Chapter 56: The Invitation
Erza turned the lock on the door. She stood in Master Makarov's office, the small guild master sitting cross-legged on the chair in front of her. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her head tilted forward, scarlet bangs falling to shade her eyes.
Makarov waited patiently, and finally, she began to speak.
She gave him the full report. Warren's findings—her own personal interrogations of the people involved. He listened with a grim expression. When she was finished, she stood with her arms crossed across her breast-plate, looking expectantly at the master.
"You are sure of this?" His frown lines were more exaggerated than usual.
"Yes, master."
"I see." He stroked his mustache in thought. "If what you say is true… he'll attack with an entire army."
"That is my fear," she nodded, seriously. "All evidence suggests that the King of Diamonds intends to attack Magnolia in full force."
"And you have not informed any of Team Derelict Heart of your findings?"
"No, Master. I thought it wise to report to you first."
Makarov crossed his arms and tilted his head as he thought. "If Resmond wants to storm Magnolia, let him. Fairy Tail will be waiting."
She nodded, the determination shining in her eyes.
"However." He released a long breath. "I don't want Dreamer or Syllestra here when that happens. My first priority is to protect them."
"I understand." Erza agreed. "But where will you send them without setting off their suspicions?"
He furrowed his brow and thought deeper. Then, his eyelids shot open as the idea struck him.
"Get me a communication lacrima at once. I have a call to make."
"Wait, really?"
It was a brisk morning and, as usual, Team Derelict Heart was gathered on the patio drinking tea in front of the guild café. Well, minus Macbeth, who was serving cakes behind the counter.
Jezran nodded. He reached inside of his suit jacket and pulled out an envelope. The wax seal was stamped with an unmistakable symbol. The same symbol Jezran had tattooed on his chest. The Excalibur crest.
"I didn't realize it was that time already." Dreamer blinked and took the envelope from him.
"That is because the festivities usually occur over the holidays, dear me." Jezran sipped from his tea cup in a refined manner. "For some reason, it has been moved up this year."
"One of you's wanna tell me what you're talking about?"
Piper drummed his fingers on the table in irritation. He wasn't a fan of being left out of the loop.
"Oh, that's right." Dreamer looked up from the letter she was reading. "I guess you wouldn't know, would you?"
"Know what?!"
She looked back down at the parchment. The slick calligraphy and official stamped paper. The signature on the bottom.
"Every five years, the Excalibur Family hosts a reunion. It's like a big, week-long party." She glanced at Jezran. "I've only been once, right after Pops and I met."
"So, what's that? Like a formal invitation?" Piper nodded in the direction of the letter. Dreamer nodded in response.
"This letter is addressed to 'Jezran Desmond Excalibur, eldest son of the Excalibur Family Royal Line, and the members of his family; which by extension are members of the Excalibur Family.'"
She read the rest of the letter, which eloquently invited them to stay at the estate for the week of the Ball and surrounding activities.
"'With Profound Loyalty and Respect, Signed Arturus Gallavantia Excalibur.'"
She frowned at the letter before folding it back up and returning it to the envelope. "Pops, this is in ten days."
Jezran nodded slowly, then took another sip from his tea. "It is surprisingly short notice, is it not? Dear me."
"We can't go," she said, handing the letter back to him. "We have to deal with the Res… We have other things to deal with."
Jezran slid the letter back into his suit jacket. He sat his tea cup down on its saucer, carefully positioning it so that it sat perfectly in the center of the little plate. Then, he leaned back, posture upright, and folded his hands on the table in front of him. He met Dreamer's gaze with a steady, resolute expression.
"Dearest Dreamer," he spoke clearly and slowly. His tone made her stomach churn. It was very rare that Jezran used that voice. "We cannot refuse an invitation from the Excalibur Family."
She swallowed uncomfortably, then sipped from her own tea cup. Her tea was getting cold.
Piper gritted his teeth and sighed. "He's right, Dreamy. We really don't wanna piss off the Pergrande mafia."
In a flash, Jezran jabbed two fingers into a pressure point on Piper's wrist.
"OW! WHAT THE HELL, POPS?!" Piper almost fell out of his seat with the responsive jerk.
"Do not refer to my Family as a mafia, dear me." Jezran said this with the most charming mustached smile.
"My bad, geez!" Piper flicked his hand repeatedly, to get rid of the painful tingles.
Dreamer stared angrily at her lap. "It's too much of a coincidence…" she spoke quietly. "It doesn't make sense that they would invite us right when all of this is going on. Pops, it's not right!" She petitioned him, tears sparkling in her eyes.
"I agree that it is suspicious," Jezran said. "In fact, there's a 79.3% chance that this invitation is in direct response to the King of Diamonds incidents. I find it likely that the Family has gotten wind of our situation, dear me, and intends to offer a hand on the matter; which is not such a detestable thing, dear me. Would it not be a comfort to have the alliance of the Family as we face the man?"
Dreamer chewed her lip. "You know it's not that simple, Pops. It never is. If we get their help, we'll owe them."
Jezran smiled, mysteriously. "All things come at a price, dear Dreamer."
"Ten days…" she sighed heavily. "Is it just going to be the three of us?"
Jezran shook his head. "The after-address states us by name, dear me. 'One Jezran Desmond Excalibur, Dreamer Cumula, Syllestra Raine Cumula, Piper Michelle Overon, and Macbeth [last name unknown].'"
"How do they even know about Macbeth?" she gaped.
"How do they knows my middle name?!" Piper was red in the cheeks.
"Your middle name is Michelle?"
"I was named after my aunt, a'right?! Drop it!"
Dreamer leaned back and looked at the café. The regular line of people stood ordering coffee, tea, and Macbeth's cakes. Kinana was serving drinks while Macbeth drizzled caramel onto his newest creation. She didn't even want to know what it was.
As if he could feel her eyes on him, he glanced up at her. Their eyes met and his lips cracked into a smirk. This motion made her blush immediately and look away.
"I'm gonna be sick," Piper groaned dramatically. "Get a room, will you's?"
"Piper!" She chucked a sugar packet at him.
"Dear Dreamer," Jezran said, a bit of a mischievous smile playing under his mustache. "Do not forget, your favorite event will be hosted, and Macbeth will be there for it, dear me."
She flushed even more, sparks lighting in her stomach.
"Favorite event?" Piper raised an eyebrow.
"The Excalibur Ball," Jezran explained. "If I recall, this was Dreamer's most endeared part of the festivities."
"A ball? You's mean we gotta dress up for all this? Like formal-wear?"
"Yes, of course."
"Pops, I ain't worn a formal nothing in my whole damn life."
"I can help with that, dear me."
"Forget it, I ain't going!" The bluenette crossed his arms over his bare chest and puffed his cheeks in a pout.
"Did I forget to mention the black-jack tournament?" Jezran tipped his head. Piper froze and lifted one eyebrow.
"What you's say?"
"It seems you are unaware that the Excalibur Estate hosts the largest casino in all of Pergrande, dear me."
Piper cracked the biggest smile Dreamer had ever seen. "Why didn't you's say so, Pops?! I'll go pack my bags now!"
Jezran chuckled and Dreamer laughed. She was still a bit flustered however, at the thought of going to the ball with… him.
She risked another look in his direction. She smiled at the adorable sight of Macbeth concentrating on the cake in front of him. Eyes narrowed, lips pinched together, flour all over his apron and black clothes. She wondered what he would look like in formal-wear… She wondered if he could dance. Most of all, she wondered what expression might cross his face when he saw her in a ball gown…
"Earth to Dreamy," Piper snapped his fingers. "Quit fantasizing, will you's? You're worse than Juvia."
She chucked three more sugar packets at him.
"I guess we have no choice but to attend…" she sighed. But Jezran was right, it wouldn't be that bad. In fact, it might be fun. It might be the relaxation Master had been ordering Dreamer to get lately. And maybe… just maybe…
She'd get a real kiss from Macbeth.
A week later…
A group of seven people was waiting to board the train for Pergrande. There was Jezran, standing as still as a statue, hands folded neatly behind his back, mustache carefully waxed and pointed for their arrival. Behind him, dreamer was pacing and chewing on a thumbnail, her mind fraught with endless worry. Macbeth watched her sleepily from his spot on his magic carpet. Piper was playing hide and seek with Syllest behind station pillars. And glowering at each other a few feet behind Macbeth, were two dragon-slayers.
"What's his favorite color?" Gajeel asked, eyes narrowed harshly at the red-head.
"Come on, that's too easy." Erik scoffed. "It's black."
"Ha!" Gajeel jeered at him. "Wrong! It used to be black, but since he's been attached to Debbie's hip, it's pink!"
Dreamer stopped in her tracks, both because of the butchering of her name and the insinuation of Macbeth being obsessed with her.
"Why are you two even here?!" she snapped. "I don't remember your names being on the invitation."
"If Beth is goin,' I'm goin.'" Gajeel said, with all the loyalty of a lover.
"It has nothing to do with the fact that Miss McGarden will be out of town for the next ten days," Pantherlily added helpfully, from where he was sitting next to Macbeth on the magic carpet. Macbeth mumbled in his sleep and tugged the cat against his chest.
"It has nothing to do with that pipsqueak!" Gajeel shouted, a little too forcefully.
"What about you, Erik?" Dreamer crossed her arms over her chest. "Wouldn't you rather stay at the guild with Kinana?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "To be honest, I'm not too keen on hanging around your guild hall without Midnight, if I can help it." He put his hands in his pockets.
"Pussy," Gajeel jabbed.
Erik scowled angrily. "Watch it," he hissed darkly. "If you push me too far, I'll tell that 'pipsqueak' about all the indecent thoughts you have about her."
Gajeel's face went as red as a stoplight. He huffed and folded his arms over his chest, turned away from the other man. Dreamer let out an exasperated sigh. She wondered if this was how Lucy felt all the time with Natsu and Gray always at each other's throats. She had a twinge of empathy for the poor girl.
Finally, the train doors opened.
The seven of them were ushered in single-file line up the stairs. Dreamer got on last, with one final look at Magnolia behind her. There was a sharp pain in her chest. It was as if, for some reason, a voice in her head was screaming… Don't get on that train, Dreamer! A deep sense of foreboding that escaped reason. And for the briefest instant, she almost called her friends back. She almost grabbed Syllest by the wrist and pulled her off the train and ran for the Fairy Tail guild hall.
Almost.
Instead, she turned her back and let the train doors close behind her.
A choice she would regret for years to come.