3rd Person's POV

After the whole incident that happened, and they continued on their way. Erza, Gray, and Lucy stayed their distance but were more alert. They didn't want what they just witness to happen again. Happy kept looking back at the others with a concern look on his face. They didn't run into any more kids like the gargoyle kid, however, anyone they did pass seemed nervous when they saw Natsu. It was a bit unsettling to the group.

"Guys, why does everyone here either hate Natsu or they seem scared of him? Did we miss something?"

The ice wizard said in a low whisper where the others could hear. Lucy was the one responded.

"Ever since we got here, it has felt off. Everything felt off. I know thing are different, but how he reacted... he was shaking. He was scared."

Erza looked at the two (even though she could only see Gray). She nodded her head in agreement.

"We need him to just talk to us. He keeps avoiding us or running away. When we are done here, we are going to get him to sit down and talk."

Gray and Lucy nod.

They walk to the end of the village and find a garden. Natsu lead the group to the heart of the garden and in the center was a nymph. She was smiling and humming a simple tune while she was watering the plants. She had green skin and long, curly, orange hair, her eyes were an emerald green. She had a simple woven flower crown atop her head. Her dress was a simple yellow color with a light blue ribbon around her waist. Natsu stopped halfway.

"Cl... Clover?"

The girl looked over at Natsu. Her smile grew when she saw him.

"Natsu!"

She stopped what she was doing and ran right toward him. She wrapped her arms around the pink haired boy and hugged him. Natsu would have fallen if he was not prepared. He had stepped backwards to keep balance.

"It's so good to see you! I... Wait..."

She releases him from the hug and looks up at him. Her smiling face turns to a frown.

"Did Yul do that to you?"

Natsu nods his head, not needing to know that she was talking about the young gargoyle. Clover lets out a sigh.

"That boy needs help."

Clover chuckles and looks back up at Natsu.

"So, Natsu, what brings you here?"

"I need your help. I ran out of Zehir leaves."

"You did?... Natsu, are you still trying to cure yourself? You know that- "

"No. Not for me. For him."

Natsu steps out of the way and Clover looks at the group.

"Oh my..."

She walks over to them. She looks over each of them. Even Lucy, who she can see. She stops in front of Gray. She looks at Natsu with a look of concern.

"These are humans... Why are humans here and why do they... You went to Agama's didn't you? Why did you bring them here?"

"I just said that I came here for help. He..."

Natsu points to Gray.

"... Was attacked by Corvus."

Clover let out a soft gasp. She looked at Gray and examined him. Natsu walked over and grabbed Gray's arm and Clover looked over the wound.

"Hmmm. This looks new. How are you awake so soon? Uh, Natsu, I can handle this, you can go wash up. Okay?"

Natsu looked a hesitated for a moment before nodding and heading farther into the massive garden.

"Now, as for you guys, what brings you to this part of the forest anyway? Humans don't typically come to this area. Although it isn't rare, it is uncommon. I guess it isn't common, if you don't count Taku. He comes here all the time. Well, not lately. He used to. Wonder what he is up to. He may stop by if he knows Natsu is here. He is great person. Kinda standoffish. Other than that he-"

"Excuse me."

"Hmm?"

Erza let out a sigh. Clover was a just rambling and they weren't really following.

"Do you know why Natsu brought us here? He said something about a ze... Zehair-"

"Zehir plants. They are really rare. They are the only known cure for a Demon's venom. Which your friend has in his blood. Not that much, but enough that it is still affecting him. Well, I think it is. This wound looks recent, but typically you would still be unconscious for a few days. I'd say that these were made around... yesterday or the day before. However, If that was true, you wouldn't be awake right now."

Gray just stares at the fast-talking Nymph.

"It did happen yesterday."

Clover looked at the ice wizard. She stared at him with a frown.

"That shouldn't be possible. The only way for you to have recovered that quickly would be if you have some sort... of... demon slaying magic..."

They all stare at Gray.

"My magic is called Ice Devil Slayer magic."

"And that does fit within the range of protection. I guess that if you weren't the one attacked, they would still be unconscious. Well, at least you don't have a voice in your head."

Gray went still. Clover frowned.

"You don't have a voice in your head... do you?"

"I heard a voice once... it said its name was Corvus, that name you mentioned before."

Clover's eyes went wide and she stiffened. Any flowers that were close to her closed up.

"The next few days aren't gonna be fun..."

The nymph had the group sit down in a clearing and she made a mixture with the Zehir leaves and water. She had Gray drink the medicine she made and Gray almost gagged. He swallowed it but it was clear it didn't taste well. Natsu had walked back to them, his hair dripping wet. Lucy looked at him and smiled at him. Clover saw this and she smiled, but there was a look of sympathy in her eyes.

"Clover?"

"Yes, Erza?"

"Can you tell us the deal with this town and, pretty much anyone's deal with Natsu? Why do they seem afraid of him or hate him?"

A/N: Hey y'all. This chapter was a lot nicer, wasn't it. Well, I wanted it to be that way. I ended it here because I wanted a small cliffhanger. (Sorry) Clover's character design is completely based of Juniper from Percy Jackson. So, yeah. I love Juniper and I couldn't exactly find a good image of a Nymph that I liked, so I based off the character that is a nymph from a book series that I like. I couldn't remember her personality, but that is okay. Clover is someone who loves everyone and I love her energy. XD
Anyway, see y'all in the next chapter.

~Zolf

Posted: 9/2/2020