Stupid exams. First they gave me stress when I studied, moved ahead two weeks with projects and I somewhat lost some motivation to write. Sorry for the really late upload, I should have a somewhat normal schedule in fanfiction back up. Then again, time is overrated but I like to be punctual.
Also for those who want to see the nightmares they will appear after the oracion arc.
Chapter 10: Steel I
(? POV)
It was quite dark as my body was turned off yet my consciousness was still awake. I saw altered memories of the things I did when I'm awake. Was this what everybody called a dream? Different versions of the same scenarios played as I watched myself in each one. I felt calm, Penelope must have felt this when she had her first.
I felt each dream vanish as my internal alarm went off and my body turning on. A made a nonexistent sigh at this as I woke up.
(Exit POV)
The robotic eyes of Theodore opened as he booted from sleep. The animatronic bear stifled a yawn as he got out of his metal bed. He wasted no time in getting out of his room and checking the list of things he and everyone else are usually assigned to do.
Getting a small data package from Penny, he read his list of tasks as he entered their little dining area. Despite being underground, the atmosphere felt sunny. The sword mage sat down on a seat and thought of what to eat. Sending his menu through the network to their animatronic cook who came back from her mission.
Getting a simple plate filled with pancakes, the animatronic went to a table with the other 'toys' and sat down. A light blue rabbit, a pink fox and another animatronic were there. The latter though was in human form. The man was very tall but thin. He wore a fitting black hoodie was mixed with matching fingerless gloves. Black pants with white stripes on the lower legs and brown shoes. His head had brown hair and had a white blindfold over his eyes, yet it was like he could see through them.
Marion Black, quiet loner who is the embodiment of stealth. Possesses a dark sense of humor and dislike for complete idiots and disposables.
"Hey Theo, did you woke up on the opposite end of the charging station." The blue rabbit, Toby said with a wave before getting poked by the fox, Vixy with a fork.
"Ignore him." The vixen interjected, her pink and white tail swishing back and forth. "For all of his brain power, he can be stupid sometimes."
"Hey, I'm a certified genius fox!" The blue bunny retorted.
"You lost a game of chess, to an annoying, blue cat that's dumber than a Vulcan."
"..." Toby had nothing to say as he glared at the grinning fox.
The cafeteria filled up with the other animatronics who stayed for the day to entertain people upstairs. Theodore was one of those robots, yet the bear had no plans for the day. In fact, he didn't feel like taking a job or entertaining the kids today. He could go to Fairy Tail but it's a bit too rowdy in their guild hall.
The animatronic signed before grabbing a teacup and kettle from his reequip space and poured in his favorite drink. As he drank, he noticed Marion pass a piece of paper with something on it. Putting his drinking utensil on the table, Theodore picked up the advertisement.
The picture had four identical swords, arranged so that they form an X with the hilts sticking out. Surrounding it is a circle of blades of many different kinds. Magic blades, hybrid weapons, and steel swords litter the formation. Above the poster is a message. 'Join the Festival of Steel's Sword Competition in Ironwood Valley. The winner gets a chance to win 500,000 Jewels and a powerful weapon.'
Definitely an event that grabbed the animatronic's attention. Theodore turned to Marion and gave him a grateful look which was returned with a nod. The bear animatronic managed finished his meal in record time much to the surprise of his friends and went straight to the changing area to get his humanoid body.
As the robot walked through the metal halls making clanging noises like everyone else, he passed by several repurposed endoskeletons doing maintenance checks. Contrary to your opinion, there are many more robot mages in Metal Soul. Except most of them are just, well normal, ordinary.
In order to pose as a guild the animatronics worked to build more bots to substitute as humans. All they have for them is a somewhat advanced A.I, a specific spell tree, a tough, humanoid body and a decent weapon to keep. Several higher tiers of magus have been made but they could never compare to the main crew. Think of it as all the other mages in the Fairy Tail anime who were never identified by name.
Theodore, in his human form exited the lift the leads to the surface and into the restaurant we know and love. Like every other day, children are playing around, enjoying their time before the next show. Their parents have taken to the grown up section they added a while back to socialize and watch the kids. The animatronic smiled as he enjoyed the rewards of their main programming.
Walking out the door, he was surprised to see Erza outside in her signature armor holding the same poster he had.
"It's good to see you Alistair. Now we can head to the festival." The reequip mage said.
"Weren't you arrested madam, I heard the news." The animatronic replied with a grace filled smirk. Erza looked away and muttered something about how Hawthorne leaving them in the dust before resuming the conversation.
"We were released only because it's a show. Now did you get the message I passed on. It'll be a great way to train and do something productive."
"I did, it was most certainly thoughtful of you to invite me." Theodore said. He dropped his public persona and whispered to Titania. "Did you ditch your team? Knowing the destructive pixies they are will get us disqualified by destroying the prize."
Erza scoffed at the thought. "I made sure they're distracted by a dragon sighting. Natsu falls for it easily enough. Now we should get going." she declared and both of them headed to the train.
Chibi Natsu waves with a smile before doing a fire dragon roar.
After an hour on the train and another hour walking, the two swordmages have reached their destination, Ironwood Valley. A valley in a forested area, named due to the local flora, the trees being as hard as steel. Making the ideal material very useful as basic weapons and architecture.
When it was discovered, people flocked to the area with specialized equipment to make a living as lumberjacks. The venture was very profitable to these hard workers as the hardened logs made the basis of the hybrid weapons during the Earthland Arms Race a hundred years ago.
To this day, its still used reliable weapons for the Rune Knights and other people. Enough that bandits and dark guilds stay away from it in order to keep their gear coming. The area grew into a bustling town in time. In that time, they made the Festival of Steel in order to encourage tourism and sales. Today two mages we know are participating in the festival.
'I wonder what kind of fighters are we up against. All I know is that they need to use a blade. It doesn't just mean swords, any other weapon that has a cold, sharp edge could be found here.'
"Alistair."
'Perhaps we should find a way to make this easy for use. Firearms are not forbidden here as long as there is something sharp on it and the wielder uses it. I don't think magic blades are forbidden, maybe one of the competitors has one.'
"Alistair?"
'Hmm, just to be sure, I should only show part of my hand. Can't have them knowing everything. It's our guild's motto to make everything a mystery.'
"ALISTAIR!"
"Ahhh!" The sword mage cried out as he jumped back in shock of the loud voice coming from his fellow blade user. He put a hand over where a human heart should be and breathed out.
"Woman, must you yell so loud. You interrupted my thoughts!" his calm demeanor starting to slip, he spoke his mind with a slightly louder voice.
"We are already here Theo, there seem to be many competitors this year." Erza explained as a crowd moved past them. Taking time to look at how many people there are, the animatronic was baffled at the amount of people. He didn't expect so many people.
"Are we ready boss?"
"We are ready, we are merely waiting until it reveals itself. With it, we'll be unstoppable. But first, we should attempt to win this excuse for a contest.
The contest was located in a large and deep enough hole that served as a natural stadium. Stairs and elevators made the way to the bottom as people filed in their seats. Theodore could practically feel the amount of weapons in the area.
Taking a deep breath, he began his meditation. Magic flowed through his circuits as his senses heightened. The animatronic could feel his magic washing over his targets. He felt the sheer amount of steel, concentrated in a single area.
The animatronic let out his metaphorical breath as he let go of his tranquil state. Theodore stood up as he heard the announcers state his name to the arena for battle. Grabbing his main swords from his reequip space, he made his way to the battlefield.
Theodore crushed a number of small rocks rocks as he walked into the arena. He heard the crowd cheering as he saw his opponent moving into position. A simple, muscular man with a big sword. One of these brutes, so no much of a challenge. He hefted both of his blades and pointed them at his enemy, intent on winning the tournament.
With the sound of a gong both fighters rushed towards each other. At the end of the battle one of them lost and walked with shame while the other won but didn't acknowledge the other's skill.
Erza leaned her back against the wall as she watched her friend walk into the waiting room unscathed. She heard him mutter something about an unworthy opponent and sighed. It wasn't the first time this happened, the knight knew about Theodore's personal code. If you don't have skill with a blade or couldn't last even 8 seconds in combat, you're not even allowed to fight the man. He clearly expected more out of this place.
"Worry not, Theodore. I'm sure there are other people who can give you a challenge."
"Then they are going to need a stronger blade then if they're all like that. I need someone who can give me a decent fight." He looked at Erza "No offense."
"None taken. After all, we're rivals in the art of the sword. Something everyone else in the guild can't understand. Especially that demonic whore" she murmured the last part.
Mirajane sneezed and dropped the tray of drinks she was carrying. She hung her head low and made a innocent but deadly smile that scares anyone who saw it.
"She wants it to start again doesn't she." her voice took a demonic tone as her brother tried to get close only to fly away when he got punched by her sister
The two sword users polished their blades as they heard the announcer list the names of those moving on. Both of them looked at their reflections in the metal then at each other, a clear message was sent between them. They then got up and walked straight to their respective areas.
A while later, names were being called out to those who will continue in the preliminaries and eliminate those who did not make it. Both Erza and Theodore dulled out the voices as soon as their names were called. They began preparing strategies and ways to defeat their next opponents by the time they returned to their places.
By then, more battles have erupted throught the stadium. With people competing for the winning position.
Okay this chapter is now over. I intend to write some filler arcs with three different perspectives before we get to the next main arc. I'll post a chapter next week or so when I get the chance. And speaking for those who want the nightmares, they will appear after Oracion and things will get dark after Tartatos but that is a bit far.
Read, review and maybe follow if I'm lucky.