Chapter 5
Being a former professional journalist, Lucy developed a knack or instinct and the sense to research on a wide variety of topics. Being Jude and Layla Heartfilia's orphaned daughter, she has always known a certain kind of disease.
Looking at Ivan Dreyar's unconscious form, there was no denying that what he is currently suffering from is a variety of a Magical Deficiency Disease called Ethellular Degeneration.
From what Lucy could remember from her schooling circa her yesteryears, Ethellular Degeneration is a disease found in mages who incorporated various substances in their Ethernano Containers.
Whatever these substances may be, these are quite detrimental to how mages consume, metabolize, and convert Ethernano to Magic. Simply put, detrimental agents poison their magical reserves. Since Magic is basically the lifeline of mages, a poisoned Ethernano eventually poisons their cellular and biological make-up, essentially causing a widespread 'sepsis' that prevents the production and absorption of healthy Ethernano while destroying a mage's body from inside out.
Unfortunately, a cure can only be found if those poisonous substances were to be identified. That is to say, if the substances did not yet combine, mix, or mutate into a different, more aggressive one. Looking at the state of Laxus' father, there is a good chance that Ivan has consumed more than one - probably highly illegal - substances.
Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz.
Lucy took out her Miniature Communications Lacrima, and saw that the Caller ID belongs to Erza.
"Hello," Lucy answered, walking towards the door to exit into the hallway.
"Lucy!" came the exuberant voice of their team's resident S-Class Mage. "How are you? It's been a week already. Are you fine? Where are you now? How was the meeting with your editors and publishers?"
Lucy felt her mind rushing…rushing to keep up with several questions at once. "Woah there!"
"Sorry," came the meek apology. "We just miss you so much."
She chuckled, imagining Erza. "It's alright. Well…" she trailed off, still deciding how to answer the questions, and what information to reveal.
"Well…this and that," she summarized in so many words. "In any case, I'm fine, and still in Crocus," she elaborated, deciding to completely omit the part wherein she is with The Thunder God. His matter is private and it is not up to her discretion to tattle on his personal affairs.
Lucy stared at the closed doors of Ivan Dreyar before adding that, "I'll probably stay here for a few more days, three days tops…to unwind and relax."
"Okay," came Erza's voice from the speaker, her tone taking on a more understanding and motherly feel. "Just remember to always contact us when something is up, and we'll race to you."
Lucy heard a chuckle on the other end of the line, and that made her let out a small giggle too. "Will do!"
"Bye!"
"Bye! Say hi to the boys for me!"
"I will!" Then the line was cut.
Lucy sighed, steeling herself before opening the doors again. She was greeted by the sight of Laxus as he was getting out of the shower room, his hands rubbing his hair with the towel. He was wearing a white linen pajama-style beach pants, and a loose coffee-coloured knitted fabric sweater.
Lucy blushed, now realizing that he is wearing the same thing as her.
'Oh, Virgo!' she mentally squealed.
"Thanks," the man said. Lucy did not know if Laxus noticed the resemblance between their clothes, or he was just willfully ignoring it.
In any case, Lucy is still a dignified lady, and would rather keep her cool than state the obvious. And so, like the prideful Heartfilia that she is, she turned her head towards another direction in a pathetic attempt to hide her blush.
"You're welcome," she said in-between puffed cheeks.
"Ne, Erza!" hollered from the other side of the guild's ground floor. Erza tightened her grip on her fork as she began chewing her strawberry cake with more force and speed than usual.
Thud. Thud. Thud. came the clambering sound of feet running towards her at full speed. Erza felt the veins in her forehead popping in irritation.
Just one time! One time is all she asks to enjoy her confection in remote silence and relative peace, and here comes someone ready to break that.
"ERZAAA!" Natsu's yell was enough to make her grip the wooden table so hard that it left a dent.
"Erza!" Gray's voice joined in, and Erza put down her fork on top of the dish beside the uneaten slice of dessert.
She did it with such grace and restraint, that she was able to impress herself. She turned from her barstool, and faced the boys running towards her. "Yes?"
They visibly stilled in place, halting just an arm's length away from her. "Sorry," both said in unison, eyes trying to avoid looking directly at her.
"What is it?" she asked, now curious as to why they are calling out to her with much insistence.
"Well…" Gray began. "We're getting worried about Lucy."
"Yeah! It's been over a week since she's been gone," Natsu continued. "I think she's run into trouble."
Erza considered their words for a moment. Overly protective teammates aside, it is a bit odd that Lucy has been gone for far too long. Although Lucy is just in Crocus, something is beginning to get weird. A week for a meeting with her editors and publishers sounds a bit too dubious. However, Erza is also not someone who knows the intricacies of book publishing, so she might just be overreacting.
In any case, Erza also intends to respect their teammate's privacy. That, and she just got off the Miniature Communications Lacrima after talking to her. That means, Lucy is not in any immediate danger. And even so, Erza believes their resident Celestial Spirit Mage is more than capable of handling any trouble that comes her way.
"Good points," Erza first praised the boys, but as the voice of reason for their team, she decided that, "But we're not going to go off careening towards her. She might be in an important meeting or whatever."
"But!" It was Gray, ready to make his counterargument known.
"But, no," Erza replied in her serious tone, silencing Natsu and Gray for a moment. "Lucy's actually fine. I just talked to her a few minutes ago. She said she's doing well, and that she will be staying there for a few more days."
"But we miss her!" Natsu whined impatiently.
"Aye! Me too!" Happy interjected.
Erza sighed, massaging Happy's head. "I know. I miss her too, but we have to wait because she's our friend, and we trust her."
"Aye," agreed the blue Exceed. This made Erza smile.
"Alright," Gray acquiesced. "An A-Class Quest then?"
Natsu's head and ears perked up at the mention of a mission. He seemed to bounce in his place, eagerly waiting for Erza's reply.
Erza's smile widened. "Go home and pack. Let's meet here in an hour. Now, let me finish my cake," she shooed the boys out.
They hooted and cheered as they raced outside the guild doors.
"You know, Erza…" Mirajane's voice called her attention.
"Hmmm" she hummed in recognition, unable to speak because of the cake she swallowed.
"Laxus is also in Crocus," Mirajane's eyebrows wiggled suggestively. "Don't you think they're…" the She-Demon whispered.
Erza gulped her cake down, and replied, "There's no way…" before facing the table again.
One.
Two.
Three.
"Really?!" came Erza's rather exuberant voice, as the Magic Swordswoman turned her attention once again to her former rival.
"Uh-huh," came Mirajane's triumphant smug look. The She-Demon is obviously enjoying this talk of love life.
"Nooo…" Erza hawed in disbelief. "There's…there's no way."
"Yes way!" cheered Mirajane before propping her elbows on the wooden plank of the bar, and placing her chin on her palm. She sighed dramatically before continuing, "Honestly, I'm quite surprised that you haven't picked up on it yet."
"Picked up on what?" Erza shot the barmaid a confused look.
Mirajane huffed in exasperation. "Seriously?!" When the She-Demon got a blank look, she sighed in resignation. It seems that she really had to spell it out clearly to her dense contemporary. "Laxus likes Lucy." She paused for dramatic effect. "A lot."
"Oh," came the nonchalant response of Erza.
Mirajane could feel something in her patience snap.
"Oh!" Erza's eyes widened. "Oh, my God!" Erza began fidgeting in her place, as blood rushed to her cheeks. "That means…"
Now, this was the reaction that Mirajane was looking for. "That means…" she began squealing, feeling the communal feeling of giddiness.
"Kyaaa!" Erza burst out, laughing animatedly with the barmaid. "That means a wedding! Kyaaa!"
"Beautiful blonde babies!" Mirajane wept in bliss. "Kyaaa!"
"Oh, my God! I'm going to be a Maid of Honor! Kyaaa!" Erza twirled and squirmed in her seat. "I'm going to be the best Maid of Honor Fiore has ever seen!" She stood up, clenching her fist in response to her resolve.
"Ne, what do you mean Maid of Honor?" Mirajane smiled at her.
"Of course, it's going to be me," Erza put her closed fist against her chest as if to further emphasize her point. "After all, I'm the closest woman to Lucy."
"I don't think you understand me," Mirajane suddenly opened her eyes, malice evident from her gaze. "It was my idea; therefore, the title of the Maid of Honor belongs to me, right?" she smiled again.
"Oho!" Erza picked up on what the other woman was saying. She matched the barmaid's malevolent smile with a glare of her own. "Oh, please. You don't even know a single thing about a wedding."
Mirajane's left eye twitched. "Yeah, you're right, Ms. Where-Art-Thou-My-One-And-Only-Prospective-Boyfriend?"
Erza's right eye twitched. "I guess this means war, Ms. I-Have-Yet-To-Find-My-Prince-Riding-A-White-Horse-In-The-Beach-At-Sunset." Erza extended her hand.
Mirajane took it, and matched the strength of her grip. "May the Best Maid of Honor wins."
"You can just congratulate me right now," Erza mocked. "Bitch."
"Oh, my!" Mirajane put her fingers against her lips as if to show her concern. "But don't you have that A-Class mission?"
Erza flinched. "I believe we have yet to choose one."
"I believe there's only one A-Class mission right now," Mirajane said in that sweet and innocent mocking tone while maintaining her narrowed eyes. "And I'm afraid that it would take a week to finish it," she said while handing the mission details sheet to the red-haired Mage.
"Ugh," Erza gritted her teeth. "We'll see. We'll see," she smirked maliciously, taking the piece of parchment.
Erza left momentarily but not before finishing their banter with a threat.
Mirajane sighed, going back to her work. She has days to plan and basically 'court' Lucy and Laxus into giving her the Maid of Honor position.
"Mira-nee," Lisanna appeared beside her. "What was that all about?"
"Just a friendly competition," Mirajane gave her younger sister a bright smile.
Lisanna cannot form a reply. Instead she nodded before looking at the Mages present in the guild, cowering together in the corners of the ground floor. Lisanna sighed, rubbing her already throbbing temples. "Friendly competition my ass."