Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or Familiar of Zero
…
Erza waited patiently in the courtyard, waiting to see just who would continue on from the lesson she had bestowed upon the students the prior day. If none of the students made themselves known she wouldn't be surprised, because of their status as nobles many of them had barely done more than the most basic of physical activity.
Erza scoffed at the thought once more. Noble, all because they were born with the ability to use magic. Such a thought was absurd and back in Fiore any person lording over the non-magical folk would find themselves treading a dangerous path. She herself had come across the scenario on more than one occasion while traversing across Earthland and on in each instance she had crushed those who would use their magic to oppress others.
She mused on the fact that she herself was hiding her magical abilities, choosing just to use her strength and skill thus far to get through day to day. She didn't want people to gather around her and for the staff here to treat her any differently because she possessed powers they did not. Erza knew that her ruse would not last forever and she had been grateful that this morning she had realized that nobody had questioned where her pyjamas had come from, having brought them out from her pocket dimension. Having awoken early and realized her mistake, she had left Siesta and Louise to rest before undressing her pyjamas, folding them and putting them by the side of her bed. No need for Louise to wonder anymore where her clothes had come from.
The majority of the day had been spent in the academy's library where she had explained to the faculty member that due to her home being so far away that despite them speaking the same language the written alphabet was different. It had taken a bit of scrounging around but Erza had managed to get her hands on some of the most simplest of books designed to help children learn how to read. It just went to show her drive by not feeling embarrassed at reading through teaching texts designed for kids a third of her age. Having spent a great deal of her youth teaching Natsu the basics of their literature she knew that in order to get anywhere in this world she would need to be able to read.
"Miss Erza," said somebody from nearby, causing her eyebrow to raise more so for the way she had been spoken to than the actual fact someone had approached her.
"Guiche," she said, noting the student in front of her. She took a quick glance at his appearance and saw that he was slightly shaking, possibly due to fear or intimidation by being in her presence. The fact that during the 'duel' they had had he had been overwhelmed in nothing more than a handful of seconds would likely have left such an impression on him.
Stealing his nerve, Guiche straightened his back and did his best to suppress the urge inside of him screaming to get away as quickly as humanly possible. "Miss Erza, I have come to you today to ask to learn the way of the sword," he said as he clenched his hands into fists by his sides.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, my father is a general and as such I was taught basic swordplay at a young age, perhaps out of my own desire more than necessity. Your strength and skill however has shown me that a noble like myself can indeed be bested by someone without the aid of magic and if by chance I were to lose my wand on the battlefield I wish to have the skill to defend myself."
"Guiche," said Erza, stopping the student before he had the chance to continue. "You stated that you wish to gain strength in order to defend yourself. Tell me, is that the only reason why?"
Sadly, Guiche could see the loaded question delivered before him as clear as day but had no backup plan to rely on, hence, he answered in the manner that he did. "No?"
"Very well, your reasons are your own but I will tell you the secret right here and now about the truth behind my strength," said Erza and she could see the boy's attention focus significantly. "I fight not for myself, but for my friends."
"Your friends?"
"Yes," said Erza as a satisfactory smile crossed her face as she pictured those she cared about in her mind. "The adventures we go on are often perilous and I know that I can trust those around me to keep my back protected and I theirs. I am strong because if I were to fail in protecting those around me, the shame would be greater than any pain inflicted upon myself."
"Ah, what a noble cause," said Guiche as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Not only are you both beautiful and strong but your resolution to help those around you radiates with a passion I've never seen."
"Flattery will not make me go easy on you," said Erza silencing Guiche in an instance. "I trust since you were able to make that golem the other day you'd be able to craft a sword." Guiche merely answered with actions as opposed to words and with a swish of his rose shaped wand he conjured forth a blade with it's point in the ground much like Erza's was. With a swift motion he pulled the sword from the ground and held it to the side in what Erza assumed had been more for dramatic flair than anything else.
"Please, teach me the way of the sword."
"Very well," said Erza as she reached down and gripped the handle of her own blade, the sunlight glistening off of the metal as the point was pulled from the surface. "Since you are so eager to learn we will begin immediately."
"Excellent, now what form shall…" That was as far Guiche got before he screamed out in fear, lifting his blade in front of him in a pitiful attempt of a block which merely made Erza shift her assault. Guiche doubled over and grasped onto his ribs which had been struck, thankfully with the flat of the blade.
"I will be teaching you the same way I was taught, by fighting. I never took a single lesson in my life and it was only through constant clashes with those around me that helped me increase in power on a daily basis. Now stand, rise up and know that with every time you parry my sword, every time you block my attack, every time you rise up again you grow ever stronger!"
Guiche knew that to do as Erza had asked him would be similar to torture. He had thought that she would teach him simple sword forms whilst working on his strength and stamina. This...this was outrageous! To subject himself time and time again to being struck down only to be told to stand back up and suffer even more was beyond crazy.
Yet he stood.
His breathing was already ragged as the blow he had taken had rattled him severely but he gripped onto his sword which such intensity that his knuckles went white. He chose not to speak at that moment, his attention needed to be focused and at the ready and he had quickly learnt that if he were to show vulnerability it would be assaulted.
Choosing to take the initiative, he lunged forward with a warcry.
Erza smiled.
…
Erza wasn't smiling.
That evening she had been beset by Kirche offering to take her shopping the following morning. This had come about with the realization from the Germanian that with Louise having summoned Erza from far off the only things she had at her disposal were the clothes on her back. It had been so tempting then and there to reveal the fact she had a wardrobe at her disposal at all times but she had resisted.
Which lead to her current situation, stationed in a carriage with Kirche and Tabitha sitting opposite her (though the blue haired student had yet to say a word and had her nose buried in a book) and Louise by her side. Apparently Louise hadn't liked the idea of Kirche treating Erza to a new wardrobe without her consent and had declared that since the two of them shared a room it was only proper that she agreed to the selection of clothing that would be hung up near her own. Frankly, Erza just found it too much of a hassle.
"So, from what you've seen of Tristain so far, how does it fair in comparison to your homeland?" asked Louise trying to force some manner of small talk.
"You do know that this is my first time leaving the academy?" retorted Erza, silencing Louise and forcing her to look away.
"Oh I bet you've never even seen the styles of this country! While not as top notch as what Germania produces the garments here are quite exquisite in their own right," said Kirche.
"Are you sure it's alright for you to be buying things for me though?" asked Erza.
"Allowance," said Tabitha, showing that she was still paying attention to the conversation at hand.
"So your family gives you spending money for your time at school, that makes sense," said Erza. "Just don't spend too much on me."
"I'm sure your family spent plenty on you back in your homeland," said Kirche.
"I guess they did," said Erza with a shrug.
"You guess, how can you guess what your family did for you?" asked Louise.
Erza bit at the inside of her tongue knowing that she had dug herself into trouble here but figured that the truth would have come out eventually. Taking in a deep breathe, she wondered just how the sheltered girls before her would react to her history. "I don't remember my parents, my village was attacked when I was a child, burned to the ground and those that died were the lucky ones. The unfortunate ones were sent to a sole island where we were treated like slaves, working endlessly for another's goal."
Needless to say, the mood in the carriage shifted greatly at those words and those who had listened were doing their best to try and contemplate just what it was that they had heard. For Louise though she swiftly understood why Erza wanted no part in being her familiar. Locked away for who knows how long, as a child no less, the thought of being bound to another through a familiar contract would likely bring back painful memories.
Surprisingly, it was Tabitha who acted as she closed the book she had been reading and laid it to the side. Despite the fact there was little room in the carriage she moved until she was standing hunched over directly in front of Erza before wrapping her arms around the scarlet haired woman. No words were said but Erza smiled and returned the awkward hug that the quiet girl was giving her, silently thanking her for the comfort regarding something she had put behind her so long ago.
Unfortunately, Kirche felt the immediate need to raise the spirits of those present and Tabitha had just given her the most opportune moment. "Group hug!"
Needless to say, Louise was less than pleased when she found herself sandwiched between Kirche's and Erza's breasts and the resulting explosion sent plumes of smoke billowing out of the windows.
…
The mage of Fairy Tail had never really been one for fashionable trends, her armour being her most commonly worn article of clothing even in her downtime. It just felt right. Whatever it was that Kirche and Louise were debating over was most definitely not. It made sense in a weird sort of way. They were both nobles and still thought of her as a commoner and as such were trying to figure out what was suitable for a commoner to wear. Unfortunately they had never really taken the time to observe what the average person wore outside of the maid clothes that the servants in their manors and the academy wore.
Hence the reason she had made a quick escape from the clothes store before they tried to clash some horrendous colours together under the impression that it was 'fashion.' Once they had worn themselves out she would set about purchasing some items at her own leisure. Something that wouldn't be an eyesore to the rest of the populace.
Thus she had taken it upon herself to familiarize herself with the nearby town, accompanied by Tabitha no less. The timid girl had taken it upon herself to join Erza in her adventure of sorts, more probably to the fact that she hadn't wished for the person unused to this land to either get lost or potentially do something which would get her in trouble. While Erza scoffed at the thought momentarily, she did remember that most of the time whence a small village may have had some 'minor' damages dealt to it that Fairy Tail itself would be sent the bill. Here though she had no such backing.
She did notice that the populace was giving them quite a large amount of space on the street, likely due to the fact they could recognize Tabitha as a mage from her cloak and staff and with her armour it probably looked as if she were a personal bodyguard. Again she found herself hating the fact that even though the petite girl beside her wasn't lording her status over anyone, it seemed almost expected for a noble to lash out at the commoners. In Erza's eyes, it was disgusting.
It was perhaps for this reason when she turned a corner down a small alleyway she took a greater interest in the scene in front of her. The store itself didn't seem like much but the three armoured guards standing out the front were definitely a sign that something was going on. Naturally, Erza wished to investigate. Tabitha, seemingly wanting to avoid trouble, reached out to pull Erza back but the armour wearing warrior had already stepped past her reach. Thus, she followed.
Erza moved at a quicker pace and the guards noticed the approaching threat, treating her as such due to the fact that no simple commoner wore armour on the streets. "Stop right there!" commanded the nearest one, resting his hand on the pommel of his sword.
"What's going on here?" asked Erza as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Official palace business," they responded dutifully. "Now step away and allow Count Mott to finish his business."
Erza took a quick glance through the window at the establishment. It was a weapons shop, swords all lined up in a row waiting for purchase along with a select few weapons hanging from the rafters on display. Erza started putting pieces together. A lord conducting palace business down a shady looking back street with armoured guards blocking the entrance.
Suspect indeed.
"Move," said Tabitha, the student having seemed to realize that Erza was going to march into the shop one way or the other and avoiding any sort of violence was possibly the best solution thus far. The guards, seeing that it was a noble speaking, no, commanding them to move. Standing up to an upstart commoner was one thing, a noble on the other hand…
"Fine," he said begrudgingly, shifting to the side to allow them access to the store. The growl he sent Erza's way as she walked past made the otherworlder wish to punch him square in the face but she restrained herself...for now at least.
"...Sir, with all due respect what you are asking of me is impossible."
"This is a weapon's store, you should be able to make the order."
"The order isn't the issue. The materials alone are worth more than what you're telling me to work for, let alone the man hours it'd take to…"
"Are you saying that you're disobeying an order from the Palace?"
"That's…"
"What's going on here?" asked Erza, announcing her presence to the others in the store. Even from the small part she had heard she had gathered most of the information she needed.
As both the Count and store owner turned to look at the intruders, their conversation disrupted, Tabitha meanwhile silently wished that she had stayed back at the clothes store. At least there she knew what chaos was occurring. Now though, now she got to see just what Erza was made of.
Not surprisingly, she didn't cover part of her face with her book. This was something she wanted to pay complete attention to.
…
Hope you enjoyed.
