Chapter 3: Sorry
- (Normal P.O.V)-
Lucy sighed as she walked towards the train station. Humming a tune as she walked past some shopping districts. 'Hmm..Where should I head first?' she pondered for a while.
She thought about going to the Heartfilia Residence and stay there but then she remembered her Father. So it's not really a good idea. When she reached the Train Station, she goes to the Ticket Counter and bought a random ticket destined to an unfamiliar place. While waiting for the train, she was thinking to reconsider the thought of leaving. But in the end, she decided to just go with the flow and let fate do what it wants. She smiled, 'I'm just going to let things happen'
The train finally arrives. One by one the passengers board the train and Lucy was one of them. Once she was inside she walked through the train's hallway until she meets the end of the train. She then sat beside the window, her backpack next to her while across her were empty seats. Moments passed before the train started moving, and then she sighed. "I need to get used to this...being alone.."she murmurs. Memories started running through her mind. Memories of them. She became frustrated and started shaking her head, ruining her hair with her soft hands. "UGHHH!" she let out an exasperated groan, not noticing someone's presence.
"..Umm..Excuse me Young lady is someone sitting here?" an old woman asked, pointing towards the seat across Lucy.
The sudden voice interrupts Lucy with her thoughts. She looked up and saw a hooded woman, her eyes widened as she realized that the Old Lady saw her actions earlier, a small blush tinted her cheeks as she shook her head in response. 'How embarrassing...'
The old woman saw her response and smiled "May I sit here? Well, if you don't mind."
"Umm sure! I don't mind," she replies, still embarrassed.
"Thank You," The old woman said before taking a seat.
Lucy then wondered why she chose to sit here, with her. It's quite suspicious actually. She didn't mean to be rude, but seriously why would she sit with her when there are a lot of empty seats around them. It's not like she doesn't want to have any company, she admits that this is better than being alone...with her thoughts. She just couldn't help but wonder. She look back at the window and watched the passing scenery though sometimes she would glance at the old woman sitting across her.
She was wearing a cloak, but she removed her hood once she sat down. And like any old woman, she has wrinkles and grayish hair. Her age is probably somewhere between 60-70 since she was still strong enough to travel alone. She was also looking at the window, a smile on her face as she watched the passing scenery.
She then realized something. Where is she going anyway? She sighs as she looked at her train ticket, whispering to herself as she read, "Opelucid City" written in a fancy cursive font.
Opelucid City? What. Where is that? She ponders once again.
"Opelucid City is a city in the northern part of Fiore. The city is well-known as The city of relics because of the one-hundred relics found in the area. Not only that, but this City is marked as the most peaceful city in Fiore. Unlike most of the Cities, in Opelucid there are no guilds though they have lots of attractions such as The Hundredth Museum and White Forest."
Lucy smiled as she read the information about Opelucid City. She didn't know that a city like this exists in Fiore. Now she was glad that she took that Information Booklet right next to the ticket counter while she was buying a ticket. She kept reading the Information Booklet, her eyes full of wonder as she reads. How come she didn't know about this? Fiore has a lot of cities. Castelia City, Masai City and many other more. Though most of the cities aren't that known by people. It's such a waste, really. People should acknowledge this places.
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Lucy let out a sigh. It's been 2 hours since she finished that booklet. She found out that it takes several hours to get to Opelucid City. She groans, quite loudly. She's bored and she doesn't want to sleep. And other than that...she's HUNGRY! She didn't freaking eat breakfast. She cursed herself, she knows she's going to travel but why didn't she think of eating before she left?
She sighs again, 'What should I do now..?'
"Is there something troubling you?" The old woman asked. She has heard a lot of sighs coming from Lucy for the past several hours. It's quite annoying when someone just kept sighing and sighing and sighing, it's like they want some attention. So here she is giving the young lady some attention.
Oh, only if she knew what's going through Lucy's mind.
The voice of the old woman snapped Lucy out of her thoughts. She looked at her and smiled "Ohh nothing really..." She wanted to ask if she has food. Like heck, she would ask that. That would be just plain embarrassing and rude. So now, she just sat there and fumbled with her fingers.
From here on out, the old woman realized that Lucy was the stubborn one. Judging by the tone of her voice, it seems like she doesn't want to trouble her with her problems. It was rather thoughtful of her, really. The old woman smiled and said "My name is Meryl"
Lucy was surprised, she didn't think that the old woman would talk to her through the train ride. "My name is Lucy" she responded back with a grin.
Meryl couldn't help but giggle at her, she was surprisingly cheerful. "My Oh My what a beautiful name" she smiles.
Lucy giggled "Thank You! You have a beautiful name too." She was flattered, really.
Meryl looked at her for a moment, waiting for her to meet her eyes. The moment their eyes contact, there was a sudden glow in Meryl's eyes. Lucy suddenly slumps back at her seat.
'What was that...?' she thinks. She glanced at Meryl who was smiling at her with closed eyes. 'Was...that magic...?' She was sure that it was magic...but what kind? She's afraid. She was sensing a powerful magic coming from Meryl, on impulse she slowly placed her left hand on her keys.
Meryl looked at Lucy in the eyes. 'She's afraid' Meryl thought. Meryl was amused by Lucy's actions. She giggled "Now may I ask.. you want to become stronger right?"
Lucy's eyes widened and she clenches her teeth. She doesn't know if this old woman was evil or not but this is getting out of hand. How does she know that...? Her left hand gripped harder on a certain key as she spoke through clenched teeth "How do you know that..?" she asked with narrowed eyes.
Meryl merely smiled at her, calm as ever as she answered her question "I can read minds, it's my magic" she said pausing for a while as she took a quick glance at her keys 'a celestial spirit mage eh..?' she thought with a smirk "Specifically, it's called Mind-Reading Magic. Not only I can read minds, but I can also know your deepest secrets and thoughts." she added with a grin. Meryl waits for Lucy's reaction.
Lucy calms down. "So are you a good guy or a bad guy?" she asks.
"Neither. It depends really." she stated simply.
Lucy sighed at this. This is the first time she met an old woman with a personality like this. Lucy shrugs and said "Mind-reading magic...Isn't that Lost Magic?"
Meryl was taken aback, only a few people knew what mind-reading magic is. "My, you are really smart" she complements "And yes. It is lost magic" she added.
Lucy thanked her at this. Then Meryl spoke once again. "You got angry...at your team, called Team Natsu?"
'Did she just read my mind..?' Lucy thoughts
"Yes. I just read your mind" Meryl answers with a smile.
Lucy ignored this and replied at her question "Ah well yes...they think I'm weak and so they replaced me with another person.." she forced a smile.
Meryl saw through her and sighed "You should realized that I don't need any explanations. You just need to answer yes or no" she stated with a poker face, like she didn't care about what Lucy said.
'IS THIS WOMAN REALLY OLD?!' Lucy screams in her mind. 'SHE ACTS LIKE A TEENAGER!'
Meryl laughs and said "I'm not that old. And do you have a place to go?" she still asks even though she knows the answer.
Lucy groans, "Not really..." Lucy cursed herself, she really didn't think this through. She just went and quit the guild, without thinking what would happen to her or whatever. Then she adds "I'm just going to sleep in the forest if I didn't find a place to stay" Lucy cries (not literally) 'I don't have money to stay in an inn.' she thought, crying — not literally.
Meryl sweatdrops'. Assuming that Lucy forgot that she can read minds. She then insisted "Now now that'll be dangerous… How about I train you and you can live with me. How's that sound?"
Lucy looked at her shocked. She was really thankful with the offer. But she doesn't want to be a burden to someone. She thought about it again before responding "Thank you for the offer but I don't think I have money to pay you"
Meryl laughs "Oh no, no don't worry you don't need to pay me" She was starting to like Lucy.
"THANK YOU VERY MUCH!" Lucy bows before her. Though, she was having doubts about Meryl training her. Can she really train her?
Now Meryl felt insulted. She forcibly smiled, hiding her irritation. "You know, I'm once the member of the Magic Council but I retired because of the stress." she says.
Lucy wondered why Meryl suddenly said that. Did she say something?
"You must be really powerful.." Lucy smiled at her
"Oh yes I am" Meryl stated proudly "By the way, on the next stop we'll be going okay?" she quickly added.
'EHHHH? But I wanted to go to Opelucid City...' Lucy thought, disappointed. 'But oh well'
"Okay then! Thank you again for the offer Meryl-san" She smiled shyly.
Meryl smiled back at her "No problem."
- (Normal P.O.V) - At the Guild -
(Roughly the time when Meryl introduced herself to Lucy)
'Where is she?' was the thought that kept ringing in his mind. He's frustrated. Really, really frustrated. "Damn it." he cursed under his breath. He has looked for her for several hours now. He tried using his nose to trace her but it seemed like her scent disappeared. Weird.
He panted as he looked for her in different places. He already checked her apartment several times, he didn't even bother to barge into her room, he can't sense her magic anymore. Not only her magic but also Lucy herself. He's starting to get confused now.
He ran towards the guild doors, opened it and yelled "ERZA!"
"Natsu? Don't go barging in — " Erza started but was abruptly cut off by the salmon-haired mage.
He gripped on Erza shoulders "No time Erza! Have you seen Lucy?" he asks. He needs to see Lucy now.
Erza then punched him in the face, Natsu fell back and ended up on the floor. He looked up at Erza.
"Calm down, you idiot. What's wrong with you? And I didn't saw Lucy ever since this morning." she says. "Why are you looking for her anyway?"
Natsu groaned again. "Happy's sulking again. I don't know what happened to him. He was fine one second and then the next he was sulking." He continued
"I thought Lucy would probably know the reason he's sulking.." he says, scratching the back of his head and a frustrated look on his face.
Erza opened her mouth to respond but the ice mage beat her to it.
"Don't worry too much you flame-idiot. It's probably nothing serious." Gray said as he stood before Natsu, half-naked of course. Good thing, Erza didn't mind him, though.
Natsu sighed "I don't know man. I'm going to ask Master where Lucy is" Natsu stood up from the floor and went towards the staircase that leads to the second floor. Erza and Gray following behind.
"Why not ask Mira or Levy where Lucy is?" Gray asked, casually putting his hands inside his pants pockets.
Natsu retorts. "I already asked Mira where Lucy is. She told me that the last person she talked to was Master before she left the guild." Natsu continued. "And Levy is not in the guild, I think her team went on a mission."
"Heh." Gray mutters in reply.
The three went up the stairs and went directly to Master's office. And when they were at the Master's Door, Natsu was about to knocked when —
"She left Fairy Tail.."
Gray and Erza barely heard it but Natsu heard it clearly because of his sensitive sense of hearing. Though the same question run through their mind..'Who left Fairy Tail?'
They suddenly heard a gasp. Erza assumed that it was Mira.
"What are they talking about…?" Gray asks leaning closer to the door.
Natsu heard it, every single word. He clenches his fists "It's about Lucy. She left." He says through clenched teeth.
Erza and Gray looked at him, eyes widening.
"What?"
- (Normal P.O.V) - Master's Office -
"Master do you need something?" Mira smiled, sweetly.
Apparently, Master invited Mirajane to his office to talk about something or..someone.
Master looked up at Mira with sad eyes. "I wanted to talk about Lucy." He says.
Mira frowned as he saw the look on Master's face. "What about her?" She asks.
"She left Fairy Tail.." He said, rather bluntly.
He knew he promised to Lucy that he wouldn't tell anyone. But he needs someone in the guild to at least know the situation. He knew that someday they would notice that Lucy was gone.
Mira gasped, eyes widening. "What?!" She continued "What Happened? Why did she..?" Tears started to form in her eyes.
Master folded his arms and sighed "She said to me that she plans to get stronger, so she left the guild" she continued "Look Mira. I'm really worried about her."
"Then will look for her Master!" Mira suggested, clenching her fists. "We'll bring her back." She sounded confident.
"No we can't look for her, she forbid us to." He refused. "Especially Natsu's team."
"Why is Natsu's team involved?" Mira asks.
"I'm sorry Mira, I can't tell you anymore." Master says, closing his eyes as he let out a sigh. He already said enough.
"I understand" Mira says with a sad face.
Master looked at her and said "Mirajane please keep this a secret to the guild, I only said it to you because I know you're trustworthy enough to know"
Mirajane smiled at him "Yes, Master.. I will now be leaving" she bowed before leaving.
- (Normal P.O.V) -
"Oh s-shit!" Natsu cursed "She's coming outside hide guys!"
The three of them hid on the room next to the Master's office, which was a closet full of cleaning tools. Mirajane then walked out of the Master's office, completely oblivious.
"I can't believe she left..." Erza lowered her head. She shouldn't have agreed to Natsu's plan.
"I didn't want her to leave the guild, I-I just want her to—...." Natsu clenches his fists, lowering his head, as a lone tear trickled down his face.
Gray leaned against the wall and remained silent. He did not expect this. He did not expect that she would quit. He clenches his fists and gritted his teeth. He thought of Lucy constantly the moment he heard that she left. Regrets filling his mind, as he resisted the urge to go and look for her, to explain everything to her, to at least say sorry to her...but shit. Too late. "I want to see her.." Gray said, softly.
Natsu turned to face Gray, a determined look painted on his face. "Then let's look for her!" he said, Erza and Gray stared at each other before looking back at Natsu with a knowingly smile on their face.
Unexpectedly, the door to the room, suddenly opened, revealing Master Makarov with a disappointed look on his face.
"Master!" They all said in unison.
"You're not allowed to look for her.." Master said, narrowing his eyes to glare at the trio. He was supposed to go to a meeting after he talked to Mira, but he overheard what Natsu said, when he passed by the room next to his office. Though, it's not as if he didn't know the trio were inside that room. He can feel their presence, so he knows that they were eavesdropping.
"You're not gonna look for Lucy. Understand?" He stated once again.
The three didn't argue with him, simply because they respect Master Makarov. And what he said was not simply a statement, it was an order. Master's orders are absolute and his seriousness prevented them to talk back. But Gray stubbornly walked past him. "We're going to look for her Master" Erza and Natsu followed after him. And with a blink of an eye, Master Makarov appeared right in front of Gray, stopping Gray from walking forward.
"It's her decision to leave the guild. Respect her decision and let her be!" Master said, angrily.
"Gomen. But I can't respect her decision." Natsu said.
"If you guys want to look for her. Then you're going to go through me" Master argued.
The three fell silent after that.
"I'll give you this young ones if Lucy didn't come back for a whole year, I'll let you look for her" Master sighed.
They all agreed to this.
"Okay then" Erza said, smiling a bit.
Gray looked away.
"Fine" Natsu muttered, frustrated that he has to wait a whole year before looking for her.
.
.
.
But they didn't know that someone was listening to their conversation.
.
.
.
"L-Lu-chan...left the guild..?"
(Edited: June 24, 2014)
