Chapter 9: The Sanctum of Ice.

It had been several weeks since they left the abandoned Arnadian research facility. Natsu took a glance at the bag of arnadian food rations he was carrying with disgust. They hadn't been able to see a single animal since then. The ice dragon must have scared everything in a large radius away and they had to make do with them. It was a good thing that one was able to sustain them for an entire day. But after eating it it felt like starvation might not be a bad choice. The only real problem was that they wouldn't last them for too long. A month or two at best. They had to find some other source of food by then.

For the past two maybe three days a huge snow storm had been slowing their advance. Ever since their encounter with the ice dragon they hadn't let something like this stop their progress. The more time they stayed in these mountains the larger the risk of it finding them again. Even if they had not seen the peculiar storm that accompanied it somehow they could feel that the monster was looking for them. And it was getting closer to finding them with each passing moment.

But even if they kept walking it was impossible to see much ahead. Still they continued walking while being constantly alert not to fall for one of the mountains many natural traps. But what got in their way was perhaps the most dangerous problem at this time. An ice wall was standing in front of them.

-I can't see the end of it.

-Should we just climb over it?

-It may be too tall to climb. And going around may make us loose our position. We have barely been able to keep walking in a straight line.

-Then?

-By all means. Melt it away.

Natsu inflamed his fist and hit the wall with his entire strenght. The effect his attack did was minor. If anything it hurt him. Lucy took closer and took a look at where he punched the wall while the dragon slayer was trying not to yell in anger.

-It looks like stone ... but on touch it is like rock.

The outside really had been frozen by a thin layer of ice that had been melted. Lucy had not seen such a peculiar looking material before.

-Damn it.

-Stop whining. It is your fault for punching it in the first place.

-You told me to melt it!

-By using your breath. Not fist.

-Be more specific next time weirdo!

Deciding to ignore his protest to how she was weird for not telling him specifically how to melt the wall she turned back to it. She hated to admit to herself that she really had in mind for him to make a way through just like he tried. She lightly tapped the small crack Natsu had made which slightly pushed her hand back. She then lightly punched it which nearly knocked her to the ground.

-Lucy whats wrong?-he went to her

-It has some kind of a backlash. It throws more force back then whats thrown at it.

At that moment she felt embarrassed and a bit pathetic that she nearly fell like that. He had hit it with his entire strength and did not move at all. Unfortunately this new information made it clear they couldn't climb the wall. It seemed to be completely smooth. The idea she and most likely Natsu had as well to climb it was to use their magic to make small holes and use them to climb over it and then back. But this backlash would make it far too exhausting , especially considering they had no idea how tall it was in the first place.

-So what do we do Lucy? Try to find a way around or wait for the storm to end?

Both choices were dangerous. This storm could go on for months. Their supply of those food rations might run out before that happens. And there was still the ice dragon. But if they tried to search around they could walk of track and not be able to find the proper way to go until the storm eventually ended. But even with his compared to waiting for the ice dragon to find them it was minor.

-We try to find a...

-What are you waiting for Lucy?

While she was talking Natsu had already gone ahead of her and had to raise his voice for her to hear him. He had figured out what option she would choose even before her.

-Wait for me damn it!

Not long after they left the small hole Natsu made vanished.

No matter how far the two mages walked the wall did not end. It was possible that it was built to keep in the several ice monsters they had seen. And if this was the case then the wall could probably cover the entire area. And to keep the dragon in it would have to be taller then what they could possibly imagine. The backlash would make sence then as they would break apart just by hitting it. But if that really was the case then they may be trapped in this mountain chain forever. No one had ever returned from here so it was impossible to deny this possibility.

Luckily this worry did not last long. After some time the two mages saw a giant gate. Just one of the two massive doors was almost twelve meters long. There seemed to be some decorations on them , but most have been torn off or covered in ice. It was peculiar why they weren't completely covered like the walls. One of the two doors was slightly opened. Slightly compared to it's size , but the opening was large enough for even the ice dragon to pass.

Walking carefully they passed through them. The two mages expected to see more of the mountain but what was beyond the door was a complete shock. For one pass the wall there was not even a single snowflake falling from the sky and they had found themself in a city. Most of the buildings were three to four stories high and were made out of strange blue stone that on the first look could be mistaken for ice. But it was definitely not the same material from which the wall was made. There were several taller buildings as well. The ground was like a pit and from where they were standing they could see everything. The city was split into four parts each facing a different position and they were separated by a large roads leading towards the center. There was a huge obelisk that seemed to glow. In the end of each road there were a gates just like that one they passed though.

The two mages couldn't see any mechanism to open the gates. At least not on the ground. And the top of the wall was covered by fog and even inside they couldn't see how tall they were. Nor was there any visible way to climb them. Looking around the diameter of the city was very large. It would take several days to go around. It seemed that all of the gates were opened so they decided to cut through the city to save time and exit from the opposing gate. The glowing obelisk did worry them a little but there was no other way to reach the other side. Was it because after several days in that storm they were finally our of it or because the light was tempting but they decided to risk it and head towards the middle of the city.

When they got closer to the buildings they noticed that they were ruins. The damage on them was clearly made from the passage of time , not from a battle. Natsu and Lucy couldn't tell if this was some kind of last stand against the ice monsters or a settlement from a time when this area was populated. It definetely was not build to contain them within. These were building for normal sized people to live in. They took a look inside one of the houses , but apart from some broken down furniture made from the same material as the houses , there was nothing worth noticing. There were a few statues around but all of them were too damaged to see if they were even humanoid or not. Around each there were what they assumed to be flagpoles.

After some walking they neared the obelisk. In front of it there was a humanoid figure. They took cover to take a better look at who was standing there. Slowly they began to get closer. It was hard to believe someone was living in this place , but it was not impossible. After all they managed to survive for quite some time.

-What do you think we should do Lucy?

-Considering this is the first person we have seen since we got her I think we should try to make contact. Any information that will be important. I just hope we can communicate...-she took a quick glance in Natsu's direction and quickly said – Before you say it I meant I hope we speak the same language! Don't get any weird ideas about what I meant. Well then lets go.

When the two mages got closer they noticed that the figure was female with long black hair. Her clothing felt strange to them. She wore knee-high boots , black leather pants and a sleeveless top. Not really clothes suited for living in such temperatures. Even if there was no storm inside the city the temperature was still very low. Also when looking more carefully she seemed somehow distorted. Lucy took a deep breath and raised her arm.

-Hello there.-the female figure did not seem to move – Excuse me.

-HEEEEY! - Natsu yelled but the woman still did not turn towards them.

-We are being completely ignored...

When they got closer to her they noticed that she was transparent. The light from the obelisk was shining towards her. Natsu placed his hand through her several times.

-She is an image created by the obelisk? Natsu stop that!

Now that they were standing in front of her the noticed that she was moving. The image was making hand gestures but the movement was not smooth. Almost like it was incomplete. And her mouth was moving to speak but the words she was saying except a few were impossible to understand due to her quiet voice cutting off every other second. The only words they could hear were „Veil" „Future" „End" and „Desert". But she was repeating the same thing over and over. Then they noticed there was a small dent in the obelisk. They could tell it was made from someones punch. Who ever did it must have damaged the obelisk , causing whatever message it was playing to freeze in an endless broken loop.

Lucy and Natsu went closer to the obelisk and she touched the dent. The stellar mage could not tell how this obelisk worked. She could feel no magic coming from it. And even if it was distorted the image looked more real then any magic of this type Lucy had ever seen. If it was not transparent she could easily be fooled that the woman before then was real.

-Light...

A new word came out of the female image. It was even clearer then the four others they had heard. The two mages immediately turned around to see that she had turned towards them and her black eyes were looking straight at them. She seemed almost angry.

-Hello. - Lucy spoke – I am...

-You are not of the Dariseen. Nor do you have the capacity to be.

-What?

-Those who do not walk the path of the Dariseen have no right to walk through the streets of this sanctum.

-I am sorry but we have no idea what...

-You will vanish from existence followers of the Lisantium. - the image raised her hand – Hear my call denizens of Shenes. Sanginus Ewagen! - her voiced echoed throughout the entire city

A blue light suddenly flashed and blinded Natsu and Lucy. They regained their sight in seconds and saw large chunks of ice , that had suddenly appeared , slowly taking the forms of ice golems all around them. All of them seemed to look different.

-Lucy run!

Natsu quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her to follow him towards the gate they were originally headed in. Ice golems were beginning to form everywhere in the entire city. Some who had taken more of a form tried to attack them , but their movement was slow and the two mages easily dodged everything coming their way.

At the obelisk the female image was looking in the direction in which the intruders had fled.

-It is approved. The hunt is yours. None shall intervene once they leave.

Even though several uncompleted golems tried to stop them Natsu and Lucy quickly got to the gates. Those golems that could walk were already after them. Some were faster then the two mages could have thought possible for such large monsters. When they exited the city and had gained some distance from it they turned around. Strangely the golems were not exiting the city. They did not have time to think if the golems were unable to exit it for some reason or their goal was to simply chase them out. They could already notice it in the horizon even though they were already in a snow storm. And for any doubt to vanish they heard the echo of the ice dragon's roar.

It wasn't long before the monster swooped down upon them. When it was right above the two mages it flapped it's wings and ice walls rose from the ground forming a large arena around the two mages. Then the dragon landed heavily in the middle. When he touched the ground newly formed arena ascended into the sky with the two mages trapped within it. The ice monster ascended above Natsu and Lucy and launched a barage of ice spears towards them. Again it was playing with them as none of them hurt them badly.

-Damn it..What can we do?

They had discussed some possibilities of retaliating should the ice dragon catch up to them. But in this situation none of the improvised plans they came up with were usable. There was no cover and no way to escape.

-Wait Lucy! What about that magic you were going to use at the Grand Magic Games?

-Impossible. I still can't use it on my own. I need Gemini to help me with control and power.

The ice dragon opened it's mouth and a large magic circle appeared in front of it. It was casting some powerful magic attack.

-Damn it we don't have any choice...I will fill in for Gemini then.

-What? Don't be ridiculous. You don't ...

-Our magic is compatible now more then ever. It is better to try then just let this idiot have his way with us! Just start. I will keep up.

-I still can't get used to you being the voice of reason...

They turned towards the dragon and Lucy's left hand grabbed Natsu's right.

Survey the Heaven, Open the Heaven...
All the stars, far and wide...
Show me...us thy appearance...
With such shine.
O Tetrabiblos...
We are the rulers of the stars...
Aspect became complete...
Open thy malevolent gate.
O 88 Stars of the heaven...
Shine!
Unison Urano Metria Ignatus!

When the area under the dragon became filled with stars it stopped for a second it's eyes glowing brighter for a second. It's let out it's roar and the magic circle increased in size. A cold stream that froze the air itself was released from it in the direction of the two mages. Suddenly the stars inflamed themself and the dragons attack vanished from the heat they emitted. Then dragon was then bombarded by them , each melting a part of him until it could no longer stay in the sky and fell onto the arena and it's body completely fell apart. The lifted mass then began to quickly fall down and crashed into the ground.

-Lucy are you all right?

Natsu pushed some ice from him and looked around for his partner.

-Somehow. I can't believe that worked...

They took a look towards the remains of the ice dragon. Above what was the largest untouched ice mass a large blue orb made of energy was hovering. Before they could do anything it quickly became covered in ice and started connecting with the other pieces around it.

-What is..

-No time Lucy.

He pointed in the direction the city was. Many fast ice golems were heading in their direction. The storm had stopped and they could see clearly. Lucy quickly looked around and found what she was searching for. The arnadian ration packs. There was no way she'd allow them to loose their food supply because of the ice dragon a second time. Taking the sack with them they started running.

The golems stopped moving when the mages were too far to be able to see anything. Thick fog appeared around the remains of the ice dragon. One male and one female figure , completely hidden by it were covered by it.

-Interesting specimens. - the female one spoke - Even if they are not Dariseen those two are marked by it. - the ice glowed bright – Do not be like that. It is your own fault for holding back so much even after you saw what they were preparing.

-It is as it must be. We will not intervene their progress anymore. - the ice grew even more then before – It is her will as well. - The ice stopped glowing and the speed at which it was rebuilding the dragon form slowed down - If fate wills it they will fall prey to the mountain.

The ice stopped glowing and the speed at which it was rebuilding slowed down.

-Even if it is as she says. They will stand in their way. Will it not slow down the tear? - the female asked and turned towards the male figure

-The ice is patient for it is eternal. We will wait as long as we must. We have and we will continue to do so.

-If you say so my brother.

The fog and the two figures vanished leaving the ice dragon to finish restoring it's form.

It had been several days since Natsu and Lucy shared the last of the arnadian rations. Ever since the last encounter with the ice dragon they could feel that it wasn't chasing them anymore. But unfortunately they couldn't find even a single animal. And now they were moving on the last pieces of their strength. The two mages could feel that they wouldn't last long. Slowly they managed to climb a small hill. And they could hardly beliave what they saw beyond it. In the distance they could see the desert. And more importantly buildings. In the distance it was possible to see a caravan heading towards it. After all this time they had finally escaped the mountain.

Two years four months and fourteen days since the first encounter with Dark Bring.

Endiras was sitting on the rooftop of the main tower of the dark guild's keep and was looking towards the sky. Next to him was a muscular man with yellow hair in a black military style uniform. The man who was with Endiras at the Oronaga complex appeared behind them and kneeled.

-Fairy Tail and the council's forces will arrive by tomorrow.

-Is everything prepared Karan?-the blond man asked

-Yes Master. All is as the strategist demanded.

-Who is leading them? - Endiras spoke

-I believe it is Makarov Dreyar himself. Well then Masters. If you excuse me. - Karan vanished

-The timing could hardly be worse. Only you and Karan are currently at the keep and we can't let them hinder our progress here.

Endiras could not help but to laugh a little.

-Are you really worried? I am more then enough to handle these worms by myself. Actually this is a good opportunity. - he got up – I have grown tired of that guild's constant interference over these past two years. If they so wish to challenge us I will simply wipe out all of them who will gather here. I have some preparations of my own to finish. We will speak more after the battle is over.

-Be careful.

-Heed your own advice for a change.

Endiras flew towards another of the towers. Dark Bring's Master kept looking in the direction from which Fairy Tail would come.