Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail, any work professionally associated with it nor any pop culture or classical references. All original plots and characters are mine.
In a land far, far away lies the kingdom of Fiore, a small, peaceful nation of 17 million, and a place filled with Magic found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace. For most, Magic is merely a tool, a mundane part of everyday life. For some, however, Magic is an art, and they've devoted their lives to its practice. These are the wizards. Banded together into magical guilds, they ply their skills in search of fame and fortune. Many such guilds dot the landscape of Fiore. But there is a certain guild in a certain town that soars high above the rest, one from which countless legends have been born. A guild that will no doubt continue to create legends well into the future. Its name...is Fairy Tail.
The room was dressed head to toe and Heart's Day galore with candles lit for those they loved and lost. Red hearts and pink hearts and white hearts littered the living room with other candles staged for ambiance. Rose petals decorated the table set for two with candelabra all dolled up and pretty. The food would come soon enough, but the plates and salad plates and the forks and spoons and knives and cloth napkins were set with chalices for the iced wine. Gifts were set up, however, for this date, but one was the most important gift. It was a photo album that spelled:
TALES OF HEART'S DAY
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
•
Good morning, good evening, good day, and good night
Come on in, come on in, for we have a story in sight
A story not too far known
Not without a song or two
It's a story about an honest young man
And while that may seem impossible
And that's the gospel truth
•
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
At a table well-set for a romantic evening, the gift for one of the lovers was not all that well-done. The gift presented for Heart's Day was none other than an antique compass the other had been wanting for a while that had come from a hundred or so years ago. But the polishing had not been done and caused such a precious artifact to look dull and too abused to be revered.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
•
This is a story of a future hero
Who will go the distance to be strong
He will do everything in his power
To know where he belongs
And with him is his loyal lover
Together, they'll figure out what his gift means
He's bold, he's sweet
And here is the story of Hunk—I mean…Hercules
•
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• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
•
Prologue
Thursday Night
•
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Illumi's walks were always slow-paced.
Lance never minded since Illumi liked to walk later at night. While the law was that all pets had to wear a collar and leash, the Guard stationed in Magnolia only enforced that rule with owners they knew were irresponsible or had hyperactive pets. Lance had no fear about Illumi not having a leash. His senior Fulgumiho comfortably stayed at Lance's side during their slow walk, only occasionally veering to do his business, but their short circuit was enough to make Illumi feel like a kit again.
The night had claimed the sky, which was fine. Lance and Illumi knew this route forwards and backward. But something was on Lance's mind during the duration of their walk and, honestly, walking in the nippy air helped him try to sort his confusion.
And the source of his confusion was a golden compass.
Golden watch?
Golden…symbol-reader?
Lance looked at the object that felt cool in his hands. It looked like the part of a compass. There was the compass rose and one of the biggest points was colored red to indicate north. Or so he gathered. To be honest, the cardinal, ordinal, and divisional directions were not labeled, so he had to go off assumptions. What was around the compass rose were glyphs that did not tickle his mind in the slightest on how to read them. And the reason he attributed it to a watch was that there were four needles on this odd meter. There was the red needle that, again, he assumed pointed north. A lazy blue needle that circled the perimeter without fail. But the third golden needle did absolutely nothing and he did not understand it. The lid on the compass carried nothing with it, no immediate spell work or anything.
And Lance was stuck with it.
What are you? Lance asked the compass in his hands. This was in the box I got from someone from the USM. When I asked Pacer about it, he said he hadn't sent me anything. I still can't reach Pearson, but Pacer promised both of them were too busy for pranks. And it's not like I'm in the mood for them. He shut the compass and smoothened his thumb over it to feel the metal. I don't have any connections out in the USM outside those two. And without a sender address, I have no way of tracking anything down.
Lance sighed as he shoved the compass into the pocket of his jacket and scrubbed his face. "Just enough puzzle I need to solve," he muttered. I'm not closer to figuring out anything about God Slayers and even about myself. Even with all my meetings with Aunt Levy and her associate at the museum and their contacts within the Archaeology Society, it's difficult. I managed to track down a religious studies society out in Éirulan, but when I explained what I could, they told me any temples about the gods were pretty much gone after the last Demon War.
"Whether you like it or not, the same war the Gods, the mortals, the Demons, and the Dragons fought will return in even worse measures. The slaughter will be unfathomable and not a life will be spared from the destruction. But"—glowing jade eyes—"this new Mother will be the one to save us. But she will need the assistance of the Gods to make sure this war ends in insurmountable peace."
"Mother," Lance repeated aloud. "I've tried everything I can into looking up about a god called 'Mother'—anything called 'Mother'—but there's virtually nothing about her. Nothing about the religion she falls under of anything."
He sighed. A little more research into the Gods was enough to verify that the existence of Demigods is true enough, but Veleda was right. I checked with Saudade and Ezra about the bloodlines and possible inherited Ether genes. The bloodlines are far too diluted now for any of them to have actual powers. Then again, that's what happened to a lot of older races that went extinct. After the Demon War, their races were slaughtered and bloodlines so diluted, it would take a miracle for them to use their ancestors' gifts. Spiritless and even Wizards hunted down the remainders and killed them. Those jades darkened. And it's happening again.
He took out his Compact when he felt a vibration. He softened seeing a text message from Aine.
⌜MESSAGES
Little Fox
I'm on break and have to study, but I wanted to text I love you and make sure you don't stay up too late. We have plans tomorrow⌟
Lance smiled and texted her back:
« I should be telling you that. Call me on your way home and have fun studying. I love you too »
His eyes narrowed when he saw something from ⟪ News ⟫ drop. He clicked on it and read the head title:
SPIRITLESS RALLY IN PEACEFUL PROTEST OVER THE DEATH OF 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL BY WIZARD
Lance read the little opening blurb:
Rogue Wizard rumored to be of the Faction killed 13-year-old and remains in the custody of the Magic Council with no charges against him. Hundreds of Spiritless have gathered in Joya to protest the injustice.
Lance remembered, The Magic Council might be the government to Wizards, but the branches are autonomous. In Fiore, the Fioren Magic Council Branch works closely with the Spiritless justice system and the MBI when it comes to Wizards who cross a line. Once they break that boundary, Fiore has the right to charge them first before they are given to the Magic Council. But other countries… The Council is a constant tyrant and unfair judge.
That was when he exited out of the article only to see another one titled:
OPTIMISM LOOKS DIFFERENT TO PEOPLE WITH POWERS IN VALCHESTRIA
The Magic Society is tilted on its axis as more countries blacklist foreign Wizards, pass restrictions, and some have begun promoting the repeal of the Magic Council's jurisdiction within country borders, leaving millions of Wizards defenseless.
But even with the Council branches acting independently and the Faction and Council taking it too far, Spiritless aren't only victims, Lance thought. Since most governments are Spiritless-employed, more Wizards are losing their freedom since their governments are trying to be proactive in controlling the chaos, but they're just adding fuel to the fire.
A pang of grief and anger hit him as he saw more news about the detrimental war zone and alleged concentration camps set up in the Amazone. It was a bloodbath no matter how you looked at it. The Magic Council was trying to make sure their rules were established, but the Faction rammed against them, and the Spiritless caught in the crossfire were sick of both and wanted all Magic-kind dead. And it worsened to see innocent Wizards who lived in those tribes were being stolen from their homes and into those alleged camps. He saw another article in Seven about a possible bust in the sex and slave trafficking ring that had a special interest in child Wizards.
Disgust rolled in Lance's gut. I can't even imagine if Mary Jane was taken from us. Or Liberty. Out of everyone in the family, the two of them are in the most danger. Liberty's Luck Magic already made her a prime target back in her home country. I don't know how any of us would survive if she was kidnapped. Uncle Freed would be devastated, and Justin would go nuclear without a thought. And Mary Jane's in a sensitive state. But my worry is reversed. If Mary Jane was kidnapped…
He remembered the surge of torrid scarlet energy that threatened the living room and coerce him into an aching madness of which he would never recover.
…I'm more worried about what she would do to everyone around her.
Illumi's whining stopped him.
Lance looked down at his Fulgumiho. Illumi, successful in getting his master's attention, trotted up a sidewalk. It was then Lance realized they had gotten all the way to—
Misty's house? Lance followed Illumi only to frown seeing Mystogan's mail was a little full. He decided to retrieve it before he climbed up the steps. The spare key required a simple spell to be found. Once he had it, he unlocked the doors and felt the wards allow him to pass. Illumi scraped in first before he took off his shoes and entered the desolate home.
"Mystogan's been gone since December," Lance remembered. He turned on the lights and smelt the stagnate air. "Cullen?" he called for the Shadower. "Are you home?" When no one came out, Lance came further in to set Mystogan's mail on the kitchen counter. Everything had been scrubbed down, and the spell to keep away dust and circulate the house was still at large.
Lance checked his message thread with Mystogan, but he had all but gone silent and refused to even read the messages in December. He must still be angry or buried in his work.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The focus was inside Mystogan's pocket dimension of a study while Cullen was meticulously worked out the mathematics to an experiment he was assigned to carry on with precision. Mystogan was all over the place as he haphazardly grabbed books to make the journey with him. Jaw taut, he was supposed to look angry, but Lance knew better.
He tried to appeal, "If you just apologize—"
"Why would I apologize when I didn't do anything wrong?" Mystogan shot Lance a look. "And I didn't. Don't get me started."
Lance let out an exasperated huff. "Mystogan, I've always had your back, but you and I both know this has gotten out of hand." He had it with Mystogan's ignorance and blocked him from gathering more research material. "You need to wake up, Mystogan," he harshly snapped. "This isn't the time for you to pretend you're right! Your own mother is refusing to acknowledge you! Aine doesn't even want to see you—"
"You think I don't know that?" Mystogan challenged back. "You think I can't remember hearing my own mother say she won't look at me as her son? How Aine turned her back on me?"
"Then why aren't you doing everything in your power to make them recognize you?" Lance fired back. "What is so worth dying over that you'd risk losing relationships with your own family?"
"Jellal—"
"Don't throw your dad's name as an excuse for this bullshit," Lance hissed at him. His own lightning stirred, agitated. He re-blocked Mystogan when he tried to push past Lance. "You used to idolize him."
Mystogan shook his head, clenched jaw. "Stop it."
"You always said you wanted to be like him," Lance pushed. "You inherited his Heavenly Body Magic, Mystogan—"
"Shut up—!"
"—and you always—you always!—told me one day, you were going to become—!"
"And he left!" Mystogan exploded. "He left just like that! Like we were nothing!"
"You think that was easy for him?" Lance retorted. He snarled when Mystogan tried to shake him off, "Jellal is a legend of an S-Class Mage. You and I both know the sacrifices we go through once we're assigned on a high-profile mission."
Mystogan glared at him. "So, you'd abandon your family for the sake of the mission?"
"I didn't ever mention abandonment, so don't put words in my mouth," Lance countered. "My family is well-aware of what it takes."
Mystogan offered a callous smirk. "And Mary Jane?"
Lance flinched back, but his anger was ignited. "You can't compare our situation with Mary Jane versus your situation with your family, so don't. Don't you ever disrespect my little sister like that."
"And don't disrespect mine."
Lance let out a ragged breath as Mystogan moved past him to keep collecting. "Okay, Misty, tell me this. When you look at Ena, what do you see?" He overheard Mystogan's huff and felt a sharp protest coming on, but Lance silenced it with a warning, "Oberon."
Mystogan was set to ignore him—
"I'll tell you what I know you see," Lance decided. "You know you're ignoring her. You know you're hurting her. And the reason why you're acting like this much of a horrible brother to her?" He paused. "Because you see how much she was like you when Jellal was around."
Mystogan slowed to a stop, but he did not turn around.
Lance went on: "You were just like her when you were young—don't deny it. You were so eager to be like your dad, Mystogan, and I could see that a mile away. You hung onto his every word, and you trained hard to impress him. I remember how much you would go on for days just because he'd work with you on a new spell or research. You loved your dad. And you see the way Ena admires a man she's never even met. You see how much she admired you because you're there, Mystogan. Of course she admires her brother, and you see that and you see how much of you she reminds you of, and you're still trying to cope with your own loss by taking it out on her."
He panted, his spiel done, but Mystogan remained quiet, contemplative, waiting.
"Jellal is not my father." Mystogan tensed. "Ena needs to learn she can only count on herself. I'm teaching her that. And one day"—he half turned his face for Lance to see the darkness in his eyes—"she'll thank me for never having to deal with this Hell."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Illumi's whining brought him out of the memory. He stopped down to soothe Illumi with gentle pats and light charges of lightning. "Thanks, Illumi," he murmured with a small smile. "I'm sorry. Guess I was caught up in my thoughts."
I can't help but feel bad for both Aine and Ena, Lance sighed. Ever since fourteen—nearing fifteen—years ago, Aine's never had it easy between her own condition. Master had Ena to take care of, so Mystogan stepped up to help Aine, but it turned into him helicoptering her. She works hard, and I'm happy to see her pursuing so much into the field of magical nursing and admin. But…
Lance could think of Ena, distant and alone, just like Mary Jane. Ena's an exceptional girl and powerful. I know she loves her mom. But I could always tell she kept away whenever it was possible. She didn't want to interact with anyone outside of Luna. And between her and Aine… When Illumi toppled over for belly rubs, Lance caved. Aine's just like me. We both want closer relationships with our sisters. The situations are very different, but the end goal is the same. At least, now, Mary Jane is more open. But Ena…
Lance sighed again. "I'm not sure if Ena will want a relationship with Aine anytime soon, Illumi."
Illumi scrambled to its paws, shook out its fur, and prodded Lance to send calming shock waves.
Lance smiled. "You always know how to make me feel better, huh?" He looked around before standing up. "Come on. Let's get home, so you can get some treats." He guided his Fulgumiho out of the house and felt the wards automatically reset and re-lock. But he had to glance back at the house as they walked away.
Don't take too long, Mystogan. The longer you wait to come home…it might be too late to repair the damage you've done.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
•
hitori ja kowakatta yoru demo
futari de nara tasukeatte
chikazukeru SATERAITO
irodoru machi o tobikoetara
sashidashita te o tsukamu "yatto aeta ne"
futatsu no kiseki ni omedetou
•
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The waterfront was a tourist attraction. Sorry, but it was true. Most who came to Fiore would visit Crocus, New Azalea, Rose Garden City, and this waterfront right here. Heart's Day drew out people all over, from natives to those who lived miles away, to exploit the luxury hotels and cuisine. Many had come to ride the cantilevered observation wheel while others headed down to the market to check out the morning hauls that had been cleaned. For the winter, the flea market had been shuffled inside to a spacious building and would be open today. While it was normally a Sunday affair, the flea market would be open all weekend. The farmer's market already had one of the local bands playing a Sinnish traditional song to get everyone awake. Even though school was in session, a few had skipped to see if they could play some games at the arcade.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This is the Solidago Waterfront, located in western Fiore. It centers on a collection of lively piers filled with attractions like the Solidago Great Wheel, gondolas, the Solidago Aquarium, Sol Place Market, many seafood restaurants, and more. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Lance and Aine were dressed for the weather as they walked hand in hand down the flea market. Aine had already weaseled her way into getting a woven basket, a scarf, and a few other trinkets while Lance carried the basket for her. He had to laugh when Aine drifted them over to stand that sold dream catchers and wish makers.
"Where are you going to put this?" he had to ask as they walked into the tent. A few others were checking out the merchandise.
"My room," Aine loftily said. "I want to buy one for your mom and Mary Jane."
Lance smiled as he took a look at the dream catchers. "Yeah, Mom would definitely love a dream catcher." He could imagine his mother's excitement in contrast to his father's disgust that he hid whenever she looked at him. "Though, Dad might not be a fan. But Mary Jane?"
Aine hummed as she looked at a mid-sized dream catcher. "You told me she's been uncertain with herself, so I want to get her a dream catcher. I'd get one for my mom, but she has a lucky ax over her bed that she tells me chases away nightmares." She sweatdropped as she imagined her mother happily sleeping with weapons hanging everywhere. "I definitely didn't inherit that from her." She took down a dream catcher and sighed. "I'd get one for Ena, but… I'm not so sure she'd take it that well."
"But Christmas—"
"I made Mom sign my gifts from Santa," Aine reminded her boyfriend. She plucked a smaller dream catcher. "I don't doubt that if I gave Ena a present, she'd take it, but she wouldn't open it." Browns saddened. "It's funny. I have one sibling who overwhelms me and another who can't get away from me fast enough."
Lance frowned. "Ena will come around. Mary Jane did."
"Mary Jane is very different," Aine reminded tiredly. "And you know that, but I know you're trying to cheer me up." She kissed his cheek as her thanks, but her smile was tinged. "Unlike Mary Jane, there was never a time Ena wanted to be around me, even when she was little."
"But there was a time when Mystogan acted like your brother and not your aide," Lance brought up. "He's stubborn and an idiot, but he'll see sooner or later he just needs to be a brother to two sisters."
"And even if that happens, it could be too late." Aine's gaze fleeted over the wish makers. "Even if Misty wanted to atone, I know Ena. She thinks I don't know her, but I do." Her stare captured a medium wish maker with the symbol of a sage Dragon on it. "Even Mystogan put in the effort now, I know Ena wouldn't accept it, not right away or even with time." She closed her eyes and drew in a large inhale from her nose, then an exhale from her mouth. "I don't think she'll ever want me in her life when she's old enough to move away. And I know that's Mom's fear too. I just—"
Aine broke off into a body-shaking cough, and Lance was quick to support her. "Do you need your inhaler? A mask?"
Aine finished coughing to shake her head. "No," she hoarsely declined. "I'm fine." She caught his concern, coughed once more, then smiled. "I'm okay," she promised him. "Just feeling a little weak today, but other than that, I'm fine. I'm up for today, I swear."
"Okay." Lance accepted her answer, but he kept close. "You know what to do if today is too much."
Aine's smile widened when he kissed her temple. "Yeah, I know." She showed him her L-Watch. "My baby will alert me if anything's too wrong, and I know my limits. I'm okay." She pulled away to keep looking at the wish makers.
Lance sighed. "Whatever you say." He reached for his Compact only to jolt when he felt cool metal. He slid out the object to look at the golden meter he had been gifted in complete perplexity. I thought I left this at home? His eyes widened, then narrowed when he saw the needles were slowly trying to position themselves. Wait… Is this thing…actually working?
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Fairy Adventure 087
•
Tales of Heart's Day Weekend
Tale of Lance and Aine
Hercules
•
ハートの日の週末の物語
ランスとアイネの物語
ヘラクレス
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
TOOOOOOOOOT!
A restaurant boat glided down the coast as those on the top deck went out to take pictures of the scenic Great Wheel and the waterfront itself. Some of the games set up on the piers were tailored to couples and good friends to complete challenges or to learn how well they know each other. Lance waited for Aine on one of the benches while she ducked in to go to the bathroom and take her prescriptions, but he was concentrated on the meter as the needles moved this way and that like they were trying to catch a signal.
"Come on," Lance urged in a murmur. "What are you trying to tell me?"
The needles continued bobbing.
"I'm back," Aine announced, but she caught Lance's intense stare on the meter. "What's wrong? Is that the present you got from the USM."
As she settled beside him, Lance said, "Yeah. I didn't think I brought it along with us on our vacation, but I guess I put it in my pocket this morning. Out of nowhere, it just started to move." He clicked his tongue when the needles would not stop shifting. "But it's like it's buffering or something similar. The needles weren't moving last night."
"Is it trying to lock onto something? Someone?"
"I don't know." Lance tucked the meter into his pocket. "But I'm not going to stress about it." He stood up and helped Aine to her feet. "Our vacation isn't supposed to be my stressing over my research, and you shouldn't stress either." He pulled them into a leisurely stroll. "Just us two romancing for the entire weekend."
Aine snorted and shook her head. "Yeah, and we can only do that since Misty's stationed in Infiorata Town. If he saw us…" She paused. "No, he'd still be an idiot enough to not understand we're dating. How is he one of the most brilliant Wizards and could be the youngest Sorcerer alive, but he's such an idiot in other ways?"
"Book smarts and street smarts don't always happen at the same time," Lance joshed. "Nik had a problem with common sense a lot." He shivered. "And his lack of common sense ended up with girls pretty much slapping him all the time."
"I know I wanted to hit him," Aine said darkly. "He nicknamed me 'Forever Flat' when we were kids. How did your mom or Veronika never murder him?"
Lance awkwardly laughed as he remembered Veronika's attempts to stab Nik and his mother about to go demonic only for Laxus to pick her up and hurriedly move her away from an unremorseful and clueless Nik. "Oh, there were times when I think we all wanted to kill him. He only knew how to keep his mouth shut around Mary Jane. She was the one to put him in his place."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Nicky, you're so stupid! No wonder girls go away so fast from you!"
A dumbfounded Nik in his teenage years was on all-fours, pride wounded, as a child Mary Jane happily skipped away, humming a tune. Teenaged Veronika was cackling in the background while teenaged Lance was wide-eyed.
"My…pride…" Nik rasped. "Janie…why do you hurt me?"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"I always loved visiting your house when we were kids," Aine laughed as they bypassed a whole set-up that would have people be quizzed on their partner. "It was always so lively. And especially when our parents all went out for their events. Back then, my mom could only take Misty, so Ena and I would come with you guys to Aunt Ever and Uncle Elfman's house."
Lance threw his head back to laugh. "It was chaos!" he remembered. "Esme and Ronnie would ditch fifteen minutes after the adults left to go to some party. Nik would try to fight Ronnie on it, but then he'd run off because he would be late to another date. Ezra was pretty much the only one with any maternal instincts to help take care of the littler cousins. And Pacer and Pearson…" He made a face. "It's amazing they aren't in jail for all the pranks they pulled."
"They were funny pranks," Aine conceded.
"Even when they pranked Elvin into thinking guys could get pregnant if they got kissed and Elvin was so terrified to leave the house for two weeks?"
Aine snort-laughed. "Okay, I still find it funny that Elvin was pure enough to believe them." She sighed out her laughter. "Your family is just so different from mine. It's so big. You always have something going on." She glanced over to see a young mother with her two children, one child who was rampant while the other was shy. "It wasn't until Wendy's breakthrough that I could be at home. I was in and out of the hospital and treatment centers."
Lance kissed her cheek. "And now you're getting stronger every day."
"Not strong enough," Aine sighed. "I was the reason for us to be dragged into Bellum in the first place. All because of my stupid pride." The memory was so vivid of visiting Nashi in the PICU, seeing how pale she had gotten and the machines keeping her stable. "And you, Gary, and Nashi suffered."
"You know none of us blame you," Lance soothed. "We were all in the wrong place at the wrong time." He pulled her to the railing of the boardwalk when she looked unconvinced. "Hey, we're here. We made it. Nashi is good as new and so am I. We're okay."
Aine looked out into the rippling ocean, which was dulled from such a cold season. "I just hate that Mystogan is right about me," she confessed. "He never wanted me to even be a Fairy Tail Mage…and it's not like I don't understand his argument." She exhaled when Lane touched her cheek. "Working at the clinic, getting my degree, directing for Fairy Hills… I love doing all of it."
"Then, keep doing what you're doing," Lance encouraged. "Misty has been my best friend since we were kids, but that doesn't mean I agree with every philosophy he has. He was right to worry about you, but he's taken it too far. You're not an invalid. You're strong, capable, and fierce. Your connection to your Magic might be damaged and your soul might be weak, but that doesn't take away from how you've lived every day the way you wanted it to." Those greens spoke of sincerity. "You've ignored what he's said for years. What's changed now?"
Aine kept quiet as though she did not want to confess. But her words came out reluctantly. "I think…Mystogan blames Ena because of me."
"What?" Lance's eyes went wide. "Did he say that?"
Aine rubbed her temple. "No, but it feels like it, sometimes," she admitted. "I know he did when she was born, remember? And he got over it, but… Sometimes, it feels like it's still there." She offered her boyfriend a sidelong glance. "Like you, Nik, and Igneel."
That made Lance flinched and look away. "I know Igneel isn't at fault for Mary Jane. And Nik does too."
"Yes, but it wasn't always like that," Aine reminded him gently. "I still remember how furious you both were. Nik's temper was always up in the air, but you were a lot calmer. Veronika was the only one of you three who wasn't upset with him."
"I was a kid," Lance defended. "I wasn't thinking clearly. But I understand better now. Igneel was never to blame, just like Ena was never to blame. You and Mary Jane did what you had to do." He hazarded a question. "You still don't want to tell her?"
A loveless smile dampened Aine's futures. "What and give her more of a reason to resent me and feel guilty? I already know what she'd think. I know she'd think it was right for Mystogan to treat her like this." She shook her head. "It was my choice. The question is"—she tipped her head in Lance's favor—"are you sure you know it was Mary Jane's choice?"
Now it was Lance's turn to get quiet as he looked out the waterfront. Aine leaned her head on his shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around her waist as he fell deep into his thoughts and emotions. A few kids were laughing as they skittered down the pier with their nanny in tow, desperate to catch them. Hot chocolate and coffee subtly stained the wintry breeze.
"For the Harvest Festival Royale, when I was waiting in Kardia Cathedral, someone was waiting there too." Lance's first words were blank and lacked a tone. "At first, I couldn't tell, but then I realized someone was there. I couldn't sense their location, but I sensed their presence. It was weird, though. Considering the runes set up, they must have been hiding there before Freed set up any runes."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Kardia Cathedral was eerily quiet, but Lance did not trust it. Lightning filtering through his skin—his blood—his eyes crept along the ceiling, then down to the floor as he tried to sense the electromagnetic waves around him. It made his skin prickle and his hair stand on end, but the vague pulse he received had no clear direction.
"Whoever you are, you should come out now," Lance warned. "I have some guests due to arrive here to fight me, and I'd rather you not get caught in the crossfire."
But of course, no one answered.
'Where are they hiding?' Lance cursed. 'I should be able to flesh them out without a problem, but it's like something is blocking me from getting a direct location.' A slow realization crept up on him. 'Something…blocking my sensors…' His eyes darted up to catch the vents, but he saw that they had been closed-off.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
I figured out that whoever had hidden in the church had shut the vents and gassed it, so my senses were off. They kept their presence hidden from me until they knew the gas had affected me enough.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
'Damn.' Lightning flashed in Lance's eyes at this. 'I need to send the signal to Master.' He clapped his hands and lightning burst all around him to provide a protective cage. He knelt at the altar and pressed a hand down, letting his Magic flow. A portion of Freed's runes revealed themselves and accepted Lance as an authorized writer. Quickly, he reworked the runes.
'If I can send this out quick enough then—'
PLINK!
Lance cursed when an arrow had shot his hand and crashed his cage. Gritting his teeth, he went to touch the air, but the second he touched it, it burned his hand, and he retracted it quickly. "Fuck," he softly swore as blood started to surface.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
It didn't take me long to figure out a Hunter was the one to do this. They shot me with an arrow to prevent me from sending out a signal. Anti-Mages are too far between and Nullification Magic can only work with offensive spells.
I didn't understand why they didn't just kill me. They just shot my hand.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
'Shit, I need to take it out.' Lance buckled down and braced himself for the pain. A snarl left him when his good hand gripped the arrow and tore it out from his hand. The pain was enough to boil at his good hand, and he was quick to drop the air, but the pierced hand had suffered.
'With a Hunter here, I'm just a sitting duck.' With both hands down, Lance had no choice but to cradle his bleeding hand and try to stop the wound from getting dirty. "What's wrong, Hunter?" he sneered. "Are you just toying around with me before you kill me?"
Silence.
A bead of sweat dropped from Lance's temple. 'I'm going to die.' But he did not fear death. He grunted as he tried to move. 'But I'm not dying without a fight.' His hand was jostled, and he hissed when his hand clenched on instinct. Blood skewered from the wound and dripped off his skin.
DRIP.
The blood landed on the altar.
DROP.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
But in just a split-second…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
CRACK-CRACK!
Lance's eyes lit up as a sigil blossomed underneath him. Black filled the sigil as black lighting clawed its way up in sultry dance. For the few moments he had vision, he saw that the demonic sigil had expanded outside with objects that surrounded it, but the panic flared as his own lightning wound around him like a defensive snake.
'What the Hell is this?' He flinched when his lightning wrestled with the black lightning. 'What's happening? What…?' But his thoughts were cut off when a wayward charge of black lightning got through his defenses to strike his spine and his eyes were overtaken into darkness.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Demons were something I was privy to, but not these sorts of Demons," Lance told Aine. "Forneus wasn't the same as the Etherious Demons the Black Mage had created. He was part of the Demons from the original Demon Wars. He could possess, contract, and bind people, but…"
"But you had to be willing," Aine filled in with sympathy.
Lance clenched his jaw. "It's not like I hadn't been trained with Hypnosis Magic, and other temptation spells and potions. My mom always wanted us prepared. The way she describes her powers…" He shook his head. "You have to have a strong will against that sort of madness she lives with. She can control it even if she's upset or angry, but she's had more experience. If you showed any sign of weakness, it would be exploited and twisted until you went delirious and didn't even know it."
Aine had a feeling where this was going. "And what did he do to you?"
"He…" Shame and anger took hold of Lance's heart. "He showed me…that night… The night we lost Mary Jane." He let go of Aine to grab onto the railing when his lightning flared and clacked static. "It was so vivid," he whispered. "It was like I was reliving every detail of it. The flames, Mary Jane's powers… I could see everything." He closed his eyes. "But that anger I thought I let go of came back. He said things to me I thought I'd forgotten. Told me things I didn't think I believed anymore. I kept having to relive that moment that I felt like I was going crazy."
Aine rubbed Lance's back up and down. "He used that anger to control you."
"Now I know it was more than just a plot." Lance roughly swallowed. "He made promises—a deal." He shook his head in dismay. "I betrayed a guildmate; someone I view as family."
"you couldn't help it—"
"I could have," Lance cut her off. He opened his eyes to look at her and guilty greens collided with understanding mochas. "I could have, Aine. There aren't any excuses." He looked back out to the water. "These Demons and their Warlocks… I get how tempting it is. Compared to the Warlocks, I was lucky. Forneus just possessed my body. Even though the deal with us was broken, I'm not Cursed to be in his debt forever. It was just a rebound made to turn me into a monster, but Veleda helped me control it. But I can see how easy it is to fall into that trap."
His eyes dimmed. "They tell you everything you want to hear. They hit all the right points and drudge up your secrets. No matter how much you want to hide it, they find your weaknesses as their strengths." He snorted. "And my mom deflects it without batting an eye."
"But she had trouble with it when she was younger, didn't she?"
Lance conceded to that. "She did. But it's still impressive." And Gary's impressive too. I know he doesn't see it, but even Mom commends him for keeping his sense of self. It's so easy to lose yourself to that sort of power. For him to stay in control… He's incredible. His mind flashed to Mary Jane. How long will it take for Mary Jane to get control so she can be herself again?
Aine's voice called to him. "I might not know about possession or anything you went through, but I do know this." She rested her forehead against his cheek. "We can't control our past actions. It's down with. It just is what it is. But we can control what we do going forward." She kissed his chin.
"Igneel visited me in my hospital room." Lance turned to kiss her forehead.
Aine's lips curled into an amused smile. "I remember overhearing from some nurses about a rogue patient who kept abandoning his room. So, you were his accomplice?"
Lance chuckled. "Not exactly that."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
No one liked to be confined to a hospital room. You felt so restricted and contained, like you were living with your parents but on a worse scale than that. You had to wear a gown that barely covered your backside, an intrusive ID bracelet, and Heaven forbid you to be allowed to take a walk when you wanted to. But with Lance's injuries, he sucked it up and kept to himself. But he had not anticipated a visitor.
Lest that visitor be Igneel.
Igneel sat next to his bed, already redressed in his clothes, and he had burned off his bracelet. If he was in pain, he did not show it. But he looked at Lance with those sturdy onyx eyes and would never falter. "Thanks for all your help," he appreciated. That chipper, happy-go-lucky tone was exchanged for his natural darker timbre. "You didn't have to help me, but you did."
"I hurt you more than I helped you," Lance pointed out with a dejected smile.
"I know you helped me." Igneel kept his gaze steady as cyan lightning flashed in his eyes. "You didn't have to help me, but you did."
"You're guild, Igneel—"
Igneel shook his head. "You know that's not what I mean." His stare flickered. "I know…" He sighed, shoulders rising and all, as his eyes dropped. "I know…it's not easy to help me. Not after everything." His hands clenched. "If the roles were reversed, I don't think I'd be able to think like that."
"I don't blame you," Lance assured. "Igneel, I know you aren't at fault—"
"Lance."
Solid emerald collided with jade.
"I'm not here to argue," Igneel said. "I know what you think of me—or thought of me." He fingered his scarf. "I just want you to know that I'll use your gift and learn about it the best I can."
Lance stared at Igneel before shaking his head. "I'm—"
"Please don't say you're sorry," Igneel cut in quickly. "You shouldn't be." He hesitated before he looked down at his hands. "Because of me, MJ lost everything. You lost your sister." Flames ignited in his palms and reflected in his eyes. "I've never forgotten that. And I never will." He crushed his flames as his hands curled to fists. "So, I'll take your gift and use it to become stronger."
Lance would never forget how such vibrant emeralds could look so cold.
"And I'll use it to bring her back."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Maybe I should've seen the signs then," Lance murmured. "He's so young, but… His eyes…" How could he forget such a stare? "He wasn't looking at me as his senior or a friend or family. He wasn't looking at me in guilt or anger for what I did. His eyes… They looked at me as though he was warning me. Like he was saying he'll risk whatever it takes to bring it back, and if I stood in his way, he wouldn't hesitate to move me."
A mirthless smirk. "He was terrifying when he was little, but honestly, I don't know if I would win against him in a fight now," Lance confessed.
"Why do you say that?"
"I might be S-Class, but to be honest…" Lance remembered that freezing gaze. "I don't think there are many people who could go up against Igneel at full strength. His power isn't just flames. I know that now. And if we got in his away, outside of Gary and Uncle Natsu…I don't think anyone could stop him."
"Except Mary Jane," Aine put in. She noticed Lance's sigh. "Your mom said it herself. Even Mister Dragneel couldn't handle Igneel. He was struggling. Igneel wouldn't listen to anyone except Mary Jane."
"And that's what worries me."
Aine frowned. "What do you mean?"
Lance pulled away from the railing to wrap his arm around her waist again. "God forbid if there came a day where Mary Jane was gone…"—jade set with a necessary fear—"I don't even think the world would survive Igneel's flames."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Fairy Adventure
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The restaurant offered three levels and that went to show how popular it was. Reservations were a must. The dark wood ran throughout all three levels with murmured conversation and loud laugher. The bar on each level was more and more impressive with the abundance of offerings. Converted from a longhouse, the upper two levels had opened up their middles to show the ground floor, but it was more for the entertainment of the guests. Ships in a bottle were magicked to reenact calmer waters or life-of-death storms.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This is Ellen's Oyster House known for its amazing bay view and sustainable seafood. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Lance and Aine settled on a window booth on the second floor. Mussels and oysters served as delicious appetizers, but the entrees were to die for. Lance had settled on halibut with blistered balsamic vegetables and parmesan polenta, but Aine was the true glutton and was unashamed to ordered two entrees. The first entrée was seafood linguine filled with mussels, prawns, finfish, and scallops while the second was a double r ranch filet mignon.
Lance had to snicker as Aine had plowed through half of both dishes. "Thank god you don't shy away from your appetite."
"I still fall short from the Dragon Slayers," Aine chortled. She pointed her fork at him. "Remember on our first date, you called me out for trying to eat light?"
"In my defense, we've grown up together," Lance reminded with a grin. "I knew you could eat more. The second you said you wanted to a chicken salad, I knew something was wrong."
Aine shook her head in amusement. "I like chicken salads when I'm in a pinch," she admitted, "but as long as I know I can have a bigger meal later. Mom's the same way. Mystogan would always have a heart attack at home with how much I ate."
"He eats like a bird," Lance chuckled. "I've never met someone so picky. I'd bet my entire savings that we could take him to the best chef in the world, and he'd still complain something was wrong. He was a nightmare on dual missions. He brings along those god-awful nutritional bars and those packets for his shakes and tries to politely decline whenever villages and towns would want to treat us to a feast."
"He didn't used to be like that," Aine pointed out.
Lance took a swig of his drink. "No, he used to accept, but he'd pick at his food or give it to me to try to save face. Now he's too good for that." He rolled his eyes. "One day—someday—Misty will lighten up. He does with Luke." He smiled a little. "If anyone can crack through Mystogan's walls, it's him."
"Yeah, I know." Aine looked out the window. "He never thought he'd take on a student so young, but Luke was so determined. My brother might be a lot of things and keeps people at a distance, but I saw how hard he worked for Luke's lessons."
Lance snorted. "Didn't Luke ask for Misty to take him to Legoland if he did well on an exam?" He hooted. "I remember the look on Mystogan's face when Luke passed with flying colors, but he wouldn't dare deny his disciple."
"The photos were so adorable," Aine remembered. "Luke looked a lot more excited than Mystogan, but I could tell Mystogan was happy his student was happy." She added, "But I've never heard him swear outside of when he stepped on a Lego. He hates swearing, but he swears like a Fairy Tail member when that happens."
Lance hummed. "Mystogan's been training look for how many years now? I think eight years?"
"Yeah." Aine softened. "I could always tell he cared about Luke like he was a little brother. He could be harsh, but he always treated Luke fairly. Even when I was in the hospital and Mystogan would stay with me, I'd catch him working hard on Luke's lesson plans." Her smile turned bittersweet. "I always wondered if Ena ever resented Luke because of that."
Lance shook his head. "I don't think so. They seem to be good friends," he recalled. It occurred to him. "Didn't I tell you when Misty gave Luke a talk about Ena?"
"What?" Aine's eyes rounded as her eyebrows shot into her bangs. "No! He did that?"
"Yeah." Lance squinted as he racked his brain for the memory. "It was some time ago, though. I had stopped by the Dragneel's for some reason with my dad. I'm sure it had to do with a mission, but I can't remember." He waved a hand. "But anyway, Ena was over for her own training with Aunt Lucy's Celestial Spirits and for Luna, but Mystogan was training Luke close by. I think Luke was just impressed with Ena's sword work, but Misty caught him watching her." His lips twitched. "I couldn't get close enough to hear every word, but the gist of what I heard was him warning Luke to focus and to keep his focus on his training and not on Ena."
"Oh, my!" Aine laughed. "I can't believe that! What was Luke's reaction?"
"Poor guy was redder than a tomato," Lance guffawed. "But he definitely didn't look at Ena again."
Aine shook her head in amused disbelief. "That sort of makes me wonder how Mystogan would react if Ena chose to be with someone. Would he care?" She let out an exasperated breath. "But that reminds me. Your mom—"
"My dad was gone, so I couldn't escape the marriage lecture again," Lance complained. "You know when my mom cries, I can't just walk away. Ronnie can do it since she's more cold-hearted than the rest of us." He grimaced as he remembered Veronika leaving with ease while their mother looked like she was about to cry, while Nik and Lance stayed behind in their hurried attempts to appease her. "Nik might be rough, but he can't resist Mom's tears either. Even if they're always fake."
She's an evil mastermind, Lance and Aine thought.
("Achoo!" Mira sneezed on her way home from Fairy Tail. She giggled to herself. My word! It sounds like someone is talking about me! Her eyes flashed with a sinister tint. They better be saying good things about me.)
Lance shivered and blurted, "But she's a great mom! The best mom I could ever have!"
Aine's brow furrowed as she watched Lance looked around. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing." Lance breathed a quiet sigh of relief. It felt like Mom would Curse me if I didn't praise her. "But I made my mom swear to me she wouldn't bring up marriage to your mom again." He grimaced. "Remember when I found that random ring at the guild?"
"Oh, yes." Aine certainly did remember. "Our mothers thought you were proposing and ended up in some apocalyptic battle about who would be the matron of honor. No, not even just that. They started fighting over every detail of a wedding that has yet to come to thought."
"Mother Royale," Lance remembered solemnly.
Both recalled the devastation the Titania and the Demoness of Fairy Tail had caused. All the screaming and cries for help and the explosion and the fire. So much fire.
They shuddered in unison.
"If marriage is ever spoken about, we can go on a cruise and elope," Aine decided.
Lance sighed. "That won't work. Both of our moms can fly and their bloodhounds when it comes to marriage." He offered her a sheepish smile. "At least we never have to worry about wedding planners or anything like that in the future."
"We just have to worry about another Mother Royale," Aine sighed. "Is it too late for us to break up?"
Lance shrugged. "Sorry. No refunds, exchanges, or returns." He offered her a boyishly charming smile as he offered her some halibut. "And besides, you'd miss Illumi?"
"That is true. I am dating you for your Fulgumiho." She took the bite and thoughtfully chewed and swallowed before she asked, "Is he getting better?"
Lance shrugged again. "Better than before, but he's old. When Nashi brought him to me, he already had issues. Hopefully, at the next check-up, we'll see how progress is, but he's been such a great friend to me all the years. Thankfully, he's not depressed, and he's always in good spirits, so I know he wants to persevere. It's just for how long."
"Then, we better make every moment with him count," Aine softly put. "He's strong, just like his dad. And I'm sure your electro-massages are working wonders on him. His tails always vibrate after you give him one."
Lance smiled. "Yeah, I know." He checked the time. "I'll be right back. Will you be okay here?"
"Nope. I'll use your absence as time for my hasty escape."
Lance slid out of the booth to go to Aine's side and peck her lips. "You know I like the chase." His smile widened at the flush on Aine's cheeks. "I'll be back." He kissed her once more before he headed down the aisle to find the bathrooms. Only a few men were inside, so he was quick about his business and washed his hands. His Compact started to vibrate, so he toweled his hands dry before he wriggled out his Compact only—
CLANG!
Lance cursed when he saw the golden meter fall. With a quick glance, he saw it was Thomas who called, and he answered as he squatted. "Hi, Thomas."
"We've got eureka!" Thomas cheered while Lance frowned at the golden meter. "I was able to reach out to one of the descendants of the original Custodians—or fáirths to the Old Gods way back when. He wasn't too keen to speak up, but he felt he had to."
"Uh-huh…" Lance opened up the meter. His eyes gradually widened when he saw the needles start to spin and then lock. The glyph selected was a horned gate, so to speak, and the red needle was pointing to Lance, or behind him. But the blue needle had a faint glow. It's… It's working. He darted out of the restroom and tried to follow what the meter told him.
"Yes! He doesn't come from Éirulan, but I guess his grandmother spoke about the device you received often," Thomas explained while Lance refused to waste time on the elevator and took the steps two at a time. "Before times, these devices were trusted to these Custodians by the Gods, apparently. The Custodians were entrusted with the devices in order to help located Demigods who had enough power to withstand whatever trial Demigods had to face for their status."
Lance hummed, but he was too focused on the meter and the red needle that showed him the way. I can't believe it. It's working. It locked onto something.
"In Minstrish, the device is called a divusiometer, which means—"
"Nnngh!" Lance dropped his Compact when he shouldered into someone. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" he apologized, scatterbrained. "I should've looked where I'm going." He helped the person back to their feet, one eye on them and one eye on the meter. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I… Hey, aren't you the Railgun—?"
"I'm sorry, but I have to get going." Lance scooped up his Compact and continued his charge. "Sorry, Thomas, I need to go! I'll call back later for the information!"
"Oh, wait—!"
Lance ended the call to abandon the restaurant. He glanced around, frantic, but the blue needle started glowing even more. I must be close, he determined. He took off in the direction the red needle pointed and wove between pedestrians without a word of apology. He was a man on a mission.
The blue needle puffed up its glow and unceremoniously, Lance felt his static flee up his arm as though his own powers were responding. Lightning dashed in his eyes and, for a moment, the world turned into a huge of black with white-outlined silhouettes of everyone who walked on by. But the blue streak was lit up like a roadmap for him to follow. The real world flickered back to life before he was dunked back into this negative space. In the far distance, a vibrant glow called to him like a campfire.
Reality crashed through his eyesight again.
What…? What am I seeing? Lance wondered as he kept pace. Was that glow another God Slayer? He steeled himself as he looked at the divusiometer in his hand. Then this meter… It tells me…
The glow died.
The divusiometer reverted to its previous look.
Lance skidded to a stop, horrified. "No…" He twisted and turned. "No, no, no!" He searched high and low and forcibly blinked, but no matter what, he was stuck looking at reality without a vibrant glow to call to him. "I was so close!" he cursed. He shook the divusiometer. "Please, buddy, come on, come on, work for me one more time." Where's the God Slayer? Was I even chasing a God Slayer?
The divusiometer said nothing and did nothing.
Frustrated, Lance took out his Compact and called back Thomas. He instantly initiated the conversation. "I'm sorry I had to cut you off. Can you explain to me what a divusiometer does?"
"O-Oh! Sure, no problem!" Thomas assured cheerily. "A divusiometer is essentially both a meter and compass on Demigods. The compass would tell the Custodians under which God the Demigod hailed from to anticipate their possible powers and the direction the Demigod was in once they were within range."
"And the blue needle?"
"A…blue needle?"
"Yeah." Lance clenched his jaw as he looked at the dead blue needle. "What does the blue needle do?"
"O-Oh! Um, I'm not too sure. I'll have to contact the man again to ask him some more specifics," Thomas said apologetically. "Though, I can't guarantee he'll answer. He was in a hurry to leave after our questioning session was up. The other descendants won't respond to my inquiry, and without this being an official inquiry from the Archaeology Society, they aren't obligated to help me. And I can't tell you their addresses since we guaranteed their protection and privacy in exchange for their assistance."
"I understand," Lance grunted as he glanced around. "So, to be clear, though, the device I got is called a divusiometer and it can point me in the direction of a Demigod, theoretically. Did he give you a range?"
"He didn't, but I'd suspect it's the same as a medeimeter, which is the Magic equivalent to a divusiometer. While all the medeimeters were destroyed long ago, some of the technology has evolved and we have some good records of them. It's said the medeimeter could detect a Wizard fifty meters away."
"'Fifty meters'," Lance echoed. This doesn't make sense. So, I got a lock onto the God Slayer, but then they disappeared? They couldn't have run or flew so they must have used some sort of Teleportation Magic. Still, Teleportation Magic is illegal in heavily commercialized areas and you can only use the Teleport Stops. So, they either jumped illegal, they have Speed Magic like Dash or something else I'm missing.
"Is everything okay?" Thomas worried. "Sorry I couldn't provide you with much more information. Were you able to find out who sent you the divusiometer, though? The Custodial descendent looked pretty pale when I even showed him the picture and wanted to insist you bury it or send it back."
That caught Lance off-guard. "Why?"
"I'm sure for the same reason medeimeters were destroyed. Hunting," Thomas sympathized. "If the divusiometer is the same as a medeimeter, then in order for you to use it, you have to have the proper powers to do so. They were invented for people to seek out their own kind. But the devices aren't that bright about detection. Spiritless who used Enchanter Gloves would use the medeimeters or coerce another Wizard to do so. People killed for them in the Witch Trials era before the medeimeters were destroyed. Our sensors today aren't as sensitive and can only detect a sudden Ether increase if it goes over a certain level.
"Since the Gods were more secretive and remained far away from humanity, they had their tricks to blend in with humans when they came down to the Mortal Realm, so to speak," Thomas continued. "But divusiometers could sus them out and their most potent offspring for the sake of hunting. But, again, people killed for them. To kill a God or their potent offspring was not too common, but it promises greatness. The man recommended you get rid of it before someone else finds out you have one. With Gods disappearing and religions desperate, someone could try to kill you for it. Frankly, I agree with the risks."
"I can handle the risks," Lance assured as he pocketed the meter and headed back to the restaurant. "But thank you for the concern, Thomas. And thanks for gathering the information."
"Sure!" Thomas chirped. "Honestly, though, Mister Dreyar, since the divusiometer won't work for you, you could always just use it as a keepsake. It's virtually powerless without a Custodian or another God Slayer or Demigod holding it."
Lance held his tongue. "Right. It'll look nice on my mantle." He thanked the person who opened the door for him to Ellen's Oyster House. "If you can, could you please look more into it about the blue needle and anything else, especially about what the glyphs mean? Could you put me into contact with a runologist, possibly?"
Thomas hummed. "I'll see what I can do. A runologist wouldn't be helpful since we're talking about glyphs, but I'll see about our hieroglyphologist. They've spread a little thin and pretty busy." It sounded like he was shifting. "But I think Professor Bainbridge could take a look. She's on maternity level, but she has a contact day coming up, so I'll ask her when I get the chance."
"Thank you." Lance saw Aine across the way and felt a little relieved. "I owe you one."
"Oh, please, you owe nothing at all!" Thomas stumbled over to promise. "Honestly, I'm pretty excited about all this research!"
Lance chuckled. "Then, I'll let you get back to it. Have a Happy Heart's Day, Thomas."
"You too, Mister Dreyar!"
Lance ended the call before rejoining Aine at the booth and decided to sit with her rather than across from her. He apologized, "Sorry about that. Thomas called, and then something strange happened."
"Oh." Aine frowned. "Is everything okay?"
Lance nodded as his eyes shifted around the restaurant floor. "Yeah. We can talk about it when we get back to our hotel room. Just us."
Aine took the hint and offered a sultry smirk. "And, um…" Her fingers drifted to stroke the back of his. "Will I be allowed to wear the present you got me for this talk of ours? Just us?"
"I don't know." Lance kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear, "Thank you, little fox."
Aine offered a throaty laugh as her hand dropped to his thigh and she whispered back, "I understand." She purred kittenishly, "And I better get some extra love for you running out on me too. What's a girl to think when her boyfriend almost abandons her on Heart's Day weekend?"
Just as Lance played along, kissing her temple and whispering dirty promises, his thoughts were jumbled. A divusiometer. Another God Slayer. Shit. He closed his eyes under Aine's teasing touch. Happy Heart's Day weekend to me.
The antique compass set out to surprise one of the lovers had been nourished and gently polished until it looked like it had been freshly made and gifted that day rather than from a hundred or so years ago. With its pristine quality, it would certainly be coveted and appreciated for decades to come.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
•
A mystery, how fun
A chase that ends with no prey
But that's all right
Hercules and Megara need some more romance today
•
The next tale sets up is someone headstrong to a fault
She's endured, preserved
She's chosen duty over her heart
Until good morrow, my friends, time to put out the light
Happy Heart's Day to all and to all a good night
•
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
•
Sora ga umi wo idaku mitai ni
Aishi aeta kiseki wo
Mou ichido dake mou ichido dake
Maboroshi de ii
•
Kogoekitta kamome mitai yo
Tasogare no bay city
Ah, ah anata no suki na
Minato ga kurete yuku
•
TO BE CONTINUED…
Next time
On Fairy Adventure
Episode 088
TALES OF HEART'S DAY WEEKEND
MULAN
Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance
— • — • — • —
Narrator – Kelsey Grammer
Lance Dreyar – Johnny Young Bosch
Veleda – Laura Stahl
Mystogan Fernandes – J. Michael Tatum
Aine Fernandes – Carrie Keranen
Mary Jane Dreyar – Erica Lindbeck
Nikolai "Nik" Dreyar – Jason Liebricht
Igneel Dragneel – Bryce Papenbrook
Mirajane Dreyar – Monica Rial
Thomas Crittenden – Justin Briner
• — • — •
Additional Voices
Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn
Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn
Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn
— • — • — • —
⌜OPENING SONG
⟪ Prism ⟫
ClariS & GARNiDELiA
Lyrics by
Ryosuke Shigenaga⌟
•
⌜ENDING SONG
⟪ Tasgore no Bay City ⟫
Junko Yagami
Lyrics by
Junko Yagami⌟
The pier was not too busy with its observation deck and pesky seagulls, who did not get the message they were not welcome with all their squalling and cawing. The grayed overcast reflected onto the darkened waters. A few people had gathered in their winter coats and hats to take pictures. Even if the weather did not look all that promising, it was still nice to remember that they had visited the famous Solidago Waterfront.
The parasol soaked in red with a hand-painted golden lotus did not waver in the wind, nor the beautiful young man who clung to it. Shades covered his eyes, and his black hair was swept back. Some might say he had gelled it that way, and others might have thought he just tossed his head back. Perhaps a mixture of both. His patchwork overcoat fitted him nicely over his shoulders and contrasted with his oversized sweater turtleneck, a gentle cream color. He looked out from the deck as the waves crashed in their push and pull.
"Cymmie…!"
The young man paused at the echoing caterwaul, and his pinky lips curled into an affection smile.
Those on the pier were disgruntled as one rampant gentleman shoved and stomped over them in his efforts to get to the observation deck. Even after being cursed at, warned, hollered at, and given various dirty looks, this gentleman in his very odd get-up of multicolored madness did not give a damn. He just needed to keep pushing himself harder. He could only breathe easier when he saw the beautiful young man and his parasol, and he skidded to a stop before him.
The young gentleman keeled over, hands on his knees, and panted. But he offered up a gleeful grin. "Sorry, Cymmie. Were you waiting for me?"
The beautiful young man turned, shaking his head. "No, not at all. I was here for a minute, but I had to pop back home to get a better parasol." He put his sunglasses in his hair to show angular eyes so dark, you could not see where the iris ended and the pupil started. But his smile widened upon seeing his friend, and he stepped forward to shelter them both under his parasol. "I'm glad you could make it…"
The young gentleman straightened and towered only a few inches with his tight eyes, one of ice blue and the other one a browned auburn, but his smile was big with a gap in the middle.
"…Noah-san."