Lucy walked back to her apartment, her mind hazy and her head filled with confusion. She found nothing!
Nothing!
Granted, the library only had a handful of books on Stellar Spirits, as well as Celestial mages—so it wasn't that surprising she was unable to turn up...anything.
"Could Crux be wrong?" she grumbled to herself. It was unlikely, as he had always been reliable with his information. It was Crux, after all, who had led her to learn of Loki's true identity. She slumped down on a nearby bench, the wood creaking under her weight. She could feel tiny splinters catching the fabric of her pants.
"But...last time...he hadn't actually told me that!" she pondered, aloud, her previous encounter with Crux. No, no he hadn't! In fact, he had only alluded to what Loki was....only linking him with Karen Lilica.
She had to infer the rest.
"Wisteria, huh?" she tapped her chin. "Perhaps it's time to take a trip." She knew that she would have to plan her escape carefully, as everyone was intent on keeping Lucy safe. And in Magnolia. Especially after last night's events.
"Hiya, Lucy!" came the familiar, friendly voice. Lucy squinted into the sunlight, her eyes searing from the pain. Should have worn sunglasses, she chided herself. Stupid hangover! But she hadn't really drank anything!
"Oh, hi, Levy!" Lucy replied, offering a weak smile to her friend. "How was your night?"
"Eh," Levy shrugged, pushing her spectacles up onto her forehead. Lucy had a feeling that having Gazille as a date was more counter-productive than anything. It was obvious that Levy wished to forget the entire night. "Whatcha up to?" Subject changed.
"Nothing much," the blonde girl sighed, slouching in the seat. A random catcall made her realize her shirt was still unbuttoned—and was dangerously close to revealing her bra. She hurriedly clasped her shirt as Levy looked for the whistler.
"What's that about?" she asked no on particular, pushing a few stray blue locks from her face. Her hair still held the curl from last night's formal.
It was Lucy's turn to change the subject. "Looks like someone was reading," Lucy nodded toward the couple of thick books in Levy's arms.
"Oh, these...yeah, just reading up on some history," she replied sheepishly.
History? Lucy thought to herself. Suddenly, she had an idea. "Hey, Levy, if I had someone I needed to learn more about, how would I do that? Er, something I couldn't easily find in the library?"
"You're going to have to be more specific than that, Lucy!" Levy shook her head, obviously confused by the incoherent request.
"How about a spirit mage from about fifty years ago? And some creepy monsters?"
"Ah, now that's more specific," the blue-haired scholar changed positions, resting the books on her other arm. "With all of this Stellar Mage stuff in the news, I actually took a book out from the library. I'll check and see what I can find. Can I have a name?"
"Daylon," Lucy repeated the name Crux had given her.
"Daylon," Levy echoed softly. "And these...creatures?"
"Let's go with Amarok, and anything related, if you don't mind," Lucy's played innocent.
Levy narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "Lucy...any particular reason why you're so interested in these...characters?"
Lucy could feel the sweat on her back. Her silk, collared shirt clung to her skin. Does she know about last night? Lucy wondered. Should I tell her? The spirit mage decided to not get Levy involved in such dangerous matters. Perhaps she would tell her in a few days.
She opted for indifference as she answered her friend. "Well, I wanted something more realistic for my novel," she shrugged for effect.
Levy's face lit up at the mention of Lucy's novel, as she was the self-appointed first reader. She tried to keep her calm as she answered, her brow crinkled into a serious look. "Yeah, I'll look that up really quickly, and I'll get back to you. Are you going to be around?"
"At my apartment," she confirmed. She stood, straightening the wrinkles in her suit. "Thanks, Levy! I really appreciate it!"
"You know....the offer still stands for me to edit your next chapter!" she hinted, giving up her indifferent demeanor, a hint of a grin on her face. Her glasses fell down onto the bridge of her nose. "Oh!"
Lucy laughed, waving as she walked away. She knew that her novel was such an exciting topic for the young scholar. Though, part of her felt guilty for using it for other means. She casually looked over her shoulder as she spoke, "We'll talk later! Thanks again, Levy! I gotta change out of this ridiculous outfit!"
Levy waved in return, confused as to exactly why Lucy was so dressed this early in the day.
*****
*****
Lucy returned to her apartment, opening the door and heading straight for her futon. She slumped down on the lumpy furniture with a groan of frustration. Why couldn't she find anything?
She looked at her keys. They were glinting in the sunlight as they sprawled across her table. She took pride in polishing them every so often. She liked how they sparkled when they were cleaned—like a nice, big diamond.
Her second brilliant idea suddenly hit her. She scrambled across the floor, a wave of nausea hitting her from the sudden movement. She pulled the particular key from the keychain, looking at it with determination.
"Open the gate to the Lion!" she commanded.
"My Lucy, my love!" came the smooth reply from the summoned spirit.
"Can it!" she warned, her lower lip jutted out in annoyance. "I have some questions."
Leo's jaw clenched, as he knew that this moment would eventually come, he bowed his head slightly, "I'll help in any way that I can, Lucy!"
Lucy stared at the unruly mane of dark blonde hair. Part of her knew that he would be hesitant to answer her questions. The other part could care less: she needed to know these things! Her hands shot to her hips, as she stood, commandingly. Loki couldn't help but smile as he surveyed her from behind his sunglasses. Her voice interrupted his thoughts.
"First question, who's Adassandra?" she watched him carefully.
He did not blink, nor did he move a muscle. She had anticipated such a response. "Why are you protecting her? It was obvious that you knew her, Leo."
Leo. It was the name she called him when she was angry--when she meant business. This was no joking matter to the young woman, and he truly did not like to upset her. He sucked in a deep breath, and braced for the worst.
"I cannot speak about such things, Lucy, please understand," his tone was serious, as was the facial expression he wore: a mixture of frustration and desperation.
"What was that key she was using?" she ground her tightly-balled fists into her hips as she tapped a stiletto on the floor.
Loki swallowed, he did not want one of those shoes to connect to anything on his body. How did women wear those things? he wondered to himself. The sound of Lucy clearing her throat forced him to answer. "What do you think it was?" he replied cryptically.
"A Spirit Key!" Again, Leo did not give an indication as to whether her answer was correct or not. Lucy sighed, outwardly frustrated with his answer, "Let me guess, you can't talk about that, either?"
"You are correct," he replied, pausing before continuing, "about both things."
Lucy stared at him, her mouth agape at the meaning behind his words. Of course she had thought about the possibility, but it seemed more like a fairy tale than reality. "H-how did she--?"
"You will get the same answer as before, Lucy. I cannot help you with this matter!" he carefully replied.
"Well, can you at least nod or shake your head?"
Loki thought about that question, "I suppose it won't be breaking any laws." He ran a hand nervously through his thick hair, "Yes."
"Good, finally I'm getting somewhere," she groaned, unappreciatively. "The key: do you know how she got it?"
Nod.
"Did she steal it from someone?"
Shake.
"Hmm..how could she have a key but not steal it from someone?" she pondered to herself before asking another question. "Did she find it?"
Hesitation...slight nod.
"Do you know who Daylon is?"
Nod.
"Was he her lover?"
Furious shaking of the head.
Ok, so that was a definite 'no'! she silently confirmed. "Hmm...but she had a relationship with him...somehow?"
Nod.
"And does her sister have a key, as well?"
Nod.
"Are they both Stellar Spirit Mages?"
Unsure shake of the head.
Lucy was becoming more frustrated with each question. Wasn't this supposed be easier? "Would I find this man if I traveled to Wisteria?"
Hesitation. Shake.
"Did he move somewhere else?"
Shake.
Lucy narrowed her eyes, understanding the silent communication. "Is he...alive?"
Shake.
Lucy's hands shook as she asked the next question. "Did she or her sister kill him?"
Shake.
"Do you know how he died?"
Nod.
"Was he a spirit mage?"
Nod.
She decided to change tactics, as she wasn't sure she was getting anything productive from her current train of questions. "Does Adie—Adassandra...know how to ex-quip?"
Nod.
"That makes sense," she said to herself. She looked at Loki, "So she hides her key or keys that way?"
Nod.
"Did she kill those spirit mages?"
Shake.
"Are you sure?"
Nod.
"Do you know her sister, this Lilith?"
Hesitation, then nod.
"Did the two have a falling out of some sort?"
Again, he hesitated before nodding.
"Are you sure?"
He shook his head, shrugging slightly. He was beginning to sweat from the knowledge that he was technically breaking some silent code. Lucy began to pity him for her merciless barrage of questions.
"I see. I'm done. For now," she warned Leo.
"Thank you, Lucy-chan," he purred, reaching for her hand.
"Save it, will ya!" she blushed. "Why are you always making googly eyes at me. It's creepy, you know!"
"But I love you Lucy," he smiled playfully. "I would do anything you asked me to."
"Except give me answers I can use!"
His face dropped, as he realized how he had disappointed her. "I-I cant. I wish I could, Lucy. I swear it!"
She sighed, shaking her head. "No, I'm sorry. For making you do something you are obviously not allowed to!"
A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. She looked at Leo one last time, "I gotta go, Loki!"
"Your will is my desire," he crooned as she shooed him away, allowing him to return to his home.
*****
*****
"Levy!" Lucy trilled as she let her friend into her tiny apartment.
"Well, I found some stuff," Levy chewed her lip, tapping her pencil against her chin as she looked though her notepad. "If you can call it that."
"Wonderful," Lucy sighed. Finally! "Whatcha got?"
"Well, this..er, Daylon," she breezed through her notes. "Was definitely a Stellar Spirit Mage."
"Oh yeah?" She had already confirmed that fact...but she didn't want to hurt Levy's feelings. She did, after all, go through all this hard work just to read the next chapter of Lucy's novel.
"Yeah," Levy confirmed. "I opted to read another text—in Garrish, which is a language similar...." she began to explain the differences between the two languages. Lucy could feel her attention span waning.
"...had a relationship with one particular Celestial Spirit--"
"What?" Lucy barked, as she realized what Levy had just confessed.
"Yeah...well, that is if I'm even reading it correctly." Her brow was furrowed in confusion. "Freya or something--"
"Freya?" Lucy's voice was even louder. She was practically yelling at her friend.
"Um...am I upsetting you?" Levy asked, confused by Lucy's reaction.
"No...no, it's just that....well, uh...it's rare for mages and their spirits to have such an open relationship." Though she was aware that it did happen. Every now and then.
"Well, I'm just telling you what I've found. Take it how you wanna," she eyed Lucy curiously. "Anyhow, yeah, it appears that she was his only spirit, and it was stolen after his death."
"Death?" Lucy echoed stupidly.
"Yeah, he was apparently killed over this Celestial Spirit."
So, that was the story behind it! "Why?" Lucy murmured.
"That I do not know." She blinked a few times, chewing the arm of her glasses as she considered any possible theory. "Maybe someone else wanted it. Can you break a Celestial Spirit contract that way? You know..with killing the key holder?"
Lucy's heart stopped. That was what Adassandra had said: there are two ways to break a contract....
"Lucy? You're face is white, are you ok?" concern was written all over the scholar's face.
Lucy blinked, pushing the thought aside, she would come back to it when she was alone. "Oh, um, yeah, I'm fine!" she smiled. "What about those, er, nasty creatures. I need some good antagonists for my books!" It was a lie and she knew it. Part of her felt entirely too vindictive for lying. The other part had a greater goal in mind.
Levy scanned the rest of her notes, "I had to look in a really old text for these. Actually, it was more of a fable collection than anything."
Not anymore, the spirit mage thought to herself, remembering the look on Adie's face and Erza's confession. They are real!
"Amarok are lone wolves--giant in size!" her eyes widened as she spoke. "They apparently hunt humans who are foolish enough to wander into the woods alone. At night!" she shivered. "Who would even do that?" she asked herself, forgetting that she was talking to Lucy. She cleared her throat, "Anyhow, they apparently devour their prey!"
Lucy raised an eyebrow, "Well, that's just great!"
Levy nodded, before continuing, "The Oni are your basic monsters. They can be goblins, imps, gnomes--anything! Another lore referred to them as large, gnarled humanoids--which was kind of disturbing! But, I think these are a safe bet for your story, there's a lot you can do with these monsters!" She tapped a finger on her notepad as she met Lucy's gaze. Her eyes fell back to then tiny pad, as if realizing she had found something else.
"Oh yeah, I found another kind of monster that I think is sort of interesting--for your story--that is. This one is called the Adzi!" she was practically squealing. "They are vampires that roam in forests. It's so romantic!" she swooned.
Lucy almost gagged, remembering the vampire craze that was sweeping through the country. One tiny movie, and all the women were gaga over a handsome vampire sweeping them off of their feet. She, however, was non-plussed by the idea, even if she had heard Loki mention those creatures. It was ironical for Levy to find such information, especially without knowledge of the current situation-at-hand. As was the fact that the nation was begin swept up in the "vampire craze". Her annoyance must have been written on her face, as Levy immediately turned a slight shade of pink as her trembling hands shut the notebook.
"That was all I could find, Lucy," Levy looked almost ashamed at the revelation. "I'm sorry."
Lucy looked at her friend, mustering the largest, most comforting smile she could. Suddenly Levy's face change.
"Oh, er...something else interesting..though off topic." She cleared her throat before continuing. "There is apparently a mythological Gatekeeper that allows these creatures to enter into the human world," she used mock quotations for the last part. "I couldn't find a name, but it's just a belief." She shrugged, realizing that this was probably not something Lucy cared to hear.
The blonde woman nodded, "Thank you so much Levy. That information was quite helpful..for, er, my book!" With that, she wandered toward her desk, pulling a drawer open and reaching her hand inside. She returned to her friend, with a thick stack of papers that were neatly tied with ribbon.
"Here," she offered that paper stack.
"Is this what I think it is?" Levy's eyes were round orbs. She looked like a child in a candy store.
Lucy's face reddened. "Just take it, ok?" she grumbled, suddenly self-conscious of her writing.
"Oooh, Lucy, thankyouthankyouthankyou! You won't regret it!" Levy cooed as she hugged the parcel to her chest. "I've been dying to know what happens next!"
"Well, it can be changed," Lucy shrugged. "This chapter gave me a lot of trouble."
"Well, good writing often does," Levy agreed, running her fingers along the first page. "Do you mind if I go read it, like, now?"
"Not at all," the blonde Stellar Mage shook her head. "Knock yourself out!"
With one last excited leg shuffle and hug of the rough draft, Levy disappeared into the streets of Magnolia—with Lucy's newest chapter in hand.
Lucy collapsed on her bed, reeling in the revelation that Levy had just given her. "Daylon is tied to Adie—and probably her sister. But he's dead. But she didn't kill him. And then there's her sister. What happened between them?" Lucy stared at the ceiling, thinking of all the possible scenarios. She finally gave up, sighing exasperatedly.
"This is ridiculous!" she spoke aloud to herself.
Freya! She thought to herself, suddenly sitting up in bed. That was a name she knew, for sure! The Stellar Spirit Queen. An oft-forgotten figure. Any good spirit mage would know that name, though not one could tell you the key's location. In fact, Lucy was not sure if that the King nor Queen even had keys, though she suspected that they—like the other Celestial Spirits—would.
"Interesting. So she is a figure in this as well," Lucy examined her nails as she spoke. "But...how?"
Lucy gazed out of her window, as the questions were spoken and left unanswered. She decided that she needed to do something.
Now.
She quickly packed a few things into a night bag, and changed her clothes. She left a quick note to whomever would break into her room next:
Sorry, Guys, had to take a trip!
See you when I get back!
Byes!
XOXO Lucy
She looked at the meager attempt for an explanation before forming a foundation of resolve. She quickly closed the door behind her, firmly locking it as she pulled the day pack over her shoulders.
Wisteria it is, she thought. I have to get to the bottom of this!
*****
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As usual, let me know what you think! The plot is thickening ;)