Hello!
Firstly, I've seen your guy's PM. However, for some reason, it won't allow me to respond. I've tried everything, and it's not working. I apologize; I don't want to seem like I'm ignoring y'all. I'm secretly a geezer who's not the best with technology. I tried YouTube and my more technology-savvy friends, and nothing came of it. If you wish to contact me still, Discord is the best way. My tag is Pendrake#6084. Some people have reached out to me that way, and I've responded.
Secondly, I know it's been a minute. I apologize, but I'm getting back on schedule and will try to pump out more chapters consistently. I've been working on another story (Shirou in Legacies) and plan to start another one (not anytime soon, but maybe in the coming months). I've found a newfound flame, and it's burning. (Re: Zero x Fate or Fate x DanMachi "Shirou obviously, since he's my main"). I am still determining which one to go for.
Lastly, I appreciate your support. It does motivate me when I see people leaving comments and likes.
Other than that, I love you all! Stay safe!
"Where did he run off to? The meeting is about to start." Arvid walked outside, looking for his partner.
He had yet to see Shirou since he went to speak with Chairman Doma. Although he had some reservations about the newest recruit speaking to the highest-ranked member of the Magic Council, Shirou had a good head on his shoulders—unlike most of the greenhorns.
This best suited Arvid since he wasn't a teacher or mentor material. He was concerned when they paired him up with the newest recruit since he thought he would have to protect the young lad. However, all his doubts were squashed during the Bosco mission. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Shirou had better foresight and battle experience than he could ever have. How he moved around the battlefield showed a level of experience one shouldn't have at such an age.
Although his doubts and concerns resigned, a darker thought took its place. "That boy is causing me a headache a hangover would be jealous of." Someone of Shirou's caliber should be famous or at least known. However, from what he heard about the interview process that Doma conducted on Shirou, the Archive couldn't pick a single shred of information on him. This would be fine if Shirou were born and lived outside of Ishgar and other Magic Council territories. However, that would mean Shirou was born and raised in territories that weren't fond of the Magic Council, like Alakitasia or Guiltina. These thoughts didn't help quell Arvid's reservations.
Although he liked to avoid prying into other people's history, recent events and betrayals have shown the consequences. Arvid was a Magic Council Enforcer, first and foremost, and he swore selfless service to protect the Magic Council from internal and external threats. He definitely wasn't worried about his pocket or interests when defending the Magic Council. "I've been working too hard toward a pension just to have this place collapse. I'm not working till I'm sixty!"
"Arvid? What are you doing out here?" Shirou walked toward the towering man. His stature was something he had yet to get used to. "Berserker was larger, but Arvid isn't that far behind."
"I was about to ask you the same thing. We still have a meeting to get to. What took you so long? I saw Chairman Doma return almost an hour ago."
"Dang, did that much time pass?" He sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "I talked to Master Makarov briefly, and we got sidetracked."
Arvid's eyes widened at the name just uttered. "You mean THE Makarov? Guildmaster of Fairy Tail and Wizard Saint Makarov, right?" Seeing Shirou nod, Arvid let out a whistle. "You trying to collect all the unicorns or something? First Jura and now Makarov, are you sure you haven't met anymore? Maybe God Serena or Wolfheim?"
Shirou shook his head. He didn't think simply talking to people would be such a big deal. He never cared about status or power differences between himself and the person he spoke to. If he wanted answers, he would confront the person head-on, even if they were a king or president. "Well….maybe not everybody. I would rather not confront Miss Lorelei again," Sweat began profusely coming down his face as he thought of the women. He could see why even Dead Apostles were wary of her despite only meeting her a few times at the Clocktower. "The woman can strike fear into the heart of the undead."
"Umm~ are you ok, Shirou?" The discoloration on Shirou concerned the man. He could see the color drain from his face in real-time. "He didn't like the sound of any of this…." Thinking about his question, Arvid couldn't understand what would shock or offend Shirou.
As he was brought back to reality, his pigmentation returned. Shirou remembered Arvid's question and answered, "Those are the only Wizard Saints I know of, unfortunately."
Looking concerned about his friends' aloofness, Arvid thought it best not to pry. Instead, he asked, "So you haven't heard about the Gods of Ishgar?"
"Ishtar?" He didn't know why a place in this world would be named after a Babylonian goddess. He hoped there wasn't a country called Gilgamesh.
"No, Ish-gar." Enunciating the words beyond what was necessary. He shook his head solemnly as he wrapped his arm around Shirou. "There is still so much I must teach you, my young foreign friend."
Shirou didn't like Arvid's tone, but it was true he needed to learn more if he didn't want to commit a faux pas. Information about who he truly was he had to keep to himself as long as he could, indefinitely if possible. "As long as it doesn't involve an ungodly amount of meat and ale, I'm in." The secondhand embarrassment from the train ride back from their mission persisted with Shirou. He never had to apologize in someone's stead so much in his entire life. "Even Fuji-nee has more tact than this man." Shirou was tired of being the mature one for adults twice his age.
Arvid placed his hand over his heart and feigned being offended. "Shirou! Is that all you think of me?"
"Yup! Exactly like her." Although feigning irritation, deep down, Arvid was a breath of fresh air. He desperately needed this normalcy in these turbulent times. And the man wasn't unbearable to be around, either.
The duo returned to the meeting room while bickering the entire way.
Undisclosed location
Standing within a dimly lit cave, a man of imposing stature stood before five others. His silver hair reached his shoulders, and unique markings littered his body. He held a tribal cane with a skull on it.
"We're all alone from here on out. Hades and Mard Geer have refused to help us."
One of the members who had a snake as a pet spit at the ground in disgust. "Cowards. So much for being allies."
"It comes as no surprise. They will soon regret their decision when Nirvana is at our disposal. Right now, rally all the dark guilds under our command and have them meet us here. We need to be at full strength when our friends arrive to stop us." Brain shifted his attention to another member. "Racer, I have a specific mission for you."
"Oh? What is it, boss?"
He handed the dark mage a lacrima. "I was able to contact some old allies of mine who were able to locate an old friend. Bring the coffin back to me as soon as possible. This is urgent in strengthening our numbers."
Racer looked at the Lacrima details and ran off, leaving a dust cloud where he once stood.
"Who is this "old friend," Brain?"
"Nothing to be concerned about, Cobra. All will be revealed in due time. You and Midnight go rally up the troops. Angel, see what plans the Allied Forces are coming up with. Me and Hoteye will begin looking for what we came here for. His magic is uniquely useful in this instance."
Cobra disliked being unaware of mission details but acquiesced. Brain was someone who had yet to lead him wrong. Usually, his plans worked out for the best, so he relented on questioning for now. "Fine, come on, you two."
Angel looked at the man in disgust. "Who made you the lead man? You don't give me any orders." She flicked her hair and sauntered toward the cave's exit.
Cobra let out a frustrated huff. "This is going to be annoying. You ready, Midnight?" He slid his hand down his face in frustration, seeing the man sleeping on his carpet. "I guess I'll be doing all the heavy lifting."
Brain watched as everyone moved to accomplish their tasks. "This motley guild will have to do till I can accomplish my goal." He turned to Hoteye, who was counting his money. "Let's go survey the land."
"Money! It is what makes the world go round. Why search for this Nirvana when he can go get more money?"
"Nirvana will help us get more money."
"Truly? Then let's go!"
Fairy Tail Guild Hall, Magnolia Town, Fiore, Ishgar
Magnolia Town wasn't known for much, but thanks to Fairy Tail, more tourism was brought in. Fairy Tail held celebrity status within the town and throughout the country. Many high-ranked mages would be asked for autographs and photographs whenever they were seen on the road. As such, the local government allowed them to get away with minor destruction and misdemeanors. They even helped build their first guild hall, a sight to behold.
The structure was a two-story building. A simple, round, and pointed dome sat on the highest roof, topping the summit of the building. The front of the building had the name 'Fairy Tail' inscribed, with a pink icon on top of it. It stood out from the architecture surrounding it.
The interior of the building was just as magnificent as the outside. The inside was akin to a large lunch hall and mainly consisted of wood, possessing a parquet floor and a mezzanine held up by wood beams overlooking it. Several long benches and the related tables stretched across its length, with a bar managed by a female bartender at the end. There was also a board with fliers located beside the bar.
Most would do anything to get inside and see behind the curtain. What was their day-to-day like? Did they practice their magic in there? Does Mystogen take off his mask in the building? What does Titania Erza get off the menu?
These people didn't know what usually went on inside.
"Listen, flame head! I already said I didn't eat your food!" Half-naked, Gray prepared his Ice-make magic. His stance signaled he was ready to launch his magic at any moment.
"I know you ate it, you overgrown icicle!" Natsu kicked the table in his direction.
Before you knew it, a bar fight commenced in the guild hall. Tables, chairs, and magic were being thrown in every direction.
"We just got back, and they're already fighting?!" Letting out an exhausted sigh, Lucy just wanted to relax after being on her feet all day. She didn't think waiting tables would be a mage's job. However, ever since joining Fairy Tail, she realized her view of what a mage was beforehand was skewed. Helping others and completing assignments could take on any number of forms.
"You two aren't real men! Why don't you stop destroying the guild and fight me?!" A tall, dark-skinned man with spikey white hair and an eye scar emerged from the cluster of fallen guild members.
"I DON'T THINK YOU'RE HELPING!" Lucy wanted one sensible person to stop this brawl. Not her, since she didn't want to get squished in a fire and ice attack. It would ruin her skin if she ever needed to do an emergency photo shoot. "Sorcerrer weekly will come around. I'm sure of it."
"Daydreaming isn't good for you, Lucy." Happy quipped as he munched down a fish.
"You better watch yourself, cat!"
"Shut up, Elfman!" Both Natsu and Gray said in unison as they coated their hands in their respective elements and launched them at the tall mage.
"GUH!" The resulting unison caused an explosion upon impacting Elfman's chest. He was sent launching back while taking dozens of guildmembers with him.
The cafeteria area was destroyed. Broken tables, chairs, beer bottles, and mages littered throughout. It was like a tornado ran through the place indiscriminately.
"Hey, Mira. Where's Master Makarov?" The redheaded knight walked through the destruction casually. It was almost like an ordinary day for her as she paid little mind to her surroundings. She would usually be the voice of reason and break up (or join) the brawl by now, but she first wanted to know Makarov's whereabouts.
Plus, having the boys vent their pent-up frustration now and then was better than bottling it up until it overflowed. The benefit doubled in the guild hall and not out in the streets. It kept the destruction closer to home and outside the eye of the media and the Council.
The bartender cheerfully answered, "He went to an emergency meeting this morning. The Magic Council called on a few guild masters for some top-secret mission. He called a few minutes ago and said he'd be back."
"What could've happened that would require the guild masters to go to Era?" Erza was nervous it had something to do with their guild. It was apparent the Magic Council was becoming more adamant about keeping the legal guilds in check. It was a matter of time till they'd all be on the chopping block.
The guild doors opened as a short old man walked through. However, due to the rampant fighting and destruction, no one actually noticed. Gold lights came off the man in motes as his size increased dramatically. "YOU BRATS ARE THE REASON MY INSURANCE IS SO DAMN HIGH!" Everyone stopped and backed away in fear. The guild was finally made aware of their Master's presence.
"Master, I should've stopped them. I apologize." Erza held her head in shame as she waited for her punishment.
"Oh? Welcome back, Master. I hope you had a good time at the conference," Mira said behind the destroyed bar table. She seemed aloof to the destruction and chaos around her.
Makarov shrunk down to his standard size to address the guild. Most of the guild members have gathered around to listen in.
"The guild is still in one piece; that's good." The guild started to cheer. "YOU SHOULDN'T BE CHEERING FOR NOT DESTROYING YOUR OWN HOME YOU BRATS!" The cheering immediately died down.
"Master, what did the Council say?" Gray inquired while still half naked.
"How about you put some clothes on first?" Lucy rebuked.
"I'd also like to know." Erza piggybacked on her teammate's question as she wanted to know if there were any looming threats toward the guild.
Letting out a sigh, Makarov seemed to age a few years after recounting the meeting he just went through. "Yajima is right. I'm getting too old for this." He looked over and saw a full beer mug on a tabletop that did not belong to anyone. "With the day I've been having, I need one of these." Makarov enlarged his arm and reached over and grabbed it, taking a swig before he spat out, "The dark guilds were the focus of most discussion at the conference. Specifically, Oración Seis."
Everyone in the guild was wide-eyed. The Oración Seis was well known as a corner of the Balam Alliance. Anyone who was anyone knew the dangers of taking on such a powerful criminal organization.
"I guess the Magic Council really isn't playing anymore." Gray let out a whistle.
"Oh ya, I'm fired up, baby!" Natsu slammed his fists together in excitement. It had been a while since he had faced strong opponents. The past few missions he had been on were mostly errands and chore-based.
"What do you mean, Master? What was said?" Erza asked. She took notice of her Master's body language and mannerisms. "He seems exhausted. The meeting must've taken a lot out of him." For those with keen observation, it was evident his age was showing.
"Oración Seis poses a threat that can no longer be ignored. The Council wants to bring judgment on them immediately. This is their first declaration of war on the Balam Alliance." Makarov took another gulp of beer before finishing. "Fairy Tail has been ordered to assist in this endeavor."
"Fairy Tail and the Council are taking them on our own?" Juvia was nervous at the prospect. Although both powerful, taking on a corner of the Balam Alliance is akin to taking on an army. During her time at Phantom Lord, the dark guilds they eliminated were under the umbrella of the Oración Seis. They themselves were a challenge. She didn't think taking on the head honcho with a single guild and a few Magic Council members was possible.
"No. This enemy is too powerful, and the Magic Council can't afford to fumble this. It has been deemed mission-critical by the Council. So, they formed a coalition group. Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, Cait Shelter, Lamia Scale, and a few representatives of the Magic Council will be taking on this mission."
Everyone looked incredulously at their guild master's proclamation. If a person's eyes could get wider without it popping out of their head, that would be the expression everyone had in the room. This is the first time so many guilds have teamed up to accomplish a single goal. Alongside the Magic Council, no less. It was surreal, to say the least.
"So many people just to take on one dark guild?" Lucy began to shiver at the prospect of how strong their opponent really was. "They wouldn't put me on that mission, right? I'm just a newbie, after all."
"Don't underestimate our enemy." Erza's tone was sharp enough to stop Lucy from involuntarily quivering and had her standing upright. Her experience and tactile mind began to take over. "Just because there are only six members doesn't make them weak. Each one of them can take on a guild and win. Not to mention, they have several lackeys we'll encounter along the way."
"Erza is right. There's a reason they've been in a position of power for so long. It wasn't because they were nice and weak." Makarov warned, then added. "Be vigilant. Erza, Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Happy, you'll be the Fairy Tail representatives for the coalition team. I'll give you more details in my office. Report their post haste." He dissipated into motes of golden lights, waiting in his office for the team to report in.
"Oh no~~~" Lucy began crying tears at her luck. "I should've known being on the same team as Erza and Natsu would backfire on me."
"Enough dolly dallying. Hurry to Master's office and see what he needs to tell us!"
Natsu and Gray immediately got up and ran toward the office at Erza's command. However, Natsu was also excited to fight some incredibly powerful enemies. He didn't need the extra motivation coming from Erza. He couldn't even wait as he was shaking in excitement.
Meanwhile, Erza grabbed ahold of Happy and Lucy and dragged them behind her as she made her way to the office.
"Good luck you guys!" Mira cheerfully said while waving.
"I feel bad for Lucy…" was the consensus of the onlookers. On top of being a newbie and embarking on a mission most experienced mages wouldn't dare, she was on a team full of monsters.
As the group went to Makarov's office, they heard a voice telling them to "Come in" before they could knock.
Erza's features were as malleable as stone. She knew her Master, and he never acted like this. He was anticipating and waiting for them to come. Why was he so anxious? Since returning from the meeting, he wasn't acting like his usual jovial self. A foreboding feeling was washing over her as she turned the knob. "Should we even go on this mission?" Regardless of how dangerous the Oración Seis were, the lives of her friends were more important. If this was a mission that caused the Master himself to be bent out of shape, what hope did they have?
Makarov was sitting behind his desk with his hands clasped on top. "Come on in. There isn't much time, I'm afraid. The Council is moving quickly since the Oración Seis have already made their moves."
"What are these guys after, anyway?" Natsu said while cleaning out his ears. Usually, he would've been chastised for saying something stupid, but the group was shocked when he asked a legitimate question.
"I don't know the specifics since the Council has become tightlipped on information. Y'know, ever since that whole Jellal and Ultear situation. You'll be debriefed at the meeting location further with more details."
Everyone reacted to Jellal's name being uttered—everyone except Erza. If she was experiencing something, she made sure not to let it visibly show. She looked at Makarov for further information.
Makarov continued debriefing. "From what I know, they're after a superweapon. If they get ahold of it, they'll have the power to wreak havoc on the continent."
Everyone's eyes widened at the declaration. Was the Oración Seis so bold to try to seize a superweapon? What did they even plan on doing with it? Whatever it was, no one in the room thought it was for the good of society.
Gray chimed in after the silence and shock wore off. "So that's why the Magic Council is sending people along with us?"
The Magic Council never concerned themselves with issues that didn't relate to magic or guilds. If a superweapon were present, the Council would be the first people on the scene trying to get ahold of it, especially if it was powerful enough to add to their arsenal.
"Precisely. A weapon of such magnitude can't be left unchecked. So after the defeat of the Oración Seis, the Magic Council will confiscate the weapon if it hadn't been destroyed." Makarov finally said, "You'll be rendezvous with the other teams at Bob's second home. The location details will be in the work package that Mira will give you. You'll need to leave and head there as soon as possible."
The team nodded at their Master's orders. The seriousness of the mission just became more daunting by the minute. If they failed, they weren't losing money or a client. This mission would affect the future of the nation and potentially beyond.
"Of course, Master. We'll leave as soon as possible." Erza lowered her head and signaled the team to leave.
Natsu pumps his fist as it's engulfed in flames. "You don't have to worry, Gramps. This Oración whatever won't know what hit him."
Lucy nervously chuckled as she said, "If only I were half as confident."
"Can you go one second without saying some ridiculous nonsense?" Gray rebukes with his arms crossed. He was still half naked, but everyone gave up on trying to tell him.
"What did you say?! Do you want to get beat up before we leave?!"
"I want to see you try, fire breath!"
"Enough!" Erza stared daggers at the two. She doesn't need to say another word to convey that more disturbances would lead to painful consequences.
"AYE!" Natsu and Gray hugged each other aggressively, fearing Erza's punishment.
"One last thing before you leave." Makarov took on an even more serious tone. No one thought it was possible as he hadn't let up on the daunting atmosphere since they'd arrived. "The Magic Council representatives who will be accompanying you are Enforcers."
"Oh yeah! I can finally see how strong they are!" Natsu jumped up before a slipper from Lucy quickly swatted him down.
"THAT'S THE LAST THING WE WANT!"
Erza had conflicting feelings. She knew the Enforcers were powerful. If what Yajima said about them was true, having them onboard would significantly bolster their chances for victory. However, their duty and loyalty lie with the Magic Council, who didn't have the best opinion on Fairy Tail. At a moment's notice, they could very well be enemies. "What do you think about them, Master?"
Makarov sat back and twiddled his thumbs. "I managed to speak to one before the meeting. He was an interesting fellow."
Flashback Start
"My name is Shirou Emiya. It's nice to meet you finally. I've heard a lot about your guild."
Makarov began sweating bullets. "Only good things, I hope." He then uncontrollably chuckled as to try to lighten the mood. It didn't take a genius to know that Fairy Tail wasn't well-liked around the Magic Council. Makarov even remembered Yajima saying that Fairy Tail usually caused more headaches and trouble for the Council than most lowly dark guilds. "We can't be that bad…"
Thinking about it, he's heard mixed comments about the guild. They were powerful yet destructive. "It's been all over the place, honestly. However, I'm not one to take hearsay at face value. I'll evaluate what I can see."
"Interesting boy." To say he was analytical would be an understatement. Makarov could feel Emiya searching him over. Whether it was to gauge his power, character, or even both, he was up in the air. "That's good to hear. We don't usually get extended that courtesy. From what I'm told, my brats will team up with you on this upcoming mission. I hope you can come to an evaluation then."
"I sure will." Shirou smiled at the man. Speaking to Makarov was like talking to a grandfather he never knew. He was a sweet, warm man who radiated an aura of comfort, compassion, and understanding. Although he sported some perverted quirks, it added to his charm. "I guess Tohsaka was right about people needing a quirk or two." Did he have any quirks?
Trying to sense the boy's intention and power was impossible. He didn't radiate or exude anything. It was like he was invisible. "Is he suppressing himself?" Even if that was the case, he should still feel something. Makarov has honed his sensory capabilities for decades, which has just now failed him. He wouldn't know Shirou was around if he wasn't standing directly before him. "Who is this boy? Just how powerful is he?"
Staring into Shirou's eyes only amplified whatever he was feeling. Was it fear? Confusion? Curiosity? No, it was a mix of the three.
Shirou's golden-brown eyes were mesmerizing. It told a story without uttering any words. Battles won and lost. Love that was found and lost. Friendships that were made and broken. Those eyes have experienced so much life that they couldn't possibly belong to someone so young. Right?
Underneath that veil were layers and layers of other experiences and emotions—even darker ones that Makarov wouldn't want to venture into. Above all else, he saw optimism. These weren't the eyes of someone who'd given up or was depressed. They were the eyes of a fighter or warrior still burdened with glorious purpose. "Truly, the eyes are the window into the soul."
"Are you alright, sir?" Shirou bent down to try to get eye level to the man. "Is he having a heart attack or something?" Makarov had been quiet and dazing off for too long for his comfort.
He quickly swatted the boy away before he could get any closer. "I'm fine! I'm fine!" He coughed a little to regain his bearings.
"Alrighty than~~~. I'll be off. I've left my partner for a little too long. I don't trust him by himself for long periods." Arvid was someone who got into trouble when he was bored. Either that, or he'd hit up a local bar or pub and begin challenging people to drinking competitions. "I worry about his liver health."
Smiling, Makarov liked seeing camaraderie on display. It was a breath of fresh air since every time he visited the Magic Council, he was only exposed to politics and verbal lashings. The Wizard Saints barely convened unless something big was happening. He wished to forget half of the ones he did know. "Especially that deplorable and disrespectful brat!" The image of an eccentric man doing poses with some wheel on his back flashed into Makarov's mind.
Of the workers at the Magic Council, he usually forgot the people who worked there were real since they never showed emotions. They were akin to robots or animatronics. Shirou is the first person he's had a conversation with that wasn't unpleasant.
"Before you go, young man. Can I ask you something?" Seeing Shirou nod, he inquired, "Were you the one who went on that Bosco mission?"
The Bosco mission showed the true strength of the Magic Council on full display. Not only were they able to defeat a tycoon whose company stretched across nations. They managed to topple a government. All this without using the Wizard Saints. Calling the Enforcers efficient was an understatement. This was a feat only some could achieve.
"I am."
The answer was short and to the point. It didn't have a hint of pride to it. This was something that struck Makarov as odd. Was he not proud of his achievement? Indeed, it was a feat that was deserving of praise. So why not boast? Even experienced S-class mages celebrated or boasted about their recent mission accomplishments. It wasn't bad form in the circles he was in.
"I must commend you. It must've been difficult even with the Magic Council's aid."
Shirou was surprised by the statement: "The Magic Council never aided Arvid and me. They sent us off on the mission, but it was just the two of us." He began to walk toward the main building, toward the meeting room.
Unbeknownst to Shirou, Makarov stood aghast at what he just heard. "So two men did all that! And they call us monsters?!"
Flashback End
"...interesting indeed." Even remembering the conversation was a whirlwind. Makarov wished he could've asked more questions. The boy was an enigma. However, after the meeting, they were both pulled away and rushed off to do their own things.
"Interesting as in bad, Master?" Erza clarified. She wanted to be sure what they were getting into.
"No." Finally, Makarov said, "Be wary. I'm not sure who the other guilds are sending. However, Shirou and Arvid aren't to be taken lightly." It was a warning and a matter of fact all wrapped into one.
Everyone nodded, while Natsu got even more ecstatic. "So many strong people to meet and fight! I can't wait!" His heart was burning hotter than a furnace, and his blood was pumping. He hasn't been this excited in a long time. "What was the mission again?"
Worth Woodsea Station, Fiore, Ishgar
"That's the last time I'm taking directions from you."
"It was a simple mistake. I might've drank too much!"
Arvid stumbled off the train, reeking of booze. He smelled like an unwashed bar run through by fans of a winning sports team. The conductor stood by the door and yelled out toward the Enforcer.
"I BETTER NOT SEE YOU ON MY TRAIN AGAIN! YOU'RE BANNED!" The door soon closed, and the train took off, leaving the duo behind.
"Ah, whatever!" Arvid stuck his middle finger at the departing train, hoping the conductor was still looking. "Drink one too many beer bottles, and soon they threaten you with public intoxication. What happened to the freedom of this land?"
Shirou rolled his eyes as he continued looking at the map. "We need to take the quickest path."
"Like I said, it was a simple mistake. No harm, no foul, right?" Arvid tried to placate his irate partner. However, the more he talked, the more aggravated Shirou got.
"Because of you, we're hours later than we planned. You're lucky I planned to be early. If we hurry, we might make it on time." Shirou glared at his partner, who didn't pay him any mind. He assumed the native citizen of the planet would know his way around the county better than him, but he was wrong.
Arvid managed to stand upright enough to make his point. "Look….I thought we would've gotten there sooner if we had taken the train from Hargeon. In retrospect, I may or may not have held the map upside down. The train from Magnolia Town was the correct option." He walks over to Shirou and smacks him on the back. "But we're here now, right? All well that ends well."
"We don't know how this ends yet." Shirou corrected as he folded the map up and began walking. "The meeting place of the Allied Forces is directly south of the forest. The report says it's a mansion and belongs to the guild master of Blue Pegasus, Bob."
"Oh~~~~" Deciding to lighten the mood, Arvid nudged Shirou. "I heard Bob was lovely. One of the prettiest gals in town. You should visit her at Blue Pegasus once we're done and ask for a smooch."
Shirou wasn't an idiot and wouldn't fall for such a ploy. "I thought Bob was a boy's name?"
"It's gender-neutral, my young friend. Don't go around being non-inclusive."
"Uh-huh." Shirou took a picture from the envelope and flashed it at the man. "This is how I know you don't read the work packages. There's a picture of a man named Bob here clear as day."
"My eye!" Arvid instantly grabbed his only good eye as he was flashed with one of the most horrifying pictures ever. It was like he was blinded by the brightest light he had ever seen. Unfortunately for him, that picture will forever be etched in the recesses of his mind. It will come back to the forefront of his mind to haunt him at his happiest moments sporadically.
Shirou shook his head at his teammate's childish display and moved on. "I hope this mission gets wrapped up quickly. I don't think I can deal with this any longer."
"That was underhanded. You should've prepared me before you did that." The shirtless warrior regained his composure and walked normally again. "Bob and I have some history. He's been trying to invite me to join Blue Pegasus for a while now."
This was one of the few times Arvid opened up about his past. Shirou took the opportunity to ask, "Why?" The question came off more aggressively than he intended.
"If you must know. Before I was the Earth God Slayer and an Enforcer, I was a damn good knight for the Magic Council. I was the best within the Custody Enforcement Unit. Almost twenty years of service and counting." Arvid preened at his accomplishments. "Such accolades would, of course, attract attention, which led to Bob trying to recruit me."
"I don't think your accolades are the only reason he wants you to join." Shirou quickly quipped. It was his turn to take a few jabs at his partner.
He enjoyed the dynamic he and Arvid had. Although it nearly fumbled this mission, and Shirou detested his actions in public, they didn't walk on eggshells when talking to each other. It made the work and day go by faster. They have found a comfortable balance between work and play.
As the two went back and forth laughing and talking, they soon encountered a young lady walking with her… white cat? Shirou didn't know what he was looking at. The cat seemed to be walking on its hind legs like a normal person. "I don't think I'll ever get used to these sights." Setting aside his disbelief, the individuals were walking on the same dirt path as them but slightly ahead.
"Oh? Someone being this far out in the woods is peculiar." Arvid didn't need to say anything else to signal to Shirou what he was alluding to. This individual could only be one of two things: a member of the Allied Forces or an enemy.
As they got closer, Shirou could examine the person more clearly. She didn't look mature. She had a diminutive frame, and her hair was styled in pigtails. She wore a multicolored dress with a guild mark stamp on her right shoulder. "She's from a guild."
"Cait Shelter, to be precise. Where is the rest of her team? It's irresponsible to leave this child alone like this."
"Oh? You're the bastion of responsibility now?" Looking around, Shirou couldn't spot another person. "It seems she's on her own. Is it possible the guild sent just one person?"
Ignoring his earlier comment, Arvid answered, "It's possible. But that one person better be remarkable."
Once they approached the girl, Shirou saw her as a nervous wreck. The entire situation seemed to be causing her stress.
"What will they think of me, Carla? Will they be mad that it's just me? I'm not that strong, but I can still help."
The cat let out a frustrated sigh and began chastising the little girl. "You won't get their respect if you lack confidence. So straighten your posture, and let's get moving. We'll be late if we keep walking at this pace." The cat smelled the two Enforcers closing in on them. "Wendy, we have guests."
"Huh?" Wendy turned around and saw two men approaching. To say she was caught off guard was an understatement.
The man with the eye patch was a towering figure. Both girls could smell the alcohol on the man from a distance. Looking up at him put a strain on their neck. He didn't have a shirt, and his Magic Council pendant was on full display around his neck. He had a giant hammer strapped to his back that he was ready to use at any moment. He only really needed an excuse.
The other individual was shorter than his partner but still decently tall compared to the average person. His outfit and features were unique. He was one of the few people Wendy had seen who sported auburn hair and golden-brown eyes. Although his armor didn't seem to provide much in the area of protection, it was light. He had a red headband and was sleeveless on the right side.
Both men were muscular and walked with an air of lethality. They were dangerous, and Wendy didn't even need to use her senses to see that.
"You must be the representative from Cait Shelter. It's an honor to meet you. I'm Shirou, and this is Arvid." Shirou extended his hand to greet the young woman.
"Oh, um~~~, y-yes that's me. I'm Wendy, and this is Carla." She shakily reciprocated the handshake. Wendy's nervousness was amplified tenfold. She had never encountered the Magic Council before today. She had only heard horror stories about the group. She didn't know the first thing to say or do when encountering these people.
"This girl is going to drive me to catnip." She rubbed her forehead in frustration. Seeing her partner's stress, Carla decided to step in to alleviate the tension. "You must be the Magic Council representatives. It's nice to put faces to names finally."
"Likewise, little cat! Should we continue on our way then?" Arvid roared, shocking Wendy and Carla. Shirou was already used to Arvid's boisterous nature.
As everyone began walking, both groups were analyzing the other. Although Shirou didn't notice, Arvid was able to pick up on Wendy's unique magic. "It's similar yet different at the same time. Is she also a God slayer?" He knew little about Cait Shelter since they weren't as popular as Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord.
Wendy's nostrils were flaring up from the smell Shirou was giving off. Both men smelled unique, but Shirou had a distinct smell that couldn't be ignored. It smelled like metal and fire. It was like she was standing in front of a foundry.
Choosing not to walk the rest of the way silently, Shirou cut through the air like a hot knife to butter: "So Wendy, tell us a little about yourself."
She nervously scratched her cheek with her index finger. "Oh, well~~~~"
Bob's Palace, South of Worth Woodsea, Fiore, Ishgar
There was a current standoff between the three guilds of Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale, and Fairy Tail. Old rivalries and feuds resurfaced as a brawl was on the verge of starting.
Before it could escalate further, Jura slammed his staff on the ground loud enough to cut through all the commotion. It threatened to break the ground itself. "ENOUGH!"
Everyone turned their attention to the newest Wizard Saint. They were all shocked and dazed. To have a Wizard Saint in their presence was astonishing. They were celebrities in the eyes of the magical world. A Wizard Saint held much political power, money, and fame. It was a position desired by most, but only a few would have the honor of donning the title in their lifetime.
Jura said finally, "We're here to work together to destroy the Oración Seis! This is not the time to fight amongst each other!" His presence exuded authority. His order was final and left no room for disagreements or dissenters.
"Of course, Jura." Lyon looked back at his team leader with unrivaled respect
Everyone else in the room looked at the man with wonder and appreciation. With a Wizard Saint on their side, they felt they couldn't lose this upcoming battle.
Natsu was still trying to understand why this guy was getting all this hype. "Who?"
Lucy looked at her teammate incredulously. "That's Jura! He's one of the Ten Wizard Saints. He's kind of a big deal."
"So he's like Gramps and Jose. So he must be strong." Gray concluded as he stared at the man.
Erza corrected Gray's statement. "He's their version of Gildarts. He's the Ace of Lamia Scale. The Wizard Saints aren't equal in power. It's simply a title. They have varying degrees of power amongst themselves." She remembered when Makarov saved her from Jose and how swiftly he defeated the man. It put things in perspective for her.
"Our guild only needed to send three representatives, unlike the rest," Sherry said as she flicked her hair to the side and sauntered over to Lyon.
"This chick will take any chance she gets to jab at me." Lucy could feel the comment directed at her but decided to let it go. "Look at me being the bigger person!"
Jura looked out at the group and surmised. "It looks like the representatives from three guilds are here. We'll wait for the representatives of Cait Shelter and the Magic Council to arrive."
Ichiya, while hanging from a spear Erza skewered him on, informed the group. "Ya, about those two, Cait Shelter is sending only one, while the Council is only sending two people."
Erza already knew that two people from the Council were being sent. However, she was shocked Cait Shelter was only sending one individual. "Only one person."
The entire room was in an uproar. Some felt Cait Shelter was disrespecting them and not taking the situation seriously. Others just assumed that this individual was so powerful that they had the battle prowess of multiple mages in one. Regardless, they couldn't be stronger than a Wizard Saint. Right?
Lyon raised his own suspicion and concern on the matter. "If the Magic Council spearheaded this mission, why are they only bringing two members to the table? Surely, they have more men at their disposal to offer."
Jura stepped in to defend his organization. "Less is more in this scenario. If they sent a battalion of Rune Knights, that would be a hindrance. So, they opted to send more specialized individuals on this mission. The only group I can think of is the Enforcers. However, I agree they could've spared one or two more."
Simply the name of the organization sucked the air out of the room. They've become the new boogeyman to all legal guilds. Especially with their recent mission in Bosco and the infamy it brought them.
"From what Master told us, the two Enforcers accompanying us are Shirou and Arvid," Erza informed the group. It was no use withholding information that would aid them if they were all in this together.
"Shirou?!" Jura recognized the name. "So that's the position he was applying for when I met him. I'm happy he got what he was looking for. My instincts were right about how strong he was." He hoped they could get a chance to talk again. He never got the opportunity to ask his questions.
Erza recognized the tone of familiarity in Jura's voice. "Do you, by chance, know him, Jura?"
*AHEM AHEM* Clearing his throat, the Wizard Saint answered, "I do. We ran into each other a while back and talked. He's a good person and an asset to the team. I personally vouch for him."
Lyon and Sherry were both shocked. It wasn't every day that their Ace spoke so highly about someone. They were intrigued to meet this individual who could impress Jura just by chatting with him.
"Both Master and Jura speak of this Shirou so highly. Who is he?" Erza, and the rest of the team, was on edge about Shirou Emiya's identity.
Their questions were soon to be answered as the remaining members of the Allied Forces walked into the room. All conversations were halted to the point where a pen could be heard dropping. The silence truly was deafening.
"We finally made it!" Shirou wiped away fake sweat from his forehead. He didn't like being late and keeping others waiting. He thought such actions were rude and unbecoming. "I hope we didn't keep you guys waiting too long."
Jura smiled at the familiar face. "He doesn't look too different. That's good. People usually change when they get into the Magic Council. Not for the better either." He answered his friend with, "Not at all. We were just ready to begin the briefing."
Everyone was on edge. The people who walked in were enigmas, for lack of a better term. Two of them radiated a surreal aura of magic. Well, it was surreal for most, but not for a few: Erza, Jura, Ichiya, and Natsu could sense the strange magic from them.
As for Shirou, they sensed nothing. He was a blank canvas. An anomaly none of them have encountered. Even non-magic users still had something, but he was a vacuum.
Arvid decided to introduce himself and the group. "Well, I'm Arvid! This is my partner Shirou, and that little girl is Wendy. The child is the representative of Cait Shelter."
"You forgot me, you overgrown brute!" Carla stepped forward and decided to introduce herself: "I'm Carla. It's a pleasure to meet you."
A similar cat, but blue this time, looked enamored by the presence of Carla. Shirou looked on as Happy started flirting away. "There's more of these cats?!"
The group smiled as they also introduced themselves. It didn't take long for The Trimens to start hitting on Wendy. Something that made Shirou uneasy and look at the group in a different light. "Is that even legal?"
As Shirou looked around, a pink-haired boy looked at him strangely. "Does he want something?" Natsu began walking toward him as they continued to lock eyes. "This is one of the Fairy Tail guys."
Natsu stared at him intently. Lucy and Gray noticed the face-off and tried to get their teammate to back off before he did something to further damage their guild's image in the eyes of the Magic Council. But before they could, Natsu said something that made everyone falter and fall on their faces.
"You smell funny."
It came off as a flat statement. Something someone would say casually. It wasn't something to say to someone you just met and could potentially be dangerous.
Shirou took offense and sniffed his armpit. "I don't smell." As he thought about it, a thought clicked into his mind. "Could he be smelling….."
"Nah, my nose is never wrong, especially when it comes to fire and metal. I've smelt my fair share of that."
"...Unlimited Blade Works?"
Wendy's eyes widened at the revelation. "So it's not just me? He can smell it, too?"
"So where are you hiding that fire? Let me get a taste!" Natsu almost pounced on Shirou before he was pummeled to the ground by Erza. "OWW~~~! What was that for?"
"Have some tact, Natsu." Erza let out a sigh before vehemently apologizing. "I'm sorry for my friend. I'm Erza, and I look forward to fighting alongside you."
Shirou's eyes widened. "So this is the person I keep getting compared to? We don't even look similar besides our hair. However, I'd like to see her magic if it's identical to mine." He reciprocated the kind words. "Likewise. I've heard a lot about you. I'm hoping to see you fight."
"Of course. I won't back down, so you'll see me in the heat of battle."
"She reminds me of Saber." Her outfit and mannerisms were shockingly similar to Shirou's past servant. Shirou then looked over at Natsu, holding his bruised head while on the ground. "Do you eat fire by chance?" Although the question would've sounded insane not too long ago, after Arvid's explanation, it was a form of magic in this world.
The question sparked Natsu's interest once again. "Yup! I'm a Fire Dragon Slayer!"
"So he can eat fire to regain magic and vitality." Something that caught him off guard was their senses. If they could genuinely smell his magic, this could lead to questions he'd rather not answer. "So, does Arvid know?" He looked over to his partner, who was talking to other people. "He would've brought it up if he had. Plus, there may be a difference in abilities between a God Slayer and a Dragon Slayer." He remembered Arvid mentioning a guild outside of Ishgar that ate dragons. "Is that how slayers get their powers?"
Natsu got up from his seated position, but a glare from Erza reigned him in from acting out. Instead, Natsu decided to spew out what he had been waiting to ask. "You're an Enforcer, right? That means you gotta be strong. Will you fight me?!"
Erza was too late to intercept Natsu before he could ask his proclamation. Everyone in the room was either stunned by Natsu's moxie or stupidity—maybe even a bit of both.
"You idiot! We're on a mission! Can you not—"
Shirou simply smiled and rubbed the back of his neck while watching Erza hammer into the poor Dragon Slayer. "They are an interesting bunch."
"Since all the involved parties are here, we can get the mission briefing on the way." As he informed the group, Ichiya did a series of hand gestures and dances. The antic completely wiped away the embarrassment from the Fairy Tail and was transferred to Blue Pegasus, who seemed to be none the wiser of this fact.
"The man is eccentric…." Shirou didn't know how to react to what he was seeing. He walked closer to the man so he could listen carefully.
Ichiya soon adopted a serious tone that surprised everyone. "What do you guys know about Nirvana?"
Being raised in Japan, Shirou had heard the term before. It was the final goal every Buddhist sought after. However, he felt that Ichiya wasn't about to do an exposition dump on Siddhartha Gautama and his teachings on escaping the cycle of pain and suffering in life.
As Ichiya continued his presentation, Shirou had a nagging feeling he couldn't shake off. Ever since he got older, the more he trained, he developed a sixth sense. It helped him in combat, sensing ill intent, and more importantly…"Are we being spied on?"
He looked around and couldn't see any disturbances. Reaching out with his senses didn't help either. "Whoever it is, they are good." Although not Assassin's level of concealment good, it is decent nonetheless. Shirou knew his senses were correct. He just needed to find out where the interloper was hiding out.
Before he could do anything, Natsu let out a roar of excitement and busted the mansion's doors right open as he ran out. "What the hell?" He could see why the Magic Council didn't take too kindly to Fairy Tail. "They're battle-hungry, just like him." The image of a spearman with blue armor came to mind. Although he was a hero, his blood lust and love of battle complicated things when working alongside anyone.
As the building began to clear out, Arvid moved to Shirou's side. "You see what I mean? Fairy Tail earns the ire of the Magic Council on their own."
Shirou nodded as he began going about the task he was interrupted in doing. As he moved toward the room's walls, Arvid gave his partner a questioning look. "Are you all right?" He knew Shirou could be a peculiar fellow, but he always had a reason for doing something.
"If Natsu was here, he could probably sniff the person out." As he was about to continue his investigation, Jura walked up to the Enforcers.
"Ah, I don't think we've met yet, I'm—"
Arvid interrupted the Wizard Saint. "I know who you are, sir. Jura, right? Shirou has spoken about you. I'm Arvid. It'll be interesting working alongside a Wizard Saint. Haven't done that yet."
He raised one of his hands. "The pleasure is all mine."
Before the two could continue, Shirou felt a disturbance upstairs. "We've been spied upon." He ran up the stairs as fast as he could.
"WHAT!" The two men in unison said in disbelief. They would've felt it if they were, right? Both followed behind the Hero.
Arvid was one not to distrust Shirou's senses. His gut feelings haven't been wrong. "Where is the person? If that's the case, our entire plan we came up with has to be thrown out the window."
Jura agreed with Arvid's line of thinking. "Indeed." He was ashamed he didn't catch onto the interloper. He was too complacent and should've known the Oración Seis wouldn't be beneath such an action.
Shirou busted through the door to see Ichiya lying on the ground with a woman standing over him. "Man~~~" was all the Blue Pegasus leader could say as he seemed dazed out of his mind.
"Oh? Guess the cat's out of the bag now." Two blue spirits appeared before the lady as they transformed into the downed Ichiya. "Stall them as a make my escape!" Angel wasn't haughty enough to think she could pull a victory over a Wizard Saint and two Enforcers. She got the information she came for and was going to make her escape.
"Not so fast!" Arvid pulled his hammer out and was readying an offense before the fake Ichiya intercepted him.
"Nuh-uh! You ain't getting past us, big boy!" They released a perfume into the air from one of Ichiya's tubes. "Say night night!"
Arvid and Jura backed away before the particles could get released into the air. Shirou, on the other hand, moved forward while holding his breath. "Trace On!" He brought forth Kanshou and Bakuya and launched one at Angel, who was running away.
"Oh no! Watch out!" Gemini and Mini cried out to their master. They didn't expect anyone to run through hazard gas to take a shot out of their summoner.
Angel heard the cries of her Celestial Spirit and turned around just in time to get grazed by the blade launched at her. If she was only a few seconds too late, the attack may've been lethal. "Bastard! You scared my face! I'll kill you!"
She quickly took out another Celestial Spirit key but remembered being outnumbered here. Gemini and Mimi could only hold off those two men for so long before they fell. Clenching her teeth in frustration, she opened 'The Gate of the Ram.'
An anthropomorphic ram appeared out of thin air. It was apparent from how shaken up she was that she feared her summoner.
"What can I do—"
"Shut up and get me out of here!" Angel had yet to calm down from what she had just gone through. A little blood was rolling down her cheek from the scar. Fury was bubbling to the surface as she watched the man who defaced her closing in.
Aries used her 'Wool Magic' to create a cloud that transported herself and her summoner away. The cloud raised them several feet in the air just above the treeline so they could quickly escape without dodging too many obstacles.
"Damn." Shirou saw the duo escape at astonishing speeds. His dual blade returned to him with blood grazing the edge of it.
Arvid caught up with Shirou. "That menace has been dealt with. However, it was a spirit and just returned after we defeated it. So we couldn't interrogate any further." He seemed down at the turn of events. They didn't expect to be blindsided so early in the game.
Jura also solemnly walked up to Shirou. "I suppose she escaped."
"Not necessarily."
Shirou's comment caused Arvid to raise his only visible eyebrow. "Do you have something in your bag of tricks that can help?"
He elevated his right palm as time and space distorted. Blue swirls of light congregated as a red blade began to appear. Its very sight incited an animalistic fear—like prey stalking you behind blades of grass, ready to pounce.
The design of the blade and the blade itself was something that neither Jura nor Arvid had seen. It was a great sword. The blade was red and black. It was a mystery if the red was paint or blood from those the sword had taken over the years. Multiple cavities and etchings on the hellish metal made it look even more ominous and menacing.
While Jura and Arvid felt fear and uncertainty gripping their hearts, Shirou was careless with the blade. It was apparent the sword didn't bother him at all—it was just another tool in his arsenal to use on his journey to becoming a Hero of Justice.
"So this is his magic?" Jura finally saw the man in action. He had wondered what magic Shirou Emiya used and wasn't disappointed. "Two requip mages on the team will surely be an asset."
Arvid finally got a hold of himself. "Why do I always space out when he takes one of those dumb weapons out?" He could chalk it up to still be buzzed from all the alcohol he consumed, but he felt the weapons were alive in some way. Even now, he could hear a faint howl calling to him every time he looked at the blade Shirou summoned. "I'm losing my mind…"
"Are you going after her with the sword or….." Jura didn't know the purpose of pulling a sword out. Sure, it was a menacing sword, but the woman was far gone to where a sword could be effective. Even Jura's long-range spells couldn't reach the woman now.
"Shirou can shoot his swords pretty far. I've seen it." The barbarian remembered how Shirou could shoot soldiers on land from Tiberius' ship. "He's an archer, he says."
"Shoot a sword?" Jura repeated the sentence to make sure he heard it right. " How does one shoot a sword? "
"Just wait and see."
Unaware of Jura and Arvid's back-and-forth, Shirou simply dropped the blood from his dual blade onto Hrunting. As the blood touched the tip, the predator blade began vibrating. It was like a dog who had just gotten a scent to follow. The blood lust emanated off and flooded the area with an oppressive aura. The sword threatened to leave Shirou to hunt its target, having a mind of its own, but Shirou was firmly grasping it and reigning it in.
The only other time Shirou felt this much blood lust at once was during the Fifth Holy Grail. Cú Chulainn and, by extension, Gáe Bolg, let out an aura of death unrivaled until now. It was the type of blood lust that allowed you to see your end before it even occurred.
Both Arvid and Jura instinctively took steps back. It wasn't even conscious. They didn't want any part of what Shirou had in his hand. It was dangerous, plain and simple.
As the bow appeared to launch his attack, the blade mangled and contorted to a shape more conducive to being shot. It elongated and took on a more spiraled shape. He readied his bow and aimed at the women. Although she was at a distance neither Arvid nor Jura could see, Shirou could still make the figure of the woman through the foliage. It didn't matter either way, as Hrunting now had her scent. He could shoot the arrow in the total opposite direction and it would still hit its mark.
"I feel bad for her, honestly." Although he didn't know what the attack could do, he sensed and saw from Shirou's weapons that it wouldn't look pretty. Every weapon in his arsenal was lethal.
Arvid had the pleasure, or displeasure, depending on the point of view, of meeting some of the most powerful and frightening mages on the continent. None of them were quite as mind-boggling as Shirou. Arvid even felt like there was more to the boy than he was letting on. He had yet to show his true capabilities, which was an even more frightening prospect. Because of what he had shown, he was already stacked up pretty well on that pile of strongest mages he'd ever worked with. He was simultaneously the most frightening and compassionate person he ever met. It was ironic and contradictory, but what do you expect from Shirou Emiya? "The brat could just snipe me from a distance without me being none the wiser." If he ever did make an enemy at work, he didn't want it to be Shirou.
Blood-red energy condensed and spiraled around the arrow as Shirou rocked it back. The ground he was standing on began to break apart as the howl of the sword grew louder and louder to where it wasn't unnoticeable anymore.
"I am the bone of my sword…Hrunting!"
The sound barrier instantly broke when Shirou fired. It sent a plume of dust and debris behind him as it approached the target. The attack was loud enough that everyone in the forest could hear it.
The attack stirred the air as trees were uprooted from the air circulation. It was almost as if the blade was cleaving its way to the target and slicing everything in its path. It was crossing distances not imaginable in seconds.
Angel looked back and saw a red dot approaching and constantly breaking the sound barrier. "Aries! Create a wool shield or something!" She didn't know what that was, but her heart was racing at the very thought of it. She wanted it away from her.
"Wool Wall!" Fluff began erupting in front of the two women. Although, this false sense of security would do little to stop what happens next.
Hrunting quickly changed its trajectory mid-air and circumnavigated the wool wall. Before either woman could react, the arrow lodged itself into Angel's heart. The realization of the blow had yet to dawn upon her since it happened so fast.
"GUH…." She spit out blood as she looked down to see a massive metallic arrow sticking out from her. The hellish metal was cold to the touch and unrelenting. The arrow passed through her and stuck out from the other side. It vibrated in glee as it successfully hit its target. It has caught its prey.
She began losing feeling in her legs as she tried desperately to take it out. However, she had neither the strength nor the wherewithal to do so. She has lost too much blood in such a short time frame. A small pool of it was forming right beneath her. "N-No…how?"
Angel never thought this turn of events would occur. Death wasn't something she thought about. She frantically fidgeted through her Celestial Spirit keys, desperate to find one to help her situation, but she fumbled and dropped them on the ground. "Always….s-so useless!...i-it h-hurts…." She could feel the saltiness of her tears. Her eyelids became heavy as she slid down onto the wool cloud. She continued to cough up blood as it began to choke her. She couldn't get out any more words as she slowly suffocated to death.
The situation unfolding hit Aries like a truck. She took hold of her mouth as her stomach lurched. Fear and dread mounted every second she looked on. Her eyes were wide as she was unable to avert her attention. It demanded to be seen. She tried desperately to disassociate from what was unfolding.
Suddenly, her magic dissipated as she and her summoner fell several feet from the air. "No!" Although her wizard treated her terribly, her duty was to protect and serve whoever called upon her. She failed her mission. The least she could do was not to allow her body to be desecrated any further.
She tried desperately to reach her but was called back to her gate. She no longer had a source of magic to tether her. "I'm so sorry!" Tears welled up in her eyes as she disappeared from this world.
THUD* Angel fell face first on the dirt path in the woods. Hrunting was lodged in even further than before as blood continued to spill out from the protrusion. Her body lay lifeless, thrown out like garbage.
With Shirou
"There was no choice." Shirou was trying to find solace in his actions. He detested killing others. It was the antithesis of what he stood for as a Hero of Justice. He wanted to save everyone, no matter if they were good or evil. However, he had no choice if a person couldn't be contained and was a threat. "If she made it back with the intel she had, she would've jeopardized the mission." Whether the statement was more to convince himself or a matter of fact was unclear. His hands were visibly shaking as he dissipated his bow.
He turned to see Arvid and Jura looking at him. They seemed to be waiting for confirmation, as they couldn't see what had happened.
In a hushed tone, Shirou quelled their curiosity. "It's done." It came out like a whisper, and if neither man were actively and intently listening, they would've missed it.
Both men knew what that meant. The weapon they saw—no, they felt—wasn't designed to maim or injure. It was a weapon of death. Jura had half a mind to consider it of the same ilk as Lullaby: objects capable of releasing death magic. That, combined with Shirou's reaction, allowed both men to come to the same logical conclusion: Angel was no longer among the living.
"Whelp, there's that! Although I doubt she'll make it to Valhalla, there's hope." Arvid didn't seem distressed by the situation and continued like before.
Jura resigned. He wasn't opposed to killing, but he reserved that as a last option. Seeing as the situation got out of hand, he held no ill feelings toward Shirou. If anything, his respect for Shirou grew. He was able to step up and single-handedly save the mission before it got derailed. "We should catch up with our allies. Although we did eliminate one of our targets, being separated isn't optimal."
Both Enforcers agreed as they followed in their allies' footsteps.
With Fairy Tail, Worth Woodsea, Fiore, Ishgar
"What the hell was that?" Was the consensus of the Fairy Tail mages.
They heard a sound akin to thunder crashing as a gust of wind nearly knocked them off their feet. Then, a red streak whizzed past them as it hit a moving cloud.
"Whatever it was came from the direction we left." Gray looked back to see if he could see anything. However, it was futile from the distance he was at.
Erza's mind was racing as she was connecting the events. She was trying to be cautious since they were now on a battlefield, and the enemy could be anywhere. For all they knew, it could've been an attack.
"Do you think it was an enemy?" Lyon said as he caught up to the Fairy Tail group. The rest of the Allied Forces weren't far behind as they stopped to discuss what had just happened.
"Do you think it's too late to turn back?" Lucy asked while shivering.
Wendy was next to her, grabbing on. "I'm with Lucy on this. We can go back to the mansion and wait for you guys."
"Get a hold of yourself, you two. It's embarrassing." Carla now had to deal with Lucy setting a bad example for Wendy.
"I smell something." Natsu took a few whiffs of the air. The odor was unlike anything he had smelled before. It was pungent and jarring. It had notes of acid and metal.
He traced the smell deeper up the path as everyone followed suit. As he made his way up the dirt path, a person lying prone came into view. Natsu tilted his head to get a better view as he got closer and closer. "Are they asleep?" He yelled out at the top of his lungs. "HEY! WAKE UP!"
As the others followed behind Natsu, Hibiki noticed the person immediately. "That's Angel of the Oración Seis!"
Everyone immediately put their guard up, assuming they entered a trap or ambush. Natsu kept moving closer to the body; his senses told him this person was no longer a threat.
"Natsu! Don't get any closer!" Erza warned her teammate as she went to grab him.
Although usually responsive, Natsu just stood there motionless. It was like he was a tree, unable to move from his location. He was standing directly over the body.
As Erza closed the distance, she got a better look at Angel. She would soon come to the same realization Natsu did. "She's…dead…."
This was no illusion. She could see the pool of blood that gathered underneath the woman as a horrid arrow stuck out of her. She was motionless as a set of keys lay not too far from her. They were just within reach.
As Erza examined the scene, the arrow began dissipating into motes of blue light. However, before doing so, she swore she heard….."Is it growling at me?"
Both mages were caught off guard as they stepped back. Before they knew it, the arrow disappeared. The only evidence of its existence is the hole in the woman's chest cavity.
"She's dead…"
Natsu said it loud enough to where the rest of the group, standing a few feet back, could hear. A myriad of different emotions flickered throughout the group. They didn't know how to feel exactly. On one hand, a powerful enemy of theirs has been eliminated and was off the board. On the other hand, killing wasn't something they were used to experiencing.
Lucy pulled Wendy back as she covered her eyes. "Let's go over here really quick, sweetie." Carla didn't argue as she followed the two girls away from the scene.
"—B-But who could've done it?" Eve stammered to get the words out.
"It was probably whoever fired that attack we just witnessed a while ago," Gray surmised as he moved closer to examine the body. It was more morbid curiosity than anything else.
"It smelled like Shirou." Natsu emerged from his daze and turned toward the group. "The arrow that disappeared smelled like Shirou…" His unmistakable scent was on the arrow, as if it were drenched in him.
Dread was palpable in the air. Everyone had thoughts running through their heads. How and why did Shirou kill her? Was Shirou capable of such things? They just met the guy, who didn't seem like a killer. Was he right in doing so?
"No wonder Master wasn't feeling good about this mission." Her foreboding feeling back at the guild was hitting her like a kugel. She was right about this mission. The looming darkness and fear felt were proven correct.
At this moment, everyone fully grasped the gravitas of the situation. Beforehand, they were simply dipping their toes in. Now, they're submerged, and the body of water is bottomless.
The team felt like Odysseus when he had to pass through the Strait of Messina. Charybdis and Scylla guarded the Strait, and the hero had to make his way between the two sea monsters. However, in this instance, the sea monsters were the Oración Seis and the Enforcers.
"Oh? It seems they waited for us. How nice!" Arvid's voice cut through as everyone focused on the incoming group.
Shirou felt like thousands of knives were being shot into him from the gazes he was receiving. He knows the feeling all too well since he's been on the other end of it. "Did I do something wrong?"