"Come on Mira-nee , it's going to be fun", Lisanna said trying to convince her sister to go out with them on a job.
She was very careful to select a fun and simple quest that would help her sister focus on something else and so they could be together. Believing it could help her get through the trauma and loss. Finding the right job, she immediately went to Elfman and explained everything. Upon hearing Lisanna's plan, he agreed and they soon went to talk to Mirajane.
"Lis is right, Nee-san . Seems to be a fun and simple job, it will be great to distract you a little", said Elfman.
"Let's go back with our team, Mira-nee . The Take Over Siblings team, remember?" said a smiling Lisanna. "In addition, it will be a good opportunity for us to stay with the family."
Mirajane listened carefully to her brothers and grew thoughtful, putting her index finger to her lips. She picked up the work paper and looked through it. In fact, it seemed to be a simple mission, just helping a small village in the interior with some tasks and a good remuneration. It would take a few days and getting away from the guild, on her terms, wouldn't be so bad, and it would be nice to spend that time with her brothers.
"Ara, ara! Okay, we can go. I think it will be good," she smiled gently.
"Great, I'll make the arrangements," Lisanna smiled appreciatively. "Elfman help me," she pleaded.
Mira brightened, she actually smiled seeing them trying to help her. She knew she would be nothing without her family, sometimes wondering if she was taking care of them or they were taking care of her.
The next day, the Strausses headed northwest, there was no train to that region, so they had to go on foot, amid the cold and snow that covered the entire path in white. Elfman carried most of the weight and Lisanna, as usual, complained. Along the way they would stop whenever possible and in some shelterable place, like a cave, under a big tree or another place that they thought was comfortable. A mage's life is not always easy and often, even powerful and famous mage had their adventures. To keep warm, they built a fire and brewed cups of tea. In a few days they would reach the village and in that time, while camping, Lisanna made a point of cooking, just like any Strauss, she was an excellent cook. As brothers, they didn't see the need to sleep separately, so they only took a tent and settled in together, it was comfortable and comforting, as well as helping to keep warm.
A few days passed, between snow and freezing wind, uncomfortable camps and howls and sounds of wild animals, finally they entered the village. Lisanna the most tired of them, barely able to keep walking behind Elfman and Mirajane. They searched the house of the person who submitted the mission paper. As far as the Strausses could tell, it was a simple little town, very neat and welcoming, with a fountain in the center, where people would likely gather to socialize. There were no cars or large carriages, the streets were narrow and the houses were small and simple, but very well maintained.
Quickly they found the house where the order came from. It was a simple house, like the others, but well arranged and with flower beds, which were dry for the winter. They knocked on the door, a while later an elderly lady with a happy expression on her face opened the door to welcome them.
"Are you the Lady Maria who asked Fairy Tail for a job?" asked Mirajane smiling.
"Yes, my child. I imagine it's you," she said, stepping aside for them to enter her house.
As expected, the place had an aura of a grandmother's house. Very welcoming, despite its simplicity. A fireplace warmed the room and an irresistible smell of fresh cake and coffee pervaded the entire place. As it could not be missing, there was a lot of knitting. In an armchair there were needles and wool thread, clearly that sweet lady was sewing something else.
"What can we help you with, Mistress?" Lisanna asked.
"Just Maria, please," she said, smiling. Maria sat down in the armchair and motioned for the Strausses to sit down as well. They made themselves comfortable on the couch with Elfman taking up most of it. Luckily Mirajane and Lisanna weren't that big and could fit comfortably in what was left of the space. "So my children, we are having a severe winter this year, many young men have had to leave to look for jobs in other regions in order to be able to feed their families. We need a lot of help for some tasks. Perhaps they are not worthy of powerful mages like you, but they would help us a lot."
"Don't worry about it, Maria. If we can help, we're happy about it," Mira said.
"Thank you," Maria smiled kindly and gratefully. "First, we used a lot of seaweed that we harvested in a lake near the mountains. It's at the very bottom, but the lake has frozen and the water is very cold. If you can get a portion of them it would help a lot."
"No problem. That will be easy for us, and helping is what a man should do for others", Elfman enthused, Lisanna and Mira laughed.
"But first we have to stay somewhere," Mira said, "if we're staying a few days."
"There is no need. You can sleep here in my house if you wish. I have a spare room," offered Maria.
"But it won't bother you?" Mira asked worriedly.
"In no way. It'll be nice to have some company too."
Mira looked at the brothers and they all nodded. They left their things in the room, there were two beds, clearly Mira and Lisanna would sleep in one, as they weren't big and would fit her, and Elfman would have one for himself, even if half of his body was outside. As soon as they got settled they left towards the lake.
"This place is…really cooolllddd!", said Lisanna shivering and hugging herself, trying to warm up.
"Yeah, a little," Mira replied calmly.
"How is she not cold!?", Elfman asked himself in surprise, but he should have guessed, after all she was 'She Devil'.
They continued walking in the snow for a long time, looking for the infamous lake. As they drove away from the city and into the fields, the snow got deeper and harder to walk.
"Is it too far?" Lisanna asked, grinding her teeth from the cold as the snow hit her shins.
"I think we're getting there," replied Elfman, seeing a flat treeless expanse that ran out of sight and was covered in white. "I think that might be the lake."
From the top of a hill, Lisanna and Mirajane could see all that treeless expanse and concluded that it must be the lake, as the brother said. Taking a deep breath and taking courage they headed in that direction, with each step the snow got deeper which delayed the trip even more. Worried Elfman picked up the two sisters and draped them over his shoulder as he trudged down the path. Between ascents and descents, hill after hill they followed in the right direction, dodging and jumping small frozen streams that cut across that region. He was grateful that his sisters weren't heavy on Lucy.
By the time they reached the lake it was completely frozen over, covered in a thick layer of ice and the wind howled over the surface. In the background you could see the mountains and the forest at their base.
"It's kind of pretty, don't you think?", said Mira, looking out over the landscape.
"It's scary!" exclaimed Lisanna.
"Completely desolate," commented Elfman. There were no homes or farms for miles.
"Oh, do you really think so?"
"Yes!" exclaimed Lisanna.
"Hmm!", Mirajane was thoughtful looking around.
"Well, what are we going to do?" asked Lisanna. "We can't catch any algae with this ice on the lake. And it seems to be quite thick," she tapped her foot on the layer of ice.
"I can break the ice and you dive in for the seaweed," Elfman suggested to Lisanna.
"Not a bad idea," Mirajane replied and Lisanna nodded.
Elfman used Beast Soul from him and used Beast Arm Jet Black Sword to break a large section of the ice cover, creating a large hole where Lisanna could dive.
"Ready! Now it's your turn, Lisa. Be careful," he told the little sister.
Lisanna nodded and dove into the hole, transforming into a mermaid. It didn't take even thirty seconds and she came back to the surface shivering with cold and grinding her teeth.
"I can't…do… th…this", she trembled as she uttered the words. "This… this water it's… it's cold, too… cold".
"And now!?" asked Elfman.
Mirajane stopped and thought for a while, smiling when she came up with an answer to the problem.
"Let's heat the water," she said simply.
"But how? This lake is huge", asked Elfman with Lisanna agreeing with him and shivering at the same time.
A shadow formed on Mira's face and then she smiled sinisterly, startling the brothers. She took the form of Satan Soul Sitri , much to the amazement of the other two Take Overs. Mirajane put a hand into the hole Elfman had made, flames began to shoot out of her hand and in one swift movement the entire lake was engulfed in fire. An intense and brilliant fire, out of hell itself, which rose to sky with such intensity. When she finished, they were on a small island of ice floating adrift in the lake. It got so hot that steam came out of its waters.
"I think you overdid it a bit, Nee-san!", exclaimed Lisanna in fright. Elfman was speechless, stunned.
"Oops!" Mira replied, in her normal, charming way, as their small island of ice melted, getting smaller and smaller.
"Here you go, Maria," Mirajane handed the sweet lady a large helping of perfect seaweed.
"OH!", she was surprised by the quantity and quality. "These are perfect. Thank you my young people", she thanked deeply. "I'll prepare them right away. In the meantime, why don't you enjoy a piece of cake and a cup of coffee?"
They readily accepted the offer and the lady served them each a piece of apple cake and a cup of coffee. Elfman got a bigger piece than the others for being bigger, not that they complained, but they thought it was funny. The Strausses were famous for being good cooks, but even they had to admit that this cake was perfect. Mira asked for the recipe and Maria was happy to give it to her, with all the secrets.
"What are these seaweeds for, Maria?" asked Lisanna curiously.
"Ah my child, she serves many things", Maria replied. "You can eat them that way, or sauté them. If you let them dry, you can crush them and they serve as seasoning in practically everything. Not to mention that it is used as a medicinal plant for various diseases. In our village it is very important"
"It's a powerful plant," Mira commented.
"Very manly, really," added Elfman.
"Yes, yes. Since you brought so much, I will let you take some home."
"Oh no! We can't accept that she's so important to you," Mirajane tried to refuse.
"Don't worry about it, young lady. It is our custom to offer something important to friends we make. It's part of our hospitality. We don't ask for anything in return", Maria said smiling like a grandmother would do with her grandchildren. Mira and none of the other Strausses could refuse the offer. They thanked her very much.
"Well, I'll serve you dinner in a couple of hours, make yourself comfortable."
"I'm going to help you. As a man I can't let a lovely lady like you do everything alone", Elfman said and went with Maria to the kitchen.
"Very kind of you, son," she smiled happily.
Lisanna looked at her older sister and noticed a slight genuine smile on her face and a brighter color in her eyes. She was happy to see her sister, little by little, returning to who she was, regardless of the circumstances.
The next day the Strausses had a lot of work to do. As they had said, they would help that community in whatever way possible for as long as necessary. There was a lot to do, without men a lot was left out, leaving it to the magicians to accomplish. Elfman was fixing the roofs of several houses and shoveling the snow off them. Lisanna was left with the obligation to look after the animals – despite her initial excitement she soon discovered that cleaning sheep poop wasn't as cute as she thought. The villagers warned of wild beasts in the vicinity, so Mirajane took it upon herself to eliminate them, something easy for her and in a short time she returned to the village.
The days went by and they sympathized with the residents. Elfman fixed the fences and what needed and did any heavy lifting. Lisanna and Mira often ended up babysitting while their parents went to work.
But there were also dangerous jobs, like protecting the village from thieves, who once showed up only to have to face the Strauss brothers. As well as clearing the streets of snow and ice. The residents of that village were deeply grateful to the guild's mages and whenever they could, they offered them what they needed to make their work easier. A tea, a piece of cake or lunch. At the end of the week there was always some kind of fraternization, with a big bonfire and a beautiful roast, singing and lots of drinking, happiness was never lacking despite the difficult time they faced.
Lisanna and the brothers were fraternizing that day, watching the joy of those people, when she felt someone pull the blouse she was wearing. Looking back and down she saw a small boy, not more than 10 years old, shy and hiding behind his father.
"Don't be shy. Didn't you want to give this to her?" said the boy's father.
Slowly he stepped out from behind his father's legs, flushed with embarrassment, a flower in his hand and held out his arms, handing it to Lisanna. He couldn't look at her directly.
"For me?" asked Lisanna, bending over to look at the boy more closely.
The boy nodded shyly. Smiling, Lisanna took the flower from the boy's hand who blushed even more and embarrassed.
"Thank you, she's beautiful," said Lisanna. Smiling, she crouched down to his height and kissed him on the cheek. Embarrassed, the boy ran to hide behind his father, looking over his leg at Lisanna, shyly. "He's cute," she said to the boy's father.
The father stroked the phylum's head, proud of him. "He's just shy. He wanted to thank you for taking care of his cat when he was sick," he said. "You all have done so much for our village. There is no way to say thank you. Thank you for real".
"Is a pleasure. Your village is fantastic, with amazing people. We are the ones who thank you for being able to help", said Mira.
"It is very hard work, I am impressed with the strength of all of you. It's admirable," said Elfman.
"Well, we just try to survive and live as best we can," said the embarrassed father. "Enjoy the party", he said and went in the other direction taking his son by the arm, who kept looking at the wizards as he walked away.
"It's quite a place," commented Lisanna.
"Yes, they are amazing. Always smiling and cheerful," Mira agreed. "You two were right. Coming on this mission, being able to help these people and seeing the smile on their faces was what I needed. Thank you", she said smiling, as she always did in the old days.
Elfman looked at her and couldn't hold back his tears. " Nee-san !", he shouted and hugged her. Lisanna joined in the hug too, hugging Mira together like family. Mirajane smiled and felt so grateful to have them in her life, she hugged them back.
A few more days passed and now their mission was coming to an end and that was their last day in that village. Mirajane was sitting in the living room of Maria's house, they were talking and Mira listened to all her stories, impressed with that lady's life experience. During the time the Strausses stayed with her, whenever she could, Mira enjoyed talking to Maria. That day, Maria was finishing sewing a knitted dress, while talking to Mira.
"What do you think?" Maria asked, showing Mira the dress. It was a long purple dress with long sleeves for cold weather.
"It's beautiful," she replied delightedly, marveling at her hostess's skill.
"Glad you like. It's for you," Maria said, and handed the dress to Mira.
"Wh… what? For me!?", Mira asked confused. Although at that moment she knew better than to refuse, she already knew the customs so she gratefully accepted the gift.
"I've been watching you. You like dresses so much, I thought I could make one for you", Maria laughed.
"Thank you, Mary. I really appreciate it," Mira smiled happily, happy with her gesture.
"I thought this might cheer you up a bit." Mirajane looked at her in confusion. "I am old, my child. I've seen those eyes many times, I've had them myself for some time", she looked at the photo on the wall, where Maria appeared next to her husband, both smiling and happy. "You lost someone very special, didn't you?"
Mira looked at her and stood with her head down for a moment, feeling the heaviness in her chest.
"Don't be like that, young lady," said Maria. "I don't know who he was, but if it was important to you, I don't think he would want to see you like that."
Mira smiled slightly. "No. He asked me to be happy and told me he loved me before he left."
"When my husband passed away, I thought my world was over. Fifty years together is not for everyone", Maria laughed at the memories. "But such is life. He left me, I thought I would be alone, but this village, my neighbors and friends, children and grandchildren were more present than before. It helped. Did you know that I didn't know how to sew before my husband died?"
Mira was surprised, she learned and has so much talent in a short time. She thought she sewed all her life.
"Life takes some things from you, but always gives you others. I had to get busy in order to get over my loss. I learned to sew, I started to help people as I could, I gave advice that only old people know", Maria smiled gently. "What I want to say is that we can't get stuck in the past. Of course I miss him every day but I also know that he is in a better place, watching over me and waiting for me and when I am in his presence I want him to be proud of me and not tell me I spent the rest of my life. sad life for his death. Life is for living and is full of wonderful things for us to do and discover. It gives us hope."
Mirajane listened intently and a tear trickled down her face. She wiped her face and smiled at her hostess warmly. "Thank you, Maria".
"Don't be for that. Just an old lady's advice", she laughed again.
"I won't say it will be easy, but he wouldn't want to see you sad. I know that". Mirajane nodded.
The two continued talking for a while longer. The next day the Strauss brothers said goodbye to everyone in the village and made their way back to Magnolia.
"What's that smile, Mira-nee ?" asked Lisanna, seeing Mira's bright smile as they walked down the road.
"Nothing much, maybe it's hope I guess," she replied. Lisanna and Elfman looked at each other and cheered.
Walking along the road they talked and enjoyed the landscape covered by winter snow. Somehow she began to see the world more colorful from that day on, it would still be a long way ahead, but she envisioned a beautiful path and a beautiful place at the end of it.
Where was he, he wondered. He felt body aches and everything was dark, it looked like he was lying down, but he couldn't move. Gradually he noticed a light that was growing and taking over the whole place. Slowly he opens his eyes and realizes that he is lying on a simple but comfortable bed. He found himself in a simple, well-maintained room, with a window on the other side that allowed for good lighting in that room. Next to the bed there was a bookcase with some books and other things, next to the window there was a small and rustic closet and in front there was a door.
The door opens and a beautiful woman of medium height enters the room. She must have been about 50 years old, but she still had the beauty of youth with an air of maturity, with long blue-green hair and eyes the same color as she was wearing some clothes. She looked at the man lying on the bed and smiled happily, a beautiful smile of happiness.
"AHH! You're finally awake!" she exclaimed. She had a calm and relaxing voice, pulling up a chair and sitting beside him on the bed.
The man struggled to turn his face, just a little, to see her. He didn't know why, but he felt comfortable next to that woman, even though it was the first time he saw her. He tried but couldn't move more than his neck, his whole body ached and he felt immobilized.
"How are you? Can you talk?" she asked.
He didn't say anything, he just kept looking at her with curiosity, analyzing that woman and trying to understand what was going on.
Noticing his confusion and silence, she decided to speak first. "I think you're a little shy," she smiled playfully. "Okay, if you don't want to talk I'll start. My name is Alicia and I own this hut. Now that I've introduced myself, you can do the same. It achieves? There's no need to be afraid", she looked at him with a maternal smile, the kind that calms and reassures.
The man looked at her and looked a little annoyed. He could talk, she didn't need to treat him like a child.
"How... how long... have I been here?" he asked, his voice weak and tired.
Alicia was glad to hear it, now she knew he could communicate. "Two months and something. I've been taking care of you this whole time. And I must tell you that you gave me a lot of trouble", she placed one of her hands over his, affectionately. "Could you say your name? I said mine".
He looked at her for a moment and reflected shocked by the information. Two months in a coma he supposed, being cared for by this woman, he didn't even believe he could be alive. What should he do? He looked at her again, she had a warm and happy expression that reassured him. Despite not knowing her she seemed to be trustworthy and he felt safe with her.
"My...my name...is... Ry ...Ryker."