A/N: Welp thanks for reading so far, just wanted to let everyone know that probably know chapters next week. I got finals, but I everything should be good for the week after so stay tuned. As for how this is gonna go, I started posting mostly because I got through the worst part of the semester and figured I had enough time to kill by writing.
So the plan is to do arc 2 in two parts, kind of similar to how I did arc 1, where there was a pre phantom lord section then a post phantom lord section. Here it'll be kind of similar, with the first part already under way, then maybe like a couple trails, then the second part and that'll be it for the arc.
In all expect a similar length to arc 1 probably, maybe a bit longer but I'll try not to let that happen.
Regardless, thanks for reading, and hope you have a good weekend. Let me know what you think of the chapter and stay safe :)
P.S. this isn't really important but I was wondering if anyone had like an estimate they could give me on how many guild members Phantom Lord had in the anime. Like if you do, please let me know, cuz I know they had a ton of branch guilds since Mystogan destroyed them but I don't know how much that might add up to. I'm thinking a couple hundred, so at most like 500, but leaning more to 300. Again, it doesn't really matter, just wondering.
Hope you enjoy:)
August 7th, x779
To the west of Fiore, a train was waiting at the station. The last calls had gone off, and the attendants were closing the doors, signaling the conductor to leave. The train's whistle sounded over the milling crowd as a boy with long black hair and metal piercings barreled past security.
"Hey, get back here! It's not safe!"
"Fuck off, pansy!" Gajeel shouted as he pushed past several bystanders and jumped off the waiting platform. He grabbed onto the back railing of the train, ignoring the yells of the station staff as the shitty locomotive began pulling out of the station.
"Fuckin made it." Gajeel grinned as the engine whistle echoed through the air, and the train began rolling away from town. Gajeel pulled himself over the railing, stilling as his stomach began fucking rebelling the second his feet hit the floor.
Fuck off... I forgot about this fucking bullshit.
Gajeel groaned as he held his stomach, leaning over the railing and spewing the rest of his lunch. Fuckin forgot about damn motion sickness bullshit. It had been so long since he'd taken a train, mostly because he fuckin avoided it like the plague.
His only solace was that it became more manageable after nothing was left in his stomach.
"Damn bullshit," Gajeel cursed as he pulled himself up, opening the back door as he walked into the last rail car. His eyes quickly scanned the cart as he walked over to the first open booth he found. It was the standard two benches, a table in between, and a girl was sitting on one of those benches.
"Oi, anyone sitting here?" Gajeel callously asked, trying to hide his stomach's agony as he eyed the girl. She looked around his age, with long azure blue hair, a sapphire blue coat, and a colored-navy blue shawl. A puffy pink parasol and a doll were resting beside her, her nose stuffed in a book that looked too boring for him to care about.
"No." The girl murmured, her dark blue eyes glancing at him before she resumed reading. Gajeel would've probably raised an eyebrow if his stomach wasn't being such a bitch.
"Thanks," Gajeel muttered as he plopped down on the bench opposite of her, sinking as he crossed his arms and held the bile in his stomach.
Argh... Shut the fuck up body!
He couldn't fuckin wait to get off this shitty train.
This fuckin motion sickness bullshit!
Gajeel growled as he used his magic to turn his insides to iron. He wasn't sure if the science behind it checked out, but he didn't really care. All he knew was that it numbed his stomach pain whenever he was in a moving vehicle.
It wouldn't last for long, but it would at least stall his motion sickness in its crusade of making him hate his fucking life.
Fucking finally... some peace and quiet.
Gajeel sighed. Relaxed, he closed his eyes and sat with his arms crossed, only for his fleeting moments of peace to end far sooner than he liked.
"Are you okay?" The girl asked as he looked up to see her glancing at him over the edge of her book.
"Course I am," Gajeel growled, refusing to look anything other than fine. His piercings came in handy at times like these. Distracted others from the green in his face or the paleness growing in his fingers due to how tightly he gripped his biceps. "Fuckin peachy. What else it look like?"
"Like you are holding back a poop."
"Wha- you!" Gajeel growled, reflexively leaning forward before his stomach grumbled. Gajeel felt his body shake as he sat back down, keeping a deadlock on his crossed arms. He scoffed to hide the growl in his stomach, "Well at least I don't look like a lost child. The fuck you have a doll for?"
"It is important." The girl narrowed her eyes, settling down the book for the first time as she grabbed the doll. She nestled it to her chest as she glared, showing some backbone for fuckin once in the conversation, "It was a gift for Juvia."
"The fuck is a Juvia?"
"Juvia is me, " the girl said, apparently not realizing how weird it was for someone to refer to themselves in the third person.
"It's nice to meet you."
But then again, people thought Gajeel was weird whenever he mentioned Metallicana, so whatever. She could talk all she wanted as long as she directed it elsewhere. Preferably where he wasn't suffering from motion sickness.
"You too," Gajeel mumbled, closing his eyes as he attempted to ignore her.
"Juvia would like to know your name," the girl ignored his blatant attempts to ignore her, "Will you please tell Juvia your name, angry metal boy."
"Gajeel." He growled, increasingly annoyed as the train hit a bump and his intestines tried to kill themselves. "And I am done with this shit."
"Juvia thought we were having a conversation?"
"Conversation over."
"But Juvia is curious." The weird girl persisted, her eyes flicking at her book almost fearfully before she leaned forward. Her voice was either really curious or anxious. Gajeel couldn't tell which. Maybe both.
He stopped caring when her curious eyes became locked onto his metal studs.
"Are those metal bits real?" She asked innocently, "In your face and arms."
"The fuck?" Gajeel scowled, his eyes twitching as he suddenly became very aware of the cold metal in his arms. "Course they're real. You done?"
"Are they painful?"
"No."
"They look painful."
"Thanks." Gajeel snarked, his voice terse as his stomach sank. "Now would Juvia stop talking." He cringed as he saw her wilt, the hag's voice telling him to stop acting like such a 'delinquent' ringing in his ears as he begrudgingly added, "Please."
"But Juvia wants to talk to someone."
"Then talk to yourself or something." Gajeel shut his eyes forcefully and grumbled thoughtlessly, "Sounds like you're already good at it."
Gajeel's barb didn't come with a response, instead it suddenly started raining outside. Gajeel peeked his eyes open, glancing outside to see a heavy downpour falling out of nowhere, battering against the glass.
He glanced curiously at the glass before turning to the girl and seeing her dark expression.
"That was mean, " she said quietly. "Take it back."
"Fuckin make me." Gajeel glared hotly as the girl returned it icily. A few moments passed before the girl stood up, picked up her things, and left. Heading to find a different seat.
Meanwhile, the train shook so violently that Gajeel was surprised his motion sickness didn't kill him.
"What the hell," Gajeel groaned as he glanced out the window, cursing as a fucking storm came out of nowhere and completely fucked up his fleeting chance for a nap.
"Fuck." Gajeel scowled as he closed his eyes and tried for the sake of trying. His stomach rumbled threateningly as he groaned and thought about the strange girl one last time.
Who the fuck was she?
Before his train ride became a living hell.
August 12th, x779
Oak Town was a beautiful castle town, nestled atop a grassy hillside with a giant castle building at its peak. In August, it would be the time of chilly breezes and orange leaves starting to fall, with a calm, quiet atmosphere where the citizens could enjoy the calm before the storm that was the Hollow's Eve Festival in October.
That's what Juvia read about Oak Town when she was researching her new home.
It was not the sight that would greet Juvia when she arrived.
This place is... gloomier than Juvia expected.
Juvia sighed as she stepped off the train once it reached the station. Pulling out her umbrella and opening it, she walked to the foot of the gloomy hill. As the newspapers described it, the town itself was an old castle town with an abundant population, but the rain drowned out any autumn cheer that may have been there. Matching her bleak mood after the train ride.
Maybe he thought Juvia was gloomy, too.
The rain became a downpour as Juvia recalled the boy on the train, recalling his grumpy attitude and the metal things on his skin. His eyes were sharp like he was constantly angry. She tried being his friend. It was her first time trying to become someone's friend.
She failed spectacularly.
Next time... next time Juvia will become friends with someone.
When Juvia accepted the invitation to Phantom Lord, it was for two reasons: she wanted to see Aria again and make friends. She had never had a friend before, at least not that she can remember. This place was her chance.
Aria said there were mages her age in Phantom Lord.
She would befriend them...
After she saw Aria again.
Now, where is the guild hall?
Juvia glanced up. The brim of her umbrella and the darkness covering Oak Town due to the harsh rain made it hard for her to see the top of the hill, where the infamous guild hall supposedly rested. In conjunction the multiple streets winding across the hillside, that made her worried she would get lost once she got higher up.
Juvia should ask for directions, just in case.
She was already cutting it close to the deadline of August 13th. She didn't want to get lost and look for the guild hall all day and possibly miss her chance to join. She wouldn't be able to make friends with the other mages or see Aria again. She had to avoid that.
Thankfully, many Phantom Lord mages were roaming around, visible by either their branded clothing or their guild marks on various places of exposed skin. She looked around the milling mages and stopped when she spotted two closest to her age—a teenage couple.
The boy had growing blue hair and a white guild mark on the back of his hand. He wore a white shirt, white overcoat, and fashionable dress pants and was with a girl with a white guild mark on her leg. She wore more gothic clothes, a purple top, jean shorts, and combat boots.
They were window shopping, holding two strange umbrellas that seemed to be made of string or yarn. Juvia saw the girl smirk, saying something that made the boy roll his eyes before she decided to approach.
"Excuse me," Juvia said politely, hoping she wouldn't seem rude to the couple. She didn't know if these were the people Aria mentioned, but they were her age and in Phantom Lord. They could be Juvia's friends one day, and she didn't want to ruin it.
"Huh? That you, Vera? Fucking bout time." The girl snarked, turning to greet her as the boy did the same. The boy tilted his head curiously, and the girl hissed, "Oh shit, sorry. Hard to hear with all the rain. I thought you were someone else. Do you need something?"
"Sorry to interrupt your date," She said, continuing as the girl blushed and the boy tilted his head curiously. "But can you point Juvia towards Phantom Lord? Juvia couldn't help but notice you two are members, and she is trying to join."
"Who's Juvia." The boy asked.
"This isn't a date." The girl said simultaneously.
Juvia's potential friends then glanced at each other curiously before Juvia apologized, "Sorry. Juvia didn't mean to assume."
"It's okay." The girl shrugged it off. "You're good."
"Who's Juvia." The boy insisted, frowning. "Am I supposed to know her?"
"Juvia is me." Juvia introduced formally, slightly bowing as the rain lightly droned on in the background, "And sorry for asking, but Juvia is looking for Phantom Lord and doesn't want to get lost. She is supposed to join by tomorrow and doesn't want to miss her chance."
"Holy shit, you're joining." The girl smiled, "That's awesome. Congrats."
"Congratulations." The boy nodded sincerely. "If you want to find Phantom Lord, we can point you in the right direction. We're done looking here anyways."
"Thank you." Juvia bowed politely, the rain softening to a drizzle as she glanced at the weapons window they were looking at and asked, "What were you two looking for, if I may ask? Does Phantom Lord require weapons?"
"No," the boy shook his head. "It's our friend's birthday tomorrow, and he likes weapons, so we're looking for a present."
"Who's this we?" The white-haired girl scoffed. "I got him a present already."
"You did?" The boy asked, disbelief written clearly on his face. "I don't believe you."
"Too bad, cuz I did. And my present's gonna be a thousand times better than yours." The girl smirked, pointing at herself confidently, "I kicked his ass last week, so his present is knowing he's a great teacher." The girl wiggled her eyebrows, "Try to top that. Bet you can't."
"If that counts as a present, I've been gifting it to him for years," The blue-haired boy rolled his eyes. Then, ignoring his partner's obvious irritation, the boy's brown eyes quirked in suspicion.
"Wait." he said, "Did you beat him with or without magic?"
"I don't see why we need to sweat the details."
"Everything makes sense now."
"Oh, come on," the girl complained, a hint of rose on her cheeks, "When's the last time you beat him without magic? Huh? Mr. Prodigy."
"It's been," the boy mumbled lowly, his shoulder slumping, "a couple of months, I guess."
The boy crossed his arms and muttered, "I can still beat him without magic. Sometimes. It's just... a lot harder than it used to be. He's gotten a lot better."
"See! So cut me a break." The girl smugly slugged the boy in the shoulder, and Juvia flinched when it sounded like a cannon shot.
"I've been getting better, " the girl puffed proudly. "I'll get a win soon enough. You'll see."
"You're right." The boy shrugged without any indication of pain. "You've been getting better." He nodded thoughtfully, "Sorry about that."
"No problem, blue." The girl beamed.
"I never agreed to that nickname." The boy frowned.
"It's that or blue-haired bastard, and one's shorter and easier for me to say." The girl teased, "Besides, you're always so serious and sad-looking. It works."
"I feel like Siegrain works better."
"Anyways, Juvia." The girl ignored her friend before addressing Juvia with a sharp grin. "If you need the guild hall, it's up there," the girl pointed out. "It's the giant building at the top of the hill. You can't miss it."
"Thank you." Juvia bowed, "Juvia hopes you have a nice day."
"Thanks, you too." The girl smiled, and the boy nodded softly in agreement.
"Good luck."
The light pitter-patter of rain cleared as Juvia nodded and turned to the hill. She left the two kind strangers behind and ventured towards Phantom Lord, her new guild, in a new city, where, hopefully, she could meet people as lovely as she'd just met—her new guildmates.
The people here...
Already, she felt her decision was the right one.
They are more likable than in Sun City.
Juvia was having a wonderful time so far.
Gajeel was having a fucking miserable time so far.
"Fucking trains," Gajeel muttered vengefully as he wandered through the town, his stomach hauntingly rumbling like a reminder of how he spent his last few days. Lying half unconscious in a booth because his motion sickness was a bitch and a half.
It was so bad that Gajeel almost missed his stop, having to throw himself out an open window when he saw the train pulling out of Oak Town. Granting him a few bruises and the sweet release of muddy ground, right at the foot of this hill town where Phantom Lord apparently rested.
He used the word apparently because he got so turned around looking for his first solid meal after days of vomiting it up, that he had no clue where the guild hall was supposed to be. So now he was soaked, hungry, and annoyed.
"Isn't there a sign or something?" Gajeel muttered as he walked through one of the puddles littering the winding side streets of the city. Passing by enough Phantom Lord mages that he started to question whether he was near the guild hall and just didn't know it.
I didn't realize that prick had so many people.
Gajeel hadn't thought anyone else would want to follow the lipstick-wearing asshole with a vicious streak, but apparently, it wasn't uncommon. He could see a shit ton of people, some rugged, and some not, walking around. With either clothing or visible guild marks to show they were members.
They all looked pretty average. If he was being honest, nothing special enough to warrant any excitement.
Gajeel was starting to worry that prick lied when he said he'd be lucky to make the top five.
I can beat all these chumps, Gajeel scoffed as he walked past a group of subpar mages. It was obvious. Their inexperience was plastered on their faces as they talked about magic logistics and gossip—their next job or when they'd get home. Gajeel could just tell most of them couldn't put up a decent fight.
It was how they stood, relaxed, oblivious to everything, not immediately in their point of view. Their muscles might be skinny or fat but never toned. They were like rabbits, standing around content because they could eat grass. They weren't doing anything impressive with the magic they learned. They were just settling. It was disappointing.
'Won't even be top five,' my ass.
Gajeel considered biting the bullet and asking one of the losers how to get to their guild when he heard it. His sensitive dragon slayer senses barely caught it.
These mages are a fucking joke-
A set of footsteps behind, light and measured to the point that he almost missed it under the cover of the harsh rain. They walked with practice and incredible balance, a sign of good, no great physical conditioning. If he had to connect it to one of the animals he hunted, it would be a fox.
And said fox walked right up to him and threw a lazy arm around his shoulder, holding a string umbrella over them so they'd be dry.
"Hey, what's up." A guy with short black hair and red eyes smirked, saying quickly, "You look new here. Need any directions? I can help."
Gajeel found himself grinning. Instantly clocking the white katana sheathed at the guy's waist.
The guy looked around the same age as him. He wore black jeans, a black t shirt and a red long sleeved lightweight jacket, with a black Phantom Lord guild insignia on the back.
Gajeel also glimpsed the black guild mark on the dude's hand and knew for certain.
This guy was a part of Phantom Lord.
"Sure."
And he was decent.
"This place is a fucking maze." Gajeel grinned, shrugging off the guy's arm as the dude hummed, "Yeah, sometimes it can be like that. The rain isn't making it any easier, either."
Gajeel felt his eyes twitch in annoyance as the guy raised an eyebrow, "Also, are you broke or something? I can buy you an umbrella if you need it."
"I ain't broke!" Gajeel growled, clicking his tongue as he brought out a couple of jewels to prove it, "The hag gave me an allowance, I just ain't wasting it on a shitty umbrella. The rain isn't gonna bother me."
"It's your call," the dude shrugged. "But if you're not going to buy an umbrella, what're you saving it for? Souvenirs?"
"Food."
"Oh, that makes sense." The dude murmured, "If you're looking for a place, there are some good sandwiches on Seventh."
"I don't know where the fuck that is."
"Come on, I'll show you, " the guy offered, walking down the street as Gajeel hesitated to follow. Before his belly rumbled, and he decided it was worth the risk of wasting his time or a possible lousy meal.
"Oi, wait up."
The best-case scenario: The dude was lying, and Gajeel would have a chance to fight him sooner.
Half an hour later, and seventeen sandwiches in his stomach, Gajeel sadly had to admit the dude, Vera apparently, knew what he was talking about.
"Pretty good, right?" Vera said, munching on his third sandwich.
Gajeel nodded, rubbing his stuffed belly with a burp. "It was okay."
"Okay?" Vera laughed. "You nearly gave the chef a heart attack. Pretty sure that warrants more than an okay."
"Freshly hunted food is better." Gajeel shrugged, surprised to see Vera nod slightly.
"Yeah, I can understand that." Vera said, "It tastes better when you make it yourself."
"You hunt?" Gajeel leaned up eagerly, "Where? You any good?"
"Somewhat, and it wasn't here." Vera shrugged, "but I mostly hunted rabbits. I've also caught a lot of fish, but they aren't as good."
"Cuz it's too easy, right?"
"I was going to say it's too chewy, but that works." Vera shook his head amicably, finishing his sandwich as they paid for their meals. Since Gajeel mentioned he was joining, Vera guided him to Phantom Lord; the two walked through what Gajeel learned was Oak Town's Main Street while the harsh rain followed their footsteps.
After a few minutes of walking, the downpour got to a drizzle, and more people were willing to put their umbrellas down, including Vera, so Gajeel noticed just how many Phantom Lord mages there were. It wasn't like he was in the same part of town as before, but he spotted more than a few Phantom Lord hats or jackets, all milling about.
Most looked his way with disgust, which wasn't new but never quite this prevalent or bad.
The fuck is this place...
He was starting to wonder if the entire city was Phantom Lord's guild hall and, if so, how he would get away with kicking an entire city's ass.
"Oi, Vera," Gajeel asked, flipping the bird at a mage glaring in their direction, practically daring the fucker to try something.
They didn't. Shocker.
"Why the fuck are there so many of you guys?" Gajeel clicked his tongue, "The guild hall ain't that big, is it?"
"The guild hall?" Vera asked, before spotting the glare Gajeel was giving every passing Phantom Lord mage and saying, "Oh. You're asking why there are so many Mages here, right?"
"Yeah." Gajeel grumbled, "There everywhere. I don't care how 'good' this guild should be. The city isn't big enough to hold all of 'em."
"It's not." Vera shrugged, "We usually have a manageable number of mages in Oak Town, but there are a ton of small branch guilds in other cities with a couple of mages here and there."
Vera pointed towards a nearby hotel where a plethora of Phantom Lord mages were staying, seemingly renting a place for their visits.
"When it all adds up, it gets a little crowded."
"Fuckin, why are they here then?"
"Cuz Jose ordered it." Vera shrugged. "Declared that all active Phantom Lord members must be in Oak Town by August 13th. Said that he's going to announce something at headquarters."
"Headquarters?"
"You'll see it tomorrow if you're thinking of joining. It's pretty cool." Vera grinned. "It's usually reserved for private affairs, like S-class trials and stuff, but I guess he's using it now since the guild hall can't fit so many members. It's not that far from here, so everyone's probably going to head there tomorrow morning. He's announcing it at noon."
"Any idea what it is?"
"No clue." Vera shrugged, "But whatever he's announcing has to be something big. He's called in every Phantom Lord member who can attend. That's never happened before."
"Never?"
"Not since I've been in." Vera kicked a pebble, "So any guesses you got are as good as mine. I've heard rumors about him retiring. Other's about the start of a guild war. I even heard a couple of Jose looking for a new ace. No one's got anything concrete, though."
"Sounds like people spewing bullshit."
"Oh, it's a hundred percent bullshit." Vera scoffed. "But rumors help weed out the wrong answers, so I don't mind collecting."
"You're pretty invested in this shit."
"Of course," Vera said honestly. "If I can figure out what that bastard is planning tomorrow, it's a lot of skin off my back because whatever it is..."
Vera groaned, "I just know it's gonna suck."
"Oh, yeah?" Gajeel smirked, "What makes you say that?"
"Cuz tomorrow's my birthday," Vera said. Like that explained shit.
News flash. It fucking didn't.
"The fuck does that have to do with anything?"
"It's complicated." Vera dismissed casually with a slight smile. He glanced over his shoulder before tapping Gajeel's, "Welp, this has been fun, Gajeel, but I gotta go. Just keep going uphill, and you'll find Phantom Lord. It's the big ass building at the top. Can't miss it."
"Tch. Whatever. Next time, fight me if you're gonna talk for so long." Gajeel clicked his tongue, stuffing his hands into his pockets and turning to the hill.
He muttered a quiet "Thanks" before walking away, aiming for the giant building towards the town's top. He'd thought it was an old castle, but a guild hall was even better.
This place might be fun.
He would have a blast if it were filled with mages like the one he just saw.
It was quiet as the rain died and eventually became a light sprinkle that the usual buzz of Oak Town could be discerned.
Gajeel huh... What're the odds?
The rain no longer hid the whispers and rumors aimed at Vera as he watched Gajeel walk away. He ignored them, grateful that the rain had stopped Gajeel's sensitive ears from noticing, and turned towards the two teens walking his way. They waved in greeting.
"Yo Vera," Mira called, walking up with a grin as Siegrain followed behind.
"Where have you been?" Mira asked, finishing a bag of chips she had been snacking on. "You're late."
"Just helping out a recruit." Vera shrugged, "You?"
"Blue was procrastinating." Mira said as Siegrain narrowed his eyes and countered, "The brute was buying food."
"Mira," Vera shook his head, holding a hand over his chest wounded, "How could you? Choosing food over me. I thought we were friends."
"It's okay, Vera." Siegrain nodded, "I'm still your friend."
"Thanka, Siegrain." Vera fake sniffled, "I knew I could count on you."
"You bastards." Mira rolled her eyes, "Bitch move teaming up on me."
Vera and Siegrian chuckled as Mira huffed and threw her trash away.
She then threw her arms around their shoulders, dragging them down Oak Town's Main Street and towards the river by the edge of town. "Now let's go, assholes. I've promised Lisanna that you're teaching her today, so no slacking. You better give her good advice, like you gave me."
"Pretty sure I just beat you up."
"And I just let you beat me up." Siegrain added, "Doesn't seem like a good teaching regimen."
"Yeah, but it worked wonders for me," Mira shrugged, releasing the two and grinning. "So maybe it'll work on her. The guild master let her join early cuz of me, but she only knows take over magic and she's struggling with it."
"That's surprising." Vera murmured, "I figured she'd be a natural."
"I thought similarly," Siegrian added, "Considering your brother seems to have picked it up quickly."
"Yeah, it's weird." Mira shrugged, "But she wants to practice, so I'm gonna help. And you guys basically taught me how to use magic, so I'm going to you."
"Not a good plan," Siegrain said.
"I love this plan," Vera said, knowing he would get another sparring partner soon.
"Awesome." Mira grinned, ignoring Siegrain's disagreement, "So I'll take that as you both agreeing to help her for today. Maybe for a couple of hours."
"Sure." Vera shrugged. "It's not like I have much else to do until later tonight."
"Tonight?" Mira asked before clicking her tongue and scowling, "Oh yeah, you and Siegrain are doing your weird secret training, right? When can I join that?"
"When you kick my ass."
"I already did."
"Without magic."
"Fuck." Mira cursed, a vein popping in her head as she growled, "New plan. Siegrian can train Lisanna for today. We'll fight. No magic. I don't like you two holding out on me."
"You that eager for a beating?"
"Hardly," Mira smirked; "I just remembered how I owe you for all the shit you put me through back in training. Figured today's a good day to introduce you to the bottom of my boot."
"Bring it, then." Vera taunted, shifting his sword to his back since he wouldn't need it for today, "You're hair's gonna be brown with how much shit I'm gonna make you eat."
"Oh yeah?" Mira growled eagerly before Siegrain grabbed her by the back of her shirt and dragged her away so she wouldn't start a fight in the streets.
"Hey!" She struggled, "Let me go!"
"No brute. You'll break something."
"I'll break your face!"
"You always aim for the face." Siegrain murmured, releasing Mira and dodging her punch as he fell beside Vera, "So when are we meeting?"
"Midnight." Vera shrugged, "Same as always."
"Ok." Siegrain frowned slightly, before shaking his head and casually leaning back as Mira tried to sock him in the nose.
"What Brute?" he tsked, "We're talking."
"More like scheming." Mira tutted, "You're both lucky I'm not petty enough to follow you around. I'd figure out your secret training in a second."
"You've tried already, haven't you."
"Of course, I've fucking tried!" Mira roared, giving up all pretenses as she pointed at Siegrain, "I've tried following you, and you just do your invisible shit."
Siegrain tilted his head curiously as she pointed to Vera and growled, "And you're just stupid. I get losing track of Blue, he has his stupid illusions, but how the hell can't I keep track of you. It's like you go around a corner, and I lose you."
"Maybe I'm just too fast."
"Speed isn't the problem!" Mira roared, a vein twitching in her head from how much Vera was egging her on. His smirk forced her to take a step back before she could do something she wouldn't regret but would probably have to pay for.
I just got out of debt... I just got out of debt... Don't go back into debt.
Mira took a deep breath before exhaling, shaking her head, and clicking her tongue, "Whatever. I'll figure it out eventually, losers. Just watch."
"Maybe glasses would help."
"Fuck off, Vera. I hate you." Mira said flatly, crossing her arms as Vera laughed. The two bickering quietly as the trio continued towards the riverside. Walking through their peaceful little town and disdainful glances, they all did their best to ignore.
Their conversation eventually drifted to Vera's conversation with Gajeel back in town.
"Hey, speaking of recruits," Mira wondered aloud a few minutes from the edge of town, "Siegrain and I met one too. Her name was Juvia or something. You think she'd want to join after she's done signing up for Phantom Lord? She looks nice."
Mira tilted her head, smirking, "Maybe she can bandage Vera after I'm done kicking his ass."
"You're delusional," Vera rolled his eyes, a slight smile on his lips as he said, "And let's save inviting her for another time. She still has to meet Jose, and I got a feeling that's gonna take a while."
"Boo." Mira heckled, sticking a thumbs down, "I wanna get a girl in the group too, you know. Right now, it's only Sue, and she can't even hang out when Vera's around because she doesn't want to pick sides."
"Pick sides?" Siegrain asked.
"Her partner has a vendetta."
"Ah, rightfully so," Siegrain chimed in, unhelpfully, Vera might add. Siegrain and Mira sharing a sly glance before turning to the guilty party, who flushed and looked away.
"Oh, come on." Vera mumbled, "I told Boze I was sorry. It's not my fault the guy can't let it go."
"You nearly decapitated him." Mira snorted, "In front of everyone, might I add. People think you're crazy, dude. Even I was a little nervous."
"It was an accident!" Vera sputtered, his cheeks red with embarrassment as Mira laughed, and Siegrain shook his head lightheartedly.
Fortunately, Siegrain still covered his ass since he was the only one that knew why he fucked up so badly.
"Regardless." Siegrain said, "What's done is done. It'll probably work out one way or another."
"Will it, though?"
"Probably." Siegrain shrugged, "I mean, Vera said he was sorry. Boze will probably accept it eventually."
"Yeah," Mira snorted, "after Vera checks out of an insane asylum."
"Mira," Siegrain said seriously, and Mira stopped in her teasing. She glanced away and muttered, "Sorry, that was a little far. I just," Mira fidgeted, "Figured joking about it's easier... I didn't... my bad."
Vera shrugged, Siegrain nodded, and Mira rubbed her neck, falling into a contemplative silence. Her downcast gaze flickered around to the various people watching, whispering just in earshot. It hadn't been long, but Vera could tell Mira was still getting used to the rumors following them everywhere, probably because of her past.
"You think he's still the wizard saint's apprentice?"
Still, it was probably easier since she wasn't the object of the public's disdain this time.
"No chance, they never train anymore..."
"I used to hear them fight out in the forests once a week. Now it's nothing..."
"Apparently he nearly killed Boze, you remember him. The boy living near the bakery..."
"I haven't seen that weird shadow thing that used to follow him around..."
"He had to be physically restrained during a friendly spar..."
"I heard he went crazy and got banished..."
"I heard Jose took away his apprenticeship because of what happened last year..."
"He went crazy in Magnolia..."
"How awful..."
Vera sighed as he listened to the various rumors behind him. Insane was one of the nicer ones.
It was to be expected, honestly. The coincidences were too great for a lot of Oak Town to ignore. He couldn't even blame them, if he had the information they had he'd think the same way.
A frontline news article saying that his magic went berserk and he had to be put down by another guild, a very public spar where he nearly killed Boze, a recruit, and the icing on the cake, no longer having his weekly training sessions with the Jose.
All of it pointed to him having been either a scum bag or deranged, and the rumors grew from there. He was probably the least-liked person in Phantom Lord at the moment. He was definitely the least-liked person in Oak Town. It wasn't a contest.
"Hey Vera," Mira murmured, distracting Vera from the whispers and glares that followed him. He glanced over, and Mira tried to make it seem like a casual question.
"Why did you do that back then?"
But her timid posture gave her away. It screamed how worried she was. Her eyes were saying, 'I'm worried about you. Why did you do that? It wasn't like you. What happened?'
"I don't know." Vera lied, ignoring Mira's hurt expression as he walked ahead. He was truly grateful for Mira's care, he was, but Vera had only one answer—the same answer he gave everyone else besides Siegrain—because it was all he could say.
"Guess his magic brought up some bad memories."
Even if it ensured he was the pariah of Oak Town for the time being.