Chapter 3
The carriage stopped on reaching snowy foothills of Mount Hokabe.I wore my furcoat and hat and prepared to move ahead in search of Macao and Natsu was relieved to get off shouting 'I'm all fired up'Lucy on the other hand was shivering.
"You should have brought warm clothes"I told her.
"I didn't expect to be this cold!"she said.
Natsu lead the way and we followed behind him.
"That's it!"she said and lifted a key and said something about a clock.
I was surprised to see a grandfather clock which talked and Lucy sat inside it!
"So this is your magic,Lucy?"I asked her.
"Didn't I say I'm a celestial wizard?"she said although it was the clock who I could hear saying it.
'Kamal hai'*I thought.
That's the first time she told me but I decided to focus on the mission instead.
Natsu then suddenly stopped"Guys,I can smell something"
We all stopped and looked around.
I checked the dagger I hid under my coat.
Suddenly a giant creature with white fur came charging at us.
He carried the clock with Lucy inside it and ran off shouting 'Woman!'
I snapped out of my stupor and shouted"Natsu!Go after him with Happy"
"Aye"said Happy and carried Natsu to follow the creature.
I ran as fast as I could but soon lost sight of them.
'Yeh aik bara masla hai'*I said while panting but kept following the footprints in the snow.
I stopped just outside the cave where the footprints ended and caught my breath.
I reached for my backpack and pulled out a lantern powered by a lacrima.
The cave could be dark and I wasn't taking risks.
I heard a yell so I ran forward and soon I found Lucy alone with the creature which I now realised was a Vulcan.
Natsu was nowhere in sight so I had to save her.
While the Vulcan was staring at Lucy,It's back was turned to me and I threw my lantern at it which hits it's head.
Unfortunately,it was only momentarily dazed and turned to look at me and howled in anger.
"Kerim!"Lucy shouted when she noticed me.
"Lucy run!"I shouted back as the Vulcan charged at me.
He struck his fist at the ground where I was standing and jumped away just in time.
'Kya kar rahe ho langoor'*I taunted and it tilted its head,not understanding what I said.
Suddenly a burst of fire hit the Vulcan and I saw Natsu being carried by Happy,his face full of anger.
Happy dropped Natsu and he struck the Vulcan's head,knocking it unconscious.
I brought out the dagger and walked close to the Vulcan to make sure it wasn't moving and to the shock to all of us,it changed into Macao.
Lucy said"Wait!So the Vulcan is your friend Macao"
"The Vulcan must have possessed him"I said,grateful I didn't use my dagger on him as I put it back in my coat"Are you alright Lucy?"
"I'm fine,but what you did was very dangerous"she said.
"I couldn't let anything happen to you"I just stated as a matter of fact but she looked at me as if I said something strange.
I simply turned to tend Macao's wounds and wait for him to wake up.
We finally returned to Magnolia and reunited Romeo with his father.
"I'll be heading to the guild and tell everyone Macao is safe"I told them and waved.
"Man,you should join us on our team and go on jobs together.
I'm sure Gramps will let us after we tell him what you did"Natsu said cheerfully.
But Lucy was concerned about something else"Wait,what team?"
I smiled"Thanks for the offer Natsu but I'll be going on a trip and I might not be back for some time"
He seemed surprised by this"Huh!Where?"
I didn't answer"See you tomorrow"I said and continued walking towards the guild.
'Umeed hai mujhe ghar jane ka Rasta mil gaye ga'*I thought and reminded myself of telling Master about my plans.
Translations :
* It's incredible
* What are you doing monkey!
* I hope I will find my way home
