SHIRO's POV
When I regained consciousness, my body suddenly shot up, earning a slight winced from my stomach as the blow still hurts. I give it to the girl, she's feisty and strong. Was she some sort of an amazon princess, I wondered. Shaking head slightly at that last I stood up, wincing a bit from the movement and trudge slowly out of my room and into the kitchen. I was midway down the stairs when I felt the scary aura coming from the dining table, which is visible from my current position. Kain looked terrified; he was perched on the farthest side of the table, slowly eating his food. Yajima, was smiling widely while having a sip from his coffee, oblivious from the scary aura being emitted at the place. Then I looked at Lucy who has her back turned at me, and slowly, oh so slowly turn her head, like those in that horror films most people watch and felt her glare pierce through me. I shiver and felt goose bumps at that. But still I continued my descent from the stairs albeit a little cautiously, and plopped down next to the old man, who in turn just smiled widely at me as if I did something good to him. Maybe the assistance with last night's event is what he's happy about.
"Again I thank you guys for last night. The event very successful." Yajima started, putting emphasis on the word, which made me wonder if he meant something else. "Though I do hope you had a wonderful sleep last night as the mayor wanted to talk to you guys about a certain request." he continued "there was a new dark guild that formed here about a month ago and has been causing disruption and disturbances to some of the townsfolk in their time. The mayor may want to have this guild disbanded and was about to send in request to other guild. But he must have caught wind of Lucy being here with a group so he would like for you see about the request in this. He wants to meet you at the town's hall at 10 am"
"Why would he want us to do this job?" Lucy was the first to ask, returning to her bubbly and good mood, to which I thank the gods for.
"He's quite fond of you I guess. He was also one of the few donors that you had on the GMG." He said "I suggest at least meeting and talking about the request of the mayor. He mentioned he would give the reward as well when completed." He finished, and we all just nodded and finishing our breakfast to get ready.
LUCY's POV
We are currently walking down the town towards the mayor's house. Grandpa Yajima told us that the mayor wanted to speak with us regards a request about fighting a dark guild. I wouldn't mind doing it anyway since we were also running low on our funds for travelling. And we were thinking about taking a job here before moving out.
When we reach the town hall, we stood outside for a minute, I examined the building. It wasn't grand just a simple plain white office building. Then someone came out from the door. She was wearing a skirt and blouse and her black hair was tied in a bun. She looked at our group which seemed out of place standing outside the building.
"Are you Lucy Heartfilia?" She queried voice full of authority. I just step up a bit and nodded my head. With no other words she signaled us to follow and we gladly did so. We walk past a couple of rooms before she motioned us to enter the one room at the very corner with a sign saying "Mayor". Without further ado we entered the room and instead of being greeted with a man sitting on a desk filled with paper works. It looked more like a small living room with its couches and everything. The work table still exists thank god for that but it was missing the stack piles of paper.
"You must be wondering about the paper works on my desk?" Someone said, I turned and saw a man a fee inches taller than me with long grey hair tied in a pony and stubble on his face. I nodded my head at his words, which earned me a warm smile. "I usually finish the papers once it's been place at my desk. The earlier it's done the more free time I get. Please, make yourself confortable." he ushered us to the comfy couch. Which Kain, my brother jumps through on one of the armchairs his feet resting on one arm while his back is being supported by the other. He brought out his new recipe magazines and started skimming.
I huffed in annoyance at his manners, albeit the mayor just left out a hearty laugh at his actions. Shiro sat at the sofa and plopped down juts besides him. The mayor taking a seat on the other arm chair.
"What did you call us for?" Shiro inquired.
"I'm sure Yajima-san already gave you a heads up about this meeting" a statement whilst he looked at us one by one before continuing. "A small guild had formed just on the outskirts of the town. We never thought that they were this much threat, but soon after they had built their guild they started harassing the townsfolk nearby. At first a simple disturbance at peace at how loud they were and then they started hurting people and sometimes took some or kill the livestock's of our farmers in the boundary. I was about to call a messenger and send request for help outside, but it seems like the heavens have heard our pleas and brought you to us the lovely celestial princess Lucy Heartfilia, Please. We need your help." He asked, almost to the point of begging.
"I understand the importance of this quest being finish mayor, and we will take this job since we don't want having people hurt and suffer from them. And as a thank you as well for the support at the Grand Magic Games." I replied
"I don't oblige you to this because of the help I lent on this year's games. But it would be really wonderful for you to look into this. I have my secretary come in here in a minute to discuss about further details on the mission. I will be off now, since I still have that meeting with an organization. I know you will do a great job girl and goodluck. I must go now." With that he stood up, picking his coat on the rack as well as his hat and a small suitcase on the table nearby and left without another word. A minute after that the same woman from earlier came in, she was the mayor's secretary. She told us that the guild is composed of about 20 people approximately. And some have records of magic that was use. I read through the files and they were more or less just average mages, the only threat maybe the guild master and another elite mage must be the right hand. The secretary also said the mission gives about 3 million jewel with surprised me and my companions seeing as how their mouth left hanging open to that. We took the files and head back to the restaurant; we would be doing the assault tonight.
NORMAL POV
The gang of three sat hidden at a bush about 200 meters away from the target building. The Structure was not tough and you can notice the new furnishes on it. It was a simple two story building. Lucy, Kain and Shiro, stood quietly still in their place as they look at all the possible entrances and escape routes of the building.
"There are about three window panels on each side the front having only the door as entrance, and at the back as I check have a small door and two more windows. The second floor having the same windows on its side and the back and front having two." Kain disclosed as he was the one who scouted the area when they found the building.
"Do you think they have an underground route?" Lucy asks
"Let me check with that and see" Shiro said, and moves a bit away from the other two, still sitting, he had his hands both stretch out on either side and focus his magic, white glows soon and wrap around his arms and when it died down, his whole arm up to the elbows is now covered in a Silver and green gauntlet. The arms looks scaly but was made of platinum and the finger tips are shape like talons. Green scripture was etched at the arm, something that was quite foreign to Lucy, but they still awed at the weapon in, well practically in Shiro's arms.
"This is Gaia's Arms, they allow me to use earth magic at every extent, though the stronger or complicated type of technique I use the more magic it consumes. I can use this to sense the earth and look through the whole structure of the building." With that explanation he brought one arm to the ground and a green magic circle appeared. He hummed a bit as the magic does it work. A minute later the circle disappeared as Shiro brought his hand back up again.
"What did you find?" Lucy asked
"No underground tunnel or some sort, the building was not made to be like that. So the only entrances maybe the doors and windows that Kain scouted." Shiro explained to the team, while the two just nodded their head.
"Then we just need to make sure we block out the exit, and bring them out. Nee-san can you use your magic sensory and check their magical levels?" Kain said while looking at his sister. Lucy just nodded and closed her eyes, she started using her meditation techniques one that allows her to bend with her surroundings, once she gotten to that state she focused a bit of her magic and expand it, the magic was intangible and does not release any sort of pressure, more so it expands like a barrier around Lucy and kept growing in range until all the mages inside the building is within the barrier, she was able to touch into their magic and levels, and once she has gotten through all of them she pulled the barrier like sensor and opened her eyes. That technique was something Lucy learned during one of her meditation in the past week. She was able to read the magical levels of the people besides and near her and once she focused, she can look into about a mile away but that part takes a lot of magic and concentration which Lucy finds hard to find in most cases. She discussed about the enemies magical levels, that there is about twenty two of them and twenty being just average mages and an elite mage the guild master's magic. Though as much convenient it would have been for them to know what type of magic the other uses, she can't simply tap into that and learn what it is, that is another degree of magic Lucy is yet to learn.
So as they had discussed, it was either they barged in or lure them out. But the first option may leave other members to escape as there were a lot of options to get out the building. So they needed to lure them out, with Shiro's Magic, they can somehow block the other ways out and create a slight earthquake with it. This can either bring them out or stay them in. Since surely they wouldn't want the building to collapse on them. Once they do, that's when Lucy and Kain will eliminate the mages, starting from the weak ones. Shiro will take care of the Guild master and the Heartfilias will take care of the elite and average mages.
It wasn't a grand plan, just plain simple, but hopefully effective. They weren't really trained to team fighting, especially since this was the first time this trio got together. The only exception maybe is with Lucy and Kain being siblings and all. But they all hope that the plan would work out and have a good team dynamic.
"Nee-san, also I want you to just use your star dress. This may be a good training for you, with the number of people we are luring out I would suggest to use one that can do damage to multiple targets or has wide range ability. This way you can find out how long you can hold out the form and how well you can fight with it." Kain suggested.
"I can try, but if things get too tough, I'll do summoning." The blonde girl replied, to which her brother just nodded his head in understanding.
"Is it really the time to try out a new magic?" Shiro inquired. "This may get dangerous" The last part saying a bit serious.
"Nothing to worry about Shiro Guy! You're talking to the Celestial Maiden and Guardian of Hell! There won't be problems!" Kain chirped happily, both Lucy and Shiro just sighed and went with it. Bringing out a key Lucy pulled out Sagittarius' key. And called her magic filling the key with energy then expanding it throughout her body, covering in bright yellow light and when the light died down she was wearing her Sagittarius dress. Bow in hand she put her stance ready to aim. Kain on the other side brought out her Katana, getting ready with his stance as well.
As planned draw out the mages, Shiro clapped his hands together then planted it to the ground, the same green magic circle appeared and the ground shook. Earth started to rise on the back and the sides of the building. You could hear yelling and running and one by one the mages of the dark guild went out like little ants. Taking that as their queue, Lucy and Kain stood up and prepared to fight. Lucy shooting down every mages in her sight while Kain dashes forward slicing down those that were missed by Lucy's arrows. Kain was about to finish the last one when someone blasted him with water, sending him flying back to where Lucy and Shiro were and past them.
This caught the attention of the other two, they look back at Kain then to the mage who sent him flying. It was a girl then behind him was a man that towers the girl, his head held high while he look at both Shiro and Lucy in disgust.
"Get them Kira" He ordered, with a nod the girl took stancing and forming a slow and rhythmic movements with her arms and feet. Lucy took no time and gave no opening to finish whatever the girl was doing and shoot out her arrows, yelling Star Shoot as she launch her arrows. Numbers of arrows covered in yellow light flew from her bow and homed themselves over the girl. As it was about to reach her, water seemed to form as a shield or wall around Kira and block the attack, then after the water surge and move forward, flying like spears towards the duo. Shiro placed his hands at the ground again and made a wall of earth as shield to the attack. With the wall the enemies view was block, and an eerie silent went for about a few seconds before, Kain jump from the other side, carrying his Katana in both hands over his head, blue flames can be seen at the end. The girl sent out the same water spear to Kain, who was still midair, and was just coming down.
Kira smirk to herself, as the guy with the sword was heading towards his own grave. He cannot dodge midair, and change his directions. Smiling widely at the thought of blood getting spilled, she never notice the arrows sent to intercept the attack. She just realize it when Kain landed in front of her and planted his sword to the ground creating a large explosion and sending the girl flying away and knock out.
Kain stood at the middle of the crater he created and look at the last dark mage standing, the Guild master and pointed his sword at him. "You're next" He claims before charging in again with an inhuman speed due to his force magic boosting his sprint. He gotten to close the gap in just that second, the katana in his left hand, his right over the handle of the sword and was about to draw it out to slash the man in front of him, when suddenly a strong force brought him down and crash on the ground. Said Guild master hand was just above the boy and was still in a chopping form from a karate stance. He bent down, grab Kain and throw him over to Lucy and Shiro again.
SHIRO's POV
Damn! This isn't good. He got Kain knock out in just one moved. He must be really strong to pull that off. But at least I can still feel that the boy is alive and regenerating, he should be back in a few minutes for the meantime we need to stop him. " Lucy, go all out!" I shouted , and started shooting my arms, doing a punching stance, the earth below me followed my action as if it were my own body, and shot towards the guild master. I didn't stop my assault as I continued sending rock and boulders towards the man, who seemed to be able to destroy them with his bare hands, Martial Arts type magic, is all I can assume, with the movement he does and that inhuman strength.
He continued dodging and punching the attack that I sent. I noticed that a faint glow at my side and when I snapped my head towards Lucy, she changed her form. She looked like a Chinese martial arts girls. She somewhat wear something like a kimono with the sleeves being longer and twin blades that seems to resemble a scissor when put together. With the light down, she sprint into action and charged, her body gracefully rushing through the rock piles I and sending jumping through and from the boulders using it as a leverage and increasing her speed as each second passes. When she reached the Guild master, she does a forward jump from the last rock she stand and spins her body, the blade in her arms following the action slicing thought the man. The guild master may not have seen her as he looked surprised to see Lucy there and took a hit from Lucy's spinning blade cut though with his magic and all, he was still able to pull his left arm and defend from the attack, his arm suffered the damage instead of his body making him step back a bit and clutch at his left arm with his right. He look at Lucy, all his focused seemed to have shift to her in that moment, so I took that chance and put a bit ounce of more magic to my attack, a pillar of rock shot from the ground when I punch in front of me, hitting the enemy and sending him flying. Lucy all the while dashes after that to finish the work, and does and x slash with her blades finally sending the other man down.
After all that transpired, and that everyone was already knock out and down. Lucy let go of her dress returning to her previous outfit and slump to the ground with a loud sigh. "Glad that was over, thanks for the support Shiro!" She beamed at me while I just grunted at her. I looked back at Kain and sigh at the sight, he was sound asleep. Hugging his sheath katana close to his body as if it were a pillow. I moved towards to Lucy who brought out another key, and said Virgo. Then a maid spirit appeared with pink hair.
"Punishment Hime?" She asked bowing slightly. Which I just raised my brow curiously and looked at her master who look at me with an expression 'don't even bother asking'. "No Virgo, but can you please tie these mages with magic cancelling ropes" The maid nodded and proceeded to work, Lucy brought out a communications lacrima and contacted the runes knights that is settled on the town.
A few minutes passed, an exhausted Lucy walks besides me and over my shoulder, being carried like a sack of potato is his brother, still sleeping and not even waking up a bit. Lucy explained that this is hibernation mode, when his body has suffered damage enough damage and gets knock out, he goes to sleep and recovers. I can see that it was true as his magic was somehow cocooned around his body.
We reach the town hall and went inside. The secretary saw us and ushered us to the same office we gotten earlier. I placed Kain at the same armchair he claimed earlier, and sat back down besides Lucy on the couch. The secretary said that she gotten informed about the capturing of the mages by the rune knights and therefore said it was a job well done. She brought out the reward of three million in a briefcase. Lucy just said her thanks and took the case and we all left after that heading back to the restaurant to spend the night.
LUCY's POV
I woke up with the sunlight hitting my face, it wasn't very nice, not one bit. I stood up feeling a bit irritated and look at my side to see that my brother is already awake, fixed his bed and maybe already downstairs chowing down some food. I stretch a bit and prepare for the day and change. We may be leaving the town later and head to another. It doesn't seem like Aquarius' key is in this place, since I haven't felt anything close that resembles to her magic. With a sigh and no more leads to this town I got out of the room and went down the kitchen expecting to see three men eating breakfast but was surprise to only see Yajima-san and my brother.
"Oh Lucy, your awake, good, her I made pancakes and bacon for you dear!" He chirped and gotten my plate sent in front of the table. I sat down on the vacant seat and wondered. "Where is Shiro?" I asked curiously.
"He went out early saying he got places to go to. He must have already left the town by now." Yajima san said looking at me intently. I felt a bit sad that the man didn't even stay a bit longer to just say goodbye. But I hope we still get to see him someday, maybe when fate decides to.
Everything went a bit well the whole morning. and we were already packing our stuff and getting to ready to head out, we waved good bye to Yajima and the other crews and made out way to the train station, we will be heading out to port hargeon, Yajima said he heard from some friends that there was an unknown magic playing around the area, it was a bit foreign and new, so we took that as our next option for a stop. I feel a bit happy as we walk through the town, my brother just browsing his magazine. Still in his own clothes consist of the white button up shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbows and black jeans and his boots. I was wearing new clothes since I thought it may be a good way since we are doing a new start and new adventures, I wore a black short shorts that reaches just above an inch mid of my thighs. A black armored boots and fingerless gloves. My top was a gray turtleneck inside and a white coat over it that reaches to the middle of my thighs and was buttoned on the middle two buttons only. I felt a bit happy about the outfit as well as the reward since we got enough to last us for a few weeks. Though I couldn't push the feeling that something felt wrong. That something feels missing. Then I remembered Shiro, as much as I want the man to join use, he doesn't have to, he probably has other places to go to. But he could have at least said goodbye. I shake my head at that; he doesn't really want to tangle himself with us.
We were closing in to the train station and I was about to forget about him, when I look up and saw the said man, his back at the wall near the entrance and seemed to be a bit pissed, probably waiting for someone. Instead of wearing the same normal clothes he had before, he wore armored gauntlets and boots, his black pants tucked inside it and a black long-sleeved turtle neck shirt inside the long gray sleeveless coat he wore. He looked a bit bored and when he turned to us, his face brightened up a bit. I couldn't help but smile as well. He approached us and handed us tickets which I didn't know where he had gotten from.
"Took you guys long enough." He said, almost as if lecturing us about taking too long.
"We thought you already left the town?" I asked
"Well, I was about to, but got on a dead end, got nowhere to go so I hope you don't mind me tagging along" he said placing his right hand to the back of his head and laughing a bit.
"We don't actually. But how did you know about us heading to Hargeon? I asked again
"Well Yajima-san told me about it." He laughed again. I couldn't help but look up at his face and blush at how attractive he looks even though he was just laughing and smiling. I sigh; I think I had it bad with this guy. I looked back up at him then to my brother who seemed to be oblivious about what's happening around and was still flipping through his magazine. I thought this may just get a bit too interesting and well as I looked proudly at both of my companions, but still there's this thought in the back of my mind saying that things may not go as planned.
