The screen flickered for a bit before the author appeared with a wave.
*Hey guys Hakuorofan7 here and welcome back to another chapter of the Curious Shadow of Fairy Tail.*
*Didn't expect to see the next chapter so soon, but I was excited to put this one out so here we are.*
*Anyway let's move on shall we.*
*First some credit for Victor Soul for helping come up with the chapter's title and once again thanks for helping with the story.*
*Anyway in this chapter we start a new arc that will explore the other half of this crossover. Finnean and Lucy have adjusted to Fairy Tail after a few days when some people come to Fairy Tail requesting a job. He ends up recognizing something familiar to him and ends up going his first job with a few others. Hope that you all enjoy it.*
*Also I do not own Pokémon or Fairy Tail.*
*Finally just sit back, relax, maybe put some music on, and enjoy. I'll see you all at the end of the chapter.*
The author snapped his fingers, causing the screen to turn to static before the chapter begins.
Found in Translation
(Fairy Tail Guildhall Spare Room - Three Days Later - Early in the Morning)
It was early in the morning when Finnean tossed and turned in cot that was available it the spare room, rolling away from the rising sun creeping through the window. His mane of white hair acting as a second curtain shielding his eyes from the light.
Unaware as a shadow sneaking into the room, approaching close to his cot as a blue eye appeared on it.
Waiting for a minute as the rising sun crept up even more before Finnean's own shadow began to become more apparent.
Before a blue eye appeared on Finnean's own shadow. It flickering for a few moments before it began to shift color.
Vanishing as Finnean's shadow shifted into several shadowy arms, swinging gently in the air as if to feel for something.
Before sinking back down as he began to stir.
"Almost."
The second shadow sneaked away as Finnean got up with a yawn, brushing his hair out of his eyes before looking to see the sun was starting to rise.
"Again...another half an hour..." He yawned out before plopping back down onto his pillow.
For the third day in a row he had been woken up at the crack of dawn, silently starting to curse his Bad Dreams magic acting up. Still figuring out why it was constantly active in the guild, it quickly bothering him less and less as he couldn't a reason why yet. No matter how much he searched the guild hall.
He tried to ask Makarov about it, but the guild master couldn't tell why either after explaining the nature of his magic.
Still Finnean was putting to the back of his mind with each passing day.
Focusing on going back to sleep, while wondering why he felt a sense of bemusement before his vision faded to black.
(Guild Pub - A few hours later)
"Finnean can you please take care of these real quick, I have some orders to take prepare." Mira said with a smile as Finnean's shadow retracted and multiple shadowy hands reached for some plates from under his cloak.
"Of course." Finnean said as he brought two of the plates to his hands and began to walk over towards some of the tables while the guild was in a calm period.
For the past three days he took sometime to help out Mira with orders when he wasn't exploring Magnolia or doing anything else a few times today.
Aside from being a small source of Jewels Finnean figured that it was the least he could do with him staying at the guild. At least Mira seemed to appreciated it.
That and he got to learn more about more of the guild and its members.
Speaking of which.
"Here you go Wan, Mickey. I take it you're going to eat after this round?" Finnean said, setting the plates down between two members.
A man with short black hair, stubble, and mustache wearing sunglasses. Wearing a very distinct set of clothes including a burgundy sweatshirt with a 'b' on it and pants with a piano keyboard pattern on the right pantleg. Across from him was a younger, petite woman with long light brown hair, darker brown eyes. Wearing a strapless black dress with long gloves and devil horn accessories in her hair. Currently she was arm wrestling Yui.
"Yup, must will take a second." Mickey Chickentiger said with a grin as Yui struggled.
"I don't think so-" Yui tried to say before his arm was slammed to the table. "Dang it."
"Better luck next time." Mickey said before digging in while Wan Chanzi just shook his head.
Finnean learned like Levy and her teammates Jet and Droy the two were part of their own team, with Mickey being loud and brash while he learned that you were lucky to hear Wan say anything at all.
Yui often hung out with the team on missions from time to time.
"Fine, we'll go another round later." Yui said before facing Finnean as the shadowy hands holding the other two plates brought them to his now freed hands. "So I take it you're still looking around Magnolia?"
"I am, though I think I've explored a majority of the town yet still finding new things. Did you know there is a dried out field on the western edge." Finnean said, getting Yui to blink.
"Yeah, I hear they simply gave up on the area decades ago. Think it had to some houses of a dark guild that were ran out of town left to rot away. We try to keep Natsu as far from that area as possible." Yui said while shaking his head before smiling. "Thinking about heading on a job soon?"
"Maybe, now excuse me." Finnean said while walking away.
A guild member was thrown in his way as he walked by, a quick gaze from him and the brawl that was starting moved out of the cloaked wizard's path.
It had been on the first day of helping Mira when a brawl erupted and someone crashed into Finnean and knocked down the food he was carrying. The wizard who did so, Max Aloze was promptly swallowed by the mages shadow and was found to have been spat back out in the closed broom closet after Finnean lectured the ones who threw Max into him minutes later.
Finnean was apologetic to Max, but he said that it was just an accident and thankfully the new cleaning supplies hadn't been put in that closet yet.
While in truth an accident, messing with Finnean while helping Mira had become one of the guild's unwritten rules.
He made the rest of the trip uninterrupted before placing the plates before Macao and Romeo, the boy happily starting to dig in.
"Thanks Finnean." Romeo said between bites while his farther shook his head.
"Slow down a bit Romeo, we are not going anywhere." Macao said with a smile.
"Your bandages all gone?" Finnean asked.
"All except the ones over my abdomen, should be good to head back on jobs in a few days." Macao said with a wince, ignoring the phantom pains in his shins and the sound of broom smacks in his mind. "So how are things going?"
"Good, actually managed to get some practice done this morning. Only managed to get it to last a few seconds." Finnean admitted.
"Better than nothing, you're getting there." Macao said with a smile, getting Finnean to nod before he started to walk away.
"So it looks like you're really set on helping Mira out more." A man on the table next to them said.
He looked to be around Macao's age with closed eyes, brown haired styled in a pompadour, and smoking from a corncob pipe. Wearing brown pants and a green shirt with green flower pattern on it.
This was Wakaba Mine, a longtime member of Fairy Tail like Macao and someone Mira had advised him to deal with.
"Yes, Mira had something to say to you about that Wakaba." Finnean said, getting the older man to perk up.
"Really?" He asked curiously.
Only for whatever hopes Wakaba had to be dashed and turned to horror, his pipe dropping from his mouth as he stared at a version of himself in Mira's dress!
"That to remind that you are married, of course I don't know what your wife looks like so I had to make do. Sorry about that." Finnean said, his voice a mirror of Wakaba's before he dispelled the illusion, staring at the man with a neutral expression before walking off.
Wakaba was still gawking and Macao was laughing like crazy, struggling not to fall out of his chair.
"Dad..." Romeo said embarrassed, looking away from his father.
At the pub Mira covered her mouth while letting out a small chuckle, hiding an amused smile.
"Heh, not bad." Cana said as she sat on a table as Finnean approached, before drinking from her barrel.
Finnean simply tilted his head, wondering once again where she put all that alcohol. That or how she wans't even remotely impaired.
Before shrugging as his shadow stretched out from underneath him and next to Cana, a new barrel rising up next to her before his shadow retracted.
"Here you go, enjoy." Finnean said with a small bow.
"Thanks, you sure that you don't want stay for a drink." Cana said with a grin.
"I'm sure." Finnean said, pretty sure that she could outdrink the entire guild.
He heard from Mira that she consumed 30% of all the alcohol in the guild on a monthly basis alone.
"Shame." She said before bringing the barrel to her mouth. "Perhaps another time."
Finnean nodded at that before sinking into his shadow, zipping across the floor before rising at the pub counter.
"Is there anything you need help with Mira?" Finnean asked, getting her to nod.
"Just hand this over to Lucy and that should be all for now, thanks again Finnean." Mira said with a small smile as she placed a glass of iced water on the counter before he returned the smile.
"No problem Mira." He said, taking the glass and walking off.
Soon spotting Lucy as she waved to him from a table close to the pub, sitting a table near the counter with Laki and Schoena. With him buried in a book again. On the pub counter was Makarov, sighing in relief as he saw the brawl dying down.
"Thanks Finnean." Lucy said as he handed her the drink as he took a seat across from Laki.
"No problem, I take it that you're settled into your apartment now?" Finnean asked, getting Lucy to smile as she began to drink the water.
"Yup, thanks for the help with the furniture yesterday." She said.
Honestly she found it lucky that Finnean hand wondered around her area yesterday, made it lucky considering how much he could keep in his shadow. Just helping her move in the boxes containing into her apartment.
Probably would have taken her much longer to mover on her own...
"No problem." Finnean said with a smile.
"Congratulations on building up your abode." Laki said, getting Lucy to tilt her head in confusion.
"Making your apartment." Finnean clarified.
"Thank you Laki, I was hoping to tell Levy but she's on a job it seems. And it seems Natsu and Happy are gone too." Lucy said, noticing the Dragon Slayer and cat gone.
"It is certainly less rowdy and more quite with him gone although..." Schoena remained quiet, sighing as there was static in the air before a table was broken. "I just fixed that Yui."
"Sorry bro!" Yui called out, standing victorious as the brawl ended.
Makarov just sighed at that, making a note to order more tables this week...again...
"Yet it is less rowdy, I believe Natsu is indulging in Happy's favorite past time." Laki said.
"Wonder what they'll catch." Finnean wondered.
"Don't know." Lucy said as she stretched and finished her water. "I take it still no luck on your end Finnean?"
"To be honest I haven't spent all that much time looking for a home yet, will have to do so soon." Finnean said.
"I see, well I hope you find a place soon." Lucy said, getting up with her cup in hand. "Was planning on stocking up on groceries after talking with Levy, might as well do so now. See you guys later."
"Bye Lucy." Finnean said as he and Laki waved.
She waved back as she began to exit the guild.
"It is nice to see you both adjusting to Fairy Tail fairly well." Makarov said with a smile.
"It has been an interesting experience to say the least." Finnean said with a small smile.
"That is certainly one way to put it." Schoena said, looking up from his book.
Makarov shook his head at that with a smile.
Before the doors to the guild were flung open, getting their attention and startling Lucy.
"Oh, sorry about that." The man who threw open the doors said, stepping aside to let Lucy through.
"It's alright." Lucy said a little shakily before exiting the guild.
"Okay I think I would remember her being here in the guild." The said while shaking his head.
He was a muscular man a who looked a few years older and a head taller than Lucy with long sage colored hair slicked back, a short beard, and dark green eyes. Wearing a black shirt, trousers, and boots with a short sleeved yellow jacket and fingerless gloves. At his side was a hoister with two small canisters and a brass and black handgun.
"Anyway I'm back guys!" The man called out as he walked back into the guild, starting a chorus of activity.
"Dena is that really you?"
"Welcome back, surprised you managed to find this place by yourself."
"Been a while!"
"Dena?" Finnean asked, tilting his head while looking at Makarov.
"A former member, he left a year ago to pursue his love of archeology. He was one of the few who didn't cause any trouble from jobs except for one bad habit." The guild master said with a smile as Dena interacted with some of the members came up to him.
"He has a horrid habit of getting lost on the way to back from completing any task if left alone." Schoena sighed out as he closed his book, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Me and him did plenty of jobs together as we held similar interests while Yui would tag along sometimes."
"Usually not that much fun though, except for betting when he'll get back when he vanished. Seriously he can make it to a job, but as soon as it is done disappears." Yui said, walking up to the table while shaking his head with a smirk.
"Three days, that was the longest time I know." Schoena said before shaking his head. "Still it has been a year and he hasn't returned, perhaps a visit."
"So you did arrive early, was worried there for a second." Someone else said, getting attention back to the door.
Makarov saw who it is before shaking his head with a smile.
At the door was an elderly man about about three times Makarov's height and a decade younger, he had brown eyes with a faded scar over the right and long light blue hair that was greying, two bangs framing his face. Wearing a long tan jacket hung over his shoulders, a light colored shirt, black trousers and boots. In one of his hands was what appeared to be a cross between a cane and an umbrella.
When he took a step inside the guild hall, Finnean winced as he felt like a jolt go through his head before it cleared up.
What was that about?
"You alright Finnean?" Laki asked.
"I'm fine." He said as the elderly man walked up to Dena.
"Sorry about that boss, it's been a while." Dena said as they both then walked towards the pub.
"So he went to work you Guile, why didn't you tell me, Mira break out the pints!" Makarov cheered out happily.
"As much as I would love to Makarov I'm here on business." Guile said with a serious face, before it spread into a grin. "Still wouldn't say no to a quick pint!"
"Then get over here!" Makarov said as Guile hobbled over to the pub counter as Dena sat down at the table with the others.
"Schoena, Yui how you two been." Dena said with a smile.
"Fine, been going on plenty of jobs. How about you?" Yui asked.
"Been busy, made some interesting discoveries but mainly the usual. At least my boss is cool." Dena said with a shrug.
"At least you work directly under Guile himself, I prefer studying under my own time and not under any mandates." Schoena said with a smile.
"Meaning you prefer to keep your nose in a book for as long as you can without being disturbed." Yui said with a smirk.
Schoena's eye twitched in annoyance as Dena laughed.
"Looks like you two haven't changed a bit." He said before looking over the rest of the table. "Hey Laki, and you look new too."
"Finnean, I joined a few days ago." He said, bringing out his hand which Dena shook excitedly.
"Well then welcome aboard to Fairy Tail!" Dena said, getting the cloak wizard to nod before they separated as Mira brought too pints over to Makarov and Guile.
"Here you go!" Mira said, placing them on the counter before walking off.
"Thank you dear." Guile said with a nod, before raising his lint in the air. "Too whatever!"
"I'll drink to that!" Makarov cheered, banging their pints together before Guile immediately started to drink. "Are you sure that you're not at least a little buzzed? You usually shout that when I've drunk you under the table."
"I would say that you're drunk if you think that old friend!" Guile said as Makarov took a drink.
Putting it down before he grinned.
"Perhaps you're right!" Makarov said before both old men burst into a laugh.
"Honestly I thought it would take longer than three days to see quite a sight at the counter." Finnean said, the scene reminding him of the times the captain had taken him to the pub in Haregeon.
Usually it was the captain chatting up with his friends over the pub counter, while in the guild it seemed to be just about anywhere really. Except for the infirmary and archives really.
"You should pay tale to the chronicles the master does on his yearly pub crawl." Laki said. "The guild becomes cacophonous with the prattle of drunken old men."
Yui looked confused at that before Schoena shook his head at his brother.
"If the pubs in Haregeon are of any indication, it must be quite the spectacle." Finnean said, musing on that possibility. "But who is this Guile?"
"You not from Fiore or Ishgal I guess?" Dena asked, getting Finnean to shake his head.
"As far as I know." Finnean said.
"He's like me, only he was stuck in the middle of the ocean when that happened." Yui said, getting Dena to wince before nodding.
"I see anyway that's my boss, Guile Hideout." Dena said proudly.
"Head of the Magic Council's Department of Archaeological and Historic Preservation, they specialize in the study of ancient magic and ruins. Evacuating them and then preserving the sites for future generations. And apparently a long time friend and drinking buddy of the master." Schoena said while fixing his glasses.
"All that in one breath too, was getting a little close to the end." Guile said, getting their attention. "Anyway please just call me Guile. No need for titles or anything."
"It's nice to meet you. And have we met before?" Finnean asked, getting a curious look from the rest of the table. "You seem familiar?"
That was the closest he could describe the feeling he felt when the man walked into the guild. Something about him seemed familiar, but he could recall why at all...
"I give out that feeling a lot, then again I was just in Haregeon visiting an old friend. Do you know an Ahab, chatted with him last week? The pub with the good seaweed surf and turf?" Guile said.
"Yes, I know him. Maybe that's where." Finnean said, thinking it could be possible.
"Maybe, think I did see that cloak before. You were thrown into a brawl and manage to evade everyone." Guile said, getting Finnean to nod.
"Yes it was. And the captain I stayed with often did it enough to teach me to fight." He said, adding in at Laki's questioning look.
"Actually I think most of us do it too, maybe I should-ow." Yui tried to say before he was beamed across the head by his brother's book. "Okay you do know your hand to hand needs a lot of work."
"Not going to dignify that." Schoena said as Yui rubbed his head and Dena burst out laughing.
"You lost a fight to Happy the last time you got dragged into a brawl, he was armed with a mackerel." Yui said.
"That cat game out of nowhere and that was a year and a half ago!" Schoena snapped back.
"Yet you cannot condone your own flaws." Laki said.
Guile just laughed at this while Makarov continued to drink his pint.
"Your adoptive brats are a real hoot eh Makarov." Guile said with a grin, elbowing the guild master.
"I bet that you think the same with your own." Makarov said back with a smirk.
"Oh we both know how much a handful my eldest is with the Council sometimes, especially this week. She sent them a bill for the mountain load of sweets she consumed the past week alone." Guile said before sipping from his pint.
"At least it wasn't a lake load of alcohol." Makarov grumbled as Guile set down his pint while shaking his head.
"Welp, you got me beat there." Guile said with a grin while Makarov sighed.
"So what business do you have with Fairy Tail to bring you and Dena all the way here?" He said, cutting straight to the point.
"Dena actually suggested coming here for two of your own, Levy and Schoena. He was quite keen on your polyglot skills." Guile said, surprising the wizard in question.
"Me?" He asked.
"Yup, you both kept your nose to the books all the time and your magic is literally dealing ancient script. Besides I don't see Levy anywhere." Dena said before looking around. "That and I doubt Freed would be willing to work with me all that much."
Finnean tilted his head, wondering about this Freed while Makarov sighed.
"What more is their Guile, you're an expert in this and have your own employees? You wouldn't be here unless it was a spot of trouble." Makarov said, giving him a pointed look.
"Guilty, but Crawford has my best linguists working on other matters around the continent." Guile said before leaning forward and whispering in Makarov's ear. "Besides that windbag has cut into my department's funding again, had to give some of the other's vacation to avoid them being laid off. Out of pocket of course."
The guild master just scoffed at this while shaking his head at that.
"Besides we ran into a spot of trouble unrelated to the task." Guile said pulling back and leaping off the bar stool. "Dena is the best mage I have under my employ, but I could use some help. As for part of the job itself, Schoena can you come here. Anyone want to witness come around."
Schoena got up along with the rest of the table as Guile's hands seemed to warp and glow slightly before making a downward pushing motion.
A picnic table appeared as some of the wizard began to gather around.
"You could have used one of our own." Makarov said shaking his head as Guile smiled.
"Where's the fun in that, besides I can't be sure any of them could have broken from underneath." He said, cupping his hands together.
Creating a large bubble as Finnean tilted his head as the mage's hand glowed again, a large stone tablet appearing in the bubble before it shrank around the tablet.
Leaving it to gently lower onto the picnic table.
"The bubble is to protect and preserve the tablet?" Finnean asked Dena, getting the man to nod.
"Correct, the boss's Bubble magic is really handy in our field. Also for cleaning too. Combine that with Requip and we can move a ton of artifacts safely and unnoticed if needed." Dena said while Finnean nodded.
It sounded like what he could do with his own shadow, just perhaps a lot more room.
As more of the mages began to mill around the table, Finnean got close to Schoena both staring at the tablet. Finnean's eyes widening in surprise on what was on it before feeling a sharp pain in his head...
"This, I'm unfamiliar with these runes. They resemble Alphabet magic, but only a passing resemblance." Schoena said as Guile smiled.
"Of course, what I believe here to be the original written language of the Turduli. It was recently found and excavated in Oppidani. The only such clue ever found and recorded." He said.
It took every ounce of composure for Schoena to not show how excited he was.
His trembling and grin gave it away.
"Easy there bro, I know you're excited but remember to breathe. You look like you're having an aneurism." Yui said, patting his brother's back.
"The Turduli, you mean that advanced civilization where supposedly most sank into the ocean?" Gray said, getting Dena's attention.
"Right you came from pretty far up north. Yeah the same ones." Dena said.
"Who are they?" Laki asked as Schoena pushed up his glasses.
"The Turduli were an ancient civilization spoken of in myth since X000, well mostly in myth. What is known is that the remnants settled in what would be modern day Fiore, Seven, and Bosco after the Great Flood wiped out their land and expanded the sea. What the myths we know is from the Chronicler Arshera Raregroove at the time as the world was picking itself back up. Supposedly a land of rolling grasslands and low level mountains stretching halfway between Ishgal and Guiltina, a land where dragons rarely traversed. Supposedly a land filled with monsters never seen since and lacrima all over the place. Where our technology and magic didn't catch up until around 400-" Schoena stopped when he took a gasp and began a coughing fit.
"Come on I told you to breathe!" Yui said while going to help his brother.
"Yeah I thought that would happen." Dena said with a sweat drop.
"Monsters?" Finnean said, feeling another slight pain in his head before it quickly vanished. Briefly glancing up from the tablet. "Are they any different from those with magic like Vulcans?"
"Supposedly not that much except they all drowned. No way to tell fact from legend, but perhaps a few survived." Guile said as Finnean went back to looking at the tablet.
"Or scattered about, I heard some legends of such monsters in the Grand Duchy of Bardili. Supposedly some of the people there are descended from the Turduli." Gray said with his arms crossed and shaking his head.
He tried not to think about what happened back then too often since coming to Fairy Tail.
The Duchy itself was nothing more than a small icy land rich in forest and a bountiful river. Of course the most dangerous thing there was a type of poisonous fish in the bay waters. At least before the Demon of Destruction traversed through it's capital city...
From what he heard it was luckily one of the least affected areas from the rampage, yet a lot of people still died in it's wake.
What he could recall was tales about monsters in their woods, to never wander through them alone at night.
Some becoming lost forever in the domain of the emperor of dark nights as it was called. Those that survived spoke of wandering into an inhospitable place after gazing into the emperor's eyes.
But the memories of back then were hazy for Gray, so he could be remembering some things wrong.
"Correct, honestly the people there have the greatest claim. Supposedly from ancient maps recovered the land there was the southeastern tip of the Turduli's original domain albeit rather remote." Guile said as he noticed both Schoena and Finnean studying the encased tablet.
"The survivors of the Great Flood gathered in two places in what would become Fiore and according to legend it's southern most settlements. Oppidani and Veteres, the former a fortress town in what would be the coast of northwest Fiore and Veteres's location a myth." Schoena said, trying to make heads and tales of what the runes of the tablet said.
Noticing Finnean was further down the tablet than he was...studying it intensely...
Could it be...
"That discovery should be turning 91 years old soon anyway, we found descriptions in the same excavation that said Veteres was nothing more than a mountain village. Probably only a few hundred at most before the Flood, survivors from all over the civilization supposedly washed ashore there and waited out the storm." Dena said.
"Ultimately abandoned and the survivors rejoined in Oppidani in a flotilla of wooden boats according to the legends." Schoena said, a small smile on his face before looking at Guile and Dena. "You believe this could lead to Veteres?"
"If not a major clue, if not I'm prepared to move onto another potential excavation sight of interest I along the western coast. Granted it's fairy minor, but I would like to have the tablet translated no matter what the contents. Take as much time as you need?" Guile said with a smile.
"No need, already done." Schoena said, surprising everyone. "Isn't that right Finnean?"
Everyone stared in shock as Finnean nodded at that, moving back from the tablet.
"Yes, took me a minute. I've seen this language before, still no memory where but this is written in Unown." The cloaked wizard said.
"Didn't you just say that you could read it?" Dena questioned incredulously.
"No that's what the language is called Unown, these runes are based on...something called that." Finnean said with a wince and briefly clutched his head. "There are still plenty of gaps in the how, but I can read that it's an ancient variation of the language. They are arranged were several runes spell out a singular word."
As soon as he laid eyes on the tablets, the memories poured right back to him. Every word written piece by piece.
He didn't know the how except the way it was written was considered a dead language...and far older than what they believed last used...
"So you were a scholar or something?" Elfman said as Guile walked over to Finnean and Schoena.
"Pretty sure it looks like it, but I still have no real clues. Besides I doubt so if I found myself drowning in the middle of the ocean." Finnean said blandly.
"Still pretty manly for a scholar if did brave the sea like that." Elfman said, getting Finnean to stare flatly at him while Mira shook her head at her brother.
Guile just smiled at Fairy Tail's antics before perching himself on one of the picnic table's sides. Peering over the tablet as well.
"These 'Unown' runes do look like some ancient languages used around the time. I think I can read them but can't make sense of their meaning." Guile said before reading off a passage. "Eti tian anediti ifu..."
"'At the heart of' and the word for heart is an'editi. It is a bit of a tricky cipher for a language." Finnean said, getting Guile and Schoena to nod and smile.
"Yes I can see that, using one to two letters for a singular letter. Many such ancient spells were written like that. If you're not careful with the direct translation it could be a disaster." Guile said while shaking his head.
"Probably would have taken a few hours for me to crack on my own without a cipher. Maybe Levy could have done the same in a little less time." Schoena said, raising some clamour out of the guild.
"Well I'll be." Dena said with a smile.
"So Finnean, what does it say?" Makarov said, generally curious now while Finnean nodded before looking back at the tablet.
"'At the heart of the drowned mountains lies our last bastion Veteres. What was once endless hills and plains now lie in the abyss. Our lady Navia beckons us to Oppidani, leaving the top of the mountain bare. For her to seal the beast's remains in her passage and to take root from Oppidani and spread amongst the land. Leaving only her servants to live in the village. For we Turduli are to leave the past behind and start anew. Any who return are to beware of horned lizards ashore or facing our lady's wrath.'" Finnean read before adopting a thoughtful expression.
He was still no closer to understanding the Unknown and what he did know of the Turduli was just from today. But it seemed very much this Veteres was a real place and the end might have just revealed a clue.
And it seemed like the discussion of the guild that several over people where coming to the same conclusion.
"So those pests have been around for that long?" Wakaba said.
"They were irksome back then as well." Laki said.
"Well that narrows down the location a little." Yui said with a smirk.
"I think I saw an extermination job for them on the board today, I'm going to take it now!" Elfman said as he made a break for the request board while severel other members followed after him.
"Can someone fill me in, what's so special about a horned lizard?" Dena asked, clearly confused about the commotion as Guile grinned.
"I think they mean the Harpoon or Horned Lizard." Finnean said shaking his head.
"Right, you've lived far inland Dena. It's a type of large amphibious lizard like monster that is quite the nuisance on coastal Fiore and Caelum. They have a large black horn with four hooked barbs like a harpoon only each pointing a different direction and can extend them forward quite a bit. Piercing the hull of many ships and requiring mages to forcibly remove them from an area." Guile said.
"Not to mention a thick hide and sharp claws, but they mate and lay eggs on rocky shores. Usually solitary, but they gather in droves during mating season. There is one area off of Fiore'e coast." Schoena said with a smile.
"The Rur Archipelago." Finnean said, getting Guile to grin and Makarov to shake his head.
"So those rocks really did have a treasure, guess I owe both Yajima and Goldmine Jewels now." Makarov said while shaking his head with a small smile.
The Rur Archipelago was nothing more than an archipelago of tall rocky islands off of the western coast of Fiore, that mainly fell under the kingdom's control cause no one wanted it.
What Finnean did know about this was the islands was the only real habitual island was a small port that was on the outset closest to the kingdom. Used as a small stopping point on sea trade routes.
From what he did know the islands had jagged coasts and aside from very small places to dock nothing of real worth. Except for a good fishing spot the waters were quite treacherous between with the horned lizards and occasional whirlpool. He described it as a ship graveyard for inexperienced sailors and wrecks could be found
"So you've been there on a job?" Guile asked Makarov.
"About two or three years before I became guild master. It was a long time ago so my memory on the details is a little fuzzy except it was terribly boring." Makarov said while shaking his head. "The only island in there that could possibly hold the village is Torre Island, the so called Tower of Rur located right in the center of those rocks."
"Yet inhospitable to come ashore normally." Schoena said with a frown.
"Not to the fishermen of Haregeon, some know how to navigate and when to land on the islands." Finnean said before looking at Guile. "It could be the first option for answers."
"Was planning on heading there for transport anyway. We need to tell everyone! Come on Dena, we have your heading!" Guile said excitedly.
Beginning to walk away before Dena sighed.
"Boss I'm as excited as you are, but making the request and the tablet." Dena said, getting Guile to stiffen before letting out a laugh.
Makarov stifled a chuckle, seeing that some things never change.
"Right need to put that away, but here's the job flyer." Guile said placing a flyer on the table. "50,000 Jewels per head who wants to join, of course I'm only taking a few along for the trip. Everything is on here."
Makarov got off the counter as more guild members crowded around the flyer.
It described it as simply being an escort mission to establish an excavation site for about a day or two. Expenses paid for stops along the way and job duration are until return from excavation site. Extra pay for translators.
"You really think it was a good idea to give them a job like this, still I can see why you're here in person." Makarov said as he already saw most of his guild starting to move about.
He could already see the bills of some of them were to destroy anything, especially if this was a mythical place.
"Yup, already have two members on board. That is if you accept?" Guile said as Schoena adjusted his glasses with a smirk.
"There is no way I'm going to miss this." He said before turning to Finnean. "What about you?"
"Neither am I, this is quite the intriguing. Especially since this is a chance to explore more of Fiore." Finnean said with a small smile.
He didn't think that it would be this soon that he would return to Haregeon, but Finnean was eager too. It would just be one stop on quite the journey. And he was quite curious on this Veteres too...
"Quite the momentous undertaking for a first job Finnean." Laki said with a smile, getting Finnean to nod. "Count me invested."
"You sure?" He asked.
"Lack of prospective picks for jobs today, otherwise will not be as quiet with you both gone anyway." Laki said simply.
"Count me in as well!" Yui said with a grin. "Haven't seen you excited for a job like this for a while bro."
"That is an astute observation Yui, but yes I am quite excited." Schoena said with a smile.
"Now that's four, any more takers?" Guile said as he saw most of the guild members have already began to move away.
Gray stared at the tablet and back at Finnean for a moment before shrugging.
"Looks good, but I've already got a job lined up. Should be out of the guild for quite a while. Well good luck then." Gray said, walking off with a wave.
"Thanks and Gray." Finnean said, getting him to stop in his tracks. "You dropped these."
Gray looked down and saw his shirt and jacket hanging off a tendril emerging from his own shadow.
"Dang it, not again." Gray said, taking his clothes back with a nod before walking off.
"Well looks like we got ourselves a crew, we should tell the rest of the boys boss. They are just going to love the news about Veteres! It's going to be the best discovery of the decade!" Dena said as Guile chuckled as he dispelled the table and tablet.
Condensing the bubble before popping it with his cane. Shaking his head at his employee's eagerness.
"Indeed, now let's get things organized. Meet us at the train station in three hours, the train for Haregeon will be departing then. I look forward to this excursion, any other members wish to come, well they until the train leaves. Until then take care!" Guile said as he waved and Dena did too.
"You too." Finnean said with a polite nod.
"And Makarov see you in a few weeks! We'll have a proper drink then!" Guile shouted as they were halfway across the guild.
"Don't get lost this time!" Makarov holler back with a grin.
"I'll leave that to Dena!" Guile said, giving the mage an apologetic look. "Sorry about that."
"Don't need to remind me boss..." He said as they left and Makarov shook his head.
Some things never changed.
"Schoena." Makarov said, getting his attention. "Be sure to find out what this trouble Guile has gotten himself into again. It could be nothing and an easy job...comparatively. Still good luck."
Honestly he had seen a lot of jobs passing through the guild throughout his life, but guard work and helping to establish an excavation site to a legendary settlement...well that had been a few decades since the last one of that nature.
Yet the trouble they encounter could have encountered could be fairy minor or it could be pretty bad.
But considering four of his more level headed brats are going on a job...well he is sure they'll be fine.
"Of course." Schoena said as the four wizards gathered back at the table, still standing. "Alright we have three hours to prepare, Finnean you have everything?"
"Yes." Finnean said simply, his shadow billowing out to reveal his bag. Placing it on a chair.
"That just leaves the rest of us. I'll go back home and pack, you coming with me bro?" Yui asked Schoena, who just shook his head.
"I'll catch up in a few minutes, just please be mindful of our front door. Not sure my magic could repair it again after last time." Schoena said as Yui nodded before running off.
"Got it!" Yui said, breaking off into a sprint out of the guild hall as Laki shook her head.
"I should follow his example, I'll be back after fortifying my abode." She said before walking off.
"So you're going to double lock your apartment this time." Mira said with a smile, getting the violette to give her a pointed look.
"Not a word Mira, not a word" Laki said before looking at Finnean who tilted his head. "Best not to feed your curiosity this time, you already have much to look forward to later."
"True." He said with a shrug as Laki nodded before hurrying out of the guild as well.
"So quite the first job Finnean." Mira said from behind the counter.
"One way to put it, perhaps next time I'll just pick one just outside Magnolia. But I am excited for this." He said with a smile.
A chance to explore more of Fiore and along the coastline, he was not going to let this past.
"Don't expect anything on even the simplest of jobs when you do, that's one of the first things you learn in Fairy Tail. Even they can quickly veer into chaos." Schoena said, shaking his head before looking at Finnean. "You are also hoping to at least find some answers correct?"
"Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps I truly was a scholar, but I doubt that I can find answers otherwise. And if that turns into a dead end, I'll be learning more of Fiore anyway. It will be exciting either way." Finnean said with a smile.
While he was definitely curious about the Turduli, especially since they used Unknown for a written language it could be a clue. And the dialect they had written here was very familiar to him judging by his memory coming back of it.
Even if that only created more questions than answers for him, Finnean was eager to find out what would be ahead.
"Just like Yui." Schoena said while shaking his head with a smile. "Not about the journey, it's the destination."
"Or it's not about your destination, but the chart you course and returning back to port." Finnean said.
"They use that in Haregeon?" Schoena asked, never hearing that one before.
"I think the captain said it, could be misremembering." Finnean said honestly. "He had quite a few."
"I see, well it's a good one at least." Schoena said before his hand glowed, Finnean guessing a sign of Requip magic before a pen and paper in hand. "Anyway could you-"
"Teach you about the Unown sure, but I thought that you were going to pack soon?" Finnean asked, having no real issue sharing what he knew.
That and perhaps it would be for the best if there was more than one translators on the job. Schoena seemed more interested in using said knowledge than he did.
"I do, but I could learn a little bit in the amount of time Yui will take to get back home." Schoena said, trembling with barely contained excitement.
"How about you teach me more about the Turduli and I'll teach you what I know. I do have one question from that tablet, and without the language they use it's actually easy to learn the Unknown alphabet." Finnean said.
Schoena quickly extending his hand out and Finnean shook it, both smiling.
"We have a deal then." He said, taking a seat and placing the pen and paper on the table. "So what is your question?"
"Who is this Navia mentioned, could there really be anything still in Veteres? From what it said it sounded there could?" Finnean said, getting Schoena to sigh.
"Unsure about anyone or anything could be there except ruins, there are some legends on what could be yet not confirmed. As for Navia...you'd have a better chance of finding her in Oppidani than there." Schoena said.
"How come?" Finnean asked while tilting his head.
"The Turduli had a small pantheon of gods and even then it could be argued some of them were mixed in from later civilizations, but they had a small number confirmed especially for the seasons." Schoena said while shaking his head.
"And this Navia is one." Finnean said, getting his guild mate to fix his glasses.
"Yes, Navia or otherwise known as Nabia was the most well known one. Their goddess of winter, sea, storms, wealth, health, and agriculture. Of course the season gets mixed up with their deity for spring as Earthland was noticed to be much colder than by other civilizations for the time. Whose weather was a boon or a curse to farmers. Yet her name was often cursed in Earthland." Schoena said while shaking his head.
"She was said to be the cause of this 'Great Flood' mentioned earlier." Finnean said.
"Yes one of such probable causes, nobody truly knows what caused it. Several different religions have often expressed causes, but she is the most often one. Supposedly from some calamity but no idea what. Nothing was recorded except Turduli and many other civilizations were swallowed up by the ocean at the time." Schoena said, getting Finnean to nod.
That filled in some information and matched some pieces of what the tablet had said and maybe some answers.
Yet the description of Navia...it sounded like something familiar to him.
Like nearly completely sections of a puzzle together, something was there yet without a few pieces missing before it could fit together.
More questions without answers, but Finnean at least knew where to look.
One he would traversing too soon enough and couldn't wait to see.
But as for this moment...
"Thank you, now as to normally write in Unown..." Finnean said, leaning towards Schoena as he began to write down what he spoke.
Mira smiled at the sight while Makarov brought another pint to his mouth, hiding a small sad smile.
Over the past few days he had seen Finnean and Lucy integrate into the guild, it always made him happy to see his guild members settle in.
Yet for Finnean...he was just like an old friend of his...
Curious, always willing to help out his other members, kind, a desire to learn, and now seemingly a similar luck with getting into difficult jobs on his first week...
Hell minus a few facial features, eyes, and hair length Finnean was almost the splitting image of Wraith. Even getting their guild mark in the same place too...
If he knew that Wraith didn't have any blood relatives, he could swear they were related.
That was a name he hadn't thought of in a longtime.
Even being perceptive of things he shouldn't be due to their magic. He hadn't put much stock in what Wraith claimed to sense in the basement before his death, but after becoming guildmaster...
Makarov took another swig of the pint while shaking his head.
That was not a conversation he was ready to talk about anytime soon, but might have too if Finnean could find a way to slip past the defenses put in place.
Still he hoped that it would be a while away before needed to speak with him about it.
But for now he just hoped that his brats will be alright, it sounds like they have one heck of a job ahead of them.
(Toma's Coffee, Magnolia Town)
Toma's Coffee was a popular small coffee shop and cafe in the midst of Magnolia Town, one of many shops that doted the streets. And some say if you were lucky, you could catch sight of the Titania herself dining at the cafe occasionally.
Today was not one of such occasion.
What caught the sight of the customers that day where too people wearing a dark rain coat with their hoods up, with no sign of a storm loud in sight.
Before quickly being ignored, wasn't the strangest sight they spotted in Magnolia actually kind of tame compared to what craziness usually surrounded Fairy Tail.
"Really you're ordered black coffee again." The figure on the right grumbled out, eating a BLT sandwich while their compatriot sipped their coffee.
"What can I say, they got a good brew here. The perfect amount of grind, better than that swill in the northern part of the kingdom. Don't even get me started on the sweet tea up there." The one on the left said with a shudder.
Their compatriot shuddered as well.
"Fair enough, so have we finally found the idiot?" The one on the right said.
"Correct, Trace pinpoints him to be at the town's guild. Once he stopped getting lost." The one on the left said, taking a sip on their coffee.
The one on the right was much less nonchalant about the news.
"Of course it had to be Fairy Tail, the target is a known associate of the guild. This could be a huge problem." They moaned out with their hands on their face. "Could our luck get any worse on this hunt."
"Not quite, most of their S-Class members are out on jobs at this time. Two of them had been away or retired for about three years now." The figure on the left said before placing a hand on their chin. "Yet they still have a plethora of strong members to choose from. The guild currently has a 100 members, 38 members with really anything to note and I'm fairly sure we can take about a third of them down ourselves."
"The other two thirds." The one on the right said.
"One third ranging from slightly against our odds to ultimately wiping the floor with us. The other third is not be engaged period without any back up of any caliber." The one on the left said.
Getting the one on the right to groan.
"Don't like those odds, but we're in the middle of a hunt." They groaned out. "We find out who we are dealing with."
"The idiot is heading towards where the others should be, probably with the target. We have a few hours to dig up more information on the wizards in the guild before we can begin." The figure on the right said with a grin as they took a sip of their coffee.
"And the hunt can finally commence." The one on the left said with a matching grin.
The screen turned to static before the author returned with a wave.
*Hey guys Hakuorofan7 here and I hoped that you all enjoyed this chapter.*
*Quite a bit to go through this chapter so here we go.*
*Finnean and Lucy have settled in at the guild and Lucy in the midst of setting up her apartment. With Finnean currently exploring Magnolia in his spare time while helping out Mira in the guild. While also showcasing some more members of the guild and Finnean's interactions with them.*
*Now onto the new characters introduced in this chapter, Dena and Guile Hideout.*
*Dena is actually another of the eight playable characters from Fairy Tail Forces Unite! In game it is noted he has a passion for archeology, here I have him as a former member of Fairy Tail who left to pursue said passion. His magic is the same as Alzack and Bisca and so here and I believe implied in game to possibly be from the same place.*
*His boss Guile is more or less a character of my creation…mostly. Being an old friend of Makarov and while an employee of the Magic Council has a devil may care attitude to them. The name Guile Hideout is an actually real one as an alias someone used, but not this instance. As Finnean seemed to notice, there is more to him than it seems.*
*And here Finnean remembers the Unown and can read the language. In several instances in the Pokémon the runes for unknown mixed together have been used as another language. Well any instances of those I have been indecipherable to any language than what is implied. So for the written language of the Turduli I just used a language from another game series for what is written down. I'll give a hint that Mashima named one of the characters of Fairy Tail after.*
*Still this and the chance to explore coastal Fiore draws his curiosity on his possibly ties to them.*
*Onto some real world connections to discussions in story.*
*The Turduli actually existed in real life and were also known as the Turtuli, a pre-Roman tribe that lived on the Iberian Pennisula in what would become southern coastal Portugal. Over time the tribe broke off or migrated into multiple offshoots known as Bardili which if I remember correctly is that it was named after the river basin they settled in, Turduli Oppidani which means 'stronghold of the Turduli' and if I found out correctly helped Carthage in the 2nd Punic War, and Turduli Veteres which means 'ancient Turduli'.*
*Here Bardili, Oppidani, and Veteres are the last remnants of an ancient civilization with the Unown language and what Gray knows of the former has an interesting addition to Earthland.*
*The Rur Archpelago and Torre Island where they are heading are based on the Azores islands off of Portugal while Torre is named after the tallest mountain on the mainland and literally means 'tower'. A little fun fact is that the top of the mountain is actually the plateau. Though the Rur is actually the name of a plant, the white rock lily to fit Fiore's plant name theming.*
*Finally Navia or Nabia is based of a deity of the same name from the Lusitania. Another tribe on the Iberian Peninsula of the time with ties to the Turduli and perhaps the most influential in the region, actually putting up a pretty good fight against Roman conquests for a very long time. With some of their gods becoming added to be worshipped by the Romans like Navia. Who was considered a water goddess compared to Juno and Victoria with domains also with health, wealth, and fertility.*
*Might have added a few domains, but I think I've given some hints on who the Turduli referred to as Navia from their impact on Earthland's history. Let's just say I've planned this since the beginning and excited to write what's coming next…after clearing another backlog.*
*Finally just something I noticed while finishing writing this chapter…Finnean resembles Wraith quite a bit. Seriously the way I described him resembles the Spirit Dragon Slayer eerily well. Honestly nothing more than a coincidence but an interesting one none the less.*
*Anyway that is all for now.*
*Next chapter should be out a long while for now…what to expect from me next is either From No One to Someone, the Familiar of Twilight, and The Hero and The Kaiju. Not sure what finishes first but quite a bit to look forward too.*
*Anyway next chapter will see Finnean, Laki, Schoena, and Yui depart on the job starting off in Haregeon. Finnean learning more about the Turduli and learning of what trouble to expect. What follows is a boat trip along Fiore's southern coast, running into a spot of trouble, a few familiar faces, and finally stopping at the Rur Archipelago. Hope you all enjoy it when it comes out.*
*If you have any questions leave a review or PM me and I'll get back to you when I can. So until next time ciao!*
The author waves goodbye as the screen fades to black.