Chapter 47
Lucy and Natsu looked at the request board quietly spotting the investigation of the Elven ruins and a summoning of all dragon slayers to the Magic Council's main offices along with anyone who was good enough at translations. Lucy met Natsu's eyes, and he nodded in affirmation. They grabbed Levy and Gageel along side Wendy, Evergreen, Bixlow, Freed and Laxus and traveled there immediately. Upon arrival they were met with Sting, Rogue, and Cobera, alongside their respective teammates Rufus, Yukino, Sorino, Jellall, and Meredy.
"You got wind of this too huh salamander?" Cobra said laid back.
"Yeah, was posted right on the guild request board, kind of hard to miss." Natsu said back to him.
"Same at our guild, jeez I thought we were done with that jerk." Sting said.
"Same here, but then we crossed paths with him when we were heading to Life." Gajeel said grumpily.
"At least you weren't forced to fight him as a little kid right Natsu?" Sting said.
"Right, wait…. who told you I was a kid again?!"
"Your guild master. He said he had to get after you for reading a spell translation request out loud again."
"Seriously gramps, why did you have to tell."
"Ok, rein it in blonde. I don't care how adorable you think the tiny version of pyro was. Your thoughts are seriously starting to give me a headache." Cobra complained before he turned pale. "Don't you dare. Wait, she said what? Leave me alone."
Natsu glanced over at Lucy whose expression was changing slightly every comment Cobra made. The rest of the dragon slayers stared blankly at Cobra's one man conversation, before giving up thinking about it and heading inside. Once they went in they were all led to the main meeting hall of the council. Where Warrod formerly of Fairy Tail waited for them.
"Welcome, It's good to see you again, well goodbye."
"WHA?" everyone but Cobra said
"Kidding, hohohohoho." He laughed out loud. "Now serious talk. We want the dragon slayers to kill or seal Acnologia, we believe the method is within Elven text, unfortunately we can't perfectly translate them and we have a limited amount of it. There was a mage who briefly appeared able to read the text perfectly, but we don't know for sure if she is even still alive, or where she is. Because this is such a huge task, we plan to divide you into separate teams. One group will stay here and attempt to translate the text, the others shall be sent out to find either the female mage or a descendant of hers that can help us. They will also keep a lookout for Acnologia any information will help when we finally make a move against him. Any Elven text or knowledge we would like you to either translate on sight or send back to be translated by the group here."
After explaining everything the groups were split up. Natsu, Lucy, Levy, and Gajeel were teamed up again as one of the search parties. Since it had been such a long time since the mage had been seen the method and destinations were left entirely up to each group. Talking it over the group decided to head to one of the Elven nations to begin their search. Lucy reasoned since this mage was fluent in the language she probably researched on her own and would either be at one of them, or live in a nearby town or village. Levy took out a map of the world and marked where Life, Earth, and Sky were along with a dot for every town and village in each of their vicinities. After placing them they headed out to the first village close to Life, the very same one Acnologia was first spotted by. The trip itself was short since Mest just so happened to have visited the village investigating before, and was visiting the council building to drop off some Elven research material. They said goodbye to him then entered the village. Gajeel went with Levy while Natsu and Lucy paired up to ask around. Natsu and Lucy decided to go see the hunter who spotted Acnologia to see if he knew anything more. Luckily for them he was home so the visit was short.
"The black dragon? Yeah saw him plain as day. I already reported this to the Magic council, he flew in that direction. Can't guess to why that way though."
"Is there anything in that direction you know of that he might have been heading towards?"
"No, nothing that I know of. There is someone who lives in that direction though she might be able to tell you more. I never been out there myself, but she did mention where it was in passing last time she visited."
"Who?" Natsu asked.
"A female mage woman, everyone calls her Unageing Arra."
"Unageing?" Lucy questioned.
"I moved here about fifty years ago, but some of the elderly in the village said she looks the same as she did when she first appeared around here. She stops into the village every few years to get some things. Keeps to herself mostly but is still friendly enough to chat if someone strikes up a conversation. There was even some stories claiming she was around long before that. I don't know if that's true, but I know the few times I've seen her she never seemed to change in appearance. I remember back when I was in my twenties I asked her out once."
"Oh, and how did that go?" Lucy asked.
"I got turned down, she said she already had a mate. It was surprising to say the least she didn't look old enough to be married, and as far as anyone knew she lived alone out there."
"This is my last question, but do you know anyone who might be familiar with Elven language by any chance?"
"Elven language? Can't say I do, but I remember Arra reading over some strange letters when I first met her. She said she completed a bit of work for some people involving it recently at the time."
"Some work involving letters?" Lucy said.
"Did she look like this?" Natsu said handing over the flyer describing the translator mage that had helped the council before.
The hunter looked over the sketch and description of the mage.
"That's Arra alright. She looks exactly the same even now."
Lucy got directions from the man and the two of them went to meet up with Levy and Gajeel to compare notes and tell them what they found.
"No way, I can't believe you found where she was already. I thought it would take longer to find her." Levy exclaimed impressed.
"No kidding, seriously just what were the chances of that?" Gajeel stated.
"I can't believe it either. I figured it'd just be safer to avoid running into him without backup, but to think she was near here the whole time."
"I just hope she knows where Acnologia is so I can give that jerk the beating he deserves. I'm getting real fired up now." Natsu drawled out darkly frowning.
"Hey, I'd prefer it if my boyfriend stays in one piece and healthy thank you very much. So, don't go getting any ideas about facing him without backup you hear me? Besides that prophecy back at the dragon's cave said not to fight him remember?" Lucy said glaring at him with a pout, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Fine, I won't for now, but if he comes at me, I'm totally going to send him flying got that." Natsu growled as he nuzzled into her to appease her.
Half a hour later the group headed deeper into the mountains to meet Arra. Levy and Lucy were huffing and puffing about half way there exhausted. The group had hiked over three mountains after all. As the group reached the top of the fifth the girls fell to their buts.
"I'm done, I can't move anymore." Lucy complained.
"No kidding, I don't think I can take another step." Levy said downcast.
"Comeon Lucy, it ain't that bad." Natsu said walking back to her.
"We aren't dragon slayers with a crazy amount of stanama you know." She argued back.
"We should consider setting up camp for the night, but not here lets at least go down the mountain where we'll be less likely to be spotted." Gajeel compromised hauling Levy under his arm.
"Finally a break." Lucy said taking the hand Natsu offered hauling herself off the ground.
The group made their way down the mountain to under the cover of the trees. After setting up camp they all hunkered down for the night in peaceful sleep.