Chapter three.
Thanks for all the reviews and follows! And special thanks to Blood of the Depressed for the title suggestion!
I don't own Fairy Tail and enjoy!
Her mind was buzzing and thoughts were overwhelming each other: James had told her a story she would always remember. But it wasn't enough: she had so many more questions.
She looked down at her feet. Apart from James, there was only one person she slightly trusted her problems. Her body seemed to know this, too. Maybe she had to put it out of her mind for a while and he would distract her.
"Lucy? Why are you standing outside?" Erwin's voice made her shriek. Had he noticed her through a door?
In spite of herself, she still knocked before going in- a life of habit and politeness.
"Is something wrong? He asked after one observant look. How could her read her this well?
Lucy sat down on a chair and glumly leaned on its back. "I don't know. I've just heard something about my mother and I didn't expect it at all. It changes a lot."
Erwin patiently looked at her with mild curiosity. "Your mother?"
"She passed away a long time ago. Her name was Layla Heartfilia." The blonde took a deep breath. "And she was a mage."
"She was? Wait, you didn't know?" Erwin frowned and made an expression that mimicked Lucy's feelings at the moment.
"I didn't. Apparently, something happened and every S-class mage knows about it, and she stopped using magic after that." When Erwin breathed in sharply, she looked up.
"It can't be… Layla…" she whispered.
Lucy shot up in an instant, her chair fell on the ground. "You have heard of her?"
"Everyone has. At least, every mage. But nobody would've guessed that Layla became the wife of Jude Heartfilia. When did she pass away?"
"Six years ago. Erwin, if you know anything, please tell me. I want to know about my mother."
Erwin nodded. "I understand. Six years ago, X777, something happened in the world of magic. All of the dragons, the protectors and guides of mankind, they disappeared. The only thing they left were the Dragon Slayers. Natsu Dragneel, Gajeel Redfox, Wendy Marvel, Sting Eucliffe, Rogue Cheney are the most famous, without a doubt."
He sighed. "Years before, it is known that Layla was an amazing mage. The strongest Celestial Spirit Mage, perhaps. She was on good terms with the dragons, in matter of fact. Layla could understand them better than nearly every human. They once talked and made a deal. A deal to protect the world. But it cost her something. She quit her work and disappeared. Only rumours were heard of her since then. And now she passed away in the same year as the dragons."
Erwin stopped talking, as if that was enough.
"But why is it such a big deal? She just made a pact and that was it?" it was even a bit disappointing, she had expected a disaster or a miracle.
"That was it?" Erwin shook his head. "Lucy, I think you're missing some pieces. All of the S-class Mages know this. Right after they made that deal, or rather, that promise, something of crucial importance happened: the dragons, they adopted a child. All of them. The Dragon Slayers. The most destructive ability in this world."
Lucy shivered. "What was the pact? Why didn't mother tell me?"
"I don't know. Nobody does, that's the big mystery. But if you look hard enough, I guess that you might be able to find it. You are her daughter after all."
"It's so strange."
"I know. It's okay. Lucy", Erwin then asked hesitantly. "Have you ever thought you could be a Mage, too?"
The question shocked her. She had thought about it and even wished for it when she was little, but to really be one was a whole other matter.
"It's just that I sense this magic power inside of you, untouched." The redhead said cautiously.
"I don't know." Lucy was surprised how calm she suddenly felt. "I do know someone who does know it."
She pressed a button on the table next to her, which resulted in one single peep and then a low, rich voice. "Yes, Mr Dawnson?"
"James, It's Lucy here. Could you be here as soon as possible?"
"Of course, Miss Heartfilia. I'm on my way."
Lucy took away her hand and went through her hair with it. "What if I am, though?"
Erwin understood right away what she meant. "It's not a bad thing. It's just very different. I'll help you, if I can. And there's still James and other people that will help you."
Lucy nodded and then Erwin grabbed her hand with a subtle move and pressed into it shortly. Lucy smiled at him, grateful of his support, and she blushed under the look in his eyes she couldn't identify.
She couldn't deny that ever since she saw him, she found him attractive. His short, crimson hair, with one eye sometimes covered and those brown eyes that made her feel so predictable and obvious. He was handsome. Lucy, all her life surrounded by books about fiction and mystery, was drawn to him and the scent of adventure and mystery. When his voice said her name in that special way, he made her shiver. Yet there was something missing in the puzzle. Like there was a wall blocking her from really liking him. Strange it may be, the blonde heiress of the Heartfilias felt something bothering her about him, right under her skin.
A knock on the door interrupted their moment. No doubt who it was.
"Come in", Erwin said calmly. Without missing a beat, he relaxed his hand and pulled back.
It was James. He stood there, tidy and the same as always. Lucy couldn't help but suddenly compare the two of them and she suddenly knew what the problem was. Two complete opposites, and she was attracted to both, she admitted to herself.
Erwin was new, he was just in her life and he was adventure and freedom. In him, she missed the safety, the steadiness that was James. He had always known her and taken care of her, even more than the others. He was the one who would warn and advise her. He was home. And yes, there had been whispers about them for a very long time – Lucy had just ignored them until Erwin came here.
"James, I'll be straightforward. Am I a mage?" she asked, getting herself together again.
"Miss Heartfilia?" he asked with his eyebrows knitted together.
"My mother surely told you. I know about my mother and the dragons. I'll ask you again. Am I a mage?"
He looked at his shoes. "You are, Miss Heartfilia."
Lucy took a deep breath. It felt as if a weight dropped from her shoulders. As if she had secretly known throughout all these years. "How do I awaken the magc?" she asked Erwin casually, becoming more tensed with the second.
The patient seemed doubtful. "That depends. It only appeared to me in an emergency, when I realized the truth and something awful happened. It's different for everyone. You can't describe it and you can't force it. That's all I know."
"Miss Heartfilia. I think I might have a way." James said carefully.
"Really?"
"Your mother left the Celestial Keys of her Spirits behind, in an heritage to you. Maybe if you try to activate them, you'll be able to unlock it?"
Lucy nodded decisively. "Can you fetch them for me?"
"Naturally, Miss. I'll be back in a minute." He disappeared and Erwin and Lucy were left alone again, in silence.
"Do you really want to try?"
"I do. I want to know more of magic and be a mage. All I've ever wanted is to go outside and explore and do anything. Magic is, to me, freedom." The blonde walked to the window and looked out on the front garden.
"It is also my mother's heritage. I don't know what is behind all this, but I can feel there's more. It connects and I don't want to stay at the side line anymore. I want to act and help with the war and dragons and everything. You understand, don't you?"
Erwin nodded. He understood, better than anyone, perhaps. He, too, knew how it felt like you should do something against the cruel world. Closing his eyes, he remembered. He had failed. And he opened them with new strength. Lucy would not. He would make sure of that.
Lucy was staring at him a little. She wondered what kind of thoughts hid behind those strong-willed eyes.
"Something wrong?" a cool voice asked.
She shook her head and they waited for James to come back.
The butler did, holding a wooden , flat box carefully. It was decorated with stars and zodiac signs. It was beautiful. James held it out to her and Lucy slowly, with hesitation, opened it. Three keys lay on the dark blue silk with tiny silver specks like stars. She recognized the signs. Cancer, Capricorn and Aquarius.
Erwin gasped. James and Lucy looked up to him.
"Those are three Golden Keys." He said shocked. "In all the world, there are hundreds of Silver Keys, but only Twelve gold ones, the Zodiac." He looked fascinated at them and then back out the window. "Of course, there's the thirteenth, too…"
Lucy frowned but focused on the keys in front of her. Of all of them, she was drawn most to Aquarius. It was a symbol of Water, of course, and water flowed where it liked, it was free, it was independent and detached. She slowly reached out for one of them and she could feel the Spirits being in the key, wanting to be released.
Finally, she touched it and it sparked gold. It slowly heated up and began shining brightly until another form appeared. It was a mermaid, with blue fins and tails, blue hair and a blue bikini. She was beautiful, although she looked a little annoyed. Not a great start.
Lucy could feel the energy flowing away, but she held on, this was her first chance to learn something more.
"Eh, what do you want now, brat?" the mermaid asked grumpily. She narrowed her eyes. "I was just on a date with my boyfriend. Don't you dare interrupt it again!" the scowl was terrifying. Nobody had warned her about this part!
"I'm Lucy. You're Aquarius, right?"
"Tch. And?"
"Do you know anything about my mother?"
"Of course I do. I was her friend for six years. How could I not know? If that was all, I'll be going back. And next time, hold my key in water. I'm going on a date with my boyfriend now." She huffed and disappeared again.
"Wait!" But it was too late. Aquarius disappeared, looking down at her haughtily. Lucy sighed and sank on her knees, until James pulled out a chair and she sat down. The sudden loss of energy was exhausting, but it had felt… magical.
"That was… something else?" she didn't know how to put it.
Erwin seemed distant in his thoughts and James looked faraway, too. Lucy looked from one to another and felt confused.
With a short cough, she managed to get them back on earth.
"So, what do you think?"
"We should ask you that. I'm guessing you don't have much energy left to try again?"
Lucy shook her head. "No. Not yet. Though I'll doubt we'll get more answers from them. They've been in another world for so long now…"
James seemed reluctant, but Lucy shot him an encouraging look.
"Miss, I just got word via the lacrima that your father wishes to speak to you. It's about your mother."
The blonde was already half in panic. "Does he know? Why would he want to speak to me now? Something fishy is going on here. How does he know?"
James blushed furiously. "I, err, I told him, Miss."
Lucy froze. "You told him?"
James nodded. "He was worried about you. So he asked me and I told him. He wants to speak to you about the magic, too."
The immense betrayal behind these words, spoken almost casually, was shocking.
James had always been her friend, the one person she trusted and who would conspire against her father. Now he conspired with him. All her life, she relied on him. Now he turned against her? It was impossible. Lucy couldn't understand it. She didn't fully grasp the situation, yet. It couldn't be. James, who knew better than anyone not to tell her father, had done the one thing that would make her lose trust in him.
"James…" she whispered.
"I'm sorry, Miss Heartfilia." He said without looking the tiniest bit remorseful.
"I'll be going now." She said. Without another look on James and even poor Erwin – who had done nothing wrong – she walked out, to her father's study. She had the feeling their next conversation would shape Erwin and hers tomorrow.
End of Chapter three.
Sorry, everyone, but I've got exams, so I'll be on a low writing mode until half December. Maybe I'll get another chapter out!
Until next time.