"speaking"
"thinking"
On with the story
The next day had come as the sun was rising
"I'm going to be late!" Lucy exclaimed wearing her school uniform and was out of the hospital even though she had a bandage on her cheeks
Mira and Kagura were walking ahead before they turn to see her running
"hey, today is Physic Examination day. School won't start till 8" Mira said as Lucy went to a screeching halt
"really!?" Lucy exclaimed before her face went pale as white "NOOO! Why did I had to come back to school today!?"
"you and me both" Mira said sighing "I didn't even eat breakfast because of today"
"just bear with it, nobody likes doing this after all" Kagura said as the three walked to school together
"how's your wounds by the way?" Mira asked seeing the bandage on Lucy's cheeks
"the nurses said that they'll heal fine, they just told me not to do anything taxing on my body for a week or so" Lucy replied before they stopped when they see Erza and Natsu standing in front of the gate
"Erza…" Kagura muttered out as Erza steps forward
"can we….talk?" Erza asked to Lucy who looks to her before to Natsu who nodded
"yes" Lucy said with a nod
Natsu looks to them before he walks away to let them talk
Kagura and Mira went to Natsu as they let the two be
"why were you two together?" Mira asked Natsu who reads his book
"the condition of our magic duel back at the festival states that 'she's to be my slave' right?" Natsu said "then I'm making her apologize to Lucy for what she's done"
"then why bother battling in the first place?" Kagura said
"teaching someone a lesson with words is harder than you think" Natsu said as he took a glance to Erza and Lucy
Erza was bowing her head to Lucy who was embarrassed
"and action speaks louder than words, after all" Natsu added in as he continued on reading his book
Kagura and Mira looks to him before to each other and smiled
In the middle of school, everyone was called in to the auditorium hall for the Psychical exam
"I hate this" Lucy said wearing her gym outfit while holding a paper that has the description of her soon to be checked body figure
"don't whine" Kagura said having the same feeling while in front of the line
"I'm starting to think my waist is starting to get to the side too much" Mira said touching her sides
"next" a nurse called out as Kagura went in
"I'm so nervous" Lucy said shaking a bit before realizing something and turns towards Mira "hey, now that I think about it. The Psychical exam in Belserion high is always in the auditorium hall, right?"
Mira nodded to her "your point is?"
"where's Natsu going to take his Psychical Exam?" Lucy added in
"now that you mention it" Mira said as she rubbed her chin before looking around for Natsu "where is he?"
Natsu was in the infirmary as he was stripped of his top shirt and long pants. Now he only wears a short and was topless
He sat on his seat and was waiting for someone to take his Psychical body check
"haaaa, when is someone going to come?" Natsu said as he reads his book while waiting
After a minute or so, Natsu got tired of waiting as he grabs his clothes and started to put them on
But as he was about to put on his pants, the door to the infirmary slides open and Éclair came in
"excuse me" she said before seeing Natsu wearing his pants
The two looks at each other before Éclair slams the door shut
"strange girl as always" Natsu said pulling up his pants before grabbing his belt and slides it around his pants
He was about to go out before Éclair slides the door open while having an infuriated face
"why are you here this time?" Natsu asked as Éclair didn't answer, she just went and close the door
"strip" she muttered out lowly
"excuse me?" Natsu said raising an eyebrow
"I told you to strip!" Éclair exclaimed as Natsu looks at her before sighing
"of all the people to get chosen to check my Psychic figure, it had to be you, huh?" Natsu said taking off his shirt and placing it on the chair before doing his pants "and I just put my clothes on too"
"I don't like this too" Éclair said looking away while blushing hard "I knew something was weird when the teacher asked me to help at the infirmary"
"you've been tricked, how typical" Natsu said taking off his pants
"shut up!" Éclair exclaimed glaring at him before she looks away while closing her eyes when she saw Natsu barely naked "why did you had to strip your pants!?"
"it's called a Psychical Exam for a reason, you know?" Natsu said holding his Psychical figure paper
Éclair took a deep breath before exhaling as she steeled herself while grumbling a bit
Soon she started taking Natsu's body height, body weight, arm length, leg length, and etc
"Turn around and spread your arms up" Éclair said while holding the measuring tape
Natsu did as he was told, turning around while spreading his arms up
Éclair soon started to measure his chest as she was blushing hard because of the close proximity with him
"done yet?" Natsu asked
"s-shut up!" Éclair exclaimed as she wraps her arms around Natsu's chest to measure his size
She finished measuring as she pulled away from Natsu
Natsu took a glance to her and he sees her red as a tomato
"you never been close to a young man, have you?" Natsu asked looking to her
"shut up!" Éclair exclaimed looking away
Natsu sighs as he rubs the back of his head
After 2 minutes or so, Éclair was done measuring him as she writes down his measurements on his paper
"here" Éclair said giving Natsu his paper
Natsu takes back his paper as Éclair walks pass him and to the door
"thanks" Natsu said as Éclair stops for a moment before walking out
Natsu took a glance to the door before sighing and shakes his head a bit
"strange girl, after all" Natsu said before he started putting on his clothes on
Lunch break soon came as Natsu and the others heads up to the roof
Erza joined in as she made up with Lucy who forgives her for what she did
The mood was gloomy as the girls were in a state of shock
"I'm guessing that you all heard of your measurements?" Natsu said reading his book
"my waist got wider and the nurse said that I gained weight" Mira said gloomy
"my thighs got….f-f-fatter" Kagura said in shock
"I've gained 5 kilos" Erza said gripping her skirt
"my arms, legs, waist, and chest got fatter" Lucy said as everyone looks at her in shock
"is that so?" Natsu said not knowing why girls care of their weight and body
"by the way, where did you get your Psychical Examined?" Kagura asked just realizing
"Infirmary" Natsu replied flipping a page of his book
"by the nurse?" Lucy asked not gloomy anymore
"Éclair" Natsu replied
"who?" Mira asked raising an eyebrow
"Éclair Feniks, a C-rank Student" Erza said "she's a very known mage for her Ritual Magic, but her magic is a support type not fit for combat"
"Ritual Magic? What kind of magic is that?" Lucy asked
"like the name suggest, she performs a ritual that increases or decreases others of their magic capability, Psychical strength, agility, anything" Erza explained as everyone imagined a with doing some sort of black arts ritual "not like that"
"so this Éclair, what's she like?" Kagura asked curious
"strange girl" Natsu replied instantly "very strange girl, yet she looks lonely"
"lonely?" Lucy said as Natsu continues on reading
Soon the bell rang as Lunch break was over
"that's the bell" Natsu said standing up "meet again after school"
"yeah" everyone said standing up
The day soon passed as school was over
Natsu was sitting by the bench with Lucy as they watched Kagura and the others train together
Erza was very excited to train as she wanted to be stronger and faster, so Natsu tied some bricks on top of her legs and told her to stand on her hands while not letting one brick fall down
"this is not….. what… I had in mind!" Erza said trying to stand still
"you said you want to be stronger, right?" Natsu said reading his book "hand standing helps you train your arm muscle, giving you better and stronger swings with your swords"
"then…this!?" Kagura asked as she was holding buckets on each arm and a bowl of water that had a ping pong ball floating in it
"gravity is all about balance, keeping that ping pong ball steady in the water will show if you have proper balance, and the buckets of water are to help your shoulder stronger because your sword style involves more movement on the shoulder than the hand itself" Natsu answered before he closed his book
"how did you.." Kagura asked
"I saw you, I copied you. Anymore questions?" Natsu asked before Mira came flying in and crashed with the two
"waaah!" Erza and Kagura shouted as they fall over with Mira on top
"oow!" Mira said holding her abdomen as Enryuo Yoroi had just sent her flying with a Punch
"seems like someone is lagging behind" Natsu said before he had a metal spike ball in hand "do you need to go back to the basics, Mira?"
"no!" Mira exclaimed running away from the spike ball as she had bad memories because of it
"I think I missed a lot when I was in the hospital" Lucy said with an awkward smile
"clean yourself up, and take a 10 minutes break." Natsu said walking away "recontinue the training after resting up"
"yes" Kagura and Erza said tired from his exercise
"good work" Lucy said handing them a bottle of water
"thank you" Kagura said taking the bottle
"do you train this hard too?" Erza asked taking the bottle from Lucy
"yeah, all day long after school" Lucy replied smiling
"it's actually working" Kagura said "my speed gotten faster over one day. His training is really helpful"
"I see" Erza said before drinking her bottle
Natsu was in school as he was going out of the bathroom before he heard something coming from one of the classrooms
He followed the sound as he finds Éclair in one of the school's dance practice room for mage who use sound and dance magic
Éclair was wearing some sort of traditional Indian uniform as she was dancing around on top of a magic circle that shined yellow while having a small bottle in the middle
Her movements were simple yet elegant. Her tempo gentle yet powerful at the same time
Natsu watched her dance before she legs bumped into each other and she fell down
The magic circle dimmed as the dance had stopped
"a Dance Ritual Magic, huh?" Natsu thought before Éclair got up and wiped the sweat off of her forehead
Éclair got back up as she took a deep breath and exhaled
"one more time" Éclair said as she lifts her right hand up and her left hand to her side with her left knee bent up
"you're doing it wrong" a voice spoke as Éclair looks to the side and sees Natsu
"why are you here!" Éclair exclaimed at him
"that's my line actually" Natsu said "borrowing this room is only allowed until 4. This is already 5"
Éclair heard his words as she looks to the clock and sees that it was 5 in the near eve
She soon went to her bag and grabs it before going to leave but Natsu stopped her
"you do know, you're leaving a magic circle in the open?" Natsu said looking to her and pointed to the magic circle
"I'll clean it tomorrow morning" Éclair said going to leave but Natsu stopped her from reaching the door
"no, your Ritual Dance was nearing completion. If you don't finish it, it will bring bad consequences to you and to whoever is close to your heart" Natsu said to her
"what do you know of my ritual dance?" Éclair said as her eyes keen on him
"much" Natsu said as he went to the magic circle and checks its inscription "Life Healing Ritual, huh? Pretty rare magic ritual, you chose"
"you know of the Life Healing Ritual?" Éclair said as Natsu nodded before getting a piece of chalk near him
"Life Healing Ritual is one of the oldest and most basic healing ritual to date, not many can perform it and utilize it perfectly" Natsu said as he puts some inscription to the magic circle "those who can perform it well, can bring healing effect to those who the ritualist desire. Doesn't perform it well nor finish it, you'll get the opposite"
"there" Natsu stands up as the magic circle shined green
"what did you…" Éclair said seeing the shining magic circle
"your Life Healing Ritual was the intermediate level, I know the master level" Natsu said as he placed away the chalk before reaching out a hand to Éclair
Éclair looks at his hand before to him as Natsu nodded
Looking at him for a moment, Éclair took his hand before the two entered the magic circle together
The two soon bowed to each other before they dance together
Éclair spins as Natsu holds her hand before both spins their legs clockwise and lifts their hand to the side
"spread your arms out midway, and lift your left knee up" Natsu said as Éclair did as he say
The two continued on dancing before Natsu holds her close and the magic circle soon dimmed as the ritual dance was finished
"there, it's finished" Natsu said as Éclair looks to him before looking away with a blush
They soon walked out of the magic circle as it vanishes before leaving the bottle filled with greenish liquid
Éclair took the bottle and looks at it with wide eyes
"If I have to guess, this ritual dance is for your father, is it not?" Natsu asked as Éclair holds the bottle close to her before grabbing her bag and leaves
Natsu looks to her leaving as he just sighs and rubs the back of his head
after finished training Mira and the others, Natsu went home as he walks down the street that will take him back to his apartment
Natsu reads his book as he walks while holding his bag
He soon stopped as he turns and sees Éclair behind him
"what is it this time?" Natsu asked as Éclair looks to him before she throws a plastic bag that was caught
Natsu looks at the plastic bag as inside was some steamed meat buns
"don't get the wrong idea" Éclair said as she walked away on the opposite direction
"what a strange girl" Natsu said sighing before he grabs one of the meatbuns and eats it "not bad"
He then started walking back to his home while eating the meatbuns
That's a wrap!
Bye bye
