Surprise! I decided to update sooner, but don't expect updates to be so close together. Thank you kurahieritr Jio for your review, and I must say I absolutely love your stories!
For those who read chapter two I changed some of the last half of that chapter so I recommend going and reading it.
Thank you to everyone who has taken time out of their lives to read this and I hope you enjoy it!
Some of the stuff in this chapter I might be wrong about(please tell me if it is so I can fix it). I was going off my personal experience for specific information.
Now without further a due Chapter Three!
0o..(~.~)..o0
Two weeks passed rather quickly for three, and they soon found themselves traveling east by foot to the next town. The town was rather small, having roughly three hundred citizens. Many of the citizens were farmers, and only one part of the town had any form of stores and that was the center of town. It was just a few stores along a single cobblestone road on a hill. It was designed this way specifically because during the rainy season the fields would flood leaving only that one hill and the roads unsubmerged.
Lucy, Wendy, and Carla had obviously packed all their belongings, Virgo had said she would hold for them in the Celestial Spirit World, and then dealt with their financial problems. Pooling their cash together they had 22,000 jewels, and they stocked up on supplies. Not only that, but they now had a new form of using money. It was honestly quite surprising for Wendy and Carla.
Walking through the doors of Skycash Bank, Wendy and Carla could not contain their awe at such a structure. Granite made up the outside that gave the building an intimidating feel, but the inside inspired the feeling of sophistication and elegance. It was so opposite of what they usually experienced while being in Fairy Tail with it always being loud and destructive. Inside it was vast with many pillars and arches made of marble. They could see many men and women wearing crisp suits and inviting smiles as they talked to other people, and there was a glowing piece of glass with numerous desks with lacrima computers behind it. Assuming that the people in suits were the bankers and the glass was magically enchanted they turned back to Lucy who was looking on amused at their reaction.
Turning her head and walking further into the bank she looked for Mrs. Helen, her personal banker. Spotting the woman, Lucy waved to get her attention.
Noticing Lucy, Mrs. Helen smiled happily and signaled to wait as she turned back to her previous client. Mrs. Helen was a short plump woman of her late forties with fiery red hair pulled up into a tight bun. She wore narrow slender glasses upon her small nose that seemed to make her mint green eyes larger. Wearing a long sleeved suit, a pencil skirt that was knee length , and pointed black three-inch heels completed her look. She was mother of two, a boy and a girl, but her children had gone off to university in Caelum about three years ago and now she was living alone with her husband, a rather famous defense attorney.
Signaling her hand to Wendy and Carla to follow, Lucy began walking to the waiting area; a series of wine red arm chairs surrounding a mahogany table that was covered in the latest Sorcerer and Science World magazines. Sinking into the chair, Lucy watched amused at Wendy and Carla. They both looked so awed and shocked. One would think they hadn't been to a bank before. Pausing at that thought, Lucy asked. "Have you guys never actually seen or heard of a bank before?"
Taking a seat in the soft arm chairs both girls shook their head no. They honestly did not even know what one does at a bank, but whatever it was seemed to be rather high class. Wendy and Carla, though mostly Carla, wondered what they were doing here in the first place. "What are we doing here specifically? And why are we here?"
"Oh we're here to change some of the stuff regarding my bank account, and I thought that since you two are living with me now I would make my account a family account so you too could put any extra money into it without having to worry about it being stolen."
Confusion and curiosity growing at the term 'bank account' as well as feeling warm at their term family even though she hadn't purposefully called them her family it felt like she had, they wanted to know what this had to do with money not being stolen. "What's a bank account and a family account?" Asked Wendy.
Feeling elated that someone was actually taking interest into what she had to say instead of saying it was stupid or useless information she thought of what to say. "Well a bank account is an agreement between the bank and a person were the person can withdraw and deposit money. You see the bank protects the money from being stolen, so it's honestly quite ideal to have bank account. Not only that but you can be paid interest depending the type of bank account." Pausing to gather her thoughts Lucy continued. "A family account is a joint or shared account where owners of the account can withdraw or deposit money from on singular pool of money. Now normally you wouldn't want this type of account because it can cause issues later on or increase taxes, but I trust you two."
They were astonished that she was giving them this level of trust she wouldn't even give to Team Natsu. Although that's probably because they would likely spend all the money within the day. They did not understand financially saving or budgeting.
While feeling grateful Lucy was willing to trust them this much, Wendy felt undeserving. "T-thank you, but are you sure? I mean it's a lot of responsibility and I don't thin-"
Putting her hand on Wendy's head and ruffling her hair, Lucy effectively cut her off mid sentence. "Don't worry about it Wendy. You'll do fine."
Smiling shyly, Wendy nodded. While she may not agree she would try to live up to that responsibility.
Carla smiled in appreciation towards the blonde. She felt honored that she was being given this high level of trust, most people often disregarded her because she looked like a cat, but she was an exceed. They are just as smart as humans.
It did not feel like this was the only reason they were here though. "Is this the only reason we are here though because it doesn't feel like it?"
Excited at the fact they were still interested in what she was saying, Lucy removed her hand from the soft blue hair. "I'm rather glad you asked that. There is this new feature that came out recently and I've been wanting to try it out but I hadn't had the time with everything going on." Thinking over of what she knew on the feature, Lucy continued. "Its called a Lacrima Card or LC. Apparently it was invented by a merchant in Midi who felt that it was to difficult to carry large amounts of money as he traveled, so he created the first prototype. I think they just went into mass production."
Pausing to see if they were understanding what she was saying, and seeing that they were she continued. "A LC is a special lacrima with coded information that is about three inches long and two inches high. It allows for the owner of the card to withdraw or deposit money from any location without having to go to the bank. You can even pay for items using the LC and it pulls money straight from the account, but since it's still a rather new creation it has a direct withdraw system. A direct withdraw system is the ability to have cash teleported straight to the owner of the card if they can't or don't want to pay via LC."
Both girls were left slack jawed. They couldn't understand why no one in the guild didn't have this already. It was an ingenious and way safer method of holding money than just carrying cash. All though that could be contributed to the arrogance that nobody would be stupid enough to rob well known powerful mages homes.
Realizing there was a flaw with the design Carla asked about the possibility of identity theft. "How in the world could that be safe? What if someone stole the card? They could end up stealing all of someone's money!"
Smiling widely at Carla, Lucy felt happy they were actually thinking through the positive and negative aspects of the LC. "You're right Carla. The merchant thought the same thing. Within the steel casing around the card, it is enchanted to do a biometric scan or magical scan. It depends on the preference of the person and if the person even has magic."
It seemed as though both girl's jaws had detached from their face and their eyes were practically bulged from their heads. It was greatly amusing to Lucy that they were this shocked, seeing this she sank further into the armchair with a tired sigh.
She hadn't been getting much sleep since Tartarus and what little she did get was full of nightmares. She was practically dead on her feet. Hearing the clicking of heels on stone woke her from the slight doze she fell into.
Turning she was greeted by Mrs. Helen's smiling face.
"My Lucy dear, how have you been? When I hadn't heard from you after seeing the guild explode and the attack of that giant monster I thought you were dead! By God that monster was terrifying! I thought for sure we were all doomed and I was praying to God that you and your guild mates would be safe. I heard about Fairy Tail's disbandment. Are you alright dear? Oh you must be devastated! Why you look positively dead on your feet!" Realizing she hadn't noticed Wendy and Carla, she smiled apologetically. "Excuse my rudeness, if you please. I'm Mrs. Helen and who are you two dearies?"
Mrs. Helen looked expectantly at the two dumbstruck girls, who were still trying to catch up with the whirlwind personality of the banker.
Lucy quickly covered for the two with an amused chuckle. "This is Wendy Marvel and Carla. Carla is an exceed. Both girls are staying with me from now on. It's nice to see you too Mrs. Helen."
Mrs. Helen struck out a hand and both girls numbly shook her hand. " Well, it is quite the pleasure to meet two friends of Lucy's, and what lovely young ladies you two are. You two are just positively adorable!" Turning to Lucy with a playful glint in her eyes, Mrs. Helen continued. "Now when are you going to bring a boy with you for me to meet? You know you're not getting any younger dear."
With an indignant cry, Lucy's face flushed. "I'm only eighteen. I don't need a man. I am perfectly fine without one. Besides I have Wendy and Carla to look after as well as my training, there's no time."
Clicking her tongue and shaking her head at Lucy, Mrs. Helen pushed up her glasses that had slipped down her nose. "Excuses, excuses dear. Trust me you'll meet a man that will be an enigma to you and you won't know what to do with yourself. It's only a matter of time." Straightening her back Mrs. Helen's face became serious. "Now if you three would follow me we can discuss what you have come here for."
Spinning on her heel Mrs. Helen led them through the bank, her clicking heels echoing.
They had quickly sorted through and completed the paperwork as well as gaining a LC for each of them. Lucy carried hers in same pouch as her keys while Wendy had hers in an enchanted anti-pit pocket travel bag. Carla had hidden hers, and she absolutely refused to say where.
The sun was getting low in the sky and the three had yet to reach the closest inn. Lucy herself was having a difficult time staying awake while the other two were practically skipping down the dirt road. The area was just too calm to Lucy, it was to the point she felt like a zombie and only grunted when the other two tried to start up a conversation. Oh what she'd give for a cup of coffee at this point! She could swear she could even smell the coffee!
Giving into the temptation, she started walking towards the origin of the smell only to walk face first into a glass door. Falling back hard onto her butt, Lucy hissed in pain and held her face. Cursing the person who thought it was a good idea to put doors in the middle of the road she looked up only to freeze in shock.
Right in front of her was a café. Lucy was positive she was hallucinating at this point, until she heard giggling. Twisting to look at her two companions she could see they were trying to contain their giggles.
Walking up to the fallen blonde, Wendy reached out and grabbed the older girl's hand and helped her up. Still giggling at Lucy, Carla walked into the Café. "We walked into town about ten minutes ago you know."
Not wanting to embarrass herself more, Lucy didn't deny the fact she wasn't paying attention, and followed them inside. The metallic chime of the brass bell sounded throughout the small café / grocery store. To the left small tables and chairs were spread out along the wall, opposite to that was the counter that was loaded with different foods. To the right side of the store were numerous shelves and aisles stocked with food with labels stating what came from which farm.
The trio sighed in relief when they felt the nice cool air of air conditioning. It had become noticeably more humid the further east they traveled thus making everything feel hotter than it actually was.
It was only a few seconds later that they could hear loud thumping footsteps.
Walking inside from the storeroom and into the shop through the hanging canvas door behind the counter was a mountain of a man. He was almost seven feet tall with a large build, but he wasn't fat. He had a long dirt brown beard that was braided at its ends, and long hair that was half way up and half way down stopping at his elbows. His face was angular, but it held a roundness and softness created by smile lines. He seemed to be in his late thirties, but his glacier blue eyes held a certain childish gleam to them that made him look younger. His clothes were that of a farmers, and were made with thick buck hide and coarse cotton. Giving the three girls an inviting smile he gestured towards the table by the counter.
Lucy, who was too tired to care, walked to the gestured table and chairs. Then she collapsed onto the chair with a heavy thud. She then promptly fell forward and slammed her head into the table causing it to jump with a bang.
All she wanted to do was sleep, and she really did not care if she was being rude at this point. In the back of her mind, she could hear the biting reprimands of her old etiquette teachers, but it didn't phase her. If anything, Lucy had been hoping that the pain from slamming her head into the table would wake her up. It didn't work, but she most definitely had a fresh head ache now.
It seemed her body was too exhausted to produce adrenaline. She was just so physically, mentally, and emotionally tired. It was at the point where her body was forcing her to sleep. Her body didn't care that this was not the place to do this nor was it the time.
Carla huffed in annoyance at the blonde's instant sleep and rudeness, but sat down at the table nonetheless. She felt that she was setting a bad example for Wendy, but Carla knew the girl needed her sleep. Carla had not actually seen the girl sleep, not only that, but she had seen the bone deep exhaustion Lucy had been trying to hide from them. She could feel that Lucy was going through something, but she had no idea what it was. What worried her though was what Lucy did just now. Just how little sleep was she getting? She had to be getting some sleep, but what quality of sleep?
Seeing that the blonde woman fell asleep as soon as she walked in, he turned to the other two. All the girls looked to be rather young. The blonde appeared to be in her late teens, the blunette in her early teens, and the white cat, which he knew to be and exceed, also seemed to be rather young.
He had met a few exceed merchants from a few towns over. He considered them to be some fine folk.
The three girls were likely travelers since he had never seen them around the town before, and this was a rather tight nit community. They did seem familiar though. They were pretty young to be travelers, but these days you never know with everything that has been going on.
Walking around the counter to greet the young travelers he took in their appearance even more. He could tell they hadn't been traveling long due to the newness of their clothes. There was this sagging in their postures, as if they were holding up the weight of the world.
Hearing the booming footsteps coming closer, Wendy and Carla looked away from their sleeping companion. While Wendy knew she could take down men ten times her size due to her magic, she still felt rather intimidated by the man's large stature. When the man stopped about five feet away from their table, Wendy shrank down into her chair while Carla sent her disapproving looks.
"I take it you three be some travelin' folk. How long are ya goin' to be in town or are ya just passin' through?"
Blinking in surprise at the deep and gravelly voice of the man, Wendy fidgeted under his curious stare. "Well, um… I'm not entirely sure what we're doing in means of staying and going. You see we're kinda just wandering. Our guild disbanded recently so… I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Wendy Marvel."
Seeing the girl grow quieter and quieter as she talked, he raised an eyebrow; however, he heard that these little ladies were in a guild both his thick dark eyebrows raised in surprise. Out of everything he did not expect them to be from a guild. Do they even accept people this young into guilds? He honestly didn't think they did, but apparently they do. He began to stroke his beard in thought.
"Is that so? Well, it's nice to meetcha little lady. My name is Klaus Walkerman."
Growing more comfortable in the presence of Mr. Walkerman, Wendy stopped trying to make herself look smaller. "This is Carla, and the person sleeping is Lucy Heartfilia. I'm sorry she's sleeping. She hasn't gotten a lot of sleep lately."
"No, no. It's fine, little lady."
Klaus was now very curious and surprised by this trio. Lucy Heartfilia. He knew that name. Anyone within this region knew that name. The heiress to one of Fiore's most powerful conglomerates, and a powerful and well-known mage of the mage guild Fairy Tail.
There had been many rumors going around about that destructive guild as of late. Rumors that the Magic Council had been assassinated by a dark guild, and that Fairy Tail intervened somehow. There had been reported attacks around the nation, and many of the towns attacked had no living residents anymore. Apparently, according to rumor, Fairy Tail was attacked as well causing it to, for the first time in it's history, declare a state of emergency. While this was all rumor and many of the Lacrima Vision Reporters said that the Royal Family was going to be releasing an official statement at the end of the week, he already knew a good majority was true. He had seen it first hand.
He had been traveling to a neighboring town to sell his crops a month ago when he saw it. A white, massive pillar of light come from the heavens in the west, from the general area of Magnolia. He felt the tremendous shock wave seconds after he saw it, and it sent him tumbling back down trail. He was knocked out instantly. He had never felt anything that powerful before, and it awed him as much as it terrified him.
There was an awkward silence when Klaus went into deep thought, and it made Wendy and Carla uncomfortable. Just when she was about to say something to break the stretching silence, Klaus shot off a question that flabbergasted them.
"You two and your sleeping friend be mages of Fairy Tail, correct?"
Wendy was stunned into silence. She didn't think there was anything that she said that would have suggested that.
Carla did not have the same problem as Wendy and was quite happy to state her confusion and surprise. "H-how did you know that?!"
"The name Heartfilia be pretty well known around these parts. It would be absurd to not know of the heiress! That family be a good inspiration to us poor folk! A fine example that a little sweat and hard work can get you anywhere in the world! That you could be whoever and whatever you wanted to be! Your friend is a great inspiration, and many of parents tell their kids about her. You are lucky person to be her friend!"
Seeing the confusion still present on both girls he explained more. "One of the many small economies Mr. Heartfilia supported was a major trading industry for small farmers, and he would often make necessary products or services more accessible for those who worked for him. While I heard he wasn't the best of fathers, he was a superb boss to those who worked under him."
Switching topics when Wendy heard the mumbling of the blonde, she filed that tidbit of information to ask Lucy about later. Right now their biggest concern should be whether this small town even has an inn. Hoping that Mr. Klaus would help them since he seemed to be so nice, Wendy glanced at Carla before looking back to the man.
"Mr. Klaus, I w-"
"Just Klaus little lady, there's no need for that formal mumbo jumbo."
Blushing a little from embarrassment, Wendy continued. "Um.. well, I was wondering if there were any inns in this small town. I really don't think Lucy is going to be waking up anytime soon."
Stroking his beard again, Klaus knit his brows in thought. "Well, there isn't an inn. There is a house just down the block that we usually let visitin' families or travelers stay, but before you even think of askin' about prices, it's free."
Confused as to why something like that would be free, Carla crossed her arms in perplexion. "Why would something like that be free though? Wouldn't it be better for you to have people pay for that?"
"It's an old house, and no one has lived in it for many years, so we fixed it up and turned it into a guest house. We don't have many visitors. If anything the housekeeper, Mary Ann, is going to absolutely love you three."
"Really?"
"Aye, little lady. With the time it is now we should probably get you three there so you have time to rest."
With that said, Klaus threw Lucy over his shoulder gently, but she still looked like a sack of potatoes. What was astonishing about this though was the fact Lucy hadn't even so much as moved or responded. She really was exhausted.
Wendy and Carla grabbed their stuff and stood up and followed Klaus out of the café/grocery store. They at least had a place to stay for now.
