Chapter 20.5

The same place. Master Makarov.

There was simply dead silence on the street - a barrier set up to surprise the newcomers, and at the same time not to interfere with the townspeople's sleep, worked in two directions, not letting in sounds from the city. However, the head of the Fey was the least concerned about it now - he was still there - in his youth ... with his friends, how many of them are there, from the 'old guard'? He, Polyushka, Yama ... and that's probably all. Something wet rolled down my cheek. The old magician, who personally buried more than one friend, waved his sleeve, something must have got into the eye ... yes, just a speck.

-Sef ... - and for some reason the throat was squeezed, forcing to choke on the end of the name. The magician, who was leaving in complete silence from the stage, turned around. Strange, now something strange ... alien and ... tired appeared in him? It seems that this song was not easy for him, - but ... what happened to the author of this ... this ...

- He died ... long ago and very far from here, - the magician turned away and looked at the sky, - sorry, Master, I think I managed to ruin the holiday, - the silver-haired shook his head, - it was a bad idea and ... now I understand why he asked not to perform his songs - if you play it incorrectly, then it would be an insult to the poet ... but if it is correct ... - Sephiroth did not finish his sentence, he simply left, however, everything was clear without words.

Elsa Scarlett.

The girl wandered without making out the road ... her head was empty, and her legs themselves carried her towards the hostel. You can't show others your weakness, but ... his words and ... that song. Are there such coincidences or did he know everything? Sephiroth, he attracted, but at the same time ... frightened. Actions, words ... sometimes one got the impression that he knew what was and ... what would be and that was scary. But ... even this song tonight ... it hurt, really hurt. But now my soul felt a little easier and calmer, as if the doctor mercilessly opened an old abscess, cleaned it out and let it drag on. But why does the artificial eye burn so much? The girl looked up at the sky.

- It seems that the rain is going, - Elsa shook off the moisture from her face ... - Thank you ...

The warrior disappeared into the women's hostel. Bright, clear stars promised a clear day.

Sephiroth. Late evening. House.

My condition was "mediocre crap", nothing seemed to have happened, but my soul was somehow empty. I didn't think that the song would have such an effect on me either, I'm used to the fact that this world is distinguished by a high degree of positiveness, doltishness and a slight madness, but when Fay was covered with a ballad, their emotions covered me ... in the end, I just ran away, to call a spade a spade ... I didn't want to do anything, and the moral fatigue was pressing, in the end I decided to go to bed, but ... who said that it would be so easy?

I felt the approach of Ur halfway to the kingdom of Morpheus, more precisely, in that short segment, when the carcass was already in bed, but consciousness had not yet given the command to turn off. The sorceress slipped into the house, went up to the second floor to my bedroom, stood there for a while, and then slipped into bed. A warm soft girlish body pressed against me, and the smell of lavender mixed with a light aroma of wine hit my nose.

-And how is this to be understood? I ask the darkness in front of me.

- How can this be understood? - the sorceress answered with a slightly tangled tongue, - I just felt cold ... and lonely, that song ...

-And you decided to keep warm in my bed? - Damn, reset hormones, I'm not iron.

-Do you like me? - Drunkenly indignant girl, running her hand over my chest and going down below, - hmm ... not like.

-I can not help but like such a beautiful person, but ... now you are drunk and not fully aware of your actions, besides, you know that love between us does not even smell. And the problems that may arise, I do not need ...

- I know, - the girl sighed sadly, - I saw how you looked at your girls and how they looked at you, but ... just stay with me today, okay? - the ice princess pressed closer to me and ... fell asleep, and I was left lying and tormented by a bunch of questions, boiling down to the banal "how did I come to this life?", "what to do with all this?" and ... "hard astral projection must be learned urgently." By the middle of the night Ur became hot, she crawled away from me and half leaned out from under the covers. Realizing that it would be problematic for me to fall asleep in such a company, I spat on everything, got out of bed, hid the sorceress back (although I could not resist here and still gently kissed her on the nose, she frowns so funny in her sleep) and went to the laboratory - better do something useful than wrestling with myself and some thoughts ...

More recently, there have been thoughts about material projection, so why not do it? Jose's experience was mostly in non-material projections, but he knew a couple of subtle points on the topic of interest to me. The Council's library, again, was not in vain either, so stop shirking, it's time to start experimenting!

A little bit later.

Hmm, well, what can you say, the trick itself is not difficult, except for a couple of points. Firstly, the "cost" of the image - the energy saturation is approximately a full reserve of B rank and this is the most possible minimum - then the structure becomes translucent and it can only be mistaken for a real person with a very big drink, and it will not be able to act with the material world. The second limitation is that the transfer of knowledge and sensations is possible only when the magic is deliberately canceled by the original or the "fusion" of the projection and the original, but in this case the magician also returns the spent forces. But these are all trifles compared to the third point. The material double requires monstrous control and memory - you need to imagine a shell. Everything. Immediately. But there are no problems with this, memory allows you to imagine at least a hundred of them, problems begin when you need to "weave" the threads of energy channels into this shell, this is what gives the illusion the ability to manipulate real objects and even use spells. It is better to pump "pure" mana, without a specific predisposition and processing by the "body", which any magician does automatically. Otherwise, the copies will be fragile and unstable, and in terms of magic, they will be limited only by the school associated with mana.

In any case, such a theory can be made if we summarize Jose's memory and calculations from three dozen books (thanks to Combat Mode and Analysis for our happy childhood). As for practice ... well, right now my "copies" most of all resembled the "masterpieces" of a certain blond ninja on his first genin exam ... but I have a lot of time and mana ...

The morning began ... stormy. No, I will definitely place a minefield near the house ... and turrets ... and an art installation. Not a house, but a courtyard. So, a certain white-haired guy with a penchant for striptease broke into my sweet house. The type responded to the name Leon and was in a state of culture shock and nervous excitement. And so, he breaks into my unfortunate house, somehow finds a room where his teacher is resting ... and sees a picture of a naked Ur lying in my bed. The cry of the wounded beluga about the "dishonored teacher" was interrupted by an ice battering ram who carried the offender, and he carried out not only the offender, but also three walls, one of which was external. This suggests two conclusions. First, never yell over the ear of a hangover mage, especially S rank and above. Second, I need adamantium ... a lot of adamantium ... a lot of adamantium to make a home! Hmm ... we should start collecting materials.

- Well, what are you doing here? - I get out of the laboratory, from where I watched the events through the cells planted by Ur, - and who, excuse me, will restore the wall? Not only did someone evict me yesterday from my own bedroom (if I had said something else, Leon could have gone astray, besides, the speed of spreading rumors in this city is simply amazing, and if something like that comes to trio ... as the drow say, do what you want, but don't get caught!), so this morning this someone decided to smash this very bedroom into the trash?

-Oh, Sephiroth, - the sorceress held her head, shock, fright, relief, joy, mixed with some annoyance flashed in her emotions almost simultaneously. Hmm, it seems she remembered her behavior yesterday.

- "Oh" - this is broken furniture, but spaced three walls, this is "ay-ay-ay" ... sat, they say, in the laboratory. Little respected, why the hell are you breaking into someone else's house? - I politely turned to the recovering Leon.

- Well, I ... uh ... - the young ice magician was inaccessible, fascinated by the opening picture of the ice princess, hastily pulling on her blouse.

-Very informative, and you know that breaking into someone else's house requires two months of work at the mine. And if you also think about the intentions with which you penetrated ...

-Sephiroth, please don't ... are you Leon? - to Ur's question, the guy just nodded in confusion, - this is my student, he ...

- That asshole who melted one ice cube you know, trying to free an equally famous animal ... by the way, he thought melting would kill you.

- Well ... I ... - hmm, it seems, he began to repeat itself.

-So, either they will explain everything to me normally, or someone will kick it, I don't know who, but I'm already purple, - Mrs. Milkovich's left eye began to twitch, - Sef ... moor, can we use your kitchen?

- Why, where tea and my stash of sweets you still know, - I hopelessly waved my hand.

-Thank! - The ice princess just took her student almost by the scruff of the neck and dragged him towards the kitchen ... someone will have a very difficult conversation. I turned to a person who literally exudes jealousy and resentment. And the smell was familiar.

- Mmm, Sherri, if I'm not mistaken? And why is everyone so attracted to those bushes ... you are already the second girl to ambush there. Really on me?

-Pf! - the girl quoted one well-known eyeball.

-Well, if not, then get out, perhaps your companion will need help ... to hastily escape away from her beloved mentor, - in words about her "beloved" mentor, the girl tensed.

-Well, you asshole! One-handed creation? Stripping while casting? Have you forgotten everything I taught you ?! - the door flew off its hinges, carried out by Leon's body. The guy was followed by a very displeased Ur, interspersed with her notations with "cheering" with the help of small ice needles, which mysteriously had homing and beat the guy somewhere in the lower back. Having driven the weakly fluttering victim (I had to hold Sherri so that she did not break the wood), Milkovich used the finishing blow.

- How glad I am that you are all right, - after which I kissed the taken aback on the forehead (for this she had to jump a little, it looked pretty funny) and ruffled his hair. Leon slowly slid down the wall.

-M-yes, I feel it will be for a long time, but I have one question ...

-What? Sherri looked at me, looking up from her precious Leon for a moment.

-Who will pay me for broken walls? Since he - I waved my hand at the guy who is somewhere deep in himself - is clearly not available for dialogue now, then a question for his partner? - and yes, the main thing is to smile.

Several hours later. Evening.

Damn, what a busy day. Catch the builders, show them the scope of work, draw up an estimate, then catch Sherry hiding from me, then, together with the angry hissing Sherry, catch Leon and tear him away from Ur (although the educational process was going on there and the guy had to be saved sooner), then we met Gray , who, apparently, was corny jealous of the mentor to the first student. I had to urgently put up barriers so that these two would not smash half of the city, and since in the barriers I am far from even the rank of apprentice, I had to strengthen them with Letters. I have never written so quickly, however, the charge in the pen is almost over, I will need to buy more lacrimas for it ... And if someone thinks that my problems are over, then he is very, very much mistaken. I wanted to visit the coveted counter in order to ask Mira to get food and something to drink, but suddenly I found out that Lucy had come here early in the morning, worried about something, whispered with Mirazhana and Elsa, after which the trio tore some kind of contract from the board and washed out of the guild, will return, at best, only tomorrow afternoon. In general, no food, no pleasant company. One Makarych, who somehow sluggishly and without a twinkle directed the construction work - just finished the first floor, at such a pace the new building will be ready for the episode with Nirvana, if not later, but everything is in business, since there are now two options - or to rest on a mission, or hunchback at a construction site, hehe.

Having more or less dealt with the turnover and making sure that the repair of my house is going on much more actively than the guilds (after all, the difference between gouging magicians with hammers and professional builders is huge), I climbed into my favorite laboratory and started doing what I should was to take care of ... my beauty ...

Mmm, music, after almost nine months of silence and hopelessness ... buzz ... the installation for recording melodies of mana ate just immeasurably, but it did not bother me - I let all the reserve for clogging the player down, then I had a snack from the nearest fireplace and continued to fill in songs ... I left the dungeons only late in the evening, the repairmen had repaired everything a long time ago and left the house, I was not worried about the fact that they could have something "in memory" from the house - after all, I already had some kind of reputation, and with the Fairies in their hometown, no one would fight ... without a really good reason. HMKids "Chaos temptation" sounded in my ears, I softly hummed to a wild roar and was permanently happy. True, one funny thing in this telepathic transmission turned out - she recorded songs in the language in which the carrier "thought", after which it was already possible to "finish" the rhymes. Not very convenient, you have to tinker a lot, but with Simba's capabilities, it was relatively easy to find the right synonyms and adjust the rhyme, but now the locals can understand the meaning of the songs ... if they don't run away, of course.

The approach of Ur led me out of nirvana. The girl again managed to escape, now from a couple of students. Hmm, she's been acting strangely lately, and she's avoiding Gray, why would she? After knocking out the player, I turned to the night guest.

- Escaped again?

- Uh-huh ... Sef, about yesterday ... - Ur was somehow embarrassed.

- It's okay, yesterday was a hard day, it happens, - I hastened to round off the topic that clearly embarrassed her, but instead of relief in her emotions I caught ... annoyance? Hmm ...

- Oh, yes, it all went to Zeref! - the ice princess just came up to me and kissed me. Not understood.

-Em, - I cautiously pulled away, feeling with my back how I step on very thin ice, - Ur, you, of course, are a very pleasant girl in all respects, but we are just friends ...

-And why are you guys sometimes so stupid, - the sorceress sighed heavily, - well, I say in plain text. A young body demands its own, and if you remember that the last time I ... was with a man, - Ur was slightly embarrassed, - fifteen years ago ... damn, I already think about Gray from time to time not as a student ... he I grew up so much ... but ... he's my student, but I remember him very little! - the girl shook her head, - in the end, it was you who brought me back to life, so take responsibility! - Ur finished very "logically", - besides, someone here recently told me about friendly-love relationships ... it seems that there is still something in this ...

Hmmm ... I didn't expect ... although ... it all went well, I'm not iron and not a monk (not a monk at all). I picked up the girl who squealed in surprise and carried her upstairs, hmm, and the day did not end so badly.

Ur Milkovich.

Outside the window, a new day was just beginning, the girl stretched herself quite, she hadn't felt so good for a long time, she would have to repeat it somehow ... after admiring the guy sleeping next to her, the sorceress, lightly kissing him goodbye, went to the shower - it was necessary to bring yourself in order after a sleepless night. There was a strange box with wires on the table in the room, yesterday some strange noise was heard from it, tormented by curiosity, Ur glanced at Sephiroth. He continued to sleep.

"Well, I think he won't be offended if I see what it is," the girl thought. It was not difficult to understand the box - an artifact capable of reproducing sound and outputting it through the wires to the ears. Clicking on "random selection", the girl attached the wires to her ears. The box blinked and music began to play, and later the words went ...

It's easy to come up with a fair goal

A great goal, one that is loved by the crowd.

I also need a perfect hero

A mighty hero who will lead everyone!

People willingly rush into battle

For the native land, for the unearthly paradise.

Warriors go to slaughter like sheep

And then - it's up to me!

Heroes - a feat, scum - a reason.

We will promise the youths military glory!

Hope for the poor, for the hungry food!

And each of them will find what he is looking for ...

Are we lying, Zeref, to gullible people? (Ur hiccupped, almost dropping the box from her hands.)

Not them, but you need this battle!

"This voice ... Name ... What the? ..."

Believe me, Sephiroth, there will be no deception here.

All that they need, the war will give them! (In complete amazement, the sorceress looked up at the sleeping guy, whose voice had just sounded from the wires and ... asked about Zeref's conscience? ...)

Let's get posters and bright colors

Fixing portraits of great ideas!

Freedom and equality, loyalty and brotherhood -

Wonderful fairy tales for adults!

And now the crowds are greeted with delight

The one who leads them on the Crusade.

It has always been like this - brave men die

And somewhere on the sidelines is the Puppeteer!

Heroes - a feat, scum - a reason.

We will promise the youths military glory!

Hope for the poor, for the hungry food!

And each of them will find what he is looking for ...

The war will give them everything!

The war will give them everything ...

After sitting a little longer, the very thoughtful Ur left her house ... who? A friend, a lover and a very strange and mysterious subject, while recalling that conversation about the Dark Magician, and in fact Sephiroth spoke as if he knew him personally, but then the daughter suggested that he was Zeref. Or is it more complicated?

-In the end, it's just a song and doesn't prove anything yet! And in general, it's time for me to go to the students - it was worth a little to die, as they completely got out of hand! - the sorceress, who decided to postpone the problem for a while, returned the player to its place and went on to spread rot ... uh, teach two idiots.

Sephiroth. Morning.

In the morning Ur was gone - the girl left before dawn, giving me a goodbye kiss and peace and tranquility in emotions. True, it seems she was slightly shocked by my little joke with the player, but there is no need to poke around in the owner's things without asking, so now let her puzzle over what was meant there. But how funny it was to watch how she tries not to wake the "sleeping" me. I pretty much lounged on the bed and sighed deeply, now only her smell and blood on the sheet reminded of the last night - the body was new with all the appropriate attributes, however, it didn't matter. I got rid of the laundry right away - just by incinerating it, the evidence is such evidence. I did not experience any kind of moral torment. Do not confuse love and sex, besides, my body also "requires its own", and my favorite quartet is clearly not yet ready for the transition to such a relationship ... we will wait.

Having finished putting my dwelling and myself in order, I was about to crawl out into the street when a call from Ultear stopped me. Hmm, did something happen? When I reached my office, I activated the communications sphere.

-Good morning lovely Ultear, did something happen or are you just missing? - the girl smiled at me sincerely, yes, the return of her mother clearly had a beneficial effect on her character, but she now perceives me not as just an ally, but ... hmm, but really, how? However, to understand women's emotions and logic is unrealistic even for an inter-world tentacle monster, ahem ... hmmm, something I'm not talking about, but not about that. However, Ultear very quickly managed to bring me back to earth.

-Sephiroth begins. Jellal completed the entire system and focused on retrieving the body. The priority is your carcass, try to save it, I like it, as an alternative - Elsa Scarlett. He's going to use her as bait for you.

- Not bad, but how does he plan the takeover?

-He will send out some magicians - old friends of Titatania on a mission to capture her.

-Hmm, somehow strange, well, let's say Elsa won't be able to raise her hand on them, but next to her there are almost always either several A rank magicians, or S-wick, or me. And Elsa's "old friends" pull at rank B by force.

-I won't ask how you know the balance of their forces, but in general, yes. Here are just Elsa's friends, or rather one of them does not trust Jellal and after you or one of yours scatters them, they ask for help in the confrontation with our blue-haired friend, - Ultear giggled, hiding her palm.

-And Elsa will not be able to refuse them, which means she will climb straight to visit. Where they will already be waiting for us.

-It's right who exactly, I don't know, but once he spoke about two triplets from "Raven's Tail" and ... an observer from "Six Asking" is possible, - so, but this was not in the canon, however, there I wasn't there either, so it's not surprising that everything is going a little differently, "I thoughtfully drummed my fingers on the table surface.

- This may already be serious ... but ... bearable. Thanks for the info ... yes, one more thing. Can you order some metals and minerals? I think it will be easier to get them with the Council mage rights.

-What exactly do you need? - I provided the list, - hmm ... in principle, yes, how much do you need?

- The more, the better, twenty million.

-This is three hundredweight, where do you want so much? - hmm, but here, apparently, some metals are much cheaper, however, why not, the same platinum in my home world at first cost less than lead, but the name of the metal itself came from the word "plate" - analogs were cast from it pharmaceutical weights for scales and only then, with the development of chemistry and other sciences ...

- It's ... a secret, - Zelos is our everything.

- I see, - the girl frowned indicatively, - well, I'll get what you need ... and Sephiroth, be careful there.

-Are you worried?

-Of course, you still have to deal with Hades ... and Brain also has something to answer for - that's just why her cheeks turn pink?

-Well, since such a girl is worried about me, then I simply have to survive, end of communication, - the ball went out.

And so I finally got out of the house. On the way to the door, I stumbled upon an envelope, modestly lying on the rug in front of the door. So, what do we have there? Uh-huh, an invitation to the resort and a little note.

"Sephiroth, thanks for the advice. He literally saved my life, so take this ticket as my humble gift.

PS Someone got the same tickets, so don't miss your chance.

Zodiac Spirit Leo "

Heh, thanks, Loki. If not that garbage with the Tower yet, there would be no price for such a gift. So, the showdown will still be at the resort ... you need to grab a couple of souvenirs - I have my own plans for Jellal ... or rather, for his soul. Looking into the laboratory, I put a few bone pins in a spatial pocket - I had experience in capturing and moving souls, and the tower will have very promising ... resources.

At the construction site, I bumped into an enthusiastic trio and a sad Master. The girls received invitation tickets and were already packing up - Elsa filled the Cart with sun loungers, beach volleyball balls, towels, sun and sun creams and a whole bunch of useful little things. Yes, what cannot be taken away from her is solidity. The hamster approves. Lucy and Mira were discussing swimsuits with soulful faces.

-Hi, beauties, apparently, you also received invitations.

-Also? - hmm, how did they do it in sync - it turns out that you are coming with us? - hmm, such a mess is going on in emotions that my skull starts to ache.

-Heh, even if it didn't come, I wouldn't miss it for any money. When else can I see three beautiful fairies in swimsuits? - a wave of embarrassment and pleasure, and, as always, light sparks between "competitors".

-Nobody else goes? - asked Lucy.

-It seems to be not. Only we were left from our company - Natsu went on a mission, Gray has intensified training again, Elfi went to get food for a parrot, "Mira listed.

- Well, okay ... - Elsa, it seems she was somewhat tense.

-Then, let's go to the train?

- What about your things? - Lucy was surprised.

- I carry everything with me! - I called a couple of tables from my pocket, and then put them back. Elsa just sighed - her pocket was full of armor and weapons, the beach equipment had to be dragged on a trolley - if you want, I can load the trolley there, if there are no artifacts there - there is enough space.

-Mmm, thanks, - the girl was embarrassed and handed me the cart.

Having said goodbye to the Master (the old man, when he made sure that the girls were not looking at him, grinned and showed me his thumb), we went to the station. Hopefully they'll let us rest for a couple of days before all this tower bullshit starts ...

The sun, the sea, the beach and three amazingly beautiful girls in bathing suits ... yes, Paradise should look something like this, besides, in our relationship the ice has finally broken, now the girls experienced a certain excitement with a share of jealousy, but resentment and resentment there is no longer anymore, in the end, the fakes staged something like an unspoken competition "take and hold." Nothing like that, but requests to anoint sunblock / help with picnic supplies / play a team beach volleyball (underline as appropriate), spiced with a bit of embarrassment and excitement, put me in a state close to nirvana and comprehension of Zen. At times I felt waves of jealousy, envy and some resentment mixed with embarrassment. Hmm ... Juvia, and judging by her condition, is almost ripe for a conversation ... the main thing is that the trio calmly accept the appearance of the fourth girl, I hope this will finish my "harem" growth ... otherwise they may be killed. The enacted imagination provided a picture of how four Valkyries with a minimum of clothes would "nail" a tentacle monster from space ... ahem ... reset hormones.

Harmony and happiness lasted only two days, and then something happened that I could not expect ... and what the hell brought them to the resort, hello canon? As always, the four of us sat behind a covered blanket and paid tribute to the art of the local chef. Lucy, no longer embarrassed, pressed her shoulder to me and exuded into the space tons of something suspiciously reminiscent of malevolence, the jealous glances thrown by Elsa and Mira only raised the mood of Mrs. Heartfilia. And then it happened.

-FISH !!! - the painfully familiar blue cat landed in our basket and immediately began to crunch something deliciously.

-Hi people, what are you doing here ?! - Natsu happily waved his hand at us, instantly covered with paint Lucy, to my deep regret, hastened to move away, and the dragonleader pierced a displeased look.

-Hi, we decided to arrange a little vacation here, - Mira smiled at the fiery dragon slayer, - and how did you get here?

-And we are returning from the assignment! - Happy reported proudly, - the local chef ordered to bring him a claw of fire crabs, - so that's what we will have for lunch, curious.

- Vacation is cool, I also want to arrange a vacation for myself. Sephiroth, let's brush it off! - damn, he is still the same restless and constantly looking for adventure on his ass. Well, okay, he asked for it.

-Okay, but then - don't be offended.

-Come on, I'm already on fire, - the magician really began to be covered with tongues of flame, and this is on the beach, in the middle of the crowd of tourists.

- Sef ... - Mira looked at me reproachfully, - there are a lot of people around ...

-Do not worry, my soul, - the girl blushed, - nothing threatens them. Are you ready Natsu?

-Yes!

- Then ... - at the limit of the body's capabilities I jump up to him and load Dragneel on my shoulders, - imagine that I am a train.

-What ?!

-Chukh-chukh-chukh-chug ... - I start moving with the swing of the load. The method, of course, is idiotic, but ...

-Os ... stop ... - the dragonsleer's imagination turned out to be good, as evidenced by the changed complexion, hmmm, pale green with pink does not match. - bueee ... - I obediently stopped.

-Everything, I won, you will receive a new book upon our return, - I carefully put Natsu on the ground.

- It was ... cruel, - the fireman embraced the ground and closed his eyes, - and dishonest.

-If you know yourself and your enemy, then you do not need to worry about the results and hundreds of battles. If you know yourself, but do not know the enemy, your every victory will be paid for at a high price. If you know neither yourself nor the enemy, then in every battle you will be defeated. For a start, get to know yourself, Natsu, - the dragonseer quieted down, digesting what he heard, hmm ... forty minutes you can not bother him - taking out the brain after the "trip" is an unpleasant thing.

- Strange words, where does this come from? - Elsa somehow looked at me studyingly.

- "The Art of War", - hmm, but how do I know him, I remember this book almost by heart, but when and under what circumstances I read it ... no idea, the tricks of my own memory have already got out. I'll find the asshole who did this to me - get my face off!

- I never heard, - Lucy thoughtfully put her finger to her lips, - no, I definitely did not hear.

- This is a very old book, - I shrug, - okay, with all this fuss. Am I hungry for a snack?

- Already ... nothing, - Mira pulled out of the basket a semi-conscious suspiciously rounded carcass of a blue cat. The diagnosis was clear at once - he was overeating.

-Bliiin! - the heavy sigh of our company sounded wonderfully synchronous.

The same resort, evening.

Heh, even though the customs here are medieval, but the locals know very well what comfort and their own benefit are, and if you take into account the magic ... in general, it is not surprising that in addition to the amusement park, the resort had a real casino. No matter how different the worlds are, the methods of relatively honest taking money from the population have been known for a long time and nothing fundamentally new has been invented since then. Here and then I met the good old "twenty-one" roulette (although in Fiore the game was played up to 33 points and the game was called accordingly), "one-armed bandits", well, poker, oddly enough, but this game has not undergone any special changes, the only thing is instead of the usual jacks, queens, kings, aces and jokers (if they were allowed at all), there were magicians from C to S ranks and God's Chosen, respectively. Well, the alignment of the combinations was different, so the pair and S was older than the "triad" of A rank, but younger than the "guild" - an analogue of the "full house", for the "square" S - was the most profitable combination, excluding the bundles with the Chosen Jokers ... In general, a funny game, which the girls immediately got into. Natsu went to torment something like a magic bingo, but I sat down at a bar - drinks from almost all over the continent gathered here, ranging from various juices to all sorts of alcoholic cocktails. Damn, they even had champagne. However. never liked this grape whisper, is it beer or ale? So I started tasting these drinks, monitoring the hall in the floor. My wait did not last long - I underestimated Juvia's determination, she wanted to talk today, or maybe she just liked the moment - the girls were absorbed in their studies, I visited them quite periodically, in general, it was for "heart to heart".

-Hello, Juvia, with each of our meetings you become more and more beautiful, - I was rewarded with a wave of embarrassment. I took a look at the sorceress - an elegant blue dress resembling Elsa's outfit, earrings with small pearls, a gold medallion in the form of the Fairy Tail coat of arms in a deep neckline, the very minimum of cosmetics. Her hairstyle, however, was ... specific, but, as they say, in taste and color ... but still she was beautiful. Very beautiful.

-H-hello, - the girl blushed, how cute she is.

-What a pleasant surprise to meet you here.

-Well, I...

-M?

-Take me to your gar ... your guild! - on behalf of the sorceress, you could light up. And she blurted out the phrase in one breath and immediately closed her eyes at the end. It would be foolish not to take advantage of this.

-What ... an interesting proposal, - I was next to the blue-haired witch and slightly hugged her around the waist, - especially, the first part of it, - again a wave of embarrassment and panic, - I must admit, - the panic intensified, - I liked you even in the moment of our first meeting, - disbelief and joy, - I will gladly petition the Master to accept you into the guild, - the joy intensified, - and ... I will always be glad to see you in my house, - it just hit my feelings transcendental concentration of happiness, the next moment I realized that they literally hung on me and kissed me, and who would I be if I did not respond to such an impulse? I did not want to find out this issue, and therefore I began to actively participate in the process. Unfortunately (first of all, for one type), we were prevented very soon - a man about two meters tall, and almost a meter in shoulders, obviously from the kind of "cabinets with a mezzanine", and even with a bandage on one eye and some with a strange device on the jaw, very reminiscent of a supporting bandage, without any unnecessary excesses such as presentation and making claims, I decided to plant something dark and very unpleasant at us, as I believe. But ... to beat a dragon-slayer specializing in Darkness with the same element? In vain he is so ... very in vain. The attack of the visitor, apparently his name was Simon, if I'm not mistaken, was completely absorbed.

- Tell me at least one reason why I shouldn't rip your head off, - the spoiled moment clearly did not cheer me up, and if you look at Juvia's emophone ... Simon is preferable to stabbing himself with his own hands than to get to this sweet girl alive. Elsa's old friend tried to use an interesting trick - to throw something resembling ... mmm ... how can I put it better? Perhaps "Shadow of Darkness" would be the most appropriate term. Something through this spell could only be seen by its author, people marked by the author, individuals exceeding by a couple of orders of magnitude in strength and ... those who know how to communicate with this element. Emotions faded into the background, anxiety was heard from the girl standing next to me, moreover, more for me than for myself and a slight echo of fear. And here is the magician, now it is clear how he managed to remain without an eye, and everything is clear with the bandage. He is most likely self-taught and therefore felt the lessons of the chosen element on his own skin. Well, he still got off easy - Darkness does not forgive mistakes. I simply clap my hands and tune in to the elements. Control in Darkness, unlike Fire, still leaves much to be desired, but I can create a wave of indignation and distortion, although not without the help of additional gestures. Plus, my opponent was kind enough to provide the "stuff" with delivery.

A wave of seething and breaking darkness reached the enemy. Well, can you tame the excitement of the elements? I couldn't. The world regained colors and sounds, it was not difficult to stun the magician disoriented from the loss of control over the spell - one blow with his elbow to the temple area and the body smoothly settles on the floor. The main thing is not to overdo it - I don't think Elsa will be happy about the death of her childhood friend.

-What was it? - Just in case, Juvia condenses moisture from the air in front of her, here she is definitely a plus - you never know, but the weapon will not interfere, I wonder if she is to reveal the secret of "memory of water" and water management through physics, and not magic, what will happen?

-I think we have guests. We need to check how the others are. "The girl nodded. But she was clearly not delighted with my idea.

Elsa "Titania" Scarlett.

The girl smiled contentedly.

- "Guild", - the croupier said sadly and poured another portion of chips. Today was clearly her day, and what kind of expression did Mira and Lucy have when they opened their cards for the last time ... mmm, it was very pleasant to admire their sour faces if there was still a certain silver-haired magician nearby ... Elsa sipped from a standing nearby glasses of wine. From the moment they all admitted that they clearly have more than just friendly feelings for Sephiroth and decided to "share" with each other, very little time has passed, but ... it was so good ...

"Squad," Lucy said with satisfaction, pushing a row of chips toward her. On the table was a combination of 4 rank A mages.

- Replacement of the croupier, - the place of a short man of about forty was taken by a young blond guy.

-I will offer you a special game, - the guy began to deftly shuffle the cards, but suddenly, the hall was filled with darkness, it was impossible to see even an outstretched hand. The screams of frightened people were heard.

-Tts, something he is early, - "a strange phrase for a croupier" - thought Elsa, but the darkness receded and a completely empty hall appeared before the fakes. Where the explosion thundered, sounds appeared characteristic of a situation when a certain body is carefully beaten on all protruding surfaces.

- What's going on? - Lucy picked up the key of Taurus - training with Sephiroth on the principle of "try to survive" added a certain level of suspicion to the girl.

- Well, hello ... little sister, - the croupier looked up and the girl managed to examine his face. She could not not recognize her old friend.

-So? Is it really you? - my chest felt tight. He's okay ... that's good, but how are the others and ... where are the people? However, the last question was resolved pretty quickly - there were several dozen cards on the floor, each of which contained a person.

-What is it? - Before the girl had not seen such magic, apparently, this magic was somewhat reminiscent of the Card Magic of Cannes, but the direction was clearly different.

-Magic? I learned too, sister. Syo grinned angrily.

-Nya! - rune circles lit up under Mira and Elsa, a moment and the girls turned out to be connected, moreover, in a very familiar way - a childhood friend of Elsa once taught how to knit Elsa ...

- Millie ... - Scarlett looked at her old friend, who had just tied two witches with strange magic.

-Hi, El, haven't seen each other for a long time, - smiled a girl with a hairstyle made in the form of cat ears, it seems that her fascination with these cute creatures has reached a dangerous level.

-Let them go, they are my friends! - Elsa was at a loss. On the one hand, her friends were attacked and the reaction should be unambiguous, but ... friends were also attacking!

-Friends? We, too, were once ... - the cat sorceress was not allowed to finish. Mira clearly had no doubts. In a moment, instead of the girl entangled in ropes, there is a demon entangled in ropes. Another moment and the bonds with a plaintive crack are torn, and in the next moment two figures dangle in the hands of the Fairy Tail Demoness - the Gambler and the Cat, gently squeezed by the throat.

- Peace, stop! shouted the warrior.

-I stand. Free Lucy - these ropes are gradually tightening. And they drain magic ... unpleasant.

While Elsa was cutting the ropes that fettered her friend, new characters entered the hall.

- People, what's going on here? Some square guy just tried to shoot me! - a slightly disheveled Natsu burst into the hall, dragging the aforementioned "square type" on him. The girl looked closely - indeed, the facial features (and the whole body) became very sharp and "square".

"It seems that we were not the only ones who deserved the visit," Sephiroth came out of the next door, dragging someone's body by the scruff of the neck, next to him was a disgruntled sorceress. Having strained her memory a little, the girl remembered that it was her that she had seen then at the "conversation" with the silver-haired ... and he said something about feelings for four ... the blue-haired girl was measured with a jealous look, - Mira, you are simply amazing in this appearance , - then the magician noticed Millenna hanging in the hands of the Demon, - Ears? - the look of the magician became thoughtfully assessing, after which he broke into a smile of tenderness and uttered a strange word: - Kavaaai! - The expression in Sephiroth's eyes, which he awarded at this moment to Millie, alerted the warrior, greatly alarmed.

-What's going on here? Elsa, do you know them? - freed from the ropes, Lucy began to rub her wrists - apparently, Millianna knitted her very tightly.

- Yes, - the girl sighed, - these are my friends ... from childhood.

- I thought you were in "Tail" since childhood? - Lucy was surprised.

"An unusual greeting for friends," Sephiroth said, "more like an attack.

- I ... don't understand what's going on myself. All this is so unexpected ...

-Traitor, - croaked the "gambler" looking longingly at the warrior.

-It's getting weirder and weirder .... - the silver-haired magician held out.

-I ... - Scarlett hesitated, to tell everyone about the events of eight years ago was ... scary and ashamed, because she really betrayed her friends, left them in the tower, but ... they, at least, survived and this - the most important thing.

-If you don't want, don't tell. In "Tail" it is not customary to be interested in the past, - the girl did not have time to notice when Sephiroth was nearby and took her hand, but his words somehow made it easier. Titania nodded gratefully to the boy.

-Khe ... you are strong ... maybe ... there will be a chance, - the type brought by Sephiroth came to his senses, - hello, Elsa ... - the girl peered at the vaguely familiar features.

-Simon ...

-Yes ... it's me, - the magician sat down carefully, holding his head, - oh, like a hammer caressed.

- Either that, or not holding back, - Sephiroth shrugged his shoulders, - but interrogating people with their brains splashed on the floor ... - the fair-haired one thought for a moment, - it's difficult ... and why did you attack us?

-We ... had to take Elsa to the Tower of Heaven ... deliver to Jellal ... - the warrior shuddered, - or rather, he wanted it, and I ... I needed strong allies.

-For what? Sephiroth asked at the same time.

"To stop Jellal," Simon sighed.

-Stop? Traitor! Jellal has been taking care of us all this time! - "square" was clearly not happy.

-No, he lied ... Elsa did not betray us ... the traitor - Jellal, - the magician started to talk about the events of eight years ago. Moreover, about real events and not about what happened in the opinion of a certain blue-haired asshole who is a member of the Council.

Twenty minutes later.

"... and therefore we need your help," Simon finished his story. However, he caused the greatest shock among his colleagues than the "Feeks" present here.

Elsa bit her lip. Jellal ... a man whom she sincerely admired as a child, whom she called her brother ... and ... but it doesn't matter anymore and remains in the distant past. What to do?

-Will you help us? - asked Simon hopefully. No, leaving them the second time was beyond her power.

- Yes, - the girl answered quietly.

- Natsu, congratulations, there will be a mahach soon, - Sephiroth grunted.

-Yes, gorgeous, - the dragonsleer's joy knew no bounds.

-You ... - the girl looked from one member of her guild to another.

-If you think that I will let my girlfriend go to some kind of Jellal or that the magicians from the "tail" will leave a friend in trouble, then you are very mistaken, - Sephiroth grinned, - and do not even try to argue, we both know that in in my case, it is useless and unprofitable.

"Girl, he said, girl?" - the blood rushed to my cheeks, but my soul became somehow lighter and brighter.

-Then ... let's move, - interrupted the prolonged pause Mirazhan with a displeased voice.