It had been few months since Alex fought Bronx and a few weeks since Alex's last job. The mage was beginning to get antsy. At this point someone would alert him of a job that would require his 'talents', ether magical or mundane. Alex sighed, threw on his grey zip-up jacket and made his way down stairs toward the drinking hall. Once down, he went to the back to the post-it board. Usually missions were handed out to the best mage available. But if the higher ups were unable to find any mages, or the mage they chose didn't accept, then the job would end up on the board.

Alex stared at the board, there were two offers put up one was babysitting some child in Crocus, the other was an escort job in clover town.

Alex was about to reach for the other job to read more, when a hand snatched the offer off the board.

"A little too slow Alex." A familiar voice said in a mocking tone.

Alex tuned to see Verna holding the job offer. Alex smirked, grabbed the other job. And followed Verna to an empty table.

"So, how long until you are heading out?" Alex said as he sat down.

"Hmm, as soon as my partner for this job arrives."

"Oh?" Alex was surprised. Verna was exceptional mage, and could hold her own in a fight. Even though she was a little eccentric, Alex trusted her.

A younger member walked by and Verna stared at him attentively. Alex put his hand to his face and gave an exasperated sigh.

"What?"

Alex looked up "You."

At that Verna giggled. Over the few months of her being at the guild she earned a reputation as being a pervert. And she has done nothing to disprove that reputation. If anything, the young female encouraged it.

Alex changed topics "Who's your teammate?"

"For this job, Gajeel."

Alex was bewildered "w-h how?" he stuttered.

"Well, he was doing nothing, so I decided to ask him if he wanted to go on the next job i had."

"I see." Alex said, regaining his composure.

"You know, you can join us."

Alex shook his head "it would be unprofessional if I put this back." Holding the other job offer. "Besides I work better alone anyway."

Verna rolled her eyes "Riiight." She spotted the guild's dragon slayer "Well, see you when we get back." And stood, leaving Alex at the table.

"Yeah, same."

Alex was in his room, he grabbed his satchel, or his 'travelling kit', as he called it, checking to see if any of his picks were damaged. Satisfied, he put them back and added a second tension wrench to the set. "Can't forget this." he muttered as he slipped the job he took into a pocket on the inside of his jacket.

Alex made his way through the guild and through oak town, once he reached the edge of town he waited. It was getting dark before a cart ambled its way down the dirt road. Alex stood from where he laid and hailed the cart

"Are you heading to the capital?"

The driver scowled and said nothing, giving Alex the stink eye. Alex sighed and reached in his jacket, pulling out a small wad of jewels.

The driver smiled, changing his demeanor at the money "Climb on back and we'll be off."

Alex climbed in the back, feet dangling off the wagon. At that moment he couldn't help but wonder how Gajeel and Verna were doing.

"Is this how you normally complete jobs" Verna moaned, she couldn't help it. Her plan was to head to a charter stop and pay for a carriage to take them across the desert. But Gajeel was against that. So instead of taking control, she followed the S class mage's 'advice'. Which lead to them walking into the desert.

She adjusted her pack and ran to catch up to Gajeel.

"You said something back there." Gajeel grunted, as she jogged up beside him.

"No" she changed her mind "well actually yes."

"What then." He said, shooting her a look that showed slight annoyance.

"Why didn't you want to travel by carriage?"

"Because." He stated

She sighed, this is getting nowhere she thought, when another question popped in her head. Gajeel stopped, surveyed the area before declaring "we will take a break here. "

Verna dropped to her feet, grateful for a chance to rest. Gajeel sat and started rummaging through his own pack.

"How did you meet Alex?" Verna asked as Gajeel pulled out a chunk of what looked like metal.

"Don't matter. And why are you asking me?" Gajeel said in between bites of metal.

"Well, you are the one who brought him in and you did mentor him."

"Why don't you ask him?"

Verna groaned "I've tried, but he just changes the subject."

"Then don't let him" Gajeel said, finished with his snack. "That simple."

Verna rolled her eyes at Gajeel's solution. Alex was just as good at dodging a question as Gajeel was.

"Oi!" Alex snapped awake, it was midday

"This is as far as you go." The driver said "head down that road and you will arrive at the capital."

Alex hopped off and handed the driver 700 jewels, the driver gave him a look of disgust, but Alex kept on walking.

After a day of walking, he made it to a hill overlooking the city. The city was nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains center was a massive, beautiful castle, the city itself was circular and relativity organized. Alex shook his head, this city certainly earned the title 'the blooming flower'. But Alex had a feeling this job wasn't going to be as nice as the view. After he met with the client a baronet of some land outside the city. The job said babysitting, but in reality was, just a noble hiring a mage to show off his status and wealth. Normally jobs like this would be removed.

Alex sighed "Best just get this over with."

Earlier, in clover town.

"Wow it's so beautiful." Verna said, hopping off the carriage they took from Shirotsume. Followed by a slightly paler-than-normal and queasy looking Gajeel.

"Remember. Here for a.. a job."

"Yes, yes I know." Verna responded waving him off.

"Are you the group from the Phantom Lord guild?" an older, well-dressed man addressed them.

Verna nodded, Gajeel half groaned, half grunted.

"Follow me."

After they find out he knew who their the client was, they followed the man to the train station.

"Your job is to escort this to Hargeon. At the agreed sum of 100,000 jewels." He said putting his hand on a medium sized crate.

"We already know this." Verna stated, disappointed that she wasn't able to explore the town.

"We have taken the liberty of paying for the train tickets." The man continued.

Gajeel groaned.

"Best just get this over with." Verna told Gajeel. Getting on the train, Verna took wicked delight in Gajeel's misery. It served the dragon slayer right, avoiding her questions they way he did and making her walk through the desert.