Hello my beloved readers!

Here you go with your weekly chapter!

Now, the Thunder Legion has arrived in Magnolia, and Gajeel and Lily are doing their best to take Cobra back to Fairy Tail... Let's see what happens!

Morgana sends you kisses!

XOXO

P.S. Have you see I have added a little piece about Gajeel and Lily in Era at the end of chapter 5? No? Go and check it out before reading this chapter! And now, onto the story!


The day after, Magnolia, Fairy Tail...

The Thunder Legion arrived early in the morning. Makarov was at the guild waiting for them, together with Lucy and Porlyusica.

The four mages looked exhausted - Laxus from the too many hours spent on the train, Bickslow from restraining his babies and sharing with Freed the task of carrying Dalila. Evergreen had been awaken as well, checking from time to time the girl's body temperature, braiding her hair, so that they were not hanging freely and touching the ground, and adjusting from time to time the dress she provided her. A purplish, big parallelepiped was in the middle of them, floating in the air guided by Freed, and looking through the translucent barrier of runes, Lucy could see the outline of a small human figure.

"Welcome back, my children!" Makarov opened his arms, looking worriedly at each one of them. "You all seem weary. Thank you for coming back so soon."

"We had to, Master." Bickslow voice was sleepy and tired. "Her soul is starting to stretch out. She will wake up in a few hours, I guess."

"Very well, then." Makarov nodded, looking at Porlyusica. "The girl is in your hands form now on, Porlyusica."

Porlyusica raised a brow. She had been informed by Makarov about Dalila, and she was of the opinion that Dalila body was going to need a few days of her full attentions and medicines, before being able to stand on her feet again. And the sooner the new dragon slayer started to drink some of her regenerating potions, the better. "Follow me. We have no time to lose." Porlyusica said with a frown, already marching towards the infirmary.

Lucy and the others followed. She smiled weakly at Evergreen, who returned the smile under baggy eyes. "I am so glad we made it in time..." whispered the queen of fairies, gesturing towards Freed, who was guiding the purplish case towards the door of the infirmary. "Just imagine if she woke up in a train... with dragon slayer motion sickness..."

"Thank you so much for bringing her here!" Lucy whispered back.

Evergreen nodded. "We need to rest for now, but as soon as I am on my feet again, I will come and check on her."

Lucy thanked her with a smile. Despite having turned all the girls to stone years ago, now Evergreen was much more approachable and kind. Lucy sometimes had wished the Thunder Legion was more at the guild, so that she could get to know Evergreen better. Maybe that was a good occasion to get a little closer with the Fairy mage.

"Put her on the bed and undo the spell. Freed." ordered Porlyusica once they entered the infirmary. The healer immediately busied herself with some strange bottles and cups. In a few seconds, a bitter smell coated the room. They all grimaced, Lucy resisting the urge to hold her nose.

With shaking hands, Freed lowered the box onto a bed. He murmured a few words, and with a movement of his fingers, the runes dissolved in whirls of purple smoke. "There she is, Master..."

Makarov looked at the sleeping form that was now laying on the bed. "Poor child..." he whispered.

Lucy moved forwards, and finally saw her.

With her pale skin and blonde hair, Dalila looked like an ethereal creature coming out from a fairy tale. Lucy understood instantly why everyone was referring to her as 'girl', even if Dalila was twenty-two, which meant she was three years older than her, almost the same age of Erza.

Dalila was much smaller than her, with a tiny waist and breast, slender legs and arms. Her hands were delicate and pale, with small, cured nails. She was not as short as Levy, Lucy guessed, but definitely shorter than her.

And her face, Lucy noticed with a stung of pain, looked peaceful and tranquil as she slept, still unaware at what was waiting her, once she had opened her eyes.

"The wind dragon slayer, is that so?" Porlyusica harsh torne startled Lucy from her thoughts. The old healer handed some glasses to the member of the Thunder Legion, a liquid inside fuming and bubbling. Lucy wrinkled her nose. Ouch. That stinks.

The members of the Thunder Legion seemed to be pretty much of the same opinion.

"What is that?" asked Laxus warily, eyeing the potion as if it was an enemy ready to assault him. And in fact, his sense of smell was pretty much offended in that moment. He glanced at Bickslow, who was trying to feed the potions to his babies.

"An elixir, young Dreyar." grunted Porlyusica, pretending to ignore Bickslow trying to feed the potion to his babies. "It is to help you all recover from the journey." she explained.

"Oh well, 'souffrir pour embellir', right?" stated Evergreen, drinking bravely the potion in a single gulp. Freed imitated, but out of sense of duty, and too scared of Porlyusica to protest. The healer was already annoyed by all the humans in her reign of potions and stills.

As if they were smelling good... grimaced the healer. "Now," she huffed, once Laxus had took a sip from his glass, "all you four, go to sleep and don't come here before a couple of days! I don't want to see you around!"

Lucy chuckled, as she leant forward to inspect Dalila, leaving Laxus to protest as Porlyusica was shoving him off. "But-" "Do not make me say it one more time, dragon slayer!" Porlyusica scolded. One of her hands reached for the broom behind the door. "Out of here!"

Freed and Evergreen backed almost immediately. "By, Master!" "Goodbye Master! See you in a few days!" one last bow from Freed, and they were gone.

"Yes madame!" Bickslow had successfully fed the potion to Pippi, but strangely seemed have gained all his strength back anyway. "Babies, let's go!" He bowed, clearly mocking Freed, who luckily was already in the guild hall. "Say goodbye to good old Porly!"

"I am not good, and certainly not old!" The broom landed where Bickslow was one second before. "Porly, Polry!" chanted his babies, following him through the door. Lucy giggled, as their screams and laughs died away in the hallway.

But Laxus was determined to stay. "Gramps, I want to-" "I said out! Smelly humans!"

"Fine." Laxus grumbled, heading towards the door. "But give me a call when she wakes up." he said, looking down one last time to Dalila.

"Sure, Laxus. Now go, you look very tired." Makarov giggled, and gestured him to the door.

Porlyusica closed it harshly behind him, and as they hear Laxus heavy steps fading in the distance, Master and Lucy went back examining the young dragon slayer. She was still sleeping, unperturbed by the shouts and the mess around her.

Silence fell in the infirmary. The only sound was the clinking of Porlyusica pots and glasses.

"When she will wake up?" asked Lucy after a while, adjusting a strand of blonde hair that had fallen onto Dalila's shoulders. The hair of the dragon slayer felt like silk in between her fingers. Lucy lingered a second onto the contact, smiling softly. It was so similar to Natsu's hair. Maybe even softer, like Wendy.

"In about hours, I believe." Porlyusica was pulling more bottles and cups on her counter, mixing and stirring several ingredients in a small pot.

"Will she be ok, when she wakes up? No physical damage?" enquired Makarov.

"I will be able to tell once she wake up." Porlyusica muttered. "Her body will need a few days to recover, though, Magic shield or not, nobody spends a century without moving and gets away with it easily."

She will need clothes. Mine are too big for her... Maybe Levy, or Wendy... I should ask them a change... Lucy arranged Evergreen dress on Dalila shoulder. "She will need more clothes, Master." she said out loud. "And a place to stay, also..." There are so many things to take care of...

"Sure. I was thinking that maybe she could stay at Fairy Hills, for now." Makarov had also though that Dalila might need help for the first months. She had no money, and knew nobody. "As soon as she starts to work, she will become independent. And for clothes, and all the other supplies, I am relying on you, my child." Lucy lifted her gaze. "Me, Master?"

"Yes, of course!" The small master started pacing up and down. Porlyusica glared at him. Couldn't these humans just stand still for a few minutes?

"She will need many little things I can't think of, Lucy." started Makarov, "The world has changed from when she... well... From one century ago. I remember that communication lacrymas didn't exist when I was younger, as long as fridges, medicines, cars... The habits have changed as well. A girl of her age was definitely not as much as free as you and your young friends are now... All these things she needs to know. This is why I called you, after all." Makarov smiled down at Lucy, who had taken a sit and was slowly unbraiding Dalila's hair, enamoured with their softness.

"You are... sensitive, and kind, Lucy... We all know..." whispered Master. "I entrust Dalila to your care. Also," Makarov tone was sad, "because she will need support, after losing so much. She will a friend, a confident... I hope you will be that friend Dalila needs when she wakes up.

Lucy let out a small smile. She was proud of the esteem Makarov had of her. The Master hadn't said so, but the similarities between Lucy's and Dalila's stories made her apt for this task. "I promise I will do my best, Master."

"Good." Makarov smiled widely. What a good choice was it. "Do not worry about her being a dragon slayer... There will be plenty of time for her to learn magic! What is most important for now, is to her to find comfort and a home here at Fairy Tail."

Then, the small Master lowered his head. "I am waiting for Gajeel and Lily report later in the morning. As soon as I have some news, I will let you and the rest of team Natsu know."

"Yes, Master. Thank you." smiled Lucy. She trusted Gajeel and Lily. She wouldn't want to be in the place of Lahar. Specially, if Mirajane was going to be next emissary of Fairy Tail to Era. Lucy couldn't help but chuckled. She caressed mindlessly the cheek of the sleeping dragon slayer. It was warm and soft, and her flawless skin was shining like a pearl in the morning light.

"Is everything alright, Lucy?" asked Makarov, a little surprised to see the features of the Celestial mage bright up all of a sudden.

"Yes. I am good." she said, smiling brightly. "I am sure everything will turn out well, Master!"


Later that morning, Era...

A loud, rattling sound startled him. He stirred on the floor were he had been sleeping, and his first thought was that it was damn cold. He was freezing. The second thought, was a curse. And the third, before he opened his eye, was how much the black hole in his stomach fucking hurt. Which should not have surprised him, since he hadn't eaten the day before.

Cobra half-opened his eye, meeting the ceiling he knew too well. After all, he had been in that place for seven years.

The clattering noise was heard through the corridor again. Cobra rolled his eye. The Rune Knights were more noisy than he remembered.

He sat up. It was damn freezing, even if it was April. He remembered that in seven years, only a handful nights on summer were bearable. For the rest of the year, the prisons in Era were the coldest place he had ever been. Well, maybe not the coldest, but the coldest he had ever been for so long.

Or maybe it was the prison uniform, a layer of dirt cloth that had the only merit of covering his body. Maybe it was just like that, prisoners were supposed to be naked and experience the ever-frost of their cells, and the only thing that mattered was not having them actually naked.

For a split of a second, Cobra's expression was not bored anymore. His jaw clenched, and his eye searched desperately around the corridor. But, despite the loud noises of before, no one came into sight. Cobra took a shaky breath and stretched his magic, feeling the barriers of the cell pulling him back. Even if there was someone around, he could not have heard him, he realised.

That sudden knowledge which made him feel vulnerable, the fact that Lahar had put him in his old cell - how thoughtful of him - and the inexistent clothes he was wearing, made his eye tickled.

He pulled himself together. He forced himself to push aside everything, and felt his old mask of boredom descend on his features. He was still Cobra, after all. Not a puppet, crying because he was cold and alone.

Just in time. As soon as he had composed himself, he heard the sound of steps along the corridor.

Cobra stood up, and went to the barriers. He had to restrain himself from grabbing the barriers and scream to let him out. He wanted to leave that hideous place. I have been here for seven damned years...

He folded his arms, and forced himself not to lean onto the iron poles. Which in any case feel warmer that the air around him. How could it be that no sun nor wind was coming down those dungeons?

He listen carefully, and finally recognised the steps that were echoing in the corridor. Strange he had not picked that pace immediately. Half of a year out of prison, and he was already forgetting one of the most recurring sounds of his life in Era. Well, it could have been worse... he thought, as Dorambolt came into view.

Dorambolt did not speak immediately. As soon as Cobra came into view, his steps became hesitant and his brows furrowed. Why was ne not wearing his clothes anymore? Everyone knew he was getting cold easily, although he had never complain about that.

Cobra huffed. Dorambolt thoughts were muffled and flebile to his Soul Hearing magic, but at least he could have an idea of what was going on into the man mind.

It was not much, apparently. Dorambolt had nothing to tell him, as far as Cobra could hear.

"Paying a visit?" asked the poison dragon slayer, breaking the awkward silence between him and Rune Knights officer.

Dorambolt broke out of his stupr. "Just checking. To see whether you have already tried to escape or so." groaned the Memory mage. Cobra was still nasty, but his sarcasm was oddly comforting in that situation.

The truth was, Dorambolt had no means to be down in the dungeons, in front of the poison dragon slayer prison. Apart form his own sense of guilt, of course.

"Oh," Cobra simulated surprise, ignoring what Dorambolt was thinking. "Checking if I am behaving, is that so?" If there was something Cobra didn't want from the Rune Knight, it was pity.

Cobra decided to play sarcasm. It always worked with Dorambolt. It was the best way to get onto the Memory Control mage's nerves in a matter of minutes. So, Cobra gestured around, indicating his cells, the bars, and the straw bed he hadn't use because it smelled so bad he was sure he would have puked in his sleep. "Why on earth would I leave such a lovely place?"

Dorambolt grimaced. Era's cells were famous in all Fiore for their... rigor, to say the least. And it had been a precise request of Lahar to put Cobra in his old cell. How thoughtful of him, Cobra heard the Rune Knights officer mumble to himself. The fact that he and Dorambolt were sharing the same opinion on something, made him smirk. How ironic.

Actually, Dorambolt was totally disagreeing with his precious Captain on the whole matter. Cobra was doing just fine at Fairy Tail. Belno's plan was working fine. Hopefully, the other member of the Oracion Seis were going to be released too. And he had promised Wendy he was going to send Cobra back soon, so...

"Now, let's leave the runt out of this." hissed Cobra.

Dorambolt paled. "I was not-" "You still don't know if these bars are enough to stop me." Cobra smirked when Dorambolt swallowed. Oh yes, not telling them how he managed to poison some guards a few years back had been a great idea, he knew it. Actually, the guards had forgotten the door fo his cell open, but he was not going to point out this small detail. Ever.

"So," Cobra said casually, "You are going to release the rest of the Oracion Seis?"

That was an interesting point. he had not dwelled on that when he was on the train, he was more interested in the fact that Belno was pulling the strings behind the whole thing, but now he was curious. The poison slayer was planning on taking advantage of Dorambolt sense of guilt towards him, to grasp all the information he could. I am really the same bastard as before.

If possible, Dorambolt paled even more. How does he know?

"Your memories on the train have been quite handy." Cobra yawned. "Who knew the old hag was such a crazy bitch, uh?"

Dorambolt swallowed. Then, he knows...

"That you have no legal reason to keep me here?" completed Cobra for him. "Yes, I know also that."

He had spoken the last words as if they had a bitter taste in his mouth. There was no need to tell that Lahar was doing all this fuss only because Cobra was Cobra. And no one in the Council, not even Belno, would have opposed the Captain.

"Well," started Dorambolt, straightening his back, "the Captain is doing some controls that-" "Do not exist in practice." completed Cobra for him.

"That is not true." muttered Dorambolt, gritting his teeth. But Cobra had already lost interest into him. The slayer turned, and went to sit onto the straw bed at the far end of his cell.

"Pay my respect to the Captain." said Cobra, closing his eye and stretching lazily his legs. "Thank him for the little vacation. I owe him one."

Dorambolt had a comeback on the tip of his tongue, but froze when Cobra eye shot open, glimmering in the shadows. Suddenly, the blankness of his face was gone, and his features were deformed in a grimace of pure hatred. In his purple pupil was reflected a madness Dorambalt had not seen in a long time. And intertwined with the vicious glint in his eyes, the desperation of a caged beast, ready to do anything to get free again. Unconsciously, Dorambolt took a step back.

The poison slayer let out a long hiss, that made Dorambolt blood run cold. "Leave."

Despite the bars, despite the guards that were at the end of the corridor, and despite the fact that he had nothing to fear from the poison dragon slayer, Dorambolt rushed back in the corridor.

He made no motion to salut the guards that bowed their heads to him, solely concentrated onto walking as fast as he could into the open air. And the furthest possible from the poison dragon slayer.

As he steps resonated onto the cold stone on the pavement, Dorambolt did all he could to calm himself down. What am I even upset about?

But he knew the answer to that one, oh yes, he did.

He was upset because for the first time since when he met him, behind the wall of hatred - which Dorambolt justified in this specific case - Cobra looked... desperate.

Dorambolt was not particularly affectionate to Cobra, and, as a Rune Knight officer and assistant to the Captain, prisoners should have been indifferent to him. And so it was, Of course!, he thought. However, he couldn't shake off his shoulders the image of the poison slayer so disrupted and... Trapped. That is the right word. He looks like he is trapped.

And seeing Cobra like that, made Dorambolt feel honestly bad for the poison slayer for the first time in his life. He does not deserve this.

He shook his head to himself, as the Rune Knights opened for him the doors of the prison building, letting him out in the open air.

There is not much I can do for him, anyway. thought Dorambolt, as he went back to the main quarters, directed to his office. All I can do for now is sending him a blanket and some poison. I will hope Lahar will listen to-

"Now, ya listen to me, ya scum!" A growling, low and menacing voice boomed into the hall of the Rune Knights main building, as soon as Dorambolt opened the door. "Ya are calling yer fucking Captain right fucking now!"

Dorambolt's eyes went wide oped, and he almost tripped on his feet. All his thoughts about Cobra were wiped away in a matter of a second. Oh my runes... What are those two doing here?

That was a rhetorical question, and Dorambalt knew it. He had already figure out what was going to happen sooner or later at Magnolia train station the day before, and his fears had just materialised in front of him, in the form of a tall, angry, raven dragon slayer, and a huge, black cat.

To be more precise, they were giving Dorambolt their backs, and they were facing an absolutely terrified clerk, unlucky enough to be at the reception desk that day.

"I have already told you-glom-sir, that I... The Captain is not available... Maybe tomor-" "I am not waiting tomorrow, you sack of-" bellowed the iron dragon slayer, slamming a fist on the reception desk, successfully cracking it.

The clerk started to tremble visibly. His idea to hide under the table was not viable anymore.

"Gajeel, maybe this is not the right approach." Lily had put a paw on the shoulder of the growling dragon slayer. "Let me handle this."

Gajeel stepped to the side reluctantly, letting Lily taking his place in front of the poor receptionist.

Dorambolt let out a sigh of relief. He had not realised Gajeel voice had rooted him on the spot. He moved a few steps as much silently as possible, and mentally smacking himself an instant later for being such an idiot. It is not like I have any chance to sneak behind his back unnoticed... As soon as Gajeel became aware of his presence, and it was a matter of a few seconds, Dorambolt would have been his next victim.

The Memory mage went reluctantly towards the reception desk. Better to take care of this before it gets worse.

"There is nothing to see." he grunted to some clerks and secretaries that had stopped in the hall, staring at the screaming dragon slayer in fear, "Go back to work!"

We do not need to have Lahar complaining because Redfox is hindering his office. A pissed off Captain was not exactly what they needed now, or the two mages of Fairy Tail were going to be sent to keep company to the poison dragon slayer behind bars. And then, we will have the whole guild at our doors! thought Dorambolt with a shiver, as neared the desk. Dorambolt was ready to bet on Lahar's nervous breakdown, in that case. Not even the Rune Knights could oppose them.

The Memory Control mage took a deep breath and tried to clear his mind. At least, Gajeel was not yelling anymore, and Lily had taken the situation in his hands. Or paws, to better say.

As soon as he circled Gajeel, the iron dragon slayer red eyes turned to him and burned a hole in his skull. But Dorambolt didn't register Gajeel heavy glare, for the officer was much more concerned with the giant sword Lily had placed on the half-broken reception desk, casually caressing it, as he talked with the receptionist.

"... and this is the reason why we need to see the Captain immediately, my friend." He was saying to the very, very paled, trembling clerk. "As I have just explained you, there is no time to waste." he added, looking longingly at the sword. "I hope I have made myself sufficiently clear." Pantherlily finally said, with a cold smile.

"Stop that shit, Lily, he can help us!" Gajeel had seized Dorambolt by the collar of his tunic, and before the mage could protest, his nose was less than a centimetre from Gajeel face, his narrowed eyes burning under his eyelids. "Where is Cobra, Dorambolt?" hissed the dragon slayer. "I am not asking you a second time."

Dorambolt swallowed. This is not good! Dorambolt, think about something to say, quickly!

"Mr. Gryder..." whined the clerk behind the desk. The poor man was staring at Lily's sword, ready to faint there and then.

"Ok, Gilmore... I will take care of this matter. Go back to your work." sighed Dorambolt, earning a growl from Gajeel.

Gilmore didn't let Dorambolt repeat it a second time. The clerk jumped out from his chair, and disappeared in the nearest corridor as fast as he could.

Now, Lily and Gajeel attention was all on Dorambolt.

"Where the hell is he?" shouted Gajeel once more.

Gajeel was more than furious. He knew that criminals under temporary custody were kept into a building in the Rune Knights quarters, where criminals were controlled, but had decent rooms and services, and a little privacy. Damn, he had been there a few times, too. It was not a five star hotel, but it was bearable.

Lily had studied the laws that regulated the entering of the Rune Knights prisons some time ago, for a job they had to do, and the cat had said that, since Cobra was theoretically not a prisoner, but only on parole, he should have been considered at least under temporary custody.

But when Lily and Gajeel went to that place earlier in the morning, the woman at the desk didn't found no one under the name of Cobra. Nor anyone who had been registered the day prior. On top of the list, Gajeel couldn't smell the slayer anywhere around the building.

Which meant that Cobra had been put in prison, like a common criminal, which in particularly in Gajeel opinion meant that Lahar had not intention of releasing him any time soon. And that was why the iron dragon slayer was pissed off.

However, there they were, with the assistant of the Captain a few inches of his sharped teeth, and Gajeel knew for a fact that a very few men and women in Earthland would have dared to oppose to a very, very angry dragon slayer.

"As Gilmore told you, Captain Lahar is busy today." managed to say Dorambolt through the collar of his uniform.

Gajeel didn't respond. His growl, deep and sound, did it for him. Oh, how close was he to lose it!

Lily felt it was time to intervene, before Gajeel totally loose his patience and slammed Dorambolt on the ground. An act Lily would have approved wholeheartedly, but now it was not time to let their nerves have the best of the situation.

The cat clear his throat. "So, Dorambolt," he asked, ignoring Gajeel growling, "We need to see Captain Lahar. I assume we have the right to see Cobra."

Dorambolt sighed. "Fine, I will take you to him. He has a busy morning, by the way."

Gajeel slowly put him down. "He better unbusy himself." he growled.

"I don't thi-" "I can't but agree with Gajeel on the matter, Dorambolt." stated coldly Pantherlily, retrieving his sword from the broken desk. "Now, please, lead the way."


At the same time in the morning, Fairy Tail infirmary...

Dalila had been pulled up for a time that seemed infinite. It was like emerging from a deep ocean. Around her, the space was illuminated, as if sun was shining above her.

Finally, when she was surrounded by golden light, one second before breaking the surface and finally open her eyes...

"Porlyusica, is she awake?" "Not yet, First. But she can wake any minute now."

Voices were whispering around her. Dalila mumbled something. Which was, to the reader knowledge, 'Is it already morning?'

Someone chuckled.

"What, First?" "She has always been a heavy sleeper." "She has been sleeping for one hundred years, like some sort of sleeping beauty! There is not need to sleep more!"

One of the voices seemed upset. Dalila groaned. Rule number one: do not deal with upset people before her coffee in the morning.

She rolled on one side. I am tired. I want to sleep.

Her body was damn hurting. Had she been doing something strange the day before? No, she couldn't remember doing anything out of the ordinary.

"She is awake! Porlyusica, look!"

Porlyusica looked from behind the shoulder of the First. "No, First, she is sleeping. She hasn't even opened her eyes."

"But Dalila has always been like that!" beamed the First. "Let me wake her up!"

"First, this is not a good idea!" "Dalila!" whispered the First, not paying any attention to Porlyusica. "Dalila, wake up!"

Inside her head, Dalila groaned again. Was morning, then? No, I can sleep fine minutes more. Surely it is too early to wake up.

But that voice that was calling her was familiar. But I want to sleep.

"Dalila wake up!" Mavis was raising her voice. Always like that, always... thought the First.

"Mh." finally, Dalila opened one eye, and looked around lazily. She saw a young woman, with big green eyes, and a huge mass of blonde, light hair. This voice... Mavis?

"Mavis?" Dalila asked with a drowsy voice. My throat feels so dry...

"Hello, Dalila." Mavis smiled sweetly. "How do you feel?"

"Mavis?" asked Dalila again, opening her other eye, a little more awake. Yeah, it is definitively Mavis.

Dalila eyes shot open, Wait a second... Mavis? she sprung up in the bed. "Oh my god!" she cried, "Mavis! Mavis, how do-ouch!" Dalila grimaced, when her back protested heavily for the swift movement. Her muscles were aching terribly, and she felt her head spinning.

"You need to rest." said softly Mavis, gesturing the wind dragon slayer to lie down again.

"Oh my god, Mavis!" "Yes, it is me!" "We are alive!"

Mavis halted. Her smile trembled slightly, and Dalila noticed on that moment that her friend was slightly shining. And that, she was kind of.. transparent, too?

Dalila blinked, then frowned. "Mavis?" she asked. She was not sure on how to put her question. "What... Are you ok?"

Mavis didn't answer. She lowered her eyes and suddenly looked very, very sad. The First could feel her eyes watering, but it was not the moment to cry. "Dalila," whispered, "we... We need to talk. There are... some things I must tell you."