Chapter 6|
Basil entered his study in the Emerald Oasis guild. It was a wide room filled with all kind of plant life. Uno, Dos, and Tres were coming of out of their flowering pots to start the day. They began to waddle about cleaning, rearranging, and rearranging once again, since Tres didn't like the way Dos did the cleaning, signaling the start of the morning. He sat at his desk and stared at the letter he had just received from Lady Angell. He didn't expect any sort of correspondence and yet, he was happy nonetheless. He used a letter opener to retrieve the letter and opened it.
'Dear Basil Greenbloom,
I wanted to thank you for sending your guild members to my daughters aid. It is not something I take lightly. As you can imagine, it is hard to find people that I can trust. But, I know that I can trust you. After all, you did turn yourself into the Magic Council. You have shown that even those who took the darkest path can still come to the light. And it is because of that that I knew you would help me. You've done especially well with your guild. I can see the quality of your members and am impressed. You've certainly proved everyone who didn't believe in you wrong. Please, continue to cultivate your members and your guild as a whole. Because every single guild in the Kingdom of Fiore should be able to live up to your example. I am proud to be allied with such a guild. And I hope we can remain on good terms.
Sincerely, Lady Angell'
Basil read the letter a few more times, his cheeks becoming redder each time.
"She certainly knows how to make someone feel special. If only the other guild masters could see me as someone to live up to. All they see is a young whippersnapper. Ah, but that doesn't matter anymore. The past is the past. I'm living for the future now, and I can't wait to see what the future will hold!" He exclaimed, rising from his chair and throwing his hands into the air. His wooden golems paused at the excitement, all turning to face Basil. He rubbed the back of his head and blushed.
"I'm sorry. I got carried away. But, that letter certainly gave me a lot of energy." He said. The three golems returned to their work. Basil walked to the window and stared out to Magnolia Town. How long had it been since the day he was released from prison? Nine, maybe ten years? It felt so far away. But he had done well for himself, as Lady Angell pointing out. Something he was proud of.
"I wonder what everyone else is doing?" He asked himself.
-Women's Wizard Barracks, Viperion's room-
The apartment was a modest one. It had a small living space, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a bedroom. Any humble wizard would be happy to call it their home. But Viperion, she was not accustomed to such a place. She missed the giant cave she called home, the sounds of the water and wind, and the beautiful plants and fish. Her bed would be made, as if she never slept in it. And that is because she doesn't sleep on the bed, she sleeps under it. She feels most comfortable underground, a trait that is common among her kind.
Viperion's room was mostly empty, as she didn't have many belongings. However, the walls were decorated with plants that her guild mate Gideon gave her. It was what made the room feel homey to her. Her eyes would finally open, her hands rubbing the sleep away. Her yawn was loud, a motion she wasn't used to as a Fenrir Ant, but when she took her humanoid form, was one of the many things she'd slowly learned about when having her body. She slid out from underneath the bed and stretched her arms high. Lyra, Coral, and Luna recommended her to wear pajamas when going to bed. But she found them restricting and abnormal. Her usual bedtime outfit was a simple oversized t-shirt over her nearly nude body, wearing just panties.
Her first order of business was to check her food supply. She had a small garden of plants on the balcony of her room. She made sure to tend to them every day. It was important to her. After all, she wasn't just a warrior, she was also a scholar of herbs and medicine. Her people's medicine relied heavily on the plant life around them. She remembered her days studying and learning about the various herbs. How each one was special in ensuring her people's survival. And she only grew more knowledgeable thanks to Basil. His expansive knowledge was astounding. She opened the door to the balcony and examined the plants. They looked well, with her expert hands, she would ensure that they remained in top condition.
She walked into her small kitchen and pulled a leaf out of one of the pots. She bit into it, a refreshing minty flavor invading her mouth. She chewed on the leaf for a few moments before spitting it out. She washed the remaining residue from her mouth and walked over to her fridge. Breakfast wasn't anything special, just some meat and eggs. She fried them up on her pan. Her eggs were cooked over easy, with bacon on the side. She brought her plate to the small table she had, a gift from Lyra, and enjoyed her meal. She grew accustomed to a great majority of things humans did. For example, eating. She used to eat raw meat, but she had grown to enjoy the taste of cooked meat. Another thing she liked about being human, was using the toilet. It was a luxury her kind didn't have. A luxury she didn't have in her home cave. When she had to relieve herself, she would find a secluded spot and do so. But, it was pretty convenient. However, the one thing she didn't quite get the hang of was the extra attention she received from human men. At first, she understood it as them wanting to reproduce, but she didn't understand why. She was not in heat, so she did not understand their reason to seek her out. Was it a special human custom? She wasn't sure. Fiora explained to her that human men must be closely watched. They were tricky beast that will do anything to satisfy themselves. Luna said something different. She expressed that Fiora was going to cause a misunderstanding by stating that.
She finished her meal, cleaned up, and got dressed. Viperion enjoyed being able to express herself in this manner. The fabrics and colors looked amazing. Coral helped her shop for many different outfits. She explained that different outfits were for different seasons. And since summer was around the corner, that certain outfits were better. Viperion pulled out a green striped tank top, jean shorts, and sneakers. She had no need for a bra, so she didn't wear one. She went to the mirror to fix her hair. She did the best she could, brushing it to one side and tying it there. As soon as she felt ready, she left her room. She wanted to head to the guild and see everyone.
The walk to the guild wasn't too far. The fountain plaza was on the way and was a welcome sight every time she walked past. She remembered the first time she walked there. She was so intrigued by the many different kinds of people she saw. How they interacted with each other. It was so strange to her. Her people kept to themselves most of the time, interacting when they needed to or were ordered to collaborate on something.
"Excuse me, miss?" A voice would call out to her. Viperion turned to find a man she didn't recognize approaching her.
"Yes?" She'd response.
"You dropped something." He said, his hand hiding behind his back. Viperion tilted her head.
"I did?" Came her genuiely confused response.
"Yes, my heart." The man knelt on the ground and pulled out a bouquet of flowers. A burst of realization came. She did know this man. This man would stop her every so often with a bouquet of flowers, and always used the same line. She frowned at him.
"I think we've been through this, I've never had your heart nor would I have dropped it. You're the only one that has it." She replied. The man smiled.
"Ah, but if you were mine, you wouldn't have to worry about such things." He said. He stood and handed her the flowers. She grabbed the flowers.
"I'm fine thank you. I have my own heart." She replied. She handed the flowers back. She smiled and waved at him and continued to go on her way.
"I don't know if I was rejected or..." The man said to himself.
"Was she wearing a bra?" A voice said from behind. The man turned to find two other men staring at Viperion.
"Oh shit, she isn't." Another one commented.
"Hey you pigs! Show some respect!" The man yelled, waving his arms.
"Oh come on, lighten up. You can't blame us for trying." One said.
"Besides, she's just walking around half naked, of course we're gonna look." The second one defended.
"Don't you know who that is?!" The man asked, "That's the infamous antenna Goddess. Those antenna on her head are cosplay, they have to be, but they speak to this eternal beauty. Something words can't describe." The man explained. The two others looked to each other then back at the man.
"THAT'S the Goddess?" One of them asked.
"The one and only." The man replied.
"Wow, she's pretty cute." The first one commented.
"Those curves and the way she moves, she's perfect. The most beautiful woman in all of Fiore." The man said.
"That's right! I've seen her around town and she's absolutely breathtaking. She has so many admirers. And she's a member of the Emerald Oasis Guild." The second man said.
"Listen, there's a gentleman's club that convene's on occasion to speak about the Goddess in a environment where everyone is accepted. The only thing you need is to love the Goddess fully and openly. Why don't you two come with me? We can all share our feelings together." He offered.
"Heck yeah! Let's do it!" The first man exclaimed. The second man was unsure but didn't want to be left out.
"Sure, I want to check it out. But, mister, who are you? You seem to be very close to the Goddess." The second man said.
"Ah yes, of course. How rude of me to forget to introduce myself. My name is Davian. Davian Mohallan, president of the Antenna Goddess Fan Club." The man introduced.
-Outskirts of Magnolia Town, Gideon's Routine-
The forest was calm and peaceful. The birds sang their songs, the animals went about their daily activities, and the flowers swayed in the gentle breeze. Gideon Granite was in the center of it all doing one armed pushups. Every morning he'd jog out to the wilderness and do his morning exercises. He'd be there before the sun was even up, the darkness surrounding him. It was important to him that he do this. Ever since he was a boy, he had helped his father in the mines. All the miners were buff, rugged men, with thick beards and dark eyes. Their physique was built to withstand the many challenges of mining. But Gideon, he wasn't like the other miners. He was small and fragile. He would be teased by the other miners. But he knew they meant well. But it inspired him to start working out. Every morning before work, he'd go out and begin training. At first, he started off with basic exercises, then graduated to weight training, and now, he does all kinds of different exercises. He is proud of his body and the strength it possesses.
"589... 590... 591... 592..." He counted, doing his one armed pushups. Sweat was dripping down his brow. But he could handle it. He was no stranger to this feeling. He wanted to be just as powerful as the earth itself. When he returned from the quest with Zephyr, he learned just how strong the kid was. The Doscadon stood no match for the both of them. But it was Zephyr that did majority of the work. He now understood why he was an S-Class wizard. Sylph, on the otherhand, was the one to rein him in when the time came. The pair would bicker, Sylph always trying to rein in Zephyr's attitude and Zephyr trying to do his own thing. But Sylph was the one that protected him, even if he was too stubborn to admit it. It was something he needed to be reminded of. Gideon finished his pushups and began to go into his squats.
From the thickets was movement. A shadow passed by, eyes glaring down Gideon. The mage didn't notice, as he was trying to keep the speed up. The shadow took its chance and leapt at its intended target. Gideon would turn to find himself face to face with a bear. The bear would swipe at Gideon. He dodged to the left and side stepped to the right, moving out of the way. He jumped away, landing on his feet. He rose, fists raised. The bear roared and charged at him. Gideon was ready to defend himself. As the bear swung at him, Gideon moved. He grabbed the bear around the midsection and lifted it into the air, slamming it's back onto the ground.
"You almost had me there, Elder." Gideon commented with a smile. The bear rolled over and rub its neck. It would return to all fours and huff out and growl.
"What do you mean I cheated? How do you think a bear your size could be stealthy? I saw your butt sticking out of the bushes way before you got behind me!" He argued. The bear shook his head and huffed out.
"It doesn't matter what you think. I win. You lose. I don't need to be a mage to be stronger than you." The bear huffed out.
"Doesn't change the fact that I've won everytime." Gideon replied.
"Are you going to keep complaining, or are you going to show me your new moves?" The bear looked annoyed and turned its face to ignore Gideon.
"What?! We're going there? We're really going there?" He asked shocked. The bear nodded.
"Some Elder of the Forest you are, acting like a toddler." Gideon remarked.
The bear was an elder of the forest, having been around for a long time. The bear had an unusually long life, body riddled with scars and battle wounds. The two became acquainted when Gideon began his workouts. At first, the bear would try to scare off Gideon. But the mage's resilience and stubbornness were enough to put the bear in his place. The two became friends. Gideon would spar with the bear, which led to an unexpected friendship.
The two would spend time together when Gideon came by. The bear led a lonesome and solitary existence, dedicating itself to protecting the forests right outside of Magnolia town. And since it was such a familiar sight, many of the people living in Magnolia grew used to it. The bear never attacked any of the people who walked through its forest. But there were a few cases where hunters and poachers would go missing. Some even say the bear would kill anyone who would enter his domain.
"That's it for me. I'll see ya tomorrow, Elder." Gideon said. The bear nodded and watched the young man leave. Once he was gone, the bear closed its eyes and sat down, enjoying the quiet forest.
"It's a good thing you have such a good friend. I was afraid you'd be settling for an old coot like me." An old man said walking toward the bear. He wore a green cloak, a belt buckle with a tree carved into it. His eyes were green, and his hair was a dark gray. His beard was long, reaching his belly. The bear would respond with noises.
"Ah, stop it you prideful old man. You like being around that young wizard. And I understand why. You have a lot in common with him. Your heart is as big as the earth itself." He said, his hand stroking the bear's face. The pair would walk back into the forest together.
-Magnolia Town, Tomas' Coffee-
Abernathy sat at a table just outside the cafe. He had his legs crossed, watching the people go about their morning. A waiter would bring him his order. It was a simple cup of black coffee. He brought the cup to his lips and sipped on the warm drink.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Abernathy Tomlin." A voice said from behind.
"Morning, Harlow." Abernathy replied without turning around.
"Just like you to sit out here in the open." Harlow remarked. The woman was dressed in a white blouse, with leather straps over her shoulders. She wore white shorts that were tight against her thighs, with a pair of knee high boots. Her curly blonde hair was tied in a ponytail, with a pair of goggles resting on her forehead. She placed a hand on the back of Abernathy's chair and leaned over.
"You know, you could afford something other than coffee." She suggested.
"Nope. I'm fine. Strawberry shortcake isn't a morning type of treat." He respond coolly. He took another sip of his coffee.
"I don't see what the issue is. It's cake and it has strawberries. Perfect for the morning." She argued.
"If you want cake, you can buy your own." He suggested. Harlow let out an exasperated sigh. She took the chair across from Abernathy and sat down.
"It's been a while since we've last seen each other." She said. Abernathy nodded.
"Yeah, it has. What have you been up to?" He inquired. Harlow crossed her arms and leaned back.
"Oh you know, being the best Lacrima mechanic there is. You?" She answered with a grin.
"Oh, same old, same old." He replied.
"Right, being a lazy ass. I should have expected as much." She stated.
"You know me, Harlow, always have and always will be." He smiled.
"So, why'd you call me here?" She asked.
"I need a favor." He answered.
"And what makes you think I'd help you?" She questioned, a smug expression on her face. Abernathy reached into his pocket and pulled out a bag full of jewels.
"A thousand jewels." He stated. She snatched the bag from his hand.
"And why would you give me all this?" She asked.
"Because I know that you're the only one that can help me. You're the best lacrima mechanic there is and you've got a wide selection of rare lacrimas to choose from." He explained.
"Oh? And why do you need rare lacrimas?" She questioned, leaning in.
"Come now, Harlow. A man has to have secrets, right?" Abernathy states with a wink and a smile. Harlow sighed.
"Fine, what do you need?" She asked.
"A Time Lacrima." He replied.
"A Time Lacrima?" She asked, surprised.
"Yep." Came his curt response.
"Are you serious?"
"Very serious."
"Abe, do you know how powerful time magic is? Not to mention how rare time Lacrima is. They're both extremely rare, not to mention expensive. Do you know how many jewels a single Time Lacrima costs?"
"I can only guess it's pretty expensive."
"It's more than that. Dark Guilds would kill each other for it. How can you ask for one so casually?"
"What can I say, Harlow. I'm a man of leisurely tastes. What can you tell me about the Time Lacrima?"
"I'll tell you, but I need a promise." She said. Abernathy raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of promise?" He inquired.
"You have to take me on a date. A real date, not some half-assed date that you claim is a date. I want to be romanced and swept off my feet. No take backs. If you try, I will find you." She threatened with a glare. Abernathy rubbed the back of his head, sweat building a bit. He would try to wiggle out of it, but he knew he wouldn't win. She was a formidable foe.
"Fine, I agree." He relented. She smiled and clapped her hands.
"Good, now where should we go? I'm thinking the fancy restauraunt by the fountain in the square. I hear that it's romantic. Maybe we can go dancing? Or we can go on a picnic? There's so many things to do!"
-Magnolia Town, Magnolia Market-
Lyra walked alongside different stalls, looking at all the different wares they had. The market was bustling with people. Everyone was buying things, and the stalls were lively. She loved visiting the market. It was a great way to pass the time. The merchandise sold was always different every day. She stopped at a stall selling dresses and picked up a dark blue dress.
"A dark blue dress to match your hair, madame." The shopkeeper said. Lyra looked at him and smiled.
"Thank you. But I think I have plenty in this color. Do you have any in pink or purple?" She asked. The shopkeeper took the dress from her and placed it back on the rack.
"I have just the thing." He said. He disappeared into the tent for a moment before returning with two dresses. One was a dark pink, with ruffles around the shoulders. The other was a bright purple with frills on the bottom. Lyra took them and looked them over. They were both beautiful and stylish.
"These are lovely..." She began excited, but her mind drifted to how they would look. Would they draw the attention she wanted?
"Do you have a dress that would make me a but more noticable?" She asked. The shopkeeper nodded.
"Of course. One moment, madame." He said, disappearing again.
"Something that will stand out, yet not look ridiculous." She said to herself. The shopkeeper returned with two more dresses.
"How about these?" He suggested. One was a bright yellow dress, with white flowers embroidered into it. The other was a long purple dress with stars dotting the fabric.
"They're beautiful, but I think they're a little too extravagant for me. Something eye catching. But not so flashy that people will be staring at me." She explained.
"Perhaps I have something that will fit your needs. Please wait a moment, madame." The shopkeeper said, before once again going into the tent. Lyra waited patiently as he returned with a beautiful orange dress. The skirt of the dress was long, and the top had a V-neck. It was a bright orange, but it wasn't too bright.
"This is lovely! How much?" She asked.
"One hundred and fifty jewels, madame." The shopkeeper replied.
"Done!" She exclaimed, handing him the money. She took the dress from him and held it close to her.
"I can't wait to try it on!" She said.
"I hope you'll come again, madame." The shopkeeper said.
"Absolutely!" Lyra said with a smile. She continued on, satisfied with her choice. Her eyes drifted over several more stalls until she saw a familiar face in the distance. It was Abernathy. But she didn't recognize the woman across from him. She was dressed in a white blouse, with leather straps over her shoulders. She wore white shorts that were tight against her thighs, with a pair of knee high boots. Her curly blonde hair was tied in a ponytail, with a pair of goggles resting on her forehead. Lyra made her way over, curious.
"You have to take me on a date. A real date, not some half-assed date that you claim is a date. I want to be romanced and swept off my feet. No take backs. If you try, I will find you."
"Fine, I agree." He relented. She smiled and clapped her hands.
"Good, now where should we go? I'm thinking the fancy restauraunt by the fountain in the square. I hear that it's romantic. Maybe we can go dancing? Or we can go on a picnic? There's so many things to do!" She said.
"Abe?" Lyra asked as she approached. The two turned to find the mage standing there.
"Oh, hey Lyra. I didn't expect to see you here." He said.
"Yeah, I was just shopping. Who's your friend?"
"This is-"
"Harlow Rinn. Close friend of Abe. Who are you?"
"Lyra Nightshade. I'm a member of the Emerald Oasis guild."
"Oh~ One of Abe's guild mates. Nice to meet you. Abe and I were just planning a date." Harlow stated, leaning in and smiling.
"A date?" Lyra repeated, unsure if she heard right.
"Yep, a date. Abe, why don't you explain?" She turned to face Abernathy. He looked between the two girls, then settled on Lyra.
"Yeah... well... Harlow and I were just planning a date. Nothing else."
"A date." Lyra repeated. Harlow stepped closer to Abernathy, her fingers laced in his.
"You can't really call it a date. It's more like a casual outing, but that's semantics." She explained.
"So... you and Harlow are dating?" Lyra asked, confused.
"No! Ahem, I mean-" Abe stands and pulls away from Harlow's fingers. "Harlow and I aren't dating. We're just friends." He said, turning away.
"Well, that's what you think now, Abe." Harlow says with a wink. "But that date you promised is coming up soon. Make sure you show up ready to impress, m'kay?"
Abernathy eyebrow raised, "Don't I always?" He retorted. Lyra, however, felt a pang in her chest.
"Don't worry, Lyra. Abe may be a lot of things, but he's a gentleman. He'd never stand up a lady." Harlow said.
"Is that so? Well, I hope you have fun on your date. I'll let you two be. See you back at the guild." Lyra said, before making her exit.
"Bye~" Harlow waved, a smug smirk on her face. Abe shrugged at the situation.
"Why were you pouring it on like that?" He asked.
"Oh please. You can't tell me you didn't notice she was jealous." Harlow countered. Abe was surprised at the statement.
"Lyra? Jealous? Of what?" He asked.
"Of me, you silly. Why else would she have made that scene?"
"She doesn't seem the type to care about what I do." Abe said.
"Looks like you don't know much about girls. Typical. Lyra is a girl, and a beautiful one at that. She cares about you. You might not see it, but she does. Don't you know how obvious her crush is?"
"Ok stop. You're jumping to conclusions. Lyra isn't like that. She's not interested in me. I'm just the lazy mage that can't do anything right."
"Really? Well why don't you go ahead and get ready for our date. We can talk about your Time Lacrima then."
"You're gonna hold that over my head, aren't you?"
"Of course I am. I'm a businesswoman first and foremost. If you want that Lacrima, then you're gonna have to work for it. See ya there." She said with a wink and walked away.
she shook her head, "You're a real hottie and yet so dense, Abernathy." She muttered to herself.
-Emerald Oasis, Main Hall-
Viperion was sitting on one of the stools of the bar, sipping on a drink. She was flipping through a magazine, Sorcerer Magazine, reading different articles. Gideon stepped through the doors and approached the Fenrir Ant.
"Hey, morning Vi. How's it going?" He asked, plopping down next to her.
"Morning, Gideon. It's going great. I'm enjoying a drink and reading the magazine. I can't believe I've never read this before."
"Hmm? What's that?" He asked leaning over. Viperion turned a page and it showed a widespread of a female wizard in a bikini. A shock went through him, "W-why are you reading that?" His voice in a quiver.
"Why? I was told I could learn more about humans if I read it. A nice street vendor told me so and convinced me to buy it." She said with a innocent smile. Gideon was trying to find the words to counter her logic.
"I-I mean sure. This magazine has all the latest trends and stuff, but-"
"But, I don't think Fiora-san was right about men being evil. These wizards are showing their bodies off very confidently. Do you think I should do that as well?" She tilted her head, her eyes filled with genuine curiosity. Gideon was about to argue no, but stopped himself.
"Well... maybe? I guess you could. But it depends on your comfort level. You shouldn't feel like you need to do it." He crossed his arms and nodded.
"It's not that I need to. I want to. Being in this state of dress does not bother me. In my ant form, we didn't wear clothing, so it shouldn't matter in this form either." She reasoned. The innocence was oozing from her.
"True. But you also gotta consider the way the others might see you."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, most of the other guilds might be made up of men. They're gonna be looking at you in ways they wouldn't look at other members."
"Oh! I have a solution already. Fiora taught me the proper response to those types of individual, want to see?" She asked. Gideon could tell that he was heading down a dangerous path, but he couldn't help himself. He nodded. Viperion stood up, set the magazine aside, and placed her hands on her hips. Gideon stood as well, worried about what he was going to see. Viperion stepped forward and punched Gideon in the stomach as hard as she could. The earth mage's stomach caved in, his lungs expelling all the air it had. He gripped himself, trying his best to stay on his feet.
"It has worked so far for me." She smiled wide.
"Y-yeah... it w-w-would.." he wheezed out. The doors flung open and a distracted Lyra walked through.
"Good morning, Lyra-senpai!" Viperion called out. Gideon could only raise an arm and wave. Lyra stopped and turned to face her guild mates. She blinked a couple of times, her mind returning to the present. She then marched over and took a seat at the bar as well.
"Men are stupid." Was the first words she spoke. Gideon winced at the harsh words, but Viperion only looked confused.
"That's rather rude. Gideon's a good guy. I don't think he's stupid." She said.
"She's not talking about me, Vi." Gideon managed to stand, recovering from Viperion's special response. Lyra closed her eyes and shook her head.
"It's just... you spend a long time around each other and then you expect to, I don't know, treat each other a way different from before!" She complained. The two could only tilt their heads.
"Lyra, are you talking about a specific person? Is something bothering you?" Gideon asked. Lyra waved him off, her mood turning sour.
"Don't worry about it. I just need to move on and not think about it." She affirmed. She cleared her throat and her usual smile returned.
"Good morning you two! You're at the guild early~" She said, her voice as bubbly as always. Gideon and Viperion looked at each other, then back at Lyra.
"Are you sure you're ok?" Gideon asked. Lyra's bubbly demeanor returned to the scorn she harbored. Her face said 'I SAID GOOD MORNING!'.
"I-I mean, y-yeah, I did a work out and afterwards decided to come here." Gideon sputtered out.
"It's good to see you both so early." Lyra said, with a sweet tone. The two were confused by the sudden change in her attitude, but Viperion didn't quite understand.
"I'm happy to see you too, senpai! Oh, look at what I bought." She brought the magazine over.
The doors opened once more. Sylph fluttered in looking around.
"Morning Sylph... Where's Zeph?" Gideon asked. The wind spirit placed her hands on her hips.
"I'm looking for him. We had breakfast then suddenly he just disappeared." Her face scowled, continuously looking around the guild.
"Oh, don't worry Sylph. I'm sure he'll turn up eventually. He's just probably off doing some of his mischief." Gideon said.
"That's what I'm worried about. If I'm not there to hold him accountable, he'll prank every living person he'll see... Oh no." The realization dawned on her and she started to fly off in a panic.
"He better not be!" She yelled, before zipping through the doors. Gideon sighed, realizing that they had just sent the wind spirit on a wild goose chase. He turned to look back at the girls but saw Lyra's face full of fear, staring off into space.
"Lyra?" He asked.
"No... He wouldn't..." She muttered. Viperion approached her.
"Did something happen?" She walked in front of Lyra's vision. Lyra snapped out of it and looked to the two.
"We have to find Zephyr!" She exclaimed. Gideon and Viperion were startled.
"Whoa, what do you mean?" Gideon questioned.
"Zeph... Zeph IS planning a prank. But, we can't let him do it! The last time he did we were apologizing for months!" Lyra began to panic.
"Apologizing? What do you mean? What did he do?" Viperion asked.
"Last time he used his magic to blow off people's hats and flip up ladies' skirts all over Magnolia! It was chaos! Sylph had to restrain him while the gaurds came. She gave him a good verbal lashing. Even Master Basil had to come and take the heat. But we have to stop him!"
"We can help!" Viperion offered.
"How can we do that? We can't catch the wind." Gideon said.
"If he's in the city, then he's using his magic to travel. If he's trying to be sneaky, he's almost always in the sky somewhere. We need to split up and cover as much ground as possible. If any of you see him, then let him know to stop. I don't think it will do any good, but at least he'll know he's been found out. Come on, let's go!" Lyra took off running through the doors. The other two followed as well.
-Magnolia Town, On a building roof-
Zephyr had a hand on his forehead to block the sun. He was looking, searching for an event he heard was happening in the area. It was a wedding. But not just any wedding, it was the wedding of a famous wizard celebrity, Klover Asden. She was a popular singer that was marrying a mage who starred in movies. Zephyr wanted to give them a little gift. He was going to cause a tornado to appear. Paparazzi and news outlets would be there. And they'd take pictures and report it. His prank would be immortalized.
"Found it." He said to himself. He got in position and began to channel the air around him. The wind picked up and began to spiral. Zephyr's eyes glowed green as he channelled his power. He launched through the air, splitting the wind to allow for no resistance. His destination was Kardia Cathedral.
-Kardia Cathedral, inside the main hall-
Klover was standing at the altar, wearing a beautiful white dress. Her soon-to-be husband, Olan, was standing beside her. Zephyr could see through the giant doors while he stood on a rooftop across from the cathedral. His smile grew wide with mischief.
"Ho ho, this is going to be good." He said to himself, rubbing his hands together.
"I've found you!" Sylph yelled, panting heavily behind him. She placed her hands on her knees and breathed heavily.
"Sylph? What are you doing here?" Zephyr asked, surprised to see his companion.
"You think you can play a prank and I won't find you? News flash, I can sense when you move the wind, idiot. What are you planning?! Huh?!" She demanded, fluttering close to his face.
"Um.. nothing." He said nervously. Sylph looked to the cathedral. Her eyes widened in realization.
"Oh no... Zeph, tell me you aren't doing what I think you're doing. If you do this, Emerald Oasis won't recover from the embarrassment." She pleaded.
"Relax. They won't know it was me." But he covered his mouth, realizing he confessed to the coming deed.
"You dummy!" Sylph yelled, wailing him on the head. Zephyr raised his hands in defense.
"Look, look, look. I've done this before and they have no idea it was me." He defended. Sylph only grew more upset.
"You did this before?!" She yelled, wailing her arms once more.
"Maybe, I don't remember. It was a long time ago, I don't think I caused any damage or anything." He tried to deflect, his eyes not wanting to meet hers.
"That doesn't matter! You caused trouble for a lot of people. And your last big prank was found out." She reminded.
"Only because you tattled! I had a plan to sneak away!" He argued. Sylph wasn't having it.
"Don't pin this on me! You're lucky that we were able to stop it... Or at least stop it from getting too far!" She yelled back. She placed her hands on her hips.
"I'm not letting you do it." She affirmed. Zephyr narrowed his eyes and pointed.
"You can't stop me." He said.
She was about to respond when she turned her head as if she felt something. She then smiled.
"I may not, but they can." She stated with a smirk. Her eyes looked over his shoulders, which cause him to turn around. There stood Lyra, Gideon, and Viperion ready to intervene. Gideon, however, was doubled over panting.
"I didn't think we'd be this high" He commented. Zephyr smirked at the group.
"So you've come to stop me? I expected as much." He said.
"Zeph, please don't do this. Just come back with us to the guild." Lyra pleaded.
"Yes Zeph-kun, playing pranks is bad, as far as it was explained to me." Viperion added. Gideon was still catching his breath.
"I know... but I can't help it. I love causing mischief. It's in my blood. And I can't really be stopped by you guys, right?" He said with a smirk, "I'm an S-Class mage. Unless, you'll fight to stop me."
Lyra frowned for a moment. "Yes. We will fight you if that's what it takes."
Gideon looked to Lyra, "What?!" He exclaimed. He knew what Zephyr was capable of, especially since they went on mission together before.
"Is that a challenge? Alright, fine. I accept." Zephyr said, his voice lowered, with a hint of cockiness. His stance changed and his body became rigid. He spread his arms out, his palm facing the sky.
"Sylph, I invoke our contract. Don't stop us." He commanded. The wind spirit, not wanting to challenge Zephyr, stepped back and nodded. She crossed her arms and waited for the battle to start. Zephyr turned to his guild mates and held a hand up, ready to cast a spell.
"I can't wait to see how strong my guild mates are. Galestride: Slipstream!" He cast. His palms flew forward and gusts of wind circled the rooftop. Paths of wind were everywhere, giving Zephyr the freedom to move how he pleased. He stepped into one and instantly disappeared, being taken by the movement.
Lyra began to trace the air, but Zephyr appeared, a call of wind on his foot.
"Galestride: Whirlwind Claw!" He cast, kicking down. His magic causing an impact on them. When the dust cleared, they were gone. He whipped around to find them behind him.
"You think you're the only one capable of a fight." Lyra states with a smirk. Zephyr chuckled.
"You cast your magic before you even got up here. You got me." He turned and began to cast again.
"GeoGuard: Shieldbearer" Gideon placed his fingers on the stone and absorbed it onto his body. Large shield shaped stone formed on his forearms. Viperion shifted into her exoskeleton and carried Gideon toward the young mage. Zephyr, unafraid, spun around, a gust of wind following him.
"Galestride: Cloudbreaker!" The air exploded towards them, forcing Viperion to release Gideon. Gideon landed his feet on the ground and anchored himself, withstanding the impact. Viperion flew into the sky and descended with her needles extended.
"Fenrir Magic: Poison Needles!" She cast, firing the deadly projectiles at Zephyr. The young mage jumped to the side, dodging them. Viperion shifted back to normal, her clothes fixing themselves to fit the shift. She reared he fist to bring it down. Zephyr gasped, not expecting the change. He could feel the power behind her punch and dove out of the way. She brought her fist down to the roof, causing it to crack but not give way. Dust and debris blew all around.
"V-Vi?! That punch would have killed me!" Zephyr complained. Viperion took a fighting stance.
"I know. But you are our guild mate. I wish not to hurt you, but I will if I have to." She stated. Zephyr smirked and jumped into the air.
-Magnolia Town, Children's park-
Two shadow puppets acted out a scene of a knight and princess getting married. Children sat clapping and cheering. Luna moved her fingers, a tired smile on her face. The day started with her taking a walk and seeing a child get hurt. She came over and helped them, using her shadow puppets to make them feel better. Other kids saw and ran over, begging her to keep going. And now, she ended up having to put on an entire show.
"How did I get trapped in this?" She asked herself. The puppets danced across the makeshift stage, telling an epic tale.
"What a mess. I need to get out of here. I don't have the energy to keep this up." She sighed. Finally, she found a way to end the story and had the shadow puppets bow. The children cheered.
"That was great!" One girl said.
"Will you come back tomorrow?" A boy asked. Luna was stunned for a moment.
"Yeah, I want another show!" Another chimed. They all crowded her, innocent eyes pleading to her. Her mind went back.
-'Will you come back, onee-san?' Asked a young Luna to Lyra.
'Of course! As much as you want.' Said the older sister, the lunar puppets disappearing.'-
Luna became teary eyed.
"I'll try." She promised.
"Yay!" They cheered, rushing to her. They hugged her and ran off. She smiled, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Maybe I should go back to the guild." She waved bye to the kids and began her walk back. These last couple of months were eventful. From joining, to fighting Fenrir Ants, a festival, and now the quest with the dark guild. But most of all, being back with her sister she hadn't seen in so long.
"Onee-san..." She muttered. She was still hurt by the past, but she couldn't find a way to forgive her sister. She knew Lyra didn't mean it, but it still hurt. She'd grown a lot since leaving home. She was stronger, more confident. She was no longer that scared little girl, she was Luna Moonshadow. The girl who found her own path, created her Shadow Weaving, like her sister made Lunar Weaving, and decided to join a guild. She knew eventually she would have to have the talk with Lyra, but didn't know if she'd have the heart to do so. Slowly, she didn't see the older sister who hurt her. She saw someone trying to live her own life as well. She shook her head.
"No, she doesn't care about you. She never has." She told herself. But it was a lie. She knew it, but she didn't want to admit it.
-Magnolia Town, Girls' Dorm-
Fiora snored loudly, her usual state of undress being her pajamas, with her panties being the only thing on. It was hitting noon and she was still sleeping. But, a knock at her door awoke her. She groaned, pushing herself off her bed.
"I'm coming!" She yelled, making her way over. She opened the door to find a delivery guy. He looked down and gasped. He didn't expect the door to open and a woman with nothing on to be there. His eyes went wide but he tried to speak.
"H-here is a letter f-for Fiora Fulgencio." He said, using every part of his willpower to tear his eyes away from where he was looking. Fiora, still half asleep, grabbed the letter.
"Thanks. Bye." She said, closing the door. She was too tired to realize what she just did. She walked back to her bed, opening the letter. When she read it, her eyes widened, the sleep falling away immediately.
"WHAT?! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!" She screamed, reading it over and over. She crumpled the paper and threw it.
"Ugh, that idiot! Who does she think she is?!" She growled, throwing her covers off. She ran to her closet and found her outfit. She opened the door and ran out.
The letter was from and old friend of hers from her home. The fact that the friends used her real name was one thing. But the contents of the letter made her blood boil.
"I'll kill her." She said to herself. Her body was radiating heat, her emotions fueling her magic.
"Fiora? Where are you going?" A voice called out. The fiery mage turned to see Abernathy. He had his usual chill demeanor about him.
"I'm about to go blow someone up." She expressed. Abernathy knew not to question her.
"You gonna tell us why?" He asked. Fiora stopped and turned to him.
"You can come with if you want." She offered. Abe shrugged. At the very least, he could intervene if she did something crazy.
-Emerald Oasis, Main Hall-
Coral had entered, removing her sun hat. She looked around, blinking, not seeing the usual people she expected to see.
"Where is everyone?" She asked aloud. Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her.
"Hello, Coral." Basil greeted, a calm smile on his face. Coral smiled.
"Master Basil. Where is everyone?" She asked.
"Not sure. They were supposed to be here. But I'm sure they are doing something important. Are you ready to resume your magic lessons? I have some more healing techniques for you to learn." He informed with a smile. Coral smiled, her eyes shining.
"Really? Yes! Thank you so much, Basil!" She said, hugging him. Basil was surprised. He looked at her, his cheeks turning red.
"I'm glad you're taking to the lessons. I'll admit, I was nervous taking you on as a student, being you're my first one. But I'm happy you're enjoying it." He said. Coral pulled away, her smile wide.
"I'm glad I have you as a teacher. You've been an amazing guild master to us all. I'm happy to be able to learn. It's thanks to you I've gotten so much stronger." She said. Basil smiled and looked away.
"If you keep talking like that, I'll be a blushing mess." He admitted. Coral giggled. However, a strange feeling came over here. One could call it a motherly sixth sense.
"I feel like something bad is about to happen." She shared. Basil's eyes widened.
"W-what do you mean?" He asked. Coral walked past him.
"I have to find the others. Something is happening." She said. Basil followed. She placed her sun hat on and marched off.
"W-wait! Coral! Something is happening? What do you mean?" He asked, trying to keep pace with her.
"Oh, nothing to for you to worry about master. This is something for your senior guild members to handle." She said with her usual glowing smile. Basil blinked, but sighed in defeat.
"Okay." He said. Coral stepped out.
"Don't worry master. We'll have this resolved soon." She assured. Basil nodded. Coral walked off, heading to the city.
-Rooftop across from Kardia Cathedral-
Zephyr kept moving around the battlefield. Lyra used her illusions to blockade his path, Viperion was trying to chase him down, and Gideon was trying to ground him. Sylph frowned as she watched.
"Idiot Zeph. How dare you invoke the contract. And against your own guild mates. I'm disappointed in you." She sighed.
"Zeph, stop this at once." Gideon ordered, his stone hands chasing after the younger mage.
"Yeah, listen to him!" Lyra added.
"Hell no! I'm not letting you guys win!" His smile was wide with excitement. He turned his body to stick his tongue out at his guild mates. He turned back and gasped in utter fear. A giant fist was heading his way. He threw up a sphere of wind to block the attack, but the attack forced him back toward the rooftop. Everyone dove out of the way, the Zephyr coming down way faster than he expected. He held the sphere up and gulped loudly.
"C-Coral?" He asked. The fist belonged to bulky armor. Coral was wearing a Great White Shark themed armor. It was bulky and dense. The fist were the most intimidating of the attire. Coral kept her punch going, making sure to keep the young wind mage down.
"Oh! Why hello there Zeph. Is there a reason you're up here?" She asked. Her smile was radiating, but anyone who knew her would know that behind her smile was The Kraken. The aura of it caused fear to all Emerald Oasis members. Zephyr knew this fear first hand.
"N-no reason. J-just enjoying this beautiful day." He chuckled nervously.
"Liar!" Yelled all three of his friends. Zephyr looked at them and flinched. He looked back at Coral who smiled brightly.
"Do you have any idea what's going on?" She asked, the calm before the storm. He looked to the side and began to whistle. Sylph had enough and fluttered over.
"Zephyr was going to do another prank! He was going to blow a whirlwind into that cathedral!" She tattled. She turned to face her partner and stuck her tongue out at him. He gulped loudly.
"You were?" Coral asked, nay, demanded. He didn't answer. Her fist slammed down on the roof, cracking it even more. Her body became covered in mist. Out of the mist was a powerful Great White Shark. It slowly emerged, it's dominating presence tangibly felt. Coral patted it.
"Thank you for your help." She said. It then swam into another mist, disappearing. She turned to Zephyr.
"Well?" She asked. His body shook with fear.
"Yes." He said.
"And you decided to not only attack your fellow guild members, but to also target a sacred building, in broad daylight?" Zephyr let the whirlwind go and knelt in front of Coral. His head dropped in shame.
"Yes ma'am." He replied.
"Holy crap. I didn't know Coral had this kind of power." Gideon commented leaning over to Lyra. Lyra nodded.
"She's like the big sister to some of us, and mom to others. If Master Basil doesn't take care of it, she does. And we all respect that. It's her job." Lyra explained. Coral lifted her head up, her smile as bright as the sun.
"Good. Now, you're going to clean the guild every day for a month. Is that clear?" She asked. Zephyr was about to complain but the air around Coral darkened.
"Is. That. Clear?" She enunciated. Zephyr was a stuttering mess.
"Y-yes ma'am!" He answered. Coral nodded, smiling brightly again.
"Good. I'm so proud of you." She praised, patting his head. She turned to everyone else.
"And for fighting in public..." She addressed. Lyra stiffenned immediately.
"I-it's not what you think Coral! We were here to stop him!" She said in defense. Coral shook her head.
"That doesn't matter. You fought in public. And, if I remember correctly, you're a senpai. You're supposed to lead by example. Do you think this is an example of good behavior?" Coral scolded. Lyra was about to retort but nothing came out. She closed her mouth.
"I didn't think so. For you two, I'll give you a pass." She told Gideon and Viperion. "As new members, I know you're still learning. So please, don't make this a habit."
The two of them stiffened as well.
"Yes ma'am!" They both said. She smiled.
"Good. Now, let's get back to the guild and explain what happened to Master Basil." They all nodded. Sylph flew close to Coral once more, whispering something in her ear. Coral's eyes gleamed her smile increasing. It was more creepy than comfy.
"Oh? He invoked your contract, did he?" She asked aloud, glaring at Zephyr. He shook in his shoes.
"We have a special surprise for you when we return home. Don't we Sylph?" She asked, her voice growing deeper, more ominous.
"Yes!" Sylph shouted.
-Magnolia Town, Fountain Plaza-
Fiora marched toward the plaza, her eyes scanning the crowd. Her eyes landed on a figure with long black hair. She scowled. She approached and grabbed their shoulder, turning them around. It was a girl she knew in her youth. Someone she didn't think she'd see again.
"Sera." Fiora said with a tinge of fire. Seraphina raised a brow, a smirk on her face.
"Hello, Fiora. It's been awhile." She said. Fiora tightened her grip.
"What the hell is this?!" She questioned. Seraphina flipped her hair over her shoulder.
"I heard of a fire mage causing some issues. Can't be Fairy Tail, they wouldn't stand out in the same way you do. And here you are." Seraphina said. Fiora growled.
"I didn't mean that! I meant this!" She waved the crumpled letter in Seraphina's face. The other mage took it and looked it over.
"What about it?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You used my real name." She informed.
"You changed your name like you said you would." The female mage stated, bringing back a memory from the past.
-'I'm going to become stronger! Then, I'm going to challenge you to the Grand Magic Games!' Said a young Fiora Fulgencio.'
'Can't challenge someone who's already going to win." Responded a young Seraphina Valente'
'You're not going to win! I'm going to win! And then I'm going to be "Flame Empress!"' She declared with a smile. Seraphina raised a brow and chuckled.
'We'll see.'-
"Well, I only wanted to make sure it was the same mage I knew from back then. Now I know that when the Grand Magic Games start, I'll have a challenge. I look forward to it." Seraphina handed the paper back. Fiora was beyond angry.
"Oh yeah? Well I look forward to beating you! Blazing Soul: Explosion!" She cast, holding her hands together and pulling them apart. She created the skull shaped flame and punched Seraphina. However, Seraphina blocked, with a clear raging fire.
"Same attitude. You haven't changed a bit." She commented. She pushed the flame away. She turned and walked away. The crowd of people around them stared. Abernathy walked up and grabbed her arm.
"What was that about? You just attacked her out of nowhere." He asked. Fiora pointed.
"That was Seraphina. We knew each other back when we were younger. She's from the same village as me. She's the person I was aiming to beat in the Grand Magic Games." She explained. She never took her eyes off of her rival. Abe let her go.
"I see. That's why you're so adamant about being in games. Kind of convenient for her to appear when she did." He replied.
"Right? I wanted to kick her ass! But, now that I know she's here, I have to train harder than ever!" She announced. She clenched her fists. Abe nodded, a small smile on his face.
"As long as you don't blow up the city." He said absentmindedly. Fiora turned toward her.
"What?" She asked, confused.
"Huh? What?" He stammered, realizing he mentioned something that happened in another timeline. Fiora squinted.
"What do you mean don't blow up the city?" She asked. Abe felt sweat form on his forehead.
"Uhh... just a show I watch. Pretty cool. Maybe you'll see it one day." He lied, trying to cover his tracks. Fiora raised a brow, unconvinced.
"Okay... I don't believe you." She said, "But whatever! I'm gonna whoop her ass!"
-Emerald Oasis, Main Hall-
Luna sat at the bar, not knowing where anyone was. Coral walked through the door, holding Zephyr by his ear. Abe and Fiora were following behind her.
"Ah! I'm glad to see you Luna!" Coral said. She dragged Zephyr along.
"Coral-senpai." She greeted. She stood and gave a slight bow. She tilted her head a bit at the sight.
"Oh him? Don't worry, just a little corrective punishment. Right, Zeph?" She asked. Zephyr's body shook.
"R-right." He replied. He was dragged off toward the guild master's office. Lyra, Viperion, and Gideon followed. They all gathered.
"The hell he do?" Fiora asked, pointing her thumb toward the younger kid.
"Zephyr things. He never learns." Abernathy stated.
"But, why is Coral-senpai so hard on him?" Viperion asked. Abe looked to everyone and then Lyra, who looked away a bit nervous.
"Come sit at the bar. Let me share a tale." He said. The three of them looked at one another. They followed the older mage to the bar. He took a seat on one of the stools. Viperion sat on one stool and Gideon sat on another. Fiora stood next to Gideon as Lyra sat at one of the meal tables.
"Well, I won't go into the nitty gritty, but this is something you should know as members of the guild. Zeph is an orphan. He was an outcast from his people. He didn't have a family. He always acted out and always tried to pull pranks. A cry for attention. However, everything changed when Sylph found him. He was an alone and lost child, but Sylph loved him anyway. He eventually started to come around and then he found us. Coral wants him to know what it means to be an S-Class mage. He's only 12, but he has so much talent and power. She just doesn't want him to take it for granted. Zeph can be a bit of a trouble maker, but he's a good kid. If anything, he's just desperate to fit in and to feel like he belongs. He has a long way to go." Abe explained. The three new members looked to each other. Lyra crossed her legs before speaking.
"But don't go babying him. Coral made that mistake too. Zeph is a brat. He needs to grow up and learn the hard way. He'll thank us later." She told them. Abernathy sighed.
"As true as that may be, he's still just a kid. Lyra, Coral, and I have different opinions on how to address him. But the most important thing is to make sure he's reminded that he's one of us, no matter what." He countered. Lyra opened her mouth but shut it. She frowned, looking down.
"Fine. Whatever." She pouted. Abernathy smirked.
"Lyra, you can't get mad because you know I'm right. You know he loves you and Coral like the big sisters he's never had." He told her. Lyra blushed and looked away.
"I don't care! He's still a pain in the ass!" She retorted. Abernathy sighed. Luna looked down a bit. The words struck her, 'You know he loves you and Coral like the big sisters he's never had'.
'Lyra is the sister I never had.' She thought to herself. She looked down, her mind racing with thoughts of her sister.
"Anyway, I have something to do later on, so I'm gonna be heading out." Abe said, standing. Lyra's eyes widened. That's right, she thought, Abe was going on a date with that Harlow woman she met earlier. She narrowed her eyes. Abe noticed this and cleared his throat.
"Anyway, I'll see you all later. Have a good day." He said, giving a slight wave. He walked off.
-Emerald Oasis, Guild Master's Office-
Basil was looking over some different documents when the door opened. Coral dragged Zephyr in by the ear.
"This was the something I felt, master." She said with a smile. Zephyr frowned.
"You're just gonna let her do this, Master Basil?!" He exclaimed. Basil put his pen down and smiled.
"I'll listen to your side of the story." He offered. Zephyr opened his mouth to speak, but closed it once more.
"I see. Coral, do you mind if I have a moment with him?" He asked. Coral smiled.
"Not at all. I'll be on my way. Have a good day, master." She said, bowing slightly before exiting the room. Zephyr sighed and then looked back to Basil.
"Look, I'm sorry about what happened. I got carried away. But she shouldn't have hit me so hard!" He exclaimed. Basil sighed.
"I know. But she was also worried about you." He responded.
"You knew?" Zephyr eyes widened. Basil chuckled.
"My guild is my family, Zeph-kun. I know when things are wrong." He replied. Zephyr looked down a bit.
"I'm sorry. I'll be more careful in the future. I just wanted to have fun. But I didn't realize how much I had bothered them." He apologized.
"I understand. But you have one thing wrong." Basil said. Zephyr looked up at him.
"What's that?" He asked. Basil smiled.
"You, my young man, are not a bother. You're family. I know that you've been through a lot. But you're a member of the Emerald Oasis. You have a home here. And a family. You belong here. Do you understand?" He asked. Zephyr teared up a bit.
"I understand. I'll try to behave myself. And I'll try to be better." He replied. Basil chuckled.
"Zeph-kun, you don't have to change who you are. Just remember to think about other people too. Try not to think about yourself so much, okay?" He asked. Zephyr nodded. Basil got up and walked around his desk. He hugged the kid.
"Now, go do what Coral asked before she blows up the guild." He said low. Zephyr gasped.
"How did you know about that?!" He asked. Basil let go.
"She told me." He answered. Zephyr made a face.
"C'mon. Go. I don't want the guild to be destroyed." Basil said with a smile. Zephyr rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah." He muttered. He left the room, closing the door.
Basil sat on his desk and sigh while crossing his arm. He looked toward the window, the letter from Lady Angell on the wall next to it. He smiled.
"They're a handful. But they're family. I couldn't ask for a better group." He told himself. He chuckled.