The night had been short. She left Grey at midnight and had to wake up at six to prepare their departure.
Lucy and Wendy were still sleeping when she woke up. She took a shower and dressed up with the clothes that she left on the side before closing her suitcase : a black skirt and navy blue blouse in organza with a sash collar that she put around and tied behind her neck. Then she gathered her hair in a messy bun, put on her boots, took her suitcase and descended into the hotel hall.
There were already a lot of people. She took a seat among the rare empty coffee tables and began her research. She had heard that some strange activity had been recorded in Crocus for one or two days : some of the old clandestine guild networks seemed to be reactivating. Crocus was a big city with a lot of potential hiding places and a large community of independent mages whose ambivalent activity attracted the attention of the council. The wizards they purchased have surely run away and found refuge there.
That was good news to some extent. The team had been noticed two days ago, and a couple of hours later, Crocus registered movement among the least reputable people in the profession. It was not a coincidence; they were on the right trail, but their lack of discretion gave the advantage to the quintor.
She continued to search for information on her Lacrima laptop. It was a new technology conceived by an early adoptee user during the war : lacrima smartphones and laptops had developed a lot, first for military use and then for civilians. A new and huge economic market that led to a giant empire of the technology. Hibiki Leithis was one of the seven archetype wizards at the origin of the project, and now he was sewn with gold.
"Hello, sweetheart."
He talked with a husky tone and malicious eyes. She exhaled but clapped her laptop and raised her eyes towards him.
" Hello "
He bent down to swiftly kiss her forehead before taking a seat next to hers.
"First and last, you called me sweetheart."
"All you want. Otherwise, did you sleep well?"
"Perfectly fine. You ? "
"Well, I missed you, but other than that, fine."
"Watch your mouth. You're almost irreverent."
" "Irreverent" it is not too early for such a pedantic word ?"
"Sorry, not used to you being slow."
"And now she insults my intelligence. Very mature. We come to wonder, who is irreverent?"
He looked at her with boldness, and she was on the point of saying something when Wendy arrived with Carla. So she just glared at him, and he could read her frustration.
"Hello, you."
" Hello. Did we interrupt something?"
Wendy looked at them in a very demure way that pained Erza.
"Nothing more than the morning ramblings of a nasty man."
"It must have been quite funny since you were smiling at each other."
Erza looked at Carla speechless, trying intensely to retain the small blush she felt on her cheeks while Grey answered.
"It was indeed."
"Is Lucy still sleeping?" asked Erza, who had miraculously found her voice again.
"No, she was awake when we left the room; she just needed some time to finish getting ready. Where are Natsu and Happy?" asked Wendy, looking around here.
"He will wake up soon when his stomach cries out for food, unless Lucy wakes him before by passing in front of our bedroom like yesterday. And… speaking of the devil,
Natsu appeared with a beautiful Lucy next to him and Happy on his shoulder.
"Wow, you're so elegant. I love your shirt."
"Thanks, Lucy, you're lovely."
The blonde smiled before opening her arms to Erza, who did the same. Grey took the laptop off her knees and laid it on the table before the redhead got up to embrace Lucy.
All of them took breakfast together before giving back their bedroom cards.
"So what is the programme today?" asked Natsu while he was running out on the streets.
"Crocus. Apparently that's where those we're looking for have taken refuge. Old networks of dismantled dark guilds seem to be active again. We need to follow this lead. One rule : the investigation must be discreet. We keep the advantage as long as they don't know we track them. Our faces have been known since the end of the war, but we can't afford to trigger another crowd bath."
She paused, looking at Natsu in a way that meant she knew he had not made it on purpose, and he nodded back. Fair shot; he got it.
"The news that Fairy Tail's mages were there then spread like wildfire, so this time we stay away from problems, off the radar. We are not the only mages in the capital, and there are royal guards, so unless we have no choice, we do not intervene. If you come across someone you know, turn around. Am I clear enough"?
She looked at them one by one. Wendy and Lucy understood but were not sure to agree with the fact of ignoring suffering people. Carla was clearly suspecting something, but Erza ignored her untrustworthy gaze.
"Yeah, but I don't agree. We are mages; if someone needs help, we help Erza. It's our duty."
"I know, Natsu, and I swear it's just for this time. We have to stay discreet. Thus, we find the five mages; we catch them when no one is looking; we avoid journalists, and we escort them until the Council headquarters."
Natsu was not satisfied by her answer; it was obvious, and she understood him because she was not either. However she tried to convince herself. She had to, as she would have to bear his tantrum.
"Why are you so heartless? Seriously, Erza, that's not you. You act like a servile puppy working for the council. Where are your values"?
" Natsu ! "
Grey had spoken with a sharp voice, threatening; then he realised he had overstepped, but it was too late. He has not even looked at her, just at Natsu.
" Sorry. Not my stuff. I go first."
He left towards the train station, followed by Wendy and Carla.
"I won't change my mind, Natsu. Agree or not, you will have to deal with it," and she left.
Erza joins the others a mile away. Natsu stayed behind. Lucy waited for him, trying to calm him down.