Chapter 9: the war of X792
It's been one and a half years since I first met him. It happened during the war with Alvarez in X792. How strange it got that the war which was meant only for Fairy Tail actually ended up into a war between countries. Of course, there were only wizards fighting from our kingdom's side, but everyone in Fiore were touched too. Most of the people didn't even get what happened when the whole place changed its shape and everything was mixed up completely. It was Irene's power doing and I got to find this out only after my family and me got back home after everything. But I still remember that surprise in everyone.
Since the war was planed to happen in Magnolia, everyone were evacuated from the city and my parents and I went to Crocus and stayed at my sister's place. When the enchant was cast, we ended up on a top of a mountain separated from everyone from the city. I still remember perfectly how much fear I felt when everything around me turned red for a minute or two. I don't even know, 'cause it seemed it took forever.
We all left the house and tried to process what happened. We quickly noticed we weren't in the city anymore, but still tried to find out where we were. It was really dark outside though and I didn't see the cliff from which I fell. My older sister yelled for me seeing me falling, but all I could do was scream until I ended up falling on someone.
That person. The first thing I saw after the fall. I must have hurt him accidentally, but for a second I couldn't move. I was surprised someone caught me. And it feels I was staring at his dark eyes for longer than I should have.
"S-sorry," I whispered eventually and got off him. He seemed as surprised as me.
"Is this the moon itself which just fell on me?" he asked gazing at me.
"Huh?" I blinked of confusion. "Are you alright?" at first I thought I hit his head really hard.
"Of course. I don't have any memory of the goddesses fall on me though," he said correcting his hat on his head. He had a long, straight blond, hair, he was tall and wore a red mask with golden corners. His whole outfit was mostly made of red fabric and he looked like after a masquerade. But those deep dark eyes... Those eyes was everything.
I felt a blush brightening my face from the unexpected compliment. But wasn't about to fall for this. It wasn't a time to flirt hell knows where we were and he seemed to not worry about it. How lame men can be?
"Is that a flirt?" I asked and rose an eyebrow acting like I didn't get any effect. Well, it wasn't the reason of my blush anyway. Besides, it quickly faded.
"Just saying the facts. You fell from the sky right on me and your beauty can only be compared to goddess," he smiled a little.
That moment I realized I was wearing a white light dress I was sleeping with. I didn't even have any underwear. I hugged myself trying to hide my figure. That was embarrassing. And I actually was on him dressed like that. Did he notice that? I hoped not. This was the worst night ever.
"It's the middle of the night. And I'm not a goddess," I glared at him, but got as red as his costume. Though somehow he seemed familiar to me. Have I seen him before?
"It is. And you should be at home. Otherwise you might fall the middle of the battle," he said. "And I don't want to admit, but no matter how gorgeous you are, those people won't give you a mercy. It'd be heartbreaking to remember you got killed under my watch."
"A battle...?" I whispered. He knew what was going around didn't he? Ah, that's why he was this calm. "You're one of the solders, aren't you?"
It was a bit confusing. He looked rather like a clown than a solder. But what do I know about battles? Maybe he was a distraction.
"Something like that. Just lending a hand to some friends. But it's not safe here. You have to go home and not leave until everything is over," the blonde man said to me becoming serious.
I looked at the mountain I just fell from and sighed. It was going to be a bit hard to get back there.
"You're injured," he noticed catching my attention again. I looked at my arms. They were all filled with brushes and dirt. And the dress was dirty too. And legs seemed to be no better. I didn't even feel it.
"It's nothing. I'll just have to wash the dirt and put specific herbs on the wounds to avoid the infection. I'll heal in no time," I smiled a little trying to comfort him though I knew the healing process will take much longer.
The man nod not even arguing. "Alright then, if you're that sure about yourself. Go home now," he said and turned to leave before he turned to me again. "I shall find you when everything ends, Goddess of the Moon."
"Find?" I rose an eyebrow. "Better just forget," I looked at the ground. I already embarrassed myself enough. I wanted to forget it. "And I already told you I'm not a Goddess."
"No. I memorized you. It won't be easy to take you out of my head now," he smirked and stepped back closer to me and took a deep breath. "To me... All I can see is a Goddess with the beauty of heavens. Like the angels themselves created you and sent to this world in coincidence. Like you actually belong with them, but not here in the middle of the war," he talked not breaking the eye contact he made. Those words came out of his mouth so naturally right into my soul. His voice... It was so soft and warm... Though that flirt was making me sick.
But then we heard voices behind the bushes. The man turned that way and I hid behind the tree. That was enough embarrassing that one person saw me like that. One flirtatious clown who was a bit out of his mind. How unlucky can I be?
"Rufus? What are you doing here?" someone else talked, now clearly.
"Was looking for others. My memory tells me we all were separated by a really powerful and unique magic," the man who talked to me answered.
"Yeah. Seems like it," the other man was quiet for a moment. "Are you alone? I thought I heard you talking to someone."
"Just the Moon," the blond answered. Did he really call me like that again? Ugh... I really hoped I won't see that guy again. Ever.
The other guy obviously didn't get that his friend was actually talking to another person. So it might was handy in my case, huh? Both of them left none of them saying a word or caring I was there too.
But I kept pressing myself to that tree. Now I finally was sure who I actually met. I happened to see him during the Grand Magic Games he was used to participate every year except the last one. He was from Sabertooth top five. Rufus Lore, The Troubadour who sings to the Red Moon. I rolled my eyes. Is this really why he called me like that?
And that was just the beginning of everything. As he promised, he did find me and didn't let me go. He managed to trap me under all those charms of his. And I don't know how, but I really fell for him. But at that time, I hadn't realized how much I'll love him and how much he'll hurt me.
The next time I happened to meet Rufus was in Magnolia two weeks latter. I was working as a mail deliver for more than a year by then. I was still a teen and probably shouldn't have worked, but with that knowledge I was also learning more about my family business. And therefore getting used to my destiny. For who I was meant to be.
So there I was walking around with the mail to deliver when I saw a group of Sabertooth walking my way. In front of everyone was the master who was smiling brightly and talking to others who seemed also quite happy. They were heading to Fairy Tail. No doubt about it, but I didn't mean to see Rufus with them. I remember when our eyes met again. Both of us stopped though his friends didn't seem to pay attention. They just walked where they had and both me and Rufus were still looking at each other. I couldn't believe I'd meet him so soon, but maybe it was fate which brought him to Magnolia at the perfect time.
He smiled. "I remember saying I'll find you. But it seems you found me instead," he said.
"You wish. I wasn't looking for you. I told you to forget me," I said and turned to leave, but he caught my hand.
"But I said I memorized you. That means you won't get away," he said and pressed his lips to my knuckles of the hand he held. His fingers were so warm comparing to mine. And so soft like a real aristocrats. That touch let me get into his head. I wasn't good with mind-reading at that time yet, but the touch helped me to go through it. He had a really strong mind which was hard to read even with a physical contact, but I was able to see that he wasn't going to let me go. I don't know how, but I really impressed him. "I was looking for you all this time," he added a small smile playing on his face. Yeah, he was happy he achieved his goal.
"Am I in trouble?" I asked still not knowing what he wanted from me.
"I think I'm in trouble here," he answered.
"Are you trying to flirt again?" I rose an eyebrow. I've never heard that kind of flirting before. What kind of man he was?
"Will you help me with my troubles?" he asked still playing that silly game. It didn't fit him.
"Depends," I decided to play along. I wondered where it'll lead.
"Go out with me," he asked straight forward. My jaw dropped not knowing what to say. I didn't expect that coming.
But I soon got myself together and took a deep breath. "I'm working," I said and left.
"You know I'll find you, Goddess of the Moon," he said with a smirk to my back and I couldn't handle but smile. That was the silliest nickname I've heard and maybe not as bad as when he called me at first.
And after work when I got back home I found a huge bunch of bright red roses already put in vase. My parents weren't at home at that time, but I was sure it had to be one of them putting the flowers in the vase. And I didn't need much effort to understand who addressed them. I found a little card inside of them and it made me feel even more confident of who addressed it.
I found you, was written with a beautiful writing. I bit my lip. He really did and I didn't know what I had to do with that. I had no idea what was going to happen when he actually found out where I lived.
So it wasn't surprising he got to my house in the middle of the night. I woke up hearing something scratching into my window. I sleepily looked through it and when I saw who it was quickly opened my window and whispered-yelled.
"What do you think you're doing!?" I asked.
"Go down. I'm taking you out," Rufus said getting back to his usual pose.
"Are you kidding?! It's a middle of the night! And how did you even find where I live?"
"I simply asked one of the citizens who is their current mail deliver and they answered that Lettercards hired their very own daughter," Rufus answered like it wasn't a big deal. "It wasn't hard to find where you live afterwards."
"So you know who I am?" I asked my eyes wide.
"I still have no memory of your first name, but it's clear you're a Lettercard," he said. "Do you know who I am then?"
"If you know I'm a Lsttercard then what the heck you're doing here? Don't you know my family's policy, Rufus-sama?" I said his name as clear as I could.
"Why do you think I came during the night then? I don't care you're not an actual wizard and I don't care what your family policy is. I can't get you out of my head. You stuck into my memories like glued."
"You're insane, did anyone told you that?" I asked. He was a bit of annoying, but at the same time making me feel confused and intrigued. He was strange, but different and taking attention to himself pretty easily.
"No, but you make me feel like I'm really getting out of my mind," he said and rose his hands. "Now jump."
I shook my head. "Go home, Rufus-sama," I glared at him.
"No. I'm not going to let the moon hide in her house. It belongs in the sky with the stars," he said.
"Quit that moon thing. It's creepy," I said.
"Then how should I call you?" he asked.
"My name is Neda. Neda Lettercard, but Lettercard-sama to you," I said with a glare. People like him shouldn't call me by my first name and especially give nicknames. It doesn't matter I was living not in a mansion and had a work which could be done by another employee of my family. I was taught to look at someone like him from above, to treat them like a trash though I wasn't like that. Yes, I was already sick of be called by my last name especially with that sama in the end. Yes, I hated only to think I was an aristocrat, not a normal civilian, but he had to know he had to back off.
"Neda you say," he put his finger to his head he seemed like he didn't care what else I said. "Memorized. Now, Neda-sama, will you please explain how you managed to steal the moon from the sky tonight?" he asked. Yeah, he didn't bother to keep formalities I asked him to, but still stuck with sama showing the respect even if he didn't call me by the last name. And I actually liked the sound of it. Just... Without sama my name would sound better.
I looked through the window at the sky and rolled my eyes. "It's cloudy, you silly."
"Really? Will you clear the sky then?" he asked.
"You know I'm not a wizard," I glared at him again.
"Go down. Be my Moon then, Neda-sama," he asked.
"You really aren't going to give up, are you?" I asked.
"Nope. I'll stay here the whole night if I have to. But it'd be nicer if you just come and join me," he said with a smirk.
"Alright then," I said. "Good night," I closed the window and went back to sleep. I already lost a lot of my sleep and I had no idea how tired I was going to be the other day. After ten minutes or so he started throwing little rocks at my window again, but I tried my best to ignore it.
He was a real idiot to actually think I'd fall for whatever he said. He was flirtatious and poetic and I wasn't friendly with poetry. I never fully understood it and that was a clear brainwash. Does women fall for such things?
And the way he said my name... It made me hate my aristocratic blood even more.
I'll be honest with you, if anyone is reading AN at all, when I first came up with idea of this story, Rufus was supposed to be Neda's rival but then I thought he'd rather fall for her and fight for her love, so this is how I ended up with this idea. I hope you agree with me here.
And if anyone's interested, there's a song which made my heart melt while writing this and the next chapter. if anyone understand Russian language, you'll understand why, but i still recommend to listen Artik & Asti - nedelimy while reading this and next chapters. But if you have no clue, this is a love song. A happy one. To be honest, Russians has plenty of love songs each deeper and more beautiful than the last one, so please, don't mind me when I recommend more.
Also, I hope to get a review or a sign I have more readers than I have follows or favorites ;)