Not much to say here. Got my netbook and I learned that writing from it is actually pretty comfortable. There are still a few things I have to get used to like the sensitive keys but the feel of the keys are just right and I am just loving my netbook right now.
Internet speed is pretty good for a small netbook like this and I am impressed with the way it handled a few things. I still need to personalize some things but that shouldn't take much time at all. Probably going to write on the way to DC but that is to be determined.
Also, don't forget to subscribe to my feed if you haven't already. I don't know what it does but it seemed pretty useful. Anyways, enjoy the chapter and don't forget to review.
The truth had been hidden from the citizens and a major disaster was avoided. But Lidia and Hyde knew better than to relax. They had just lost their most powerful artifact, one that could bring destruction to the world within minutes. But all was not lost. Fairy Tail had teamed up with Crime Sorciere to stop the evil although the mysterious man who had stolen the Circle of War was still unidentified. Just what did they want with the artifact?
Wizard Council
"This was a personal victory but a social defeat." Justinian said to his fellow council members.
They sat at a black marble half circle table and they were discussing important events so far and at the very top of the list was the theft of the artifact during the hajji. Justinian was speaking and the other council members listened carefully. The newly formed Wizard Council was mostly made up of mages from foreign lands. There were still 10 members but at least 7 of them were foreigners. This was done to widen the view of the council as the old ones had always been made up of mages from Fiore.
"But how could that have been a personal victory? Were you not elected to serve the magical population of Fiore?" asked one of the council members.
Justinian nodded. He had been selected for this job because he was a powerful mage and he held a coveted title.
"Yes, I know. That is why I described it as a failure as well. As you all know, I don't like her imperial majesty Lidia or her consort. But even if I despise them, I must uphold my duty as chairman as the newly formed Wizard Council. We do not tolerate those who disrupt the peace in this land. We do not tolerate those who threaten innocent people, noble or common. And we especially do not tolerate those who believe they can do as they please because they are powerful." Justinian said as he smashed his fist down on the black marble table.
Fairy Tail
The members of Crime Sorciere introduced themselves properly in Makarov's office. Everyone had sat down to discuss what their plans were and Meredy and Raymond had become good friends in the little time they had spent together.
"So…Tartaros. Who are they exactly?" Asura asked, leaning back in his chair, still a bit tired from the fight 3 days ago.
"Well, originally, we thought they were just a regular dark guild." Jellal explained. "But then we started to really get on their tail and we figured out what they really are."
"And that would be?"
Jellal looked at the group, seriousness in his eyes.
"They are a cult, dedicated to the worship of Julius Silence."
There was silence in the room while the news sank into everyone's minds. Cult? Julius Silence?
"Wait…but why Julius Silence? Isnt he a figure of good?" Azami asked Jellal.
Ultear shook her head. This was where the story got complicated.
"Yes, Julius was a figure of good but the members of Tartaros are worshipping him in a dark way. They want to bring him back to life." Ultear said as she explained to Azami. "Their leader apparently has a connection to Julius and Jack apparently is indebted to him as well. We don't know about the other members though."
Raymond shuddered. He knew something was wrong and the voices inside told him so.
"The dead cant come back from the dead though!" Raymond protested, barely understanding what was happening.
"Incompetent child! If one possess a high enough energy, the process of life can be lengthened or the dead can come back to life. However, there is only one person in the history of magic that has been able to bring the dead back to life." Vincent said, enjoying his dark history lesson.
"Do not speak anymore! His name should stay buried and never recovered. He must rot in his eternal life." Julius said as he pushed Vincent away from Raymond's mind.
Meredy shook her head sadly. Raymond was just a child and he was already being sucked into a conflict he knew little about.
"Sorry Raymond but people can come back from the dead. It IS possible but it requires someone with extraordinary power. Not even a Nightmare Mage can successfully raise the dead. However, we have recently found someone who can." Meredy said to the group.
Asura and Azami looked surprised. Someone who could bring back the dead? But how? That would mean reversing the flow of life that only the goddess of Death could control!
"And…who exactly is this person?" Azami asked, wanting to know just who had this amount of power.
"We looked into Garlan records a while back and we learned that when Bartholomew and Otto were injured, they were looked after by a man called "The Witch Doctor". We asked Bartholomew himself and he even told us that he existed and was the one who gave Bartholomew the dragon lacrima." Ultear explained as everyone started to nod.
But the question still remained. Where was this 'Witch Doctor'? Asura asked this question and he didn't like where this whole conversation was going. He knew that he was permanently stuck in a huge battle he didn't know much about.
"But where is he? The world is huge and he could be anywhere." Asura asked.
Jellal pulled out a rolled up parchment that looked as if it had seen better days. The edges were ripped and it was yellowed with age. He unfolded it to reveal a map of the world. There was a small glowing red dot on the western continent. Everyone looked down on it and they noticed that it lay in small kingdom called Angkol. The glowing red dot lay in the middle of an area labeled "Unh Forest".
"We used this map to track unusual magic traces. It led us to Angkol, in the middle of the Unh Forest. We aren't completely sure if this is correct but it is the only lead we have." Jellal said as he rolled the map back up.
Asura, Azami and Raymond nodded slowly. It was obvious what would be happening next.
"Alright, we set sail for Derlados. We need to get to Unh Forest as fast as possible." Asura said.
Magnolia Train Station
The group quickly made their way down to the train station. It was the fastest way to get to the port that would take them to Derlados. The train station was not very crowded as people were still rebuilding from the gas explosion that had shaken Magnolia only a few days ago and within minutes the group was on a train heading towards the port city of Basta.
But while on the train, they noticed something strange. At every train stop, more and more people would get on board but at a stop in the city of Palon, only one person boarded the train. It was strange because Palon was a merchant city and was well known for its wealthy inhabitants. The person who boarded the train was wearing a black cloak, the hood pulled over their head and they faced away from the group.
"…don't look now but there is someone suspicious behind us…" Asura whispered to Azami.
"Suspicious?" Azami replied as a group of hawks flew past the window.
"Don't worry about it. They wont dare to attack us on a train this crowded and if they follow us, we can just take them down once we get clear." Jellal whispered.
They passed several stops and the suspicious person thankfully left the train a few stops later. The train eventually arrived at the port they were supposed to go to and the group quickly got off the train and headed to where the ships were docked.
The port was rather quiet with only a few crews of people coiling huge ropes and lifting cargo onto ships. There were several warships docked as well, the metallic cannons facing out towards the sea with powerful menace. Jellal pointed to a ship with many people looking off the side of it.
"That is the ship we will be taking. It shouldn't take more than a few hours to reach the western continents.
"Ah…boats…" Azami said, remembering her seasickness.
The group walked up to a few of the people who were hanging out in front of the ship. They wore striped bandanas on their head and wore white and blue striped shirts. They were talking and stopped when they noticed the group in front of them.
"Ahoy mate! What brings ya to the Fog King?" one of the men asked as they smiled.
"We are mages from Fairy Tail. We wondered if we could get a ride on your ship. You are sailing to the Western Continent right?" Jellal asked.
The men nodded and were about to let the group on the ship when a laugh broke through the air.
"Har har har! Fairy Tail ye say? Let them on! Skull and Bones will never turn away a mage of the legendary Fairy Tail!"
Everyone looked up towards the ship where a huge man was standing. He towered over everyone and he was three times as large, carrying a huge axe with him. He had a huge beard of grey hair and was wearing a captain's navy blue great coat with faded buttons and medals. Everyone greeted the man as they walked up the gangplank but Jellal seemed to be surprised.
"Waldo…what are you doing here? We heard that we would be taking a commercial ferry to Derlados, not riding on your fleet of ships!" Jellal said, surprised to see the legendary ship captain.
The huge man shook his head, his beard swinging with it.
"Ye got it all wrong. My fleet isn't here right now. They be docked in Derlados. Darn storm blew us off course. We just were just about to head there and you were lucky to find us here. Yer ship is probably late due to the storm. Mighty storm at that." Waldo explained.
"Well I guess we will be riding with the legendary Waldo of Skull and Bones." Jellal laughed.
"Lets set sail!" Raymond shouted.
And that is the chapter. I also have a question. Did you all have Friday off of school? Because I did. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and don't forget to review! FF