Too Slow
"You're doing well Soler." Erza said as she blocked another high-speed attack from Soler. He skidded to stop.
"You're doing well blocking my attacks. Your reflexes have definitely sharpened." he responded.
"Well at the speed you go my reflexes had to get better to keep up. Your swordplay has gotten better I see." she added. Soler smirked,
"Well, I have a pretty good partner to take notes off of." Since the hospital job the two kept their word and had been going on jobs together as a team. They were a pretty good team too as they completed jobs at a rapid pace together. When the two weren't on a job they would usually train together at least once a day and if not train then they would hang out with the others. All in all, he had become closer to Erza and the rest and he was glad for it. The two were finishing up their training session for the day and were not resting sitting next to each near the water's edge like they usually did. For some reason, there was a weird feeling in the sir this time that Soler didn't really understand. He looked over to Erza to see that she had a thoughtful expression that he wasn't expecting to see,
"So jewel for you're thought?" he joked. Erza smiled at the joke but still didn't look at him,
"Oh, I'm just thinking about something important that happening tomorrow is all." she said. That made him curious since the past two months she hasn't spoken about anything important coming up,
"Something important? What's that?" he asked.
"It's this big test the guild has. It's so that way a wizard can become an official S-Class mage. I've been selected for the testing this year and I'm kinda nervous." she admitted. He had never heard her sound nervous before but he knew that whatever test it was she would pass easily,
"Don't worry so much about this test thingy Erza. I know you'll pass with flying colors and become whatever it is an S-Class mage is." he said. Erza looked at him with a smile,
"Thank you for your kind words." she said. Seeing her smile that feeling came back in his heart again and the slightest blush spread on his face.
"Oh well uh, it's no problem. But uhh can I ask what's so important about being an S-Class mage?" he asked. Erza looked at him astonished for a brief moment but then remembered he hasn't been here for too long. She decided to stand making Soler look up to her,
"Well being considered an S-Class mage means that the not only the guild but the Magic Council recognizes your strength as a wizard. You're considered one of your guild strongest mages and that means you can start to take on the more higher ranked jobs." she said with pride,
"So you're saying that if you're S-Class then you can take on bigger and tougher jobs and is saying that others acknowledge your power. Sounds like being S-Class is a pretty cool thing." he replied. Erza nodded back,
"Yes, it is. There are only two S-Class mages of Fairy Tail and that's Gildarts and Laxus. If I can pass this test then I'll be the third."
"Well this comes from your partner. You're more than ready to take this test Erza so knock them dead!" Soler said giving a thumbs up. Erza just smiled and nodded glad she had his encouragement. The two stayed there for another few minutes not saying anything but just enjoying each others company.
"Well, then I'm going to call it for today. I want to be as ready as I can be for the test tomorrow. So I'll see you later Soler." said Erza before she began to leave. Soler quickly stood up,
"Erza wait!" she stopped in her tracks and turned to him to see he had his fist out,
"Next time I see you. You better be an S-Class wizard." he said. Erza smirked and fist-bumped him,
"Of course." with that exchange Erza left Soler alone with his thoughts. Once she was out of view the smile on his face faded his worries coming to the surface,
I know Erzas gonna make S-Class no problem. But would she even what to still be partners once she does? If S-class are as important and as strong as she says then someone like Laxus or Gildarts would be more her level. Not someone like me. These thoughts would plague his mind until he came to a decision himself. He concluded that if no when Erza becomes S-Class he won't take any jobs with her until he follows suit. He wants to be able to watch her back and keep her safe but he's not on her same level then his efforts would just be in vain. Soler looked on to the guild as he swore to himself he would become S-Class if it meant he could stay walking side-by-side with her.
***2 years later***
2 years have passed and a lot of what I aimed for has been accomplished. Erza made S-class like I knew she would and I after she did I congratulated her but told her I couldn't take anymore job with her until I became S-Class myself. She didn't like it but she knew this was something I had to do on my own so she didn't argue. It might have taken two long years of work but I finally did it I finally made S-Class! I would have made it the next year but our she-devil herself beat me to it last year. I was almost going to beast her but the fight dragged out to hand-to-hand combat and that was the one area I was lacking in. Mira wiped the floor with me that year and made S-Class but the next year I made it finally. I remember after the whole ceremony Erza gave me hug to congratulate me. It was by far the most excited I've ever seen her. When we got back to the guild the looks on Natsu and Gray's faces was priceless to see I made S-Class before them. And strangely enough from that day forward the dragon slayer began to always want to challenge me to a fight. I would beat him but I had to admit something inside feels good everytime we fight and I see he's gotten a bit stronger than the last time. Gray, on the other hand, played it cool and pretended he didn't even care but I could tell he really did.
With me becoming S-Class soon the all of Fiore knew about it. Well, it was largely thanks to this magazine company called Sorcerers Weekly since after wizards enter S-Class a reporter usually goes out to interview said wizard. I remember watching Mira getting interviewed and she boasted on and on about herself and her strength. I had more than grown use to how Mira acts especially with Erza since the two would always bump heads at multiple parts of the enough of them back to my first ever interview. I remember the interviewer was excited to interview me since I was the third of the youngest S-Class mages to be added to the Fairy Tail guild. Of course, I had never done an interview before I was completely lost on what to do. Lucky the woman who interviewed me was nice and explained how the whole process worked and told me just to answer truthfully.
So she just asked me about myself, about my past, the trials I faced to get to S-Class and what I plan for my future. So I told her about growing up alone and how rough it was, joining Fairy Tail, my first job, even about who I lost to Mira my first time attempting to get S-Class. The interview went through a list of different faces from sad to sympathetic, to happy, and she even laughed at some of the stories. By the time the interview was done the woman had said that I was by far the most interesting wizards, she's ever interviewed. She wished me the best of luck and left to get to work on her article. I remember she said that my story might be the cover story. Later that same week the magazine with my article came out and she was right in it making the cover story. I remember the tagline "Soler the S-Class newbie with a Heart of Gold" I remember after the article went out a whole bunch of the guild members came to with teary eyes talking about my past and how tough it must have been. I just assured them that it's okay and thanks for the concern.
Another thing that's changed is that now that back to working with Erza again Mira has taken the initiative to come with us on certain jobs now too. Sometimes Mira will just take me on a job with just the two of us also. It was a weird change of pace but by working with Mira I have gotten to a different form a magic besides Erza's Requip. It's given me a better idea on how wide the range of magic could be. Well, this was my life for another 3 years. I fought, eat, slept and everything was peaceful really. I even got my own home thanks to Roger and his team. They really came through on that favor. But now when I'm 16 have gone on hundreds of jobs and have great friends are about to experience one of the hardest things in my life since coming here.
"But Soler come on! We could go and be back before you know it." Mira said. Soler sighed this being the who knows how many times shes brung up this job to him.
"Mira I keep saying just be patient. I'll be gone for only two weeks. It's not that long." he said. Mira has been trying to get Soler to go on this monster hunting job with her for a good while now. The job paid a good amount for taking down a monster but something about the job seems off to him so he had been just telling her to wait till Erza got back so that the three of them could handle it. But Mira was so confident that anyone of them could handle it on their own but she wanted him to go for backup and he had a feeling for something else too. But currently, Soler got a personal request to meet someone in a far-off town. The trek was going to at least take him half a day he just went at a leisurely jog which is what he intended to do. Mira's constant nagging was taking its toll on his sanity and he needed a break.
"Aww come on! That little request of yours can be put on hold can't it?" she complained. Soler shook his head as he grabbed his pack and headed for the doors.
"Nope, no can do. I've been holding off on this for far too long. Plus you know Erza's still out right now. So by the time I get back she'll be back then maybe we'll tackle that job." he said back. The two walked out of the guild where he stopped to look at her pouting face.
Its funny Mira can argue back and forth with Erza and even act superior to the others but she rarely does that around me. Soler just patted her head,
"Don't worry Mira I'll be back before you know it." he said with a wink. Soler proceeded to leave a slightly blushing Mira to go to his job. Mira watched him dash off and sighed,
"So he rejected you again?" Mira jumped a the sound of Lisanna who had sneaked up behind her. Mira calmed herself and glared at her sister,
"No, he did not reject me. He just said to wait for him to return is all. That's not a rejection." she said. Lisanna giggled at seeing her sister act this way. It was always refreshing to she knew how to act like a girl every now and then.
"Alright, Mira whatever you say. But you know waiting around won't ever get you anywhere. I mean you don't want to lose to Erza do you?" she said slyly. Mira blushed completely at that,
"W-What are you talking about losing to Erza? I never lose to her!" Mira responded. Lisanna only laughed and the two went back into the guild hall.
I didn't know it then but I should have gone back. I should have kept a better eye on Mira especially since I know how impatient she can get. I should have done a lot of things then but I didn't know. I just didn't know.
Soler dashed through the plains going to his destination. He had never been to this area of Fiore but it was a very beautiful area. It was rolling with plains of lush green grass and was dotted with trees and flowers here and there. He was looking for a guy name Ishimaru Taiki which was the most unique name he's heard by far. Soler continued his jog for a while longer passing through a forest along the way. Once he emerged from the forest he was greeted with more plains but this time he saw a house in the distance on top of a hill.
Well, this is the right general area so maybe the people that live there could help guide me. He made his way to the house and once he was there he could see that there was a town on the on the other side of the hill.
"Hmm neat." he said. Soler knocked on the door of the house and waited for a response. As he waited he was able to take a look at the house and it wasn't a spectacular house to be said the least. It was one story but he could tell it had an attic attached. The outside of the house was rather clean it even had a garden. A well-kept garden to be said the least. He also looked out to see that there was a single tree on the hill near the house also. It was a pretty serine area. But the fact that he still hasn't gotten a response from the door yet was starting to bug him. He knocked again a little harder this time.
"Hello! Anyone home!" he shouted. No response. He groaned thinking that maybe Mira was right on holding off on this one again. He decided to see if he could sense any energies around since maybe the people of this house might not be inside. So he searched for any energies and sure enough, there was an energy behind the house. He sighed and walked around to the back of the house to see that there was an old man sitting in a meditative state. Even from just him sitting Soler could easily tell he towered of the man guessing he only came up to his waist.
Huh, so master isn't the only munchkin around. He walked up to him and the man stayed completely still. He was so still he couldn't tell if the man noticed him or not,
"So who might you be?" Soler jumped at the man's voice not thinking he knew he was here.
"Oh well uh I don't mean to intrude but I just needed help finding someone. I got a request saying that they live nearby." he said. At that, the old man stood up and Soler was right he came just up to under his waist. Soler could see the man had a grey beard that looked more like a tail on his chin. He wore just a white shirt and blue pants and black slip-on shoes.
"Ah, so you are Soler then. Yes, I'm the one you requested you." he said. Soler looked at the man confused,
"So your Ishimaru Taiki?" the man nodded,
"Yes, yes I am." he responded. Soler mentally shrugged guessing the man requested him for housework or something.
"Oh well then I'm at you're service then sir. What is it you might need of me?" Soler asked placing his sack on the ground.
"Well, I read your article in the weekly sorcerer a time ago.' Soler mentally sighed,
Someone else to show me some pity huh? He mentally groaned,
"Hey listen if you called me out here to like show me some sympathy or something I appreciate it but-" Soler stopped at the laughing from the old man,
"Sympathy? No no no. You will get no sympathy from me young one. No, I requested you because I read how you lost to that Mira girl because you lacked the proper training." Soler took a sight offense to that,
"Proper training? Uh, no offense sir but I was trained very well thank you." he responded. Taiki picked up on his sudden mood change,
"Oh really? If I remember you said that Erza Scarlet trained you. I've heard that she is a fine swordswoman but her hand-to-hand combat skills are severely lacking." he that ticked Soler off,
"Lacking? Erza? Yeah, listen, little man, even though Erza's hand-to-hand skills are more direct. But it's the direct approach that works." Soler responded defending Erza. The only shook his head,
"That's the problem with the youth. Only thinking that there's one way. No wonder you lost to that Mira girl. I highly doubt that Erza woman could beat her with those skills." he said. Now Soler was mad,
"I'd take that back old timer. You don't know Erza and all she's done and been through. So don't go disrespecting her." he said.
"Oh, I'm disrespecting her just by saying that her skills are not. Hmm, what's the word refined." Soler couldn't take this man taking down about Erza the way he was and Taiki could tell Soler's anger was peaking which is exactly what he wanted,
"Are you getting upset? If there's something you want to say then please speak freely." he said. Quicker than Soler could realize he formed a spear and swung it at the old man in blind rage. What Soler wasn't ready for was for the old man to land on the tip of his spear with ease. While Soler was still shocked the man proceeds to kick Soler in the face flipping off the spear in the process. Soler stumbled back holding his face,
"What the hell? You can fight?" he asked. Taiki laughed at that,
"When did I ever say couldn't?" he responded. Soler recovered and formed a second spear. Well then if you can fight then I hope you can back up what you said on Erza's training. Because I'm going to beat you with that same training!" Soler responded. Taiki only kept his calm stature waiting for Soler to charge. Without an invite, Soler charged at the old man spears ready. This battle was the first of many battles between Soler and the old man as today was the first day of Solers two weeks of training.
Soler swung at Taiki who easily dodged his set of swings. The old man countered with a set of quick punches to the sides of his knees making him instantly lose his balance and fall forward where the man was ready with a strong knee to the chin. Soler's jaw chartered as the blow flipped him on his back. Taiki chuckled at the downed boy,
"So are you ready to actually learn some true combat?" he asked. Soler flipped himself over slowly obviously in pain but he looked at Taiki with a determined fire in his eyes,
"No. Take back what you said about Erza!" he shouted. Taiki was surprised to be said the least. The boy wasn't fighting for himself but to defend Erza. He smiled,
So he fancies Erza then. He thought to himself. He watched as Soler groggily stood back up his knees wobbling all the way. When Soler was on his feet again he reformed his spears ready to attack the man again his glare never wavering. Taiki never lost his smile,
"Alright then if you want to continue then so be it." and continue they did with Soler getting nowhere in the battle. The two fought for the rest of the day all the way till sundown. Solers attacks had gotten sluggish with fatigue but he never lost his determination to make Taiki apologize. He went in for another swing but Taiki merely stepped to the side and let the boy fall to the ground exhausted. Taiki walked up near his head and looked down at the heavily breathing boy,
"So Soler are you done with this tantrum?" he asked. Soler opened one eye to look up at him since it was the best he could muster,
"N-not until you apologize." he strained to say.
"If I apologize will you stay and let me train you?" he asked.
"Yes, I will." Soler said. Taiki smiled at that,
"Fine then. I am sorry for talking bad about Erza." he said. Soler finally eased as a strained smile spread on his face,
"Thank...you." then Soler passed out where he laid. Taiki just stood there and smiled at the snoozing young man.
This will be an interesting next set of weeks. He thought to himself.
For the next two weeks, Taiki trained Soler rigorously in the fighting skills he so lacked. The training was rough at the beginning but with the style that Taiki taught Soler, he was able to pick on it quickly. For the time Soler and Taiki grew close, so even decided to just call him sensei which Taiki didn't mind. Soler and Taiki grew a close bond over the time with Soler seeing much of Master in the old man. He definitely knew that even after these two weeks were over he'd definitely have to come back from time to time. But like most good thins Soler time here was coming to an end but Soler's hand-to-hand combat skills had improved tremendously. He could even hold his own against the old man now. Though he could never truly beat him he could battle him back more evenly. But now we're on the last day of his training and Soler was packing up ready to leave,
"Well sensei it's about time for me to leave." Soler said opening up the door to the house. Taiki walked up to him and patted his back,
"Yes, it is. You have done extremely well since you first showed up here. You've grown a lot." he said. Soler smiled from the praise,
"Thank you sensei. I wouldn't have gotten this far with your guidance." Soler responded. Soler looked outside up at the sky and could see it was covered in gray looming clouds.
"Hmm looks like it's going to storm later today." Taiki said also taking a look outside.
"Eh don't worry about it. I got a rain cloak that should help if it starts to rain. Anyway, I best get going. It shouldn't take to look to get back to the guild now especially since I know where I'm going." Soler gave Taiki a bow and Taiki bowed back to him.
"Please give your guildmates my regards." Taiki said. Soler nodded and ran off back to the guild.
It was pouring down hard in Magnolia and it was only in the middle of the afternoon. Natsu sighed bored out of his mind. Happy floated down and landed on his head,
"What's wrong pal?" he asked.
"What's wrong is that I'm so bored happy." he groaned. Happy patted his head in understanding,
"I know how you feel pal trust me." he said. At that time Erza and Gray walked up to the dragon slayer,
"What's wrong with Natsu?" she asked,
"He's bored." Happy replied.
"Well, it is raining out so that's understandable." Erza said. Just then the doors to the guild opened up and in walked Soler wearing his rain cloak hr said from before. He walked in and shook off the rain some before taking off his cloak,
"Man it's raining cats and dogs out there." he noticed the trio plus cat and decided to walk up to them. At seeing Soler Erza perked up some as she smiled at him,
"Nice to see you back." she said,
"It's nice to be back. What's going on with Natsu? Did Gray do something again?" he asked.
"What makes you think I did something?" Gray chimed in,
"Well you do tend to always fight with each other." he said. While the small group chatted Soler couldn't help but feel something was wrong. He took a quick scan around the guild and saw that nothing was out of the ordinary. But he noticed that there was a lack of white hair.
"Hey, where's Mira? Better yet where are the Stratus siblings?" he asked.
"Mira took them out on some job yesterday. I asked if I could go with but she denied me." Natsu said. Soler's body visibly tensed and his eyes widened. Quicker than anyone was ready for Soler grabbed Natsu by his collar pulling him out of his seat and up to his eye level,
"Did Mira say anything about what type of job she took them on?" he asked. Natsu awake and a bit frightened nodded,
"Y-yeah she said something about taking down some monster or something." he said. Soler let go of Natsu and stared off at nothing his mind racing and heart pounding. The others looked at him with concern,
"Soler, what's wrong?" Erza asked. Soler went to the door and opened the doors as he looked out into the storm. He only said one word before running off into the rain,
"Everything."
Soler ran as fast as he could without falling. He didn't have the time to fall even once.
Damnit Mira why couldn't you have just been a bit more patient. Why did you bring you bring Elfman and Lisanna with you? You know Elfman hasn't fully controlled his magic and Lisanna isn't as offensive as you. Damnit! Soler charged through the rain his going straight to where the location on the paper said. He had it memorized from all the times Mira had shoved the paper in his face to re-read everything. He sped over the terrain having left the city and on the roads trying to remember the directions to get there. The heavy rainfall didn't help in keeping his sense of direction. Eventually, Soler came upon a village in the right area he presumed still not positive he was on the right track. Well, that was until he heard a massive roar coming from the forest near the village.
There! Soler charged off into the forest his heart and mind in a pure panic. The roars didn't stop but only got more violent. Soler saw a clearing coming up and weirdly the roaring had stopped. When soler entered the clearing the most horrifying sight laid before him. Lisanna had her arms spread wide and was walking up slowly to a towering beast. He could see she was speaking something but he was too far to hear. Mira sat battered not too far off from them but there was no sign of Elfman which would have to wait. Soler saw the monster raise its arm ready to strike but he was ready to. The moment the monster's arm swung Soler took a hard step to dash to Lisanna but all the rain had caused the ground to become muddy and Soler took a hard tumble forward and hit the ground ace first sliding a bit. All Soler could do was watch in horror as the monster swung on Lisanna sending her flying through the forest with tremendous force. At that moment the only sound he heard was the sound Mira screaming Lisanna's name even through the heavy rain. He couldn't stay in shock as now Mira was the beast next target. She just sat there not moving stuck in shock from what just happened. The monster loomed over her ready to end the eldest of the Strauss siblings but before it could hit her a white blur scooped her up taking her out of harm's way. Soler held Mira in his arms glaring at the beast his anger far surpassing his anguish at the moment.
"Now you're dead beast!" he shouted. The monster only responded with a roar ready to take him down. Soler put Mira down gently against a tree she was still in shock and didn't even know that Soler had saved her. He turned his attention back to the monster and formed two spears ready to fight but the soft sound of Mira's voice made him pause,
"E-Elfman." he couldn't quite hear her so he crouched down to her,
"What did you say Mira?" he asked. She snapped awake at him talking and stared up at him,
"Soler. Save him please." she said her voice breaking. He held her shoulders trying to comfort her some. The tears started flowing uncontrollably now as everything had caught up with her,
"Please save Elfman! I can't lose him too! Please, he can't control the beast. Save him, Soler." Mira pleaded. Soler looked back at the beast who he now knew was Elfman which only made what happened harder to bare. He looked back to the sobbing Mira,
"Alright. You stay here Mira I'll be quick." he told her. He made sure she would be away from the battle before he went out to Elfman. He stared up at him his anger gone now and was filled with nothing but concern and sadness.
"Elfman! Whether you can hear me or not I'm going to have to knock you out! It's the only way to get you out of you're transformation!" Soler shouted. Monster Elfman only roared back obviously not hearing him. Soler didn't form spear this time only letting his energy coat his hands and they crackled from the rain. Elfman didn't wait for him as he swung down on Soler with all his might. Soler dodged the attack and retaliated by jumping on his arm and running up it,
I don't have the raw firepower to knock him out that way. So I'll have to try and fry him with my energy. For once the rain will help me with this. Soler climbed up his arm and avoided being slapped off by the other hand. He reached his head and uppercutted him making the punch strong enough to make his head tilt up. He jumped on to his furry back and could feel how moist it was from the rain. He lifted his charged hands,
"Sorry Elfman." Soler slammed his hand down on his back and Elfman's entire form lit up with his energy effectively frying the poor guy. The Elfmans roars could be heard for miles the pain obvious. Soler didn't like what he was doing but he had to hold it for a few more seconds. Elfman struggled to get Soler off but his struggling soon stopped as he movements slowed and he tumbled forward to the ground. The moment he hit the ground Soler let up his attack and got off of Elfman. Soler waited a few seconds hoping he didn't do too much damage to the guy and thankfully Elfman began to morph back into his regular self. Once his transformation was complete and he was human again Soler saw that he was out cold. Soler him up and moved him over to Mira who's crying had only slowed down. Soler placed him under the same tree with her protecting them all form the rain. Once Elfman was down Mira instantly went to him and hugged his sleeping form. Soler sat against the tree and watched the two as even he processed everything that happened. It all happened so fast he wasn't ready for any of it. He was a mix of emotions from sad to mad to just in pain but he couldn't pinpoint on any of them at the moment. While he was in his thoughts Mira had made her way back to him. She wouldn't look at him but she tugged on his jacket sleeve,
"C-could I use your jacket?" she asked quietly. His jacket was soaked from the rain but the attack he did earlier had dried up his clothes effectively. He nodded and took it off handing it to her. She took his jacket and used it to cover up Elfman making sure he was alright. Once she was satisfied she moved back over to him snaked her way around his arm so that her head was resting on his chest and his arm around her. She didn't say anything but Soler held her close either way.
"Thank you Soler." she finally said. Mira then looked up at him and he could see the tears that were ready to fall again,
"And I'm sorry I didn't listen to you." she said. Soler didn't say anything his words caught in his throat so all he did was wipe away a tear from her eye and a smile full of sorrow spread on his face. All he could handle was shaking his head his own tears brimming in his eyes,
"I'm sorry to Mira." he responded. Seeing Soler cry didn't help her own tears from falling as she dug her head in his shirt and began to cry again. Soler positioned them so that she laid in between his legs so he could hold her with both arms. Soler didn't make a noise but he looked up into the rainy sky his own tears falling much like the rain.
This one is done. I decided to do a lot of the bigger early time-skipping in this one too makes things flow better when I start writing where the anime picks up. Which is actually next chapter guys. So please leave a review and tell me what you think. This has been Solerwolf...later.