"Five hundred, five hundred and one, five hundred and two-"
'Why are you still dawdling here? Release me. We can be free.'
'Now is not the right time. Draculos is definitely still keeping an eye on us. We will make our escape the moment we reach our new prison where security is more lax, trust me on this.'
I have no idea how long I was unconscious for, only knowing that I am now imprisoned in a holding cell with magic suppressing cuffs on my wrists and feet. It is doing a good job of suppressing my magic, but a poor job of suppressing his. I could still break out at any time I want but I do not want to do so with Draculos around.
Come to think about it, if I break myself out of prison is that enough qualification to join Crime Sorciere? Tidbit for thought.
I continued to count the number of bricks that made up my holding cell in an attempt to pass time. Jiemma had dropped by several times to strong-arm me to join his guild to avoid persecution but I simply ignored him, making him leave as a fuming mess. Honestly, it's just a stroke of bad luck on my part for me to cross paths with Draculos. If it wasn't for his interference I am confident that I could at the very least, escape from the fight unscathed or simply emerge from it victorious.
'We are invincible.'
'Try taking that up to Acnologia.'
'We are invincible.'
I was counting the one thousandth and fifty-second brick when a guard pulled me out of my cell and escorted me through the dungeon, finally arriving in what looks like a court. My hood was forcefully pulled down by the guard, revealing the scar on my face for everyone to see and I spotted many looks of disgust sent my way the moment my face was revealed, hearing many nasty words that I do not want to hear.
So they are finally going to convict me of some crime that I did not commit? Well, ain't that fantastic.
"Silence!"
The hearing began without much fanfare, going through the necessary mundane procedures that we must swear that everything we say is the truth and nothing but the truth yada yada yada. I didn't bother listening or defending myself because in truth, they didn't really give me a chance to voice myself. All they did was to collect testimonies from Sabertooth mages and simply convicted me of some stupid crime based on that alone.
I also noted that Orga is conveniently absent.
Whatever. The faster this is over and done with, the faster I can conduct my prison break.
"As such, under the Conviction of Dark Mages Act, Section C, subsection two, paragraph nine, dark mage Argus would thereby be charged-"
"WAIT!"
I snapped out of my daydream and turned around. That voice is the last voice I would ever expect to hear right here.
"I am Macao Conbolt, Fourth Guild Master of Fairy Tail, and I have come to appeal on the behalf of a member of Fairy Tail, Argus!"
The court was stunned into silence at the sudden interruption.
"Macao, what the hell are you doing here?" I cannot help but ask as a panting Wakaba entered the very next second, obviously having run after Macao.
"Oh good, we made it on time," Wakaba wheezed for breath before greeting me. "Hey Argus, it's been a while."
"It was only two weeks at most since we last met." I deadpanned.
"Silence!" The judge shouted while banging that stupid wooden hammer of his on his table. "Macao Conbolt, what is the meaning of this?!"
"Dear Judge, I am here to appeal in favour of Argus," Macao spoke up immediately. "As far as I am concerned, the reason for conviction of Argus' crimes is simply because he is an independent mage, am I correct?"
"That would be correct," The judge agreed. "Under the law, any independent mage found guilty of assaulting a mage of a legal guild would immediately be deemed a dark mage and charged for the corresponding crimes committed."
"Dude, get your facts right. Sabertooth was the one that attacked me."
"Silence!"
"Silence~" I repeated mockingly and took great satisfaction when I saw the veins at the judge's forehead visibly bulging for my mockery. Macao, however, took this chance to continue.
"However, to my understanding, if the offender in question were to be a legal mage, then the issue now could be resolved in private between the Guild Masters of the respective guilds, am I correct?"
"If the mages involved in the conflict are all legal mages, then the conflict can be resolved privately between the guild masters, yes, and only brought up to court if it cannot be resolved peacefully." The judge agreed.
"Then I believe this is all a misunderstanding," Macao continued. "After all, Argus is a Fairy Tail mage."
"Nonsense!" Jiemma bellowed with a slam of his fist. Oh right, he's here too. "He claimed to be an independent mage!"
"As you could already tell, Argus has a tendency to create mischief and to fool around. You can only believe half of what he said," Wakaba quipped and I rolled my eyes. Well, he isn't wrong, but…
"Argus became an official member of Fairy Tail as of sixteen days ago. This is proof of his membership." Macao presented a set of documents which was handed over to the judge. "With that, I would request for this matter to be settled outside of court."
"This…" The judge trailed off as he inspected the documents presented over and over again, trying to find flaws in it but obviously unable to.
"Guild mark. Where is his guild mark?" Jiemma growled out and I can see Macao's brows furrowing at the question. Obviously the whole thing of me being a member of Fairy Tail all along was one big lie and there's no way I would have the guild mark on me.
But
'Gimme a little.'
'As you wish.'
A small influx of magic washed over me as I worked my magic around my right forearm, hidden by the sleeves of my shirt.
"If he is indeed a Fairy Tail mage he will have your guild's mark. Show me his guild mark."
Macao was about to open his mouth, probably trying to spin some believable excuse on my behalf but I beat him to the punch.
"My right forearm."
Everyone stared at me and I shrugged.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" I asked the guard standing beside me. "Hurry up, we ain't got all day."
The guard rolled up my sleeves and I held my arms high (stupid cuffs), a white Fairy Tail guild mark visible for all to see on my right forearm.
"Any other questions?" I smiled at Jiemma, who is now shaking in anger with his fists clenched.
"Sabertooth, this matter is now out of the hands of the court. Do you wish to settle this conflict with Fairy Tail outside of court, or do you wish to elect pressing charges once more on the grounds of unresolved conflict between both your guilds?"
"... Sabertooth will withdraw all charges," Jiemma gritted out through clenched teeth.
"Anybody else has anything to add?" Upon hearing the silence, the judge gave another knock with his hammer once more.
"Then I thereby conclude that the defendant, Argus of Fairy Tail, is not found guilty. This hearing is adjourned."
"You gave us a real big scare there!" Wakaba slung an arm around my shoulders on my left and Macao's arm slung across my shoulders on my right as we walked out of court.
"Yeah, that reminds me, why on earth are the both of you here?"
"To save you, of course!" The duo chorused comically. "You were about to go to jail, you know?! JAIL!"
"It's a criminal record, Argus! CRIMINAL RECORD!" Wakaba exclaimed. "No guild would ever want to take you in after that!"
"Yeah! And it's not unheard of for convicts to die in jail for no reason at all! It's dangerous there! Do you understand?!" Macao grabbed my shoulders and shook me in agitation and I cannot help but laugh to try and prevent the wetness in my eyes from spilling out.
When was the last time I had people genuinely care for my well-being? It's been too long.
"STOP LAUGHING! THIS REALLY ISN'T FUNNY!"
"Relax, old men, I would have easily broken out of jail. It will be fun."
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!"
"Argus."
That nasty sounding voice made us turn around. Jiemma is there, glaring at us with his mages behind him.
"We will not let this slide the next time."
Jiemma turned and took his leave after spatting those words and I flipped him the finger. Asshole.
"Surprised that he chose not to continue to press charges," I remarked.
"If he does, then the whole world would know that there is a legal mage out there that is capable of defeating his best mages solo. Jiemma values his guild's reputation, so he wouldn't press charges to publicise that fact," Wakaba sniggered. "Good job, by the way. I knew you were strong, but I never expected you to be that strong."
"If you were a dark mage he would just spin a different story. Sabertooth apprehended a dangerous dark mage. Something like that would boost their fame and popularity but if you are a legal mage? It would just be seen as a common spat between guilds and whoever came out the winner would be seen as the stronger one. That's why we had to make you a legal mage somehow. It was the only way to get you off the hook," Macao explained.
"I didn't know that," I mused. Fiore's laws can be confusing at best.
"So, what really happened?" Macao mock whispered as the three of us ignored whatever had happened earlier and made our exit, heading towards the nearest train station.
"I was trying to help a damsel in distress from a drunk Orga and got convicted for assaulting a legal mage instead."
"Wooh, sounds like a story I want to hear," Wakaba wagged his eyebrows suggestively. "Was the damsel, you know…"
"Nah."
"Oh damn."
"How did you get…" Macao gave a look at my right forearm where my 'guild mark' now lies. I simply grinned and willed it away before willing it back.
"Light Magic can make people see things, you know?"
"But weren't you cuffed? How?"
"They need better cuffs if they really want to restrain my magic," I yawned. "But that reminds me too. How were you guys so quick to my rescue?"
"We received word from Draculos Hyberion that you were in trouble, so here we are," Wakaba grunted as he smoked his pipe.
"Wait, Draculos?"
"Yeah."
"Huh, guess I owe him one after all," I mumbled. Maybe he's not as bad as I thought.
"So… I'm a Fairy Tail mage now?" I lifted and inspected the mark now resting on my forearm.
"Uh… on paper?" Macao shrugged. "I mean, it's really up to you, you have already did us a huge favour when you helped pay off our debts to Twilight Ogre and we know how much you value your independence so it's no biggie that you revoke your membership the moment we get back and-"
"Can I have the guild mark, the real one, on my forearm when I get back? In white?"
Cue the silence.
"What are you two staring at me for?"
"Are you… for real?" Macao asked carefully.
"Like, super duper real?" Wakaba added with a gulp, not even bothering to smoke his pipe anymore.
"Why not?" I lifted my right arm for them to see. "I mean, now that I have a fake copy tattooed here I'm starting to like the new look. Might as well make it permanent."
"Argus~!"
"Get off me! This is disgusting!" I yelled as I tried to pry the two stinky old men off me, who are now hugging me in excitement and are getting their tears and snot and whatnot all over me.
"We finally have a new member after so long~"
"If I recalled correctly, Romeo became an official member just-"
"Wahh~ Somebody is joining Fairy Tail~ Wahh~"
I looked up at the sky and sighed.
"Guys, let's just please do this behind closed doors."
"Party! Party! Let's party!"
"To Argus!"
"TO ARGUS!"
A toast was made to my name as the entire guild feasted in the small little tavern that we call our guild building. They are throwing me a welcoming party and nothing I say will dissuade them from doing otherwise.
The new and official guild mark now sits on my right forearm. I had thought that my decision to become an official member was simply a moment of impulse, because I had once swore to never get involved with Fairy Tail, but even at the moment where Laki had helped stamped the guild mark on my forearm I couldn't bring myself to feel that way.
I really am hopeless, aren't I?
"Hey Macao, make Argus our new Ace already! He curb stomped Sabertooth, ya know? Sabertooth!"
"Oh what if we spread word about it? We might just attract more people to send jobs to us!"
"Good idea!"
Somehow, somewhere down the line, these big-hearted fools have somehow wormed their way into the heart which I had closed off a long time ago. Somehow, they make me want to try and trust people again. Somehow, now, I feel like giving this a go, even after knowing the kind of shit they will be going through in the future.
I must be insane to think this way, but maybe this isn't a bad thing.
"Hey, let's participate in the next GMG! With Argus around, we can totally win it!"
"Hell yeah!"
"Hell yeah!" Asuka's cute little voice parroted that immediately, silencing the guild hall instantly as everyone froze.
"Who said that? Own up," Laki whispered.
"Hell yeah!"
"Asuka, no. That's a bad word," Alzack told Asuka firmly.
"Hell no!" Asuka yelled, not realising just how tense the atmosphere is now.
"Alright, own up. Who said those words? Rule number thirty-three, no swearing in the guild when children are around, remember?" Nab demanded.
"You guys swear all the time with me around back then. I didn't see anyone doing anything about it," Romeo muttered under his breath but his opinion went unheard by anyone else other than me.
"Hell yeah!"
"Asuka, don't."
"Hell yeah!"
"Asuka!"
"Hell yeah!"
Oh boy, talking Asuka out of it is going to take forever.
'I was of the belief that you hate the sea.'
'Yeah, me too,' I replied as I checked the map while riding on the small little boat that I had rented from Hargeon. According to the map, my current location was where Tenrou Island used to be.
It's been two months since I joined the guild. Business is slowly picking up ever since word had spread that Fairy Tail has a mage with the capability to go up against Sabertooth's elites. I have just completed a job that brings me to Hargeon and since I am already here, I have decided to set sail and investigate the Tenrou incident on my own.
Now that I am a Fairy Tail member, I cannot in good conscience not try to do anything about the disappearance of the Tenrou group when I know something about it. I had seen how much their disappearance had affected those back home and if it is possible, I would like to get them to return as soon as they can. Problem is, I have no idea how.
From what little I remembered about my foreknowledge, Tenrou resurfaced after seven years. As to what the exact date of their return is, I have no freaking clue. My only question is, do we really have to wait for the full seven years? Six years had already passed since their disappearance and while a single year might not seem like much when they had been gone for six years, if I could bring them back a year early, then I would do so, because I am now a member of Fairy Tail.
However, I did not inform anyone of my insane plan because I have no idea if my crazy idea would even work. Thus, leading me to my current situation, drifting on the sea which I hate so much.
"Here goes nothing," I mumbled as I took off my shirt and conjured a string of light to tie me to my little boat so that I would not be separated from it.
'This is stupid.'
'I don't need your reminder.'
Without further ado, I dove into the sea and tried diving as deep as I could, trying to search for any signs of Tenrou Island. I have no idea what I would do from there if I do find the island but it doesn't change the fact that I would need to first find the island to take the second step forward, whatever that second step may be.
'You have been diving for four hours. This is useless.'
'It's been four hours?' I looked up at the sky to check the position of the sun and yes, about four hours had passed and if I don't make my way back to Hargeon right now, I might not make it back before sundown and I definitely do not want to search my way back to dry land in the dark.
As much as I do not want to admit it, Operation Find Tenrou is a bust.
