It only took two seconds for Erza to flashback to her nightmare, three to re-quip a blade into her hand.
"What are you doing here, Jellal?" the scarlet beauty demanded. No matter her second-guessing, her instincts told her not to underestimate him. I won't take lightly the fact that he showed up right after that ominous dream, Erza said to herself.
Her blade didn't tremble as she kept it fixed squarely on him. Looking him over, she noticed that he had nothing in his hands. His dark ensemble looked worn out, but wearable. Trailing up to his face, she sensed no animosity and the cruel eyes that existed in her nightmare could not be found in the real counterpart.
"Hello, Erza Scarlet," he finally said after a short pause. He made no move to get closer, so she decided to lower her sword for now. "I didn't mean to alarm you. You haven't changed a bit, it seems."
She scoffed, ready to head towards her guild. I have a full day ahead of me and I can't let this little reunion drag on for too long, she thought to herself.
"I don't have time for small talk," she said matter-of-factly. The little talks she had with "Seigrain" had cured her of that. "I will not repeat myself."
Jellal looked her over, not ignorant of the tension and slight levels of animosity Erza seemed to be exerting. Her armor was slightly different from the last time the two met, but it seemed to fit her much more comfortably.
"Very well," he replied in compliance. "I am chasing down a criminal and I need someone I trust to help me track them down."
Erza raised an eyebrow. "Jellal, you are not exactly on the best terms with the Magic Council to be running around like this. You need to go back into hiding."
Jellal shook his head. "This is one issue that cannot be ignored. I will be careful, which is why I need your help. Once we capture her, I can disappear and you can turn her in and take full credit."
"So it's a 'her,'" Erza noted. "What is she accused of doing?"
"Hey, dad! I'm heading down to the lake to train. Tell mom I'll be back before dinner!"
Not waiting to hear his father's response, a young man raced down the hill on which his house sat and headed toward the path that led to a giant lake not too far from the outskirts of Magnolia.
His hazel eyes shined like stones of fire as he ran through the foliage surrounding his destination. A light covering of sweat began forming over his golden brow, and he swiped it away, the tips of his auburn hair already damp from the run. It was a routine familiar to the boy of sixteen years as he strengthened his body and soul to one day join one of the guilds of Fiore.
The trees and bushes finally breaking away in front of him, he looked out at the silent waters of Lake Scilliora. It was the perfect place for him to train. But before he could begin, he froze.
His ears had picked up a sound of movement to his left. Turning slowly, he noticed that the sound was coming from behind one of the lakes' many boulders. A perfect place for enemies to hide themselves, the young man deduced.
His body tightening, he prepared himself for battle and whatever was behind the boulder. Creeping around it, his ears picked up another sound. The mysterious interloper seemed to be moving in the shallow waters of the lake.
With a last breath to steady his nerves, he stepped around the boulder to face the intruder. The morning sunlight fell directly over his eyes as he left the shadows of the boulder, so he was partially blinded and could only make out a silhouette in front of him.
"Halt!" he yelled, blinking away the sharp light in his eyes. "You do realize you're trespassing on private property." His eyes finally adjusting, his focus settled on a young woman, bent at the waist and looking back at him in surprise. He quickly noted the small scrap of fabric she was using to bathe herself. Eyes widening, she screamed.
Eyes like saucers, he backed up too quickly and found himself slamming backwards into the shore of the lake. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to frighten you!" He tried to put as much sincerity in his voice as he averted his eyes. "I didn't know you were bathing."
Closing his eyes, he heard her ruffling through the water. But it was too late. The shape of her breasts, the curve of her waist and the plumpness of her backside were clearly visible on the back of his eyelids. With a wary glance, he turned back to see that she had donned a small blanket that failed to cover up her voluptuous curves. His cheeks flaming red, he looked down at the ground.
"You have some nerve accusing me of wrongdoing when you clearly just stole a peek," her soft yet commanding voice floated to his ears.
"I do hope you accept my apology," he begged, dropping to his knees and bowing before her. "This is private property, but I made a rash decision in believing you were a threat. I am terribly sorry."
The nameless woman looked down at him. "What is your name?"
Hesitating, he slowly raised his head to return her stare. He noticed how striking her green eyes contrasted with her olive skin. "Azima." She mustn't be from around here, he deduced after considering her slightly exotic features.
Looking him over, she smiled, pushing her midnight locks back from her face. "Azima. You seem like a nice young man. If I am trespassing, I am truly sorry. I was only passing through and thought I would get an early bath in before the day begins."
He nodded. It all made sense. "I really am sorry for the intrusion. Are you headed into Magnolia?"
The woman pursed her lips, which accentuated the smooth cut of her jaw, and he wondered if she would answer his question. "I am. For business."
"Oh, so are you looking for a wizard? The best guilds in Fiore are right there in Magnolia," he slightly boasted.
Her eyes softened, became thoughtful. "You are incredibly perceptive. I am in need of a wizard's assistance."
Azima beamed. I think I just found a way to redeem myself, he thought to himself. It could even be a way for me to increase my training. "Well, look no further. After everything that has happened, please allow me to be at your beck and call for the rest of today."
An eyebrow raised. "You're a wizard?" she asked.
He nodded. "Yes… well, a wizard-in-training. I'm still developing my magic, but by the end of this year, I should be ready to join one of the guilds and become official."
"Oh really?" she probed, curiosity rising within her. "What type of magic?"
"Allow me to demonstrate." Taking a deep breath and concentrating his focus, Azima positioned himself into his practiced stance and looked out to the lake. Raising his arms above his head, he began circling them in a tight, circular pattern. Within seconds, water in the shallow parts of the lake began swirling up into waterspouts that whirled quickly over the lake's surface. After three appeared, Azima moved his circulating arms down in front of him, not losing the pattern. Seconds later, whirlpools emerged in the lake's center, pulling anything around them down to the lake's bottom.
Sweat starting to shine on his brow, Azima stopped the movements of his arms. Several moments passed and his watery creations were gone.
"I can only hold them for a certain amount of time and only over bodies of water," Azima explained without prompt. "By the end of my training, I hope to increase how many of each I can create, how long they last after my arms stop moving and how I can do them without large bodies of water. If I work hard enough, I may be able to even produce rain."
The woman's excited applause pulled him back from his thoughts. "That was an amazing show of power! You are exactly what I need right now."
Smiling, the young water wizard turned his attention back to her. "Thank you, Miss…" His voice trailed off as his eyes were reintroduced to the two enticing orbs protruding from her chest.
"Miss!" he cried, stepping back and faltering in his step as he tried to control the compulsive heat that was building beneath his trousers. "What happened to your towel?"
Stepping slowing towards him, she looked down at him with an indecipherable smile. "I don't need it anymore. I must say, I am rather impressed at your raw power, even though it does need to be tamed in order for you to be completely in control. You said you would be willing to help me. You're not backing out of that promise are you?"
Unable to follow what she was saying, he shook his head. "I meant what I said, but I thought you needed my magic," he replied as she knelt down before him, her hands slipping up his thighs.
"Oh, I do," she smirked. "And I will acquire it later. But for now, let's just enjoy ourselves."
He tried to struggle, but for some reason, he was unable to pull away as her lips pushed against his. By then, it was too late. He could not resist her kisses as her fingers made their way to undo his trousers.
What's wrong with me, his last coherent thoughts wondered. I don't even know her name…
"A wizard that feasts on the magic of other wizards," Erza said, repeating Jellal's information. "And nobody knows how she is capable of doing this?"
Jellal shook his head. "Not much is known, seeing as many of her victims fall into comas shortly after. The most people know about her is that she appears suddenly and asks them for help. She's somehow managed to avoid disclosing her name."
Erza crossed her arms over her chestplate, her weapon being placed back in her arsenal shortly after Jellal began explaining his case. "This is troublesome. I think I'll talk to a few people and see if we can track her down. Natsu and Gray probably won't fall for any of her tricks, and bringing Lucy along probably will be beneficial seeing as she has celestial spirits that won't be affected by this mystery woman. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Jellal, but I must insist that you hide yourself before the Council discovers you and locks you up again." I wouldn't want to see that happen, she silently added to herself.
"No. Bringing an entire team to find her will only alert her that she is being hunted and make her disappear," Jellal explained. "This has to be a discreet operation. I have enlisted your help and your help only because you're the only one I trust who can save me if I'm subjected to her magic."
After a pregnant pause, it all clicked. "You're using yourself as bait?!" Erza asked incredulously. "Are you out of your mind?"
"No. That's why I came directly to you once I made my decision." Jellal sighed. "Yes, I do intend to use myself as bait because a majority of her victims are male. Seeing as she's not interested in women, I thought that a woman as strong-willed and perceptive as you would be able to be the backup that I need so that I won't fall prey to her."
Erza closed her eyes, fighting the urge to both blush and slap him. "So it'll just be the two of us."
Jellal nodded. "It would be best. But please know that I'm giving you room to say no here. It's a dangerous mission in which we don't know much about the opponent. As much as I want to see her captured, your safety is important to me."
She sighed, trying to hide the pulsing vein in her right temple. "After you've come to me, you should know I would never let you go on this mission alone." Looking briefly over her shoulder at the guild, Erza recollected herself. I won't have my comrades by my side, but Jellal needs me right now and I can't abandon him.
Taking a quick breath, she turned back to him. "I'm ready." Nodding, Jellal turned and headed for the path that led out of Magnolia. Erza was quick to fall in step behind him.
As she followed him, she hoped that she could put that confusingly erotic dream behind her.
A/N: Well, well... several months later, and I finally get this chapter up. I sincerely apologize for the wait. Just so you know, I haven't been sitting on my behind that entire time. With school and work, life isn't easy. But I do have a reprieve, so I will post as regularly as I can.
Also, if you weren't aware, this is a part of an ongoing series for a radio show that I co-host and run its blog. The blog features fanfiction, anime reviews, webcomic reviews and poetry slams. Great opportunities for writers looking to get highlighted. If you think you have fanfiction or poetry worth posting, please send me a PM or visit our Facebook page, NexusGen Radio. Visit our blog, matsuriradio. com, and you can contact us directly from there. Whether you're a beginning or experienced writer, we appreciate all submissions and we'll let you know straight away if you have been chosen to be featured. As we proudly say, we are the voice of the unheard.
Until next time, loves. Stay sexy!
Meiko