? Master is worried about you not eating again. I glanced up to see Mira smiling down at me from the other side of the bar. She had always been nicer to me and I almost considered her a good friend, I really only had one friend in the guild and he was hardly ever around. I gave a small nod and lowered my gaze back to my hands on the table. I didn't speak often to anyone in the guild, and Mira never took it personal. She was informed by Master Makarov about my past and she understood some of the hardships that I endured in my life.

I quietly ate my food as Natsu and Gray had started fighting, yet again, and was managing to pull the whole guild hall in to the fight. I glanced over as someone appeared at the guild hall s entrance and smiled to myself as I saw a small mop of blonde hair. No one else noticed him as he made his way to the second floor, a place only the S-class mages could go to. I quietly stood and followed him from the shadows, being sure no one noticed my presence in the hall or near the blonde I was following. I watched him as he plopped down on a couch in the main area of the S-class room. It was decorated with nicer things, since they were less likely to be destroyed by the rowdy class below us. I stayed hidden in the shadows and just waited for my normal routine for when Laxus returned from missions. I almost laughed as he looked over to the corner I was hidden in and stuck his tongue out at me, Get out here and stop with that hiding thing. You know who I am and if you re not used to me by now then I don t think you ll ever get used to me.

I smiled and dropped my shadow magic, casually walking to sit next to Laxus on the fluffy couch, Didn t think you d know where I was. Laxus laughed and pulled me into a tight hug, I have a sixth sense about you. I have to watch out for you and always know when you need me around. So what s up? Have you finally started to be social with those morons down stairs? I returned his hug and shook my head, Only Mira and there s few words to be said to her. They re all so noisy, it makes me too nervous to talk to any of them. Natsu and Gray seem to be the loudest though. Laxus laughed and placed his hand on my head, Seems things don t ever change around here does it? Gramps still lets them get away with murder. He paused and pulled my cloak open to look at me, Are you still not eating? You need some weight. I won t let you wither away on me. I hid my face under my hood as Laxus took off the cloak, You need to start letting people see you. If anyone hurts my little sister, I ll roast them with a few thousand volts. I smiled softly and hugged him again, Thanks Laxus, you ve been a great big brother. I m not sure if I ll ever be social or confident but as long as I have you around I have enough people in my life. Well you and Gramps. Laxus returned the hug with a smile, You re a tough one for sure. You could whip all those noisy bastards in to shape in less time than I could. I grinned and poked his chest, You need to learn to be nicer too. Not everything is about who is the strongest in things. I don t want to see you consumed by the need to be better than everyone else. I want to see my brother enjoying life and being happy. Laxus nodded with a glint of shame in his eyes, I know Carolyn, but I have to push these lazy bastards to better themselves. Just like I have to push you to go out and talk to people. Doesn t Loki try to hit on you? I shook my head, I avoid that womanizer. Laxus grinned, Good, don t think Gramps wants me to kill one of the members for hurting our little flame.

I jumped as I heard someone come rushing in to the room, Laxus! You re Umm Am I interrupting something? We both looked up to see the green haired man known as Freed. He was staring at us awkwardly with a blush on his face as I shared a confused look with Laxus. Laxus had a sudden look of realization as a blush crossed his face, It s not what you re thinking Freed, this is my sister, Carolyn. Freed looked over at me and I instinctively tried to press myself closer to my brother, She looks rather cozy with you. Laxus rolled his eyes and hugged me, She doesn t like people and she has trouble with social situations. When she gets nervous she comes to me to protect her from the stupidity of the world. Freed narrowed his eyes at me and didn t seem to accept Laxus s explanation of why we were so close, If you say so, sir. I was going to let you know the rest of us were going to go eat and wanted to have you come along with us. I looked up at Laxus, who glanced down at me with a small grin on his face, You want to come out in the world? It will only be a small group and they re all strong mages so we can look after you. I thought for a minute before shaking my head, no words leaving my mouth as I made hand motions telling Laxus I d stay at the guild and he could go enjoy time with his friends. He sighed and ruffled my hair, Suit yourself Little One. Try to be a bit more out going okay? I nodded and waved as he left the S-class loft with Freed in close tow.

I heard a few loud bangs and silence just after Laxus left the loft and assumed he quieted the lower ranks on his way out the guild hall. I grabbed my cloak and wrapped it around my small frame as I headed back down to the main guild hall in search of a possible job. I stood near the board and stared out from under my hood. I could do the S-class missions, I was qualified, but I never really took on any missions from my fear of people. I sighed to myself and turned to walk away when a blonde girl appeared beside me, looking over the posted jobs and mumbling to herself about needing some kind of rent money. I slipped past her as cheers rose near the front of the guild hall, Erza s back! Everyone made room for her return as she walked in with a bag of sweets and another person following closely behind her. I could smell the sweets and knew they came from the shop Raziel s family owned in Magnolia. She was the reason he d joined the guild at such a young age. As a young girl, she would visit his family s shop almost daily to get sweets and they became very close friends. He would come visit the guild with special treats for her and leave small gifts while she was away. He was a decent mage in all honesty, but we were polar opposites. I was the shy and quiet type that ruled the darkness and fire, he was the social and out going type that controlled the light and water.

I quietly made my way to my darkened corner, avoiding majority of the regular patrons that stood in my way. I should have just gone with Laxus and his friends. I sighed and sat in my normal spot near the back of the bar and watched as everyone greeted Erza in their own ways. I jumped as a loud clap suddenly silenced the hall and looked up to see Makarov perched on the rail of the second floor, Welcome back Erza and Raziel, it s good to see you around here again. Erza smiled and found herself a spot to sit and enjoy her treats without much issue and Makarov scanned the faces around the hall. He cleared his throat and continued, I have a special request mission for a few of you so if everyone could come up as they are called, I felt his gaze drift over me in my corner, Lucy, Natsu, Gray, Erza, Happy, Raziel, and, I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed he didn't call my name, Carolyn. I sighed in defeat as hushed whispers filled my ears of the other members of the guild. Almost no one knew of me and even less knew I had a name and what it was.

I quickly walked to stand next to the others in front of Master Makarov, standing in complete silence. I could feel everyone s eyes on me as I tried to not fidget under my cloak and waited for Master to give us our orders. Makarov looked us all over and and smiled softly, You are all going on an escort mission to help a local trade route. The area they have been going through has been having many caravans going missing and you are to protect them and the goods they are carrying. Try to not destroy anything while you guys are out and be on your best behavior. Everyone nodded and turned to disband and collect their items for the mission. I stood in front of Makarov and peered up from under my hood at him, a twinkle in the old man s eye made me sigh before turning to collect my pack of things I d need.