Magic in the air - Getting acquainted
"Speech"
I groaned, feeling fatigue and the throbbing of old wounds. But it wasn't as bad as I would have expected.
There was a yelp of surprise from above me as I cracked open my eyes. Above me was a young petite girl with fair skin and long dark blue hair reaching her mid-back with bangs framing her face and wide brown eyes.
She was wearing a sleeveless Yellow and blue striped sundress with small white winged brackets on her arms and legs. Wendy Marvell the sky dragon slayer aka the sky sorceress.
I pushed myself up, it seems I was in a white and brown room, it was rather spartan.
The timid girl retreated from my rising form, "You, OK?" I questioned groggily. The girl simply nodded in the positive rapidly.
"Honestly Wendy, he's your patient," The brown-eyed bipedal white cat next to the girl commented, she was wearing a red shirt with a pink dress and yellow tie, complete with a pink bow around her tail. Carla the Exceed, she only came up to Wendy's knee.
"Patient? Ah, thanks," I spoke up, getting my bearings before the conversation got derailed. Which of course garnered the two females' attention, "That Vulcan really messed me up."
"Vulcan," The cat questioned. I grunted in the affirmative, "Yeah in the forest, unlocked my magic in the chaos. Good job too, or I'd likely be dead."
At that, Wendy returned to my side, magic deployed. Huh?
The Exceed, however, narrowed her eyes, "There are no Vulcans in the forest."
I gave the young cat a flat look, "My wounds say otherwise. Besides, I was attacked on the other side of the mountain, and I had to walk the night to get to the light I saw. I wasn't sure where I was going, but it led me here, apparently."
"The other side of the mountain, why would a young boy be traveling alone in Waas forest," She huffed, paws on her hips.
I shrugged, "I was lost and don't have anyone else anymore."
The feline's look softened somewhat, "Apologies."
I sighed, "It's fine, not your fault."
The cat snorted and cocked her head at me in curiosity, but didn't question me further.
"What's the damage, doc," I asked the resident dragon slayer.
Wendy spoke up but remained focused on her spell, "You were really tired and lost a lot of blood, I've fixed that. But your magic container has been stressed."
"Wait, bleeding?" That was news to me.
Carla let out a suffering sigh, "Correct you had multiple wounds filled with chips of stone and wood."
I grimaced, "Shrapnel. My new magic's, sort of... Explosive." Note to self, flak jacket.
The cat raised her brow at me in interest.
"That explains it," The bluette said, canceling her spell and in the process losing her focus and regaining her timidity, "A-ah, I mean your magical container. You got your magic and emptied it all at once if you were using your magic, that... Much." The little healer trailed off toward the end there now pushing her index fingers together and looking down.
"Makes sense," I got the gist of it, "So I guess no magic then?"
"No, not for a few days, I am sorry," The poor girl was pouting with tears in her eyes, I heard Carla sigh.
"Why are you sorry? It isn't your fault, seriously thank you," I felt so much better, thirsty and hungry? Yes, in pain? No.
I began checking my arms and lifted the white button-up shirt I was now wearing, several small scars were present, but that's all.
"Your magic's amazing," I complimented, trying to perk the girl up. "Thank you!" She blushed then grinned widely, and wow those are some large fangs.
A chuckle came from behind the room's entrance. "Master," Wendy said excitedly. The man chuckled and patted the girl's head. Wait, isn't he an illusion, how did he do that?
"I see you're up, young man," The spirit stated.
"Ah, yeah," I replied.
"You had us going for a moment there. Well, my boy I believe introductions are in order, I am Master Roubaul of the Cait shelter guild," He introduced, he was a small thin elderly man with a massive white beard taking up half his face and huge eyebrows connected to it. On his forehead, he had a tattoo, made of a dot surrounded by two arched stripes. He also had a large feathered headdress, light green trousers, and a waist wrap with puffy furs in the back, and a bare chest. He was a spirit, all that was left of his civilization, he was the sentinel awaiting the destruction of an ancient weapon he had made, with the best of intentions. The same weapon that had destroyed his own people, Nirvana.
"Nabura, and you've met Wendy Marvell and Carla our resident dragon slayer and talking cat," He indicated to the two of them. Which caused Wendy to bow in greeting while Carla curtsied. Nabura? Oh right his little quirk.
"Ah, yeah. Salem Warden," I introduced myself, then turned to Wendy, "Dragon slayer, huh?"
The poor girl turned red at the question, but it was Carla that answered, "Yes, Wendy uses the lost magic of the sky dragon slayer, taught to her by her mother." The cat looked incredibly proud.
"Well that explains the fangs," I joked.
The girl let out a distressed squeak, it was adorable. "No, you imbecile, her adopted mother," Carla glared, you know for being so young that Exceed has quite the vocabulary.
"I get it, I get it," I placated, "So you were raised by a dragon then?" Now I already knew Grandeeney the sky dragon raised the girl, but it was a good segway. Hestia said I couldn't tell anyone, like I'm literally incapable of telling people about my reincarnation, the future, or gods. Doesn't make me feel any less guilty or manipulative though.
"Yes, I'm looking for her," The slayer clenched her fists, but her eyes were watering again, while Carla patted the girl's leg.
That doesn't mean I can't give them hints to help, though. I adopted a thinking pose, how about as a question, "So she's been sealed in something then?" The petite healer looked at me blinking in surprise, "What? A dragon would be strong enough to do that, right? And there's been no reports of dragons for years, so unless they went to another dimension, they have to be hiding for some reason, yeah?"
"R-r-really, you think so?" Good, that worked and she was wiping her tears away, that hurt my heart.
"It's possible, it's a matter of finding the where and what. The best option would be Sun Village," OK, so it's a little more than a hint, the girl's hurt I don't want her to be upset.
"The Sun Village?" Both girls asked, one optimistically and the other suspiciously.
The guild master was remaining quiet, watching.
"Yeah, the Sun Village is also known as Giant Village because of its inhabitants, they're known to worship the Eternal Flame. Though others have speculated the flame is something else, a demon or perhaps a dragon's soul," I finished my little story. I wasn't telling them the future, that village and flame were already present. And people have speculated that in this world, Silver did in the future, so others likly had before. Plus, I was able to say it, so yeah.
"Absolutely not, Wendy, it's far too dangerous," Carla yelled, activating her Aera magic and sprouting two large white angelic wings to fly eye level with Wendy.
"But Carla we could find Grandeeney," Wendy begged.
"It's not dangerous," I butted in before the two could argue, "The giants are apparently really friendly."
Carla flew up to my face now, "And how do you know that?"
I sighed, "Carla you don't need to have magic to have an interest in magic and history. Besides, I have no idea where the village is, only that it's somewhere in Fiore's desert at the base of a mountain."
Carla scoffed at that. But Wendy appeared resolute, "Then we can find it." The girl bowed again, "Thank you."
"I am happy to help," I had moved to the edge of the bed now and put my feet on the ground. My ruined trousers had been changed out for brown slacks complete with tassels down the side.
"Real quick, umm, who changed me?" I indicated to the new clothes I was wearing.
Both females in the room went red at the implication, but the spirit was the one that spoke up with a chuckle, "Ah, some of our other members of the took care of that."
Well, that's a relief, they are illusions after all, physical ones apparently, but I'll take it, "And you said this was a guild right?"
It was the spirit that responded again, nodding hesitantly in the affirmative, "Yes, it is indeed."
"Then I'd like to join," I asked. I know the guild is mostly imaginary, but I can't leave Wendy and Carla alone now, they helped me out. At least when the guild fades I won't, it's something.
"Really?!" Well, at least Wendy was pleased with the development.
Carla simply huffed again, while the old man frowned, contemplating something.
So, I continued, "Please, I don't have anything else, and I don't leave debts unpaid. I'd also feel bad if my information did put you in danger."
Wendy was giving the old spirit her best puppy dog eyes, much to the being's horror, his resolve was cracking.
"At least the boy has a sense of duty," She sniffed. Giving me a more positive look this time around.
I chuckled, "Helps to have a living bomb on your side too." That caused the young cat to blush slightly and cough into her paw, "W-well yes, that is certainly helpful."
"What do you say, guild master?" I asked. Everyone was waiting on his response right now. As an aside, I didn't know spirits could sweat.
The old guardian sighed, "You do realize our guild doesn't have much in the way of combat quests, young man, your magic would be wasted here." Strange, I would have thought he'd want Wendy and Carla to have an actual living friend, or perhaps he doesn't want me to be involved?
"Then it'd be useful to have someone like that just in case for protection, right? Besides, explosions are for more than combat, controlled demolition of structures or hazardous material, even excavating and mining," I explained. I would train and take any combat quest I could, mind you, there's war coming in the future, and tragedies to stop beside.
Roubaul coughed into his hand, "If you're sure, then we'd be happy to have you here."
"Yay," Wendy smiled brightly. Letting out a quieter cheer than you'd expect, while Carla simply nodded in acceptance, though the she-cat was smiling.
My stomach took that moment to let its self known, and I couldn't help but rub the back of my head as the attention shifted to me, "Umm, sorry. You got anything to eat?"
"This way," Wendy called in excitement, she'd lost her shyness for the moment and was somewhat ahead of the guild master and me, Carla was in between following Wendy closer.
"Coming, Coming," I called after her, as Roubaul chuckled.
"So do I need to pass a test or something? I admit I'm not really sure how your guild handles recruits," I was partly making conversation and partly curious.
"No, no Salem, no need for that," The spirit waved me off, more relaxed and composed now he wasn't under the petite dragon slayer's watery eyes. He continued, "Nabura, well, we'll need to give you a guild mark and find a place for you to sleep of course, but for now, rest. When you can use your magic again, we will see about finding you a suitable quest, youngster."
"Fair enough," I agreed, food first.
"We're here," Wendy called out, it wasn't far from the room I had been in. The room was made of dark brown wood same as the furniture, much like the rest of the guild it had a very Native American motif. Furs were hung on the walls and woven carpets were down on the floor.
But it was the dozens of people milling about that got me, all illusions, I eyed the spirit next to me, this man held this amount of power even in death, and used it to give a little girl a home. He had my respect before, but actually seeing it? It was insane.
Wendy waved me over to where they had several platters of food and beverages. With a polite nod to the guild master, I followed her, though I had garnered the attention of several of the illusions.
Wendy and Carla were taking pieces of food and putting them onto a plate, I followed suit, it was like a buffet. There were some meats that I couldn't identify with fruit and bread, basic but filling, towards the end there were jugs of what looked like water, juice, and booze where you could fill a cup. Where the hell did a spirit of all things get this stuff?
I followed after a happily humming Wendy toward a table after making my selections. I gave a thank you to my guide as I sat and began to eat and drink as moderately as I could, the last thing I wanted was to throw up.
"So, umm," Wendy began unsurely. This girl really flip-flops, doesn't she?
"Yes?" I asked, giving her my attention with a smile.
"Where are you getting your guild mark?" She sounded like she was forcing the words out, Carla rolled her eyes.
"Hmm, forearm? Neck Maybe? I've not really had time to think on it," I responded. Eyeing the Cait shelter guild mark on her own right shoulder, a blue cat sat on its haunches with a single eye open, its tail up and brushing up against a second half tail forming an X.
"A-ah, right," The girl was withdrawing again.
"Guess I'll have to pick a color too?" I asked keeping the conversation going.
"Yes," She nodded, though it was apparent she was fidgeting in her seat.
"Correct it is best to be prepared," Came Carla's voice. She was sat on the table in front of her plate, next to Wendy.
I nodded my acceptance to her, "Good point." Turning back to the small girl, I did my best to keep her in the conversation, "Sky blue? Because you're a sky dragon slayer?" I eyed her guild mark as the girl flushed and nodded.
Any other communication between us was made mute as the guild master cleared his throat, "Now I'm sure you've all seen our new guest from yesterday." He paused to gesture at me," As of today, he is now a mage of Cait Shelter." That shocked the illusionary crowd... It's honestly concerning that they can be shocked, or is that him?
"Yes, yes, quite the surprise considering how out of the way our guild is. But I'm pleased to introduce you to Salem Warden," The being gestured me to him, I complied, rising from my seat. I couldn't help but wonder why the speech, these are illusions, and why make them seem shocked? Was it all a show for Wendy and Carla?
As I walked through the crowd up alongside Master Roubaul, I noticed that I could feel every individual I stepped past. There was no way in hell this was just illusion magic, there had to be more to it, right?
"Nabura, now where would you like it?" He held up a stamp with a guild seal.
Well, he works fast, "Hm, let's go for golden on my left forearm." The guild master complied, pressing the mark onto my outer forearm which I curled up, with a smile.
This earned me the obligatory cheers from the collected shades. Honestly, I was making a point of not looking at them too hard. I wanted to avoid getting attached. Wendy and Carla, though, I would do all I could for them.
This could work, as a base of operations and a place to train.
Time to get to work.
A/N: So hope Im getting the personalities for a younger Wendy and Carla down. And yes I am aware that the white Exceed has two names, Charle in sub(which I prefer) and Carla in dub. But thats how her name is labled on the site so I did it that way to not confuse anyone.
Salem is unable to talk about certain things, even he isnt 100 percent sure on what, that will be tackled latter, along with the reason why.