"Are you doing okay? You've been pretty quiet this morning."
Melody was looking at her friend, Remi, with a look of concern on her features. After she confessed her reason for moving and working here, the frail woman thought she was finally going to leave this place and go back home.
The Celestial mage had been zoning out quite a bit this morning. After their girls weekend concluded, the young woman had to think of a way to present her findings to her client.
"Princess…" Virgo was pacing the hotel room, her hands twiddling in front of her. "I'm afraid we've gotten ourselves into a predicament."
"What do you mean?" Lucy questioned her spirit as she turned around in her chair to face her. Loki was lying across the couch, playing with the fuzz that began to collect near the buttons. The Lion was trying to avoid the hard part of the conversation.
"Lucy, you've noticed how the people you work with hardly think about magic. I'm willing to bet the owner's the same way. Even though he's used a wizard to find the problem, I don't think he'll continue to do so. From what you've told us, and through our own research, Jay seems like he's had his fill of magic."
"Dico's in a dark guild! There's no going to the local authorities with this anymore."
"What do you hope to accomplish alone against Grimoire Heart?" Virgo gazed at her friend with a worried look. "There are too many unknown variables. We need to get the rest of our friends in on this so they can help us."
"It's not that easy Virgo.." Lucy sighed, her head leaning against her hand.
"Is there a reason you're avoiding going home?" The Celestial Spirit glared at her friend. "Are you afraid to face your actual life? Is that why you really came all the way out to the sticks?!"
"Virgo, you need to calm-" Leo attempted to cut her off. However, the Maiden wasn't having any of it.
"NO! She's been avoiding this for months now." Virgo looked towards her big brother, before looking back at her friend. Lucy's face had a look of utter shock and awe.
"Princess, I just don't know what you're afraid of." The Maiden approached the Celestial mage. "You left Magnolia in such a rush, I don't even think you know what you were running away from; Unless you're running from yourself."
Virgo's words hung in the air. Everyone was silent for quite some time. Loki wasn't sure if he should break the silence, feeling like he needed to ease the tension that built up.
"You're right." The young woman's voice was quiet. Leaning forward, Lucy placed her elbows close to her knees. The Celestial closed her eyes as she laid her head in her hands.
"Why, Princess?" Virgo asked gently, walking up behind her. The Celestial Spirit began rubbing Lucy's shoulders. "Everyone in Magnolia misses you and wants you to come home."
"I guess…" The young woman could feel tears stinging her eyes. Lucy's hands were shaking as she choked out her words. "I guess I'm just afraid of my own feelings. What I feel for Natsu has always been intense. When I saw Lisanna kiss him, I felt a sense of betrayal like I'd never felt before. It was like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. I was hoping this mission would fill that void. However, it's done nothing but keep it open."
"I think I know the reason for that." Leo mentioned, glancing at his friend.
"Really?" Lucy's fingers opened so she could look at the spirit in front of her.
"I don't know a lot about it." Leo admitted before he even began. "I've heard the Dragon Slayer's talk about a spell called Unity."
"Wendy's mentioned it to me once before." The Celestial mage nodded.
"I'm not sure how it works. But, I think the night the two of you spent together kind of ignited that spark for the spell to take place." Loki did his best to explain. "Ever since then, your feelings towards Natsu have been extremely intense. That happens during the first 'phase or stage' of the spell. Whenever you talk about him, you're either crying in anger or joy lately. I think it's because you're spending this extended period of time away from him."
"So the only way to fix it?" Virgo interrupted, wanting her big brother to get to the point.
"Is to go back home." Leo finished, glancing in Lucy's direction.
"As far as we're concerned, the moment you tell the owner your findings, the job is over." Loki said, rolling onto his side. The Lion was beginning to get worried about his friend's state of mind. "After that, we go back to Magnolia and our friends will help us take down what's really going on."
"Hello? Earth to Remi!" Melody waved her hand in front of the young woman's face.
"Yeah… I've been taking what you've said into consideration." Remi grinned at her new friend. "I'm going back home after I work out my notice. I just have to let the owner know. I hope they're not too disappointed."
"People come and go around here fairly often.." Melody's voice became quiet as she turned to find something on the shelves, hiding her face from Remi. "It takes a special kind of person to stick around this place."
"What do you mean by that?" The Celestial Mage asked curiously.
"You really have to love this plant to get into this business from this end." The frail woman shrugged. "Unfortunately people who appreciate cannabis for its medical benefits are outweighed by the others who only see it as a way to make money. Sometimes the only way to get into the industry is by working for some people who you don't exactly agree with. Jay is one of those owners."
"I would never think of getting into something just because I knew it would make money." The Celestial mage contemplated. "It doesn't make much sense to me."
"I agree." Melody shrugged. "People with money like to spread it across several investments. At least that's what he talks about during the quarterly meetings."
Remi raised a brow, hearing the door open behind her. The Celestial mage's eyes widened as the well dressed man walked through the threshold. Jay glanced at the two ladies in the room before he pointed. "Remi, can I have a word with you in my office?"
"Uh, sure." Taking off her gloves, the Celestial mage followed Jay to the other side of the facility. Once they were safely behind his office door, Remi took a seat across from him.
"I saw your message in my mail this morning." The owner began, leaning back in his chair. "You weren't in the flower room, so I assume that you're finished with your investigation?"
"I believe I've compiled enough of a case together."
"Do you have the information for me?"
Remi nodded, taking a deep breath. "This is a pretty serious situation we have going on here."
"What do you mean?" Jay took on a shocked tone.
"In the months before I took this job, I'd been seeing people around my hometown battling addiction. The name was Drip, and it was tearing apart the people that consumed it. It wasn't until I took this job, that I realized who was releasing the substance into the public. Dico has the equipment in a home that is rented by one of your other employees. To my knowledge, Dico allowed Rhythm to live there as long as he looked after the place.
It wasn't until the house started seeing a lot of foot traffic that Rhythm suspected anything." Remi continued.
"So you're saying he's innocent."
"It's my opinion that he was innocent in the theft of the equipment." The Celestial mage was sure to clarify what she was saying. "I explored the home, and the equipment is all there and he's using it to push products illegally into the wrong hands. However, in doing this, he's also helping Melody with her medication costs."
The Celestial Mage paused for a moment, allowing it all to sink in. "Sir, there's something else I feel is important."
"What could be worse than what you've already told me?!The loss in equipment alone is a small fortune. Not only that, we have product running rampant on the streets!"
Remi sighed. "Please sir, it's best to stay calm."
Jay took a few steady breaths, his chest moving up and down slowly.
"I've compiled enough evidence, that I'm certain when I say Dico is the main source of the issue. He's bad news, Jay. The man is a member of a dark wizard guild."
"How can you be sure?" The owner displayed a clearly shocked look.
"Every guild has its own mark that gets placed on its members. It's like a tattoo. In my investigation, I discovered that he had one of these markings on himself. These guys are bad news, and won't respond well to local authorities. With this, I think it's best to-"
"With all due respect." Jay interrupted Remi. "This is my operation, and I am going to take actions into my own hands. I appreciate your opinions. However, at the end of the day, it's my decision to make."
"But-"
"And I thank you for all the help you've been in the processing room. Since you've concluded your investigation. Today will be your last day at Royal Tree. At the end of the day, please turn in any of your key cards and anything else you were given by the company. Since you've given me such valuable information, I'm willing to pay you through this week."
The Celestial mage wasn't sure what to say. The young woman sat there for a moment in dumbfounded silence.
"Is there something you need?" The owner raised a brow. "You can go back to work if you wish."
"Jay… I don't think you understand the gravity of this situation." Remi insisted. "I don't know why they stole the equipment. However, with the amount of people that are already affected, the higher ups of the guild have noticed Dico's loyalty towards them. If you have authorities get your property back, you're only putting yourself and your company in danger. There's no doubt in my mind that they'd try and retaliate."
"I will take that into consideration going forward." The owner nodded before dismissing her once again. It seemed as though Jay wasn't truly listening.
"Please do, sir. I enjoyed working here at Royal Tree. I'd hate for anything to happen to this place." Remi says, a grin on her features before she stands from her chair. Internally, the Celestial Mage was a jumbled mess. She didn't know what would happen after she left here. Remi's only true concern was for Melody.
As she walked back into the processing room, she could tell her friend's eyes were staring holes into her. The Celestial mage chuckled at the look on Melody's features. The frail woman looked like she was waiting for a bomb to go off.
"So? How did it go?" Melody couldn't stop the question from leaving her mouth.
"It went pretty well actually." The Celestial mage said with a grin. "He said today could be my last day if I wished. I told him I would take him up on it."
"We'll have to throw you a little going away party tonight!" Melody smiled. "Rhythm is a great cook! You must come over for dinner."
"I accept on one condition."
"Oh?" The frail woman raised a brow.
"I'd like to bring one of my friends." Remi grinned. "She's in town this week, and I'd love for you to meet her."
"Of course!" Melody clapped excitedly, unable to control the feelings of happiness bubbling inside. "I'd love to meet one of your friends. We'll serve dinner at Six tonight. Sounds good?"
"Perfect!" Remi smiled happily. "Do I need to bring anything?"
"Just your friend, and your smiling faces." Melody insisted as she walked around the kitchen. "Rhythm loves to cook for groups of people. I swear he should run a restaurant with how good he is, but he just likes to make meals for his friends."
"I'm looking forward to it. We're gonna have a great time tonight!"