Chapter 35: A Wish Upon a Stranger

- TWO WEEKS LATER -

"So…" It was hard to think of what to say when your supposed knight in shining armour, bedridden after a gruelling 12 hours surgery. He looked like a ghost of a shell of his former self. Face paled like a vampire starving for blood, dark shadows under his eyes rivalling the Winter Soldier, bloodshot eyes beg to get shut but the brain was too in hurt to let itself rest.

Who knew pain could suck the life out of you?

"I see the surgery was a success. Good for you," I managed to get a comment out. My eyes were drawn to the motor gear installed to his shoulder. Still barren of any kind of mechanical arm.

"I hate you...so...so...much," he croaked out. I almost didn't hear him seeing as he used up his voice box from all that screaming he made. Nick barely stand an hour before he excused himself out the building.

"Good to hear you're still alive."

"Fuck...you…"

"Oh, Nick and I had lynched in that Taco Stand across the street, don't worry, we saved some for you too."

"Go...to...hell…"

"Your welcome, what are friends are for right?"

"Kill...me...please…"

"A, aniki," Nick hesitantly raised his hand, "do you think Spade is truly okay?"

"Hmm? Oh, don't worry. He did just suffer an excruciating surgery, I think he's excused from any profanities for the foreseeable future."

"Shut up...goddamn...motherfuuuuughh…"

"Though the fact he could say anything at all is impressive enough."

"I'll say," an irritated huff turned our attention behind. The Willows, husband and wife, were there. One was an irritated black man with a permanent scowl on his face. The other was a blonde woman, wearing a grin that promised a mischievous trouble, looking beautiful in her gown even though grease and dirt covered her all around. They were like the Yin and Yang seeing them so in sync when talking mechanic or during an operation yet so different in personality.

"That damn swordsman of yours made unreasonable demands; not wanting to be unconscious during the surgery or thinking he could walk away with a fully calibrated automail in six months. I was halfway wanting to knock him unconscious rather than going along with his ego, though seeing he has even a shred of lucidity, I admit he's an impressive piece of work, but that just made him either gutsy or stupid."

"Hahaha, ironic Honey, seeing as you know better what it's like to be gutsy and stupid," His wife chided with a hearty laugh.

Mr Willow grumbled but say no more while continuing to clean up the wares and tools of his profession. While having a surgery room next to the mechanic ware filled with metal parts and oil greased. Though considering he got his surgery illegally, we can't expect a five-star treatment.

Now don't freak on the "Illegal" part, it's not as bad as it sounds. You can't expect a bunch of literal fugitives to just knock on random doors to ask some new arm without raising questions. Especially in a closed border country like Caelum.

You might have heard me mention them from time to time so brief explanation about Caelum.

They're the bastard country of Earthland. To put it in more relatable terms, they are the North Korea of Earth Land. With barely any contact with any foreign lands, illegal activities legalized, military dictatorship, the usual. Not that they don't have their perks when it comes to their science and alchemy they are leagues way ahead of the other countries with little reliance on magic. The brief magic they used were those in the form of tools, like lachrima or even those slave collars, rather than using magic itself.

And I know what you're thinking; automails, alchemy, militaristic country.

Yes, Caelum is the Fairy Tail's version of freaking Ametris. Shocking.

Anyway, with Caelum being a closed border country, outsiders are rare and they barely could move anywhere in town without rigorous interrogation, multiple times, in a day. The fact that we didn't get here legally would only lead to two options:

A, shoot and ask questions later or B, cuff and ask questions never.

Neither options are fun so it's only thanks to luck and my wanderlust that got me asking a favour to the Willows. Or more exact, for them to pay me a debt they owed me.

Well, specifically, Lucy but they deem my request with the same weight as hers, thank the Universe for that.

"I'm gonna...sonnova...I'm gonna…"

"For the love god, I've put enough sleeping med to knock out an elephant, somebody put him out of his misery already!"

I was about to do just that with a simple sleeping rune, but Nick's enthusiastic cheer to volunteer cut me off and I was late to realize how bad of an idea that was before he punched Spade's head hard enough to be unconscious.

"...I did say knock him out, but I didn't mean giving him a possible concussion yah Lunatic"

Nick looked down at his tight-fisted hand, then at unmoving form of Spade, then back at his hand before looking back at us with a blush and sheepish smile.

"Oops?"

Mr Willow was ready to throw a wrench at his head but then in an instant, I held his wrist back before he could. His eyes met mine, a questioning gleam on them that I answered with a solemn nod.

I promptly made a hard kick at Nick, hard enough that he was sent flying through the window.

Hey, at least it was opened, otherwise, I would have had to pay the bill, and being a fugitive doesn't pay you.

I sighed and turned back to the Willows, "Sorry about that, the kid meant well but sometimes...actually most of the times he could be an idiot. Hope you spare some patient with him."

Speaking of Hope, where is the little rascal?

"Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiii~ wiiiiiiiiiiiiii~ wiiiiiiiiiiiiii~"

"Yeah, faster, faster, faster!"

I turned and find the few glimpses of Hope flying around the living room next door with a toddler on board. You know, maybe a child watching over a child wasn't the best idea I had come up with.

Mrs Willows and I exchanged a what-can-you-do glance, "As glad as I am to have a playmate for Victor, I think it's time I put him to sleep."

My eyes widen in alarm, "Wait, I could–" Too late, she quickly left and closed off the room, with only Nick, who had climbed back up from the crashed window, and me to company our unconscious knight.

A strained silence stretched between us, and I don't blame him. And I find it supremely uncomfortable being in an awkward situation like this. Especially when I never had to feel awkward around him, ever. He always shrugged off and accepted everything weird about me and that had always put me on ease. But things were different now, and the times he got a semi-decent conversation was when Hope or anyone else was around.

Today is different. Today, not only that I know the kid wanted to breach the subject I was desperately avoiding. Even now when nothing is said, I could just tell the staggering amount of questions running through his head that I can't...don't want to answer.

"Aniki," Nick started, sounding unsure but determined, "We need to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about," I said for the nth time this week.

"Yes, we do." Damn, he's more adamant on it today.

All because I'm too much of a coward to talk about it. I knew that, and yet I had no idea what to say. Nothing that could make the talk easier or eased the guilt grinding in me. Not realizing I was just pouring more guilt into myself as I tried to cast myself aside from the topic.

"You haven't explained anything," he stubbornly persisted, "and I think I deserve some answer, about the letter, about Mira–"

"Nick." He clamped his mouth shut at my no-nonsense tone. The rare harsh tone I used mostly on my opponent, and I tried holding back the flinch of accidentally using it on him, "I've said it before and I'll say it again, leave it alone." I looked away, a bit ashamed at myself for the outburst

That finally got him an outraged look instead of the usual hurt and confused look he had before, "Since when do you start barking orders?!"

His frustration was understandable. Especially when I had put away her letter without and refused to reply and discuss it, and without so much as an explanation. Even when Nick had been hounding me at every chance he got, I've actively tried to avoid the slightest mention of her name.

I still couldn't help the stung that comment made, "And since when has that ever stopped you from listening to me?" I retort coldly.

"Because those times I trusted you," he said. He choked a bit at his words, hesitant but continued now that the damn has been broke, "I know you have secrets, I've been living with you for years so of course I noticed when you decided to not say anything or when you're lying because you think I'm too stupid to understand."

"That's not–" but Nick wouldn't have any of it and cut me off.

"I'm not you know, stupid, but I never bothered to ask because I know you've always had your reasons for everything since you know things more than I do, that you always do what's right, and...and...I admire you, I want to be someone who you could rely on. But then you threw away Mira's letter and I don't know anymore. It's obvious from your face that something bad happens when you read it, and yet instead of coming up ways to help, you pretend like she never exists. Our friend, our Mira. As if any reason could justify hurting her!

"But I'm not a lackey to be ordered around anymore–No, don't argue. You might not notice it but that's what you're doing. I'm sick of this, of you beating around the bush. You said to me once I could call you my Aniki. If this what it likes to be your brother then no wonder your own Master Sawarr abandon you!"

The air got more tense and darker. An invisible line was passed, and I stared back at Nicholas with the most passive face I had, I showed none of my emotion while keeping a cool gaze. Nick tried to stubbornly tried to keep the challenge on his face, but his eyes betrayed him for a moment when he showed a glimpse of wide panic eyes.

We said nothing for a while, keeping our gazes locked at one another as if waiting for the mountain to blow.

So I turned my back on him, "I'm going out, watch over Spade for me...no, I guess you'll do it regardless of me."

"Ani–"

I didn't think I deserve to be called like that, picking up my brown coat from the coat rack and teleported away less than a second. Aware I was running away from my problems, again.

"TORRI, Random Coordinate. Get me somewhere, anywhere."

[Alone Sir?]

"Yes, I...I just need some space that's all, and Caelum isn't the ideal place to have a walk without glancing over your shoulder."

[Understood, any preference you might have for today Sir?]

I looked up at the ceiling, giving a forced yet weary smile, "Surprise me."

The randomizer lever turned on itself then TORRI went off, and away I go.

The ride itself wasn't too rough, he must have adjusted it to match my mood, but the landed tumble wasn't light enough to not knock me off when wasn't really on my feet. I stayed there looking up at the organic ceiling, loose branches intersecting and dangling one another with a few coloured flowers glowing dimly over me.

[Sir, in my opinion, the purpose of your outing would only bear fruit once you actually go outside.]

"You know, I've never mentioned it but since when did you learn how to sass?"

[My apologies, but you've told me enough times to make an example of you, Sir.]

"Ugh, I don't need a smartass AI"

[Agree to disagree, Sir.]

As annoyed as I was, I couldn't help the indulgent smile creeping up on my face before I got back on my feet. "Right, let's see what disguise I should wear, TORRI?"

By my silent request, one side of the wall had emerged a mirror that showed myself. Blacktop, ripped jeans, my usual curly blonde hair looked darker and saggy, the burned scar I had prominent since I got rid of my bangs. With a hummed, I turned the dials on the side of the mirror. Turning my dirty blonde hair into a bright ginger hair. Not quite red, but not quite bright enough to be pink either. Then turning my usual blue eyes to green, and hid my scar beneath the illusion of skin. I could go all the way and turned myself black, I've never disguised as a black man before but thought that ginger hair and black doesn't really match unless you are a certain notorious thief.

Once satisfied, I requiped a bowl hat and a pair of sunglasses on my features. Nodding at my disguise before taking a step out where I landed.

The orange sky suggested it was later in the day, enough crowd on the street to suggest it was a town instead of a village, the high tall rocks surrounding the place that makes the place look like a valley, then there's the flashy style most shops and inns that only one place in Fiore have.

"The Spa Town, Hosenka. Damn TORRI, you didn't hold back on me."

With a brighten spirit, I skip my way through the street. Because while a spa was never one I deem as a good way to past the time since work and practice is borderline hobby for me, I thought today should be an exception after the shit storm I endured for the last couple of months.

So with a stretch of my arm, I made a dash toward the nearest hot spring to sooth all my worries away and getting pampered for the rest of the day.

. . .

"Hemingdammitway every last one of them, again?!"

To put context in my words, when I mean again, I mean that this was the sixth establishment that provides hot spring that was closed. Which was unreasonable coming from a Spa Town.

This place is giving me more headache than I had originally, "Fuck that, I'll find myself a drink and by the end of the day I'm going to make sure I am enjoying myself."

So I went to the nearest bar and ordered a whole bottle of coke.

Okay, I get it. There's nothing badass ordering a soda when you expect something the least bit alcoholic. Least to say, I have a traumatic experience regarding said drinks.

Oh, rest assured, it wasn't me who was drunk. But when you've witnessed your dad and his two best friends get drunk out of their asses and saw them moaning, vomiting, and stealing a McDonald sign shirtless. I rather confront peer pressure that that kind of self-embarrassment.

Second reason being is that I don't even like coke. Or any kind of soda for that matter.

No, seriously. I get the whole "Who doesn't like coke?!" but I'm telling you, I only ever drink coke when I'm depressed, and that's because the stinging soda and the amount of sugar that was too sweet for me usually helps distract my head from my own mind.

I know, how lame am I? Deal with it.

Going back on track, the weird barkeeper with abnormally long head and a cool yet generic evil moustache raised a judgemental eyebrow but said nothing as he pulled out a bottle of coke for me to drink. I wouldn't begrudge him for thinking me as a "kid."

"So Kid, what are you doing in this part of town alone? If you're going to a bar, at least pretend you're of age and buy a glass of wine."

Yup, called it.

"Not a kid, Old Man. My preferences are none of your business." He held out his hand in term of surrendering or "chill out" either way, it matters little to me. "What the heck is wrong with all the hot springs anyway? I thought they were supposed to be famous here."

The Bartender stopped wiping his glass to give a ludicrous face at me, "You didn't know? We've been hit with a drought."

The word shook me enough to choke at my drink, "A drought. Here? You're kidding." Because Spa Town is Spa Town from the fact it has been a Spa Town for 500 years. Its history and relic stayed long enough to rival even the oldest ruins of Ishgar. So you can imagine how a place that stayed that long went up and gone when it's not even Summer yet.

"I know, most of the locals don't believe it either. Yet what can we do? It's been a month and there's no other explanation for it."

"Are you sure? Not even a hazard guess?"

The Bartender stroke his chin at the question, "Now that you mention it, the Inzen Clan had been rarely seen and were visibly anxious, though considering the state of our town that's understandable."

I racked my brain over the name and remembered they were the nobility governing the area. Alongside this town, they are the oldest nobility in existence. The few times I've met them, I was amused at how closed off and proper those people were acting in contrast to their ever vibrant town. That, and how secretive they were. As if they were keeping a millennium old secret deep within their home instead of a spa treatment centre.

"But that was still the first thing you think off, any particular reason why?"

The Bartender was silent, biting his lips in hesitation, surely not knowing what to say, or what was safe to say, especially to an outsider. Yet the thought must be eating him inside when he leaned forward conspiratorially, "This is just my own thought, but I think there's an outside force causing the hot springs to dried up, and I'm not talking about the drought."

"You're implying the incident was man-made."

The man nodded, "I'm not the only one who thinks that way though. People are whispering how the Inzen Clan has been hushing up the reason for the drought. I even heard from one of my loyal customers that his inn was being forced to close before the drought even hit."

Now that little bit got a wide-eyed reaction from me.

"You don't say…" I said it before, I'll say it again. TORRI doesn't hold back on me. A mystery itching to be solved. How could I resist?

"You don't happen to know where the Inzen Residence is, do you?"

"Now why would you want to know that for?"

I couldn't help the unnatural stretching wide on my lips, the smile I knew that comes when my eagerness is too strong to quell.

"Well, we can't have the fame Land of the Hot Springs died from unnatural causes. Might as well help where I could."

The old man snorted and went back to wiping his glass in casual dismissal, "Good luck with that Kid, if anyone knows about the Inzen Clan, is that they don't ask for help from just anyone nor would they admit of having one."

"You'd be surprised what a few good choices of words can do, Old Man. Besides, I'm good at solving these types of puzzle."

The Barkeep barked out a laugh, not a mocking one but more...lighthearted, "Tell you what, if you can solve the problem by the end of the week. I'll have my brother serve you an all you can eat buffet, you might have heard the Silent Chef since he's a 5-star cook, you can bet that's not a small offer I'm giving."

A puzzle and a wager? That man is after my own heart. "You're on," I answered and clasped back his dealing hand.

Well, it's time to put my thinking cap on.

…Forget I ever said that. I sounded like one of those generic toddler shows rivalling Dora and Blue's Clues.

. . .

The Inzen Residence was almost exactly what I had imagined. A two storey Japanese style mansion, the surrounding walls that covered around four blocks and a hill behind the house, a large cherry blossom tree was at the right of the entrance, and if you peer inside you could spot the garden waterfall pond, large enough to mistake it for a lake.

All in all, it was an impressive set of mansion that would make even a noble like me jealous.

I winced at the thought. Former noble, I corrected myself.

Not long after, I was greeted with a towering man with a height that could rival Zeffik. He was clothed in a black suit like a stereotypical bodyguard. His tanned bald head shine under the streetlight, his face was the perfect poker face but I could just feel the glare beneath his sunglasses, which I fear isn't practical when the sun has passed set.

Though the large pair of swords on his back did intimidate me.

"This place is off limit," he enunciated every word with no-nonsense tone, leaving no room for debate.

I wore my best charming smile and took of my own pair of glasses to hang it on my head, giving myself a more tourist vibe, "Sorry to be rude, but would you mind telling your masters that I'm here to settle their "little" problem, it would be much appreciated if you do."

"This place is off limit," he said again.

Oh great, he's that type of guard.

With a plastered smile, I said, "Okay, bye bye." Turned my heel and walked out of sight. Giggling a bit when I gave the fiery guy a whiplash from the easy dismissal I made. Good thing I had Plan B.

Which is jumping over the wall using the feature of my invisible jacket. It would have been more convenient to teleport but it's not like I've seen or known the layout of the place. The only kind of mage who could teleport to a place they've never been or seen had decades of experience in their belt, which explain how Doranbolt managed to save Wendy in the nick of time.

So, it only took the practised cat step and the shallow breath I made as I cascade through the patrol guards around the mansion (and boy, there was a lot of them), but it was still a problem manoeuvring the place when I realized I have no idea where I'm going. I had suspected it might have been a labyrinth of a house, but this is trickier than I first suspected.

"I might not have thought through of Plan B well enough," I admitted to myself sheepishly.

"Are you lost?"

The high pitch question caught me off guard, I whirled around with my fist clenched, ready to attack whoever from behind, but froze when I found a child instead. It took me a while before I realized I should have been still invisible to her.

"Mr Ghost, are you lost?" She asked again. There was no suspicion in her tone, only genuine curiosity and innocence. Her question raised my own questions, indicating she couldn't see me but was aware of my existence here.

I took in the sight of her; a nicely trimmed black hair just above her shoulder, slit purple eyes looked questioningly at where I stood, she wore an expensive red kimono, her stance was rigid and polite, not at all what a normal child didn't reach to my hip and her face was young and starkly white, I suspected she was around 6-7 years old.

What's more curious than knowing she could see me, was the magic within her. Not only does she carried more than even the average adult mage, but her magic was stretching her limit. Which was worrying since children had the capacity to expand their limits as they grew, yet there seemed to be none for her to grow and adjust her large ethernano.

What's more gaping about this child though, was the fact the way her magic flows. While normal magic flows throughout the body like blood vessels. Her magic flows from and to the earth itself, heck she could even be rich with raw ethernano, which normally would have killed anyone.

I'm suspecting that she's not even human at this point.

"It's extremely rude to ignore a question, you know." The girl had her cheeks puffed as she huffed her frustration at what she accused of my rude behaviour, this enigma, with such childish righteous, I couldn't help but laugh and confirmed my existence to her.

Throwing caution out of the window, I undid my invisibility and crouched to meet her eye to eye. Smiling all the while and waved at her heartily, "Sorry about that, I didn't think you could see me so you caught me by surprise. Could you, in your heart, forgive my rudeness?"

For whatever reason, her mouth opened at the sight of me and her pale face showed a light flush. Gazing away from my face and shuffled awkwardly in place, "I, since no harm is done, I will forgive you this time."

"How generous of you." I smiled brightly up at her, which somehow made flushed further, hope she's not mad or anything, "but you were right about me getting lost, do you think you could point out where I could meet the head of your clan? I have an appointment with her."

Uh oh, looks like that's the wrong this to say. She's beginning to look suspicious, "That's weird, the current Head never made an appointment at her own house. It's practically forbidden to outsiders."

"Aren't there any exceptions?"

"No," she answered resolutely.

Well, this isn't going to be easy. "Well, good thing that I'm not human then."

That certainly made her nonplussed, "You're not? You certainly feel like one."

Hmm, interesting answer...dammit Roy, focused. I winked at her, as if we're sharing a secret, "Can't have just anyone tell what I am, right?"

"What are you then?"

I stood and bowed with flourished, "Greetings Young Lady, I am your fairy godfather, and I'm here to grant your heart's greatest desire."

On cue, the little girl's eyes brighten, twinkling with wonder and glee. "You are? And you're here to grant me a wish? But wait...then why are you searching for the Head then?"

Smart kid. Doesn't make it easier for me, but I can't help but be fond of her for it, "Because I need a guardian's permission to grant your wish, it's in Section 1C, Clause 3, Paragraph 12 in Da Rules."

She giggled, and I had to hold back a confused frown on my face, "Don't be silly, I don't need a guardian, shouldn't you know that?"

I paused, trying to discern how to properly respond to that, "Well, I only skimmed your case in the file so I only know the bare minimum of your life. But why do you say you don't have a guardian when the Head is responsible for anyone under this mansion."

"Because Sora-chan is my friend, not my guardian, duh."

Great, the mysteries just kept piling on this little enigma.

Since prodding further might get her suspicious, I decided to just go along with it, "Okay, then tell me, what's your wish? Be warned, you only got one shot of this."

She didn't even pause to contemplate her wish, "I wish to see the Spa Fest!"

Her wish made me pause, eyeing her down with a thoughtful turn on my lips. I knew about the Spa Fest off course, it has a fancier and longer name that I couldn't remember but it's basically a tradition of the town to appease the Volcano God for a safe and prosperous year, but recently it's just a reason to party and the fest itself rivals with Magnolia's Harvest Festival. While the wish itself wasn't anything weird or impossible, as I secretly dread, the way she spoke her wish got me thinking. The over-eagerness on her face, the bounce of her foot that broke the polite shell she maintained, and the desperate pleading tone like she hadn't wish anything else her whole life.

"Didn't you know? The fest this year is cancelled."

I didn't know why I said that. Morbid curiosity to see her smile froze and cracked figuratively appeared on her person.

"WHAAAAAAT?! How? Why? The fest was never cancelled in the last 500 years, why start now and why no one said anything about it?!"

"Well, it's been a bit hushed-hushed but a lot of establishments are closed because there's been a bit of a problem with a drought, or so I heard, and the hot springs have been going up in smokes. Literally."

If it was possible, the girl's face paled further. "Dr, dro, drought? Cl, closed? Smokes?! But, but, no, they can't, it can't, why, what am I going to do?"

My eyes widen to see Enigma edging into a panic attack; tears pricking at the edge of her eyes and her whole body trembled like her worst fear had come true."

So I did things as I've always done to fix things, impulsively, "FEAR NOT!" My loud exclamation jolted her back from her reverie, which is worth risking getting caught. "Your Fairy Godfather is here to grant you wish, and if insurance the Spa Fest kept going means fixing the drought and bring back the hot springs then mark my words, that's exactly what I'll do."

Tears unrestrainedly poured out of her eyes and she tackled my legs, crying unabashedly as she begged me over and over to save her town.

If I wasn't interested in fixing the town before, I sure am determined now.

. . .

After she had her fill in crying, I asked again where the Head of the Inzen Clan, explaining it was part of my plan in Bringing-the-hot-spring-back plan.

So after two lefts, three rights, out the window, a secret tunnel, and passed the library, I managed to find the meeting room.

Humming in thought, I considered my next move and decided to stretch out my Senses. A large bundle of ethernano, indicating a group of people in that room. It was lucky a servant came and giving them a drink so I could sneak in without preamble.

The room itself was a large classic tatami room. Within, there were two lines of men sitting in seiza and wearing black hakama. Their faces were at least in their 50s, yet their frown makes them looked older. And at the spot where the usual yakuza boss would sit, was a woman dressed as a geisha, Sorano Inzen-sama. Which is weird when you think she is the Lady of the House, but she is also noble also so it's not that surprising, no matter how yakuza-like their house is.

"Is this truly wise Sorano-sama? She might be a capable mage, but that's all the more reason why we should be wary."

Hmm, so they hired a mage for this. Curiouser, curiouser.

"Even if that is so, we have already sent her on her quest. There's many not we could do in which to assist and hide her from the truth, should it reveal itself to her." The Geisha Boss Lady answered the question, but her sentiment was addressed to all. Her white unblemished face didn't even give out a single wrinkle in contrast to her formal speech that showed all the emotion she needed to give. Her voice was soft and sweet yet there was a stern edge to her tone that leaves no one to question her. I am weirded out, but at the same time strangely entranced by her regal display.

"Be as it may, Sorano-sama. It would have been prudent to at least have one of us accompany her."

"Perhaps, but then it'd be inconvenient for us."

"Pardon me for asking, but which part of it would be inconvenient?"

I lean a bit closer to the meeting, thriving in the heavy tension looming over then when I spotted many plates that left their snacks untouched and seeing I was hungry, I barely had a moment of hesitation before deciding to sneak up and stole a bite of the manjuu.

But then I had to quell the urge to comment from eating the best manjuu I've ever eaten.

So I had to take more than just one a bite.

But then I went for more.

Again.

And again.

And I move to the next plate because my mouth can't get enough of the right amount of sweet goodness even while my ears were rapped in attention.

"The mage is an S-Rank Mage from Fairy Tail, she isn't an idiot, if it was something we could have done ourselves there wouldn't be a need to put on a Discreet Request to her guild, so giving her a capable partner she never worked with would not only hinder her mission but raised a flag of suspicion."

I perked up further, sipping a ceramic glass of green tea on hand. A Fairy Tail Mage? Here? I don't know if I'm supposed to feel lucky or not.

"But what if she failed on her own?" Another of the man asked.

"Every mission is a risk for a Mage, if she died then people would only complain she was ill-equipped for the job. Besides, if she ever found out the truth, then it'd be all the more unfortunate if the great Mirajane Strauss had an "accident" during the mission and died either way."

The ceramic glass broke in my hand.

Every single occupant turned toward me, and I don't need to check myself to see of the Invisibility was still there because I knew I was frazzled enough to drop it.

Yet despite the blood-mixed tea dripping down my hand and the glare that promised death I had, I managed to give them something akin to a "Polite Smile"

"Oh, don't mind me. I was just passing through. You have great snacks, by the way, mind giving the chef my complimentary?"

The whole men requipped their swords on hand and aimed it like a scene from a Yakuza movie. The thought actually makes me a bit giddy.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" The one with the knife sitting next to me snarled.

I pop another manjuu in my mouth, thinking for a moment what I should call myself and decided to take a page from my ex-mentor, and casually answered, "You can call me Arjay, it's written with R and J but whatever floats your boat. As to why I am here well…" I chuckled with ominous humour, "I'm here for a business proposition you see for your "Little" problem."

Lesson 22 in not getting yourself killed, pretend you know everything of the situation and take advantage of it. Brownie points if you make them think they could benefit from you. Minus points if they think you're better off dead than alive.

As expected they were ready to cut me when the Lady Boss yelled wait.

And how she could shout without letting her face shift to any kind of emotion is beyond me.

"State your purpose here, or I shall personally remove you from the premise," she took the small sword at her side and made a slow graceful motion of pulling it out of her scabbard. I willed myself to not move an inch even when the blade rest next to my neck and draw blood from it, "Without your head intact."

...I won't lie, I am slightly turned on by the threat.

"As I said, I'm here to offer my professional skill for your hot spring problem since from the sound of things, you need help."

"We have all the help we need."

"Do you?" I challenged, relishing the fact there was a glimmer of doubt in her eyes, "This "thing" isn't going away easily with just mere strength or else you would have done it yourself, nor can you do it in a publically manner that risking your..." I let my words trailed off before chuckling to myself, my body language showed how I had nothing to worry, unnerving then more. "I'll be kind and say "secret.""

I felt the blade dug a bit more but still I refrain from moving further, "It looks like you're worth more dead than alive. Why shouldn't I have your head?"

I'm surprised you believe me this far, "First, you can't kill me. I mean I just escape with the secret and don't think too highly that you can. You're not the first from my long line of haters who tried to take a piece of me, and as skilful as you are, I doubt you are a match of one the Seven Kin Purgatory."

Oh, her fist tighten. Good to know that name meant something to her.

"Second, I have...shall we say...history with the mage in question," I make sure to make my smile cruel and demented, "and I would love to meet and have a chat with her again, so you don't have to waste your breath on her."

To be fair, I haven't made a single lie to her yet.

The Lady Boss but her lip, but still her eyes never left mine, "And the third?"

A genuine grin spread out on me, but it was less demented and more insane kind, "To have a proper Hot Spring Experience of course. Do you have any idea the kind of stressful week I had? So Torri suggested that I need a good long bath at a hot spring, so imagine my disappointment when they were none?"

A few of the men face plated at my reasoning, and while Lady Sorano had only sweatdropped, she did tuck away the weapon, prompting the others to follow suit.

"So you'll help us in order to have the Hot Spring Experience you speak off."

I had to hold back a giggle from the way she was saying it, "Do we have a deal then my esteemed lady?"

"We have." She took my outstretched hand, and before I could react, she pinned my right hand to the floor and stabbed my open palm. I admit that I had worse, but it doesn't stop groaning in pain at the act.

"Insurance," she casually said before pulling her sword out. Not at all bothered by my burning stare directed at her. There wasn't much I could retort before I watched how the blood on my palm began to sealed my injury and crawled under my skin like a sick living worm parasite.

And then my palm bulged and coloured until a pattern was formed, the kanji word of "Secret."

Seriously? What is with people trying to tattoo my arm for me? Is this some kind of brand of servitude? Does my hand screams tattooable and make all the other tattooers go Waaaa?

"If you try to spill our secrets without my express permission, then you would find you'll have no tongue to put it to use."

So the symbol is on the arm, but the magic works on the tongue. A strange twist of sense there, but let's just roll with it.

"So, would you mind giving me a little bit more detail and where I could find Miss Fairy Tail Mage?"

"I thought you knew everything already."

"Enough to connect the dots and get the big picture perhaps. But you, of all people, should know how powerful information is. I would like to make sure I don't fill in the wrong blanks otherwise I might screw you as much as myself."

"What do you need to know?"

"Start from the beginning, the details are easily missed if you don't start from there. I won't even mind a brief history lesson if it helps us."

"...very well, sit down Arjay-dono, for we have much to discuss."

I sat in the middle of the room then, given enough space away from the Lady Boss and flanked by the member of her house. My right hand flexed open and close in unease. From the situation or the mark on my hand, I don't know myself. Maybe both.

Once everyone settled. Sorano-sama took a deep breath, opened her mouth, and-

. . .

"SONOFAHALFDICKROYALPRINCEFUCKINGHENRYTHETHIRD HAVE THEY LOST THEIR MIND?!"

It was only after I had gone away until the Izen Residence was out of sight that I finally unlocked my chain emotions and burst out like a madman.

Okay, so to recap what Lady Sorano had said. Hosenka has been a town long before Fiore (the man not the country) came and claim the land as his own while he rules over it. And when he decided to make the town as a famous tourist spot, they made a deal to make it happen. However, said First King was afraid of the active volcano of Ishgar looming over the town.

So what did they do? They have the bright idea to plug the mountain.

I know, crazy right? The things magic could do.

Then the Inzen had an additional task to guard and watch over the mountain for generations to generations. (There was something else she had omitted, but I couldn't call her out without knowing what it is she's hiding from me. Relying on my guts couldn't prove anything, so I had to leave it at that.) However, it was proven that her ancestor and the First King was monumentally stupid that they hadn't anticipated the consequences a plugging not just a volcano, but the second biggest motherfreaking volcano that could wipe out a tenth of the Fiore Land.

So now the Inzen Clan is confronted with the problem of having mass lava underneath the town that's been actively building up pressurized magma.

And they've been doing nothing to… oh gee, I don't know, EVACUATE THE FREAKING TOWN!

I deserved an Oscar for managing my composure the whole time I've been listening throughout the whole idiotic drabble that history failed to mention. I asked, as casually as I could, why they hadn't bothered to do just that. Their excuse was to not create mass panic, what they didn't mention was the risk of losing their cash cow of their precious tourist town I bet.

So with the mountain on the brink of exploding she had asked a Silent Request to the No. 1 Guild in Fiore and requested to stop an exploding mountain.

That sounds as crazy as requesting to destroy the moon.

Oh Mira, my sympathy for you.

Speaking of her, after learning a certain dark history. They showed me a butthole, showing a set of stairs that led toward a giant set of tunnel spread throughout underneath the town. I was barely halfway there before I was drenched in sweat and had to take off my jacket. Though at the rate I'm going, I might do a Gray and walked half naked. The place is like a sauna.

And the Demon Mage is down here.

Alone.

It was after being reminded of her did the questions began to pop in my head. Like the why, and the how, and the why, and the whyhow!

Because as far as the timeline goes, she wasn't supposed to be able to use magic, yet here she is taking up S-Class-Job like nothing was amiss in her life. Either at some point, I messed up, or something fishy is going on here.

Maybe I should have replied to her letter.

I thought it through again and mentally shook my head that it was not an option for her.

The thing is, I was pretty sure that this was the first of the many letters that hadn't reach me. For the past month, I've been going from one point to the next without pause as we tried to live our lives as runaways. The letter could have been written while I was recuperating in the Tree Clinic or during my fantastic runaway spree. Either way, there was a chance Mirajane would know about my newly fugitive status and addressed it sooner or later.

I mean...I could reply to her, but I can't. Not without risking her being associated with a criminal, and while I trust her not trying to snitch me. Who knows who she had talked about in the guild? And if she got a letter back from me, would they believe what I had to say rather than the authorities without ever knowing me first hand? Or worse, the Council might strike back at her guild for indirect relation to me.

So no, writing to her is not an option.

Oh God, I could imagine what her reaction would be the next time I met face to face to her. I reached out at my ginger hair and made a note to make my disguise a bit more a priority around her.

As I made our way around the tunnel, I had to quell my dismay while making my way toward the hottest part of the tunnel. Cluing me where all the pent-up lava would be, and possibly where I could find the magic array that managed to plug mountain. Frankly, I was a bit excited to study a magic capable of such feat and hold it for centuries. Never be said that I was not an opportunist even in the bleakest time.

My musing was cut short when I lost my footing and my back hit the rough patch of the ground when my surrounding shook, I spit out pebbles and dust that managed to fall into my mouth. I suspected it was the volcano acting up again, but then there was an unmistakable roar of a creature that broke that suspicion.

Oh, you think there's no monster living around these tunnels? Get real, this is Fairy Tail we're talking about. Off course there are monsters living underneath a Famous Spa Town. You can't possibly expect anything less.

With resigning trepidation I went further deeper into the tunnel. My belt moulded and slithered around me until it rested on the palm of my hand, Rave shaped into a slick cutlass sword. My back was pressed against the wall. Approaching in silent toward the source roaring and thundering.

But that wasn't all if you listen in closely, you'd also make out the tale tell shout of an angry mage as she spouted out colourful curses.

Without seeing who it was I looked up at whatever god of fate reside here and hoped I make it out alive from this. Whether from this insane mission or from her, well...what's the difference?

I made a glance to one side, hidden in a corner and whatever I was expecting it wasn't what I witnessed then.

In the middle of an intersection between three tunnels, stood a Cave Vulcan. With the figure of a regular Vulcan but I was betting it was three times bigger than me. He was throwing punches left and right and my eyes were drawn to a white figure that was manoeuvring expertly away from the impacts and certain deaths.

For a daze seconds, I was struck, mesmerized by the sight of a long distance friend I hadn't seen for years. She was still in her Punk Style; revealing sleeveless black top adorned with some bright curved motifs on the chest, a pair of leather shorts held up by a studded belt with a demonic-looking buckle and thigh-high boots with stiletto heels, her white hair tied back and her bangs hasn't been tied up yet.

But it was her familiar determined gleam in her dark blue eyes that had my breath hitch, daring the world to just try to challenge her.

But it wasn't toward the monster she set her gaze on. No, she was fighting against her own grief. Trust me, I know. I had the same gaze before after all.

I was caught up by my own thoughts that I didn't react fast enough when the Vulcan's hit was closer than comfortable and Mira was thrown by the blast and hit hard on the wall of the cave.

I frown at the side, why wasn't she using any of the magic yet?

That question gave me a horrible idea crossed my mind. She wouldn't be that reckless, was she?

Mirajane got back up with a loud battle cry, running straight at the Vulcan. The Cave Monster leered before the small hole pumps at his back began to glow red and shoot out lava to cover itself that worked as both defence and offence.

Scratch what I said before, that's not a Cave Vulcan, that's a Lava Vulcan.

That tidbit was shelved away as I finally touched down between the Satan Soul User and the Vulcan, ignoring her surprised gasp.

My sword wouldn't do much against its lava, my mind raced on how to use it indirectly at him. I stabbed the ground as it smoothly slid through the rocky surface. The Vulcan was running at me with all the attention to pummel me, I'm sure, and was gaining way too close for my comfort. Cracks began appearing before his feet. Just in time. The Lava Monster stopped its track to look upon his feet. Curious and wary evident on his face.

Then the cracks made a perfect circle around him before the whole ground crumbled to pieces, taking him down below.

I didn't let my work finish there and a long silver streak went over to the ceiling and cut a convenient large piece of stalactite hanging over, letting it fall and plug the newly dug hole I made.

That finished. I waited for the inevitable confrontation with the mage behind me. I took much effort not to ran and not look back or disappear entirely because I am not ready for this. Not ready at all.

"Cool your jets, Roy. She doesn't know you as you are. You're in the clear. She's not going to kill you so act natural...how do I do that again?"

With cold sweats mixed in with the regular one, I forced myself to turn. A cheeky smile on my smile as I intend to aggravate her with the small damsel in distress comment I know that would make her flip.

But then we locked eyes, her eyes widen to the point it almost bulged out and I briefly thought there might have been another Vulcan coming behind me. At least, until she said one thing.

"Roy…"

. . .

. . .

"Roy n'est pas là pour le moment, puis-je prendre un message?"

"...What?"

I bit back a curse at the slip I made. Who knew I get could so shock to the point I speak in French on accident. I cleared my throat and put up my usual faux smile, "Right, sorry. I meant to say; who is this Roy you're speaking of?"

'Please let this bullshit work. Please let this bullshit work. Please let this bullshit work.'

Mira gazed up at me, long and hard, and it took a great sheer amount of will to keep up my placid smile in place.

"...apologies, it was my mistake. You look, you look like someone I knew."

I didn't let the tension released, for fear my relief would show. I was about to continue to let my act consumed me when that plan was thrown a wrench when I noticed something.

Or rather, when I noticed a non-something.

I reached out with my senses to be sure and sure enough, I was right.

Which made me angry.

No, angry doesn't cover enough on how I angry I am.

I was livid.

"Get out," I told her frigidly.

The whiplash of my mood and the sudden command was enough to daze her, "Huh? What are you–"

"This is no place for a girl like you, get out of here!" I said that left no argument.

If I wasn't afraid of what she looked like angry, I certainly would be convinced then. "Excuse you! What I do is none of your business."

"It is when you're trying to get yourself killed," I stated without remorse, meeting her glare with my own head on.

My words were certainly weren't what she was expecting, "Wha...that's not...you're wrong!" She denied. But it wasn't as strong as I hope it would be. Bristling my anger more.

"Is it? Because it seems to me that venturing on an S-Class mission when you don't even have magic."

Since she sputtering before, I managed to render her speechless then. "You, you don't know that...you can't."

"I can, so unless you want me to run a sword and kill you myself, how about you try to prove me wrong?"

That hit a nerve on her and she wasted no time to summon her magic for the express purpose of beating the shit out of me. In any other time, I'd be worried, but not when I witness how her magic circle fizzle out before my eyes.

"No, no, this isn't happening, this can't be, C'mon, C'mon work me here." Yet here plea went deaf as not even a spark of magic was there. Christ, what was this girl thinking? Taking on a mission when she can only use the simplest magic.

But then something went further wrong. Mirajane looked all the more panic when nothing was conjured. Even within the dimmed lit cave, I could see her pupils dilating and her body quivering, her breathing sound more and more irregular and I was late to realize she was having a panic attack.

"Shit. Mira. Mirajane. Hey, listen to me. Listen to my voice. Focus on my breathing." I grabbed her hand and pushed it against my chest, feeling the contracted and relaxed muscle of my lungs.

In… Out... In... Out.

I breathed rhythmically while soothing her with my words. She managed to follow my breathing with some difficulty. I was relieved as her when she managed to take in the proper amount of air.

Shocked and watery eyes gaze up at me, not at all hiding the weakness she should have been too proud to show to a stranger no less, "How do you know my name?"

I gave out a slight chuckle, hoping it could lighten the mood a bit, "You're an S-Class Mage of Fairy Tail, who doesn't know your name?"

She stared silently at me before nodding in gratitude, "Thank you, for helping me then."

"No, no need. That was...entirely my fault. I shouldn't have been so rash or rude about it. The subject was obviously a sore spot and I pointed and dig without considering your feelings. That was...wrong of me."

Mirajane blinked, visually bewildered. Now that I think back, it's highly unusual to find her surprise back to back.

"What?" I asked her.

"It's just...most people don't admit their mistake that easily. I didn't expect that from you."

"Oh, believe me, admitting to it wasn't easy. I'm rarely wrong after all, everyone has a part of themselves that don't want to admit their mistake. But I learned in life apologies can go as far as saving a life so I make an effort to it."

"Who are you?" She asked again.

I smirked, taking her hand within my mind and kiss the back of her hand. "For now, call me Arjay. It is an honour to meet a mage of your pedigree Mirajane Strauss."

She looked not at all impressed by my charming demeanour, pulling her hand from mine, "For now? Arjay isn't your real name, isn't it?"

"I will neither confirm nor deny that accusation."

Mirajane narrowed her eyes before deciding to ignore my remark and proceed to go...not toward the exit.

"Wow, wow, and where do you think you're going?" I trailed behind her.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm completing my mission.*

"Uuh...I repeat, getting killed. Seriously, I know you aren't as crazy as you look."

She paused to give me a death glare, "Be as it may, magic or no magic, I need to go through this mission."

"No, you don't need to."

"Yes, I do. This isn't just about me you know? There are hundreds of people lives are at stake and I intend to make sure no harm would come for them. Besides, my guild's name hangs in the balance, I would not sully it by backing out just because things got tough."

"Oh, for the love of Hamilton! It's not becoming tough, it's freaking impossible. How are you going to fix a magic array without a single magic on hand?"

"I'll burn that bridge when I get there."

Goddamn stubborn witch and her Main Character Complex. I'm going to die from a massive headache after this.

"Which reminds me, what are you doing here? There's only one entrance here and you couldn't get in without the Inzen Clan Permission."

I wracked my brain on how to best answer her but decided to just be blunt with her. "Your employer wishes to kill you in the likely chance you discover a secret buried inside along with the magic that manages to keep this volcano abbey."

I didn't regret my confession when it managed to not only make her misstep at thin air but also had her tumbled down with a Kya. Erza was cute in the show, but she's nothing compared to the Demon Mirajane crying cutely.

I also regretted it because she was now hissing murderously at my face as I bit my lip, keeping myself from laughing and failing.

"Try joking like that again and I will cut your tongue and dish it out for you to eat. Magic or no magic," she growled with a glow in her eyes that said she was serious.

That made my worn smile instantly dropped, "I'm serious. The Inzen Clan was all but discussing on how the best way to you cut you out of their secret while solving their 'little problem, and trying to do it as of it was a mission casualty. They would have done the same but implying I had a grudge against you help gave me a leeway. They probably want me to get rid of you while at the same time getting rid of me as well."

"And why should I believe you and this...ridiculously outrageous claim of yours."

"I don't."

Her eyes widen, not at all expecting that answer, then squinted immediately in suspicion.

"I'm well aware you're not stupid enough to believe the words of a stranger regarding a homicide plan on your back from your client."

Mira looked like she was perturbed of my compliment mix with the ominous red light. "So why tell me anything at all?"

"As I said, you're not stupid. You might not take my words as it is, but like it or not, my words will get stuck in your head. Playing it around like warning. And once your nice and wary, you'll keep an open eye and maybe you might be able to save yourself."

Mirajane didn't say anything, just staring at me, trying to bore into my soul from the looks of her. "Let's say I believe you," she finally conceded after a long drawn out silence, "What's in it for you?"

"Hey, I may be a jerk, but I'm not a monster. I'm not going to stay silent while someone planning your murder behind your back."

"Is that why you're here? To give me a warning."

"What? No. I'm just here for the hot spring. Do you know have any idea how pissed I was to find they were all closed because of this stupid magic around."

For the first time in my life, I managed to make someone face plant to the floor. It's just as hilarious as the anime made it out to be. I thought laughing at her would sign my death warrant so I went ahead to keep my silent giggling away from her until she caught up to me.

"You...you…" I can confidently it's a feat to make her speechless.

"Try to keep up, will you? If you're going to die, at least try to do it without getting in my way," I airly said.

There was a rumbling from behind and unnatural heavy footsteps coming. Curious, I turned and had the blood drain from my face. when I saw the young mage lifting what was probably a 500-pound stalagmite with its pointy end pointed at me.

Yeah...I might need that death warrant after all.

"You have three seconds before I skewer you like a shish kebab."

She didn't need to say anything before I run like hell itself was chasing behind me.

"THREE!" She threw the stack of rock and I yelped when I had had to sidestepped quick before getting crushed. It wasn't even three seconds.

"Come back here so I can wring my hand around your neck!"

"Not a chance. I take back everything I said about you being sane, you Crazy Witch!"

And so it became a chasing game between us that had me running frantically from the Demon-Witch and realized she doesn't need her magic to be scary otherwise I wouldn't have run as I do now.

And it was from that mindless cat and mouse game of ours that actually got us to the Lava Pit where the Sealing Spell should be. Pausing us on our tracks to witness the red glowing lava churning and bubbling way too close for comfort. Dawning on us the danger that could rain down on a tenth of the Fiore Kingdom.

"Alright, let's get to work shall we." I cracked my fingers and had my magic coursing my body through an invisible vein, preparing for anything that might come at us.

"We?"

I shrugged, "Why not? We have the same goal after all. Might as well work together, better with two and all that."

Mirajane didn't comment on it. Instead, she made her way at the edge of the hole, staring intensely at the boiling molten lava with. The best thing would leave her to her mind, and make her understand that she wasn't capable to take a whole mountain into submission without any magic bullshit on hand.

Unfortunately for her, I was being a massive Troll at that moment, (Maybe because Arjay was based on TJ, I've been influenced by his trollness) so I made a point to stand way to close in her comfort zone despite being a stranger. Whispering close to her ear enough to feel my breath, "Why are we staring?"

She brushed off my attempt of annoyance, "I'm not just staring, I'm trying to figure out where the magic might be."

Thinking about her answer, I shrugged, "Shouldn't be too hard. There are 6 point arrays from there, there, three above, and there."

Weird, you would think they would make a 7 point array seal than this half-baked stuff. Mira's brows twitched in annoyance at my ease and I took a bit of pride in doing so. "How do you know that?"

"Super secret skill of mine, but I'm only good at pinpointing the source, not what kind of magic it is. Though considering the Inzen Clan's Specialty, it might be some kind of Kanji Seal."

Mira crossed her arm, "Alright, since you're the oh so expert here. How are we going to solve the Lava Problem here?"

"Oh, haven't you figured out my plan yet? It's really quite simple actually."

Her face was still sceptical but she did lean in interest.

There are numbers of ways I could word out my plan in the most constructive and reasonable way that would have her see reason and even support me from the word go. Sadly, the reasons weren't enough to quell my penchants for trolling. A wide unhinged grin stretched across my face that could make anyone uncomfortable, but I didn't care as I face her and said this:

"We're blowing up the mountain!"

AN: First, thank you, everyone, for being a loyal patient reader of Rune Master. Second, I'M SOOOOO SOOOOOOOOORRYYYYYYY! I know I promised one more chapter before canon start. Yet, I write and write and still my Muse won't stop giving me ideas and before I know it reached 10K. I was even tempted to cliffhang you in two different occasions through the story but preserved forward yet that still isn't enough. Gah, why does your life have to be so crazy Roy.?You were supposed to ease my stress, not add it!

Anyway, again for maybe disappointing some of you. We're on the last stretch of the arc so finger cross and be patient!

Don't forget to R&R

Love, marisandini