The banging of hammer on worn metal echoed throughout the forges. Inside one of the smaller buildings in the district Natsu sat away from the fire of the oven, watching as a young man with blood hair created his latest line of armor.
"So you finally got yourself another supporter huh?" he grinned as he worked. "Bout damn time."
Natsu turned his head and huffed. "Whatever."
Welf Crozzo was a low-level smith in the Hephaestus Familia. As such the items he made weren't sold for the highest price in the Familia's shops. In fact most low-level smiths rarely ever saw their creations in shops at all. Part of that was due to the fact that weapons made by the lower levels lacked the Familia's emblem, which itself was a renowned seal of quality. That honor was usually not given to promising smiths until they reached at least level two.
If you asked Natsu what he thought of this system he'd have no problem telling you it was a raw deal. To him Welf was the best smith in the entire city. Aside from his weapons, every piece of armor Natsu wore was created by him. He wouldn't have anyone else repair his equipment after a trek through the dungeon.
Natsu had recently come to visit his friend after his and Wendy's latest journey. As usual Natsu told Welf everything that happened while getting his equipment repaired. Welf accepted as he always did, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to mess with Natsu a little first. It was just how he operated.
"I'm serious." he said. "You've been different since Lizzie passed away. I don't blame you, but it was still hard to see ya that way, ya know?" He stopped banging on the metal and examined his work for a moment. "Looks about right. Let it cool for a bit then you can try it on."
Natsu watched as Welf set the reformatted armor in the water, the steam rising out of the now open window. Once that was done he handed the pieces - an arm guard and breastplate - to Natsu. He also returned his gauntlets, which had worked on earlier in the day.
"I added more cushion to the inside so your hands don't get beat as badly when you fight. I also used a lighter material for the armor so it doesn't weigh you down as much. It's not as sturdy as the last model though so be careful."
"Thanks, Welf."
"What are friends for? You know this would be much easier for the both of us if you just made a contract with me already."
Because of his low rank, Welf usually had to fight tooth and nail for clients with other members of his Familia that were the same level.
The way he explained it to Natsu, a low-level smiths dream was to have their work recognized by as many people as possible. Success breeds fame, and that fame carried you for years. In a way smiths fought in the dungeon as well, each piece of equipment an adventurer carried was like an advertisement. It was a complete meritocracy.
A direct contract – which is what Welf was proposing – was an agreement that bound one adventurer to one smith. The outcome was purely beneficial for both parties. The adventurer would bring the smith drop items they found in the dungeon, and in turn that smith would create new weapons and armor for them a fraction of the price they would be sold for in shops. Another added benefit was that those weapons would be even stronger since they were specially made with that adventurer's abilities and skills in mind. Though the smith would need the Forge ability to pull all of this off – which is something Welf had yet to obtain. When you summed it all up it made perfect sense for Natsu to accept this arrangement. However, the kicker was that this was the fourth time Welf had asked in as many months.
Natsu grinned. "I'll think about it."
Welf's own smile faltered a bit. He knew what that meant. It was the same answer he always gave. "Alright. As long as you think about it I guess I can't hound ya too much. Take care, and let me know how that stuff works."
"I will. Thanks, Welf. See ya later."
"Yeah. Tell Lady Vermillion I said hey."
"Got it."
The sun was beginning to set by the time Natsu reached East Main. The street was beginning to grow crowded as well.
"I have some time before I have to get back home. Maybe I should pay her a visit."
Natsu proceeded through East Main for a little while longer, coming upon a flower shop close to the wall that surrounded Orario.
Aside from its chosen inventory, the thing that made Dia Flora unique from the rest of the shops in the city was that it wasn't owned by any Familia. Meaning that it was essentially a neutral zone for anyone wanting to buy flowers or anything else it provided. This was a rarity in the city. Nearly every shop in the market was owned by a Familia in some form or another.
The Hephaestus and Goibinu Familias owned a majority of the weapon and armor shops, the Dian Cecht Familia controlled most of the medicine shops, and the Ishtar Familia pretty much ran the entire Entertainment District with little to no opposition. At times it felt like Orario was sectioned off between those four Familia.
"Welcome to Dia Flora. How may we help you?"
Natsu was greeted at the front counter by a chienthrope girl with short brown hair. He had been coming here on and off for the past two years, but he had never seen this girl before. He surmised that she was a new employee.
"I need some flowers." he plainly stated.
"Of course, sir. What kind would you like?"
Natsu was stumped. Now that he thought about it, he'd never picked out flowers for a grave on his own before. He always had either Mirajane or Lady Vermillion with him and they would buy the flowers.
It can't be that hard. He thought. All flowers are the same right? All that matters are the pretty colors.
As he pondered his flowery fate he noticed the girl at the counter staring at him quizzically. Apparently he was taking too long to decide.
"Sir, are you alright?"
"Huh? Oh yeah I just need-"
"What's goin' on in there? We got customers?"
A human girl with freckles and chestnut hair tied in twin braids came to the counter. When she saw Natsu, she smiled.
"Hey, Natsu. Haven't seen you in a while."
"Yeah. I thought I'd stop by and grab some flowers before heading home."
"Smart man. I can take of him, Erina, hows about you tend to things in the greenhouse."
"Ok." The Chienthrope bowed to the pair and went to the back.
"Now let's get you all squared away." Said the freckled girl.
"Thanks, Beth."
Beth Vanderwood was one of the managers of Dia Flora. Despite her young age – she was about a year younger than Natsu – she had an extensive knowledge of plants that aided her well in her chosen profession. Natsu had once asked her why she didn't just become a medicine maker and join a familia, but Beth simply replied that she preferred not to get mixed up the affairs of gods. Eventually the business would be more about making money instead of helping people. Beth respected the deities, but she didn't want to be tied to them. While Natsu didn't necessarily understand - or agree - with her views, he respected them enough to leave the topic alone.
"Here you go. The usual."
Beth handed him a bouquet with a different mix of flowers: pink and white roses, daisies, white and pink carnations, an orchid, and a single sunflower. Normally these would equal a mess, but the way Beth had arranged them allowed the colors to beautifully flow from one flower to the next; all of them centering on the sunflower in the middle. Natsu didn't know anything about flowers, but he knew in this heart that this arrangement was perfect.
After paying, Natsu was given a bag of fresh vegetables.
"What's this for?"
"Lady Vermillion. She came by the other day and mentioned she was runnin' low. Don't be too rough wit 'em. They're delicate."
Natsu thanked Beth for the flowers and food and left the shop. The sun had fallen further from the sky, he estimated he had at least a couple of hours before night set upon him. He headed through the marketplace, being careful to avoid anyone that would knock the items loose from his arms. Eventually the crowd started to thin and Natsu ended up in a valley with beautiful rolling hills lined with gravestones. He had reached the Adventurer's Graveyard.
The reason for the name was pretty straightforward, for this was where the bodies of every adventurer that had fallen to perils in and out of the dungeon were buried – the ones that were able to be recovered anyway.
Natsu walked the cobblestone path that split the cemetery in half. It was eerily quiet, even by this places' standards. He half expected a creature or bandit to jump out at him from behind one of the tombstones.
Some of the names buried Natsu knew, others he had only heard of in passing and old stories Vermillion would tell him. It was a depressing sight. Some of the people laid to rest here were even younger than he was, but he couldn't take time to dwell on it. Each and every adventurer laid to rest here knew that this would be the place they would all eventually end up. Some saw it as an honor for among the graves were some of the greatest adventurers the world had ever seen. Such as Precht Gaebolg of the Zeus Familia as well as Ur Milkovich of the Athena Familia. There was also Zeref, a deceased member of the Zeus Familia. For some reason felt a strange attraction to that grave whenever he passed it.
For some reason it felt...wrong that it was there.
Natsu finally stopped at a gravestone next to an oak tree in the center of the graveyard. Carved at the top was the emblem of the Vermillion Familia, under that was the name of the grave's occupant. Lisanna Strauss.
To Natsu's slight surprise there was already a bouquet placed on the grave.
"Mira must have been here earlier." He laid down his own flowers and stood silent for a moment, the soft breeze rolling through his ruffled hair.
He hadn't visited Lisanna's grave since he started going into the dungeon with Wendy. In fact the last time he came to the graveyard was to tell Lisanna about the girl. It wasn't like he didn't have the time to visit more often, it just felt odd to do so. In a way he felt he was betraying Lisanna by finding another supporter. He knew that wasn't the case, but he couldn't help but still feel guilty about it.
It was the same feeling he got when Welf would ask him to form a contract. In a way he knew it was wrong to simply ask Welf to do things for him without a guarantee knowing his situation, but he couldn't form the contract no matter how much he wanted to. Something was stopping him, but unlike with Lisanna and Wendy he didn't know what that reason was.
"Wasn't expecting to see you here."
A hooded figure called out to Natsu from the path. He turned to them, his guard risen. He wasn't going to be taken by surprise again like he was in Babel Tower.
"Whoa there. Is that anyway to treat a friend you haven't seen in a while?"
Natsu's eyes narrowed. "I don't know who you are."
"Well that stings. Maybe this will jog your memory." The stranger removed their hood, revealing themselves to be a young woman with olive skin and long brown hair that flowed down her back.
Natsu's eyes widened as he spoke the girl's name. "Cana…?"
The young woman smiled.
"The one and only. Long time no see, Natsu."
Vermillion hummed to herself as she put the finishing touches on dinner. She looked over to the clock. It was almost ten.
"That's odd. Natsu should have returned by now. I hope he didn't get sidetracked again."
"I'm home, Goddess."
The door opened and in trudged a weary Natsu. He unceremoniously dropped his bag on the floor and slumped into the arm chair in the middle of the common area.
"Natsu, don't just drop your stuff on the floor like that." Vermillion chided. "Someone could trip and-"
"Hey, Lady Vermillion!"
A long haired young woman standing in the door way called out to the Goddess. A wide smile quickly appeared on Vermillion's face when she recognized who it was.
"Cana?! What are you doing here?! I didn't know you were back in town!"
"We met up in the cemetery and she followed me here." Natsu irritably explained.
"Oh don't be like that." Cana cooed. "It's not every day you get to walk the streets with such a pretty girl this far from the red light district. You should cheer up a bit."
She playfully poked at Natsu cheeks, causing him to shoot up from his seat in embarrassment.
"Stop that!"
Cana winked. "You're so easy, Natsu."
Vermillion giggled. "Well since you've returned would you like to join us for dinner? I made stew."
"My favorite. I'd love to."
"Great. Natsu, help me set the table. We can update your status later."
"Ok. Oh yeah. Here." Natsu handed over the bag of vegetables. "From Beth."
"I was just about to ask you about these." Vermillion graciously took the bag. "Thank you."
"No problem."
Once the table was ready. Cana sat down across from Natsu, both of them watching Vermillion fill their bowls with the steaming hot stew she finished just before they arrived. The petite Goddess then sat next to her child with a smile on her face.
"Let's eat."
Cana grabbed her spoon, using it to waft the aroma towards her nose. "This smells amazing, Lady Vermillion."
"Thank you. I've been preparing it for the last few hours. It's a recipe I received from an old friend back in Tenkai."
Tenkai was known as the "land of the gods". A place high above the clouds that no mortal could reach. It was where all the deities lived before coming to the lower world hundreds of years ago.
"I hope it tastes as good as it smells." The moment Cana slurped the broth her eyes lit up. "Wow! It tastes even better!"
"I'm glad you like it. Natsu hardly praises my cooking anymore."
Natsu rolled his eyes and continued eating.
"How long are you staying in town?"
Vermillion's question was an apt one given who she was talking to. Cana Alberona was something of a nomad, travelling across the continent for ingredients to make wine. Thanks to her "Vintner" skill, she was also able to add special properties to them if she so desired. Vintner itself was what is known as a "rare" skill, only able to be learned by those whose Familia specialized in making alcoholic drinks. This was the case with Cana, who inherited the skill as a member of Soma Familia. Though those days were long behind her.
"I'm not sure." Cana answered. "I picked up a lot of things while I was gone so I shouldn't have to leave town for at least a month or so."
"Well you know you're always welcome to stay here while you're in Orario."
"That was the plan." She turned her attention to Natsu, a leading grin on her lips. "So, what level are you now?"
"Three." The adventurer answered quickly.
"Still? I thought you would have at least reached five by now. What's keeping you?"
"Shut up."
"Looks like I hit a nerve. Don't worry. I'm sure you'll get up there soon enough." Cana sat back in her seat and began fanning herself off. She could feel the sweat dripping from her neck. "Man, it's hot in here. I don't know how you guys stand it."
"Well the summer season is approaching." Vermillion told her.
Cana took off her cloak, revealing that she was wearing nothing underneath but pants and a bikini top.
"Cana, don't tell me you've been wearing that the entire time."
"Ok. I won't tell you."
Vermillion sighed. "Could you at least put a shirt on? What if more guests come?"
"I'm pretty sure a little skin won't hurt 'em, but if you insist. I guess I don't have much of a choice." She stood up from the table. "My room is still vacant right?"
"It is. No one's used it since your last visit. I think a few of your clothes are still in there as well."
"Great. Thanks, Lady Vermillion."
"Hey, Goddess. Can we update my status now?" Natsu asked.
Vermillion smiled. "Sure."
"Goodnight, Natsu."
Vermillion carefully closed the door as she stepped into the hallway; her back to the wall she let out a disheartened sigh.
"I'm guessing it didn't go too well."
Cana – now wearing a large tunic that hung off of her shoulder - held up a bottle filled with a burgundy colored liquid as she approached the Goddess.
"Want to talk about it?"
"I'd love to."
The two moved to the common area where Cana grabbed two glasses from over the kitchen sink and placed them on the table between them. She opened the bottle, the rich scent of the wine filling the noses of both her and Vermillion. She poured a generous amount in each glass.
"Thank you."
Vermillion took the glass and began to twirl it as if she were Freya, examining the liquid as it swirled inside.
"You're lucky." Cana said. "I haven't had to taste it and see if it's good enough to sell. Consider this a sneak preview."
"If you haven't tasted it then how do you know if it will sell?" Questioned Vermillion.
"Oh I know it'll sell, the problem is whether I'll put it up, or save it for my private collection."
"I believe there is a saying about trying your own product."
"Yeah, only the stupid don't do it."
Vermillion took the glass to her lips. As the liquid touched her tongue, she could instantly taste the fruits used to make it. Strawberries. Blackberries. Grapes. Plums. They all danced on her tongue in a deliciously sweet symphony of flavor. She could also taste a hint of chocolate.
"So?" Cana prompted.
"Delicious as always."
"You flatter me, Lady Vermillion."
Cana took a drink as well. "If Lord Soma was good for anything it was making wine."
A solitary figure, the god Soma rarely – if ever – left his room in the Familia house. He would close himself inside for all hours of the day, tending to his plants and making Soma. A wine so rich that just one sip would create an instant addiction. His presence was so non-existent in fact, that the members of his Familia essentially handled all the day to day operations. This scarcity extended to the Gods as well. Vermillion herself could only recall seeing him once or twice the entire time she had been in the lower world. Even less so in Tenkai.
Vermillion placed her now half-full glass on the table.
"Are you going to sell it at the market?"
"That's the plan. Monsterphilia is coming up right? Sounds like a good time to set up shop. Just have to stop by the guild to make sure I get a spot. I heard they fill up quick."
"That they do. If you need any help just let me know." Vermillion smiled. "I'll be closing down the Inn so I'll be free most of the day."
"I appreciate that." Cana grabbed the bottle. "Want some more?"
Vermillion waved her hand. "No thank you. I think I've had enough for tonight. Though I might be more inclined to do so if you join my Familia."
Cana shrugged. "More for me." She poured herself another glass and took a sip, completely ignoring the Goddess' proposal. Normally it was a taboo for a brewer to drink their own product so vigorously, but Cana wasn't worried. She had plenty more bottles to sell.
"Well it was worth a try." Vermillion giggled.
Leaving a Familia was a relatively simple yet at the same time complicated procedure. While one could leave a Familia and pursue their own interests anytime they wanted, they were still technically a part of that Familia as long as they possessed that deity's Falna – or the God's Blessing. The only way one could truly leave a Familia was through a Conversion.
A conversion was as straightforward as it sounded. An adventurer would leave Familia to join another. Essentially it was an exchange. They only stipulation was that once someone had converted, they were required to stay in their new Familia for a year before either returning to their old one, or finding a new one entirely. The process of conversion was common in old times. Gods would convert left and right, trying to find the perfect children to enhance the status of their Familia. These days the practice was much less common for various reasons. Though there would be conversions happening from time to time. Vermillion herself had tried numerous times over the years to recruit Cana, but each time she was denied. Nonetheless she persevered. One day her persistence would bear fruit.
"So what was up with Natsu? I could tell from the look on your face that the status update didn't go too well."
Vermillion's expression fell. "You would be right...I think Natsu's hit a wall in his progression."
"What do you mean?"
"He goes to the dungeon almost every day, but his status only raises in small increments."
"Maybe he's not going down far enough. Can't really level if you stay on the upper floors all the time."
Vermillion shook her head. "I don't think that's it. Leveling is just as much mental as it is physical. If I were gauging Natsu's overall combat ability, he should have reached level four long by now. In fact I'd even say he should be knocking on the door to level five. Everyone around him keeps getting stronger. Aiz. Erza. Kagura. Asfi. Allen. Bete. I know seeing their constant progress in the Guild bulletins frustrates him to know end. They used to all move along at the same pace, but somewhere along the way Natsu fell behind them."
"When do you think it happened?"
"…Around the time Lisanna died."
Cana stopped drinking. She had been travelling when news of Lisanna's death reached her thanks to a letter from Vermillion. Though the two had rarely spoken, Cana still felt a connection with the girl. She even made it point to make it back to town for the funeral.
"I'm such an idiot." She groaned, realizing how callous her words from earlier were. "I can't believe I said something like that. I should have known. He was even visiting the grave when I first met up with him."
"Don't beat yourself up over it." Vermillion comforted. "You didn't know."
"How's he been doing since then? Aside from the level."
"Actually he's been much better I think. He's even found himself a new supporter. A girl named Wendy. She's part of Miach's Familia."
"Oh! I think I remember her. She's Porlyusica's granddaughter right?"
Vermillion nodded.
"Surprised she wanted to go into the dungeon. Girl doesn't seem like the type."
"Wendy can be a bit clumsy at times, and has more than a little trouble speaking up for herself, but she's a caring and friendly child. I think she'll be a good fit for Natsu."
Cana steered the conversation back to their original topic. "So the reason Natsu can't level is because of Lisanna?"
"More than likely. He's starting to move past it, but there is still something holding him back. He lost something other than Lisanna that day. Until he finds out what that is, I'm afraid he'll be stuck for a long while."
"Well if anyone can break something by sheer force of will it's Natsu." Cana grabbed her glass. "You sure you don't want more? Bottle's almost empty."
Vermillion sighed and held up her own empty glass with a smile. "Fine, but this is the last time."
"Atta girl."
As Cana poured the final drops of wine into Vermillion's glass, Natsu watched them from the hallway. Having heard enough of their conversation, he went back to his room.
The sounds of laughter mixed with the hardened grunts of training as a lone girl walked past the grey colored trees and over the vein like rivers in front of her. Her pointed ears revealing her lineage as an elf, she held two cups of tea in her hand, being extra careful not to jostle them as she avoided the many bodies in her path.
"Here you are."
She finally reached her destination, a large blanket set away from the rest of the crowd, and presented one of the mugs to a young woman with long red hair.
"Thank you, Lefiya. Sorry you had to travel all the way across camp for my sake."
"It was no trouble."
Erza sipped from her cup, her lips curling into a small smile at the sweet taste. Lefiya sat next to her, also appreciating the brew warming her body.
It was a long few days, but Loki Familia had finally reached the next resting point of their latest expedition. The fiftieth floor. Unlike the 18th floor – Rivera – this floor was nowhere near as lush and vibrant. The green fields and tranquil rivers being replaced with ash- colored trees and dull landscapes. Dreary was a polite way to describe it. The one saving grace being that they didn't have to worry about monsters spawning in the immediate future.
"How is your arm?"
Erza looked to her bandaged left arm at Lefiya's request. She had been substantially injured during their most recent battle with the monsters on the 49th floor. In hindsight she knew what she did wasn't the best move. The rearguard was more than capable of protecting the Supporters, but Erza couldn't help her nature. Her body moved on its own. Unfortunately that put her right in the path of a Fomoire's jaws. Had it not been for Gareth's timely intervention she might have lost that arm.
"It's better. I just regret that you had to waste your magic fixing my mistake."
"O-oh no it was no trouble at all!" the elf girl said quickly. "I'm just glad you are alright."
Despite her proud lineage, "Thousand Elf" Leifya Viridis was a timid girl. While strong in her own right – having made level two at only eleven years of age, and level three one year after joining Loki Familia – she still had plenty of faults in the confidence department. That being said she was still a valuable member of the Familia, even if she herself didn't quite believe it yet.
Erza looked ahead to a tent at the top of cliff. It was the largest tent in the camp, but that made sense since it was the main headquarters for the Familia during their expedition. Inside it the Familia's captains: Finn Deimne, Reveria Ljos Alf, and Gareth Landrock, conducted meetings as to how to proceed further in the expedition. It was alos the place where they would scold the more...difficult Familia members.
"Is Aiz still in there?"
Lefiya bowed her head in shame. "Y-yes. She is."
Aiz Wallenstein left the captains tent in a daze. The conversations she had just had wasn't a happy one, but that was to be expected given what she did during the last battle.
"Is your rank too heavy for you?"
Finn's words rang in her ears like a bell. Like Erza she had broken rank, but for completely different reasons than her comrade. Erza - unnecessarily - left her post in the front to protect the rearguard, Aiz disobeyed orders so to test her limits. Jumping into a horde of monsters without any regard for her safety. It was beyond foolish and one misstep could have gotten her killed, but Aiz insisted. She could not fight her nature either.
As she looked over the cliff the Captains' tent set upon, she could see the entirety of the camp below her. Everyone was either working to set up, sparring, or talking about what was to come next. It was her job to protect each and every one of them. She knew that. And yet she couldn't stop the trembling in her hands. She was restless. Her hands only felt right with a blade in them. It was never enough. She was born with this feeling, and she would die with it as well.
I can't stop…I want to be strong.
"M-Ms. Aiz…"
The Kenki turned her attention towards a timid Lefiya. The elf girl had snuck up on her during her melancholy. Erza was there as well, though she stood a few paces back. Giving Lefiya plenty of space to do what she needed to do. Aiz's eyes moved back to Lefiya, watching curiously as the young girl fidgeted; her slender fingertips pushing against each other as she searched for something to say. Her eyes quickly darting back and forth, she blushed when she found the stoic gaze Kenki's golden orbs. In that same instant she looked back to the ground, her cheeks growing redder the longer time passed.
"I just…I…I wanted to…"
Erza could take no more of this stalling. In one forceful motion of her hand against Lefiya's back, she nudged her closer to Aiz, almost causing her to fall over.
"M-Ms. Erza?!" yelped the startled Elf. "Why would you-"
"Are you…ok?"
Lefiya looked up, her eyes widening upon realizing just how close she was now to Aiz. She was so close in fact that she could even see the small beads of sweat on her collarbone. With another yelp she leapt backward, her head bowed in apology.
"I'm so sorry! I only came to thank you for helping me earlier! It wasn't my intention to get so close! Please forgive me!"
"It's…ok." She had rescued Lefiya from a Foimore in the previous battle before making her own foolhardy charge, but she never expected - nor wanted - to be thanked for doing it. It was her duty to look out for her comrades. The only thanks she needed was knowing that they were alive to see the next day.
"Are your injuries healed?"
"Y-yes! I'm feeling much better."
Aiz looked to Erza, her doleful eyes asking the same question. The redhead answered with a simple nod. The two had mastered nonverbal communication long ago.
"I see…that's good."
When Aiz looked back to Lefiya she was surprised to see the girl was now on the verge of crying.
"I-I'm sorry…You always have to protect me and…and…"
The golden haired maiden was at a loss at what to do as Lefiya's sobs intensified. If she didn't act soon the girl would be inconsolable. She looked to Erza for help, but she was too busy stifling laughter to provide any aid. Not knowing what else to do Aiz reached out to Lefiya, gently placing her hand on her head. Their eyes met and Aiz's lip pulled itself into a small smile.
"It was no problem…for me."
Lefiya's faced once again burned red and in a panic she grabbed Aiz's tent.
"L-let me take this for you!"
"I…"
"Just let her do it." Erza said. "She wants to repay her debt."
Aiz was uneasy. It felt wrong for Lefiya to carry her belongings like some sort of servant. Nonetheless she let her. She seemed happy to do it at the very least, but Aiz had made a note to not let this become a habit.
"You were in there for a while. How was it?"
Aiz slowly looked to the ground, her eyes downcast. "I was…scolded again."
Erza suppressed a chuckle at her friends melancholy. "I can't say I blame them. You were very reckless back there."
Aiz sulked even more.
"Though I can't I blame you either. I made the same mistake you did."
Aiz looked to Erza's bandaged arm. "But...you did it to rescue a member of the Familia."
"Someone else could have easily done the job. I was too careless. Had it not been for Captain Gareth I may not be standing here right now."
Aiz could hear the disappointment in Erza's voice, but just like with Lefiya she didn't know what to say. It would take more than a pat on the head to soothe her and a few words to soothe her pride.
"I guess what I'm really trying to say is that we should both be more careful in the future." Erza smiled and extended her hand. "We wouldn't want to be a burden for the others."
Aiz shook her friend's hand with a short nod. "Yes."
Lefiya prepared to speak up when she saw someone tackling Aiz from behind.
"Ai~z! What you up to? !Lefiya's apologizing again?"
The girl had short black hair and sun-kissed skin, signifying her Amazonian heritage. Her clothes – or lack thereof – were also symbols of her race, with a single strip of cloth around her chest and a skirt-like pareo wrapped tightly around her waist. Her name was Tiona Hiryute, another one of Loki Familia's First-Class Adventurers.
The elf girl looked away in shame as the amazon laughed.
"You don't have to be so serious. I'm just joking. The 49th floor is rough stuff. It only make sense you get a little banged up here and there. Right, Erza?"
"I...suppose so." The redhead replied somewhat dully.
"See? Nothing to worry about. So cheer up ok?"
"I-I don't need cheering up!" Lefiya huffed, her cheeks puffed out in a pout.
"As for you." Tiona slightly tightened her grip around Aiz's neck, her playful tone hardening little by little. "You don't always have to be so reckless. Reveria and the others had the Fomoire handled. All you had to do was protect the wall. I swear you have some kind of death wish. I mean I get where you're coming from, but you have to learn to pick your spots, you know?"
The blonde's shoulders sunk just a bit under Tiona's weight. This was more or less the same conversation she had in the tent. "…I'm sorry."
"Sometimes you remind me of…"
"Are you all still messing around? There's still work to be done you know."
Another Amazon approached the trio with a tent in hand. She looked similar to Tiona, though her hair was longer, she was slightly taller, and her bust was much bigger. She was Tiona's elder sister, Tione. Kagura had appeared as well, also carrying a tent.
"If we don't set up before dinner than we won't have anything to eat." informed the Mermaid.
"Don't be such a killjoy, Kagura." Tiona said. "We've got plenty of time before then. We've earned a little fun."
"She's right." Erza nodded. "I believe it's good to take things easy once in a while."
"Quit screwing around would ya?! Get back to work!"
A foot buried itself in the small of Tiona's back, knocking both her and Aiz over.
"Ow! What was that for, Bete?!"
The young werewolf stood over the pair, his irritated face plain as day.
"I told ya didn't I? Quit screwing around."
Tiona stood up quickly with a mischievous grin. "O~h. I see what's really going on here."
Bete raised an eyebrow. "The hell are you goin' on about?"
"It's ok. You don't have to hide it. I know you really came over here so you get closer to Aiz. You're just acting tough for appearance's sake."
Bete's face turned beet red. "The hell did you say?!"
"I knew it! You're so easy to read. You puppy dog."
"You wanna fight, woman?!"
"Don't get mad at me because Aiz isn't interested. Maybe you should try your luck elsewhere. I'm sure plenty of girls like taking in stray mutts."
"Why you…get back here!"
Bete chased the cackling Tiona in circles around the cliff. Lefiya desperately tried to calm them down, but she was losing more and more control of the situation by the second.
"P-please, Ms. Tiona, Mr. Bete, stop fighting. Someone could get hurt."
"It never stops does it?" Tione sighed.
Aiz shook her head.
"You know how Bete can be." Erza reminded. "He's as hotheaded as they come. I swear he and Natsu are so alike it hurts me."
Tione was intrigued. "Natsu? Where did he come from?" Just like her sister had earlier, a teasing grin tugged at the amazon's lips. "Don't tell me you miss little salamander."
Now it was Erza's turn to be embarrassed. "W-what?! That has nothing to do with it! I was just making an observation."
Tione was unconvinced. "Sure you were. You should learn to be more honest with your feelings. Like Tiona."
The redhead turned away, her blush deepening. "I am honest."
"I grow tried of this."
Kagura stepped forward from the rest of the group, passing Lefiya and handing the girl her tent as she put herself inbetween Bete and Tiona.
"Out my damn way, Kagura! Unless you want-" Bete suddenly fell face first into the dirt with a hard thud before he could finish his threat. "What the...hell...!" He tried to rise but once again fell to the ground, this time harder than before. It was like gravity was holding his face to the dirt.
Erza sighed. "She's always doing more than necessary."
"I think she's just jealous." Tione surmised.
"Jealous? Of what?"
The amazon shrugged with a knowing smirk. "I don't know. You'll have to ask her."
"T-thank you, Ms. Kagura." Lefiya said in gratitude. "But wasn't that a little…much? What if Mr. Bete is hurt?"
"He'll be fine. He's suffered worse." Kagura took back her tent and made her way to camp.
"That's our Kagura." Tiona smiled.
"We should finish setting up as well."Tione suggested. "I don't want the captain to get mad at us."
The girls all followed Kagura, save for Aiz who gave the sunken Bete one last look of sympathy. As they made their way down the hill they passed Raul Nord, a young human boy in their Familia. He exchanged greetings with them and kept on his way. It was his job to report about the camp to the Captains. Before the girls were out of sight he looked over his shoulder, his eyes falling on a smiling Erza as she spoke to Tiona. He let loose a melancholic sigh.
"Maybe one day."
When he reached the top of the hill, he was shocked at the sight of Bete face first in the dirt with his butt in the air.
"A-are you alright?"
The werewolf's pained groans echoed in the boy's ears.
New year! New chapter! We have more new characters with the introductions of Cana, the amazon sisters, and Lefiya. I wanted to put more of a focus on some of the other characters this chapter (specifically Loki Familia), as well as put Natsu on the next stage of his development. He's gone from grieving over Lisanna, to worrying about his level. They're tied, but for what Natsu needs to get over...we'll see that soon.
As always leave a comment/review letting me know what you think! Thanks for reading! :)
