/N: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima. Magi:The Labyrinth of Magic belongs to Shinobu Ohtaka. I don't own both series.
Chapter 4
Digging up Information
After flying in the sky for two days, Irene and Dunya finally arrives in the front door of Aktia Kingdom. But, it looks like the kingdom is not friendly like they previously thought. On its entrance, hundreds of soldiers are full-armed and marched away from the Kingdom wall.
Now, Irene and Dunya are seen standing a mile from the kingdom gate. Both of them decided to walk to avoid any attention.
"I don't understand. Why'd Aktia Kingdom is marching their army? They usually neutral..." Dunya commented. She's known during one of her father visit that Aktia Kingdom is known for its king, who always want a neutral position with every nation. This is mainly due to their strategic position. They also had a strong navy, which make Kou Empire, one of the new emerging superpowers according to her father, never dared to attack Aktia.
"You forgot about your country Dunya? Your country had new government now. The last thing that this Aktia Kingdom want is it will become aggressive to the neighboring nation. That's why they marching their army to the border of their territory." Irene said.
Dunya nodded, understand what she meant.
"If it goes like this, then the guards will be more careful with the newcomers. It seems we must do a disguise." Irene concluded after seeing the guards of the gate. Doing her Requip, she then done the same outfit as her reign as a queen, although lack the armor and not like before, it doesn't revealed her body too much.
'If I not wrong, that's Requip Magic. Ah... I wish I can use that kind of Magic now. I can carry anything without had to bring bag.' Dunya thought feel jealous a little because she still not show improvement on her Magic.
After finishing her change of clothes, Irene then turns her attention to Dunya. The former princess is still wearing her old clothes during her times tried to escape from the rebels that thanks to the training with Irene now has some rips on it. "Now, what shall I do to make you unseen?" Irene thinks before an idea came to her head. "I know." Her hands later glowing red as she directs it on the former princess.
On Aktia Kingdom gate, two guards are standing on each sides of it. That's when they saw a red-haired woman is walking to the gate. Before she can walk further, the guards block her way with their spears.
"State your business." The guard said.
Irene then 'bow' to them. "My name is Erza. I'm just a traveler that wishes to see the library in here because I heard that the library in Aktia Kingdom is abundant." She tried to find a reason while using her daughter name as a disguise.
"You had nothing to introduce yourselves. So, sorry miss. We can't let you in." The guard said with stern tone.
Knowing that formality won't get her anywhere, Irene then stop playing around. She then look at them while her eyes glowing. "Both of you will let me in, do you?" She demanded while using her Hypnosis Magicon both the guards. They later are fully manipulated by Irene powers.
"Yes. You may enter. The library is in the center of the city." The guard said in a trance.
"Thank you so much." Irene thanked the guards while the spears that blocking her way being opened. She then walks to the inside of the city. When she finally enters the kingdom, she finds it like Alvarez Empire port city, a busy kingdom that locates close to shore, and seems like various trade happens here.
"If it's a trade country, I'll be lucky to find any document to help me." Irene sighed. During her time in Alvarez Empire, she's one of the Spriggan 12 that not usually being used to trading, since Alvarez is a military country that relies on their rich landscape and it usually was Invel's job as the advisor to watch over it. "Dunya, you may come out now."
From Irene clothes, a small, green mouse is seen crawling and sit on her shoulder. This mouse is none other than Dunya. She purposefully turns by Irene into mouse, afraid that she'll be recognized in this kingdom.
"I think we're not going through the gate." Dunya said. Despite now a mouse, Irene not Enchant her fully, so she can speak. "Are you sure it's okay to hypnotize those guards?"
"It's okay. The effects will be long gone by now." Irene assured her. She then tried to search a small alley and finally founds it not far away from the kingdom gate. She then goes there, and when she's arrived, she Enchant Dunya back to her human form.
"I think I don't want to turn into a mouse again." Dunya commented still feeling the sensation of it.
"That's correct. Now, I at least must change that appearance of yours. How about." She then shoot Dunya with her Enchant Magic once again which changes her clothing.
Dunya now wearing a dress that shows off the front of her body. She wears something akin to that of a gold colored swimsuit showing her chest and a golden fancy coat with purple-indented flower patterns across its design, along with purple fur around the collar. This are clothes that always used by Brandish Myu, one of Spriggan 12 and Irene comrades during her previous life.
When Dunya realized why she feels the air, she then look down to see that many parts of her body is revealed. "KYAAAAAAAAAAAA!" She screamed in embarrassment while using her hands to close her breast from view. She later squat as well. "IRENE-SAMA!? Although you want to make me unrecognizable by the outsiders, it doesn't mean my clothes are supposed to be like this! Everyone will think of me as some kind of pervert lady!"
"My comrades in the village used it without any feel of embarrassment." Irene playfully commented, remembering Brandish. "Or...you more prefer tight stockings?"
Hearing tight stocking make Dunya flinched. "No! This is better than tight stocking! But-"
Irene then summon a cloak from her Requip, and thrown it to Dunya. "Wear this if you still feel embarrassment."
Dunya nodded as she quickly wears it. 'I can't believe it if some women from Irene-sama use such clothing. If I wearing these kind of clothes… I-I can't marry anymore!'
"Oh by the way, until you can use Magic properly, you'll be wearing those clothes and don't expect I'll change it." Irene said while casually turn and walk out from the alley.
Irene words feels like nightmare to the former Musta'sim princess as her eyes turns comical white and her mouth gape in shock hearing such thing. 'Nooooooooooo!?'
After the small banter, both of them is still on search of the library, which is located in the center of the kingdom, which later prove to be difficult since the building they've seen so far mostly for international trading.
'Like what I expect of a trading country, the entire infrastructure all designed for that. If the library is close to the castle… It will be quite annoying.' Irene thought as she turns to Dunya. "Dunya, do you really not know the location of the library on this kingdom?" She asked.
"I-I don't know. Father and mother is the only one that ever sets foot in here because at that time, I was busy learning royal etiquette." Dunya honestly replied. Before Irene can ask her again, she feel someone presence behind her and Dunya.
"Ah. So this is the great singularity I sensed few days ago." A voice that belongs to a young man suddenly speaks up.
Irene turn her head and saw a young man with a rather feminine face in a green Magician's hat and loose-fitting green and white clothes, including thigh length boots. He has silver blond hair, which tied to a very long braid, with a feather attached to its end, as well as a smaller braid on his forehead, and blue eyes.
"Well hello." Said the man.
Irene then takes a look to Dunya. "Dunya, stays behind me." She said as she later summoned her trademark staff and standing in front of Musta'sim former princess. "Let me guess. You're a member of this Al-Thamen that chasing her, am I right?" She demanded while preparing to shoot Magic Blast if he tried to do anything funny. "The answer will decide if I shall kill you or not."
"Relax; I had no intention to fight." He said as a swarm of white, butterfly-like thing is surrounding him. "In fact, you can say that I'm here to help."
After seeing those, Irene feels a little relieved. 'Judging from his expression, this man doesn't lie. I can see that he also has no bad intention at heart. But, his Magical Power is incredible. I must say it comparable to the weaker tier of Spriggan 12.' She thought in awe sensing the man's power. "It seems you're Magician? From Musta'sim Kingdom then?"
Dunya flinched hearing Irene mentioning that part. No matter what she did to keep strong, that trauma will forever engraved inside her mind.
"The girl behind you is afraid when you said that you know." The man said. "By the way, my name is Yunan."
"Yunan...? Is every people that I met had strange name?" Irene commented casually.
"And for you other question, I'm not from Musta'sim Kingdom that currently change its name to the country of Magician, Magnostadt. I simply like to travel around the world." Yunan assured Irene he meant no harm. "So if I not wrong, you want to know about the geography and the history of this world are you not?"
Irene widen her eyes slightly. "How do you know?" She demanded since she certain that her senses will quickly catch someone eavesdropping on her.
"I listen to your conversation ever since you entering Aktia Kingdom. My ears are sharp enough to do so." Yunan explain.
After hearing those, Irene had no choice but make her staff disappeared. "How perceptive of you. Judging from your words before as a traveler, it seems you can tell me anything that I want to know." She said. 'This man… I must say that if his hearing Magic is akin to that Dragon Slayer from Oracion Seis, he's good.'
"Irene-sama..." Dunya tried to speak. "I-I-I'm s-s-scared..."
"It will be okay." Irene whispered. "If he tried anything funny, I'll kill him on the spot." She assured.
"I also heard that you know." Yunan said with comical sweat-drop. "Let's search for a place to talk shall we?"
The scene then changed to a forest that located not too far away from the Aktia Kingdom. Irene and Dunya are sitting beside each other while Yunan is sitting on the opposite view.
Yunan decided to open the conversation. "By the way...why that girl beside you only wearing bra? Did perhaps she's-"
Hearing it make Dunya gasp and blushing red in embarrassment.
"Don't mind about that. It's her punishment." Irene said casually.
Yunan chuckles. "I see."
However, judging from his looks, Yunan seems know something that she doesn't. So, she then looks at Dunya. "Forgive me Dunya."
"Wh-" Dunya not finished said a word before being put to sleep by Irene Sleep Magic. Her body later falls to Irene thigh as she softly let out a light breath.
"Whoa...why'd you do that?" Yunan is curious by her act.
"She doesn't deserve to hear our conversation." Irene replied while stroking her hair. She then looks at Yunan sharply. "You know something about me, are you not? Because from your demeanor, you seem not confused like Dunya, the villagers, and the member of Al-Thamen that assault me."
"How perceptive." Yunan commented as he decided not to play games with the former Queen of Dragons. "Yes. In truth, few days ago, I sensed a huge disturbance in Rukh. It like said that someone with huge power and thus... A singularity, is appear on this world once again." He explain the event when Irene first sent to this world.
"Rukh... Let me guess, is this butterfly-like thing that swarms around you?" Irene asked seeing Yunan body is surrounded by White Rukh.
Yunan smiled. "It's strange. For a Magician with high caliber such as you, you don't know about Rukh at all." He pointed out as most Magicians are loved by it.
After hearing those, Irene feel conflicted. Part of her feels that Yunan knows she's not from this world. 'I can sense it. He's hiding his true strength.'
"So my hunch is correct." Yunan guessed seeing Irene's confused face. "I actually surprised, there are Magician who can use Magic without using Rukh."
Irene smiled while summoning her staff and her usual outfit. "So, my guess is correct. You know about my origins... Are you not?" She demanded.
Yunan then nodded. "I know that you're from another world but for the detail… I know nothing of it."
"Then, you don't mind if we spar a little do you? Seems you not just a wanderer Magician. But, something else entirely." Irene said while standing up as her power is surging around her. "It's been a while since I can truly fight someone around my caliber."
Yunan then stand up as well. "Very well. I also not have a Magic battle for a while." He then floats in the air while suddenly his body also enveloped in white aura. "Let's do it on the air shall we? I can't risk this area which filled with innocent wildlife being destroyed."
Irene smirked hearing it as she understands what he meant. "I hope you don't disappoint me." She said while flying as well. Dunya was leave behind while her body is leaning on a tree and surrounded by Irene Magic Barrier.
The two later fly to a certain height. After reaching it, Irene quickly make the first move.
"Let me see how you move will be, Yunan-san." Irene said while creating numerous Magic Ball that raced toward Yunan with incredible speed.
Yunan easily avoid all of it by flying to the side. "A simple Magoi Ball? It won't be enough." He commented as he skillfully avoiding all of it.
"Hoo." Irene then raises her right hand, and the Magic Balllater fly toward Yunan again.
'She can control it at will!?' Yunan didn't calculate it while relied on his Borg to protect him from the Magic Ball.
"Let see if I do this." Irene staff later surrounded by Energy Ball. 'Barrier Enchant. Explosion.'
Yunan widen his eyes. His Borg suddenly glowing in red. Actinc quickly, he later quickly dismissed his Borg and jump away from her. "I see. It seems I can't underestimate you." He said as his right hand start to spark with electricity.
"Give me more shows of your strength!" Irene later gather massive Magic Ball around her staff, before shooting it toward Yunan.
'Al-Kimia Al-Qadema.' Yunan chanted while his fishing-rod-like wand is glowing with Rukh. Suddenly, the cloud that was closest to him forming large mirror shields that block the blast.
Irene not expects that he can use such complex Magic as she smiled in thrill seeing it. "An interesting Magic if I must say. That's Alchemy Magic if I not wrong. A rare Magic that relied on complex formula that even me and August-san can't copy." Irene said as she know the usage of Magic that Yunan used. "However." Swing her hand, the mirror shield that blocks Yunan is disappears without a trace.
Yunan widen his eyes seeing it. The giant Magic Ball is close to him already. It will hit if Irene not cancelling it. He then chuckles. "I see. Seems I've lost from the start…. If that's what you think." He said as he suddenly shooting blue lightning from his left palm, clashing equally with the Magic Ball as it create blinding explosion. However, as the light fades, all he see is Irene seems unharmed as it reveals that she forces to protect herself from the explosion. "Even that's not enough to scratch you…"
"Even so, I know you're holding back. The same as I did." Irene commented as she drops her guard stance. "Judging from your battle style, you are skilled on support Magic and defensive one while lacking varieties on the offensive Magic. However, to think I can find someone that can use Alchemy Magic. I must say it's a rare occurrence since only few people from my own world that I know can use it."
"And from what I saw, you Magic is not just shooting Magoi Ball at all. It seems you like empowered the air around you to make it. I also experience first time how Enchant can turn to be such a fearsome offensive Magic." Yunan said, returning the compliment as he fly down back to the forest. "Well, let's go back to the conversation shall we?"
Irene agreed. They later fly down to the ground following him. After they landed, Irene dismissed her staff, and sit on the ground. Yunan also do the same. Silence happen for a while, until the Wandering Magi decide to open the conversation.
"So, what should I-"
"My name is Irene. Irene Belserion." Irene introduced herself.
"I guess you shall wake her up." Yunan said referring to Dunya.
Irene narrowed her eyes at Yunan's suggestion. The last thing she wants is Dunya knows about her origins, because she already told her a lie about it.
Yunan seems noticed Irene uneasiness. "I suggest that she shall hear the truth. You don't want her to hate you for lying, don't you?"
Irene feels more uneasy as she feels conflicted. 'Should I let her knows the truth?' She thinks to herself before finally make her decision. "I'm going to regret this." She mumbling as she cancelling Dunya Sleeping Magic induction, waking her up.
Dunya then slowly open her eyes. "Uh..." She then look at Irene. "Irene-sama...what-"
"No need to worry." Irene said. "This time the important information that I seek finally will be revealed and this man will tell me everything that I know."
"That's right, former princess of Musta'sim." Yunan said to Dunya. He already knows about her identity due to hearing their conversation back in Aktia Kingdom.
Dunya narrowed her eyes toward him. "That means you're Magnos-"
"I had no affiliation with them I can assure you." Yunan cut her off. "I'm just a Magician that loves to wander to many places that I like. Besides, if I'm from Magnostadt, maybe I look upon you as nothing more than animal like the Magician in there used to do."
Irene smirked. "You fit with someone that I knew." She said referring to Zeref and his cunningness of words. "Well then, I shall ask the question first. How do you know about me in detail?"
Yunan then using his Alchemy Magic to create a glass of tea for him, Irene, and Dunya from the nearby grass. "Just drink it. And I will tell everything." He said while offering it to Dunya and Irene, which both of them accept it. Yunan take a sip from it, before speak again. "In truth, few days from now, there's a strange energy that I sense. No, maybe not just me, but some important people as well. It's like there was another singularity that been born. At first, I thought it was born naturally like what I sense years ago… But." He then looks at Irene.
"Let me guess. The one that you sensed is me, am I right?" Irene guessed.
Dunya is confused with the conversation. "Irene-sama, what'd he meant?"
Irene then look at Dunya with a frown on her face. "Dunya. Forgive me. During that time, when I told you about my past and about my friends daughter. It's all a lie." She admitted.
Hearing it make Dunya confused and feel a bit betrayed. "Lie?"
"That's right, former princess of Musta'sim. This woman, Irene-san is not from this world altogether, but from a parallel universe than our own." Yunan summarized. "She appears on this world on the night of Musta'sim Rebellion."
Dunya then look down with some tears in her eyes. "Then... It's all... A lie... Every time we spent together... Even the training..." She said while look down in sadness.
"It's not a lie!" Irene slightly raise her voice as she make Dunya look at her by grab her face. "When I said I will take care of you, I mean about it. The reason I don't want to tell about it it's because… I can't just trust anyone in this world with ease. Even a child like you." She reasoned. "I… You already suffer enough by that event. There's no need you think of another matters."
Dunya then struggling freeing herself from Irene, look at her before slapping the Scarlet Despair in the face.
Yunan could only make a sad look on his face seeing the act. 'I predict that this act will coming. Now what the little princess will do?'
Irene doing nothing. She only received the slap with guilty look. It was her fault in the first place not telling her the truth. She's worth receiving it.
"I... Don't like you keeping secret from me like this..." Dunya said. "You're... Never trusted me... Right from the start... Even after... I worked hard to make that soup for you... Even after I believed in you… You lied to me…"
Irene sighed as she knows this reaction was normal. "Well then. I can find a-" Irene stopped her talking when she saw Dunya is crying silently as she still looks at her.
"However... If I never met you that day... I... Never know if I'm still alive right now... Or what I'll become... After that..." Dunya said between her tears. "... I'm really thank you for what you did to me, Irene-sama... But please... Don't lie to me like that... Ever again..." She said before closing her face with her palms, crying.
Irene feels guilty seeing it. Her only act is hugging the crying former princess. "I'm sorry Dunya... I'm truly am... I promise... It won't happen again..." She promised.
Dunya still crying before finally asked. "Really?"
Irene nodded while hugging her and caressing Dunya's hair.
Yunan decided not to interrupt, since it's about their own problems. He will wait until both of them reconcile.
After both of them finally reconcile, Yunan decided to continue the conversation. "Well then Irene-san, can you please tell me about this parallel universe of yours?" He asked. "It is I that want to know about it, not the other."
Irene sighed. "When I first arrived in here, I curiously thought of why only some people that can use Magic in here. It's strange, considers all people in where I once belongs can use Magic if they trained." She explained.
"Any people can use Magic?" Yunan is curious and amazed by the fact he just heard.
"Like this world, on my old world many people also ruled by monarchy system. That's all I can tell you. I can't tell about everything that personal to me." Irene said, quickly ended the conversation.
"However, if truly people in there can use Magic if they trained its interesting. To think there are Magician like you that had the same caliber as Magi. Usually only some people that can match us." Yunan commented about Irene peerless magnitude in power that able to push him back during their spar.
"Back to the main thing. You said that thing: Rukh and this Magi. What is that exactly?" Irene asked. She clearly curious about it.
"This will take a long time." Yunan said. "Rukh is the home of souls. While we live, it is every man for them self. But when you die, all go back to one place, the souls return to Rukh, The home of souls or the Great Flow. In easy way, it's the source of life on this world, and the cause of every natural phenomena that happens." He explained.
"Then, it's the same as this Magoi thing that Dunya been talking about to me?" Irene asked.
"The same thing." Yunan said. "Every person had their Magoi inside their own body. However, only some people that can harness its power since Magoi is also someone life-force. Using it without concern can cause death."
Irene nodded, understanding the concept. Running out of Magoi it's like if there no Ethernano left for Magician. "Then, this Magi thing...what is it exactly?"
"Magi... It can say is a Magician with the ability to call Rukh from their surroundings. In other words, they had infinite supply of Magoi. Magi is... Also someone who selects royalty. Before long, this world... Will need to select a king... A person who has mastered Magic. A person that others will flock to because of his righteousness. A king like no other. This person must be sought out, found and then chosen by completing a labyrinth called Dungeon that can only be summoned by a Magi. He will be trained by the wise and then elevated to become a king of unprecedented grandeur. In all era, there always three Magi. I'm one of them: Yunan. My epithet is the Wandering Magi." Yunan finally fully introduced himself.
"I see. However, the one that choose king is something I don't need. So, in other words, Magi can absorb energy from the outside." Irene tried to understand the concept. "Then, what about the differences between this Rukh? Why there's black and white?" She asked.
"The Rukh is split into two categories: White and Black. White Rukh is the one that show kindness. But the Black Rukh… It's the polar opposite. It is created when one goes against fate and tries to defy destiny. It is created from and fuels hatred and malice. And also, someone that being dyed on it being expelled from the Great Flow forever." Yunan explain.
After hearing it, Irene narrowed her eyes. So the concept of fate was slightly controlled? That doesn't sounds like her old world at all.
Dunya had a sad look on her face. She began to imagine what will happen if she cursed her destiny that day if she not meet Irene.
"At first, I thought that butterfly was a nuisance." Irene commented. "However, after hearing it, I not like it at all. It's like the world is split into black and white, because, if I think it logically, no matter what kind of destiny they cursed, even if it's for the greater good, it will be on dark side, isn't it?"
"That's right." Yunan admitted. "If you said so, it seems your world is a different one than this world."
"I once cursed my own fate. But my world never had this rules, because why? Fate is something that every individual must make for themselves. No matter what paths that will lead them. I even know someone with that kind of personality that kind enough to his underlings" Irene voiced her opinion about fate while referring about Zeref.
"Make your own fate? I see. The rule of this world doesn't apply to you then. That's why I didn't see any Rukh surrounding you." Yunan said in curiosity. "Well, any other information you wants?"
Irene nodded. "Tell me. How much countries in this world exactly? Aside from Magno-Musta'sim Kingdom and Aktia Kingdom?"
Yunan put his hand on his chin. "Let see. Far west is the Leam Empire. Far East is the recently growing superpower, Kou Empire, made from a small kingdom called Kou subjugated the Kai and Gou, their neighboring countries. on the south there are Balbaad Kingdom and Sindria Kingdom. Not far from here, is the declining Parthevia Empire." Yunan said each name of the countries he remembered. "The other is the small ones, like Qishan, Imuchakk Tribe, Artemyra, Sasan, Heliohapt, and many other small countries."
"I tried to remember each of it." Irene said. "Thank you so much for the information Yunan-san. I hope we can cross path again in the future."
Yunan nod. "If there's nothing you want to asks, I guess I'll take my leave. Goodbye for now Irene-san." Yunan said as he stands up before suddenly jumps upward and gone from sight.
'Seriously, what a mysterious man. I'm glad I not reveal any personal information to him.' Irene thinks about Yunan. Still, she already got information that she wants despite the risks.
"Irene-sama." Irene turned to see Dunya called her. "Is it really true by what he said about you?"
"Why'd you ask the same thing again? You already know since the time you slapping me." Irene clearly confused by her question.
"I can't think right during that time." Dunya reasoned.
Irene silent for a while, before nodding.
"I see." Dunya commented, "But Irene-sama, can you at least tell me...about your past in your previous life look like?"
"My past?" Irene didn't expect her question.
"Because the one you said to me are all lies." Dunya pointed. "However, you said that you curse your own fate once. I want to know, how can you finally accept it?"
Irene had a sad look on her face, remembering her 400 years of suffering. She then however began to speak. "In my world, it all started 400 years ago…"
Author Notes
So! The ending is a cliffhanger! The next chapter will shows about Irene finally telling her past to Dunya. How will she react? I'll guess you just wait the chapter to be released.
For Irene vs Yunan part, you must be confused why Irene intend to blow Yunan Borg. Well, Irene Enchant is on different class on her own (Sadly, because the plot armor, she loses against Wendy that had fewer experiences than her). She can manipulate and Enchant anything that she wants. That's why she intent to make Borg explode and able to make Yunan Alchemy Magic return to its original source via Enchant.
As for Yunan, I get it that he also not some weakling. It just because he dislike fighting that he looks weak while we see how he could easily kill Arba if not because her damn infinite regeneration.
As for Yunan part to know Irene origins, well, don't forget he already being Magi for eight times. Is possible that he had knowledge the recent Magi like Judar, or Magi like Scheherazade, who is never reincarnated, never known. As for Different World, well Alma Torran is also a parallel from Magi verse, so, why there is no other parallel world? Not to mention how Alibaba mention there's possibility of other world.
Once again, I said thank you for everyone that supports and had positive response to this story. See you in the next update!