Chapter 18 - Shifting Shadows

Written by Demod20 and LastationLover5000

How long had it been?

Wendy couldn't remember the last time she had truly devoted time for herself. While the days of peace were often interrupted back home through rambunctious roughhousing, she could hardly conjure a time when she wasn't simply devoting time for herself specifically. It was always being with the guild in some shape or form, or being with Charle.

But now, on this mission in Desierto, she was given express freedom to do as she pleased in the most beautiful city in the arid land. Paradisio lived up to its name, as the market district was lined with a seemingly endless bazaar of visiting entertainers and merchants who've come far to make a profit around such an auspicious occasion.

With many of her companions breaking off into groups or pairs, she was left to accompany the first friendly face she remembered seeing since the tragedy of Tenrou Island's destruction; the only other person floating not far away is her Exceed companion, Charle.

Sherria Blendy, adorned in a beautiful one-piece dress of flowing silk and colors similar to her big cousin Sherry, walked hand in hand with the slightly older teenager. Her deep ruby rose hair was affixed over her back, bright blue eyes gleaming around at the sights surrounding the two. It was easy to see why her guild chose her for the finishing part of their act, as she was a truly endearing person to behold.

Apart from the girl's beaming smile and innocent aura, Wendy couldn't help but notice a satchel draped over her opposite shoulder.

"What's that?" Wendy asked, Sherria breaking off her attention from a nearby dress boutique towards the blue haired dragon slayer.

"Oh this?" Sherria shrugged, rustling the bag in her possession. "I brought some homework and supplies in case of emergencies on the trip over here. It actually came in handy a couple times."

Charle arched a brow with Wendy, sharing the same inquisitive reaction.

"Like…"

"Oh you know…" The scarlet haired girl smiled slyly, rolling her head and averting her gaze as she spoke vaguely. "Some Lacrima, magic tools and a few books. I am studying to become a Mage like my cousin after all."

"You want to be a mage?" Wendy asked, less surprised and more curious. While she herself began learning magic at an age tentatively younger than the young Blendy, it took her almost four years to even become proficient in healing. She had no idea what latent talent or potential the girl had since comparing her to Sherry didn't seem fair in her mind.

"Mhm! I want to be as cool and awesome as the others are of Lamia Scale!" She declared, fist pumping with both hands, smiling firmly as she gazed off into the distant marketplace. "Magic is like the best thing a human can do in this world. Even if we don't have innate talent or physical perks like other races do, any time we can something wonderful is sure to come of it. Don't you think so?"

Wendy couldn't help but hesitate at the girl's pure desire. While she herself enjoyed learning slayer magic from her adopted dragon mother, Grandeeney, she had encountered many horrific acts committed using spells and curses. Nirvana, Anima and Dark Mages of all varying stripes had nothing but selfish or evil to use their arcane gifts upon the world.

Not to mention Acnologia…

"S-Sure," Wendy finally answered, sheepishly laughing as she broke out of her brief thoughtful pause as she weighed her answer carefully. "I agree magic is wonderful. However," her smile faltered, a more concerned expression crossing her face as she spoke to her younger friend. "It is easy to abuse. Many people would leap at the opportunity to harm others if it meant getting their way."

"Oh I know," Sherria replied without skipping a beat. "Dark Mages need to have their butts kicked."

"She said that so sincerely…!"

Wendy sputtered while Charle blanched at the girl's nerve.

Punching an open palm, Sherria smiled smugly as her gaze caught Wendy by surprise, "Don't worry, Wendy! When I'm finished learning magic, I'll make sure no bad guys make you cry ever again. That's a promise!"

The Dragon Slayer found herself speechless. Despite how young the girl was, Sherria showed herself aware of things others didn't expect her to be. Not only that, but she gushed a sincere love to others and held a strong will that seemed unbreakable.

"Sherria," Wendy finally spoke, reclaiming her voice as she smiled back at the redheaded girl. "Thank you."

"No problem. That's what friends do for each other right?"

"Of course!" Wendy beamed back.

"Now come on," Sherria regained purchase of the cobalt haired teen's hand and pulled her along. "I got money I want to spend!"

"Don't spend it all in one place…!" Charle reprimanded in an all too familiar motherly tone.

What followed was a series of events that blended into a train of joy and excitement.

First they entered a boutique of many styles of clothing from all over Ishgar. From the rich furs of the North, leather and lush fabrics from the west to supple yet pliant silks of the far East, they had a varied assortment of dresses and garbs that they had ample opportunity to try and choose from.

"You first," Sherria urged.

"Okay," Wendy accepted, taking the first change of clothes and disappearing behind a curtain of a dressing station. After a few minutes she would emerge, dressed in a deep blue hoop dress with white trimmed lace of four layers spaced apart by red ribbons. Wearing blue sleeves with red bows just at the shoulders and a crimson necklace of rubies lying over her naked collarbone, her hair was arranged in a high-braid in braids shaped like flowers.

"You look gorgeous, Wendy!" Sherria gushed with hands on her own cheeks.

"Thanks, Sherria," She curtsied.

Or, she attempted to, as she lost balance on the heels she wore and fell face first onto the floor.

"Hmm, that may be a bit too much to wear without practice," Charle mentioned, swooping down in a glide as she helped her up with the other girl's help.

"Hehe...maybe Sherria should go next?" Wendy proffered with an embarrassed smile. "After I change back…"

After she got back inside and returned herself to a state of comfort, Sherria entered with an arm full of garments. After a few minutes of her own rustling, she emerged, wearing a sweeping robe of white with golden trim. Brass rings covered her bare feet and around her ankles, even a brass choker placed around her neck that complemented her fair features. Swishing her robe back and forth with the grace of a dancer, she twirled around and leaped within the space between her pair of observers, showing off her practiced moves to them.

Applauding to her, she took a bow and turned-

-slipping on the mat and fell straight onto her own face with a thud!

"Owie!" She cried out, with Wendy rushing over to help her up.

"For all of your practice, you're just as clumsy as me," Wendy giggled as she helped the girl upright.

"I-I guess," She flushed with bashfulness. "Sherry is trying to help me with my balance, but I'm still having difficulty, leaving a scene, as they say…"

"How about I go again?" Wendy offered, to which the younger of the two gladly accepted.

They continued to show off each other's chosen fashion, each one remarkable and showed how each of them were stunning in their own way. Other shoppers and the host of the boutique even commented and praised the two girls for how pretty or cute they were. It was thankfully mitigated through Charle's watchful presence keeping people from crowding the two.

After a good hour of laughter and fun, they picked out their dresses and had them hauled over their backs. This proved slightly difficult as the weight of the many purchased garments were weighing on their backs and problematic from spilling onto the paved road.

However, a solution came in the form of a large wagon, currently empty being led by a black robed person.

"Excuse me!" Charle raised her voice on behalf of the tiring girls. "Can you help? Our aides have gone missing-"

"Oh?" A gravelly voice spoke, turning to look their way. Charle stifled a gasp as a wrinkled, tanned face with scars over his mouth along his jaw could be seen over his grim shadowed face. With a look of uncertainty over his eyes, he raised a quivering finger towards himself as he spoke with an air of dumbfoundment. "Are you talking to me?"

"Uhhh...yes," Charle hesitated, forcing a smile on her face. "If you could be kind enough to give these two poor girls some rest and storage for our goods, I'd greatly appreciate it."

"...a talking cat?" He spoke with wide blinking eyes. "With wings?"

"I'm an Exceed, thank you," Charle huffed with her paws placed on her hips, brow scowling. "If this is too much trouble-"

"You're not with the palace, are you?" He asked suspiciously.

"We're guests here actually," Wendy finally spoke up, regaining her air as she stumbled beside her friend with Sherria in tow. "We can pay you for your work."

"I don't think that's such a-"

"Please, kind sir," Sherria emphasized with a sweet tone, her eyes batting at him. "It would be very appreciated if you help us."

The dark hooded man grimaced, looking obviously conflicted. Looking around, as if to ensure no one was paying him any mind, he gestured underhandedly towards his empty carriage.

"Hurry! While no one is watching!" He whispered harshly.

Trading each other glances, the girls shrugged and hopped inside, with Charle floating in after them. With their packages secured, the man began hauling the wagon with his head bowed down. While Wendy enjoyed the respite from the heat and hauling the clothes, she couldn't help but wonder how odd of an appearance this man had. Darkly clothed, face turned away from his passerbiers and clearly not trusting of those of the palace.

What happened to his face disturbed her as well. He didn't appear to be a rowdy sort, so he was likely attacked some time ago. What could have warranted such ugly injuries?

"I don't know what has the poor man spooked," Charle mentioned with a troubled expression crossing her face as she looked at Wendy and Sherria. "But I have a bad feeling about this…"

"It's probably just him being old, though," Sherria waved dismissively, smiling back up at Wendy. "Right?"

"S-Sure," Wendy agreed, albeit with hesitation. "But we ran into some people on the way here. It's quite possible not everyone is lucky enough to walk away unharmed."

"You mean those darn bandits?" Sherria pursed her lips and scrunched up her brows. "We met quite a few of those on the way here. They seemed like awful people. To think they'd stoop as low as to hurt an old man…!"

"They did seem like bad people," Wendy agreed. "But, this land is pretty harsh too. Apart from Bastiff, I don't think many people of this land are used to foreigners. They could be just that isolated that they don't know how to deal with new people."

"Maybe," Sherria bit her lip looking back over at the old man ahead of the wagon he pulled. "He still gives me bad vibes…he may also be an outlaw himself."

"I agree with Sherria," Charle spoke, visibly apologetic as she was the one who called out to him. "I just didn't want you to suffer, but he is clearly dealing with his own issues we shouldn't involve ourselves with."

Wendy pondered this. Fishing for her own batch of money, she began to count the Fiore Jewels she had on her person. Trying to account for different nations' currencies made her head spin and she didn't want to overspend or underpay.

Crawling along the floor of the sun-shaded wagon, she found herself smelling a host of scents that she wasn't focused on before. Peering down curiously, she sniffed a bit more thoroughly, and caught a whiff of something familiar. A glint of Desierto's noon-light peeked through, giving her sight of a jagged shard of something glass-like between the floorboards of the wagon.

"What is it, Wendy?" Sherria asked, with Charle fidgeting nervously with the bags she was attempting to gather.

"This is…" Wendy pried loose the shard, revealing the gleaming fragment of the glassy material. Smelling it again, she gasped aloud with wide eyes. "...burnt...Lacrima?"

"Burned?" Sherria cupped her chin, looking thoughtful at the piece her friend held. "I read about Lacrima. Once you make the stuff to store it, it isn't capable of being affected by the elements. Only magic or extreme force can break it."

"If it's burned, then that could mean-"

Wendy's train of thought was stopped as an abrupt halt to the wagon came about.

"Hamad! I thought I smelled the stench of a foul dung hauler!" A brash voice spoke ahead of the wagon. Wendy and the other two peeked up, seeing a short but muscular man adorned in a white turban with an open violet vest and white cloth pants leading to a pair of black sandals. He was flanked by a number of others, all of which looked to be brandishing clubs and whips; all with a clear menacing intent to the older man.

"Jashik," The elder, now known as Hamad, bemoaned aloud as he looked ahead pitifully. "I have done nothing wrong. I was merely taking my wagon back home-"

"That so?" Jashik inquired, raising a brow as he saw the bundle of packages within the shaded carriage, and the outline of three figures within. Tutting with his tongue, he smiled but it didn't reach his harsh eyes. "You're a bad liar, Hamad. I can see you hauling goods, and passengers no less."

"Oh no…!" Sherria squeaked out, her hands placed over her mouth while Charle froze in place. Wendy looked ahead with a grimace, glaring at this Jashik as she got a feeling she knew what was about to happen.

"I thought you learned your lesson the last time you showed your face during a sanctified occasion such as this," The turban touting man proclaimed, bundling his whip under a tight grip; cracking it dangerously over the man's head, causing him to fall on his knees in fear. "It seems shame isn't enough. A lesson in pain is in order, filthy ingrate!"

"Please! Spare me!" The old man groveled, hands gripping the sandy earth below into his palms. "I am already punished and set apart. I even have a deformed face. What more do you want to take from me?!"

Laughing, the man raised his whip, lashing out towards him without response.

CRACK!

The coiled bands of leather striking was the barrier of sound breaking. The whip was considered the fastest weapon of conventional means that can make a man much more deadly. From punishment to attack, it was something not one can easily avoid.

But in the movement of the whip's head lashing out in a sinuous movement, something in a blur of white and blue soared to intercept. A hand, wreathed in the light of Armor enchantment, caught the offensive weapon and let it snap loudly over her palm.

In that moment, Jashik's widened considerably. His men surrounding him gaped with jaws hanging and all the ignorant shopping masses around them stopped at the whip's halt. Even Hamad lurched up and his old eyes looked on, a hoarse whisper escaping his throat.

"I-It's her…the one she spoke of!"

"Leave this man alone!" Wendy spoke in a rare show of authority, placing a hand over her conservative cream colored dress over her chest. "We were tired and asked for his assistance in carrying our bags and ourselves. Despite his protests, we acted selfishly. Please," she bowed her head, but not letting go of the whip's head. "Forgive our rudeness of disturbing your laws and customs!"

Charle was amazed. At the moment of seeing her move, she was worried that she would act harshly and assault the man just as Max might have done in her stead. However, instead she shielded the man and attempted to diplomatically solve the situation respectfully.

"Wendy is...so cool!~" Sherria beamed under her breath.

The Exceed couldn't help but agree. Wendy was indeed very impressive. She was proud to see her grow in such a short time.

"Outsider," Jashik remarked, sneering as he audibly tightened his grip on the tool of punishment. "I couldn't give a damn about what you say. This is a matter of a criminal knowing full well the costs of defying her majesty. Stand aside or receive the same fate!"

A sigh escaped the girl's lips, her bowed head rising up to stare almost expectantly at the man.

"I see," Wendy spoke in a flat tone, her eyes shifting from a normal hazel to a slitted pupil surrounded by a haze of cyan. "You asked for it."

With a brief utterance of Arms, Wendy yanked the whip out of Jashik's hand with a sharp pull. Hauling him forward on the tips of his toes, the man's eyes bulged as a small foot arced through the air towards his face.

A loud pop followed the man's neck snapping back, his body pinwheeling backwards. He crashed through a good number of his comrades, the sound of pins being struck by a bowling ball echoed as all spectating the outrageous event gaped at what was transpiring.

"Wendy," Charle gasped silently, colorlessly pale and eyes gone as she felt herself die a bit inside. "I thought I knew you better…"

"You...pipsqueak!" Jashik howled, getting up with his men as he nursed a visible bruise on his face but surprisingly looked none worse for wear. "Now you've done it!"

"Wendy!" Charle shrieked out. "Let's leave while we can!"

Her words didn't reach her, however, as Wendy adopted a forward leaning stance. As the men brandished clubs, charging towards her, wind around the marketplace spiraled and lassoed around the girl's hands.

Before the men knew what happened, Wendy leaped past them, colliding them with a pair of powerful gusts of air, sending them sprawling outward, crashing into booths, stalls and store faces.

Sky Dragon's Twin Wingbeat!

"Yeah, kick their butts!"

"No, we're going to be in trouble!" The Exceed wailed in dismay at hearing Sherria's cheering encouragement of this impulsive violence.

The nearby crowd were stunned. This was not just a brawl or scuffle, but an outright battle. Worse yet, magic was being used for violence. None dared speak, and everyone felt themselves hold their breath at the current engagement taking place.

The would-be attackers themselves unburied themselves from the debris of their respective impact sites, looking more surprised than hurt. They felt the attack wasn't fists or weapons but definitely a spell that sent them flying.

"You guys are tough. Are you sure you're not mages?" Wendy found herself asking the men as they approached her.

"We aren't charlatans like you, or gifted like those who serve our queen. I am a soldier, tempered by war and hardened through situations you can't fathom, outsider!" Jashik howled, pointing at the cowering dark robed man. "That man is a coward, who fled battle when it was his duty to fight. And then, when he became a lowly wagon hauler, he dared to disrespect her grace by working on a holy day; a second time too, no less!"

"That doesn't make it right for you to bully him!" Wendy argued back, fists balled up and legs spread in anticipation of another attack. "I won't have you harm a single hair on his head. That's a promise!"

"You...dare?!" Jashik growled out, veins visibly throbbing along his face. Reaching within his jacket, he withdrew what looked like a curved dagger that looked similar to something she saw the bandit leader unveiled. An ominous energy seeped into the air, making it taste bitter to her lips; and giving her a chill as she heard a familiar phrase.

"Defile my body and make it your temple," The man spoke, the other soldiers watching with apprehension as a vile aura of magical energy enveloped the man as he stabbed his own palm. Twisting around, a pyre of bleak energy rose upward, touching the heavens and darkening the Sun till it took a more violet shade with smog blocking its high noon rays. Tendrils of electricity sprouted from the twister of light, brightening until a silhouette covered by flashing lightning pulsed ominously around his being.

"Būrqān!" He spoke out, glowing eyes appearing from a shadowy visage that glared intimidatingly at Wendy.

Sherria and Charle looked on with a shared expression of fear. The man had transformed into something that emitted a fierce magical aura; something that resembled a demon or a specter of some kind.

And he set his sights on Wendy.

In an instant, he streaked forward, ceasing to move as a human but as a creature of energy. Materializing in front of Wendy, a fist slammed up into the girl's chest, causing her eyes to bulge and spit spew out of her mouth. Throttled upwards, she'd be pursued by her attacker, streaking up above to lash out at her with another right hook to the cheek.

This time, the Sky Maiden spun out of the spirit possessed man's reach. Adorned in the raiment of three fold enchantment, she struck with a twister punch across the electric silhouette. A loud bang filled the air, sending him sprawling across the heavens while Wendy kicked off the air and spun around delivering another wind magic kick that created another flash of light in the sky overhead.

The electric specter growled, thrusting out a pair of hands, unleashing a cascading lance of lightning towards her with a shout, "Djinn Art: Heaven's Spear!"

Wendy twisted in the air, moving around and to the side as the blast of electricity narrowly missed her. Propelling herself forward she punched the man with a shout, sending a number of wind funneled fists that struck him like a wall of wind.

Sky Dragon's Fist Storm!

Each blow bludgeoned past the aura of lightning, crushing the shadow that enveloped the man's body. Each time she made contact, he became less imposing and the energy sparked chaotically and formidably. Unable to keep himself afloat, he fell from the last strike, descending to a mighty crash onto the street a dozen meters behind the wagon.

As Wendy landed gracefully beside him, she saw his aura disperse and a bloodied, confused man looked up at her as a blade was still held in his grip.

"How...what are you?!" The man gaped in bewilderment at her.

"I'm a Mage of Fairy Tail," She proclaimed, staring down at him harshly. "And this is what happens when you pick fights with us."

"Captain!" One of the other soldiers shouted.

"You bitch!" Another swore aloud.

"You'll regret that!" A third said, as all began to follow suite of unveiling their own sacred blades.

Wendy's eyes widened. If they all released that kind of power at once, she might be in trouble…!

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" A loud voice cut across the air, bringing Wendy's eyes and everyone else's to a group of white-teal robed men, flanking an imposing woman of statuesque height and considerable curves. While the others had desert regulated uniforms, the woman with wavy orange-blonde hair had a black top that covered her bust with her uniform jacket tied around her waist, letting her tanned abs and muscular back be exposed. With a teal-black kama skirt wrapped around baggy white pants and pointed toe black sandals, she gestured towards the men brandishing weapons. "You were forbidden to carry weapons of A-Class Holder Magic within the walls of Paradisio less they are sealed properly. You are all under arrest for violating the peace and causing wanton destruction!"

The air was filled with the swift surging of magical energy; the tanned woman, as if from nowhere — but most likely from inside her top — pulled out two shining objects. They were bronze in colour, and brimming with energy. She thrust them into the ground, and chanted out an incantation that was quick and unintelligible to onlooker. "Impious Restraints: Earthen Shackles!" She thrust her hands downward, planting the objects firmly into the ground; beneath the feet of their soldiers, an explosion of earth rushed upward. Within seconds, each and every soldier was encased in a binding column of stone.

"T-That's powerful Holding Magic!" Charle observed, her eyes wide. "Wendy, I think we should—"

"Stay put," said the tanned woman sharply. "If you three do not attempt to run, I assure you that I will have nothing more than words for you."

Wendy, Charle, and Sherria shared a glance. Deciding it would be in their best interest to follow the instructions of the woman in question, they remained rooted to the spot. The tanned woman twisted her hands on the spot, and the ground beneath the captured soldiers gave way, pulling them under. Their descent was accompanied by muffled yells, all of which were silenced the moment the woman twisted her hands back to their proper alignment, and the ground closed over. Standing back to her full height, the woman beckoned two of her group closest to her, and handed them the items she had just used.

"Take these back to HQ, and make sure the criminals are processed. Leave the handling the foreigner to me."

Her troops complied, and soon saw themselves out. Wendy, Charle, and Sherria eyed the woman with a measure of trepidation. She carried herself with the kind of composure which made it clear to see how she was able to command as many people as she did so effortlessly. The woman walked over towards the three, wearing a surprisingly gentle smile despite how easily she had handled the enemies.

"You are the foreign party, correct?" she inquired. "Or, at least, part of it? Welcome to Desierto, my name is Nyla. I am a member of Desierto's Rune Knights, heading up the Custody Enforcement Unit. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"The Custody Enforcement Unit...?" Wendy repeated.

"She's like Lahar," Charle whispered, and Wendy got the gist immediately. The Fiore Rune Knights had multiple divisions to their Custody Enforcement Unit, and Lahar headed up Fourth Custody Enforcement Unit. She, mercifully, didn't have too much experience with him, though she remembered vividly when he had come to arrest Jellal after the Oración Seis incident.

"You...aren't here to arrest us, are you?" asked Wendy nervously.

"Not at all," Nyla replied, laughing slightly. "If I were, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Besides, until a husband candidate has been chosen, the entirety of the Fairy Tail Guild are her Majesty's honoured guests. You may find that your comrades are granted more privileges here than you would initially expect." A thin, dark finger was placed to Wendy's lips when the girl was about to speak again, and Nyla shook her head lightly. "Come with me, there are some things I would like to explain to you. This is knowledge you can pass to your friends as well."

Nyla led Wendy, Sherria, and Charle through the winding streets, before ushering them into a back alley that was far removed from prying eyes. Charle, pragmatic as ever, looked defensive and cautious; Nyla merely smiled, and peered out from the side of the adjacent building. Seeing nothing, she leaned her back against the wall and crossed her arms.

"Thank you for following me, reckless little foreigners," Nyla said, a touch of humour in her voice. "I don't think you understand that, if you weren't Her Majesty's guests, you would be encased in bedrock, the same as those foolish soldiers." Her dark eyes landed on Sherria. "Which brings me to a point, before I elaborate on anything else — you two are the only ones possessing any sort of privilege or immunity of this group. Your little companion would normally be guilty by association; I only haven't acted because she's with you. So let me give some survival information, to ensure the next time I see you isn't at a judiciary hearing, hm?"

"You would so quickly arrest foreigners who don't know your customs?" Charle sounded affronted.

"We say it differently in our country, but I believe you Fiorans have a similar saying as well? 'Ignorance of the law is no excuse'." Nyla grinned. "Rest easy, kitten. I have no intention of taking any of you in - the crimson-haired one is absolved by association with you."

Sherria breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't realised that her breath had been hitched in her throat until that moment, but when Nyla said she could she been taken in even though she hadn't done anytbunh wrong, the girl indeed felt scared. She felt pressure on her shoulder, and saw a small hand resting there. Looking up, Sherria saw Wendy smiling back.

"You don't think I'd let anything happen to you?" said the young Dragon Slayer. "You were the first person who welcomed me after...what happened. You're my friend, and Fairy Tail protects their friends."

"Boasting aside," Nyla said, brushing Wendy's declaration of protection aside, though her smile continued smile betrayed her emotions, "you've certainly seen what our nation is like in your short time here, yes?"

Wendy nodded, and Charle added in, "Yes. The Queen seems almost like a deity to your people. I'm...familiar with such monarchies."

"It's good to see you pick things up quickly, kitten," said Nyla. "Yes. Her Majesty is an untouchable entity, her very existence framed by something sublime; akin to worship, hope, and fear simultaneously." Even while trying to explain such things, the three of them noticed the touch of reverence in Nyla's voice.

Charle frowned deeply. That isn't a healthy mentality, she thought. The Exceed were similar...revering their Queen as a deity, and it lead them down the wrong path.

Wendy shared a look with Charle. They were clearly thinking along similar lines.

"Our country is run on a class system," Nyla continued. "Her Majesty is our goddess, and stands atop Desierto society. We do not see her—"

"You don't SEE your Queen?" blurted out Sherria, who was surprised. This didn't match the tales and images of Queens she had from stories.

"Are regular humans fit to lay eyes on a goddess, child?"

"But that's–" Sherria continued to object, before Wendy placed a finger over her mouth, and shook her head.

"Please," the blue-haired Dragon Slayer motioned for Nyla to continue speaking, and the woman nodded, pretending as if Sherria hadn't continued to interject.

"Her Majesty places the highest in our society, and tribute to her is paramount," Nyla said. "Barring the current King Consort, the Vizier, and the Vizier only, is allowed to see and speak with the Her Majesty. He conveys her will, and his word is as her word when acting in his official capacity. I am sure you will encounter him during your stay here. He is a man named Ja'far, the first foreigner we have ever had risen to the position."

The name Ja'far struck a chord with Wendy. It wasn't that anything was familiar about the name; far from it, she'd never heard it before. But the way Nyla said it, it was quite clear she had differing opinions on the man. or perhaps Desierto was like that about foreigners.

"During officially celebration, such as these, very few individuals are permitted to work directly within the marketplace. Places of business are permitted to stay open, but operating a 'street job' at the height of a celebration in honour of Her Majesty is sacrilege," Nyla was speaking carefully, her eyes looking around even while her body remained rigid. "The gentleman from whom you solicited work from today is known for being frequently in dire need of money. As such, he has shirked these simple rules and restrictions before."

"And that was a reason for the soldiers to attack him the way they did?" Wendy bristled. The normally calm girl found herself angering over the absurdity of the customs Desierto seemed to prize. "That gentleman was helping us. If anything, it was our fault, but that's no reason to target someone who was lending their aid to someone else."

"I'm not expecting a foreigner to love the way things are done here is Desierto," Nyla rebuffed. "I am, however, telling you all of this so that you may at the very least respect our customs and traditions. You are indeed honoured guests, but that doesn't mean the entirety of the Fairy Tail Guild cannot conduct themselves properly. And I have told you, this wasn't the man's first offence; however, those soldiers were in the wrong as well for inciting violence in the marketplace during a celebration held for Her Majesty. If you remember nothing else, her Majesty comes before everything."

It's what I expected, Charle groaned inwardly. An unhealthy theocracy. Desierto is beautiful to look at, but once you start to pick away at it...I'm beginning to think coming here was a mistake. The Exceed tried not to let the frown show on her face, and shook her head quickly. "Nyla, pardon us. Fiore is just so different that acclimating here is going to take some time, and having all of this information given to us like this is a bit of a culture shock. If you could give us the rest concisely, if possible, to prevent more confusion?"

Nyla appreciated the discretion shown by the cat-like creature, who was becoming perhaps her favourite of the party. "One who does not pay proper homage to Her Majesty, such as the gentlemen in question, are henceforth 'marked'. Such impiety leaves the offender shamed in the eyes of their countrymen; it is only through the penance of hard labor that they may retake a position among the faithful of Desierto. Please bear this in mind: There are many instances of what you should or should not do things for fear of trespassing the good graces of the Queen. Observe our citizens, tread carefully, and may the rest of your time in Desierto be uneventful."

The Rune Knight Captain removed herself from her relaxed position, and with a look that tried to remain detached, ushered the three of them from the alleyway and back into the bustling market street. "I think it best if you ruminate on what I've told you here, and mind yourself as you continue to enjoy the kingdom." With a nod to the three girls, Nyla vanished into the crowd, leaving a confused trio behind in the middle of the street.

"Was that all she wanted to tell us?" Wendy frowned. "It was cryptic, but I don't think she told us enough."

Charle shook her head. "No, she told us more than enough. I don't want to us to discuss it out here so openly, but that was all the information we need to know that something is wrong here. It may be best to discuss this with the Fourth Master."

Wendy nodded. "You're right. In the meantime, Sherria, can you make it back to Lamia Scale without us? It feels like this is something urgent..."

The crimson-haired girl nodded, her expression dour. In spite of wanting to spend more time with Wendy, Sherria could tell that something was off. Wendy almost seemed like an adult in how serious she was being, and Charle's grave look didn't help matters. "I-I should be able to make it back to where we're staying!" Forcing herself to smile, Sherria added, "Even with everything that happened, I had a lot of fun! I'll treasure these clothes, and can we explore the city again before you have to leave?"

"Of course!" Wendy was surprised, but smiled warmly. "It's a promise!"

Feeling considerably lighter, Sherria set off down the street, Wendy and Charle watching her disappear into the crowd before they themselves took off running through the streets. Both of them were thinking the very same thing.

Desierto felt eerily similar to Edolas.

As the trio split up, Nyla had taken to the rooftop to watch them part. She sighed, wishing that these three had come to a different country. Passionate though she was to be a citizen of Desierto, foreigners could never understand their ways, or their customers, and so dearly did they often pay for it. But the three - especially the blue-haired one - were earnest and kind. She didn't wish to see them come under harm from their laws, simply because a girl acted out of kindness for someone else.

With her vantage point, Nyla had a surprisingly good view of everything happening on the street below. The trained eyes of a soldier could pick up much more than the average human.

This is why she saw, skulking into the shadows of the market street before vanishing, but having so clearly been observing Wendy, Sherria, and Charle, a most chilling figure. They were clad in black robes, hemmed in violet, wearing dark turbans, their faces covered in violet veils. Nyla felt her entire body awash with chills. Even after the figure vanished, the creeping feeling of dread persisted. That figure was one of the Royal Aides, and, apart from speaking with Ja'far and working as his consul in the Palace, they never made any sort of public appearance.

Nyla had only one question to ask herself now.

What do they want with those children?

A/N:
Lastationlover5000: Four. Months. I have no real idea how to apologise for delaying this chapter as long as I have, but please accept the apology nonetheless. I work retail, this pandemic is still going on, and ever since the last chapter was released, I have taken on morning shifts (5 AM to 1 PM and 6 AM to 2 PM) to go to my store early and spend the entire day cleaning the store. While I took these shifts willingly, as it means I don't have to work a closing shift, I cannot stress how utterly exhausted and drained I feel when I come home. Regardless, it doesn't excuse the fact that this chapter is four months late and neither Erased nor Heart have seen an update in that time either. Hopefully, this chapter was full of enough sweet moments, suspenseful ones, and exposition to make up for it. It was quite an interesting chapter to write, and I hope you all pay close attention to it going forward! We'll see you soon, hopefully earlier than four months!

Demod20: Apologies for the delay. Due to the strains of myself and my co-author's current lives this was put off longer than intended. However, I very much enjoyed writing the first half of this chapter focusing on our favorite Slayer and Sherria, with even some memorable lines from Charle herself. In this foreign land I wanted to help set the tone that, behind the glamor and festivities lies a dark side that isn't so cut and dry. And the Rune Knights themselves seem to keep the peace with a caveat to them respecting the laws of the land. Hopefully this little insight proves to be as interesting it was to read as it was for us to write. See you all in the next (hopefully) quicker update .