Task 6: find your strength (Part 2)

It was pitch dark around Gajeel's home. Spring night was peaceful and calm, lulling Magnolia in quiet dreams. Inside Gajeel's home the atmosphere was different. An agitated heat, which was raging here during Jet's narration, turned into gloom silence as none of the gathered mages cannot suggest what to do.

Their only option was to search blindly, to choose direction randomly and to hope it will turn out to be a right one. And Natsu actually believed that it will work, but he was the only one. Travelling so much throughout Fiore, as they do, they all knew how big the country was. Levy can be anywhere, with amount of time that has passed and a fresh night breeze it was impossible to pick up her scent.

"Take the damned ropes off me, I'll go" Gajeel demanded again, restless and depressed more than he ever remembered to be.

He blamed himself for wasting all day, precious hours when her scent was still traceable. Why the thought that she can be in trouble didn't cross his mind? He praised himself for his capacity to consider meticulously all possibilities, why he failed so miserably this time? And the worst of all was that he let her down. Maybe she waited and hoped he would come and help her, maybe right now she needs his help. Fuck! Why he was so dimwitted?

"Yeah, me too!" Natsu tried to jump toward the door on his bounded legs. "We'll find her!"

Lily blocked the entrance as he already did before. The front door opened wide due to the smoke Natsu's rage created.

"Gajeel, it's pointless, you know. And besides you can't go in such state."

Iron Dragon Slayer still was partly covered in iron, his body shaking slightly, arms twitching with involuntary movements, breathing accompanied by growling sounds.

"We will start at dawn and we are going to use as much help as possible. I'll go and ask Exceeds' assistance. This way we'll be able to cover a large area in a shorter time, I am sure Shagotte will give us all support she can provide. Also we need assistance from the guild. Wendy, Mirajane, Freed, do we have someone else who can fly?"

"Warren! Maybe Warren will be able to communicate with her?"

"Good thought, Lucy, we need to talk to Warren too."

Lily turned his gaze to Jet, who was sitting on the couch, alternating between waves of guilt and fists of hate he felt toward Iron Mage. Even concern and genuine regret that Speed Mage felt couldn't overwhelm jealousy, which was burning in his heart.

"Jet!"

"I didn't want it to be like that! I didn't mean any harm!" Orange haired man shouted again. "I just wanted to talk with her, alone, without interruptions. I…"

"Jet," Lily, who was the one still able to talk composedly with Speed Mage, interrupted him curtly. "Leave that for later. Is there anything you can add? Any details, indication, sigh we can recognize, something. Think hard! Do you realize that Levy can be in danger all this time? Help us to find her!"

"I tried! I tried, ok? I… I cooled down a bit and stopped sometime after, but I don't know what time exactly it took and distance probably wasn't small… and I run without paying attention to direction, so I can't define where I was or where she is. I tried to return, I searched for several hours, but I couldn't find her. I…I actually didn't view the place our conversation took place, I can't identify it."

Jet produced miserable whimper and sank deeper into the couch.

"WHY THE HELL YOU DIDN'T TELL ANYONE?"

Hearing Gajeel's voice Jet instantly shifted into the hate mode.

"Want to play hero, damned jerk? Forgot already what you did to her? How convenient!"

"Jet, stop that!"

"I DIDN'T FORGET!" Gajeel rose to his full height, ropes painfully dug into his skin, but he ignored them. "And I don't think that I ever will!" His red eyes shone fiercely with all the emotions he felt and the room instantly fell quiet, attention of all gathered wizards fixed on him.

"What do you want me to say?" He glared at Jet, answering unspoken accusations. "That I regret it? Oh, sure as fuck, I do! I do hard! These memories haunt me every day, constantly, without fucking breaks. They retreat only when… she is around."

Gajeel's voice became gentler as Levy's bright smile surfaced in his vision for a few moments blocking everything else.

"I was fucking piece of shit almost all my life. I lived like shit, I behaved like shit, shit was my life! Most of the crap I did were orders from Jose, some my own decision. Yeah, I enjoyed it that time, it was my version of enjoyment, cause I fucking didn't know that other ones even existed. I never thought that things could be otherwise, that I can be different, can have a different life, befriend someone, be nice... until she came. Not Makarov, this crazy Guild or even Lily, it was she, who broke through my darkness and showed me the light. She… she's speck of light… so incredible and bright. And I… every time I see my hands I relive that fucking night. Did I forget? You haven't fucking idea!"

Levy slowly pushed herself on her knees, taking deep breaths to alleviate the pain. Her left leg was particularly sore and already wrapped with bandages difficult to move, but she manage to bring in into right position and got up. The girl looked around once more, additional height helped to explore the scenery better. Green grass, very distant line of trees, no road or even paths. No, she definitely wasn't there before, it must be one of the rural districts of Fiore.

A little ahead she could see area of cultivated land, near was placed a wooden cart, but no one was seen around. Still it was a good place to start, maybe someone will come or she'll find some marks so she headed to the spot, trying to be as careful with her wounded leg as she could.

The wheels of the cart set deeply on the earth, but thing looked surprisingly clean and comfy, someone took care of it. She leaned on the firm wood then decided to get inside for a quick rest, the space just enough for her small body. Levy felt tired and wanted to sleep, her heavy eyelids desperately fought not to close, but she couldn't manage. When sleep had capture her she dimly catch the spark of green light, which danced around her body.

She woke up to monotonic mumblings. Air was hotter and steady and her back was leaned on something what definitely wasn't the wood of the cart. Gingerly opened her eye she found high ceiling with huge hooks to which several cages were attached, hanging on thick ropes. From one of them four scared childish eyes were looked at her. The next one was empty and the last one had large mass she couldn't distinguish clearly, but it definitely wasn't a child. She herself was laying on rough material, some sort of a bed, green light surrounded her, moving and changing shapes around her body.

Levy tried to move her hand, then her leg, both limps responded instantaneously, easily raising above green mist that surrounded her. Seems green light, whatever the substance was supposed to do, wasn't used to restrain her. Next, she discovered that her pain lessened considerably, the body still sore, but movements aren't so stiff and forced anymore. Did someone treat her? And where was the source of these mumblings?

Script Mage turned her head and promptly glued the teeth to prevent her mouth from producing any sounds. Just in several meters ahead of her sat a big and unpleasantly looking Vulkan, occupied with examining his knife while muttering something under his breath.

It was a kind of creatures above her league. Fierce and strong, with low susceptibility, which allowed them to fight longer and ignore injuries and pain, the one, missions to dealt with which were eagerly taken by Erza, Gajeel and Natsu. But either of them wasn't here with her. And above her head she saw two terrified kids. She had to rescue them; she had to invent something.

"Silence!" she activated her favorite spell, noiselessly got out of the bed, gesturing to the kids to remain quiet. They obeyed, tried to stay motionless with only eyes following her, but unfortunately, the figure in other cage stirred and Vulkan turned instantly, spotting the girl. Levy had shrieked but held her ground.

"Well," the creature smiled smugly, leaking his lips, his gaze predatorily roamed around her frame. Grease covered his fur, long pieces of hair hung from chin and cheeks, the torso too long, legs short, fingers on arms and feet ended with huge dirty claws, he looked disgusting. And his voice sounded equally obnoxious too, turning Levy's blood cold.

"You small but look yummy enough. I like the underside of your body."

'Gajeel' Levy's mind subconsciously called for help, but thought of Dragon Slayer gave her an idea. She quickly casted the spell and enormous word of iron soundlessly fall on Vulkan's head, bringing the beast down. She rushed to cages and cut the ropes, preliminarily creating two floats with her spells to prevent the prisoners from landing harshly. Kids were fast to free themselves from broken cages, the other captive was a middle-aged man, he groaned and cringed while moving, so Levy assumed he was injured badly.

She canceled her silence spell and asked the man if he can walk. His skin was pale and she didn't like the look of his eyes. They were glassy, half closed with a big dark bags under. There wasn't a visible wound, but the man was wrapped in a big cloak, highly probable it was somewhere under it. She gently took his hand and repeated her question, patiently waiting for an answer. Al last he nodded silently and she attempted to set him on his feet. Kids stayed near, their backs pressed on her side. They couldn't tear the eyes from Vulkan, whose large form laid motionless under Levy's iron.

"Go to the door" Script Mage ushered the kids, but no one of the duo moved. She frowned and was about to repeat, when one kid – a slim boy with white short hair – whispered in a scared voice "There is no door. He brought you from there" and he gestured to opposite side of the room.

"What?" She hurriedly looked around, then at the spot, the boy had indicated, then at the ceiling and at the floor. Solid surface everywhere, no windows, no doors. Must be hidden passage or enchanted entrance or magic… she can figure the way they got there, the only problem she hadn't time.

Levy looked around again, frantically searching for any clues that can help her to get them out of here. Further side of the room was darker, maybe the exit is there, she need to look close. As she intended to make a first step, the low menacing snarl came and Vulkan's figure started to move. His head raised and two small washy eyes stuck into her.

"You'll pay for that, crum!"

He put his hands on the floor and raised himself up, blood oozing from a deep cut on the crown, giving his face even more cruel appearance than before.

Levy pushed the kids behind her back and whispered to them to sneak out and investigate the darker part of the room when she'll tell them so, then she spared a quick glance at the man, who slipped to the floor again, and took a fighting stance. Yes, she wasn't a skilled fighter and lacked physical strength, but she had several intense training session with Gajeel before exams, during which he had taught her how she can use her small height to her advantage and showed some tricks. She felt more confident in a battlefield now and thoughts of him gave her additional boost. If she needs to fight, she will fight. So be it!