14
For the next week, Lucy trained under the guidance of Makarov Dreyar. He was happy to help her learn to control her magic even though he could not help her with the actual use of that magic. Makarov Dreyar admittedly did not have any experience with celestial magic and was almost as eager to learn about Lucy's magic as Lucy was. Instead, Makarov focused primarily on teaching Lucy to organize and store her magic power so that she could access it with little effort. He explained some fundamental concepts that would allow Lucy to control how much magic she poured into a task and to be aware of every minor use of her magic. Lucy soaked up the advice like a sponge; she had always loved to learn and she was already growing to love her magic.
At the end of that week, a letter arrived from the Crown which invited Lucy to meet Princess Hisui and visit Mirajane and the Strauss' at their residence in the castle. Lucy felt a spike of nerves as she read the letter for the third time. She knew this invitation was coming after Makarov informed the Crown of her existence and the exact nature of her magic but she was still worried about meeting the royal family. Still, Lucy constructed a reply and made sure that Makarov approved of it before sending it off and moving on to the decisions of what to pack.
Meanwhile, Natsu was busy getting various tasks done in the running of Magnolia. He was also busy perusing his father's old records. Igneel Dragneel had kept meticulous notes on the events of his time as Lord of Magnolia. He used to tell Natsu that this was a dragon habit and that all dragons kept historical records since they generally lived longer than most humans. They also prided themselves on being an impartial audience to the events of history, though this was probably not as accurate as they would have hoped. Natsu had begun making a study of his father's records after learning, with Lucy, that there was a complex backstory to the lives of her parents and the kingdom of Fiore before the deaths of Igneel and Layla. He knew that Lady Heartfilia had not been able to tell them all that had happened and Natsu was determined to find out as much as he could so that he could be of help to Lucy.
His reading was happily interrupted by a note carried in by his favorite page boy Romeo Conbolt. The Conbolt family had been serving the Dragneels for as long as Natsu could remember. They were also mages and members of Fairy Tail. Romeo himself was a growing fire mage and idolized Natsu, refering to the young lord as his older brother. Natsu loved filling that role for Romeo and, though he might not always provide the best example, he did his best to protect and teach the younger mage. That was why Natsu wanted Romeo as his page. In this role, he could keep an eye on Romeo and work with him in his spare time while at the same time giving Romeo practical skills that might one day aid the boy in improving his status in the kingdom.
The note was from his favorite blond; Lucy was asking to meet him at a cafe near Fairy Tail to talk. Natsu jumped at the chance to take a break. Although he was determined to learn all he could about the mistakes of the past to help Lucy in the future, he still hated reading. Natsu was a very active young man who did not like to be kept still for long periods of time. He preferred jumping in and dealing with the consequences later. It was this feature of his nature that led to the destruction of property whenever Natsu would complete jobs that Fairy Tail received requests for. As such, he caused Makarov many headaches trying to sort out the trouble Natsu caused but Makarov never scolded Natsu in earnest.
Natsu shrugged on his vest, which he had taken off in order to attempt to relax while reading his father's records. "I'll be heading out to meet Lucy. If anyone stops by to visit, I should be back in a few hours. Only send for me if there is an emergency alright Romeo?"
"Got it! Tell Lucy 'hi' for me!" Romeo waved as Natsu exited his home and mounted his horse which had been brought around for him. Carriages tended to make him physically ill but riding his horse, whom Natsu considered a friend, did not cause him any discomfort. Natsu directed his gelding towards the cafe at which he was meeting his lover. The note indicated that she wanted to spend some time with him before she left for the capital and Natsu was glad she'd thought of him. Since the kiss, the couple had not been able to see each other. Lucy was very busy learning how to control her magic and was so tired at the end of each day that she was convinced she would be of no interest to Natsu. For his part, Natsu was busy doing what he had been before receiving her note: researching the past.
When the cafe came in sight, Natsu felt his heart begin to lighten. He hadn't even realized just how tired he was but the idea of seeing Lucy had energy filtering into his bones and a smile adorning his face. Natsu dismounted and tied up his horse where many others before him had tied their steeds before heading into the cafe. He spotted Lucy immediately as she was sitting at a table for two with a small tea cup steaming in front of her and a slice of strawberry cake with only one forkful taken out. She was reading a small book, typical of her in Natsu's opinion. A waitress approached to greet him. "I'm here to meet Miss Heartfilia. I can see she is sitting over there."
The waitress nodded and led him to the table. As he sat she inquired after a menu item for him. Natsu requested a mug of coffee and she assured him that it would be out directly. Lucy looked up from her book as he arrived and smiled at him. Reaching across the table, Natsu grasped her outstretched hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "How is the training going?" he asked.
If possible, Lucy's smile got even brighter. "I summoned Capricorn! And I can see my magic now. Master is teaching me how to organize the magic and make sure I don't use it accidentally or in excess. He told me today that he was pleased with my progress so far. Apparently, I've been giving off a magical signature everywhere I walk until I learned how to better reign in my magic." Lucy was very proud of her accomplishments and Natsu let his own magic spread out to caress hers.
She was correct in saying that she was no longer leaving signatures but her containment still needed work. It was easy for him to probe at her magic but he was shocked by the way her magic probed back. It investigated his and, seeming to find it satisfactory, curled in and around his magic like a cat. It was as though her magic was greeting his and accepting him. Natsu's own magic melted together with hers until he withdrew it, eyes widening in surprise. "What was that about?" Lucy asked, having sensed this interaction but not able to see it quite yet. She could see how her magic reached out towards his but it was hazy when she wasn't looking within herself.
"Magic power is like a tool you can use to investigate others who have it. Now that I think about it, your magic is pure light from the celestial realm and it likely was searching my magic for any hint of darkness. Your magic almost seems to have a mind of its own. It's like it knows that you don't have much experience and is trying to protect you. I've never seen magic do something like that." Natsu explained. Lucy's brow furrowed for a moment but she soon waved it aside.
"Tell me what you've been up to." She folded her hands in front of her and looked at him attentively. Lucy was even more curious when Natsu began to blush a bit and squirm in his seat.
"Promise me you won't laugh." Natsu demanded petulantly.
Lucy tilted her head questioningly but Natsu would say nothing until she promised. "I won't laugh at you Natsu. What sort of trouble are you getting up to now?"
"I... I've been reading." Natsu replied hesitantly.
True to her word, Lucy did not laugh, but she did smile teasingly at him. "You? Reading? I never thought I would see the day! What facinating work of literature has captured your attention? It must be very good if you haven't given it up in a week."
Natsu's cheeks became darker under Lucy's playful teasing but he returned her smile. "I found Pops' old dragon records. He started writing them just after the incident at Mavis' wedding. Dragons keep detailed records of historical events that happen during their lives because they tend to live longer than humans. A lot of the history books we have were either direct copies or at least based on information gathered from a dragon's records."
Lucy sobered immediately, "Have you discovered anything?" she was just as eager as he to figure out the circumstances of Zeref's insanity and the current state of affairs between Fiore and Alvarez.
"Actually I have. Igneel was not originally a Fiore citizen. He mentions his exile from his home country a few times in the records though he doesn't go into which country that was or why he was exiled. He seemed to know quite a bit about how angry Zeref was after Mavis was killed though. He says that Zeref blamed himself and that he was worried about Zeref's mental health. I haven't gotten very far though, Pops liked to write about stuff like trade and different country economies which is really boring and hard to read through." Natsu frowned as he recalled pages of lists of imports and exports from different countries on the Ishgar continent.
"It sounds like Zeref did not handle the grief of losing someone he loved very well. I have read in some of my novels about people going insane with grief but I honestly did not think it could really happen." Lucy commented soberly.
The couple sat in silence sipping their beverages before Natsu steered them into a lighter conversation in which he gave Lucy information on the various lords and ladies she might meet at the castle. Lucy laughed at some of the stories he told and stored away much of the information to think over on the train ride to the capital.
...
The train ride to the capital would take just over a day so Lucy had been assigned to a nice sleeper car on the train. Lucy settled into her seat just as the train began to depart Magnolia station. Removing a notepad from her purse, Lucy began to study some of the notes she had written down from her conversation with Natsu. Lucy was in the habit of writing down little things that she noticed as she was an aspiring authoress. It was important for her to keep a record of interesting information that might be useful for a story in the future.
One thing in Natsu's reading stood out to her. Igneel had not yet mentioned Natsu once. Instead, he was more focused on the royal family of Alvarez. It might be nothing, after all, maybe nothing of note was happening in Natsu's young life at the time. But something about that was bothering her. Setting that issue aside, Lucy continued her perusal. Alvarez had been aware of her mother's movements before Layla had even met Jude. And it sounded like from the start, they wanted to possess her. Igneel was unable to figure out just why they seemed so desperate to obtain the power of the Summoner, at least up until the point in his records that Natsu had managed to reach.
Suddenly, Lucy was hit with a realization of sorts. "Maybe it isn't her power that they want but those she can contract with! After all, the summoner is the only one who can call on all twelve zodiac spirits without a contract. I need to learn more about the Zodiac Spirits..."
Lucy spent the rest of the train trip practicing her magical control and meditation. In her sleeper car, she called on Capricorn briefly to ask him how to sense the magic of others as Natsu had with her. Capricorn was only too happy to oblige her and gave her a lesson which she resolved to practice so that mages looking to take advantage of her power would not easily be able to trap her.
When the train arrived, a simple carriage was waiting to deliver Lucy to the castle. Makarov had requested that some discretion be allowed so that nothing untoward happened on Lucy's trip. However, the well dressed footman that helped Lucy into the carriage and the driver in the royal livery did not help... Lucy sighed but decided not to say anything. What good would that do?
It was all Lucy could do not to let her jaw hit the ground as she stepped out of the carriage and looked up at the castle. The palace was beautiful! Flowers decorated balconies and brightly colored banners hung near the main entrance. Courtiers and Ladies could be seen on some of the balconies or walking amidst the sprawling garden. The sight of all these upper class people made Lucy's training hit her full force. Schooling her features into that of serenity, Lucy gently clasped her hands in front of her and took small, swift steps so that she gave off the appearance of gliding.
Lucy was led by a ladies maid to her suite of rooms which was quite lavish. However, Lucy knew better than to gape at these arrangements. Makarov had explained her position in society well enough and the story her father had told of her mother's position also meant that Lucy would have quite the inheritance. Aside from all of that, with the power that Lucy possessed, it would be disadvantageous for the royal family if Lucy felt she was being disrespected by them. Lucy, herself, didn't need the lavish rooms but she would not disrespect the royal family by asking for different accommodations.
"Milady, I have been assigned as your lady in waiting. Please call on me if there is anything you require. Her Highness is busy with her duties today but wishes to meet you tomorrow. She asks that you rest from your journey and wishes for you to know that you are free to move as you please." The maid bowed after finishing her instructions and patiently waited to be dismissed. She was a young girl with indigo hair pulled into long tails on either side of her head. There was a calm aura about her which made Lucy feel at ease.
"Please call me Lucy. I hope we can be friends! What is your name?" Lucy smiled kindly at the girl.
She appeared to have caught the young maid off guard, "M-my name? I'm Wendy," she answered softly.
"Well Wendy, it's nice to meet you! I think some tea would be nice to start and then... do you know where the library is?"
And that's all for now! I needed to get Lucy to the castle but I think the meeting with the Princess will take a bit longer than I am comfortable with for a single chapter. These things take me so long to post because I constantly keep revising them. I want to thank everyone who is still reading this and who reviews!
CC22