Notes: I have named an OOC. I've betrayed myself...
~.~.~
II. Maiden and Knight
"A what?"
Gray stared at Erza in complete, gaping shock, even though in retrospect it really shouldn't have surprised him. Erza was still a girl, after all, and every girl wanted—
"A dress," Erza repeated. "I need a fancy dress... instead of the armor." She forced out the last part as if it physically pained her.
"Come on, don't be like that. There's nothing weird about wanting something nice to wear in your time off," Gray said. "But I don't get why you're asking me. I'm not a tailor, just like I'm not a blacksmith. I only craft spells onto things, I don't make them in the first place."
"I don't want a dress, I just need one," Erza protested, her lower lip jutting out rebelliously.
"Okay, okay," Gray agreed. He'd learned not to argue with Erza too much early on. It was bound to end badly for him — had ended badly in a variety of ways. "I still can't make you one though."
"But you can make it into armor," Erza said, crossing her arms as if she had won the argument.
Gray opened his mouth to respond, only to pause and hesitate. He wasn't even sure which angle to approach that from. "Maybe..." he said carefully, "you should start with the armor? I mean, you should definitely have a dress if you want one! More than one even! But being safe on missions should come first, right?"
The look he received was incredibly flat and conveyed quite well that Erza thought he was being stupid again. "I don't want one," she repeated. "I need one. For a mission. So you need to make it into armor, so I'll be safe on the mission."
"...It's for a mission?!" Gray burst out. "Why didn't you say so in the first place?"
"Oh, I didn't?" Erza blinked, eyes widening in surprise. It took an effort of will for Gray not to groan aloud. "It is. I've been given a special mission from the king." She said casually, like it wasn't anything notable, just annoying. Gray choked a little on his spit. "I'm to accompany the princess to an important gathering. They're not supposed to bring guards or weapons, but I could pass as one of her handmaidens."
"So you need a dress," Gray finished, realization dawning. "But it's for a mission, so it should be armor too."
Erza huffed. That was what she'd been saying all along. "You said it makes a difference what you work with," she went on. "So help me pick out the best one."
"I... guess that makes sense," Gray said, though his expression made it clear that he didn't like the idea all the same. Dress shopping didn't exactly sound like his ideal pastime.
But then... he didn't exactly have anything else to be doing, did he? Glancing around the empty, cramped shop, Gray sighed.
"Yeah, sure," he said. "Just give me a moment to close up."
~.~.~
Gray did his best not to gape like a country bumpkin as he followed after Erza through one of Crocus's most upscale shopping alleys. She marched forward like she was on a mission, the rich shoppers parting in front of her like grain, but Gray was feeling every drop of his true country boy nature.
He had been born and raised in a small town in the middle of the countryside. With his teacher, he'd lived in the mountains like a hermit. And although he had passed through many different regions and towns on his way to Fiore, none of them had been anything like this. The famous Blooming Capital was the center for trade across the western half of the continent and further, across the sea to Alakitasia, and the market districts certainly showed that.
"Oh, the stone in that necklace is perfectly cut for an illusion spell..." he muttered absently, hesitating in front of a jeweler's window.
Erza's hand clamped around his wrist, and she dragged him onward. "I don't have money for jewelry," she said. "Only the dress.. maybe."
There were no price tags anywhere in sight, of course. They had passed the kinds of shops that followed such low class conventions a while back. The ones around them were aimed at customers for whom cost was only a number. But it wasn't like they could settle for anything less for a handmaiden of the princess. The secret mission would fail from the start if Erza stood out.
The cost of the materials was what had been holding them back from making her some proper armor too. It would need to be made specially to fit her, and that was taking some months of savings on Erza's modest stipend, even with the bonuses from bounties she'd captured on missions. On top of that, crafting strong, long-lasting spells required expensive reagents, which Gray didn't exactly have in stock.
This special order would definitely set it back...
"Come to think of it," he said, frowning, "can't the knights pay for this?" Erza's blank expression as she glanced back at him made it clear she hadn't considered that, but it made sense to Gray. "They're supposed to provide you basic equipment, right? And this isn't something you're going to have or use for any other mission. It's not like it's something personal. Since it's part of the mission, they should cover it."
Gray nodded to himself, satisfied with that logic. And, he didn't add, since Erza would be protecting the princess — which he still had a bit of a hard time believing, the princess herself, really? — the mission was high-profile enough that whoever ordered it could afford to spend some money.
Although her brow furrowed for a moment in thought, Erza seemed to agree. "Alright," she said, "then let's go to the castle."
"Yeah… Wait, me too?"
His protests were summarily ignored as Erza dragged him along.
~.~.~
Fiore was a small kingdom, but traveling to the outer edges from the capital could still take weeks, even along the highways. Off the main roads, travel time would become guesswork in case of landslides, or storms, or any number of problems. So the knights had several outposts closer to the borders, where the squads serving tours in those areas were stationed.
However, their main headquarters was in Mercurious, the Palace of Light itself. The offices, training grounds, armories, barracks occupied an entire section of the castle, to be within immediate reach of the royal family. Well, in truth few of the knights actually lived in the barracks. Most had families or at least personal housing in the city, for the sake of convenience, since coming and going from the palace could be difficult due to the security.
A commoner — and a foreigner and a child at that — like Gray normally couldn't hope to pass further into the palace than the outer gardens, which were sometimes open for the public to marvel at. But this time, his awe was dampened by a growing sense of unease.
"Hey, Erza…" he whispered, tugging at their joined hands, though Erza's grip was like steel. "Is it really a good idea for me to be here?"
The knights they were passing in the hallways all shot them sneering, suspicious looks. The whispers made it clear that Erza, at least, was easily recognizable, but why did she bring some urchin with her…?
Gray scowled glaring over his shoulder at the knight who had called him that, even as Erza continued to drag him along. Just because he hadn't gotten a proper haircut in a while—! And maybe his clothes were a bit worn... But it wasn't like was living like that because he liked it!
It was just that his meager savings had gone to setting up the shop, and yet Erza really was his only customer.
Erza herself had ignored all protests and all disapproval, steadily dragging him to the heavy doors of the armory and inside. The man behind the counter only glanced at them, his one-eyed look conveying how used he already was to Erza barging in whenever she pleased, each time with a reason more outlandish than the last.
"G-good morning," Gray muttered, squirming.
"Good morning," the armorer responded, one eyebrow rising in amusement.
Erza paused, having already opened her mouth to launch straight to the point, and repeated instead, obediently, "Good morning."
The corner of the man's lips twitched up now, making the narrow scar down to his chin twist. He shot a cold glare at the other two knights loitering in the room, prompting them to quickly make their exit, then gestured to Erza to continue.
"I've been assigned a special mission to act the princess's bodyguard while posing as her handmaiden," Erza rattled off quickly. "But I don't have money for a dress. Can the knights pay for it?"
Gray was gratified to see that even the armorer showed a moment of surprise at this. It really had been something out of the ordinary, even if Erza didn't see it that way. "For the trade conference then?" the man finally said. "I suppose the king would be worried, what with the westerners coming."
"From Alakitasia?" Gray blurted out.
"From the Alvarez Empire," the man said, his words carrying an ominous, distasteful tone. "I guess you kids wouldn't have heard of it. The king's been trying to keep it hush-hush, all the countries have. They're the strongest power on the western continent, but you hear some rumors... the kind of magic they use, it's all forbidden over here."
Gray frowned. "Like...?" he prompted.
"Magic messing around with life and death," the man said. That was explanation enough. He snorted and waved his hand. "But I guess money talks, so they're still trying to make the trade routes stronger. So the Runic Order is letting them attend the international conference this year. Since it's supposed to be neutral ground for all nations in Ishgar, the Order provides security there, so even the king can't bring guards or weapons."
"Ah, I see," Erza said, nodding sagely. "That makes sense."
"You... Didn't you ask about this before?!" Gray demanded, spinning toward her.
"No," Erza said blankly. "It's a mission, I'll carry it out no matter what. So the details don't matter."
"Yes, they do!"
"No, they don't—"
The man behind the counter cleared his throat pointedly. "Then you're the crafter boy, I take it? The one who makes magic tools?"
Somehow, being called "boy" made Gray grind his teeth, even though it was entirely accurate. He'd had too many people look down at him because of his age. "Yes," he said grudgingly. "I'm Gray Kreuz. ...Nice to meet you."
"Gen Lambert," the man introduced himself in return, the corner of his lips quirking up in a half smile. "Armory officer of the Fiore Knights."
"Ah," Erza let out a flat sound of surprise. She was staring at the armorer — Lambert — with shock.
"You... You didn't ask for his name before, did you?" Gray groaned, facepalming as Erza bristled guiltily. "Were you raised by direwolves? You should introduce yourself when you meet people, and say please and thank you and you're welcome. And hold the door open for elders, and—"
"I know about stuff like that!" Erza protested. "Grandpa Rob taught..."
She trailed off. Watching her expression close off, Gray winced. Unexpectedly, he'd stepped on a landmine.
Given his heavy sigh, Lambert had also noticed the same thing. "Who gave you that mission?" he asked, changing the subject gracelessly. "The commander? Then you should ask him to allocate funds for necessary equipment. I don't see why he wouldn't grant it, for something like that."
Focusing back on her goal with single-minded determination, Erza nodded sharply. She grabbed Gray's hand again before he could protest and began to pull him out of the armory.
"One more thing," Lambert called after them. "Don't go telling anyone else about this. It's not the kind of thing you should spread around."
He had a point, Gray thought as Erza dragged him through the corridors again. Even if she was just a girl, Erza was still a knight too. Having her accompany the princess was going against the Runic Order's commands, and even a country bumpkin like Gray knew that crossing them was a poor idea. If word of the king's deception got back to them, he'd have a tough time talking his way out.
Gray hoped Erza wouldn't get in trouble for telling him. She must have not been told to keep quiet, or she wouldn't have done it, but didn't they mention it? They should have thought of giving her equipment too, since Erza's always ill-fitting clothes made it pretty clear she wouldn't have anything to wear to a meeting of international leaders.
'It's such a high profile mission, but they're being so sloppy...' Gray thought. 'Well, Erza calls it a mission, but maybe it was more like a chance idea someone suggested...? If it was something that just occurred to them, and they hadn't thought it through yet...'
Given how high profile it actually was, everyone involved would have a million other things to deal with at every moment. And since it was Erza, she would have gone off to talk to him the very next day after being told about the mission. Maybe even the same morning, really.
That sounded about right. Erza must have acted faster than anyone anticipated and also ignored the common sense of keeping quiet, which must have been assumed...
Satisfied with his conclusions, Gray finally began to pay attention to his surroundings again. And his surroundings were... impressive. Most of the knights' section of the castle was meant to be functional and well-used. But the area they had crossed over into was meant to impress as well, with colorful carpets and tapestries and ceremonial weapons on display. The people they were passing, too, had changed from only other knights and staff to a smattering of nobles and officials.
"H-hey, Erza," Gray began uncertainly, with a sinking feeling in his gut, "who exactly are we going to see now...?"
"The commander," Erza said, like it was obvious.
She came to an abrupt stop, Gray running into her back, in front of an ornate set of double doors. "Uh... m-maybe I should wait outside..." Gray tried to say, but Erza wasn't listening. Throwing the doors open just as forcefully as she did at his shop, she strode inside with Gray in tow.
The room inside was dominated by a large, heavy desk. Behind that desk sat a man in armor, whose head snapped up toward them with a sharp glare that made cold sweat stand out on Gray's back.
"Erza Senketsu, reporting!" Erza declared, stopping at the entrance and bowing sharply. Panicking for a moment, Gray scrambled to copy her, and kept his head ducked even when she straightened again.
The man's lips thinned, but putting down his pen, he called out, "Enter. ...And close the doors behind you."
This man was the commander of Fiore's Holy Knights, Arcadios Dinoia. And Erza had just barged into his office. Frankly speaking, Gray very much did not want to come closer, but Erza still had a grip on his hand and she dragged him along into the center of the room. Arcadios's gaze lingered on Gray, narrowing in consideration. When he stood, making his way around the desk, he towered over the children in a way that made Gray at least very uneasy.
Forget Erza being in trouble, what would happen to him? He knew secret information now, what if they threw him the dungeon? Or just... made him disappear? Gray wasn't even from Fiore originally. No one would care if he vanished.
Reading something of his thoughts on Gray's face, Arcadios snorted and turned to Erza instead. "What is the meaning of this, knight?" he said.
"Yes, sir!" Erza sounded off, her back ramrod straight at attention. But her expression was remarkably, to Gray, unconcerned. "Regarding the special mission I've been assigned, please allocate funds for necessary equipment. Sir!" She repeated what Lambert had told her almost word for word, which was probably for the best. If she'd had to come up with her own phrasing, it would have probably sounded far less clear... and acceptably formal.
Acradios didn't reply, his eyes sliding over to Gray again. "And you are?" he said.
"G-Gray Kreuz, of Heart Kreuz magic tool crafting! Sir!" Gray sounded off, dropping into a deep bow.
'Pull it together!' he mentally scolded himself. He could tell from the silence that Erza didn't think there was anything to explain about his presence, so that meant it was up to him to present this in some way that didn't end in him getting imprisoned.
"Erza... made a commission to craft protective spells onto the dress she would wear while undercover," Gray said. "B-but as you know, crafting a magic tool is expensive, a-and the cost of materials is also high. Since this is part of the mission, the funds should be provided by the knights... f-for the sake of the mission's success, of course."
There was a tense, heavy moment of silence as Arcadios considered the two of them.
"It was my intent to provide a handmaiden's wardrobe closer to the date," he said finally. "But magic protection in the clothing would certainly be a benefit. Can you do it in a month?"
A whole month? For once, Erza wasn't asking for something practically overnight? Gray could barely believe it.
"Of course! Working with just cloth, I can finish in a week," Gray said dismissively, turning up his nose a little. "Especially if it's just for one use. For simple defensive spells, there's not going to be much to worry about for impurities or conflicts... But it still takes skill, of course!" He wanted to get paid, after all.
"Is that so..." Arcadios said slowly. "I had not heard of any magic tool crafter in Crocus. Where did you learn the skill?"
"Ah... from my master, in Isvan," Gray said. "I only came about three months ago." His response was distracted as he turned Arcadios's words over in his mind. In all honesty, he had little idea how rare or common crafting was. Was there really no other crafter in the entire capital? ...Wait, if that was the case, then why couldn't he get any customers?!
Erza was looking between them with a frown now, and something seemed to occur to her. "He can do it," she spoke up. "He made my sword."
"If that's the case, I will leave outfitting to you, Erza," Arcadios said. Pulling open a drawer in his desk, he reached inside and pulled out a small cloth pouch. He made his way over to the children and held it out for Erza to take. "This is a royal seal," he explained. "You can use it to stamp any bills related to this mission, and the palace will cover the costs. This is a mission directly from the king himself, so the funds will not be an issue..."
'Directly from the king...' Gray thought faintly.
"I expect you to behave as befitting a knight," Arcadios added, letting the seal's pouch fall into Erza's hands. "Do not engage in any frivolous spending. I was the one to suggest using you to the king, and your actions will reflect on me as well."
He had also been the one who allowed Erza to go through the training and the trials and become a knight at all. Certainly, there had been plenty of opposition.
"Sir!" Erza sounded off and bowed again.
"Dismissed," Arcadios said, turning away.
Gray let out a breath of relief as Erza dragged him back out into the hall. Somehow, it seemed he wasn't in trouble — neither of them were. And now... they had all the money they could spend. Suddenly, the day was looking up.
~.~.~
"You can't have the pink one," Gray said, sighing.
"What's wrong with it?" Erza asked, her cheeks puffing up a little. "It's got the shape you asked for, and it's all the same kind of cloth..."
"It's not the crafting properties that are the problem, it's the aesthetic properties that are no good," Gray huffed. "Erza, pink goes terrible with your hair. You're gonna look ridiculous."
The saleswoman who had been following them persistently ever since they entered the shop — no wonder, given their less than well-kept appearance — clasped her hands together and contradicted, with a strained smile, "It looks wonderful on you, miss! We can have it tailored to you within a couple days, if it pleases you!"
Gray and Erza ignored her, locked in a staring contest. Erza's bottom lip quivered a little, and suddenly Gray felt bad. He knew she didn't have any nice clothes, and given her practical nature, she wouldn't be buying any in the near future either. This was her one chance to dress up, and he was ruining it for her. What did her appearance even really matter? As long as she liked it...
"You know, it's fine, it's not—" he started to say.
"Fine," Erza cut him off. "It's too flashy, in any case. I'm going as a handmaiden, something plainer would suit better. The gray one, over there."
"Erza, you don't have to—"
"Miss, are you sure? Perhaps it's too plain, for such a lovely young man..."
"I'm sure. The gray one," Erza cut them both off. "You said you can have it ready in two days? I have patrol then. Gray will pick it up."
"Of course, miss, but for the final fitting..."
"If it's close, that's enough. Gray can handle anything else," Erza dismissed the saleswoman's concerns.
When she glanced at him for confirmation, Gray ducked his head awkwardly. "Yeah..." he muttered. Even though he regretted saying anything, there was no point in arguing with Erza now that she'd made up her mind. Frowning, Gray studied Erza as she was given the bill and carefully stamped it with the seal she had received from Arcadios. The saleswoman peered at it in puzzlement for a moment, then her eyes widened almost comically, and she bowed deeply, tripping over a stream of too polite pleasantries.
Now that her true potential as a customer had been revealed, Erza was barely able to extricate herself from the staff. For once, even she looked a bit ruffled as they stumbled out into the street. "W-well, then," Erza cleared her throat, smoothing her hair. "I can pay you the same way, right? Let's go back and make a contract."
"Er... It'll take me a while to put an order together," Gray stalled. "I mean, I don't know which reagents I'll need yet. For now, we should get the rest of your stuff. I'll need to coordinate between everything anyway."
"The rest?" Erza repeated blankly.
"Right," Gray said firmly. "You can't go in just a plain dress. You need accessories too, right? Like a hairpiece, a necklace... Maybe something I can make into a weapon." He nodded to himself. "It's not like you can bring your sword, or even a dagger. But if it comes down to a fight, you should have some way to defend yourself."
"...That's true," Erza agreed.
"Since the dress is a neutral color, anything would go well with it," Gray went on. "So you can pick out anything you like. Yeah — like that." He pointed to one of the displays nearby, where a large red gem set in a gold chain glittered appealingly.
Erza's expression twitched slightly as she considered the jewelry on display. "It's... not necessary," she said, unwillingly, "for the mission."
"There's only so much I can do with just cloth," Gray said. "Now, a good jewel? You can put all kinds of spells into that."
"Well, if you say so..." Erza agreed distractedly. "But maybe... that one instead?"
The necklace she pointed to was... 'Can you even wear that without stooping? It's gotta weigh a tonne,' Gray thought, staring at the rainbow assortment of gems attached to one massive collar. He opened his mouth to say just that, only to catch himself just in time.
"L-let's just look around for now," he temporized. "Maybe we'll find something even better."
~.~.~
In the end, Gray talked Erza into getting another dress too, for travel, and a few accessories for both.
It was the second, colorful but less tailored dress that he helped her into one month later. Since the outfits were meant for a girl from a well-off family, with a maid or servants to help her dress, the small buttons along the back, the sashes and even the hairpiece were a bit beyond Erza's ability to figure out alone.
"How does it feel? Can you breathe okay?" Gray asked, watching critically as Erza spun experimentally, the flower-patterned skirt flaring around her.
At least, he tried to watch critically, with the eye of a craftsman. He couldn't quite stop a blush from rising on his cheeks — especially not when Erza turned to him with a smile tugging at her lips. She probably didn't even realize she was smiling, but her eyes had lit up in a way that was different from the expression of satisfaction she'd had when Gray gave her a sword or armor. She looked... like a girl. Like a kid.
Awkwardly, Gray cleared his throat.
"Yes, it's fine," Erza said distractedly, still fluffing her skirt, running her hands over the fabric with clear fascination.
"T-that's good then," Gray muttered. "Come on, let's put on the rest of it."
Keeping his eyes on Erza — or at least on her hair and her neck, where he was fastening a hairpiece and a large brooch — was a struggle. Did she really have to stand that close...? Well, yes, she did... But did she have to look so happy? Not that Gray wanted her to be upset, or anything...
Only Ur's brutal training kept his hands steady even as his eyes darted to and away from Erza constantly. "There," Gray said backing away quickly once he finished. One last glance confirmed that the accessories were straight — the large asymmetrical bow on the hair band, which pressed Erza's bangs over her right eye, in place of the eyepatch she couldn't wear, and the fancy brooch in the shape of a butterfly that would provide a shield against magic to compliment the dresses' physical defense.
The disguise and the defense were as complete as he could make them. The only thing left was the weapon.
They had gone back and forth on that. When it came to "hidden" weapons a noblewoman might carry, the obvious choices were a hairpin or a fan. Putting a slashing spell on a hairpin, or even a transformation spell to let it shift into a sword was beyond easy, since it was already metal to start with. Same for a wind or even fire spell on a fan.
But that was the issue, when Gray thought about it — it was too obvious. The Runic Order, which was in charge of security at the conference, used magic extensively themselves. They would be able to recognize such simple magic weapons and might very well confiscate them.
No, Erza needed a weapon that didn't look like a weapon.
Reaching into the large suitcase he'd used to bring the completed wardrobe, Gray carefully pulled out a narrow sash. "Here," he held it out to Erza. "You remember how to use it?"
"Yes," Erza said, nodding sharply. She flicked her hand, letting the sash arc through the air gracefully, and pulled it over her shoulders. "That's everything, then. I confirm receipt of this order," she added formally. "Are you going to get payment from the treasury now?"
"I guess," Gray said, though he hadn't really thought that far. He'd been completely focused on making the designs, on the work, on getting it done to the best of his ability. This was the first time in a month he could finally think about something else. "What about you?"
"The rest of the squad is leaving on patrol today, but the commander cleared me to stay behind," Erza said. "I'm supposed to meet the princess, then go over the way to act at the conference. We'll be departing in two days."
"The princess, huh? I hope she's nice," Gray said. "You'll be seeing a lot of her for a while..." He tried to imagine Erza with a princess. It was... terrifying. Hardly fathomable, of course, but also terrifying. Clamping his hands down on Erza's shoulder suddenly, Gray looked her straight in the eye with an unexpected intensity. "Listen, Erza! You've got to be polite to her! Really polite! Don't say things so bluntly. Don't say stuff like... Actually, it's probably better if you just don't talk to her at all!"
"What if we're in danger and I need to give her an order?" Erza shot back immediately, apparently not at all seeing anything strange about his command.
"Don't talk to her outside emergency situations," Gray amended.
"What if she talks to me first? It's rude not to reply."
"Yes or no answers, try to make it more yes, and always say, 'Your Highness.'"
"What if the commander talks to me in front of the princess?"
"Then reply to him, but quietly. Anyway, he shouldn't be talking to a handmaiden, so it probably won't come up."
"Gray," Erza said, staring back intensely, "I don't care about not talking to her, but you're not trying to trick me, are you?"
"Of course I'm not," Gray protested, scowling. "Why would you think that?"
They stared at each other for a moment. Surprisingly, Erza backed down first. Something in her shoulders relaxed and she turned away. "I guess there's no reason to," she muttered. Swiftly tidying up her normal clothing and sword, she picked up the suitcase with the spare dress and headed toward the door. But at the last moment, she hesitated. "Gray," she called out quietly, without turning. "Thank you."
By the time he could muster a reply, she had already left.
"...For what?" Gray wondered to the empty room.
~.~.~
In truth, Gray's worry had been unnecessary. Neither the king nor the princess were the type to get offended by a lack of proper protocol or formality, and Arcadios had apparently accepted Erza's manner whenever she forgot her "sir, yes, sir" training. Still, Erza faithfully followed Gray's directions — a bit too faithfully, which he should have seen coming.
"It's a nice day, isn't it?" Princess Hisui L. Fiore asked, smiling at Erza companionably.
"Yes, Your Highness," Erza said, her eyes scanning the scenery passing by outside the carriage window.
"I wonder how much further it is to Era," Hisui went on, having long since become used to Erza's responses over the course of their journey to the Runic Order's headquarters.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Not more than an hour to the border now," King Toma L. Fiore spoke up, smiling at his daughter. "Then we can rest. It's been a long trip, hasn't it? How are you feeling, sweetheart? Is it too much for you?"
"No, Papa, I'm fine," Hisui said. "It's very exciting to be out of the country for the first time."
"Well, tell me if you need a break," the king insisted. "Your health is the most important."
The king and the princess beamed at each other, flowers practically blooming in the air around them. Erza couldn't begin to understand Fiore's royal family — so maybe Gray's advice had been for the best.
Turning to her with a bright smile, Toma added, "You too, Erza."
"Yes, Your... Majesty," Erza intoned.
She could have told them that the king's estimate was too generous — they were nearly at the border to Era, the city-state under the control of the Runic Order. The procession had already begun to slow down as they approached the checkpoint, and Arcadios had subtly guided his horse closer to the royal carriage. But — one word responses only, so Erza kept quiet.
The carriage drew to a stop soon after, and the white and blue robed figures of the Runic Order approached the Fiore delegation. Erza watched through the window as Arcadios presented their passes and paperwork to an official in a more elaborate blue overcoat. The process was smooth and almost perfunctory, though Arcadios's expression was growing more and more tense. Soon, the door to the royal carriage opened, and the blue-coated Order official bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, welcome to Era," he said. "It is an honor to have you with us again. I am Lahar, captain of the 4th unit. I humbly ask for your patience while we confirm that everything is in order."
"Oh? A captain so young? Impressive, impressive!" the king said genially. "Well, carry on."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Lahar, who hadn't lifted his head, bowed even lower. "Then, we will scan your party now."
He gestured to his subordinates, out of Erza's sight. This too must have been normal procedure as Toma appeared unconcerned, leaning over to whisper something to Hisui. Neither of them seemed to notice the spell that swept over the carriage, even as it make Erza's hair stand on end, and her dress whisper quietly, its folds shifting minutely.
Lahar glanced at her, his eyes lingering on her dress and brooch, but Erza stared back flatly, without a trace of guilt or uncertainty, and after a moment, he looked away. In the restrictions the Runic Order had placed on anyone entering their territory, there was nothing about magic tools in general, only about weapons. And Lahar knew that too.
The royal family weren't the only ones traveling to the conference from Crocus. The Minister of Trade, a few other officials, and several representatives from the major trading guilds occupied the carriages behind them, which were scanned just as quickly and with even less fuss.
Soon, the Runic monks were waving their delegation through the checkpoint. Arcadios trailed next to the royal carriage as it began to move, leaning down to the window's level. "Be careful, Your Majesty, Your Highness," he said quietly. "Erza, guard them with your life."
"Yes, sir," Erza replied shortly.
"Oh, really," the king sighed. "He worries too much. What could possible happen? Even those Alvarez wizards won't dare to try anything in Era itself."
~.~.~
The conference wouldn't begin until the next day, and the princess wanted to go exploring. "Yes, Your Highness," Erza replied without intonation — though personally, she would have preferred to stay at the mansion their delegation was lodging at. It was easier to defend, with fewer possible threats. But — one word answers.
Hisui beamed. "You're so much more agreeable than Arcadios," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. She had noticed, after all, that Erza only replied in two ways. "He'd kick up a fuss about how dangerous is could be. Or are you just that confident you'll protect me?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Erza said blandly. Of course she would — she wouldn't accept failure. Or she'd die trying. There was no point in worrying about consequences either way.
Hisui's smile widened at that.
Since she was on a mission, Erza didn't let herself gawk the way Gray liked to. The only things she needed to pay attention to were the princess and the potential threats to her safety, not the towering crystal spires, not the carpets flying overhead like birds, not the mysterious, outlandish items on display in the shops... Era, the city of magic, was certainly something to gawk over, but Erza had a duty, and that came first.
"Wow... Whoa!" Turning to follow a lumbering golem loaded with purchases with her eyes as they walked down the street, Hisui tripped and nearly tumbled to the ground — until Erza caught her arm, righting her easily. "Thank you, Erza," Hisui said, sheepishly. "You're so composed, even though we're surrounded by such incredible things..."
Erza almost answered — that she had been in a place full of magic before and it had left her rather inured to such things — but she caught herself just in time. "...Yes, Your Highness," she muttered.
Smiling wryly, Hisui only shook her head. "I suppose you're used to such things," she said, making Erza blink in surprise. "Magic items, I mean. But you know, I haven't seen anything like your clothes."
Frowning, Erza hesitated between the two possible responses, and settled on a middle ground. "...Your Highness?"
"Ordinary things made magic," Hisui clarified. "I've been looking at all the shops and what they sell. There's certainly many rare objects, but most of them are just flashy novelty items, or things from abroad that you can buy in Fiore too, if you know where to look. There is also so much magic here... but it's all done by wizards. It's amazing, but... it's not something normal people can use, like back home."
She smiled absently, watching the streams of people hurrying by on their own paths, while Erza watched her in turn. 'It wasn't for fun, all this walking around,' Erza realized. 'She's thinking about her duty too.'
Hisui's duty as a princess — to find ways to better her kingdom, to make the people's lives easier, to keep Fiore strong and prosperous. Fiore was just one small kingdom of no particular note. Only its position and good fortune had allowed it to become moderately well-off as a crossroads on the continent's trade routes. Other kingdoms, with more wealth, more military power, more magic, were always eyeing it, like lurking wolves.
There was little Hisui could do at the trade negotiations, young as she was. So she had hoped to get a better sense of the mysterious, wondrous runic city Era, while she had the chance. It had certainly been an interesting experience, but it had also been a sobering one. There was so much magic in Era, when the entire capital of Crocus had no more than a few hundred wizards, and many smaller towns in Fiore had none at all. And none of it was something they could take back with them...
"Heart Kreuz," Erza said. She pointedly didn't look at Hisui, staring instead at her own feet with a faint frown. "That's where this was made. It's in Crocus. So you don't need to go looking somewhere far away."
Slowly, a smile spread across Hisui's face. "I see. I understand," she said. "You're right, we already have what we need right in Fiore, don't we? We have what we need to protect our country. I know that we'll... huh...?"
She trailed off, as a shadow crept across the street, the passerby around them falling silent. Something massive was passing over the sun, something that made everyone stop and stare and quietly begin to murmur among themselves in unease. Hisui too looked up, tilting her head back — and further back. Her eyes widened in shock.
Above them was not a cloud, but a flying ship. A metal behemoth that somehow remained afloat in the air and glided silently, ominously over the city.
It should have been impossible. But it was there right above them.
Turning to Erza, her expression replaced with an unreadable mask, Hisui said quietly but firmly, "We need to head back now. They're here — Alvarez."
"...Yes, Your Highness," Erza said, instinctively stepping closer to her charge. "We should go. Now."
~.~.~
Although she had asked, no one had been able to tell Erza what the much dreaded Alvarez delegation would look like. No one knew who would be sent as representatives — or who their top officials were, or even their exact government structure. The best Arcadios could do was give her a drawing of their crest.
As the king moved between other dignitaries the night of the opening gala, Hisui and then Erza drifting obediently after him, she studied every figure in search of that three-pointed symbol.
It was... dizzying. The nobles, officials, and guild leaders present were decked out in their finest, most eye-catching outfits, creating an ever moving jumble of patterns and crests. Part of her training as a knight had included studies of their neighboring countries and their symbols, but Erza was hardpressed to pick out any of them. The strain made her close her eyes for a second and shake her head slightly to clear it.
The sound of fake laughter and insincere greetings was making her head pound. The press of people was stifling — and it set her on edge.
There hadn't been anything that could be considered a threat. Runic Order guards stood along the walls and mingled with the crowd, their eyes calm but watchful. The guests only spoke, rarely even reaching out to shake hands. Thus far, the king had been taking the opportunity to present his daughter to their closer allies, all of them greeting him warmly.
So when she felt a cold, sharp gaze on her back, Erza stiffened in surprise. The king and the princess hadn't noticed anything, chatting with Caelum's prime minister, but their conversation suddenly seemed muted and distant.
Erza turned slowly. The crowd was still swirling around her, but she didn't see them anymore. Her gaze immediately locked with another — a young man in an elaborate coat of an unfamiliar cut, a tall white color framing his narrow face. He smiled suddenly, though she had no idea why or what it meant, and reached up to brush back his long pale bangs.
Then, he simply turned away. Before he slipped back into the crowd, she caught a glimpse of the symbol on his shoulder — the three pronged crest of Alvarez.
~.~.~
"See something interesting?" Wahl inquired, the smile on the face of his round decoy body still not quite managing to be friendly, though it was certainly better than his real form's deranged grins.
"Hm, I wonder," Neinhart replied absently, scanning the crowd for August.
He'd lost track of the old man, having little interest in diplomatic or trade dealings with Ishgar and even less to contribute. Unlike August, who was one of the highest ranking government figures in the empire and had carte blanche authority to negotiate with the east, or even Wahl, who lead the technological development of Alvarez, Neinhart had only been included in the delegation to begin with because, out of the emperor's elite, he had the least troublesome disposition and the least pressing responsibilities back at the homeland.
He was only there to round out their numbers and to present a pleasant facade — it was all a joke either way. Allies? Trade partners? None of it would matter in the long run.
But unexpectedly, Neinhart had found something that might prove entertaining.
"Is it... a strong guy who'd be fun to fight?" Wahl guessed, holding his chin and effecting a pose of deep thought. "Shall we corner him alone and test out what this little continent has to offer?"
"Hah! As if there'd be someone here worth an elite's time," Neinhart snorted, amused.
"Is it..." Wahl drew out, "hm, no, can't be that... Could it be... nah... Oh, how about this? Is it... a girl with red hair very much like a certain someone?"
He was angling for a reaction, as he so often did. Human emotions, and their apparent lack of rhyme or reason, were amusing to a machina like Wahl. But Neinhart only huffed a little, not rising to the bait. "So you noticed her too," he said. "What do you think?"
"Analysis of facial and body structure suggests a... 71 percent chance of biological relationship," Wahl judged. "In addition, analysis of magic signature and capacity suggests a 89 percent chance. You, me, August, and those supposed Saints of theirs aside, she's probably the strongest wizard in this city, in terms of magic potential."
"So the same as her, then," Neinhart said, his smile widening.
Wahl was smiling too — smirking, really, with an undertone that was ill suited to their supposedly peaceful delegation. "What are you going to do? Get her alone for some fun?"
"Oh, please don't ever say that again. You have no idea what that means to humans," Neinhart groaned. "No, no, nothing like that. We have our mission to think about, you know. But I wonder... those people with her from Fiore, aren't they? Which direction would you say Fiore is from here?"
"West," Wahl answered simply.
"Good," Neinhart smiled, "that's right on our way back then..."
~.~.~
Everything had gone smoothly — or as smoothly as could have been expected for a gathering of the continent's leaders. There had been no assassination attempts, no surprise attacks, no poisonings, no violence or property damage, not even any blatant intimidation tactics.
Hisui, and the rest of the delegation, had been in no danger at all, and Erza's presence had been… unneeded. It should have been a relief, and it wasn't as if Erza looked forward to battle or having her charge in danger. But all the same, she couldn't help but feel put off by the way the conference had just… ended.
The man from the opening gala — his name was Neinhart, introduced as a representative of Alvarez's Ministry of Culture — had continued to watch her throughout the meetings and in the hallways. She had felt his eyes on her, and he hadn't even tried to hide it, only smiling whenever she caught his gaze and glared.
And yet he had done nothing at all. He hadn't even approached her or spoken to her. It set Erza's nerves on edge the entire conference, and the tension had yet to fade, even after they departed from Era.
Arcadios and his Cherry Blossom squad had rejoined the Fiore delegation at the border, and now the carriages and the knights traveled along one of the old, wide highways westward. The wheels hummed against the stones, still smooth and pale even centuries after the highway's construction and the fall of the civilization responsible. Hisui and her father had long since drifted off, even as Erza remained vigilantly on watch over the hills, plains, and forests that passed by the window.
She blinked and shook her head, realizing she was beginning to drift off as well. She reached up to rub at her eyes...
And stopped, frowning. She couldn't explain it — but she had felt something. Something pulling at the edge of her awareness, from somewhere far outside the small, sleepy carriage.
Outside, a voice called out a warning in shock and growing panic.
A roar like thunder split the air, making the carriage — and the ground itself — tremble and startling the king and the princess awake. Erza instinctively darted toward Hisui, just in time to catch her as the carriage screeched to a halt, sending everyone flying.
"Get down!" Erza barked, pushing Hisui to the floor of the carriage and glaring at Toma to do the same.
There was chaos outside, shouting and the panicked screams of the horses, another roar, and an impossibly powerful gust of wind that made the carriage shake. With her charges as safe as they could be, Erza rushed to the window and pulled herself up to lean out. A shadow swept over the carriage and the road, and another gust of wind pulled at Erza's hair.
Instinctively, she looked up. Her eyes widened in shock.
A giant monster was flying overhead, circling closer and closer to the carriages and the panicked knights. It was... large, scaled like a lizard or a serpent, with wide leathery wings and a gaping maw full of long, sharp teeth.
"A... dragon?" Erza murmured in shock.
"No," the king said quietly behind her. He had caught a glimpse of the creature flying by, and his eyes were wide in fear. "It's an ancient wyrm. A wyvern that lived for a thousand years and became something else. But there shouldn't be any left! Arcadios killed the last one, we were sure of it!"
Erza had already dismissed her initial surprise, along with any interest in what, exactly, the thing bearing down on them was called. It was an enemy, that was all that mattered. But what should she do? She was supposed to stay with the king and the princess, but if something of that size attacked the carriage, they would all be simply crushed together...
"Stay here," Erza ordered firmly. "I'm going out."
Toma nodded sharply, hugging Hisui tight.
Out of the carriage, Erza quickly took in the pandemonium. The orderly line they had traveled in had been broken up completely, and several of the horses had tried to bolt, nearly overturning more than one carriage and forcing the drivers to cut them loose. The animals hadn't been trained to withstand that level of predator threat. The knights were barely doing better, wide eyed and often struggling to hold on to their weapons.
Arcadios was shouting over the chaos, keeping a firm grip on his rearing horse as he tried to direct his subordinates into action.
But even Erza knew there was little they could do. Given the armor on the wyrm and the advantage of flight it had, their ranged weapons wouldn't be enough. The few arrows that the knights had managed to fire had simply bounced off. There was nowhere to run or hide either, only the smooth road stretching across the plains.
"Commander!" Erza called out, quickly scrambling onto the roof of the royal carriage.
"Erza?!" Arcadios turned to her sharply. "What are you—"
"How should we fight it?" Erza cut him off. "His Majesty said you defeated one. How?"
There was no time to sort out her insubordination, and despite his glare, Arcadios didn't bother to try. "That was different! We chose the terrain for an advantage, in the mountains! And I had the armor... We won't be able to approach without getting hit by its magic, and no one here can withstand that! And we have no weapons that can pierce its hide! Get His Majesty and—"
"If it's about armor, I have it," Erza cut him off again. "Against magic, against an attack, and a weapon too. Even if it's just once, I can strike it. Where should I aim?"
"That's meant to protect you against human wizards! Do you really think it'll hold against a monster like that?" Arcadios snapped. "You're wagering your life on that!"
Erza blinked, her answer taking a moment to come — not because she was unsure of it, but because she herself was surprised by it and by how easily it came to her. "...Yes," she said simply. "I'm ready."
Arcadios stared, taken by off guard by her certainty, but there was no time to argue or debate. "Get on!" he ordered, circling his horse around. The moment Erza landed behind him, he spurred his mount into a gallop, dodging between the soldiers and the carriages until they broke free of the procession. He glanced behind him, searching the skies for the wyrm — and if it was following them.
Catching his intent, Erza too leveled her gaze at the circling serpent. 'Come face me,' she thought, forcing every bit of her will toward the monster. 'I am ready to fight. I will defeat you, beast.' It was too far to possibly make out, but Erza was sure that its gaze snapped toward her as well.
The wyrm roared, as if accepting her challenge, and wheeled around to bear down on the galloping horse and its two riders.
"Good, it's taken the bait," Arcadios called back to Erza. "When it descends to strike, that will be the best opening we can hope for. Listen closely — an ancient wyrm can breathe fire or thunder or ice, some magic, like dragons. This one... is probably fire. When it prepares its roar, its throat will swell up. The scales are weakest there. That's where you have to strike. Can you do it?"
"Yes," Erza said. It wasn't as if they had a choice. They had no better plan. She'd either make it — or she'd die trying. And Erza had no intention of dying like this.
Arcadios looked like there was something else he wanted to say, but he turned away, his jaw clenched. "...Then the gods be with you, knight," he muttered. "Get ready, it's coming down."
He was right. The wyrm was almost upon them. Erza's eyes scanned its form — the long, engorged snake-like body, the small, almost atrophied back legs, the wings that took the place of its arms, the heavy square jaw, spittle dripping down from between the jagged fangs. Wrinkled folds in the skin around the neck, the coloring slightly distorted.
'There,' she thought. Her hand tightening around her sash, she whipped it off her shoulders and stood atop the horse. The wind buffeted against her back, making the narrow strip of cloth flutter wildly — until she sent a pulse of her magic through it, so grew taut and sharp.
'It's only good for one shot,' Gray had warned her, his expression serious. 'It'll fray apart with the strike, when it connects, so you have to make it count. But when you put your magic into it, it'll be able to cut anything.'
Erza had heard of master swordsmen who could accomplish such a feat — turning anything, a wooden stick, cloth, hair, anything, into a cutting edge through just their spirit. She wasn't capable of that herself, not yet. This time, she would have to borrow Gray's power and skill instead. But that was alright. It had surprised her too, but she trusted in the things he made. She trusted him.
With a screeching roar, the wyrm folded its wings and dropped down to attack.
It breathed deep, its chest plates puffing out, its throat swelling like a balloon. Its yellow, reptilian eyes met Erza's, and she realized it was smarter than she had thought. It knew how strong humans were. It knew how far their weapons could reach. It was confident that it was too far for her to hit, that she was too late.
It was arrogant, in its age and power. It had fought many knights, heavy men in heavy armor, and many wizards, reliant on their magic and casting from a distance. It hadn't fought anyone like Erza.
Her powerful magic surged through her body, making her strong yet light. Her dress fluttered around her, weighing nothing at all, the sash-sword in her hand even less. "I will win. I will live," Erza repeated to herself her old mantra.
Then, she leaped.
It was more as if she vanished, moving too fast to follow. How many opponents had she taken by surprise with that move? Human, monsters, she had fought them all — she had fought and won and survived. She had learned it from... yes, from him. From Jellal. But that didn't matter. No matter what had happened with him, no matter what he had become, Erza had still survived. She would keep surviving, by any means necessary.
'Survive this,' he had said, just before he let go.
'I will,' she thought now.
The wyrm was older, stronger, smarter than the beasts in the gladiator arena, than most of her human opponents too. It read her movement, enough to start to react. It flapped its wings desperately, trying to rear back midair. But it was too late.
Erza twisted to slam into its massive throat feet-first, her arm already slashing across. She could feel the sash fray apart even as she pulled it through the thick scales, skin, and muscles. But she could also feel the wyrm's flesh parting. The cut was deep enough, wide enough.
Writhing, the wyrm had already begun to plummet. The magic it had gathered ran out of control, burning up its inside and gushing out of its mouth — and the gash Erza had cut. She threw up her arm instinctively, shielding her face, as the fire exploded outward.
Pulling his horse up short, Arcadios wheeled it around. He gritted his teeth as he watched the ancient wyrm's body fall, its wings giving out and tangling, its own flames licking across its chest and head. Arcadios remember that weight, of the massive serpentine body giving out and crushing down on its killer, that heat, of its own magic swallowing both the defeated and the victor. He could only hope Erza's faith in her armor was justified...
He was spurring his horse back in the beast's direction even before its corpse had hit the ground, making the earth tremble.
Jumping off the steed, he slid down the wall of the shallow crater the wyrm's body had formed. "Erza!" Arcadios called out, a strident command laced with desperation. "Erza, can you hear me?"
"...Commander." The quiet, even voice came from above, and Arcadios looked up slowly.
Erza stood atop the wyrm's bulk, looking down at him calmly but with a trace of satisfaction. Her dress was in fraying rags, and the brooch pinned to the wide collar crumbled in front of Arcadios's eyes, both used up. She was covered in dirt and soot, scraped in several places — but otherwise unharmed, standing strong and steady.
"Mission accomplished," Erza reported. Something like a smile tugged at her lips, despite her serious demeanor. "...I won."
"...Well done," Arcadios said, closing his eyes and letting out a sigh of relief.
Peace and relief were interrupted suddenly when the wyrm's body shifted. Erza leaped off quickly, and she and Arcadios backed away. But it wasn't stirring — rather, it was collapsing. Flames ate away at the flesh, engulfing the entire bulk in spare moments like a pyre.
Then, just as suddenly, they began to extinguish again, both fire and body vanishing into nothing. Soon, there wasn't even ashes left, only dark burn marks in the center of the crater. The colossal enemy they had fought was gone — like magic.
"...Is that natural?" Erza wondered.
"I'm not... sure," Arcadios admitted. "It wasn't this fast last time. And..." He fell silent, unwilling to voice his thoughts — that this wyrm had been too similar to the one he had fought. He was certain he had seen the same markings, the same scars on it. But that couldn't be. That monster had burned up in its own flames as well. Nothing had remained.
Pursing her lips, Erza looked up, at something only she could make out, or perhaps something she only instinctively sensed.
~.~.~
"Are you satisfied now?"
The question made Neinhart turn, a smile tugging at his lips. There was no hint of contrition or guilt in his expression. "Oh, yes," he said. "There's quite a resemblance, wouldn't you say? It's not just coincidence, not with that hair and that magic power..."
August did not respond to that, only turning away and heading back inside the airship. "Then let us be on our way. We have dallied enough," he rebuked mildly.
Ducking his head, Neinhart accepted the reprimand. He knew there would be no further punishment, despite his actions potentially endangering relations with one of their future trading partners. Well, it didn't really matter, after all. In the end, "partner" was just a temporary nicety. All would become part of Alvarez, in the end.
Before following the old man inside, he spared one last glance over the edge of the airship's open deck. Far up as they were and with both the scrying magic and his Historia now deactivated, he couldn't make out any of the figures down on the rolling green plains and the narrow white ribbon of highway below. But he knew she was there — the girl who so reminded him of Lady Eileen.
What interesting news he would be bringing to their crimson maiden...
~.~.~
"One moment, please— YOU!" Gray roared as soon as he realized who had come through the door of his shop. "What did you do?!"
The suddenness of his displeasure made even Erza pause, though she didn't seem nearly as put off as she should have been. "Today, I got up at the usual time, stretched, had breakfast..." she began to recite.
"Not that!" Gray snapped, not in any mood or state to indulge in his usual straight man routine. "Ever since you came back from that mission, every noble family with a daughter has been sending me orders for dresses! All of them! What did you do?!"
Erza blinked, her moment of hesitation — realization, actually — making Gray's eyes narrow in suspicion. "It wasn't me," she said, honestly. It had been Hisui, that much she could guess. Although, indirectly, that was also Erza's fault, since she had been the one to tell her the name of Gray's shop.
"I don't believe you," Gray hissed.
"Isn't it a good thing that you have more customers?" Erza asked. "You'll have more money." More money was good, even she understood that.
"Well, yes," Gray began to say, caught a little flat-footed. "But not like this! I don't even know anything about making dresses! I keep telling them that and to go buy the dresses first and what to get, but they don't listen! It's like they think I'm a tailor! And I'm not!"
He was nearly wailing by the end, his expression harassed and frantic. Noting that, Erza narrowed her eyes. "Give me their names," she said. "I'll set them straight."
Gray stared at her in shock, and also in horror. "No," he said. "No, absolutely not. I'll... handle. Somehow. Just... don't go picking a fight with a bunch of nobles! How did you manage to not offend the king and the princess, I have no idea... You, you didn't offend the king and the princess, right? Right, Erza?"
In response, Erza could only shrug. She had no idea, and she didn't care too much. Gray... did not share that sentiment.
~.~.~
Appendix: Countries
Fiore - The western-most mainland kingdom. It is best known as a trade center. Due to its advantages position, it lies on many trade routes, in particular with the archipelago nation of Caelum, up north to Seven, and with Minstrel. Most settlements and landmarks in Fiore are named after flowers and plants. Like most nations in Ishgar, it has a strong influence from the Yakuma. Once, the land where the country now stands belonged to dragons and draconic monsters are still a common threat.
Bosco - Fiore's neighbor to the east. Once a monarchy, it went through a revolution and is now ruled by a senate. Despite disapproval from many other nations, Bosco allows slavery, officially only in a limited capacity, but with a booming underground trade.
Era - The city-state of the Runic Order. It was once a simple monastery granted to them by a royal family, but has become a famous magical city. No armed forces are allowed into the city. In recent years, more and more wizards have flocked there, leaving their countries of birth to seek fame, fortune and the further progress of magic research.
Pergrande - The largest kingdom of the west and the last true nation before the northern frontier. Despite its size, it has a comparatively small population and boasts few resources. However, its crimson royal palace is famous for its scale, stonework, and impenetrability. There are no nations on its eastern and northern borders, only small coalitions of villages and nomadic tribes. The weather is infamously cold and miserable.
Land of Isvan - One of the regions to the northeast of Pergrande. The origins of the name have long been lost. Cold and inhospitable, Isvan is characterized by snow and mountains. The magic there is quite different from the schools of the west. Due to its isolation, even the Runic Order has little presence there.
Alvarez - The largest nation on the western continent of Alakitasia. An empire consisting of many different conquered states and peoples, who bow only to their Eternal Emperor. Little is known about their exact government structure and even their culture. They are feared due to their research into magics that have been forbidden and suppressed by the Runic Order, in particular those dealing with the boundary of life and death. Official trade and diplomatic relations have only begun to be established recently.
~.~.~