Chapter 9

Chapter 9. Titanic.

They say that the rhino has poor eyesight, but, really, with its performance characteristics, this is not its problem.

Folk wisdom.

Leaving Salisbury just didn't work. The council and the rune knights blocked the station, and it was also unrealistic to rent a manamobil, or a magokat, as you like. These measures were taken to complicate the life of corrupt officials who wanted to leave the city that had suddenly ceased to be compliant. At the gate, too, instead of the usual guards, the troops of the Council were on duty, fortunately, at the magistrate, I took care of obtaining permission to leave, certified by the messenger of the Council himself, assuming something similar. Speaking of leaving, here, too, we found out one funny situevinka. According to Fiore's laws, I was entitled to only a quarter of the value of the real estate of the thieves' guild, no, no one would go into my spatial pocket, making sure that there were no trophies there, but everything from above would be described by anyone and forgive goodbye, mahogany tables and sandal panels (although they were nailed, but not to waste the good? Fortunately, the slave of strength was enough), but alas, most of the officials who were supposed to deal with the inventory of trophies already tried on stylish bracelets with fashionable chains, rune knights are not like that either were engaged. In general, they gave up on me and my stash, deciding that it would be easier to close our eyes to a couple of souvenirs taken by the Tail mage (you can immediately see that I'm still low fame, the guys do not suspect that only bare walls remain in the guild's lair) bureaucratic red tape with a non-working bureaucratic apparatus. In this whole picture I was saddened by only one thing - I had to trudge to Magnolia on foot. Gray also upset. No, I understand that the honor of the guild is sacred for him, and sitting in the dungeons of the guards, he could screw himself up well, but still I hoped that he was ... a little more sane. However, this was only half of my problems. The other half was the ice mage's guilt. At first, he generally refused money for the contract, motivating this by the fact that not only did not help, but also nearly failed the whole business. Gods, how many nerves it cost me to convince him that even though he was playing the fool, in the end the situation turned out very well, it's even scary to think. But he seemed to be convinced. Eh, if I only knew how wrong I was at that moment and what kind of pig, even if not on purpose, the ice magician would put me in the near future ... But alas, I was never a prophet, so I was blissfully ignorant. We managed to get out of the city, it was not so far to stomp, the weather was pleasing to the eye, in general, the mood was high. Two hefty trophy carts were especially pleasing. Fulbuster offered to help me transport the trophies, I think he thought I would nobly refuse. Yeah, right away he took it and refused, of course. I harnessed the ice cold one (and literally harnessed it, no kidding) very specifically, in general, poor Gray atoned for his sins with hard physical labor. And then we entered the forest ...

Forty minutes later.

-What do you mean you don't know where to go? You have repeatedly gone through this forest on a mission! Or am I confusing something? - hurt yourself, that's just getting lost in the forest for me to be completely happy and not enough.

- And that means! I thought you were following the road! And anyway, I was busy with the cart! the ice mage protested.

-How can I follow the road with my topographic cretinism ?! - hmm, did I tell him about this cute feature of mine?

- Damn, how could I know about this? - I don't think he said, - this is bad, very bad, - Fulbuster depressed.

-Oh, okay, think, a little lost, well, we will lose a maximum of a day, well, two, but we will go somewhere, - having misinterpreted the experiences of the 'ice', he tried to cheer him up a little.

-This is not the point, according to my estimates, Elsa should return to the guild from day to day and it would be better for us to be in Tail at this moment ...

Perhaps Fulbuster wanted to say something else, but it was at this moment that we finally got out onto something vaguely resembling a road. And, to my great joy, Lucy was walking along this very road. Well, Natsu and the flying cat were there too.

-Yyyyyy! - a synchronized scream from two gulps. I think there is no need to explain who exactly he came from?

Hmmm ... it looks like we'll have to stop here for a while. The sweet couple started to sort things out, the cat happily flew over them and added fuel to the fire, commenting on this or that moment of their 'conversation', but I decided to exchange a few words with the girl, but what is she alone worth, bored? Disorder.

- I must admit, meeting you here was quite unexpected. But the surprise is pleasant. What fate, Lucy? - I go up to the girl, stretching my slightly stiff shoulders - half a day of pulling the cart is still not quite an occupation that is perceived by the body strictly positively.

-Hi, Sephiroth, and we are returning from the assignment, - the girl answered somewhat sadly.

-We, too. But why is it so sad? I raise an eyebrow.

-Yes, the order was fulfilled, but the payment was not taken ...

- Has the employer refused to pay? Strange ...

- No, it's just there ... hmm, I think it's worth starting from the beginning ... - and the girl began to share her impressions of her first assignment.

- I see, - I thoughtfully tapping my fingers on the handle of the blade hanging on my belt - my pocket is so stuffed that even with my inhuman endurance I can't put my sword there - I'll die before, - I don't even know whether to envy Natsu or sympathize, - with a sly smile, I inform the girl ...

-What are you talking about? - somehow suspiciously she glances at me, did she really feel something?

-Well, how, to break into a beautiful girl's home, and even at the moment when she is taking a bath ... - so, the reaction went, there has already started to blush and is gaining more air in the chest, now they will tell me everything about it they think, and maybe they will give me their opinion about the Great and Terrible ... it's time - how much is it necessary not to have a sense of self-preservation ?! Such a disregard for one's own life is worthy of a real paladin! I am only interested in one thing, but what happened to him after that?

- Well ..., - Lucy finally got confused, - I hit him ... with my foot ... on the head ... several times.

- Poor fellow ... did you hurt your leg? (Well, I'm not worried about Natsu, really?)

"A little," Heartfilia rubbed her ankle.

-Nay, sweet couple, what are you cooing about, doves? - Lucy was completely embarrassed and hastened to sit down, koshaaak, I promise you, by your own death, you will not die!

The mood was completely ruined, throwing a sizzling glance at the herbokur's nightmare, I began to get ready for the road - to stomp decently.

- Gray, weren't we in a hurry? You said something about Elsa ...

The name of the red-haired Valkyrie had just a magical effect, 'the debaters' seemed to be frozen in the middle of the movement.

-Elsa? What's wrong with Elsa? - Hunted looking around, Natsu asked.

"Well, Gray said she would be back in the guild soon," I shrug.

- Is it the same Elsa? - hmm, again this strange shine in Lucy's eyes, oh, something is definitely wrong with her - and what is she like?

-Horror!

- Horror!

-Scary monster! - a firebrand, a scumbag and a cat expressed their authoritative opinion, and then a description of a kind of death-woman, about ten meters tall, with a frenzied character and habits of a hardened thug followed. And they especially mentioned her 'fear'. Hmm, it seems that a plan is beginning to mature in me how I can avenge all the good of this company. Cruel, of course, but nothing can be done, deserved.

Hmm, and who is this sneaking up to us? Hmm, again a strange hybrid of a human and some kind of amphibian or reptile. Hmm, are they by any chance the guys who tried to eat Happy in the anime? Should I help them in this charitable work? No, sadly, but I started to get attached to this blue misunderstanding, besides. If they gobble him up now, then how can I finish him off in the future?

How interesting, it seems, the hungry magician begins to think more rationally, in any case, a specific individual figured out to arrange a small sandstorm, under the cover of which he stole the cat. He also covered my carts with sand! Now I'm definitely angry! Gray can barely carry the part entrusted to him, and now it has become heavier by a couple of kilograms of sand.

Not becoming to waste extra time, I rushed in pursuit of the malicious kidnapper and saboteur. The chase led to a small camp, where reinforcements awaited the villain, and me, accordingly, new opponents. I didn't wait for the rest of the Fairies to come, but just knocked out the assholes right away. Hmm, another lighter staff and a couple of sais will go to the trophies - I just wanted to get something dagger-like in case of tight corridors, I wonder if Gray will be happy with the increase in luggage? It saddens that I knocked out the fortuneteller quickly enough - the bastard managed to predict difficulties on the personal front that could lead to serious harm to health. In general, I came to the cat rather sad. Happy by that time was already bolted to the pole, a fire was laid out under it and even firewood was brought in, in general, all that remained was to set fire to and wait for the roast. My appraising glance did not hide from the cat, and he hastened to assure me of its not tasty, usefulness for society and our friendship with him. Hmm, I don't remember calling this volatile crap my friend, but I have to agree, he's quite fun.

-Okay, glitch, don't be afraid, I'm not so hungry yet to fry hallucinations, albeit massive ones.

Meanwhile, the remaining Fakes jumped to the place of the showdown ... And I turned out to be the extreme! No, I'm saving a cat for them here, and I'm accused of, you see, not letting the valiant Fey magicians revel in. So do good deeds after that, which I told those around me with a contrite look. Hmmm , appealing to Natsu's conscience is useless - the request will get lost along the gyrus of the brain and will never reach the addressee. But Lucy sincerely thanked me for saving the little animal and somehow by itself it turned out that we were again in each other's 'personal space'. Happy seemed to want to say something about this again, but, stumbling upon my opinion, choked on the phrase and sideways, flew away. It took about thirty minutes, Natsu and Gray tried to bring the connected intruders to the consciousness in order to find out the answer to the most important question - what the hell did they need their cat, was there really no other living creature in the forest? Meanwhile, my attention switched to one oddity in the landscape ... Yeah, and here Kageyama, what I can say, is hiding masterfully, if I did not delve into the basics of shadow magic quite recently, I might not have noticed a slightly darker shadow from wood than it should be. I remember that now he is going to kill his captive comrades, so that they do not say too much. Do I need to intervene? I glanced sideways at the girl who sat down next to me, who had time to close a little and snuggle into my hand in a dream. Sorry guys, but if I move, Lucy will wake up, and I don't want to let that happen.

Then events developed almost according to the canon - except that he eliminated his comrades Kageyama much 'cleaner' and quieter - he simply slowly strangled with shadows, after which he imperceptibly left, it is logical, in the canon they came to their senses and began to idly chat much earlier processing, they would wake up, at the earliest, in three hours. True, Gray found traces of a shadow stranglehold on the necks of the prisoners and even somehow found the place where the killer lay. Natsu tried to follow the trail, using his sense of smell, but, leaning against a small river, he lost the trail and returned with nothing. Lucy continued to snore quietly, on common reasoning, we unanimously came to the conclusion (the cat's opinion was listened to and ignored) that it is not worth informing the girl about the fate of the attackers, then a little charisma on my part, as well as appeals to the gentlemanly essence of the dragonsler (or what there he has instead of her?) and here it is, the end result: Natsu and Gray, quietly hissing curses and remembering my Hamster with a quiet affectionate word (I swear, I definitely heard the expression 'Elsa number two'), drag the trophy carts, and I, Trying to walk as gently and carefully as possible, I carry a girl who has not woken up in my arms, hehe, I like this division of labor. Actually, that's how we entered Magnolia. And just a couple of days later, Elsa returned to the guild ...

Magnolia. Fairy Tail Guild a little earlier than the events described above.

-Master, new letters from the council, - Mirazhana handed Makarov an impressive pile. The master sighed sadly and plunged into reading the complaints and indignant notes of protest. The kids are raging as always. The old magician could no longer read the incoming correspondence, the contents of the letters had long been imprinted into memory, only the lists of names and lists of destruction changed. But one letter fell out of the general outline. The Fay Guild Master read the contents, hiccupped and set the beer mug aside, glancing suspiciously at it, then rubbed his eyes and read the message again. After sitting for several minutes in a stupor, he drained the mug in one gulp and began to write a third time. Finally, he believed his eyes. Tears formed on his wrinkled face, the old man took out a handkerchief and noisily blew his nose into it.

-Master, are you all right? Something happened? - Mirazhana looked with concern at the head of the guild, he nodded, - is it really something that terrible?

-N-no, Mira, - a sob, - this newcomer, Sephiroth, - another sob ...

- Did something happen to him? - the girl caught herself thinking that she was worried about a new friend, but this is something normal, she worries about Natsu and Gray every time when they go on a mission, but somehow she got a little more worried about Sephiroth than about a fireman or an ice mage. Could it be because of guilt? Still, it was she who explained to him about the tasks and if he did not understand something ...

-Yeah, - finally burst into tears the master, - he brilliantly fulfilled the contract in full and did not even destroy a single bench! And this is on the first task! And this, - the Master shook the letter, - a letter of thanks. To me. It came, Thank you letter. For a member of our guild. Today is the happiest day of my life, - sob, - zni.

On the way to Magnolia. Sephiroth.

And so we went to the finish line to the city, climbing the hill in front of Magnolia itself (oh, how the guys were tormented while dragging the carts up the hill, I really admired), admired the landscape a little. Hmm, from the point of view of the beauty of the opening view - everything is great, but from the point of view of the defense of the city ... personally, I would dig this mound to zero, although under normal conditions such a hill in front of the city can play a bad joke with the defenders, but with magicians on both sides ... who knows. Well, okay, you can think about it at your leisure. Now I was busy with a few other thoughts - wake Lucy or let her sleep some more? Mmm, and in a dream she is even nicer, let her sleep ... in principle, you can just ask Natsu where she lives and take her there, yes, perhaps it is worth doing.

-Hey. Natsu!

-What? Pf, what have you got there, bricks? The dragonseer wiped sweat from his forehead.

-Not only, buddy, not only. But I wanted to ask you something. Can you tell me where Lucy lives? - we make innocent eyes.

- Quite simply, I can even show! - replied the cat instead of the pink-haired one.

-Hmm, thanks, glitch, I'm a fish.

-Fishing ... - Kote fell into nirvana, not even paying attention to the 'glitch', damn it, it's so uninteresting.

-Why do you need to Lucy? Fulbuster raised an eyebrow.

-What do you mean why? You don't want to suggest leaving the girl on the street for the night, do you? My house hasn't been finished yet, and if I bring the girl to my house, what can she think of me?

-So what? - Natsu did not understand. But Gray clearly realized, hmm, so he is not such a brake, then the question is, why was he constantly stupid about Juvia? Or did he just not like her?

-Mmm ... how can I explain to you ... hmm, it won't work, it's better to ask the Master (forgive me, Makarych, but my brain is dear to me as a memory, and you are a familiar person).

-Okay, and what to do with your things, since you still don't have a home? - good question.

-Well, I rented a room in the guild, maybe it makes sense to temporarily throw them there? In the meantime, I'll take Lucy.

- Maybe, - Gray shrugged his shoulders, - then we'll go there. And you come over when you finish your business.

-Thank you, you are a true friend, - reaching the gate, we went about our business - I carried Lucy home, led by a blue flying cat, and the guys went with my things to the guild.

I got home without incident, and then sent Happy back to Wormtail. Making sure no one was watching me, he stuffed the 'cloak' into the keyhole and made it turn there. There was a click and the door opened, heh. Still, the ability to take any form is a very useful and versatile thing, so, not to think about tentacles, I said not to think !!! Alas, a sophisticated imagination, plus the presence of an attractive girl in my arms, it was quite difficult to concentrate, I even had to dump hormones, otherwise, I'm afraid I would have gone crazy there ... or did something that would go against my principles. I overcame myself, took the girl to her bedroom on the second floor and laid her on the bed. Hmm ... well, do not put it with dirty shoes, really? So off with the boots, and it will be uncomfortable for her to lie in the jacket ... oh, you smart-ass asshole! (Self-critical, adnaka), I almost got carried away, no, this is necessary, I almost beat myself. No, you need to blame, and urgently, and so Lucy did not wake up only by a miracle. Finally, he still could not deny himself a little prank - bending over the girl, he lightly touched her lips with his lips. And now - go! I don't really remember how I left her house, I only came to my senses more or less while standing at the edge of a small hole ... well, how small, about half a meter deep and a meter and a half or two in diameter, I think I let off extra steam, a couple of times pounding his fist into the cobblestones ... well, yes, there is a piece of cobblestone sticking out in the next wall. Having calmed down a little, I nevertheless went to the guild - so I was a little late ...

Meanwhile, at the Fairy Tail Guild. Mirazana Strauss.

Mira was, perhaps, doing something that sooner or later any person behind the counter begins to do it. She rubbed the glasses. This occupation did not require any effort or attention, and therefore was a good way to keep your hands busy while thinking about something along the way. And in fact there was something to think about. For example, pride did not allow her to sit on her brother's neck about a new photo session for the 'Magic Herald', and it is very problematic to find a job for a magician who had lost almost all his Power, although no, I don't want to think about sad things now (hmm, as if when- then I want to think about the sad). Maybe there is something else to distract from? Well, for example, for a beginner. Sephiroth. An unusual name, and its owner has many oddities. However. Who doesn't have them in their guild? But I must admit, the guy is quite gallant, but at the same time, not as intrusive as Loki ... and prettier, to be honest. The girl involuntarily giggled, remembering how she suffered the next morning after tasting his 'wine' Kahn. By the way, she sits there and, with a painful expression on her face, sings compote - having survived a severe hangover, now she does not even want to look in the direction of weak wine.

Then the door opened and Natsu and Gray appeared on the threshold - equally tired and tortured, and so much that they did not even quarrel among themselves.

- Peace ... beer - croaked the dragonseer.

-Two ... - the ice mage supported him.

Ignoring the slightly shocked guild, a pair of mages crawled to the counter and plopped down heavily on chairs.

-Spanye, why are you so tortured? - Makarov was surprised, sipping beer, - and where did you take Sephiroth?

"Ah," the dragonseer waved his hand, "he and Lucy went to her house," he said calmly, "and we had to drag his things here, so we were exhausted.

But no one heard him anymore, the Master was concentrating on drowning himself in beer, something like 'and he is not wasting time in vain' and 'man!' Came from the audience, and Mira ... Mira continued to smile, that's just why in her soul something became a little sad.

-Khe, spaniard, what did you say now? - The master still knew his charges well and felt the hope that he simply misunderstood them ... and the glass slightly cracked in Mirazhan's hands suggested thoughts of future troubles.

- Lucy just fell asleep on the way back and Sephiroth carried her all the way, but we had to carry his things.

-Fuh, - the head of Fey breathed out. Mira caught herself thinking that she was a little jealous of Lucy, strange ... but then she remembered things.

- What other things? He left almost everything in the room?

-What did we drag on two carts then? By God, they weighed a whole mountain! - Natsu was indignant.

- So ... after all, magic leaves its mark ... - the girl said thoughtfully.

Then the doors swung open a second time and the mage under discussion entered the guild.

-Good evening everyone, mmm, beer ... Mira, can I have a mug too?

-Of course, - the girl smiled and poured a mug.

-Oh, now our heroes are assembled! - the Master was delighted, - I must admit, you made me happy, guys! Thank you letter! Just think about it...

In the hall they sighed heavily, 'Well, again,' and Makarov was getting more and more inflamed, motivating the guild to follow Gray and Sephiroth, it was clear that Natsu was definitely not going to look up to anyone, but Fulbuster. But Mira noticed that with every word of the guild leader, the ice mage lowered his head lower and lower until he shouted.

-Enough! It was all wrong!

Sephiroth. The same place.

Your mother, Gray! I sat in a classic facepalm, eh, in vain I thought I had managed to calm Fulbuster's conscience. No, honor, he, of course, and praise, but damn, his revelation and sprinkling ashes on my head played a very bad joke with me, because how was everything presented, based on the letter? At first, Gray pretends to be an idiot, distracting attention, and at this time I find a den of thieves, after which it is cleared. Here you have two magicians. One A rank, and the other only C, they have to destroy the enemy. Who will be the main striking force and will take all more or less strong opponents, especially if you recall the main style of fighting of local magicians 'prudential but jutsu'? An obvious choice, isn't it? And now it turns out that the A rank magician spent all the time of the showdown in a cozy cell and the C rank magician carried out the cleaning. Personally, I would have questions, many questions. They also appeared among the guilds, no, no one really climbed (except Natsu, of course), but curiosity just hung in the air.

Finally, the Master got tired of this booth and he just slammed his palm on the counter. Large, meter-long palm. With some longing I watched the last flight of my unfinished mug with my eyes.

-Funny, thugs! Have you forgotten the guild rule? Everyone decides for himself! - the people somehow calmed down, - but nevertheless, I would like to hear your real rank, - Makarych turned to me, - hmm, something I do not like his enthusiasm ... and some kind of shine in his eyes strange.

- There may be problems with this, - I shrug, - I have big gaps in theory, and I don't feel any special magical powers in myself, in general, I received rank C in the magistrate quite recently and I will not say that it was especially easy , but on the other hand, my past opponent didn't seem so difficult to me, I'm not sure if he actually had A rank.

-Heh, we, Fairy Tail, the fighting guild and our rank exam look a little different. I think you should still pass the test - what if you're pulling to A rank? - Makarov smiled. And immediately, without postponing the matter indefinitely, - Hey, spy. Who here wants to brush off a newbie?

Elfman stepped forward. Hmm, it seems that he decided to eliminate me preventively in order to prevent inclinations towards his beloved sister.

- A real man will never give up a fight! - said the giant and almost under his breath, inaudible for others, - and you need to check who Mira is looking at.

Looking around? Not expected. Although, maybe I misunderstood something again?

-Hey, grandfather, it's not fair, I also want to be brushed off! I'm already on fire! - and exactly, the fireman began to be covered with tongues of flame and where did the fatigue go?

Yeah ... sincere guys, of course, these Fairies, but sometimes you just want to take and beat down especially violent ones (we will not point the finger, I think everyone already understands who we are talking about).

-Okay, then let's not postpone the matter indefinitely, let's go to the courtyard! - and the Master was the first to dash along the indicated route, ignoring the screams of the fiery dragonlander. Hey! But what about freedom of choice? Or could it never occur to the fakes that someone would want to give up the fight? Eh, we'll have to fight Elfman, otherwise they won't understand, sir. Soon, only Mira and I were left in the guild.

-Sephiroth, be careful, brother sometimes gets too carried away.

-For the first time someone worries about me, it's nice - I wink at the waitress - it's doubly nice that such a beautiful girl does it. Tell me, do you still mind getting out for a picnic?

-Do not mind.

- So maybe tomorrow afternoon? What do you say? - again making eyes. I can be damn sweet and charming when I really feel like it.

For about five seconds the girl wrinkled her brows, but then she smiled with her trademark smile and nodded.

-I agree.

-Well, that's great!

Our idyll was interrupted by a dragonseer.

-Where are you there? The people are already waiting! - Naaaatsu ... get the hell out of you, ruined such a moment!

-Come! - Mira went out into the street and I had only to follow her.

And on the street they were already waiting for us - almost the entire composition of Tail formed something like a fighting circle, in the center of which was Elfman. I caught a slight tremor in the air above the guilds - a protective barrier? Perhaps ... Eh, now the question is what to do? Drain the thug? I looked at the fairies again, no, it's a bad option, then they will treat me like a younger one and take care of me, and excessive custody is nafig-nafig, then it is worth cutting him down, and with a minimum of costs and as quickly as possible. As far as I remember, the guilds do not give out their secrets, which means that nothing will go beyond these walls, at the same time, in this way I can prove my independence. Yes, perhaps it is worth doing.

We met in the center of the circle, the Master examined us and uttered a phrase that I had never expected to hear.

-So, sponge. I want to see a beautiful battle. An honest fight, a brutal fight ... Mochiii! (The referee's phrase from 'Star Fight to the Death' * author's note)

Elfman, without hesitation, turned his hand into stone and decided to lower it on my head, he moved fast enough ... for an ordinary person. I could knock him out three times only on one swing . It seems that it will not be interesting at all, okay, I will not particularly shine with my capabilities.

I move a little to the side, put my hand on top of the thug's sinking fist and 'help' him with movement. The fist crashes into the ground, Elfman flies in the wake of the fist, exposing his entire back to me.

Bale! The edge of the palm is pressed into the back of the giant's head, his sigh is heard ... and the giant falls unconscious to the ground. Silence...

I examine the elongated faces of the fairies.

-What? I raise an eyebrow inquiringly.

-Uh ... but what about magic? Natsu asks.

-What for? - shrug, - the enemy did most of the work himself, I just used his power against him.

-Hmm ... to get a mage of A rank in 2 seconds, and even without magic ... - the master was clearly somewhat confused, - On the one hand, victory gives the right to receive A rank. But on the other hand, there was not a single, even the weakest spell ... ahh, what the hell ?! I won the battle, which means that the fighter is good, so, as a master of Fairy Tail, I assign you, Sephiroth, the title of a magician of category A ... By the way, do you have a sword on your belt for decoration or? - oh, I do not like this enthusiasm in his voice.

- Or, - I admit, looking suspiciously at the Master.

-Fine! - the old man perked up, - As Elsa returns, it will be necessary to watch your fight! - a slightly maniac shine appeared again in the eyes of the master, damn it, at such moments he is really scary. And this is his rubbing of paws ... brrr.

-Mmm ... a parrot ... - muttered Elfman in a passed out, drawing the attention of others to himself, Mira immediately ran up to her brother and began to provide him with first aid, she did not succeed - the giant was in no hurry to regain consciousness. I had to help.

-Can you? - I bow over the defeated bruiser. The girl gives me a confused look, but still nods. I summon a bottle of ammonia and cotton wool from the 'set of potions' in my pocket, moisten a cotton swab and hold it under Elfman's nose, the reaction went immediately - the giant winced, sneezed and opened his eyes.

-Welcome back to reality, buddy - extending my hand to the brother of the blond beauty.

-Oh, well, you finished me ... man! - Elfman took help and got up from the ground - how can you tell me so? I didn't even understand anything!

Wow, already standing, and after such a blow ... yes, a tough guy.

-Well ... let's just say I know a couple of interesting tricks, if you want, I can show you somehow.

-A real man will never refuse to learn something new! - and he slapped me on the shoulder. Damn, I'm starting to remember the old epics, where the heroes drove each other into the ground knee-deep or waist-deep, no, I didn't sink into the soil, but I suspect that only because of its compaction, but ... who knows.

But it all ended, thanks so much I don't even know what forces, or rather how - the people decided to celebrate my new rank, but, fortunately, after the third round, no one paid attention to the absence of the hero of the occasion, I disappeared to where exactly no one will search, especially at such a time - in the guild library.

Library ... how much in this word ... The guild library occupied one of the lower floors, and I suspect that it was not without magic - the space under the ground is too large, and the supporting columns are not visible. .. In general, a whole kingdom of books was spread before me. Thousands, maybe tens of thousands of volumes. Some of them are just quest reports, but the rest are ... damn it, how can I find something here? No alphabetical indexes, no filing cabinets, no librarian ... nothing. Having looked longingly around the bookshelves, I realized that without outside help, I could live here for at least a year and never find anything useful. Pichalka, but what can you do - you need to start somewhere. Suppose that the books are here in sections, which means that to determine the section, it is enough to look at one book from each, well then. Let's get started. And I walked along the shelves collecting volumes.

Somewhere in the morning. Library.

Charming, just charming, I managed to look through a dozen books during the night. I was so lucky if I was mistaken and there was no system here, but alas - I did not find anything worthwhile, a couple of mission reports, from the last generation, the geographic atlas knows what times and volumes with some specific calculations and definitions, I felt like a first-grader, accidentally grabbing at a textbook of higher mathematics - only the letters are understandable, and even then, not all.

But then the door creaked and someone else entered the room. Hmm ... the steps are light and quiet, which means either a girl or a fighter trained to walk like that. But then the question was resolved by itself - from behind the rows of shelves came out a pretty pretty girl with a shock of blue hair lying in some creative disorder, when she saw me, she was surprised.

-Hi, I'm Levi, who are you? I don't remember you.

-Hi, I'm Sephiroth - just recently in the guild. So, I decided to join the treasury of knowledge.

-Do you like to read? I also! - the girl was really very happy about my presence in the library, although, if you recall the characters of the fairies, then you shouldn't be particularly surprised - one half of the library simply has nothing to do, and the other half should not be allowed to approach her even on a cannon shot, in order to avoid total destruction, so to speak.

-Yes, I love, however, I just can't understand on what principle the books are located here, - I wanted to read the theory of magic, starting with the basics and history, but I could not find it. Except that - I show her on the spread out folios. The girl only quickly ran her eyes through the books.

-Yes, to pull out, instead of the foundations of the theory, works on the creation of Higher Spells - you have to be able to, - hmm, it means that I was not so wrong when I compared myself with a first-grader who grabbed a textbook on HSE, - if you want, let me help? I'm already pretty good at navigating the local treasury, - Levi suggested, but am I a fool to refuse?

The girl happily rushed off to collect the necessary literature, at the same time explaining to me what and where it was. I must admit that her knowledge of the layout of the library was amazing (and at the same time, it became clear that due to such fans, the Master simply saves on staff), literally in ten minutes I was provided with all the necessary material. So I sat down in the reading room and immersed myself in reading. Gods, finally, well-written basics, with intelligible explanations of what, why and where. Definitions of the 'soul of a magician', explanations about the reserve (it is still contained in the body and can be trained like an ordinary muscle, although it is an energy part of the body), and most importantly - the very principle of local witchcraft. Yes, some of the spells here are intuitive, but in fact, everything is much more complicated. Initially, a magician can use any magic, there are, of course, some predispositions in Schools, they will be given the easiest way, but nevertheless, theoretically any can be studied. But here comes a little bitch. The fact is that initially the mana collected by the magician's soul is completely neutral and suitable for any school. But as you practice in some definite direction, it begins to adapt to the school being used, optimizing itself for it, which makes it difficult to apply to other schools. Also, mana constantly passes through the magician's body and changes it, again adjusting it to the chosen school, and that, in turn, more strongly changes the mana passing through it, and so on in a cycle. True, then it is not clear how some can use several schools, unless such figures have learned how to manage their mana or have several reserves. But these are only my assumptions, you can, of course, ask Makarov, but not the fact that he will answer - a person must comprehend some things himself.

A question from Levy distracted me from the books.

-Sorry what? I think I got a little carried away ...

- I say, why don't you use speed reading glasses? A very useful thing, try it. "The girl handed me her glasses. Wow ... What a useful artifact - it scans a book, and then sends data to the brain, linking them along chains of associations, the principle is almost the same as in my 'meditation', only there I was guided by the 'similarity' of the connected pieces, but here glasses did not bother like that and built connections from scratch. And THIS can be bought at any magic shop? Hmm, why do they have exactly this speed, after all, in theory, it can be orders of magnitude higher? Yeah, and it will fry the book lover's brain, on the other hand, I'm not using the brain, and I'm used to large amounts of data, I'll have to try. But later, and for today, probably enough. After thanking the girl, I went to the guild - to take out one cute person for a picnic.

Picnic in the forest. Green grass, birds singing, a nice snack and a nice girl as a companion. What else do you need to be happy? Just one thing for this whole fucking crowd to get the hell out of it !!!! What crowd? Natsu, when he found out that a free grub was planned, immediately followed us, it didn't work to send him - Mira agreed to his company. Further, Elfman, with his eternal 'real man', joined us, although now he did not look so askance at my attempts to communicate with Mirazhana, Happy hastened to remind me that I promised him fish, and he would not refuse everything else And Gray showed up already in a clearing in the forest, where in some shorts he was catching fish on the lake. In general, in this whole picture, I was pleased with only one thing - someone had guessed to capture Lucy and Levy (although the latter was immediately surrounded by care and attention by two guys from her team, however, I would not stick to her anyway - I was not drawn to this girl, despite all her attractiveness). Although a romantic walk through the forest did not work out, even so the picnic was more than fun, besides, such things help a lot to join the team. The guitar also came in handy, still carefully carried by me, of course, some of the songs had to be slightly corrected, but in general everyone liked it, especially the doltish tune about the hobbit looking for his socks.

There was a misfortune in a hole by the river,

Can't find his hobbit socks

Already all the cabinets, chests are upside down,

And the earth walks around the hole with a shaker.

And he dug up a bunch of other things,

While I was looking for a pair of socks,

But there are no socks, so bad,

But panties and leather jacket were found,

The hairbrush was found gold for the legs

And a pair of great Fiore boots.

There were seven chain mails, three of them made of mithril, (at this moment someone remembered Elsa ...)

Seventeen bars of fragrant soap

Toy Zeref in a purple coat

Suspenders - but that's not it.

No socks are visible in either the pot or the tub,

But two cute frogs were found,

Antique Helmet, Patched Tailcoat

And imported food for active dogs,

Party costume and elephant tea,

A large bottle of great wine.

Big card with bouquet and candle

Found in a hole under the stove

Lipstick, watch, lighter, keychain,

Another pair of great boots.

And even was found in the wardrobe

Unbeknownst to him as a dwarf

Our hobbit found under a mountain of pillows

A book of obscene Fiore ditties. (girls, especially Mira, were a little embarrassed, really know a couple?)

In an old casket with a magic design

A night watch flashlight was found.

Forgotten by someone big bloomers

And the torn strings from the children's guitar.

An angry longing attacked the hobbit,

He could not even find a trace of a sock.

It is not a joy to him that he managed to find

One hundred and ten pots.

And even a little the hero got angry,

Finding Palantir that was gathering dust under the chair,

Omnipotent Ring and Big Crown

With a note: 'Request to return to Sauron.'

The hobbit was ready to strangle himself from longing,

Suddenly he saw socks on the table!

The hobbit was so happy, he danced and laughed,

He hugged the found gnome like a brother,

He even went to the square in ecstasy,

Shouting: 'I finally found socks!'

And then I thought: 'What should I do with them?'

After all, hobbits walk through life barefoot. (Slightly revised The Hobbit Shire - How the hobbit looked for his socks * approx. By the author)

True, I had to explain later who the hobbits are (the race of halves, living far in the west, are somewhat similar to Makarych, only their legs are very hairy ... Hmm, it seemed to me or someone suspiciously similar to the Master just got the neighboring tree? No, it seemed exactly ...), but Gandalf had to be changed to Zeref. Well, and on trifles, like equating Sauron with the same Zeref and decoding the concept of 'Palantir'. Having imagined the toy of the greatest dark magician, and even in a lilac coat, the guys had a lot of fun. In general, we returned to the guild very pleased with the walk, I even resigned myself. That I didn't manage to talk to Mira alone, well, nothing, but Lucy accepted my invitation to have dinner tonight (ahem ... It seems Mirazhan didn't like this, damn it, maybe they'll spit on decency and go with two girls at once? No, it's better as long as I'm like should establish relations with them separately).

Dinner with Lucy was much calmer and quieter, we just chatted a little (they thanked me for taking her home and even kissed her on the cheek), told each other about our adventures, I prudently omitted some of the details of the capture of the 'Nightshadows', the girl told about her adventures in the mountains (hmm, she did not cover the episode with the lash either, she seems to be shy. Hehe, now I know how to pin her). Slightly touched upon the girl's past (she kept silent about her aristocratic origins and family capital), so I 'learned' about how long she had been a fan of Fairy Tail and that long before she joined, I learned the composition, famous deeds and where she is right up to careful study city ​​maps. True, I had to give out a few words about my past, well, here the story is standard - an orphan, carried away by magic, decided to travel a little in search of knowledge and earnings. Nothing unusual. Then I just walked her home and we parted. I had to accept the house - they just managed to complete it just today, and then drag all my trash there, which now lies in the guild building.

I fiddled for several hours, and this despite all the strength and endurance bestowed by the symbiont. Of course, it was far from complete arrangement, I actually only did that stuffed my things on the first floor, partly unloading them into the basement, but at that I stopped. Living in a living space is, of course, an important matter, but it was even more important for me.

Today, during the picnic, I successfully collected previously left cells with Natsu, naturally replanting new ones and these cells brought a lot of new information. The magical component of the dragonsler still remained a mystery to me, apparently to receive the magic of the dragon itself, a certain special initiation is needed that occurs at the spiritual level, that is, the dragon teacher himself must magick something. A small discovery, because the very transformation of the body and the entire restructuring of the organisms of the dragonslers is the result of a magical ritual. But here's something interesting I discovered, namely, I observed the process of this transformation into living. Each time Natsu cast a spell, his altered cells were energized and began to rebuild into a more dragon-like form. These changes were scanty, but quite noticeable for Simba's cells. It is obvious that the excitement occurred as a result of the reaction of cells to magical energy passing through the body. The cells began to absorb this energy, using it for transformation, but ... they did not even have time to really start the process. Energy quickly dried up and all changes rolled back to their original level. Outwardly, all these processes were not reflected in any way , but they could well. According to my estimates, having become very inflated and for some time maintaining a sufficient pressure of energy in his body, Natsu could well have become covered with scales and, at least, change the structure of his eyes, having acquired a stylish narrow pupil. Memories of the anime woman confirmed these guesses. But if with this moment everything was more or less clear, then how Natsu can eat fire, I could not understand at all. There was generally some wild process of direct absorption of energy, and the most fantastic thing is that Natsu actually got five times more than was in the fire that he, sorry, ate. At the cellular level, all this was not reflected at all, except that there was a surge of some cute chemical compounds, like adrenaline and endorphin, which are easily attributed to mental agitation, but nothing else. But the magical sensations that Dragneel experienced at these moments were completely different - a sharp increase in the amount of mana, lightness in the whole body, the feeling that you can move mountains. All this is in the magical sense. In short, I do not understand nichrome. And Natsu himself could not help, because he knew less than me in the theory of magic, and he could only distinguish that he could do this, but this could not, but what am I? Natsu and the theory of magic, what am I talking about? ...

However, despite the fact that I did not make much progress in understanding the energy component of the essence of the dragonsleer, I could repeat the purely genetic level. Whether it will give me his magic is a big question, but I will definitely become stronger. Considering that there will soon be a showdown with the Frozen Forest and one of Zeref's demons, the extra grains of power can be very useful to me. And to forget the sparkle of Makarov's eyes, eager to whip me in a fight with Elsa, is also impossible.

I had some food supplies, but not too much, so until the night finally came into its own, I quickly walked through a couple of shops. That seems to be the medieval world, and such a thing as a round-the-clock grocery, or a night restaurant even exists, for which many thanks to the world. There really were no pharmacies ... well, with the assortment I was used to, so the packs of vitamins, alas, fell away, but in general there were no particular problems. However, I did not summon a furora, since the spatial pocket perfectly hid the real volumes of purchases from prying eyes, but one compassionate aunt still had to explain that I was going to fill the cellar in the new house, painfully briskly she was trying to find out along the way weighing a head of cheese for me. In general, there are people with whom it is impossible to be silent, they will talk to the dead and will have time to hang a bunch of gossip, I came across this one, so I had to tell with a polite smile that they say in reserve, otherwise, you never know, friends will suddenly run in, but there is nothing to treat (that I was from Fairy Tail, she already knew and at the word of friends burst into understanding lamentation, on the topic of pink-haired swallows with blue cats, then I just listened). Having returned to the house, I really filled the cellar with food (why not really combine two useful things?) After which, having settled down there, I began the process of restructuring the body. I didn't need to reinvent the bicycle, combine different genes too, just remake my body according to the existing model with detailed instructions (after all, I thoroughly studied how Natsu's cells change), so by the morning I finished everything successfully and even managed to check the result result. I really had an idea to remake muscle tissue into pink fibers, and to strengthen the dragon genes somewhat at the expense of samples from a scarf, but on common thought I refused it. First, it was necessary to study the behavior of the mutation in the reference state, its reaction to my magic and interaction with the cells of the symbiont (there is still a big difference between neutral study, as it was with Natsu, and constant, deep interaction at all levels, as it happens with me), but then it will be possible to think about additional modernization of individual sections.

As a result, I received an increase in the physical strength of the host organism by about one and a half to two times, a general strengthening of body tissues, from the skin to bones and internal organs, weak regeneration, although not even regeneration, but simply a faster recovery than in humans, and of course the famous dragonsleer's sense of smell. Hearing with vision also improved, but not as much as scent, there the mutation did not reach the desired stage and, as expected, stopped at the level that Natsu had (after all, he served as a standard for us), and I did not want to artificially adjust it ...

In general, I certainly liked the result, although Natsu did not succeed in triggering a flame based on the memories received, but after visiting the library, I did not expect it too much. Now I had to study for a long time the behavior of, in fact, a new body, but since the process is not fast, there is no point in sitting in the basement. After leaving the cellar, I drank a glass of coffee with a couple of sandwiches in the practically empty kitchen and, having estimated the time, decided to spend a little on cleaning. I spent seven hours with the restructuring of the body, so now it was still early morning, and having managed to study the customs of the fairies a little, I realized that there was no point in going to the guild before ten in the morning. Of course Mira was there, but ... why take the girl away from the warm bed?

In general, I spent the next couple of hours moving and arranging furniture. Of course I didn't. But it became possible to walk along the corridor and some rooms on the first floor. Well, at ten in the morning, wiping off honest labor sweat (existing only in my imagination), I went to the guild.

Hmm ... strange, why is it so quiet there? Soooo, there is a cart at the door, which caused a feeling of delight and sincere respect in my Hamster, it seems the reason for the lull is clear ... hehe, well, hold on, Natsu, Gray, the time for revenge has come.

Uh-huh, here is the general hall, everyone froze almost at attention and look at nothing expressive in the direction of the red-haired girl in a cuirass and plate gloves scolding Wakaba. Next to the girl was a hefty horn, about half a meter taller than her. I'm wondering if this is the way it should be, that the armor should have a bunch of open areas with an unprotected body, or is there something I don't understand? Okay, at least not an armored bra, and that is bread (although this is sad), well, I will believe that there are simply cunning enchantments on the armor, so the blacksmith so ... hmm ... made it easier. I don't understand the man, especially the short skirt on the armor, and the legs are nothing, all the most interesting is hidden, but what is enough for the eye ... well, it's taking me somewhere else. Well, let's start.

-Hi people, why is it so quiet here? - hmm ... Lucy is already in shock, it seems that the difference between the image described by the magicians and the real girl caught her eye too.

-Shh, Elsa has arrived! - the flying cat whispered to me.

-Where? - I look around defiantly.

-So there - the cat nods at the girl who listened to our conversation.

-Yes where? - I turn on the `` felt boot '' - there is only a very pretty girl in armor, Natsu and Gray clearly described Elsa to me - a hefty, terrible, like death, a woman with the habits of a hardened thug, - no girl will be happy if they call her scary, and be I would have been beaten, but I originally called her cute and gave a clear indication of the source of the rumors. Mmm, what a look this couple had, so Caesar could have looked at Brutus when he decided to leave his dagger in his back. Meanwhile, the room became noticeably colder. But Lucy looked at me somehow sadly, I think she decided that right now they would kill me. Heh, no, honey, you don't know Elsa's character yet. But Gray and Natsu really should sympathize, perhaps, that I will even apologize to them for this setup ... later ... someday.

- Natsu, Gray, - the girl almost affectionately addressed the couple, - I am very glad that you educate newcomers and help them settle in the guild, but please give them reliable information.

-Aggas! - nodded the dragonseer. Hmm, really did look like Happy.

"Elsa, it's me," the girl said, turning to me.

-Sephiroth, nice to meet you, also, I apologize, if I unintentionally offended you - I was misled.

- It's okay and you can, but now I'm sorry, I'm in a little hurry. Natsu, Gray, I need your help.

And then the girl in an ultimatum stated that she was waiting for a sweet couple at the station in an hour, after which she picked up a clearly heavy horn with a slight movement of her hand and went towards the women's hostel, spreading a gloomy atmosphere around herself, hmmm, it seems I went a little too far with revenge on Gray , it hurts Elsa looks annoyed, okay, I'll try to rectify the situation somehow.

Well, while the Valkyrie was throwing off unnecessary things in the Hamster's Burrow (that is, in her dorm room), Mira asked Lucy to look after the scumbag with a firebrand so that they would not kill each other, then, after thinking a little, she asked me about the same, saying that in as a last resort, he believes in my strength and ability to stop the raging magicians ... um. Well, the story of the Lullaby begins, I hope this time the artifact will have a fate somewhat more useful than the share of a dummy for practicing Titania's blows, in any case, I will try to take care of it.