As promised, the long awaited Flame and Claw.
Sorry it took so long.
Disclaimer: Not my characters, not my world, just my imagination running away with them.
X779
In the last decade, demons have become abundant in their appearances across Fiore. So much so in fact, Irene was forced to seek out knowledge regarding Demon Slayer Magic. She is the Sage Dragon, knowledge is thus part of her nature and in turn, so is power. This magic is but another aspect of herself. She detests the idea of it, already cursed, but therein also lies her salvation. The Demon Seed cannot take root if the Dragon Seed already blossomed. She destroys it regardless.
Heine and Juliet have become agents rather than soldiers, seeking out information for her, finding the trails of demons and dragons alike. She bested a few herself, but there are others who escaped. Like Deliora who fell in X774 and Sitri and Halphas who vanished in X778 and the start of the year, respectively.
As for the Dragon King, Acnologia has been silent. His last appearance years ago and in her previous life not for several years more to come.
With Acnologia also comes the prospect of running into his Majesty, but last time he was still wandering and did not show himself until the dragon stirred. Irene is not a fool. She knows he has his dealings in the Empire. She knows he is likely communicating with August. Hopefully her loss has dealt the Shields a blow and given Fairy Tail an advantage.
But this life is not like her last.
So she keeps an ear open and an eye on Fairy Tail and their sacred island, just in case.
If she holds a particular interest in Erza Scarlet and her exploits, it is simply because the girl is strong. Or so she tells Heine and Juliet. Fairy Tail is good for her, and Markarov, Irene begrudgingly admits, a suitable parent.
With both eyes open and kept on targets that have crossed paths before, it is inevitable that her demon hunt leads her to Erza. She leaves Heine and Juliet in the village to evacuate the people and follows the signs of carnage and the bodies of monsters to where fire alights the skies and the earth shakes and trembles.
She pauses to examine the demon, having already noted its fire attribute and mentally marking possible weak points. She skids back, almost thrown from her feet when an armour-clad body collides with her own. The scarlet hair easily gives away the person's identity.
"Damn it," Erza curses, spitting out blood. She sways in Irene's arms, her armour fractured and barely holding together. She does not acknowledge the Enchantress and Irene notes her eyes seem unfocused, her expression dazed. Before she can stop her, Erza shoots off, a Re-Quip on her lips and a flash seeing her swinging back at demon once again.
"That reckless girl." Focussing her magic, Irene begins weaving an enchantment around Erza. A second-skin barrier to protect her from the demon's blows. Enhanced speed to keep her just out of its reach. A quick low-level healing enchantment to close her wounds.
Irene is on her fourth enchantment, Erza at her sixth Re-Quip, when Haborym's flames burst from its form. Heat encompasses her and around her the forest burns. The fire has no effect on a dragon like Irene, but the thought of Erza being caught up in the torrent is enough to shatter her concentration and break the illusion containing her true form.
The dragons bursts from beneath her human costume and Irene lunges at the demon, her jaws closing around its neck long before it even realised it was in danger. Stone cracks and breaks under her teeth. Her mouth tastes of sand and ash, but she breathes it in. She builds the fire in her stomach, consuming the demon's flames while it vainly struggles against her, losing strength every moment that passes.
Halfway to depleting the demon's strength, Irene unleashes the ethernano she took from it. White fire spews from her mouth and slowly the moving rock beneath her stills. She waits a moment more then drops the lifeless heap, steadily shrinking back down to human size.
Ignoring the demon for now, she takes a breath to calm her magic and then extends it outward in an enchantment, searching. Irene calls her staff to her and taps it on the ground as she walks around the perimeter, extending her senses through it.
It takes some time, but a weak signal eventually makes its way into her consciousness, steering Irene away from the battlefield and deeper into the forest. She notes debris and damage as she passes by and knows she is on the right path when she finds the remains of some of Erza's armour.
The further her trek takes her, the more concerned she becomes. Haborym's might is not something to scoff at, but such a distance can prove fatal for a human. The enchantments she managed to place on her daughter were few and would not spare her from the demon's rage if she truly had been caught up in the flames.
Minutes later, the once Queen of Dragons is met with a sight that explains her continued struggle. Vulcun tracks. Irene is immediately irate. "To think an ape would cause me this much annoyance." She claps her tongue in disapproval and adjusts her hat. A quick enchantment sets her airborne. Now knowing what to look for, the chase begins in earnest.
It doesn't take long at all.
The vulcun is making a trek to what must be its home cave, Erza's battered, unconscious frame draped over its shoulder. Irene sets upon the monster with a vengeance, striking it down with a silent – yet lasting – single blow. She easily catches Erza and gently sets her down to look over.
"Silly girl." She admonishes half-heartedly, sitting down beside Erza, planning and beginning to cast her enchantments.
She does what she can to heal her daughter first, focusing on the burns and deepest of the lacerations. The effort spend on this task is more than Irene would like, but complaining is pointless and complaining when it is her daughter is twice so. Task done, she removes her cape and wraps Erza up in it. It's the girl's only proper cover now that her armour has been ruined and Irene wishes she could do more.
Although still wounded, Erza looks a great deal better than she did when Irene first caught her in the midst of her battle with Haborym. Nothing fatal remained, but skilled as Irene is, she is self-trained and not a healer by profession. Erza will have to be looked after by an expert, preferably somewhere safe and familiar.
A sigh passes her lips as the thought registers and Irene realises what she will have to do. Folding her legs and adjusting her position to be more comfortable, Irene looks down at her daughter, wondering if her dreams are currently undisturbed. It's a stray, irrelevant concern, but Irene finds herself curious about it regardless.
"Erza Scarlet." She muses, brushing aside her daughter's hair. She never did get the full story behind the surname, though it's not hard to guess its origin. "You're growing up quickly." Irene notes, almost melancholic.
Erza is fourteen now. It's difficult to believe. Harder still, it will only be a few more years before His Majesty grows impatient and makes a move. Unless he does so prematurely. Irene is no longer there to assist August as a voice of reason, after all.
She sits with Erza for a bit and Irene acknowledges herself as selfish for prioritising her need to have a peaceful moment with her daughter over seeing Erza home and properly cared for.
Her moment of peace does not last long.
Irene pushes up with resignation and casts sleeping enchantment over Erza. Then Irene transforms. Gently taking hold of Erza, the Sage Dragon lifts her onto her back. Telepathically, she sends a message to Heine and Juliet, assuring them that all is well and that she will find them when she is finished with her errands.
She takes to the air, soaring higher and higher until she's well past the clouds and any wandering eyes. Irene heads north towards Mangnolia and the little rambunctious wizard's guild situated at its heart.
The flight is not dissimilar to the time she brought Erza home from her adventure in the Boundary Forest and much as she did then, Irene disguises her movement and landing with enchantments. She considers lying her down near Porlyusica's hut and hiding away until Erza is found again, but thinks better of it.
Irene changes back into human form, careful not to jostle Erza more than necessary, until she is able to take her up in her arms. She makes her way to the healer's home, only to find the door locked. A brief magical-signature search also proves disappointing. Irene grumbles to herself and turns around to make her way back to the guild, keeping an eye out for Porlyusica all the while.
She exists the forest all too soon and pauses a moment to adjust Erza. With no other choice, the Enchantress walks down the path to the guild hall. It is not an easy path for her to walk, not with the past haunting her, not while knowing what lies beneath her feet, but Irene pushes on.
The door is open as always. Irene steps past the entrance and in an instant eyes move to her. She marches on, ignoring the belated screeching of chairs and shouts of Erza's worried guildmates. Markarov is at the bar, his expression darkening with her every step. Irene stops in front of him.
"She needs a healer."
"Come with me." He jumps down from the counter and guides her to the infirmary. Irene is careful in placing Erza down, ever mindful of the injuries she could not treat. "Porlyusica is away for the time being, but we have other healers who can treat Erza until she returns." Markarov turns to her, brow furrowed and eyes curious. "Now then, care to share who you are or why you look so similar to our dear Erza?"
"Who I am is of no importance. I merely decided to bring the girl home." Part of her wants to say goodbye, but she knows she cannot linger. Not with Markarov already so suspicious of her. With a heavy heart, Irene turns her back on her daughter and makes for the door. She stops just short of it. "You should be proud. Few can last as long as she did against a demon."
"What?" He sounds startled, his worry palpable.
"Haborym's remains are in the forest located at the site of her quest. The spoils are hers. I'll see about having them delivered." She doesn't explain herself further, at least she attempts not to, but Markarov is a fast little thing and quickly catches up with her.
"She had a subdue request. For common monsters." He argues. "What do you mean she fought a demon?"
"Precisely as it sounds. The demon stirred up the hordes. I was tracking it and Erza stumbled upon it. She held her ground and we finished it off." There is no need for him to know the extent of Irene's strength, but thinking back on Erza's state, Irene adds, "She may be ill. Her awareness faltered a few times."
Markarov's exhale is explosive. "I will look into it. Thank you for bringing her home."
Irene hesitates on a response and soon thinks better of it. She takes her leave, not looking back until she's standing outside the guild and her heart sinks a little more at having to part ways with her daughter once again.
Hope you all enjoyed.
Until next time.
Lyrical Light