. Oculto .
The meeting with the client went by fairly quickly after they'd dropped off a letter that would be mailed to the guildhall, much to Levy's relief.
Their client was a middle-aged one whose gaze was a little bit too directed at her lacking chest, as if he was disappointed, and Levy forced herself not to smack him upside the head after he made some kind of snide comment under his breath. Lily was watching with care throughout the entire interaction, silently promising Levy that he'd kill the man if he so much as layed a finger on her in Gajeel's place.
Their instructions were simple.
Find a treasure that was hidden within the ruins of an ancient people and bring it back. Receive her payment and head home. Ask no questions about the treasure, as it concerned him that she might run off with it.
She'd given him a look, fighting the urge to snap at him to go find it himself if he thought the mage he hired was going to run off and steal it. She'd been smart in her questions, asking if there was anything defending it or if anyone had tried to take it before and what had happened to them.
He'd answered with a sly smirk that made her uncomfortable, "Not that I know of."
When they left the client's home and were a decent distance away, Levy gave a shaky smile and murmured, "I hate clients sometimes."
"They can be a nuisance, but they are what pay us and we can't complain about that," Lily said with a reassuring look from his place in her arms. She'd grabbed him and hugged him to her chest when she'd become worried that the man would try to grab her and he'd simply let her. "At least you won't have to deal with him until it's time to come back and bring him his treasure."
Levy narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, a pout sliding across her face. "I don't want to see him at all, honestly. Anyways, do you think he was lying? I'm sure there's some kind of guardian beast or spirit or something. Some kind of defensive magic. There has to be. A piece of treasure wouldn't be left undefended in a bunch of ancient ruins, would it?"
"I don't believe it would have been left undefended," Lily agreed with a heavy sigh. "At least we'll be prepared."
"I'm glad you came along," Levy told him, relaxing and finally releasing him. "I don't think I could have handled this job without you honestly...okay. Let's get to work on gathering supplies. He gave us the instructions on how to direct all travel payments and whatnot to his money, so it shouldn't be too long. We'll leave in the morning. Sound good?"
"Yes." Lily gave her a smile and beat his wings at the air to hover beside her head as they made their way through the streets of Oak Town without a care in the world. The two murmured to one another as they went, deciding to pick up a mount that they'd be able to take - or a cart, depending on what was available for the time being - before getting the rest of the supplies, so they wouldn't have to carry it all.
Levy would be the first to admit that she wasn't exactly the strongest physically, and she didn't think it'd be smart for Lily to wander around in his battle form. He needed to preserve his strength for anything they came across in the desert.
It wasn't hard to find someone who knew of where they could lease out an animal or cart. When she found someone who was willing to lease out a simple mount for her, she struck up a conversation, explaining what she needed and why she needed it after arriving at his home on the outskirts of town.
The person had been shocked. "You're heading there?" the old man gasped, his eyes widening. "I'll loan you my fiercest animal to protect you if you want...it'll help protect you so long as you supply it with the needed food and shelter. It's not fond of the cold, you see, and it gets rather chilly around here at this time of year...at night anyways."
Levy glanced at Lily. "...why would I need a fierce creature?" she requested nervously.
As they'd expected, the man explained, "There's supposedly a guardian beast that roams the territory and makes sure that no one is coming to steal its treasure. I've seen it myself, miss, a grand beast it was. Stunning...but frightening."
"Well I'm sure Lily here and I can handle it," she told him, though she really didn't believe her own words. She glanced up at him for confirmation and the Exceed nodded silently. "Although I would appreciate such an animal if you have it…"
"Of course," he replied with a gentle look. "This way, miss, I'll show him to you and you can decide if you want to borrow him or not."
He led her from the front of the property to the back, where there were several acres of fields and lush green grass. Levy guessed that there was some kind of water mage that watered it for them to keep it alive outside of the rainy seasons.
Stopping at a gait, he raised his fingers to his lips and gave a shrill whistle.
The creature that came trotting into view made Levy blink a few times. It was rather similar to a common deer, though taller, with spindly legs and a longer and graceful neck. Massive antlers sprouted out of its large head, and its eyes were a piercing amber with slits that reminded her of those of a reptile. Its feet were clawed rather than those with hooves, a longer tail extending behind it. Its coat was sleek and shiny, meant to blend in with the desert, and it made a crooning sound as it opened its mouth to show off several rows of teeth.
"This here is Salutem," the old farmer introduced with an affectionate smile. He patted the creature's neck and it made a sound akin to a purr. "He's quite the looker, but he's a sweet soul. He'll protect you so long as you feed and water him right."
"He's quite the animal," Lily muttered, eyeing the creature curiously as Salutem lowered his antlered head, ears flicking. It sniffed at Levy's blue hair; the young woman smiled and offered a hand to sniff before stroking its nose.
"We'll take him," she said firmly. "We'll return him to you as soon as we return from our work, if you don't mind."
"Don't worry about it," the farmer said with a grin. He gave the mount an appreciative look. "Salutem doesn't get out much. Not since my son moved to Crocus with his wife and children. I'm too old to take him out. You're welcome to take him permanently. Your guild has a series of stables for such animals, don't they?"
"As of recently, yes," Levy admitted. She didn't adventure into them often - the animals there were quite large, almost all of them bigger and heavier than her. "But I doubt he'd be happy there."
"Then release him into the desert when you're done with him," the old man sighed. "He'd enjoy himself out there."
Levy's eyes went wide. "Are you sure?"
"More than positive," he chuckled. He gave Levy a kind smile and made a gesture, a hand signal that Levy noticed caught Salutem's attention. The deer-like creature made a sound like a purr and stepped closer. "I'll teach you a few hand movements," he decided. "He responds well to them, and it comes in handy when you're in a situation that requires silence. He carries a good amount of weight, which will be good for your supplies."
"It certainly will," Lily rumbled, "We'll need a lot of them, especially water."
The man didn't seem at all startled by Lily throughout the entire time that they were conversing with him. Within hours, she was leading a quiet Salutem through the streets as she and Lily purchased supplies and by the time they were done, both of them were famished and Salutem had supplies piled into a cart that was rattling behind his large body.
Thoughtful, Levy glanced at the sky and then suggested, "Why don't we get some dinner, Lily? We'll camp outside tonight, I think. See just how bad the cold nights are, maybe just a mile or two outside of town, and then head out for sure after tomorrow, when we're completely prepared."
"Sounds good," Lily agreed with a smile. His tail flicked as he landed on Salutem's antlered head, and the creature merely snorted, not looking bothered by the action other than a little tug on the bridle he wore.
The next morning later found Levy preparing Salutem and their supplies for their long journey through the desert to the ruins. From what she'd calculated on a piece of paper long since thrown out, they had a mere three nights' worth of travel before they arrived on the outskirts of the ruins. And then there was the extra day that it took to get to their chosen campsite.
Lily, who'd been helping her by loading up her books into a saddlebag, mused, "It's a good thing that you can ride Salutem at the same time that you can use him to pull supplies. It would be a far more difficult job without the amount of supplies we were able to gather."
"Not even I can walk that far," the solid-script mage laughed before tightening a strap on the saddle. Salutem barely flinched, only purring and shifting in his eagerness to head out. Levy had sworn the previous night that the deer understood what they were saying. He was fairly intelligent, she supposed. He'd understood her call of his name, had even backed up so that they could hook up the cart full of their food, water, and more.
"Okay," she said after a moment, hands on her hips. "Ready to go, Lily?"
The Exceed dropped to sit in the cart - which had had its wheels exchanged for a ski-like piece that would glide over sand - on a bag of blankets they'd been gifted by a friendly vendor. "Yes. Let's go."
She swung up onto Salutem's back - the animal was kind enough to help her up with its antlers - and then did a final check before taking up the reins. Doing as Salutem's owner had explained, she clicked her tongue twice, and he broke into a smoothly flowing trot that ate up the ground yet wasn't uncomfortable. Levy pulled out a compass as he moved, studying the direction on it before adjusting Salutem only a bit. The deer didn't mind the gentle tug on the reins, instead immediately doing as she asked.
Levy grinned after putting the compass away, enjoying the breeze that accompanied their fast movement. This job - now that they were away from their client - was fun, and not something she wasn't enjoying.
The day was hot, but it wasn't quite sweltering. It was warm, warm enough that she was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and a pair of shorts, but was able to ride without sweating. The clouds were beautiful above the sand, fluffy and blocking some of the harsh sun, and Levy silently wondered if Lucy would perhaps like to come out here someday to see the stars at night, away from the loud distractions of towns and cities.
Perhaps she could bring Gajeel out here at some point, too. For some reason, she imagined that he liked such harsh terrains much more than cluttered towns or mountains or forests.
It was about three hours into the first leg of their trip that Levy brought the deer she rode upon to a halt. It slowed to a walk, barely breathing hard or slicked with sweat. In fact, Salutem made a noise of impatience, as if he wanted desperately to keep going.
But Levy's legs hurt, and she needed a break and some water. She slid from Salutem's back with care, grumbling when her sore legs nearly gave out on her. "Levy?" Lily called questioningly from where he was in the cart.
"We're just taking a break," she explained, yawning. She smiled at the Exceed as she made her way over, patting his head affectionately before grabbing a bottle of water that they'd stored. Levy had created ice with her magic, knowing it wouldn't melt easily with magical properties, and she enjoyed the cold water as she sipped at it.
"Something is bothering me," Lily told her after taking a drink of some kiwi juice he'd brought with him. Levy had been amused by his dedication to such a thing. "I've been watching for a while now. Levy, there's nothing else out here."
Levy blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that there's no other wildlife. There should be lizards, snakes. Predators. I can't even hear bugs." Levy looked around at his words, startled when she realized that he was right. "Perhaps," he suggested, "It is the guardian spirit? Or whatever is protecting the ruins…"
"We can't be in the area already though," Levy murmured, hurrying over to their saddlebags. She withdrew a map from one, moving back to Lily, and spread it out, not seeming to notice as Lily sprang into the air to hover beside her head. "We shouldn't be that close," she murmured. "We can't be."
"And we're not," Lily said firmly. "I'm merely suggesting that we may need to return to Oak Town and call for someone to join us."
"Let's check everything out first," Levy decided with a sigh. She didn't want to bring anyone else in unless it was absolutely necessary, which meant moving on and pushing towards the awaiting ruins to see what was going on there. So, the young woman took a deep breath and put the map away. "Come on, Lily, the sooner we get there, the sooner we can figure out just what we're dealing with."
"I suppose," he agreed reluctantly, tail flicking. He studied her for a few moments before shaking his head and flying over to sit with her in the saddle after she'd put the map away and climbed back onto Salutem's back. He settled back against her with a tired sigh. "Levy, I understand that you want to do this on your own, but there is no shame in asking one of the others for assistance if you truly need it."
Levy bit her lip as she picked up the reins, encouraging Salutem into a trot before answering. "I know...but I want to try by myself and see if I can do it. Besides, I know Mira's going to try and send someone if I'm not home in three weeks, so it's not like no one will be coming."
"And we could be dead by then." Lily said this roughly with a sharp tone, trying to drive his point into her mind. "The job request said nothing about a guardian beast that is so dangerous it scares off the wildlife, Levy. This could get both of us killed, and if you end up even the slightest bit hurt, I will fly myself back to the guild for assistance."
Levy blinked. Lily had never spoken to her in such away, and she hesitantly nodded, biting her lip. "Right. Sorry, Lily, you're right. Let's check out the situation carefully, and then we can run back and send a letter requesting for someone to come and join us. How about that?"
"That will do, but we are not remaining if the guardian does not show himself," Lily warned. "He could hide himself and watch until he thinks it's a good time to strike."
"True," Levy admitted, and then gave a nod. "Alright. We'll do a quick scan and then head back to Oak Town for backup."
The two fell into a comfortable silence as they continued forward, the sound of Salutem's hooves the only thing heard throughout the afternoon.
It took them just as long as they expected to arrive at the outskirts of the ruins.
And Levy would be the first to hop on any train that said the ruins were beautiful, because they were particularly beautiful in the setting sun's light. She swung off of Salutem and clicked her tongue to tell him to keep close. Lily was clasped to her chest as she approached a crumbling stone building with care.
She peeked inside, releasing her hold on the Exceed and commanding Salutem to stay where he was. "Looks harmless," she commented, frowning at the sight of old broken bowls. "I wonder what made these people leave though…"
She'd read up on the people that had once lived in these ruins several times throughout her years of exploring the guild's archives. Apparently it was as if they'd been in the middle of their normal day before running off and abandoning it all.
Perhaps it was the guardian? Levy thought curiously.
But it was their treasure that it was guarding, not the guardian's...so perhaps something else had run through? Perhaps they'd been taken prisoner by some of Fiore's troops? Who knew.
Levy was leaving the old building and heading for the next one when Lily told her, "I'm going to check out the area from the skies. Keep the...deer close to you."
"Got it," she said, shooting him a thumbs up. Lily watched her for a moment before disappearing above them, and Salutem snorted. His hooves dug into the sand as he followed, the sled of supplies trailing behind him. He kept his massive head low to the ground, nose searching the sand for anything strange.
Levy entered and exited a few more buildings, inspecting each and every possession left within them. There were remains of old blankets, paintings, and Levy had even found an old doll that had once belonged to a girl.
The doll had made her tear up; what kind of disaster would send people running like this?
Levy's attention was diverted when a voice called her name and Lily appeared, looking concerned. "What's wrong?" she asked, frowning at the look on his face. The Exceed dropped out of the air and into her arms, trusting her to catch him.
"We're not alone here," Lily murmured. "There's bandits, thieves, whatever they are. They've been following us, I think. They have their own animals that they've been using. They're only over that dune." He pointed at a hill of sand nearby. "There are somewhere around a dozen of them, but I'm pretty sure that most of them are mages."
Levy's blood turned to ice and her lips parted in shock. "Salutem didn't notice?"
"They've got some kind of magic cloaking them, hiding them except from sight," Lily explained with a sigh. "We'll have to venture further in, because there's no way even you and I combined would be a match for them. One of them specializes in some kind of fire magic, though the flames were blue."
Levy moaned quietly in exasperation. "Great. Bandits and a guardian to deal with...okay, come on, Salutem. Lily, do you think you can watch from above and maybe help me lose them?"
"I can try," Lily promised before hopping out of her grip and soaring back up into the sky. He disappeared, only the white of his wings letting her know where he was.
Salutem used his antlers to help her up onto his back, and then they were off. Levy encouraged the deer to take off at a full out lope, knowing that their supplies were tied down enough to handle it. He flew across the sands at a speed that made her breathless, her legs already shaky from holding on. Lily flew down, barely keeping up to report, "They're onto us. They're following, and I think they know that we're aware of them. They're not using magic to hide them."
"Great," Levy moaned in exasperation, thinking quickly over what they should do. "Maybe if we loop around, backtrack, we could -"
Levy cut off with a scream as Salutem suddenly shrieked in pain and reared back onto his hind legs. Levy barely had time to register that there was some kind of glowing arrow sticking out of his flank before he'd charged off, leaving them alone. Levy swore colorfully and shoved herself to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest.
Ignoring the pain in her shoulder and fighting back the urge to vomit at it, Levy readied her good arm and hand to use her magic. Lily dropped beside her, his form already changed, sword in hand as they found themselves surrounded by the bandits that had followed them.
One cackled, reining in the horse that he rose. "Look what we found. A fairy."
"Fetch us a rare price across the ocean," another muttered with a sneer.
"The cat will have to be skinned though. Pelt must be worth something."
"I think they're worse than bandits," Lily mumbled, his deep voice a soothing rumble that helped fend off her worry over the situation. "Slavers, perhaps?"
"Great," Levy whimpered, "And the one time I told Mira to leave it be when she tried to insist I take someone with me."
"Good thing it's Mira, she's probably already sent Gajeel after us."
"I can't believe I let that devil send me after them," Gajeel Redfox seethed with a frustrated look, his arms crossed across his chest. His foot tapped impatiently, a scowl on his face as he glared at the clock. Where's that damn train?
He hated Mira for what she'd done to him. He'd been guilted into going after the shrimp and his cat when he was pretty sure that they'd be fine; it wasn't like it was a big job they were completing. They were just retrieving something from some ancient ruins. Ain't like it was them going to hunt Acnologia.
But she'd only had to say a single word about Levy being hurt and Gajeel had finally grumbled that he'd go. But only to check on them. They weren't helpless; they were Fairy Tail mages. They could protect themselves. He'd leave as soon as he'd peeked on them and then go back to wherever to wait and accompany them home. Because he wasn't taking a train sooner than he had to.
Besides. Apparently Oak Town was well known for its beautiful deposits of iron.
He could enjoy the chowing down he'd be doing while waiting on his shrimp-
No.
She was not his, nor was she anyone's. She was herself. She belonged to no one. Especially not the one who had nearly killed her simply for the sheer hell of it. He refused to even think of her in that way; she deserved so much better than a self-loathing iron dragon slayer who couldn't even accept that his father had up and abandoned him.
Not that the other slayers could either. Wendy still watched the skies, and Salamander was constantly on the search for Igneel. Not that they'd ever find them. Gajeel knew better than to hope too hard whenever a dragon had supposedly been spotted.
He'd fallen so far into darkness, but Levy had become the light that dragged him out though. It was so hard to try and stay away from her when she was so warm and welcoming, sweetly asking if he'd like to help her with something she needed to do or if he'd like to join Team Shadowgear for a job. It was so goddamn hard to not watch her when she strode across the guildhall in the short shorts she wore during the summer or the form-hugging jeans she wore in the winter.
It was hard not to notice her whether it be her physical appearance or her mentality and morals. She'd forgiven him, even when he had yet to forgive himself.
She was the light that had become the sun.
And he was the shadow that threatened to drag her down into the depths of Hell, the darkness that tried to snuff out her life at one point.
The station announced the arrival of the train and Gajeel scowled again.
He'd find her, make sure she was okay, and then leave.
He had no business protecting her when he'd been the one to hurt her the most.
Time for the next chapter! I hope you all enjoy! Thanks to reviewers (Usweasil and Treblemkr)!