It was mid-morning, both Ryker and Erza were in a carriage on their way to the village that had requested the job. It was a pleasant day, a rain had cooled the night. The magicians sat facing each other, he spleens crossed and legs apart, she arms and legs crossed elegantly. He, from time to time, took a look at his companion's beautiful legs, he couldn't help it. They spoke little since leaving the guild and there was still a long way to go to reach their destination. Someone had to start a conversation there.
"Trolls ein!" Ryker broke the silence, drawing the red-haired mage's attention. "Hunting monsters was not something I imagined doing one day. Do you do this a lot?"
"It's not an unusual job, actually. Sometimes I go out hunting creatures like these, it's a noble job", said the magician with a certain pride. "No trolls where did you come from?"
Ryker smiled out of the corner of his mouth and looked at her. "I heard some stories once from a Scandinavian. But they're more like legends than anything, just like your dragons."
Erza looked surprised, he thought dragons were legends, said that before, now trolls too. Where did he come from to think such creatures didn't exist? Or have they been extinct in his land so long ago that stories about them became legend? Despite everything she was curious about where her mate came from. A place like that should be interesting, she would like to see. Sweet mistake.
"Apparently many creatures are legends in your land," said the mage.
"Apparently yes. Dragons, trolls, vampires, werewolves, elves, dwarves and a bunch of other beasts," he said with a touch of disdain. "But knowing what I already know about this place, I wouldn't be surprised they existed here."
"It's possible," said the redhead with a smile. "What do you know about trolls?" she said, her expression going from more amused to serious.
"Not much, just that they are big, dumb creatures that live in caves," he replied.
"I think I have to give you an intensive course, then. You better pay attention", she said seriously and with a menacing look.
Ryker smiles slightly, his face showing affection and admiration. "As you wish," he said, and the whole work made Erza blush a little.
Erza coughed and cleared her throat before starting to speak, her excitement was noticeable and contagious, the glow and stars that appeared in her eyes could be seen miles away. Fact that impressed and scared, a little, the other magician.
"Trolls aren't as dumb as people think, but they're not geniuses either. They can easily make plans, communicate with each other, set traps for their targets or pursuers. Even more so in the environment they know well. It takes great care to fight them. They almost never go out during the day, prefer the darkness of night for walking, and usually live in caves in the mountains or in the dense forests around them. So we're probably going to face them in this places, which, due to the restricted space, will require us to get along well. Trolls are also quite large and with sharp claws, their skin is resistant to attack, making them difficult to kill. I think that makes you aware enough, doesn't it!?" Erza gave an explanation in a very verbose way to her companion, he was impressed.
"You know a lot, I must say," he said in a tone of surprise and praise.
"Of course," she replied proudly.
"Well, anyway, I'm a little curious to face these beasts," said the wizard. Erza looked at him and smiled.
The rest of the trip was interspersed between comfortable silence between the two and casual conversations, amid the bumps that the carriage gave on the bumpy road.
It took a few more hours, but at last they were reaching the village of Sacramento, a small agricultural hamlet at the foot of the mountains. The carriage stopped and the mages got out, after all morning traveling.
"We're finally here," Ryker said, stretching and stretching his body to unlock the muscles stiff from the ride.
"Let's go! We have work to do," said the Requip mage authoritatively, starting to move through the village, Ryker following close behind.
"We have to find the local leader, he who sent the request to us and know as much as possible about the situation", Erza said seriously walking down the street.
The village was small, a main street covered with cobblestone and a few side streets, all intersecting with the main one. It was a bucolic and pleasant place, as they passed by the people they greeted them. Clearly it was a place where most people lived in the countryside on farms and took care of their lives, their animals and crops, they went to the village just to buy groceries or do some business or solve problems that only they could get there. Life was slower and calmer, away from the hustle and bustle of the bigger cities.
Ryker felt good in that place, a calm he hadn't felt in a long time. He would mind living in a place like that for the rest of his life, he thought. But now it was time to work and dream later.
They walked for a few meters until they reached a Saloon, where they were told to find the contractor. Peculiar place, but nothing strange, in small villages like this it was common for meetings of this type to be held in bars or hotels. The magicians entered the bar, it was cozy and a good size, they headed to the counter to talk to the bartender.
"Good afternoon," Erza said in the friendliest way in the world.
"Good afternoon. How can I help you?" said the bartender with a smile.
"We are looking for someone named Albert, he asked us to meet him here," said the red-haired mage.
The bartender, who was in his 40s, looked at them suspiciously. "And would you be…?" he said as he drained a glass.
"Fairy Tail mages, we've come to help with the troll problem," Ryker intervened quickly and bluntly.
"Ah yes! The magicians," said the bartender, completely changing his expression. He was cheerful and glowing with contentment and hope. "Albert isn't here at the moment, I think he might be solving some issues out there," he said smiling. "Soon he should be arriving, but in the meantime, please have a seat at some table. Drinks on the house".
"Oh no! Let's not bother, let's pay for the drinks," said the redhead.
"I insist. You came to get rid of the trolls, that's the least I can do", he smiled and the wizards, looking at each other, nodded. "Excellent! By the way, call me Mario," he said smiling.
Erza and Ryker sat at a table, where they were treated to their free drinks as they awaited Albert's arrival.
"The beer is good," commented the wizard.
"Really!" Erza agreed as she tasted from her mug, being surprised by the taste.
Ryker looked around and stared at the expressions of the customers in that place, he thought it was a little strange. "This…doesn't feel right," he said.
Erza looked at him curiously. "What are you talking about?".
"Look at them, at Mario and at everyone we meet on the way here," he said seriously and speaking in a tone just for his partner to hear. "They are being attacked by trolls, but they don't look sad or scared. They are happy".
Titania heard his words and looked around and pondered for a moment. He was right, people were too happy for those who were in trouble with those beasts, and trolls don't usually make people happy at all.
"Yes, you're right. But there must be some explanation for this. In any case Albert must make us aware of the gravity of the situation".
"Then we can only wait until he arrives", said the wizard and she confirmed.
"But anyway, this mission should take a few days. I hope I don't get in the way of your training with Wendy," she said.
The wizard looked at her and chuckled lightly. "Do not worry about it. I left some recommendations for the little girl to follow. As for me, I manage".
Erza smiled, in a way she felt that he was also similar to her in some ways. Ever since their first mission together, she'd noticed that she felt a connection to him that she couldn't explain, perhaps because of their similarities. She knew that, somehow, she trusted him and felt peaceful by his side, almost as if they'd known him for a long time.
They stayed there chatting away enjoying the drinks and the atmosphere of the bar until a tall figure with brown hair and a well-defined face entered the Saloon. He was in his 40s too. As soon as he entered he looked around and Mario went to him saying something and pointing to the table where the two Fairy Tail mages were sitting, he immediately walked over to them.
"I can't believe Titania Erza answered my call", the man said with a wide smile on his face, he was very friendly and leaned over to greet her.
"Albert, I suppose," the red-haired mage said, greeting the man.
"Yes ma'am, I am the leader of this village. At your service," he said cordially and asked permission to sit at the table with them.
Albert turned to the other mage with a sympathetic look. "And the gentleman, would it be?" he asked.
"Ryker" introduced himself.
"He's new to the guild," said Erza. "But he's a competent wizard," Albert smiles happily at them both.
"I'm glad that you accepted the request, even more so the Queen of the Fairies", Albert said very happily.
"Queen!?", Ryker whispered sarcastically looking at the mage in front of him, she shrugged and he smiled slightly.
"Then? What's the situation," the mage Requip asked seriously. The expression on Albert's face changed from cheerful to serious and a little worried.
The man was looking at the table with his hands together, indicating a certain nervousness. "As you could see, we are a small and agricultural community, little happens here. But for the past few weeks a troll has been scaring and causing trouble. We need to get rid of it, otherwise it will harm our community."
"What actually happened?" Ryker asked bluntly. "It doesn't look like you guys are having any problems around here. I just see people smiling"
Albert looked surprised at her words. "In fact there haven't been many attacks so far. There were a few incidents, but restricted to the closest part of the mountains. We didn't have much damage, or people killed, thank God. But I fear that over time this could get worse. That's why we called you," he said looking at the wizards. "We're not dumb, we know we can't do trolls, so when we identified it was one, we even tried to locate their lair and track them down, but we weren't successful. So decide to offer a job to the guild".
"I understand. It was very wise of you," Erza said politely, and he smiled back. "But you said ONE troll, right?"
"That's right. We identified some footprints, but they were just one. So we believe there is no more than that," Albert replied.
"Well, less bad. One is already difficult, I'm glad it doesn't have any more", the redhead replied. "It's still early, I would like to see the location of the attacks, if possible."
"Huh! Oh, of course," Albert said a little confused. "We'll have to walk a bit, but it's not far."
"Great, let's go then", the mage said and they got up and walked out of the Saloon.
"So, My Lady!? I don't have to bend over, do I?" Ryker said with a smirk at Erza.
"It's not necessary," she said with an embarrassed face.
"OH! As my queen is modest…", the mage said jokingly, Erza couldn't help but smile slightly at his teasing. He was changing little by little, she didn't expect that from him when they met, deep down she was happy about it. What she didn't know was that he was like that with only a few people, Mira was one of them and now she was, and he didn't even know why.
They walk along a bucolic road surrounded by farms and fences, a very pleasant and calming agrarian landscape. It was as if nothing bad could happen in that place, it was even comforting. The wizards had been walking around for some time, Erza and Albert had been talking animatedly since they left the Saloon, while Ryker just stared at the landscape.
The magician was comfortable, enjoying the beautiful view that the place offered, woods interspersed with farms, streams of clear water, the mountains with their forests in the background. He felt relaxed and at ease, wanted to stay there forever if he could. If there was a paradise it would be that way he must have thought. He closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh air of the countryside wanting to feel all the peace that the place had given him.
When he opened his eyes, what he saw was the vision of hell. Ryker was no longer on the green field he was before, on the contrary. It was a desolate place he knew very well. Black smoke rose from the ground, covering the sunlight, there was an eternal blackness, being broken by the lights coming from the fire that came out of the explosion craters that covered the entire field. The dry, hot wind carried the smell of death to all corners, screams of pain and agony could be heard on all sides, people dying and dead covered the place. Beams of energy and magic being released, streaked across the field in all directions, whizzing through his ears as one of them scraped past. Explosions occurred all the time and everywhere making the place noisy and dangerous. Soldiers running from side to side, being hit by gusts, blood being splattered everywhere. Men fell like flies to the ground, dead and in pieces.
He had a terrifying look at the sight, dread was overwhelming him, shivering and in a cold sweat. He was motionless, in shock, this was not where he wanted to be, ever again. His daze was only broken by the cry of a voice he recognized as Erza Scarlet's.
"…Ryker!" Erza yelled, not once, not twice, but several times seeing her friend standing white, looking at nothing, shaking and sweating cold, her eyes conveyed fear and agony and dread.
The mage snapped out of his state and looked at the person who was calling to him, the red-haired woman in armor. Gradually he was returning to his normal state.
"Huh!? W… what is it?" he said, a little confused.
"Are you okay? I've been calling you for hours and you were paralyzed, shivering. What happened to you?" Erza asked, looking worried.
"Is he all right?", asked Albert beside the mage, also worried and slightly suspicious of the mage's situation, and probably of his ability to do the job.
Ryker composed himself and looked serious at everyone, he even had a look and a confident pose. "I am doing great. I just saw a snake, that's all"
"A snake!? Did you get that way for a snake?", Albert asked, confused and suspicious.
"She came out of nowhere. Everyone has the right to be scared once in their life, damn it!" he replied irritably. "I was distracted and I was taken by surprise."
Erza was suspicious of his explanation. A simple snake wouldn't be enough to put Ryker in this situation. She didn't know him very well, but she knew he wouldn't be affected by a reptile, even if he was taken by surprise. He has already demonstrated that he had enough experience to be scared by little.
"Well, if that's all sorted out, let's keep moving, alright!" she said authoritatively.
The three started walking again, and the mage sighed heavily without the others hearing. His problems were getting worse, more and more frequent and more intense. Sooner or later he was going to charge the price.