Chapter 7
The Fairy Tail guild hall was unsettlingly quiet. It had been three days since the attack, and everyone was shifty and uneasy. Even Natsu didn't eat with his usual gumption. Master Makarov was sitting at the bar with Levy, talking very seriously. Levy, as usual, had books strewn everywhere, but wasn't looking at them. She was completely absorbed in the correlations Master was making between the individual attacks.
"All four of them say that the woman looked at them, and then knew everything about them and how to defeat them."
Levy frowned. "But you said that she didn't look at Gray until after she had attacked. She knew how best to fight him without using her telepathy, or whatever it is."
"But she did see Erza's. Perhaps she can see so completely that she could gather information on all of the team members from just one person."
"That's impossible. And if she could do that, why would she keep looking at them in turn? And why not Natsu?" Levy paused. "Maybe she saw how consistently his teammates viewed him as both their trump card and their wild card, the one who moves and thinks so wildly that she wouldn't get close enough to try—Oh!"
"What? What are you thinking?"
"Lucy. She didn't try to fight Natsu because she knew she didn't have to. Not with Lu there."
"What about me?" Called Lucy suspiciously from down the bar. Levy opened her mouth, but Makarov cut her off.
"We're trying to figure out how to get your keys back. It's going to be difficult to track the wizard, but we'll find her and reunite you with your spirits in no t—" But Lucy's attention was drawn to the front doors, and she cut him off, saying,
"I don't think that'll be a problem anymore…"
The guild master turned his head, and saw what everyone else was gaping at. Gliding haughtily down the hall was Porlyusica, the woman who claimed to hate all humans with a passion. She looked strangely less disgusted than usual, and her face even softened as she reached Natsu's table. He looked up as she gently set his scarf down next to him, and a look of pure joy and relief flooded his face. He wrapped it around his neck, and opened his mouth to speak, but the healer had already moved on.
She stopped in front of Lucy, and solemnly handed the celestial gate keys back to their mistress. Lucy felt like sobbing, but managed to only let a small handful of tears escape as she gurgled a quiet "thank you". Porlyusica then turned to Makarov, whispered a word in his ear, and straightened up with an expectant expression.
Makarov faced the hall, whose attention was now fully fixed on the wizened healer. The old master growled out, "Porlyusica tells me that she received Natsu's and Lucy's possessions from the hands of the fire mage, with whom she is familiar, and has information that will benefit everyone to hear."
Porlyusica scanned the hall slowly before speaking. "First of all, you can stop calling her 'fire mage'. Her name is Naomi, and you might as well use it." Whispers echoed through the hall, but she cleared her throat and continued, "She is one of the strongest wizards I have ever encountered, and also one of the bravest. I know it is hard to believe, but she has faced more terrors than any of you can ever know, and she faces them daily."
"Just tell us what her magic is so we can find her and kick her ass!" said Natsu. He instantly quailed when the healer flicked her eyes in his direction. She did not blink until she continued speaking.
"It's not that simple. She is a fire demon slayer. I have no idea what that power entails, because I have rarely seen her use it, but it is the only explanation for the things she can do and endure." She let that sink in before speaking again.
"I don't know what happened to her, but since I found her wandering in the woods three months ago I have sensed a darkness in her, something that she can't control. Naomi knows things that she couldn't possibly know, and she acts the complete opposite of who she truly is. Something is amplifying her powers. She won't tell me what it is, and I haven't pressed the issue. All I know is that she is easily startled, and the darkness can manifest itself when she feels threatened, which I assume is why your guild mates are looking so sorry for themselves over there." Team Natsu bristled, but Porlyusica ignored them. Looking at Master Makarov, then at the guild again, she bowed slightly, and began abruptly walking away, saying over her shoulder, "You would be wise not to go after her. She is volatile at best, and you will only get yourselves killed."
"If she's so powerful and brave, then why is this Naomi chick burning up chunks of forest like she can't control her power?" called Gray, nearly spitting. The healer turned, looked him in the eye, sighed, then said,
"I can't imagine the distress caused by whatever she's fighting. Perhaps it is collateral damage. But I think she might be trying to burn it out, from the inside."
And with that, Porlyusica left the hall and the stunned silence she left in her wake.
~.~
Makarov cleared his throat. "Well. It seems that the more information we get, the more questions there are."
"No kidding." Said Levy. "But whatever is going on here is much bigger than we originally thought."
Team Natsu had gathered in a corner and were talking quietly. Soon they all turned, and Erza stepped forward.
"Master, we think it would be best that we do a reconnaissance mission, tracking Naomi's movements and keeping her from burning down more land. No confrontation, nothing—"
"And put Natsu that close to a dangerous mage who he'll be itching to fight? Absolutely not!" growled Master.
"But we have to try and protect everyone from—" started Gray.
"Enough! Leave it alone. You could end up endangering everyone here poking and prodding at her. Just stay put and things will take care of themselves. That's final."
No one bothered to argue, and Natsu and Gray slunk away to grumble and uselessly plot, too halfhearted to fight each other. Everyone was too frustrated and worn out to notice Makarov making eye contact with Gajeel and Laxus, indicating his head upstairs, and discreetly exiting the hall. The two men followed soon after.
~.~
"I want you to go after Naomi." Laxus and Gajeel stared.
"Bullshit," said Gajeel. "Why? You just said that was a bad idea. We should just leave it alone."
"Really. We don't bother her, she does her own thing and keeps to herself. She knows she's a threat and so she stays away. Seems like a reasonable situation to me." Agreed Laxus.
"This isn't up for discussion." Growled Makarov. "She is in pain, a fellow human being who is trying desperately to do the right thing. Porlyusica may not agree, but I believe that she could be a huge asset, especially if we can help get rid of whatever is possessing her. I want you two to go into the forest, and track her down. Start at Porlyusica's place. That's where we know she was last."
"You're serious. You may not have noticed, old man, but we ain't the meet and greet type." Said Gajeel, folding his arms.
"I need it to be you. Team Natsu is out of the question, they're too emotionally involved in the mission. You are two of the most powerful mages, and I highly doubt Naomi, or whatever is inside her, could get inside your heads as easily."
"What makes you say that?" asked Laxus, raising an eyebrow.
"Because you both know what it is to be in a dark place. You've faced your demons, and have been able to because you were given a helping hand." The two wizards' jaws tightened ever so slightly. "She hurt my children, and for that I will make sure she makes amends, but she clearly did not do it of her own will. Her self-imposed isolation makes it clear to me that she does not think she can be around people. By sending you two, I know that you can reach out in your own way while still being able to protect yourselves from whatever she throws your way. Understood?"
Laxus and Gajeel had visibly stiffened by now, but had stopped arguing.
"Good. I want you to leave now, try to pick up the scent while it's still fresh." They turned to leave and opened the door. "Good luck, boys. Also, if you see Porlyusica, make something up. Picking berries for Mirajane's pie or something. I don't fancy another personal visit."
Laxus' lip twitched, and he raised his hand in farewell as he and Gajeel left the guild hall. Master Makarov looked out from the balcony and frowned.
"Stay safe, children. And come back home."
