A/N this took forever to edit, rewrite and get to the point I liked how it flowed. I apologize for the wait, we all know just how crazy life is right now. I hope everyone is staying safe at home and keeping that distance up. The lives you save could very well be the lives of those you wish you could be close to right now...DESNA
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Chad Airesha was a fun loving sort of man, successful, wealthy, in his late 50s he was still handsome and rose smiling to greet them when the group of White Sea Mages came into his office.
His eyes bugged and he froze midway through reaching for Lucys hand.
"Master Kaleb! I...I wasn't expecting you would come personally!" The man said.
"I talked him into it, my other team mate couldn't make it so I got him to fill in. I'm Lucy." Lucy introduced herself, Kaleb smiling as Lucy took the mans hand and shook it.
"My friends, Cana and her fiance Rowan, Cristoff and Zen. It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Airesha, and we're grateful of your generosity with the hotel rooms, how can we help you?" Lucy asked.
Kaleb kept his humor in check, watching Mr. Airesha blink in amazement as the lovely blonde took over leaving the imposing Guildmaster standing to her side silent. It was Lucys mission, she was right,he was just here because she'd asked him to fill in for Gajeel, Zen was filling in for Emzadi, right now, Lucy was their leader, not him.
"I...well...it's a pleasure to meet you all as well, and no trouble at all, I apologize for making you wait. The job...yes...well, about 5 miles up the beach is where we're planning to develop the amusement park. It's a perfect location, lots of solid rock, the beach ends and gives way to it, we can build rides that utilize the natural topography and everything about the area just lends itself to the design and size we want for it all. The locals are ready to go, eager to work and create the place, it will bring more people to the area, jobs, everyone is very excited about it but we've hit a...problem." He said, sitting on the front of his desk and crossing his arms over his flower printed short sleeve shirt.
"Ok…" Lucy prompted and he looked at her then Kaleb then back at Lucy.
"Well...magic, we aren't sure what kind, I've had some mage friends come to have a look and they just got all woozy and sick and said the pressure, the magic field was too much for them to investigate." He sighed.
"Now, mind you, none of them were very strong to begin with, they aren't even guilded, but they made me realize I needed strong help. We can't get machinery anywhere near the area, it just dies, Lacrimas go haywire, nothing seems to work. So, I'm hiring you to find out what it is and, if possible, put an end to it so we can move forward with our plans." Mr. Airesha said.
Lucy nodded pulling out her tablet from her bag and with a tap she brought up a map of the area "Can you show me on here where the issue is exactly?" She asked and Mr. Airesha circled an area for them, apologizing for his lack of good specifics.
Once they got a time frame of events and the names of the mages who had visited for their client the group left the office and headed back to the hotel.
"So I need to get Grandpa Crux doing research on this area, see if there's some sort of significant event or something that happened here." Lucy said.
"I'll contact Thane and have him get in touch with the mages, get better detailed accounts of what they experienced." Kaleb offered.
"Zen and I can go out there and check it out." Cristoff added.
"Uh yeah, that would be a NO, shit Cris, you guys get drugged, Zen gets used...granted he went into it willingly, you get a threatening note letting you know whoever did the shit is now targeting Kaleb and you plan to split up not two days later?" Cristoff snapped his head to the side finding Vander, Cobra and Presca had stepped likely out of the shadows and joined them as they walked toward the hotel down the picturesque little streets of town.
"Kalebs with Lucy,and while they did drug me the angel wings on the card were a pretty good indicator they're after Kaleb and Zen, I was collateral." Cristoff growled.
He didn't like at all that he hadn't sniffed at those drinks a little more, he'd let his guard down, and, his kin had drank them, his dragon was still bristling about that failure.
He wouldn't drop his guard again, and Vander wasn't the only one in the family with skill in guard and protection work, Cristoff was almost as often called to accompany his father and oldest brother on diplomatic missions for protection, he was good at it. In fact, after Christmas, he had been asked to accompany Farron and Freed to Attla for a week.
"Ok, but your asses are ours to guard, Kalebs orders, besides, with this being a magic pressure and energy issue, Prescas the best one to send to check it out, him and Kaleb since Kaleb can create those fucking fields." Vander returned.
"I need you to go over what you detected in the shit they hit you guys with after I get back from visiting the club you guys went to with Vander and snooping around." Cobra put in.
He wasn't happy at all, none of them were, pissed him right the fuck off someone had drugged Tink and his new family. He'd never had family before, closest he'd ever come was the Oracion Seis and Crime Sorciere and that shit had been messed up on it's own special level.
Now though, he had a father in Arman, the patriarch of the Pradesh family checked in with him and Vander on a regular basis, when they were in Pelerno he insisted they come to the house for dinner or meet him in the city for lunch, and Cobra heard the mans soul as clear as he knew Arman heard his, Arman cared about him, embraced he and Vanders relationship, and sincerely wanted to be part of their lives. Hell, Cobra wasn't even dreading Christmas, which was now two weeks away, he'd found gifts for everyone, with Tink and Xallys help, and was actually looking forward to a few days at the family estate with great food, his new family and his mate. He loved what he'd found for Vander, knew that the man would love it, hell, he was already in love with it himself.
He'd gotten Vander a few things, including a ring, Arman had finally talked him into it, the man was a master negotiator and Cobra consoled himself in the knowledge if Arman could get Attlans to stop chopping each other to bits over their endless religious differences, he could talk his sons mate into proposing and making their union official across the board.
"I don't have a last name...I got nothin to give him Arman." He'd gruffed when Arman had mentioned it again a couple of weeks ago.
"You can take our name Erik, and call me Dad for the lights sake, you're my son now ceremonies and paperwork or not." The Ambassador had said firmly, completely immune to Eriks narrow eyed look.
He'd discovered like Lucy his mate wasn't poor, in fact, of the Pradesh family, Vander was right up there with his father and oldest brothers in wealth. His time working for the Steel Council as a Bloodhunter had paid very well and, having shrewd investors in his family more than happy to give him advice, Vander had done very well. His penthouse near the guild was fucking amazing, with a view of the Grass Sea and all the privacy even Cobras antisocial heart could want.
They were based at the Pelerno guild because of it, Cobra loved the Penthouse, liked being up high with the views and the privacy and quiet. The gourmet kitchen, massive terrace where he could grow his favorite plants and huge master bedroom complete with a "Play area" Vander had set up just beautifully also helped. Gods he loved getting his mate up on that x-frame and Vander had a wonderful toy collection.
Both of them got serious thrills out of pleasing the other and got into these one up sort of competitions, however, in spite of managing to get Cobras legs to give out once, Vander had not been able to get his Dragon to pass out from a blowjob, but then...neither had Cana ever gotten Cristoff to that point and now that she was with Rowan...who was a professional Dom when not working in the gardens...it was looking doubtful she'd manage that.
The pair eyed each other as everyone walked into the hotel and chose to use the hotels cafe to sit down, grab drinks and discuss their plans. Vander dropping down into the seat beside Cana and leaning against her grinning.
"So, has Rowan lost touch with the waking world after one of your best BJs?" He asked, never one to beat around the bush when he was after something and the idea of Rowan Drayke succumbing on that level made Vanders wicked heart just purr.
Cana smirked at the handsome young mage, narrowing her eyes. "I've only been making a concerted effort for a couple of weeks,I'm making distinct progress, almost got him to collapse to his knees in the shower this morning." She said reaching to brush Vanders wayward locks out of his eyes.
"Yeah? Hmm, we're close then...Cobra hit his knees day before yesterday, gave me some insight into where I need to have my hands and just how hard I need to squeeze with my lips." Vander said as if they were discussing how to fold a napkin right.
"I alternate, pressure from my lips then pushing the shaft into the roof of my mouth as it reaches the head so I can get my tongue underneath." Cana replied and Vander pursed his lips nodding.
"Doesn't reduce his sensitivity? I was taught using the roof of the mouth was for the first few minutes to help increase their stamina because it reduces how sensitive they are, now admittedly, Erik refuses Sudehpah sessions so he's inexperienced with blowjobs but you know how sucking a man off is." He shrugged and Cana nodded solemnly.
"Funny, I'd have thought being in possession of a cock you'd be better at handling them." She smirked at him and Vander grinned.
"Alas, I can not practice technique on myself so I have to rely on feedback and often my subject is too adled afterward to give me a good bit of information."He observed as the waitress came to take their orders.
"So…" Lucy cleared her throat pointedly,snickers all around the table as Vander and Cana both looked at her with absolutely sincere innocence on their faces.
"I've asked Grandpa Crux to research the area, I think Vander is right, Presca should go to the area where the magic field is with Kaleb and I while Vander and Cobra work with Cris, Rowan, Cana and Zen on the other problem." She said firmly.
"Sounds like the plan." Cobra agreed and once they had finished their drinks they split up to head out and get going on their tasks. Lucy blinked in amazement when she came out of the hotel about 20 minutes later to find Kaleb and Presca, who had gone to arrange transportation while Lucy checked in with Freed and set him on the research task as well.
The two men stood outside the hotel holding the reins of a couple of horses, beautiful horses, and they were horses too, not grass runners, goslers or anything else, elegant beautiful horses.
Presca held a slender bay and, not surprising, Kaleb held the reins to a big gray mare. Lucy smiled, walking up to the animal and running her hand over the silky smooth neck.
"Where's mine?" She asked arching a brow.
"Well, neither of us knew if you knew how to ride, so, I figured we would share." Kaleb told her and Lucy smiled "Good...I have no fucking idea how to ride one, I always wanted to but Father said it wasn't something I needed to know." Lucy admitted. She had always resented that, among other things, all of her little socialite friends had known how to ride, gotten lessons, their families kept a few horses and they had stables at the Konzern but no, her father had given her a disgusted look every time she had asked.
She liked horses, she liked the grass runners too. Kaleb slid his hands onto her hips, smiling down at her "I'll teach you myself when we get back to White sea, I have three Grass runners and Father keeps both runners and horses at the estate, if you want to learn to ride...you should, it's like nothing else." He told her, lifting her into the saddle then swinging up behind her and Lucy smiled, leaning into him, already loving this.
They walked the horses to the beach and kept slow until they got past where most of the tourists were then Presca surged past them, his bay churning up the sand and lashing its long black tail as it shot by them, the Energy mage blowing them a cheeky kiss.
"Hold onto her mane." Kaleb growled and Lucy grabbed a fistful of silky thick mane just as Kalebs heels closed on their mare and the big gray surged forward, galloping after Presca Lucys eyes flying wide and a delighted giggle leaving her. Kalebs arms were snug around her as the horses charged along the beach, the mare was bigger, had longer legs than Prescas lithe bay, but the little bay was fast, so they closed the distance but couldn't pass the grinning energy mage.
When they slowed back to a walk Lucy was all grins, smoothing her wind whipped hair and patting the snorting still somewhat dancing and ready for more mares sweaty neck.
"Ok...that was awesome…" Lucy said brightly and Presca laughed
"First gallop on a good horse is always a thrill, we did some tough negotiating to get these two. Once Kaleb teaches you to ride we should all do a trip out on the sea on grass runners, galloping a beach is amazing, galloping the grass sea? A whole next level of fun." He proclaimed.
"Our family owns some good ones, I have three at the stables in White Sea...one I think would be a good first Runner for you Sunrise." Kaleb said nuzzling into Lucys disheveled hair and kissing her neck sending a shiver through her.
"So you'd be game? I was going to ask Van, my cousin wants to go camping on one of the islands, Beztise will be coming within range soon of Pelerno and you know what that means." Presca grinned at him and Kaleb smiled, hugging Lucy into him.
"Ok, enlighten me you two." She prodded and smiled seeing Presca bring his bay closer to them, he was smiling more than she usually saw him doing, being on a horse suited the man.
"The roaming islands that float the Grass Sea follow a sort of circular tide caused by the plant life that actually moves, certain varieties of the plants that make up the surface of the Sea prefer colder weather so, the plants sort of...migrate, those that prefer cooler temperatures and those that prefer warmer seek those things so the sea is ever moving, the islands rest on top of the woven plant surface so they get pulled along for the ride. Beztise is a market island with the only distillery on the sea, the people who live on it are the ones who make Boscan Spiced golden rum, specifically, Bezra Gold. when the island comes near Pelerno the city hosts the Wine and Spirits festival and this year, that will be happening at New Years with all the New Years festivities." Presca told her brightly.
Lucy sucked in a breath at the mention of Berza Gold, that liquor cost 850K jewel per bottle. It was one of her fathers favorites, some places would take that in trade for just about anything, in Dawn City you could buy a nice house in exchange for a bottle of it.
"New Years is bigger than Christmas here in Bosco, it means more to us all, the beginning of a new year, rebirth, renewal, a celebration of life and love." Kaleb said, lips by her ear.
Lucy smiled, leaning into him more. Emzadi and Xally had already filled her and Cana in on Boscan New Years. The family would be celebrating in the Baths at the Guild branch in Pelerno since they would all already be in town for Christmas.
Nobody but the mages working on rebuilding the baths had seen how the renovations and restoration was going, not even Kaleb, trusting his people to make them even better than they had been before they would be open again to Guild and guild member family for the first time on New Years eve. So it was where Kaleb was expected to be.
Arman had already declared he was taking over the large guest quarters in the Guildmasters home on top of the branch and had even arranged for Mr. Elan and his wife to take over the mansions kitchen and prepare a New Years feast for the family, in addition to getting to enjoy the festivities themselves within the Guild.
Getting to enjoy New Years within the Guild was a huge thing Lucy had discovered, invitations were usually coveted but this year, unless a relative or spouse, only Guild Members would be permitted on the Guild Grounds, and Freed and Romino had already been working with Vander, Presca and a team of mages Freed had selected to update and improve the ward and protection network the Guild already had.
Kaleb had been working at it as well at White Seas headquarters, expanding the guild management system network so now the system could push through the walls of every room, every part of the massive Guild facilities, through the ground and rock itself creating protection fields, alarm systems, enabling a variety of mages he had selected to run the new system to see through it and channel their magic through it so they could catch someone trying to sneak onto the grounds anywhere. It wasn't done yet, Kaleb still had a good bit of work to do with it, but if it was successful at headquarters, he planned to implement it into every Guild Branch.
So Lucy had already been shopping for New Years gifts, since it was part of the custom of Bosco to give the people you loved a gift that would bring them happiness in the New Year.
"It's usually happy gifts honestly, something fun, even if you know the person would never use it, if it makes them laugh, smile...even cringe when they open it? You're good." Emzadi had told her. For bold things, Lucy had learned Emzadi and Vander were the finest shopping companions, and going out with both of them together? Well, she had to toughen up on her tolerance for embarrassing situations if she did that because the two siblings fed off each other and as bold and unreserved as Vander was, Emzadi was his female match, bring Bickslow in and sweet Gods, it was lucky the Citadel didn't send knights to intervene.
Xally had become Lucys closest friend next to Cana though, the sweet natured water mage had a heart of gold and a wicked side that was set nicely at about the same level as Lucys. If she wanted a calm day of girl fun, Xally was who she sought out, she could relax in Xallys company, certain that even if a sexy man walked up and propositioned her, Xally wouldn't rush off to someplace private to indulge, of course...now that Emzadi was mated, that little bit of her usual behavior would be gone. Lucy knew Gajeel, he wouldn't share his gorgeous blonde mate with anyone.
She stilled a little, her hand sliding back to touch Kalebs thigh where it pressed up against hers in the saddle. She didn't share either, no...Kaleb was hers, she'd prayed her whole life for the kind of love she had found with him. Their relationship was so strong, so fulfilling to her, she was happier than she had ever been, felt strong and beautiful and certain with Kaleb, looked to the future with immense hope now, worries about where she would end up, being alone, being forgotten, not being good enough...all of that was in her past and she knew it was because of Kaleb, her new team and White Sea.
She had grown in Fairy Tail, discovered who she wanted to be, built foundations for herself she could grow from, but ultimately, when it came to really soaring into who she wanted to be, her "friends" in Fairy Tail had failed her, abandoned her when she had needed them most. She forgave them that, well...all but Natsu, she doubted she would ever forgive him for the level of abandonment he had put her through, but she had learned what real friends did when you fell, they held on to you, were there supporting you, day by day, week by week, not resenting the time you needed to get back to where you could pick yourself up.
Kaleb had been that for her, the rock she clung to, and he still was and damn it...she was NOT going to let some psychotic bitch mess with what she had waited and fought so long for. She did not share, no woman could touch him….the thought that some woman had been between his legs, had pressed a kiss that high up on the inside of the thigh she was now touching...it made Lucys blood boil. She had been there too, on the same bed while some woman had….touched him...Gods only knew how much they had too, what they had done, Loke said he'd laid on his back for a good hour before he had rolled over onto his belly and then she had snuggled up to him and ended up laying on top of him.
Since then she'd pretty much used him as a body pillow, even asleep making sure she was holding on to what she cared most about. She'd also informed her spirits that she expected them to wake her if they sensed anyone coming near her and Kaleb while they slept. She was thinking of training herself to keep the hounds out at night, they could watch over she and Kaleb while they slept until this threat was dealt with.
She was almost certain it was Angel, the promise Sorrano had made to her, the way she had said she wanted her to suffer, she couldn't imagine who else it could be. Sting and Rogue had long since collected Yukino and returned to Fiore and Lucy knew Yukino had felt horrible about her involvement in all of that.
She had a family to protect damn it. Zen, Cris, Bickslow, Farron, Vander Xally and Emzadi were...her family now. White Sea was her guild. Arman, such a steady strong example of what she wanted to become too, someone anyone could turn to and rely on...Arman loved his family and was so proud of them all.
Arman was, he was immensely proud of his son Zen too, that he had survived, endured, was still a good man with a great heart and all the drive and determination of any of their family, all undiminished by a lifetime of slavery, they were all amazed by Zens resilience, but to Zen, he had done nothing in his life worth being proud of, he had killed hundreds of people who didn't want to die, had been a tool for men who deserved nothing from anyone, to Zen, he had a lot to make up for, to atone for,and he mourned his inability to get right into that as soon as his chains had come off.
Zen didn't accept it wasn't his fault, he didn't accept that his need to adjust, his need for an education was a valid thing he had to give time to, to him it was weakness, and nobody, not Arman, not his brothers, not Lucy, nobody, could convince him otherwise. It was the way that family was, a strong need to improve, to help, to be there for people no matter what, Zen had it even though he hadn't grown up in it. Lucy saw it, thanks to her own version of the magic her mate wielded so well, she knew the emotions at play, knew the biggest most powerful and frequent things Zen thought about.
She was adjusting to that, Kalebs magic within her, the power boost she had gotten from mating with him had even Loke reeling a little, they would still sometimes, upon her first draw of Kalebs power during a fight, get a little power drunk when Kaleb opened up and Lucy started freely drawing from him. That and the ability to perceive what others were thinking, feeling, if the thoughts and feelings were powerful, she picked them up now and was learning how to give "feedback" Kaleb called it, where she would push her natural tendency to soothe, to comfort toward people hurting or upset.
Kaleb strongly encouraged her in that too. "Your heart is...immense Lucy, your capacity to comfort, to soothe, it's on the level that Cristoff has and that's not a small thing, in his case he uses his aura and magic to help that way, you, you've taken mindbending and it's become something….unique in you, something special to you that only you could do. Your desire to help when people are hurting...its exceptional, amazing, it's the light you shine so brightly, and the magic has adapted to that greatness in you, so we need to work toward you pushing the comfort, your concern, soothing, back along the line you receive from people. I've never managed to read and perceive emotion like you do, I've got a more analytical mind, that you can master this...I don't doubt it, and you'll make it your own, we'll make sure of that." He'd told her.
So she was working on that, and felt Zens pain, his confusion, how much he was struggling with everything. He didn't deserve all he was dealing with. She got almost nothing from Shimako, she liked the woman, she sincerely did, and she'd seen Shimako watch Zen, seen her with Zen,it was clear the woman had feelings for the Archangel mage, that she wanted him, wanted more with him, there was always this yearning in her eyes, this sad longing now, and Lucy wanted to help, but had no idea how. She knew Shimako was part of the conflict Zen was dealing with, a chunk of his confusion belonged to the silver haired beauty but Shimako was around so little, could apparently only visit Bosco for a painfully brief amount of time and that added to Zens pain, as if the man needed more.
Since he'd returned she'd felt tidal waves of it, pain, confusion, a struggle over whatever he and Xiao or Shimako had talked about happening inside the man and he wouldn't go into details about it, said he had a lot of thinking to do and left it at that.
Kaleb had been firmly against her pushing him too, she knew her mate caught a lot more details than she did, heard the thoughts better than she did since her perceptions were tangled with the emotions she was receiving, and she'd learned while her mate would tell her almost everything, didn't hide things she should know from her, when it came to the private thoughts of others, Kaleb honored privacy and would not share things like that with her unless they involved her somehow.
"Your desire to help feeds a natural drive to meddle my love, and while I think your desire to help is admirable and never want you to feel you shouldn't, I won't help you meddle in anything that I feel doesn't involve you. I love you, I love how you are, but Zen has to handle this, there are things he has to sort out for himself, choices nobody can help him with that he has to make." Kaleb had told her and Lucy had sighed, tried intermittently since to get her stubborn mate to give in and let her meddle, but Kaleb just smiled that knowing indulgent smile of his at her and changed the subject now.
Sitting now in front of him, snug against his body, the rocking motion of the horse walked making their bodies move so nicely against each other was both soothing and arousing at the same time, she could just turn around, wrap her legs around his hips and let the horses movement do all the work….
Damn it...I was trying very hard not to think about that… Kalebs voice in her head growled at her and she grinned feeling him against the top of her tailbone, the subtle shift that told her her little imaginings were triggering him just as much as her in spite of his determined focus on the job at hand. He was hers...she adored him, he'd become her world, the thought of someone trying to get between them...trying to touch him...take him from her...it made her furious and at the same time, made every bit of contact with him that much more necessary.
"We will have to go riding alone some time when we aren't on a job...a Grassrunners movement...mmmm, perfect for what you have in mind…" Kaleb whispered in her ear and Lucy sighed, smiling again and wriggling a bit, just enough he growled and nipped her neck.
"Stop it, wicked woman, or I'll make us late by turning you around and doing just what you have in mind right in front of Presca." He warned and she knew he meant it, and blushed, the idea of Presca being right beside them as Kaleb turned her around and started fucking her on the back of a horse….Gods...as thrilling at it was embarrassing to imagine.
"There...I feel it…" Presca announced and all play, all distraction was immediately shoved aside by both of the mages on the gray mare.
Kaleb reached out, chiding himself for getting so distracted by his mates wicked ideas. He felt it too, magic pressure and he frowned.
"It's not defensive…" He said and when he felt Lucy attempt what he was doing he bolstered her, sliding his own magic alongside hers so hers could focus and ride his right into what he had found. She gasped at the sensation and the way she suddenly felt the field, felt how Kaleb formed his own magic, creating his own version of the pressure field.
"It's a detection spell...detecting intrusion, but not meant to ward off or attack...and...its old...Kaleb...this is a really really old spell…" Presca said pulling the Bay up and dismounting. The tied their horses to a large tree just up from the beachline and continued on foot right up to the edge of the field.
Presca could feel the whole of the spell and it covered a large area, no wonder the construction teams couldn't move around out here, this had to cover a good square mile and it's edges, what held it in place, the signature was...old...had an age to it that made it clear it was being driven by an object not a living thing.
"We have to get to the center, whatever is maintaining this will be there." Kaleb said firmly.
"Should we call in the others?" Presca asked, ever the one to go with the cautious approach.
"Do you sense life, living magic signatures?" Kaleb asked and Presca narrowed his eyes, sifting through what all he was feeling he nodded.
"I do, but they're dormant, two signatures that have magic though they are not participating in the maintenance of this field nor does prodding it send anything to them." He replied and Kaleb pushed into his head making the man suck in a breath, following how Presca was filtering and following his lead to the two signatures where kaleb left him at the surface and delved into the two living things. Dormant was the right word...they were dormant, no thoughts moving, and he felt no thinking things anywhere within the field.
"You're right, I say we investigate, we're here, I have a good beat on how to open a hole in the field for us to pass through safely, it's about ten feet thick, once through it I can let it close behind us and link to it so it lets us know if anyone else shows up, let whoever designed this, help us figure it all out safely." Kaleb said.
Presca nodded, pulling out his com and dialing Vander.
"Yo, desperately in need of our indispensable expertise yet?" Vander replied and Presca rolled his eyes.
"Letting you know we're at the field, leaving our horses outside since they won't want to get near it, Kalebs confident he can open it and get us inside, it's device driven not living magic so we're going inside the field to see what we can learn and I wasn't sure our coms would be able to get a signal out or in so letting you know we're heading in, two life signatures inside the field, both dormant not linked to it, so I guess if you don't hear back…" He shrugged and Vander chuckled.
"I'll know you fucked up choosing to go in there. Ok, we'll give you two hours, if I don't hear from you in two hours, I'm coming out there with the others." Vander replied.
"The field is ten feet thick Van, covers a square mile, if you come out here, be aware, you pop out inside the field you're gonna have a bad day." Kaleb said.
"Link me big bro, it shouldn't block your telepathy, I've walked through all sorts of shit and not had that falter." Vander returned and Kaleb smiled.
"Already done, I have Cris, Cobra and Cana too. Talk to you soon." Kaleb returned and dropped Lucys hand, opening both his hands and Lucy watched a magic circle form in the brilliant silvery white that was Kalebs magic.
As his magic built she grit her teeth and her ears popped under the pressure, Kalebs magic...when the Wizard Saint brought it strongly, never failed to impress her.
He formed two circles, one on the outside one inside and Lucy watched in wonder as they moved toward each other, passed through each other and then hovered, creating a neat tunnel through the field and doing so without disrupting it.
"Move, I can't keep this stable for long." Kaleb prompted, and they hurried through the tunnel in through the field.
Once past the second magic circle they all three stopped.
From outside the land looked untouched, normal, with overgrown grass here and there, scattered trees, nothing significant, but, once they were inside, the 20 some foot high rock that held open a cave that dipped down underground came into view.
"Ok, add illusion to that fields list of duties." Kaleb said quietly. They headed straight for the mouth of the cave, it was strange, no birds, nothing, even the sound of the waves on the nearby beach was muffled inside the field.
"Master Kaleb, I'd prefer to take the lead." Presca said quietly and Kaleb nodded, biting back a sigh. His guild valued their leader, and it wasn't unusual at all anymore for members to take steps to assure he was safe, shielded, without being asked. In all honesty, he was by a good margin the strongest mage in White Sea and he worked hard to remain that way, on missions with his team he had to remind his team members from time to time to stop treating him like their Guildmaster and remember he was part of the team, not some treasured object to be protected at all costs.
Still his attire, the jewelry, everything was about his guild, the people and their pride in being a part of White Sea. Lucy told him often that he was the strength of his guilds spirit, when he was strong and looked the part of the impressive guildmaster, his mages felt safe, proud, happy to be where they were. It was all things his predecessor had said a lot too, and Grenlow being a somewhat course looking burly man, had looked almost comical at times in the white leather and jewelry his guild wanted him in.
Right now though, Kaleb was in dark jeans and a black button down with a black vest over it, all mageweave laced for some protection while working, his own magic was capable of shredding the clothes off of him, so he had to wear the special weaves Elluris specialized in crafting for the magical community.
The moved silent, limiting their conversation to the mental link when they had a comment to make, following the mildly steep descent of the narrowed passage into the dark of the earth, Presca using a hovering glowing light ball to guide their way.
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Hestor stirred a little, he had gone weeks with almost no sleep, the pressure of the Keys coupled with guilt, pain, worry, anxiety over everything and just pure black raw depression had tormented him around the clock and allowed him little rest unless he passed out from exhaustion.
He'd slept though, and woke warm to the soft scent of cinnamon, his fingers curled and felt silk and he opened his eyes in surprise, suddenly realizing he had arms around him, his eyes locking with eyes the color of a summer sky and he froze, fear,guilt, all of it rushing in under the gaze of the man who had suffered so much for him.
"Good morning...how do you feel?" He managed, grateful he was laying down, grateful Farron hadn't just shoved him away and from the bed the moment he woke.
"I can think a little better...still hazy, and I have trouble remembering things. How long did Sydelle have me?" Farron asked quietly.
Hestor pressed his lips together "Four...weeks." he said, fighting to keep his gaze up, reasoning Farron deserved his full attention, to look him in the eye and tear him to pieces and he'd take every bit, had promised himself out loud with Kek-T shaking her head at him, he would not run from whatever wrath he faced from Farron.
Farron sighed "And you had me for, two...two I think before the Joyans took me right?"
Hestor swallowed hard on a lump in his throat "Yes."
"I saw your cousin Tenshi...and a woman with white hair, she brought him, she hates Lucy, wants her to suffer, would kill Kaleb but Sydelle wants him." Farron said and Hestor stared at him, metally noting that he had to talk to Kaleb and soon. He'd been avoiding it, letting Zen handle the Pradesh family, telling himself he would face it all when he had Farron and his cousins back safe. But direct threats he had to pass along, he knew Sorrano had no love for Lucy, she'd said so, but if she was making deals with Sydelle and talking about her hatred of Lucy to the High Warqueen...that needed to be passed along.
"I'll make sure Kaleb knows." Hestors said but Farron shook his head, blue eyes backlighting just a bit and he smiled faintly
"No need, talking to him right now…" he groaned laying back "and to my Father who I will just...not let you see for a bit until he settles.." He chuckled without much humor shifting and Hestor moved from him a bit, suddenly cold when those arms left him so Farron could stretch.
"I won't avoid anyone, what I did was...unforgivable, reprehensible...I know it, and I deserve whatever anger they have, I have a lot to make up for." Hestor said in a voice far more steady than he was.
"You did what you did because your keys were unbalanced, you lost control Hestor, it wasn't your fault and all of us know that. It could happen to any Celestial Summoner, we know that, and really...it's a testament to your strength that you're laying here sane and I'm not a permanent fixture in Joyas breeding stock." Farron said plainly.
Hestor stared at him and Farron laughed a little bitterly.
"My own fault, I brought on every minute of what I went through. You've never led me on, not once, I know you've got a "One" Hestor my mother was a Celestial mage. I grew up on stories about Dad being her "One" and how much that meant, how precious it was. I even KNOW that Kaleb was that for you, he's who you wanted, it's why I fought with him so many times, why we argued so much the last couple of years...he was waiting for you to say something but then he'd get distracted, work, the guild, some random lover here or there and then he fell in love with Lucy and…" He looked at Hestor, pain in his eyes "I knew, knew you'd suffer, knew and wanted to help so damn bad I threw myself in and forced myself into your suffering...probably made it fucking worse…" he sighed laying back again.
Hestor frowned, shaking his head after a few moments "NO, no! Good Gods are all of you...just….dense? These intellectual morons when it comes to this sort of thing? I have an EXCUSE! I'm half Stellan so naturally emotionally constipated and a Celestial Summoner so….there's that, and...I'm...ME, but you, you're a damned Ambassador! You read people! You're educated, have a degree…" he swatted at Farron then, unable to stop himself he was so frustrated and Farron blinked scooting out of range and sitting up.
Hestor pushed his hands into his hair trying to sort out his thoughts and Farron sighed
"I'm sorry Hestor...I know better than many you can't force someone to love you...how long has Kurino chased after me? I know...KNOW better, I just, thought maybe if someone was there for you, you could get through it, keep it together." Farron said and Hestor stared at him, tears in his eyes.
Farron took that, and what his magic "heard" the chaotic music in the man sitting on the bed staring at him and he once again just couldn't...grasp where he stood.
"I'm the one who is SORRY, I'm the one who hurt you, used you, driven by keys or not I was the one who did those terrible things. I...tied you up, I used your body, I let others use your body, I sold you for help getting a key Farron, to terrible women that I hate...and I love you, I wanted Kaleb yes, he was there, right there in front of me and for years I said nothing, snarky comments, innuendoes...but really said...nothing. I slept with you, I used you as a crutch while I chased Kaleb...and you told me how you felt...and I used that too." He said quietly.
Farron reached out, a thumb wiping a tear away "I still love you...every bit as much right now as I have for years." he admitted. Hestor sobbed, broke down completely, lunging across the bed into Farrons arms and the blonde let out a startled sound, both of them falling right off the bed in a tangle of blankets but both men just wept, Hestor because he realized what he'd feared he'd lost was still there, and Farron because the man he loved, loved him back and finally knew it, the Hell he'd lived in for more than a month, and the lesser hell he'd dealt with for years leading up to now...worth it as far as he was concerned. He had forgiven Hestor everything even as it was happening and now just held the man and cried with him because they were both too emotionally wrecked to do anything else.
