Didn't I say Chapter 10 was the one of last week? And what about this week?
Here you go, a juicy Chapter 11 for you :3
Do you know what is going to happen in Chapter 12? Of course you can guess it, lovelies!
Now, let's go back to Era...
In the morning, Era, Rune Knights quarters...
"Over there, Miss... The office of Captain Lahar is the second door to the right, Miss..."
"Thank you!" Mirajane smiled sweetly to the clerk that accompanied her inside the Rune Knights building.
Oh my... Mirajane Strauss... What a woman... "Anytime, Miss!" by the time Gilmore had bowed until his head was almost touching the floor, Mirajane was already knocking at Lahar's door.
What a woman, indeed... Gilmore said to himself, launching one last glance in the direction of the white-haired mage, before going reluctantly back to his place at the front desk.
Mirajane took a deep breath. The glass of wine she had drunk earlier that morning was making her feel very relaxed, which was the best possible disposition for what had to do that morning. I really needed something to loose me.
A voice barked 'Who's there?' from the inside, and she simply opened the door and entered the room. I definitively needed something to relax me...
From behind his desk, among papers and folder neatly ordered in piles of different heights, Lahar spectacles glinted in the dim light of the morning. "Uh? Who gave you permission to come here?"
He was signing some documents, and the point of the quill in his was black with ink. A black drop threatened to fall onto the paper in front of him, and the Captain hastened to set the quill aside.
Mirajane advanced a few steps in the office and bowed slightly "Good morning Captain!" she said, without losing her cheerful smile. She looked at the room around her. They were surrounded by shelves full of dossiers and documents, and a small library. A little chest of drawer was placed behind Lahar's desk, but apart from that, it was just a simple, functional, medium-sized office. eyes scanned quickly the room. It was a medium-sized office, quite functional with his shelfs full of dossiers and documents, and a small library, on one of the walls. The other walls, save for the windows, were empty. Saved for a little chest of drawers che could spot behind Lahar desk, there was no other furniture in the room.
The furniture in the room made little difference for the demon, anyway. She was not there to admire the record. Locking Lahar into a one of the drawer was not in her plan. She had much more interactive ideas, in fact, and all these books might make my work very easy!
"Mh. Hello, miss Strauss." Lahar adjusted his spectacles on his nose. "What can I do for you?" he asked then, going back with his eyes on the paper in front of him, signing it quickly, and picking another one from one of the piles.
He could guess what Mirajane was in his office for. Trying to free that scum, isn't she?
But the Captain was not a man to be corrupted. Oh no, he was not like some of his colleagues, that became putty in front of sinuous curves.
For Lahar, having a job well done and respecting rules was more beautiful and satisfying than all the breasts of Earthland. Even if it was Mirajane Strauss you were talking of.
"So, I came here to talk to you about Cobra." started Mirajane, taking a seat. "Who you have taken here without any specific reason, if you allow me to say."
"Mh, mh..." Lahar looked briefly at Mirajane, then lowered his gaze again. "I am listening, go ahead."
While Mirajane explained him why she was there, he was barely listening to her. He didn't even look up at her, keeping his eyes on the document in front of him. This has to be sent in a couple of hours to the Foreign Affairs office... So we could get the answer by the end of the afternoon...
It was contrary to his habits to not listening to whomever came to his office, but having already discussed the matter with Redfox a couple of days ago, and before them, with Makarov, was more than sufficient to consider the subject close, in Lahar's opinion. he didn't need to have all the fairies passing by his office!
"And of course you know he has been absolutely irreproachable since he became part of our guild..." Mirajane knew perfectly that Lahar was not paying attention to her. The Captain had already decided he would not accept her request, and trying to move him was like talking to the wall.
However, I am going to give him one chance, thought Mirajane, One, and only one chance...
"... Master Makarov has informed me that no notice was given to him, and that the communication with your letter came a little bit all of a sudden..."
Lahar was studying how he could get rid of the Fairy as soon as possible. He had some work to do, meetings to attend, and he had no intention of spending his morning explaining Mirajane why he had acted so. Or, to better say, he could not tell her.
The Captain perfectly knew that what he was doing was barely legal, but it was Cobra they were talking about. Even if someone would be informed, no one could have say anything else but praise Lahar's zeal into following that very delicate case. Which meant that checking that Cobra had no mass murder plans was more than welcome. All that fuss for a few days in Era... Truth was that Lahar was planning to keep Cobra locked up in his old cell more than a few days - a month was his objective, more than one month was his dream - but this Makarov can't know, right?
The poison slayer could get into his head, but good luck breaking the runes he had put onto himself to save the most precious information he was holding. That was a standard procedure for the high rank officials of the Rune Knights, but in this particular case, it came at hand just perfectly.
"... no time to check whether this could be done..."
What was that woman saying? Lahar was ready to slam the bunch of paper he had to read for the morning on the desk and tell Mirajane that, no matter how much she loved the poison dragon slayer, those documents were not going to read by themselves.
"... If this was legal of not..."
"What?" Lahar snarled. "Do you think I am doing something illegal?" Damn, even the word was spiteful to him.
Mirajane jumped a little on her seat. "I was just..." "Insinuating that I, Captain of the Rune Knights, is doing something out of the law? I assume, miss Strauss, that you know who we are talking about." Lahar didn't let Mirajane any time to reply. He had no idea what the woman was exactly saying, but he had found the perfect opportunity to interrupt that flow of words and putting an end to that useless discussion. "One of the worst criminal Fiore has ever had! The others, the other four of the former Oracion Seis, part fo the same guild but much much less dangerous, if let alone, without their 'father'." spat the Captain.
"I..." "Trust me, this is not and excess of solicitude, and it is perfectly legal, whatever you and your dear guild Master think!"
For all the demons! thought Mirajane. This man is not quite right in his head.
"What you just say it is utterly serious, it's an insult to the whole corpse of the Rune Knights. There are fines for it, and prison sometimes, but I have bigger problems than you." hissed Lahar, standing up, and collecting the papers under his hands. "Now, I have a busy morning, so if you don't mind, I... I-glom-I..."
His words died in his throat. He thought that maybe the glass of his spectacles was not as clean as he thought. But that was impossible, he thought, with a shiver. And the Captain had a very good reason for suddenly trembling like a leaf, because, as he lifted his eyes to face his unwelcome guest, what he saw was not Mirajane more. Or, at least, it was not the same version of Mirajane he was seeing a second before.
Lahar opened his eyes wide open, and let out a strangled whine. It was pathetic, but the vision of the woman - no, demon - in front of him made his knees buckle in fear.
Mirajane pupils had slit into tiny dots, lost in the blue of her eyes, which were not gentle anymore, but vicious and threatening. A black crack cut through her cheek. Her body was now wrapped into a tight, red something that had nothing to do with the plain black dress she was wearing moments ago. And the smirk dancing on her lips, lecherous and wild, let a few pointed teeth glow in the light of the office.
Before Lahar could regain his composure, or even the slightest control on his breath, the smirk of the demon widened. "I am afraid I need you here with me, Captain." purred Mirajane, tapping the dest with her claws - Claws! thought Lahar, the hair on the back of his head standing up in fear .
"You see," chuckled the demon, "there are still a few question I really want you to answer me..."
"There are runes." Lahar shrieked. "You can't-" "Hurt you?"
Mirajane stood up from her seat. He body waved like the one of a snake, ready to snap the neck of the terrorised prey in front of it. "But I don't want to hurt you, Captain Lahar... I just want to have fun..."
At the same time, Magnolia, Fairy Tail infirmary...
"Are you worried?" asked Lucy smiling.
"A little bit..." Dalila shifted on her bed, trying to straight her back as much as possible. 'Worried' was an understatement.
Porlyusica had declared that Dalila was going quickly back into shape, and that she would have been ready to stand up in a couple of days. Maybe even tomorrow. In fact, Dalila had tried to get up and walk around the infirmary that very morning, but got tired after a few minutes. It was like all the muscles she had on her legs were gone, leaving jelly in their place.
"Believe it or not, our body is recovering fast." had said Porlyusica, as Dalila stumbled around the room, sustained by Lucy. "You will regain all your strength back in a week or two."
"There is not much to regain." giggled Dalila, moving small steps and careful not to trip on her feet. "I have never been very strong."
"You will be." Lucy reassured her. "I also was unable to do a push up when I first came here! Now I can do two in a row!" she stated proudly.
After Dalila had tried her legs, Lucy gave her the dress Levy had brought her that morning. "This is from Levy, she is a dear friend of mine!" she smiled. "Maybe this afternoon she can come to visit you, so you will meet another girl of the guild!"
"I would be glad to meet her! So I can thank her personally!" smiled Dalila. Finally, a dress of her size! It is really pretty... though, looking at the ribbon in front of her chest. Even if orange is not exactly my colour...Do my hair look good? she pulled back a strand of hair, and adjusted the braid Lucy had made a few minutes before.
"Don't you worry." giggled the Celestial mage. "You look just fine. Master is really kind, and he is happy to meet you!" "Thank you, Lucy. It's-" A knock at the door interrupted them.
From behind it, Dalila could hear muffled voices. Two voices, she thought. Wait, was Master with someone else? She straightening her back even more, a took a deep breath. Relax Dalila, she pulled out a smile, Master Makarov knows Mavis, sure he understands the situation... Just go and you will make a good impression, as always...
"Thank you, Lucy." "Good morning Master, how-oh, hello, Laxus!" Why is Laxus here? Hadn't Master said he was alone? Lucy looked carefully outside, worried that the rest of the Thunder Legion was behind their leader as always, but thankfully they were not there. I guess Bickslow has done enough for the moment...
Lucy stepped aside and let the two visitors in. Porlyusica, from her corner, rolled her eyes. She had expressively told Makarov to come in alone, but seemed like his grandson was as stubborn just as a dragon slayer can be.
In the moment Makarov entered the infirmary, his gaze fell immediately on the young woman that was laying on one of the beds. She looked warily at him, with big, shining eyes, nervously writhing her hands. But as soon as he noticed, she immediately stopped, and kept them still on the duvet. She really looks like a scared child. Poor thing... Makarov's eyes softened.
How many had he seen over the years, coming to Fairy Tail with the same, fearful eyes, alone and defenceless? Dalila was be twenty two - or one hundred twenty two - and he was not going to treat her differently. Age didn't matter much, when you hadn't a place to go, and a family to go back to. "Good morning, child." he said with a smile. "My name is Makarov Dreyar, and I am the Master of Fairy Tail."
"Good morning." Dalila cleared her throat, and bowed her head. "My name is Dalila von Altzner. Thank you for taking me to your guild and help me."
Makarov smile grew wider. "No worries, my dear. When Laxus and the others found you - oh well, sorry, I think I forgot to introduce you to my grandson, Laxus. He was among the ones that found you up in the Blue Mountains."
Dalila nodded, and smiled. Damn, it was going to be difficult to concentrate onto the small Master, for her attention was totally caught by the blonde, bulky man behind him. He was so tall his head was almost touching the ceiling. From that height, a pair of bronze, cold eyes was staring right back at her, studying her from the top of her head to her toes hidden by the bedsheet.
Lucy had told her he was one of the strongest mage in the guild - and maybe one of the strongest in Fiore - but she hadn't mentioned he was so... Unconsciously, Dalila backed a little.
"Laxus," was saying Master Makarov, totally unaware of the tension between the two slayers. "and his team, I think you met Bickslow yesterday... I would like to apologise, I have ordered them to stay behind, but sometimes these brats just can't listen to me..."
Dalila remembered on that moment that Laxus was a dragon slayer as well. Am I supposed to get that bulky, or... but then the image of Wendy, slender and thin just as her, and she breathed in relief. In front of Laxus, Dalila felt small and weak. She guessed pretty much everyone felt the same way around him. I am barely able to stand, let alone using magic...
And also, something was moving inside her, like her senses were on alert. Maybe it was the smell of dry air, like after an electrostatic blackout. Electricity was rare and not working very well in her times. Once she had been in a room with a broken lamp, and that was right the smell she was feeling up to her nose. She had to fight not to sneeze. It was not pleasant, but... Maybe it was also the strong smell fo whiskey and male perfume making it bearable? Or the one of old paper and wood that was coming from the small Master? Am I getting crazy or what?
"So," was saying Makarov, "How do you fell?"
Dalila shook her head and took a deep breath. Master had asked her a question. "I am... better, thank you." she answered slowly. "I was able to make a few steps this morning... with a little help."
"And for the rest, child." Makarov murmured. "How are you?"
Dalila lowered her head. That was right. No one had yet asked her about that. After that first night in the infirmary, she had not cried once. All her feeling have been locked up in some remote part of herself, and she had dropped the key. How do I feel? She had never been very good at expressing her feelings. She preferred actions, small talks, and gestures of affection. Oh, she reflected a lot upon herself and upon the worlds around her, and maybe she tended to overthink, sometimes, but...
"Confused..." she started, her voice a soft murmur. She glanced at Lucy, who gave her an encouraging smile, as if saying 'talk to Master. It's ok.'
"Confused," repeated Dalila, steading her voice. "and I have not really understood what happened to me. Magic..." she waved her hand in the air, "Lucy showed me something, but... But I don't even know how does it feel to have magic."
Makarov nodded. 'How does it feel to have magic?' The question run into his head, but he could not find an appropriate answer. He had always been a mage, after all. The difference between Dalila and the rest of the members of the guild, was that she had become a mage so late in her life. Magic - in the form of a dragon lacryma, nothing less - had been forced upon her. It had not been a choice, nor something natural.
But what Makarov was sure of, was that it was too soon for these questions.. "It is not a question you should ask yourself now, Dalila." he said with a serious expression. "YOu will find the answer when you will start learning magic. If you want to learn it, of course."
Laxus glanced down at his grandfather. What was Gramps saying? Why shouldn't the wind dragon slayer use her magic?
"You have a magic which is both rare and powerful in Fiore." continued Makarov. "But this doesn't mean you have to be a mage. It is your own choice to become one."
Lucy looked surprised at Master. Having magic, and not using it? ... Master is right. After all, Dalila has never been a mage, and magic was the reason why she lost all her family and friends. It might be that she doesn't want to be a mage at all! That was something none of them had thought. We all supposed she was going to be a mage, maybe not at Fairy Tail, but non of us had assumed that she might decide to not becoming one.
Dalila looked at Makarov. At first, her gaze had been polite, slightly studying, but now her eyes were expressing something more. Without any veil, any scheme, those bright silver pools lead Makarov to her very soul.
Master was a little surprised. Dalila's face and eyes, were showing her emotions crystal clear. It was like watching the bottom of a lake, as the light of the day suddenly hat lit the rocks and the fishes at its bottom. She had not fear to show her very soul to him, and the small Master understood immediately why Mavis had liked Dalila to the point to put the Fairy Tail guild mark on her tight. Her truthfulness, and sincerity. And determination and bravery, thought the small mage, seeing the sparks of fire blazing behind the quietness of her features.
Silence fell in the infirmary. It was Dalila's turn to talk. She grasped the bedsheets, and frowned slightly.
"I don't know." she finally said, "I am still... I don't even know what I can do, what this... dragon slayer magic can do." Damn, it was strange for her to pronounce the word 'magic'. "But..."
The small Master sat on a chair, waiting, patiently, for her to talk.
Dalila relaxed. Yes, she had the feeling Master was one you could talk to - she could smell it, but she pushed that weird sensation aside. Why on Earthland was now her nose being so perceptive? Ah yes, enhanced senses and all...
"I was a teacher. A music teacher." she started. She needed to tell him this. To help him understand her point of view, how did she feel. To make him able to help her see the bigger picture, even.
Makarov nodded. Wendy had told him that Dalila sung beautifully in fact.
"And I have always wanted to... help my pupils with music... Connect them with themselves, express their feelings, learn to love music..." Dalila munched her next words. "I guess this is where I was standing... Before this. The meaning of what I was doing... and how can I continue to do it now that I have magic... This dragon lacryma... or whatever... I think this is the most important point. The starting point, I would say."
Makarov nodded. "The starting point..." he mumbled.
Next to him, Laxus stood in silence. He had yet to speak, but he knew that it was better that Gramps did the talk for now. He had not expected Dalila's eyes to look like two large diamonds, with a light of their own. Or her smell coating the whole room, that was making him a feeling a little high, or tipsy.
But what Gramps said had startled him - and how Dalila responded to him, sounded so strange. It was like they were talking of normal thing, but implying a hidden meaning he could not grasp. Like they were using normal words, but with a different meaning, that only them could understood.
"You know what we do here at Fairy Tail?" was asking Makarov, looking up to him - Laxus nodded - and then to Lucy. "We help people, too. We use our magic, to solve people problems. Sure, it is our job, but the reason why magicians had gathered in guilds, is so that civilians might seek for our help, in case of need. For instance," Makarov pointed at Lucy. "Maybe Lucy had told you about the few missions she did with her team, right? Well, the very first one, was to get back home one of our members. And then, they freed an island from a spell."
Dalila remembered Lucy's tale of two days ago. Macao and Galuna Island, she recalled to herself.
"I guess the thing I want to say to you," Makarov smiled, "Is that you can continue to help people, this time using your magic as well. Nothing is against you going back teaching music - by the way, I knew you sing very well!" Dalila blushed slightly at the compliment. "However, since your magic is a strong one, you could make a difference."
'Make a difference'. Make a difference... Those words resonated into Dalila's mind. Her earth skipped a beat. 'Make the difference' was something she wanted to do. She felt something, deep inside her, burn and sing, a song of strength and hope, blowing into her ears and soul.
But on the other hand, how was she supposed to learn? Who was going to teach her magic? Wendy was too young, and Natsu hadn't exactly looked like the best teacher. Hell, I am a teacher!
Truth was, she had no idea where to turn. She was about to voice her doubts, when Makarov anticipated her. "Of course, in Fairy Tail there are many mages who would be glad to look after you, and help you learning magic!" the small mage beamed. "Granted, not everyone is a dragon slayer, but I guess you know there are five dragon slayers among us!"
Dalila nodded. A small, timid smile graced on her lips. "I..." she was not sure what to say. "I would be glad to learn."
Lucy felt her heart jump a little in her chest. Dalila had only asked her about dragon slayer magic, but she never expressed explicitly the will to learn magic herself. Yes! thought the Celestial mage, as Makarov was happily prospecting to the wind dragon slayer how she could learn. Sure she will learn! Master will find a way!
"Natsu, Wendy and Gajeel - whom you have yet to meet - were all raised by dragons." explained Makarov. Dalila nodded. She remembered that detail. "But, for instance, Laxus didn't - I taught him a little dragon slayer magic myself, learning from old books, you see. Isn't it Laxus?"
The dragon slayer in question looked down at the woman in the bed in front of him, and finally spoke. "Yeah Gramps. It was not easy, but..." his voice trailed away, as Dalila tilted his head, listen to him carefully.
Laxus felt all the attention of the wind dragon slayer upon himself, like she expected him to talk more. Laxus scratched the back of his head. "Right," he continued, "all the things about hearing, smelling, and instinct I made up my own...Books on spells do not really talk about that..." his voice subsided again. Damn, there was not much more he could say.
Dalila was not really paying much attention to what Laxus was saying - sure, he had answered properly and she had thanked him - but she just listened to the tone of his voice, its timber. Low, as she expected from such an ample chest, authoritative and a little brusque, but not unpleasant. Professional bias, I guess. She tried not to giggled. That would have been impolite.
Being her a singer, voices was something she was quite attentive at. Lucy had a high-pitched, cultured voice, of one who had been following elocutions lessons. The brazen and booming tones of Bickslow, instead, told her that he had not followed those lectures. Erza, rough but undeniably female, controlled voice, and Natsu sonorous, or Gray, toneless and maybe querulous? And all of then, extremely loud?
She recollected herself, going back to what Makarov was telling her. Which was quite important, since he was asking her if she wanted to stay at Fairy Hills, for the time being. "As soon as you settle down," was he saying, "Then you could find a place of your own, wherever it pleases you."
That was a generous offer. "Thank you, Master Makarov." Dalila bowed her head once more. "I have not much, at the moment, but-" "Do not worry about that!" cried the Master, lifting his hands in front of him. "We will give you all that you might need! Lucy will bring you to buy some clothes, and all that you might need!"
From her corner, Lucy nodded frantically. "Sure, Master!" she beamed at the wind dragon slayer. "As soon as you feel good enough, I will show you the city of Magnolia!"
"Perfect!" Makarov clapped his hands and smiled under his moustaches. "Then all is settled!"
"I think so!" Dalila big smiled faltered a little, seeing Makarov standing up from his chair and heading towards the door. Was the Master going to go now? No, she had still so many question to ask him!
"Master Makarov..." breathed Dalila.
Makarov turned and looked up at her. "Yes, my child?"
Dalila struggle a little with the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. "Why are you... Why are you helping me?" she managed to say.
"My child." the Master moved a few steps close to the bed were Dalila was lying, and his heart tightened in his chest, as he saw a small, silent tear rolling down to her cheek. "Fairy Tail always helps the one in need."
He patted one of the closed fist, a small, pale hand that was shaking onto the bedsheet. "Mavis has expressively asked me to give you all the possible help. But believe me, when I say I am doing this from the bottom of my heart. We all are."
Makarvo gestured around, embracing the infirmary, Porlyusica, Lucy and Laxus. "All of this is nothing, compared to what you lost, Dalila, And you lost it, because you were trying to help a friend. And this, we value the most."
Dalila nodded. It was pointless to stop her tears now. She was not even angry that she was crying. Makarov presence was too calming and familiar to make her fell guilty for her tears. "I... I do not regret, you know... They were like brothers to me..." she sobbed.
"I know. It is ok."
"Even if... Even if the price has been high to pay... They are safe..."
The thought that the most appropriate word would have probably been 'were' chocked her.
Makarov hand closed over hers. "Take your time, Dalila. There is plenty of time to discuss about dragon slayer magic, and all the rest. We are here, for you."
Dalila's face was hidden between strands of fair hair, but Lucy could hear her breath a small thanks. And, even if even her eyes were glistening with tears, she knew Dalila was smiling.
Laxus stood there, still and silent. He wanted to tell something to comfort Dalila, but he also knew there was very little he could say to calm her. Her grief was profound, and far from his experience. Sure, he was banned from Fairy Tail, and his dad almost killed him implanting a dragon lacryma inside his skull, but Dalila lost all that he had in the blink of an eye, and she was innocent. People got caught into such disasters every day, and she was not the only one who had been the only survivor of a whole town... Well, the point was, that she had been tear from her life and time, and then throw back in, with a lacryma in her body as an added bonus.
Laxus had not the authority of his grandfather, and, as it was, he felt like silence was the only possible, respectful attitude from him.
It was Porlyusica who broke the silence first. "Now, Makarov, my patience had had already a long morning. I want her to rest a little before lunch."
"Of course, Porlyusica." Makarov squeezed the hands of the wind dragon slayer one last time, before detaching himself form her. Dalila's tears had stopped, and she was not sobbing anymore. The look she gave Makarov held a determination the Master had hoped to see. "Thank you again, Master."
"There is nothing to thank me for." smiled Makarov. "But you have to promise me you will follow Porlyusica orders, or she will blame me for it!"
"I already do, Makarov!" hissed the healer, hands on her hips. "You haven't be able to keep those smelly humans back to the guild hall! Do you have any idea of how it was to see seven of them inside here!"
Lucy chuckled. "Do not sneer you!" Porlyusica barked. "You brought here lions, Celestial Spirits, and Wendy is more than welcome to come, but rest is rest and this one here," she said pointing at Dalila, who jumped on her sit, "Is not much better! Chatting around, laughing, and walking around!"
Lucy hid her mouth beneath her hand, as Porlyusica grunted something and glared at them. "Well, are you still here?"
"No, no, we are going, only-" "Do not test my patience, Makarov!"
Makarov took a step back. "We would never! Come on, you two!" he gestured to Laxus and Lucy. "Let's go! And you," he looked at Dalila. "For Mavis's sake, rest!" he chuckled.
"Seems like I have no choice!" giggled Dalila, ignoring Porlyusica narrowed eyes.
"Master!" whispered Lucy, after the three mages left the infirmary. "So? What do you think?"
Makarov chuckled. "What do I think? I think Dalila is much stronger than we believe, and much more determined than she thinks she is. That one child looks like she has hidden resources she has no idea she has. But this is for the best!" he stated, "For she will need much strength to adapt to this crazy world she has been thrown in!"
"So you like her, Gramps?" asked Laxus.
"Of course I like her, Laxus! Why shouldn't I?"
"Well, I like her, I mean, she looks like she might become a good mage." "I also think that, Master!" said Lucy, clapping her hands "Maybe I can ask Levy to come with me to meet Dalila in the afternoon? Levy lives at Fairy Hills, maybe might help Dalila to settle down?"
"That's a good idea, Lucy!" Makarov nodded. "Levy will come with you! Having people around her will be of great help!"
"Thank you Master!" Lucy happily trotted away. She was going to ask Levy, wasn't she in the library for that day?
"Gramps, why didn't you ask her to stay?" Laxus raised an eyebrow as they headed to the guild hall, Lucy already halfway to the library.
"I didn't want to put any pressure on the child, Laxus." Makarov smiled up to his grandson. "I am confident she will ask herself. I will make sure Lucy lets her know that she is more than welcome."
Makarov giggled ay the lighting dragon slayer huffing and grunting at his side. "Tomorrow I hope she will be able to walk, and we can introduce her to the rest of the guild. I want her to meet the other members first..."
A few hours later in Era, Rune Knights quarters... Lahar office...
The demon really wanted to have fun and didn't mean to hurt him. That was probably the reason why the protection runes he had put in his office hadn't worked. But it didn't mattered much at that point, anyway. Not when Lahar was crawling on his four, among all the law books he possessed, opened and scattered on the floor.
Had it been any other occasion, the Captain would have sent to prison whoever had put one of his books onto the floor - he had such good care of them, they were a gift from when he was promoted Captain, and he consulted them any time he could, dusted them, handle them only with clean hands...
But at the present moment, not even the books were not his main concern. No, Lahar's biggest problem was the ridiculous, ignominious maid outfit he was wearing.
"I have not quite understood which law you were referring to, Captain." said a stentorian voice from above him.
Lahar slowly lifted his gaze, and met the amused blue eyes of Mirajane. "Care to show me once more?"
"It's-It's in here.." Lahar swallowed and pointed a page with his finger.
"Mh..." the demon looked dubious. "Read it aloud for me, would you?" she asked casually, letting her claws shine in the late morning light.
Lahar lowered his head, and started to read out. "The parole will endure-glom-three years, and in this period..."
He carried on, line after line, stumbling upon words, faltering, and stuttering.
"Wait!" Mirajane stopped him. "I haven't understood this last passage. Let's go back to the beginning, and with a clear voice this time!"
The order was peremptory, and Lahar, incapable to resist to the demon, searched with his eyes the beginning of the passage. "The parole will endure..." he started with a slightly more secure voice, following the words with his fingers on the page.
God, he was not going to last for much longer.
First of all, he had not idea how Mirajane could have put him into that maid outfit. His will had left him in the moment she had started talking to him, with that eyes that had sent cold shivers on all his body, and her long nails tapping on his desk.
And then, Mirajane had asked him - well, 'ordered' would be more appropriate, even if it was a order disguised as a request - to find for her the law in which was stated that he, Captain of the Rune Knights, was justified onto retrieving a criminal on parole, without a clear proof that he or she had broken the law.
Lahar had obliged her request, not because he wanted, but because he couldn't turn it down. Not when what he was wearing was leaving him shamefully naked, in front of the tantalising, hypnotic monster.
Mirajane had proven to be a sadistic torturer, and she proved to be an attentive and scrupulous listener as well. "I think I would like to check this cross reference..." "Have we checked this book?" "Can you explain this to me? In your own words, and do not stutter!" The more Mirajane became demanding, the more Lahar was fumbling, and the more he was fumbling, the more exigent Mirajane was becoming, sending the poor Captain into a spiral of confusion and embarrassment.
The embarrassment was due to the maid dress he was wearing, as we already said, - damn, the demon had even put a lacy bonnet on his head at a certain point! - and the fact that he sounded like a toddler that hadn't studied the lecture for the day.
The black, leathery whip Mirajane had taken out from her purse at a certain point had not helped. Nope, definitively it hadn't.
"... if the prisoner has done-has gone... sorry, has gone..."
"Ah, I see you can't read properly." Mirajane interrupted him. She looked so amused she was scaring, as she stood up from her chair, and moved a few steps towards. Lahar trembled, but didn't dare to back down. "Is there something that is distracting you?" she cooed.
"I... I..." "I think you should get punished." the woman chuckled darkly, lifting the whip in her hand.
"No, p-please..." stuttered Lahar. "Not again..."
But his prayers went unheard by the demon. Actually, she heard them loud and clear, and it was like sweet music for her ears.
"No no, you need it again, Lahar. You are not behaving well, and this angers me a lot." She lifted her whip and... Patted Lahar's head one, two, three times. "This is for all the stuttering, and this..." The tip of the whip lowered and went onto Lahar's hand, one, two, three times. "This was for being distracted. Now, start again from the beginning and remember I will not tolerate any other silly error from you!"
Mirajane turned on her heels, the whip swinging at the same rhythm with her hips, went back to her chair, sitting down and crossing her legs.
"Well?!" she snapped angrily, hitting the floor with a foot, as Lahar stared at her with a doumbfound expression. "Go ahead!"
"Su-sure, Miss Strauss, I am sorry! 'The parole will endure...'"
Yeah, that was Mirajane 'punishment'. No harm at all, and apparently the woman had no intention of truly injure him. But those little peaks on his head and hand, given with just the tip of the whip, burned like she had been flogging him.
His pride had been shaken to its core, reduced to crumble, and now lay pulverised in front of Lahar's eyes, on his hand that had just been touched by the leathery tip of a whip.
He was beyond blushing, or being ashamed. At this point, he only wanted this torture to finish. Or he wanted Mirajane to go all the way down and really whip and flog him, in that demon form of hers, and give him... Lahar shook his head, the last rational bit of him biding him to run down that path.
With that maid outfit, complete of white apron, bonnet and tights, the only thing he was really fearful of, was that someone would enter in his office and see them, see him, like that, doing whatever they were doing, even if he had never found in the regulations that it was forbidden to wear a maid outfit and crawl on the floor among law books. Most likely because no one had even contemplate such a case. If they had, Lahar was sure they would have declared it highly illegal.
Lahar went on reading the passage. And then, they stumbled upon a reference, that Mirajane ordered him to check. He search among the books on the floor, but he couldn't find the text which the note was referring to.
"I think-glom-this book is not present in my collection..." he said with his throat dry. "There is not... I have looked, as you asked..." What book had he to look for? Damn, he was losing track of the conversation. Almost forgetting their conversation topic. Was it parole they were talking about, right?
"You don't have the book I need?" asked Mirajane lazily, glancing at him and swinging her crossed leg. "Well, I assume you have to go and fetch it for me."
"What? Now?" Lahar breathed out.
"Sure." said the demon, without hiding a huge smirk. "I am not going out of here before we have consulted that book together!"
"You are not... going out..." things got clouded into the Captain's head. She was not going to go away? She was staying there? Waiting for him to come back with the book?
"I want to fully understand, you see." explained Mirajane, with false candour. "I will be waiting for you, and then we can discuss more about this topic."
Topic? Which topic? These words bounced into Lahar's mind, but the only thing the Captain could make out of that situation was that he was stuck with that demon in his office, and that she was going to haunt him until she got what she wanted. Which was that damned book. But Lahar could not go out dressed like that and look for it. That was a big no-no in his head, and luckily for him his sense of decency was strong enough to resist to the demon influence.
There must be another way... Another way to send her away... Lahar put his face in his hands. Give her what she wants...
Wait, but hadn't Mirajane come to his office that morning for a specific reason? Lahar tried to remember. She wanted Cobra, right? Cobra, Cobra... the prisoner, right! Fairy Tail, that was it! Now I remember! She wanted to bring Cobra back to Fairy Tail! So maybe...
So, Maybe, if he had let Cobra go - which was in his power, if he remembered correctly - maybe the demon would have let him in peace? There was one but one way to know it.
"What if..." he asked with a trembling voice, "What if I give you something else?"
Mirajane raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"Like... You wanted your friend, right?" asked Lahar with a hopeful, small smile. "If I give back your friend, you will be-glom-satisfied?"
Mirajane grimaced and seemed to weight the offer. "Uhm, let me see... If you do it... Maybe... But make it quick, or I could change my mind, Lahar..."
"Sure, I will do it right now!" cried Lahar, crawling away from the demon, behind his desk. "I will... Just... Just go after that, please!"
Mirajane thew the whip on the other chair. "You will do... what, exactly? Tell me, Lahar."
"I will... I will sign... Call for Cobra to be released... Just..." the Captain grabbed the edge of the table, and holding onto it as if it was the last remnant of his dignity. Which was useless, since Lahar knew that he had just lost all the dignity he possessed. "Just stop this madness!"
Mirajane pretended to think about it. "You haven't quite satisfied me, yet..." she said, tapping her chin with a pointed, black nail.
"I beg you!" cried Lahar in despair. "Look, I am doing it now, yes?" he said, with a crazy smile on his face, grabbing the lacryma communication on his desk. "I am calling Dorambolt... No paperwork to be done... He can-glom-take you to Cobra, and then you can go... Back to Mangolia-Magnolia, sorry Missa Strauss..."
Mirajane tilted her head, and for a moment, Lahar pounding heart was the only sound that could be heard in the office.
"I assume we have a deal." Mirajane slowly said, with a small satisfied smile.
"Wonderful!" shrieked the Captain, dialling the number with trembling fingers. "I am calling now... Dorambolt? Yes, Captain Lahar... No, fine, everything is just fine, perfect really..." from his position on the floor, half hidden by his desk, Lahar glanced at Mirajane, that made a compliant smile, once again baring her teeth. "Glom-yes... Mirajane Strauss is here, she has the permission to... Free Cobra, take him back... You go... No, I said now... I will-glom-allow no delay..."
Dorambolt must have thought something was not quite right with the Captain and must have been protesting, because Lahar's face became suddenly pale, then red, until the Captain finally started yelling. "I am the Captain and I decide! I have the perfect control over the situation! I-I give orders and you obey, that's it! Come to my office immediately!"
And after that final outburst of energy, Lahar closed the communication. "So, it is... is it ok?" he asked with a tremulous voice.
Mirajane nodded and smirked. "Yes, Captain, it is. However-oh!"
The Captain nerves couldn't take it any more. In front of the surprised Takeover mage, Lahar, Captain on the Rune Knights, went pale again, rolled his eyes, and fainted on the floor.
Mirajane stood still for a couple of seconds. "Oh, well." she shrugged, after a while. "I was about to tell him he could keep the whip. And also that maid outfit. It suits him more than the uniform, that's for sure!"
What a pity I couldn't do more! Mirajane turned back to her human form, adjusting her black dress onto her shoulders, and taking her purse. I remember when I punished Erza and Lucy after the Grand Magic Games... Being called 'mistress'! What a fun day!
Mirajane giggled, and kept herself occupied with those memories until she heard a knock at the door. She stood up, dusted her dress, and leaned over Lahar's desk. Behind it, the Captain was still laying on the floor, eyes closed, lost to this world.
Mirajane reached the lacy bonnet with her hand and adjusted it to the Captain's head. "Much better!" she chirped. "Thank you very much for your time, Captain! I wish you a nice day!"
And by saying so, she went to the door and slipped out of the office.
Outside the door, Dorambolt was waiting for her, with four Rune Knights following him. "Where is the Captain?" he frowned.
"Oh, he is very busy at the moment." said Mirajane with a serious expression, lowering her tone. "I think he doesn't want to be disturbed for a while." she whispered, before bowing to Dorambolt, and starting to walk towards the end of the corridor. The Rune Knights promptly followed her, and Dorambolt was left in front of the Captain office.
The Control Memory mage stood there for a second or two, unsure of what to make of Mirajane low tone. How on Earthland had she been able to convince Lahar?
He checked that Mirajane was out of sight, and slowly lowered the handle of the door, opened it by a few inches, and peeked into the office. He saw Lahar's books onto the floor, chairs moved from their usual position, the pen holder had been knocked over and quivers and pencils had rolled onto the desk, dotting with ink some documents that probably should have stayed immaculate.
A black, leathery whip, resting on a chair, caught his attention.
He looked better at it, but on that moment, a groan was heard from behind the Captain's desk. Dorambolt heard someone cursing, and slowly moving - wait, wasn't it Lahar voice?
A white, lacy form started slowly emerging from the hem of the desk. A bonnet.
Dorambolt closed silently the door behind himself.
There were things that it was better not to see, and not even to think about. For his own career and his own mental health and stability.
He made himself a note to never hang around Mirajane Strauss, and never, for any reason, contradict the woman. He hastened after the Soul Takeover mage and the Rune Knights escorting her, trying to act as he had never opened the door of the Captain's office.
Later, Era's prisons...
The thick, wooden door in front of Mirajane was reflecting the flickering light of the torches. The Fairy Tail mage looked perfectly tranquil, with a small smile, and he hand folded in front of her. Next to her, Dorambolt was shifting nervously his weight from one foot to the other. From time to time he was glancing at the barmaid expression, expecting her to turn into that lecherous monster that had caused a whip to lay on a chair of the Captain's office.
If the Runes into Lahar's office had not activated, it means that Mirajane had not harmed him. he thought once more.
On the other hand, Lahar had been with the demon for a few hours, neglecting his duties for the morning. And that call the Captain had made, with that voice one octave above his usual tone, made Dorambolt wonder what had truly happened in that office. The mess of Lahar office, and the fact that the Memory Control mage had heard the Captain stuttering on the communication lacryma for the first time since he knew him - which was a consistent number of years - just added darker shades to the picture.
Dorambolt shook his head and forced himself to focus on the task at hand. Send the two fairies back to Magnolia as soon as possible, before Lahar could change his mind, or before the Captain had an hysterics and sent everyone in the radius of one kilometre to prison.
Finally, he heard the muffled sound of footsteps coming from behind the door. Please, let this go smoothly... he silently prayed.
Also Mirajane had heard people coming. She could not make the number of people coming towards her, nor the characteristic pace of Cobra's steps, like usually she heard them on the guild hall floor - long, confident, yet imperceptible strides, probably the reason why many people thought he appeared from behind them from nowhere.
The doorknob opened and the demon held her breath.
In the darkness of the hallway, four Rune Knights appeared, and among them, the mage Mirajane had been looking for.
If she was afraid to see Cobra bleeding, with the prison uniform, or dirt and beaten, she was at least relieved to see that he was dressed with his own clothes, that he looked clean, like he had just taken a shower. But, that was the only thing Mirajane could take comfort from.
In the moment Cobra moved a step before her, she saw the handcuffs around his wrists.
"Ok, good..." mumbled Dorambolt. Until now, everything is going smoothly... "Mirajane, I am leaving Cobra to you. He is no more under Council custody, and according to his parole, you are going to accompany him back to Fairy Tail, where-" "Handcuffs. Off."
Dorambolt blinked at the woman. "What?"
Mirajane didn't lose time turning her head to Dorambolt. It was enough for the Rune Knight to notice a small crack on her right cheek, and the wave of magic sweeping her body.
Oh no, not here! Why do I always have to deal with this... First Gajeel and Pantherlily. Then Mirajane Strauss. Why on Earthland had he to deal with Fairy Tail craziest wizards - There is one sane mage in that guild? - always, with no fault?
And he didn't know if he was allowed or not to take Cobra's handcuffs off, but Mirajane resolved his doubt by grasping his shoulders, with a long-nailed, scaled hand. "I said, 'Handcuffs. Off.'" she repeated in a low, threatening voice.
The Rune Knights around the prisoner took a step back. Dorambolt sighed in defeat.
Cursing every official in the Rune Knights who was not in his place at that very moment, praying Cobra not to kill anybody as soon as he got free, and hoping that Mirajane was going to stop him and not to help him instead, Dorambolt took a small key out of his pocket and proceeded to free the poison slayer.
He couldn't look up at Cobra's face while he was doing so. He could not held the look of hatred and contempt of that single eye. I am sorry... was all that he could say, as the handcuffs clicked open.
As soon as his hands got free, Cobra massaged his wrists. Then, without a word, passing him, the Rune Knights and Mirajane, he walked swiftly towards the exit, the heels of his shoes the only sound echoing int he hallway.
Mirajane exchanged a glance with Dorambolt. Bitter sadness, suppressed anger, mild gratitude passed on her blue eyes, but also her didn't utter a word. She bowed slightly her head to the Rune Knight official, then turned and run after Cobra.
The poison dragon slayer didn't stopped to wait for Mirajane until he was in the main street. The demon woman had no idea how he could orient himself in the city, but she just guessed the souls around him were somehow giving him a clue of where he was.
They walked in silence, one next to the other, without speaking nor exchanging a glance.
"Cobra..." Mirajane started softly after a while they were walking in Era's main street. "We have a room booked at an hotel. It is close, just a few blocks that way..."
The poison slayer tilted his head, but didn't look at her. There was no need.
"We can also go back home right now, if you prefer. There is a train that will be in Magnolia tomorrow morning, and-" she was interrupted by Cobra's heavy glare, staring at her with his only purple eye.
"Magnolia." he hissed. "Now."
Mirajane swallowed, and halted her steps. She tilted her head, looking at the slayer in the light of the afternoon.
Heavy bags were circling his eyes, and he looked tired. Exhausted, like ha had not been sleeping for days. And didn't he looked thinner? His hair must have been washed before the Rune Knights let him out. They look clean, thought Mirajane, But he usually does not wear them like this... And again, Maybe it is not a good idea to take him on a eight-hours train ride... He needed rest.
Cobra rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, and yes." he shrugged. "It's fine."
If it was fine for him to be thrown on a wagon for the whole night, or if he himself was fine, Mirajane could not tell. She tried to smile cheerfully, but failed miserably. The sight of her guild mate, and friend, reduced to ...this, made her chest tighten. "As you wish, Cobra." she managed to say. "Let's go to the train station then."
Without answering, the dragon slayer turned int he direction of the station, and Mirajane followed, taking out her communication lacryma and calling the hotel - she was getting good with these technological devices, wasn't she? - to cancel the booking for that night.
I have also to call Master! she noted in her head. He must be worried by now...
Cobra moved a few steps away from Mirajane, while the Takeover mage talked to the receptionist - "No, yes... An unforeseen engagement, we need to leave right now Era... Yes, Fairy Tail... Thank you..." he could hear her saying.
Hearing... He was too busy embracing the sounds around him - a child crying because he wanted a lollipop, a man scolding his dog, birds singing on a tree, a cat between two vase of flowers meowing and yawning...
And letting the rays of the April sun were warming his skin once more, and he could feel the wind entangling with his hair. Sun and wind, two things that had been banished from the Council's cells.
However, the warmth of that day of spring, one of those days that made you think summer was right behind the corner, could not melt the cold he has feeling in his chest.
Magnolia, Fairy Tail infirmary, halfway through the afternoon...
Porlyusica muffled a few words of disapproval. She looked at the chatting trio in the room, and huffed once more. It is also my fault, she frowned, I should have not agreed of such an encounter.
Her ears were going to be bleeding and her head was going to hurt significantly that night, the old healer was sure of that. This is what happens to the one who puts Lucy Heartfilia and Levy McGarden in the same room!
Porlyusica glared one last time at the small, blue-haired mage, but her heavy stares went unnoticed, and the healer gave up, and went locking herself in her small room.
Said mages didn't noticed. Not when they were so busy talking about the last books they read.
When Lucy had introduced Levy to Dalila that afternoon, she had not expected the two to get along so well. Sure, Levy was sweet and kind, and also Dalila was polite and gentle, but the sharp wit of the two together, had immediately created an understanding in between them, that Lucy was feeling almost jealous.
Levy was a few months younger than her, meaning she was a couple of years younger than Dalila, but it was like they were peers.
The two had discovered that Dalila liked to read - although she admitted she liked music more - but unfortunately the public library in Linveland was not entirely of her liking.
"There was a lot of poetry," the wind dragon slayer was explaining, "I think it was a passion of the librarian, or something. Anyway, there were many novels, but a few classics."
"You can come in my room whenever you want!" said Levy. "By the way, you are coming at Fairy Hills, right?"
"Yes, I am!" nodded happily Dalila. "You are living there as well?"
Levy nodded. "It is a nice place, really. Only a few rules you must respect, but many of the girls of the guild are living there!"
"I see. rules like, no noises after nine and things like that?"
"Nine?" cried Lucy, "Oh no, I think you can 'make noises' until midnight, am I right Levy-chan?"
Levy laughed. "That's true. But Dalila, I guess back in your time there were more strict rules..." she added in a more serious tone.
Dalila was a little taken aback. "Well..." she started. It was not something she had thought about. "I have not... It is not something I have really asked myself." she let out a small smile. "I guess... I would have not been allowed to show my bare knees in public, for instance." she chuckled, pointing at Levy's and Lucy's legs. "Or, keeping the hairs down and not tied up in some sort of way, was considered... Not appropriate."
"Propriety and manners." Lucy stated. "I remember something from my lessons on manners when I was back home with my dad. Useless, if you ask me."
Dalila chuckled. "Let me think... I was not allowed to be out of home past eight o clock - none of my friend was - and I have never been into a boy's room, and it was unlikely to have male friends, and they were not getting naked randomly, of course..."
The three girls snorted. "It's not like we are happy about that..." Levy was quite red. Gray's habit was quite embarrassing. She was used to it by now, but still, it was far from making her comfortable. Thank Mavis Jet and Droy were not like that. If they were... My poor eyes! Levy shook her head to drive those unpleasant thoughts away. "Now everything is much more relaxed!" she said instead. "Nothing will think bad of you because you have male friends!"
"I haven't really bothered much about those custom rules, you know," smirked Dalila. "I was a teacher, and I was working in a school and playing in the orchestra. It was pretty normal to have male friends."
Lucy nodded. She was tempted to ask if there were any special male friends - even if they had only met the day before, Dalila was such an easy-going person, she trusted she would have not been offended. But Lucy bit her tongue just in time. We have no idea if she had a boyfriend, or not. Freed said she had not a fiancé, but who knows, maybe there was really someone special in her life... she quickly thought.
However, it was the wind dragon slayer herself to answer her question. "Of course when we were younger we bothered even less about those so-called 'rules'" she grinned, and winked.
Levy giggled. "Also at Fairy Hills you should not bring boys in your room, however you can manage to let them sneak in!"
"Oh..." Dalila smirked. She could see the pride written onto Levy's smirking face. "And who did you make sneak into your room, Levy?" she questioned.
"Me?" Levy stuttered.
"Levy-chan!" cried Lucy. "You haven't told me anything!"
"I haven't-Lu-chan, you are out of track!"
Poor Levy was as red as a tomato, but Dalila just stood there, giggling and looking at Lucy teasing her friend. It looked like... Just as I used to do with my friends...
It was crystal clear that, even if Levy had not been inviting anyone into her room, there was at least some interest into introducing someone who was not exactly allowed at Fairy Hills.
"Leeeevy" chanted Lucy, swinging her head from right to left, "Teeeell us!"
"Tell this old lady what happened." chuckled Dalila, playing along, elbowing the poor, embarrassed mage next to her. "I promise I will not say a thing."
"Ehm-I have not brought anyone into my room!" tried again Levy, but her protests were a mere mumble, and she was getting redder and redder.
"Ah, but there is a certain someone that maybe would like to visit you?" asked sweetly Dalila. "I had to deal with children for a good six years, I can tell when they are holding a secret."
"Well... It's nothing, and I am not planning on allowing... on breaking the rules..."
"If, hypothetically, you were going to break the rules with someone?" helped Lucy, as Dalila giggled and leaned closer to Levy.
I am going to tell them... I have been holding this for too long! sighed Levy, I need someone to confide this to, otherwise I will explode! But just as Levy was going to spill the beans, Dalila stirred, and her head snapped up. "I can hear someone speaking." she whispered, fixing her eyes onto the door.
It was true. She had heard a few sounds, but she ignored them, believing it was just her imagination. But a cried-whisper had finally convinced her that there was someone behind right outside the infirmary, eavesdropping their conversation.
"I haven't hear anyone..." murmured Lucy.
Levy shivered. "Dragon slayer's hearing..." she muttered worriedly. Luckily Dalila had stopped her before she could tell something she might regret.
"I wonder who could it be?" frowned Lucy, standing up and going to the door. "After all, who might want to-" but as soon as she opened it, she was met by a low growl, and in the dim light of the hallway, she could make out a pair of blazing red eyes.
"What are you doing here?" she scolded. "Master told that no one can enter in here!"
"Ya fucking think I would be the last one to see the new dragon slayer?" said a deep, gravelly voice.
Levy's heart started pounding like crazy. For all the books! Thank Mavis I haven't said a word! What if of all people, Gajeel would have heard me! She looked worriedly at Dalila, trying to recompose herself and not show her agitation, but she found the wind dragon slayer staring at the small opening of the door with wide, scared eyes.
"Ehi, don't you worry!" squealed Levy. "It is just Gajeel."
Dalila swallowed heavily. Yes, she could have guessed it was the iron dragon slayer. In the moment Lucy had opened the door, a terribly strong smell had invaded the infirmary. Metal, ground, and rocks. It was like being in the mine again.
Ok, Dalila, stay calm... There are Levy and Lucy, right? And Porlyusica is right there, you can see the door of her room...
Another growl from the male outside the door made the hair on the back of her head stand. It was a sound not necessarily threatening, but not welcoming either.
Lucy eyed the iron slayer up and down, and saw there was little to be done. "Stubborn as always!" she grunted Lucy, stepping aside.
Dalila looked enhanced at the tall, black haired figure who was entering the room. Sure, he was shorter than Laxus, but for her everyone above six feet was just generically 'tall'.
Gajeel looked shamelessly at the wind dragon slayer, ranking her up and down and taking in her slender wrists, her pale skin and her small waist and arms. Not much for a dragon slayer, was his first thought. She is too skinny.
Dalila ducked a little back into the cushion behind her back. She was about to introduce herself, when a small, brown ball of fur made his way into the room.
Another Exceed? asked Dalila surprised, before remembering that that must be Pantherlily.
And indeed, he was.
For the whole day, Lily had tried his best to dissuade Gajeel from breaking into the infirmary to see Dalila. First of all, because she needed a little rest for sure, and the day before another party had been invading Porlyusica territory without permission. "She must be exhausted!" had told the Exceed. And in second place, because all the five mages involved in the expedition had been heavily scolded by Master and Erza - and thank Mavis Mirajane was in Era!
But all this sensible observations had little influence on the iron slayer, and in the end, Pantherlily had to desist. But he had claimed to go with Gajeel inside the infirmary. "If we are going to do something like that, let's do it together!"
The cat only hoped that Dalila didn't mind that much, if there was another person coming to visit her, however uninvited. I guess she is getting used to Fairy Tail... had thought the cat, before he and his friend sneaked into the infirmary hallway.
In the moment Gajeel entered the room, Pantherlily had seen the look of fear and timor in the wind dragon slayer face - Gajeel tended to have that effect on people. And his silence and heavy stare was not making things easier.
The Exceed decided it was the case to honour their guild, by stepping in front of the iron dragon slayer, and bowing slightly. "Good afternoon, Miss." he said with a sound voice. "My name is Pantherlily, the Exceed. I come from the world of Edolas. I hope we have not disturbed you too much coming visit you today!"
Levy sighed in relief. Thanks Lily! she thought, looking at Lucy, who was still glaring at the iron dragon slayer for his lack of manners towards a person he just met.
Slightly surprised by the eloquence of the black cat, Dalila found herself saying, out of habit: "No inconvenience, really. My name is Dalila von Altzner." she found herself smiling. "Nice to meet you, Pantherlily the Exceed."
Maybe there was the chance to have another polite dragon slayer apart Wendy, thought Lily. Not Natsu, Laxus, Gajeel or Cobra had ever distinguished themselves for their politeness or friendliness. "The pleasure it's mine. How are you feeling?"
"I am feeling a little weak, but I trust in a few days I will be better, thank you!"
Dalila looked in awe at the Exceed, but immediately after her gaze moved up, to his much less polite companion.
"This is Gajeel." rushed Lucy, sitting again next to the wind slayer bed. "The iron dragon slayer."
"Nice to meet you too, Gajeel." Dalila waved her hand, but those red eyes, examining every single detail of hers, were making her nervous. What is he looking at? she asked herself.
A low rumble filled the room. "Gajeel!" shouted Levy angrily, "Stop that, you are making her sca-" Levy's voice was subsided by another growl. But it was not coming from Gajeel.
The Script mage turned to Dalila, mouth agape. To Dalila and then to Lucy, who exchanged with her a worried look. Because that low, less deeper and less sound, but definitively a growl from a dragon slayer, was coming from the small woman sitting upright on the infirmary bed.
She was probably not even aware of it.
Her small chest continued to rumble, responding to the male growl, until Gajeel smirked, and stopped.
Dalila's sound filled alone the room for a couple of seconds, until she realised that her sound was coming right from her. She choked, and coughed. "What?" she squealed. "What was that?"
"Ya just growled. Like a dragon slayer." he smirked, proudly.
Next to him, Pantherlily buried his face in his hands. "Gajeel, really?"
Lucy was too taken aback to speak. She had in mind to Lucy-punch the iron slayer, but before she could move, Gajeel spoke again. "Ya learn those things by copying." he explained.
"Uh?" Dalila opened her mouth as if to speak... and closed it promptly, afraid that other unwanted sounds might escape it. Learn? So soon? It was true that she had told Makarov that she wanted to learn dragon slayer magic, but wasn't it better if she had learnt it after she was back on her feet? And couldn't he just introduce himself first? I mean, yesterday one naked man ended up on my bed, and another girl invited me to get drunk, so I guess I should not be all that surprised...
"Ya growled." repeated Gajeel, puffing out his chest and smirking, "Like a puppy, if ya ask me, but as a first time is not bad."
"Master had told no magic for her!" cried angrily Lucy. "It's too soon! What if Porlyusica heard you?"
Gajeel shrugged. "It is never too soon for a dragon slayer, and I would tell the old hag to fuck off. That's a slayers matter. She is a slayer." he said pointing at Dalila. "Ya need to learn slayer things."
"When did you thought about that?" Levy finally found her voice. "You didn't ask about me, or Lucy, or Master about it! And why hasn't Natsu or Wendy put up all this?"
"Ya shrimp calm down." Gajeel smirked and patted Levy on her head, and Levy become red again - even if she was pouting and shooing Gajeel's hand away.
"First, Salamander is too stupid to think about that, and the pipsqueak is too young. I am the older slayer who has been risen by a dragon, so passing a few basics skills is up to me. Second," grunted the iron slayer, "ya and bunny girl were saying a good load of shit. Fairy Hills, boys," he growled. "No fucking need to know about that."
Dalila was ready to object - it was not the iron slayer place to question what Levy, Lucy and her had talked about - when Gajeel suddenly turned to her. "Of what smells Bunny girl?"
Dalila raised an eyebrow. "Bunny Girl?" she looked ta Lucy, seeking for help.
Gajeel laugh boomed onto the room. "Yeah, that is Bunny Girl!"
"Eh?" Dalila looked shocked at Lucy. "Ehm, he calls me Bunny Girl... I don't know why..." Lucy mumbled.
"So, of what she smells?" insisted Gajeel.
Levy looked warily at the iron dragon slayer. "Gajeel..." she growled.
Lily tried to protest, but Dalila preceded him. "Ok, I smell..." she started, glaring at the iron dragon slayer. "...shampoo?"
"I took a bath yesterday." confirmed Lucy.
"Tsk." Gajeel huffed. "More. Close yer eyes."
Dalila grimaced and accomplished to the slayer order. And reminded herself to not be so compliant the next time.
As soon as she closed her eyes, she became aware of a number of smells she could not count. I hadn't realised they were going to be so many... she struggle to differentiate all of them. Of course Gajeel's scent was the strongest one. Then there was the smell coming from Porlyusica powders and glasses, and a smell of soap and wood, typical fo the infirmary. And then... Dalila inhaled a few times. Around her, the others were perfectly silent.
Dalila tried to concentrate on Lucy. She smelled of shampoo, and she was right next to her. There was going to be something else, right?
"I smell..." Dalila stood silent for a moment, before she started to speak. And once she started, her voice was hypnotic, different, and the things she said... Lucy was not even sure it was real.
"I smell how waters and bubbles," started Dalila. "and books, neatly ordered onto shelved. I smell strawberry smoothies, and vanilla soap. I smell..." Dalila smiled softly. "pink. Bubble-gums chewed in long afternoons, and... blank pages, waiting to be filled. A quibble dripping with ink..."
Dalila opened her eyes, as if she had been sleeping for those briefs moments. She looked around her, and saw four pair of amazed eyes staring back at her. And then everyone started talking.
"What?" squealed Lucy. "A... A quibble?"
"It is like she has the same thing of Cobra, but for smells!" cried Lily. Another dragon slayer with two powers? Wasn't one enough?
"How is it possible? You had never been so precise!" said pointedly Levy to Gajeel. Lu-chan can't have told Dalila about her novel already! And what does pink smell like?
Gajeel winked to her. He was surprised as well, but not that much. "Slayers can have little stunts... Think about Wendy, sky magic makes her a slayer and a healer."
"Ya gotta a pretty good nose." he chuckled, turning to Dalila. "Ya only learn how to use it now."
"Mh?" how am I going to do that?" asked Dalila, folding her arms. Wasn't him a little bit too sure of himself? "Master Makarov told me that there are some books..."
Gajeel snorted. "Quit that bullshit already. Books will not teach ya these things. Yer teacher is gonna be me."
Uff! What a long chapter!
I have realised that the length of chapters is not homogeneous... I will try to make equally long chapters in the future!
I am planning on doing chapter long as this one, more or less! So the story will speed up a little :)
See you next week lovelies!