Chapter two
-•-•-•-•-
Levy walked quickly as soon as she stepped out of the carriage to the quarter of the Priestess the very next day.
"Priestess," She called out as she was let into the room.
"Hello Levy," Lucy said, simply lying on the bed even though it was past noon.
"I was not allowed in yesterday and I completely understand why," She said compassionately, before sitting at the end of the bed as Lucy regarded her in some dim fashion.
"Don't." Lucy warned her, "if you have come today to offer your sympathy, I do not want it. You shan't look at me any different than the day we met, if so please return to your quarters."
Levy stayed silent before nodding.
"Are you coming to court today, Priestess?"
"Of course, I will, why wouldn't I?" Lucy asked, stark indifference blowing over her eyes, grating her pain under the grind of her teeth and the crease of her brow.
She would not appear anywhere weak in Court because of this, because of him.
"I see," Levy said, "Is there anything you'd like me to do?"
"Nothing except for removing volumes of Philosopher Archiledes the next time I frequent the library."
"As you wish, my Priestess."
At that moment, Michelle entered with a tray of morning tea for both of them.
"How are your wounds, Michelle?" Levy asked as Lucy furrowed her brows as if she had just awoken.
"I beg your pardon? What do you mean wounds?"
Michelle froze in her spot before she turned to her Priestess slowly.
"I heard that when the maidservants tried to come back to you to protect you, they were ordered to stay in position but Michelle was struck thrice with a whip only because she had dared question the authority of the Warrior," Levy said before slowly realising that Michelle had not divulged Lucy in with any of those happenings.
"Michelle, is this true?" Lucy asked.
The blue-eyed woman nodded.
"Show me." She demanded and Michelle albeit reluctantly removed her first commoner's robe and the blonde gasped at the very visible marks on her arm.
Had they tried to cleave flesh from bone? Lucy thought, mortified at the wounds suffered by her dear friend.
"There was no need for them to whip you at all, they could have simply restrained you." She snarled through her teeth as anger boiled her vision.
"Priestess, it's alright." She said trying to allay the discomfort.
"Over my gravestone," Lucy snarled.
Michelle was her friend, almost a sister, she would be damned to hell and back if she let any hurt come on the ones she vowed to protect, no matter how fruitless her own state was.
She was in a position where she could protect others, it would be foolish to let it down simply because she could not protect herself.
"Michelle, take my robes out I wish to wear black today," Lucy said, standing on her feet.
"Your wish is my command, Priestess." Michelle bowed before hurrying to get her robes out.
"Priestess, is your body in the condition to walk-"
Lucy narrowed her eyes at Levy as she stood on her feet causing her to stop immediately before Michelle brought her robes.
After she was dressed, Lucy gathered her skirts before entering the carriage with Michelle by her side and Levy wondered what kind of stone does one have to be made of to ignore their own suffering in the favour of others.
Palace ladies moved in surprise, out of her way as Lucy entered the court in billowing black robes moving like liquid against her skin.
Every single soul paused to look up in surprise as she strode in with grace and power like a deity in her own right and perhaps she was because how else could she muster such strength?
Zeref leaned back in his throne with amusement.
"Priestess," He said, eyes glinting at being entertained.
"You are late for courtly hours."
"My apologies, Your Highness," Lucy said, bowing to him lowly and ignoring the weakness in her flesh. She didn't even bother looking at his side where his brother and her perpetrator stood just as surprised as those who were in court.
"Any reason that can account for your tardiness perhaps?" He asked, cocking his head to the side as if he didn't already know what happened. As if everyone present in court didn't already know what had happened.
Lucy held her head high as she regarded him at the fountainhead of the court.
"There has been a crime committed." She stated bluntly.
"On what grounds?" Zeref asked as Natsu wondered if she was going to accuse him in open court. She couldn't be that silly, could she? Of course, none would come to her aid and launching a case against him in court would only result in her being thrown into the dungeons for such a blasphemous allegation.
"My helper, Michelle has been struck upon thrice because she refused to obey an order."
"Has she?"
Michelle on cue removed the side of her robes a little to the left as her arm showed three blatant whip marks.
"And whose order was it did you refuse to obey?"
Michelle bowed her head down in respect before saying, "Warrior Larcade."
Natsu stiffened at the mention of the captain who worked under him.
"Warrior Larcade struck her thrice even though the first time, Michelle understood and stopped struggling as vigorously. There was no reason for such an occurrence to happen again." Lucy said firm on her grounds, Michelle had told her this when they were in the carriage.
"But Priestess, it is merely a whip mark." Zeref reasoned.
Lucy chortled in derision, "My dear King, surely, you're not implying that the crime done, in this case, which is beating and humiliating a woman is justified if it is only a mere whipping." Her eyes then subdued in a shrewd glow, "That would not qualify for the air of justice served in the Court of Alvarez, would it?"
Zeref's jaw tightened at the wit she had presented, candidly questioning his judgement.
"Of course not, Priestess." He said, neutrally, "is there a punishment you have in mind for such a crime?"
Lucy blinked, appearing to look confused while Natsu furrowed his brows at the blonde, what the hell was she playing at?
"Punishment?" She said astonished, "Oh no my King, Michelle here has already forgiven the Warrior of his crime."
Zeref was about to speak again.
"However," Lucy interrupted sharply, "One says that a simple apology would go a long way."
The black-haired Emperor raised a brow.
"You wish for the Warrior responsible to apologise? Is that all, Priestess?"
Lucy smiled, sweetly.
"To Michelle, yes, it would appear so."
"Alright then bring Warrior Larcade at once." King Zeref ordered his men.
"Your Highness," Ajeel, another captain under Natsu, implored.
"Warrior Lecarde is not present at the moment, he has been sent for the Siege of Berens."
Zeref looked back at Lucy before smiling at her politely though even she knew he didn't mean it.
"It would seem that your justice will be restored at a later date, Priestess."
The blonde straightened her robes before she looked at the Emperor.
"Or it could be today and now itself, Your Highness if you will it."
Zeref screwed his expression, disliking the confidence she moved with.
"Perhaps the one responsible for Warrior Lecarde could apologise on his behalf, after all, it is simply an apology." Lucy shrugged carelessly.
The one responsible? Zeref thought confused before following her line of sight that ended on his right, on his brother who had clenched his hand into a fist.
"Surely," Lucy said stepping forward, directly addressing his brother, "Warrior Natsu would have no qualms apologising for the misconduct of his Warrior who serves under him."
Zeref tightened his jaw, this woman knew how to play her cards indeed; making Natsu apologise publicly in court for a mistake was something Zeref hadn't eve tried personally.
But he couldn't deny her request simply because she was the Priestess and by the virtue of her position she was as high as a Lady could get in court.
But his brother had never made a mistake that would call for an apology, neither of them had now that he thought about it, pride governed them in that matter of their disposition.
"Or do you, my Warrior?" She said and any fool who couldn't detect the vitriol in her voice was blind and deaf.
The Court looked at Natsu as all eyes watched their exchange, they thought it would tame her, his fire but to all extensivity, they had been marvellously proven wrong.
Anticipation hung on a thin thread.
The pink-haired man smiled, almost baring his canines, almost as if it was forced.
"Of course, I would," Natsu said, stepping down from his place and approaching her. Lucy observed him as he marched to her before he stopped in front of her servant.
"My apologies, Michelle, for the conduct that my Warrior has presented to you." He said, loud and clear but Lucy could almost hear the grind of his teeth. It almost made her raise her head with a visible smirk at him.
One which was clear as the day to him as he continued, "Would you please forgive his brutal markings?"
"I would, Sir." Michelle curtsied politely.
"Is that enough, Priestess? Has your justice been served?" Zeref asked, intrigued by the exchange.
"To every article, my King." Lucy bowed low to him before resuming her stance.
"I must thank you too, Warrior Dragneel," She turned to him with amused eyes brightly sparkling at him in irony, "For mercy has never been a friend to a Warrior, I was nearly sure it wouldn't be in you either. You surprise me with your little antics."
Natsu forced a smile upon his features, "I aim to please, my Priestess."
Lucy inclined her head slightly as she moved right past him.
But not before a slight touch directed at the side of her waistline caught her unguarded.
"Prepare yourself."
The dark voice hushed in warning as she proceeded to climb the stairs to sit on her throne as High Priestess, crossing her legs in nonchalance while an alarm was born in her heart as daylight made its appearance.
A funny thing really, Lucy had never imagined she would ever despise being reunited with the stars at nightfall.
But here she was. Yet, looking at Michelle who seemed better made her feel pleased, no doubt Natsu was going to remove his anger on Warrior Lecarde whenever that is he would arrive.
At least some had their justice fulfilled.
-•-
He hadn't come to her for a long time, not that Lucy made a pleasure of noticing but she realised that he was purposely delaying his confrontation to catch her unaware. Lucy knew him better than most even his own brother.
Natsu liked to prowl around a prey, take his own time before trapping it. She remembered that he had done the same during their duel.
There were reasons why he liked battling in the war, the anger, the control. They say that a man would be worth his salt only when he is judged by the content of his character.
Lucy chortled, but what character lies in a man who was born by warcries of blood?
She continued to light the candles of her nightly shine, it came twice a month on the night of the new moon where Lucy would guard the shrine.
Traditions of kingdom deemed that the last time the Shrine had a Priestess, 2000 years ago, they would guard the Shrine all night alone to protect it from the evil that lured in the skies in the absence of the moon.
As a reward, the kingdom would be blessed with prosperity every month.
Lucy stepped out for a moment to light the entrance of the shrine with the silver candelabra she held before a voice caught her completely off guard.
"If you feel inclined to run, please do, I get a sense of satisfaction when you do."
She almost dropped the candelabra before looking up at the Warrior outside her shrine.
"Get out."
"I told you, I'd come for you."
"Not in front of my shrine, not within its sanctity," Lucy growled and Natsu grinned at her vexed spirit.
"If the Gods themselves wish to see us perform then Lucy, we should grant them that, don't you think?" He asked, reaching out for her which resulted in Lucy taking hasty steps back.
"Do you really want to go through this again?" He sighed, looking at her piteously.
"I will never give myself away to you willingly."
"You will, eventually," Natsu said, discarding his cape which showed the inking of a dragon on his right arm, inked in black and ending at the back of his wrist.
The moonlight slipped in and reflected off his chest.
"This isn't right," Lucy said, backing off to the wall. She despised being reduced to a wet cat grasping at straws for her safety but it seemed like there was no way out.
"It actually is. You are my prize and I will do whatever I see fit with you." He said edging closer as Lucy threw the candelabra at him before breaking into a run but Natsu caught both her hand and the candelabra before extinguishing the flames. Leaving only the rays from the moon and her stars giving light to his face.
And he looked intrigued.
"Why do you even want me?" She bit out, critically, "Surely bedding me is something that revolts you."
Natsu looked at her surprised, that the notion had hardly even crossed through his mind. He left her hand and gave her enough space to consider her rather than let her get away.
"You don't know what you do to me, do you? Every time I saw you even on that day when I killed everyone in that village, you stood out."
Lucy blinked, absorbing the new information, "What do you mean?"
"Every thought since the moment we met, I had my eye on you," Natsu said, eyes twinkling with mirth.
Disgust drew her heart away.
"You're vile."
"I know."
"You're foul."
"I've been told."
Lucy's back hit the wall as she clasped on the dagger she had strapped to her hip. Without losing a second, she whipped it out, aiming for his heart if he had one. Lucy was sure she could always bury him in the gardens without anyone noticing.
But Natsu was a Warrior, everything she tried, his enemies had as well and failed miserably.
So did she.
He dodged, catching her wrist in a grip that crushed her bones and she cried out in pain as the dagger dropped. It did leave a cut on his shoulder, however, and blood oozed out presently.
"Lucy," He said, examining the tiny wound which hardly lay in comparison to what he left on her.
"There was absolutely no need for that now was there?"
He pushed her against the wall and Lucy shut her eyes tight.
"Hell no," she heard him say through the dark, "Open your eyes, Lucy or else I'll give you a real reason to scream."
"You do that either way." She barked out as she turned away, repeating, "I will never give myself away to you willingly."
It was a mantra now really because she knew he would stop at nothing to have her, possess her. But that's the concept of it all, no matter how much you force your way through, consent makes everything all the more indispensable.
Because even you know, in comfort, if you had a choice you would not choose them.
"Suit yourself then," he growled.
He grabbed her and yanked her closer to him, pressing his chest against hers as she shut her eyes. Waited for it to blow over because that's all she could do.
Natsu explored her neck as her hands clubbed into fists, her nails digging the skin of her palm in a way that drew blood. He would grind his hip into her and Lucy numbed her feelings, separating her mind from the heat her body; it was appalling how erroneously parallel her mind was to her body.
He pinned her against the wall and Lucy tried to distract herself with anything other than what was happening.
But all she got was his scent, unrestrained and merciless in its way.
This was going to be a regular event, she realised in the midst of it all as he picked her up in ease and for a moment Lucy hated the brute strength he possessed and felt fleeting joy at actually having defeated him once in a duel. Even if it was by foul play.
Natsu parted her legs when he decided he had enough of her body now seeking immediate release, she croaked out in pain when he pushed his way into her and dug her finger deeper as she tried to numb it.
When she finally felt disconnected, she couldn't help but feel grateful.
Lucy was not sure if her mind could handle anything this horrid. Giving way to any feelings, anything at all would hinder her psyche and she couldn't afford to look weak in Court, not in front of them. And definitely not in front of him.
She would endure this, learn to look numb without screaming or uttering a word even if it came at the expense of her biting her tongue off.
He stepped away from her, looking at her questioningly after he had worn his robes.
"You know, it would be easier for you to come under my wing and surrender than looking like a lost pup."
And Lucy?
She had the gall to laugh at his face which drew a disgraced stare from him.
"I'd rather be burnt to death."
-•-
Hmm. Levy wondered if she needed another wooden cabinet as she looked at the heaps of books before Michelle strolled in.
"Hello, Michelle, it is certainly nice to see you here."
"Hello, Levy, I won't take much of your time but if it is possible, may I please have a book regarding herbs, particularly regarding The Atocium?"
Puzzled at her impatience, Levy simply smiled before travelling down to the closest shelf.
"Is it for Priestess Lucy?"
"I'd rather not say."
Levy managed to look confused before finding the book.
"Here," She said, giving the brown covered book to the blonde.
"Thank you so much."
"You are most welcome," Levy said before narrowing her eyes at the figure hurrying to exit the library.
Odd.
-•-
He came every night.
It had become such a custom, that Lucy wondered if he'd ever bore of her. He had maidens all over town, vying and fighting for his attention.
Why couldn't he simply go to them?
And she had heard too as rumours spill that women were abundant in his chambers, yet, he'd leave their company every night to seek her out.
It made her feel marked in all the wrong ways. This was never what she had ever wanted, she remembered accepting King Zeref's proposal only because of the Warrior, she knew he would ravage cities, town and villages to flames until he found her again. And if she dreaded him the first night he took her then nothing would compare to when he actually would find her.
The only safe haven would be his own home.
Being a Priestess was a higher position than being a Warrior. But Lucy reminded herself that he was the brother of the Emperor, the next king should Zeref falter. That way his stance was superior to hers. He couldn't hurt her when his own people were watching his position in court, the nobility was flawed in that manner.
Plus, she had been curious to see the functioning of a kingdom.
They say curiosity killed the cat and satisfaction brought it back but Lucy wasn't sure if it was worth it anymore. Perhaps she should simply leave, this place no longer made her happy, the remaining peace she had was butchered and sacrificed in a way that would return.
So thinking, Lucy sent an approval order to be signed by The Emperor.
To go live in Mount Otium for the rest of her life, however long, however short.
Not only did it come back rejected, but the security around her was also tightened. Lucy now left nowhere without at least three guards by her side.
She clenched her fist but laughed dryly.
What was she even expecting? All that the whole lot had ever done was subjugation. Why did she think anything better would arrive?
"You should give up." He whispered, pressing his lips to her neck.
"You should die."
"That would make you happy, wouldn't it?" Natsu asked, amused.
"I'd dance on your grave under the pale moonlight." She scowled at him morbidly as he got off her.
"You should accept your fate being tied to me." He said wearing his robes as she covered her body under the sheets.
"Humans are fated with humans, not monsters," Lucy stated, coldly looking away from him as he silently strode outside.
Though she did hear a vase break on his way out indicating that her jab had not gone unanswered.
-•-
"Priestess," Levy had asked once, "why do you bother taking it at all?"
Lucy looked at her before nonchalant eyes found the sun rays tapping on her balcony.
"Scream for help? Shout and accuse him in open court?"
"Yes, why not?"
"You don't know the Dragneels as I do, madness and primal instinct of supremacy that runs in their blood," Lucy said, her eyes softening to a shallow light.
"Their father was a gem I've heard but he was a coward." She folded her arms as she continued. "Had he brought his sons up with a bit more care, perhaps they wouldn't appear to be as much as of a beast they are. Besides, while everyone in court understands what is happening is wrong they would not stand up for commoner especially against their own. It would be futile."
Levy absorbed this talk eagerly, glad somebody shared her thoughts.
"But the people still love them?" She said, drawing her brows.
Lucy laughed a short laugh almost in irony.
"They love the people as well, Emperor Zeref has never denied justice to his people and Warrior Dragneel has always gone out to fight all war in the name of the land and its people. It's obvious they would adore them for it, not that the commoners know what goes about within the Court of Alvarez."
"It's very confusing," Levy admitted with a sigh.
"The roots of the Court are dark and complex, Levy. To understand it, you might as well be around from the start and it still wouldn't make sense."
"Is that what you felt when you first came here?"
"No, not really." Lucy said, her hands looking weak and that didn't even bother her anymore, "What happens in the Court is more of mental sparring, if you can't stand your grounds here, you will topple."
Levy for once seemed to have been glad she wasn't a part of the nobility. It was what they said, while the extraordinary lived and thrive, the commoners survived but they at least they survived until the very end.
"Oh, and Priestess," Levy said, remembering a certain detail.
"Yes?"
"Have you heard of that Palace Lady impregnated by the Emperor?"
Lucy looked at her, confusion swaying her mind before Michelle cocked her head to the side.
"Oh, you mean Mavis?"
"If that was her name." Levy said, shrugging her shoulders, "They say that the Emperor impregnated her and then threw her to the dungeons. August is her child it would seem."
Michelle shifted uncomfortably as she sat on the floor.
Lucy narrowed her eyes.
"Michelle, please sit on the cushion, would you?"
"But-"
"-Please."
Michelle gently sat on the cushion comfortably and Levy wondered if that's what made Lucy different, it should've been.
"Now," Lucy said, "who is Mavis?"
Her helper looked at her back and forth, "this mustn't go outside these walls, Emperor Zeref has made it a crime to mention her name."
"I wonder why." Levy rolled her eyes before sipping a gulp of water from the goblet.
"So it happened that Mavis was a Palace Lady, just like me." Michelle said, "but she had the spirits of a War Tactician. Her mind could strategize through any defeat our warriors faced. But a day at a petty banquet came where a prophecy was uttered by a great soothsayer."
Lucy pursed her lips, somehow, she felt like this wasn't going to end anywhere except for the nether directions.
"And the prophecy said that her blood was so strong that her child would surpass his father no matter who he was." Michelle looked down at her feet.
"Prince Zeref, at that point, was required to have a son before he could ascend the throne and a son powerful than his father would be beneficial for the continuation of the Dragneel line."
Lucy shut her eyes close. She didn't need to hear what happened next.
"So he shut the doors of her room close and came out only in the morning. He kept her in his quarters for nine months that would then pass."
Levy clenched her jaw.
"So it didn't disgust him that he had forcibly impregnated a Palace Lady but defending one in open court made him shy?" Lucy asked, indignation crisp in her tone.
"I have nothing to say that could defend his actions and I do not wish to," Michelle raised her head to meet Lucy's eyes, "even though he's my Emperor."
"Where is she now?" Lucy asked, certainly she would have seen such a woman around.
"He trapped in a dungeon made underneath the Eastern Tower."
Lucy's head snapped up so quickly, Levy was afraid the Priestess would have had a bone broke.
"What do you mean?"
"She's been kept in those dungeons for seven years now it would seem. They stripped her of her son as soon as he was born."
"Why is she still being trapped there then?" Lucy questioned, worked with emotion.
Michelle stayed silent, "No one knows but one can speculate."
Levy raised a brow in puzzlement, "What exactly?"
"That he fell in love with her in the duration of those nine months."
The Librarian pondered upon it only for a second before a laugh emerged from the bed. Michelle and Levy both startled, gape at Lucy who seemed to be going through a bout of laughter, the derision in it wasn't missed by either.
"My Priestess?"
"Love, you say?" Lucy said, shaking her shoulders, "The Dragneel brothers can't ever truly love and you know why perhaps?"
The blonde looked up with thoughtful humour dancing on her face, "Because they corrupt every single thing they touch, love if there was, would become tainted."
Levy made her vision change its sights in favour of looking out the window and her brows furrowed at the tiny chimney perched on the highest point of the Emperor's Palace.
"Is something wrong?" Michelle asked, concerned.
"There's red smoke in the air." She said muddled before Lucy got to her feet, the blonde surveyed it twice and Levy couldn't tell what it was in her mind. Yet her face seemed to show tints of relief.
"It is a clarion call for the Warriors and Tactioners."
"For what?"
Her question was met with silence before Lucy headed out to remove her traditional robes.
"There has been an attack on a part of the kingdom."
-•-
The Warriors entered the court in armours and sharp steel, etched in the name of surrendering their lives in the name of the kingdom.
The flag of the kingdom was carried high before it.
"We ask your leave, Emperor." They chorused before kneeling down in honour of him.
"Return victoriously, my Warriors." He smiled at them benevolently with the flair of his royal traditional robes.
Lucy sat emotionlessly from her throne as she could foresee another tribute or a banquet being made for their victory in some time. Then, the thought of Natsu dying in the middle of the battlefield teased her heart, she hoped for his death but even she knew it was wishful thinking.
The southern prong of the Alvarez Empire had been annexed by a group of conspirators, declaring themselves now as the ruler of it. They had killed a minister and Lucy wondered if they knew what kind of foolishness they had committed.
Not that it was wrong to seize power from a cruel Duke who may or may not have been corrupt in his gains. But they knew the Warriors from Vistarion -the capital of Alvarez- was a death in the form of humans, their skills in the war were legendary.
It would be only for a few months that it would take, then, he would return.
Return for her.
Lucy was right in guessing that she couldn't run away during this period either. It seemed that Palace security for some reason had tightened its grips around her. It was almost hilarious for her to watch how carefully they made certain that there was no way she could slip away.
Almost as if she was branded.
She sighed as they continued with the ceremony of sending Warriors away to the battlefield.
They seemed to be doing it more often than.
But something happened.
Right before the Emperor could raise his sceptre to voice his blessings, he looked straight at her.
She arched a brow at him cautiously.
"Priestess, would you please bear the honour of showering blessings on our Warriors?"
Lucy's eyes narrowed only for a split second, an utterance of disagreement tight on her lip before she raised herself to her feet.
Her gaze settled on the Warriors looking at her, she refused to rest it even once upon their leader who looked at her amused.
There was a quality to the way the rest of the Warriors focused on her in hope for protection and it was only that once Lucy saw fear in their eyes.
Almost as if they would certainly die if her blessings weren't bestowed upon them.
Some were hardly children and to battlefields, they were sent when in reality their hands should grip on quills not sword. In spite of what had been done to her and their silence to it being deafening, Lucy could never do the same to anyone she knew.
Lucy smiled at them gently as Michelle saw light trail her footfalls tenderly as she stood in front of the Warriors. Yet, her face didn't turn even once to acknowledge their head.
"My Warriors, someone wise once told me that bravery does not mean having no fear," She said tenderly, emotion reaching out to every Warrior as they honoured their Priestess with raised heads.
"It means feeling fear to its depths and still conquering your ends. For every time in bloodshed, if you can not breathe and you can't move, I hope my words carry you through. May the stars and the moon look after your shield and armour, I bless you in the right of the highest Priestess in this land."
Natsu narrowed his eyes and the movement attracted her attention for a moment.
And you? Lucy thought, abhorrence raging the same way it did when he was about to take a life away.
You, I hope you find death.
And almost as if Natsu found her message, he returned it simply with a smirk.
-•-
It was simply devouring.
The moment he left, it was almost as if Lucy found peace.
She hadn't known how long it was since she could step foot lightly into court without looking over her shoulder, without the penetrating fear of him behind her, without the feeling of her heart jumping to her throat.
Lucy had never appreciated the air of the Court, not stagnated by the Warrior's presence this way, the carriage rides in all its simplicity began aiding Lucy's spirit and mind. Although she knew that her spirits were damaged, they would never, never return to what they used to be.
Her gaze fluttered around the trees, as it fell a ragged entrance at a distance between a grove of trees, almost covered and secluded if it hadn't been seen from a certain angle.
"Priestess," Michelle softly called her name out, sitting opposite to her in the carriage.
"Yes?"
"That's the Eastern tower's entrance."
Lucy blinked before peering out the window once more but she couldn't catch a glance again.
"The same one rumoured to imprison that Palace Lady?" Lucy asked as their carriage ran out the doors for a visit to the Alvarez market.
"Apparently so."
The Priestess simply rested her back against the cushioned seat in wonder.
"I hope we find the bangles you liked the last time, Michelle."
"Absolutely not, Priestess."
Lucy raised a brow, a little baffled at her, "But you were whining about how you wished to go and take a look of the collection, weren't you?"
"Yes but I heard Milliana talk about it being a farce, those bangles weren't truly the crystals mined from the caves of Stella."
"What kind were they?"
"Moon crystals, my Lady."
The blonde smiled as the carriage went about common streets, earning a low bow from most of them while some strained to catch a glance of the Priestess within.
"Moon crystals have a tendency to emit pearly white rays when light passes through it." She said, smiling at her helper, "also if the crystal is real, it most likely won't be in perfect shape, if it is, it's probably fake."
"Bu-but how does one identify it being farce or not Priestess?"
"You could also pop into the fire, Moon crystal withstand any blaze," Lucy frowned in consideration, "but I doubt the shop owner would allow you to do so without buying it first."
"Was there anytime you fallen for a pretence, my Priestess?" Michelle asked, already knowing the answer. Lucy had a knack for discrediting things that had false appearances.
In fact, half the jewellery Michelle owned was first checked by Lucy who could at a blink of an eye, separate wheat from the chaff. So evidently, her Priestess was probably never deceived by-
"-I actually was," Lucy smiled.
Michelle blinked, she was?
"You were?"
"Yes, I think when I was quite young, not more than four or five."
"Priestess, you were a child."
"But I was deceived nonetheless." She grinned at her.
"How?"
"Back in my village where the Heartfilia tribe resided," Lucy spoke as if she was reminiscing the better days in sweet nostalgia, "We had a celestial event happening, it was the passing of a comet, that's what they called it in my tribe. It's a bright icy object in the night skies with a tail of shimmering white."
"Oh, we call them dirty snowballs." Her helper piped in.
Lucy laughed, "Of course you do."
She shook her head in good humour and Michelle was glad she could witness at least a speck of true happiness upon her Priestess' visage.
"Either way," Lucy continued, "I was too small to have actually seen it but I really wanted to catch it being the child I was. However, only those older who could participate in the ceremony, joining in a circle and pray for fortune and shield from all evil for the next twelve years."
"Oh, so it came only once in twelve years?"
"Yes."
"Was it called something?"
"The Fairy Sphere."
Michelle nodded as she motioned her to continue her little tale.
"Yes, I did insist to my parents that I wanted to catch it but they left me at home." Lucy laughed at her childish self, it still seemed to inspire humour in her, the kind of warmth she actually wanted. "After they had come home, the comet was just a faint light but was I going to surrender? Absolutely no. So I ran out when my parents were asleep into the woods."
"Priestess, that sounds like something you wouldn't do at all, even as a child!" Michelle protested.
"I am fallible as well, Michelle, especially then because I no longer found the comet because of the canopy of the trees. Lost in the woods, I came across a cliff below which at great heights was a lake."
Michelle's brows furrowed at where the story was going and she wasn't sure if she liked it either.
"Upon the pond's surface, however, was a reflection of the comet. Since it had no trees around it either, the comet was clearly shown."
"Priestess, did-"
"I jumped into the lake with the will to catch the comet but I had forgotten that I couldn't swim. I had fallen for its reflection and to my death because of deception and how absurd does it sound to catch a comet."
"Did you come out safe?"
"Narrowly." Lucy surmised, "my parents were petrified to not find me the next morning and even more so when they found me on the verge of death, unconscious at the shore of the lake."
"It almost cost you your life, that little fall."
"It did. And so I promised myself for the sake of parents, that until the day I died, I would be wary of the thin lines of deception."
"Well," Michelle said, unaware of what her next statement might cause, "Surely the next time you would definitely be able to witness the comet and laugh at the little incident with your parents."
Lucy's cheer was almost immediately wretched by a distant drab in her eyes.
"I was never able to."
Michelle inclined her head to the side in slight disorientation.
"Why my Priestess?"
"Because the next time the Fairy Sphere came, " Lucy delivered, gelid.
"It brought Natsu Dragneel with it."
Hello, there.
It's nice to see you here again. All your reviews have been appreciated. And, I honestly feel like a terrible person for writing Natsu in this light, cause like- He's this bubbly, carefree child with such a pure heart and this story completely re-writes him in such a terrible light that I feel like a shitty person.
I'm sorry for ruining your image of him momentarily if I did.
Thank you for being here. It might not be a great ending but I would appreciate your support until then.
Ta ta.