Salem Pov
'Hoo. Hoo.'
The owl noises slipped out from me as I enjoyed the wind blowing on my face as I flew in the dusk sky on my way towards the mountain where the grand magic games stadium was still under construction.
No matter how many times I didn't, flying never gets old to me.
After like three minutes of flying I reached the construction site where hundreds of workers were on the job, hauling stone, hammering beams, and shouting orders. But it wasn't just normal construction workers. I saw a small group of mages mixed among them, using all kinds of magic to speed up the process.
I thought there would be more mages since Fiore basically had the one of the largest concentrations of mages throughout Earthland.
"Why is that thing just looking at us like that?" One of the workers muttered.
"Relax, the owl is just sitting there, it's not hurting anybody. But I have to say it's a really big and extra chunky one. " Another one commented.
Rude.
"Yeah but you know what they say about owls and how they can sometimes be omens of death. I have a bad feeling about this stadium."
An older, more muscular man patted his shoulder. "Relax, that's just an old wives tale. And besides we have mages handling the more dangerous parts of the construction so we'll be fine."
Deciding to have a little fun I puff up my feathers crouching down a little looking at the group letting out a loud screech making the group and some others jump all jump and I started laughing.
"I-I think things are messing with us!?"
"Maybe it didn't appreciate your comments."
Deciding that was enough fun I waved at them then flew off to my business to find the dragon graveyard.
Now I remember that it must be under the stadium since Gajeel stumbled on it after Natsu shoved him down those railway tracks. Good thing I had just the form for that.
After finding a good spot where there weren't any people around I shifted to my hare form and dug into the ground. But man I got to admit the ground here was a lot harder than what I'm usually used to making me try a bit harder with the digging. But I guess some very intense battles will be taking place here.
Maybe some geographical stuff happened due to it being on top of a dragon graveyard making the land a bit harder than normal. It would be really metal if the coliseum was made from dragon bone and scales.
CRUNCH!
"SHIITTT!"
I wasn't paying proper attention and fell into the cavern and transformed into a cat perfectly landing on my feet. Letting out a sight of relief I began looking around the deep cavern as nostalgia began to hit me like a truck.
This place was the place where the scene which took me in fairy tail happened, the fight between Natsu vs Sting and Rouge. I remembered scrolling through YouTube looking at some anime amvs and I saw this pink haired fire guy reverse jumping some Naruto and Sasuke looking wannabes, then overpowering their combined attack. That really tickled the previous 11 year old Salem's brain.
After the brief blast of the past I turned back into an owl flying following the tracks deeper down the cavern.
"Wow bro."
The dragon remains stretched everywhere.
Massive skulls. Endless ribs. Wingspans fossilized in stone. Skeletons of every size and shape littered the cavern floor like a forgotten battlefield.
I took out my phone and started snapping pictures.
Picking up a dragon I began inspecting its structure and used my cat tail to take a goofy selfie with it. It's crazy how Fiore this whole thing is just down here and they are just like 'yeah there's a whole ass cave full of dragon bones under our capital city.' and just move past it.
Hm. Maybe I should take some skeleton souvenirs for myself and maybe some for Mori too. I'm starting to realize that I'm going to need a place to store all this stuff, not just in my pocket dimension. Maybe I should start thinking of getting my own place somewhere.
My ears began twitching as I felt a faint presence in the area similar to all the dragonic anomalies and I remembered that Wendy had used a spell to summon one of the dragons who died here, but I don't have something like that in my bag yet. While yes I do technically have soul manipulation with my Take-Over magic and there is Kitsune form.
'Yeah I'm going to have to fix that. Morrigan has some spells focusing on soul stuff. Maybe she can help.'
I was knocked out of my thoughts when my ears began twitching again as I picked up multiple people coming my direction so I transformed into my bull-ant form crawling up a boulder. It was a group of 14 people but eight of them were just some generic looking knights of the capital (damn I feel like a bit of a dick calling them npc's) and the other six are the ones which stood out
The first one I recognized was the green haired princess of Fiore but she looked like 15 years old, wearing white dress and royal robes.
Next to her was a tall man who looked to be in their early thirties, black frizzed hair, thick eyebrows and full armor. All I remember was that he was like a high ranking knight or something and was really bad at planning.
The other group consisted of teens to like younger adults which were wearing a different set of clothes
The guy in the front was a tall guy covered in a dark cloak, a metal mask covering mouth all the way to his nose. He had two scythes on his back.
The other was a cute girl I don't know, like 16/17 in age, curvy, long pink hair, dark eyes, wearing a pink sleeveless floral coat, a mini skirt and pink hat . The most special thing about this was her scent, it was very sweet like nectar, tempting me a little bit, maybe because I'm an ant right now.
Then there was a girl about the same age as the other girl but a bit less curvy and more slender. She had long black hair tied into two distant sections with two thin strands in loops on each , and was wearing a sleeveless black kimono revealing her legs.
Geez she must be a chore to get ready on time with that hair style.
Thirdly was a guy with a very large square head, thick lips, almost bald if it wasn't for the long dark hair at the top, dark eyes, he was wearing an open red shirt with blue waves on it revealing some tattoos on his chest, and blue trousers.
Finally was a fat muscular dude in his thirties with a blonde her in a pompadour spiking up, a triangular nose and looked like he had skipped leg day. He was wearing a sleeveless jacket, a dark red vest, and black pants.
I sort of remember these guys, they were a group of executioners or something but that was a really boring part of the story, and my attention was more of what was happening with the fights happening in grand magic games so I mostly skipped their parts. All I remember is that the pink haired girl uses plant magic and got her ass but by Wendy, the black haired girl uses some paper magic I guess but she really wasn't much as Mirajane barely even tried in their fight, I'm sure Mirajane took some hits just to be nice.
'It's a miracle that the monarchy is still in charge of this country considering how weak and useless it's main military is compared to the guilds around this country, the power imbalance is really unfair sometimes.' I silly thought the guilds planning a revolution and the fairy tail guild raising as the new leaders come to mind, because realistically who's going to talk BS to them especially after that war with Zeref.
'That would be crazy but who would be the new ruler? Maybe Erza? Yeah definitely Erza.'
Shaking out of my little 'What if' when the armored guy seemingly gave the knights some orders and they began scattering around the place except the five, but I couldn't make out what they were saying.
The problem with this form was that I couldn't really hear conventional sound traveling in air so I can't make out what they are saying. Maybe transforming into an ant wasn't the best idea. It's time I really have to start thinking better on which transformations I let in my bag.
I could transform again but those guys might sense me doing it. I have to be really quick about it, I already do it all the time when I'm in a fight.
So I quickly transformed into my black cat form to blend in with the darker environment a bit better for my sneaking around. Though I did notice the axe guy posture shift a little as he looked around a but and sighed to the others.
"Your highness. This is no ground for royalty. I can instruct the knights from here."
"It's alright Sir Arcadios." She answered walking around a bit and stopped in front one of the dragon skulls softly touching it. "These creatures once ruled over Earthland 400 years ago but now here lay one last remaining resting ground caused by one creature."
"The black dragon dragon." Arcadios said grimly. "And to think after centuries, it has resurfaced once more."
"Yes the turmoil it caused to the kingdom just by its brief appearance was catastrophic. I will want to let that happen again" She clenched her fists. "Have all the royal scholars completed their research on the eclipse gate."
"Yes they have concluded that they need a huge irregular amount of magic power to power." He looked up. "Power which the tournament between guild mages will provide."
"No matter how much magic power and how long it takes. We must open it and put an end to everything" She said determinedly.
Oh crap they're taking abort their little plan to open the gate to travel back in time and kill the Zeref from 400 years ago.
But how was that even going to work though?
Were they going to travel back and kill a child or baby Zeref? And even if they somehow managed to complete that goal will they really change anything? I mean they could just make another timeline where Zeref never existed and the current timeline still has a Zeref?
Or worst case scenario they make a huge paradox since if I remembered correctly the eclipse gate was one of Zeref's inventions. But I never really understood the time travel rules of this universe, it got really contradicting when I tried to think about it.
Either way the gate was still a problem since their plan to open it will basically cause an apocalyptic future with a dragon invasion. And with the whole busted up dimensional barriers things might get worse.
'Yeah I might have to take care of that.'
My ears twitched, picking up someone's quiet footsteps and my fur stood up knocking me out of my thoughts as my senses flared and I jumped out of the way of an axe coming at me courtesy of the mask guy breaking the ground. I couldn't put it but there's something of about his axes
"You avoided judgement… Interesting." He commented. "Even bests may resist their sentence, it seems" He twilled his axe.
"Kama-san what's going on!?" The knight yelled as he protectively stood in front of the princess.
"We have an intruder in the cavern Arcadios-sama" The masked man explained.
"What an intuder?" The princess picked looking straight at me. "B-But it just looks like a regular cat?"
"Hisui-sama, please stand back. That thing is not a mere cat." He pointed his axe at me and the others in the group ran behind him ready for action.
Whoop looks like my cover is blown.
The pink haired girl narrowed her eyes and smiled. "Hmm a black Kitty you're really cute but also really creepy. I don't like that. Cuteness and creepiness is not beautiful when mixed together. Can I keep it or break it."
The black haired girl shock her head. "Now Cosmos behave. Kama-san when he said that wasn't normal cat. We just saw it dodge his attack. However… We you make it into a nice cloth after we're done with it~." She manifested a green paper.
"Sounds like a plan Kamika~."
Okay both of these chicks are crazy.
"TAI! You lost little guy? Or are ya fishing for trouble!?" The big headed guy said loudly with a dopey smile on his face.
The big guy cracked his neck.
"Tch. Doesn't matter, it's just a damn cat in the end. Just let me melt it already." He smirked with a purple substance covering his fist. Guess he has some sort of corrosive or acid magic.
"Wow you guys are WAY too excited to kill a small animal. You must be some real psychos." I laid on the ground and the princess was taken back while the Knight and the group remained composed well except the two girls. "What cat got your tounges~?"
"Who or what are you and how did you get into these sacred grounds!" The Arcadios guy pulled out his sword like that was going to do anything.
I decided to have a little fun. "I wouldn't call these grounds 'sacred'. And you can say I'm a wandering spirit. Who finds it amusing when stupid mortals decided to play with forces beyond their control~."
A giant plant came from the ground trying to eat me but it was too slow. Really they call that a sneak attack.
"You're too slow~." I began entering my darkrai form distorting my body but still enough to sink into the shadows.
"Were did it go!"
"Keep calm, Uosuke, use your terrain magic to…"
"Don't think so." I quickly come out of the shadows blasting the scythe guy, the big headed one and the big guy with point blank shadow balls. I didn't know who Uosuke was so I just hit all of them.
Two of them got hit directly, sending them crushing to the cavern wall while the mask guy intercepted with his scythe making it disappear.
Huh so his scythes have anti-magic properties in them. But meh the man was no Asta so I'm not really worried. So I speed blitzed him landing a hard punch to his stomach sending off.
Diving into the shadows again I avoided an attack of papers which had properties of wind magic.
"Tsk." Cosmos hissed. "Hiding in darkness only shows how ugly you are."
I come out of the shadows now in my black cat form easily sneaking up on her.
"Oh and by the way you pinkie you're not exactly cute either and that dress makes you look ridiculous and fat." I dissed her and she froze in outrage.
At that moment I concentrated some ethernano in my paw and smacked her face sending her flying straight into the paper girl.
The whole group got up tense but were ready to continue fighting but…
"Hungry Wolf Knights please stand down." The princess stepped forward and they all immediately listened. She turned to me with a steady voice but there was still fear in her eyes. "Spirit, Why did you call us fools for our plan? "
"What use would it be to warn you? You humans can be given a play by play on the instructions on what not to do to cause but you will ignore." Hey I'm in too deep now might as well enjoy it.
"No, that's not our intention!" She argued back. "We want to use the Eclipse gate to save not only our kingdom but the world itself!"
"I really don't care about what kind of noble reasons you deceived yourself into believing in a little girl. All I know is I'm going to enjoy the show when you crush and burn." I spoke from her shadow causing her body to freeze.
Having had enough fun I shadow travelled out of there and transformed into a hare digging my way back to the surface.
"Well that was really something." I checked the time and it was just 6:23 pm. I should find the two. I'm starting to get hungry so I turned into an Owl and took off.
A few minutes later
Tracking Morrigan's signature I reached a luxurious hotel and I think it was the most fancy looking in the whole city. Flying towards one of the rooms, I landed on the window peeking inside.
The suit had tall larima lit chandeliers, velvet furniture, marble tables, a fireplace, and indoor bar stacked with wine and boos.
Wonder if it costs some as those luxury places in Perganda Morrigan drains most of the cash staying at.
Speaking of Morrigan she was lazily laying on the couch with a whine glass and had one one leg over the armrest, while Aurelia was next to her inspecting all the pictures and diagrams scattered on the table.
Probably stuff on the temple.
I turned into an ant crawling through the window making my way inside and shifted back to my human(ish) form.
Aurelia looked up from the sofa, utterly unimpressed. "You know there is a front entrance to this establishment. Most guests make use of it."
I shrugged. "Meh the room is on the top floor and I wasn't climbing all those stairs."
She just stared at me and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Its only three stories plus lifts exist, child."
Morrigan looked over to me. "Did ye bring me anything?"
I blinked. "That's seriously your first question?"
She raised her eyebrow. "What should it have been?"
"Oh I don't know man. What about 'Welcome back Junior. How was your little outing Junior? Did you have fun Junior" I dramatically copied her accent.
Morrigan smiled and waved the glass. "So you did bring me something."
"Yes…" I sighed and took out the dragon skull from my requip space holding it with my left hand. "I brought you back a dragon's skull."
Both women just stared at it.
Aurelia was instantly on her feet. "… Good heavens."
All the stuff on the table immediately disappeared and gestured for me to set it there, which I did. She took out a monocle which had a steam punk autistic to it, and magical symbols began coming out of it.
Must be a brand similar to gale reading glasses.
"This is authentic…" She murmured. "Not carved. Not replicated. Not ceremonial. An actual dragon skull. And from the looks of it, this one was just a mere hatchling when it passed."
Morrigan whistled low. "Well now junior. That's more considerably better than flowers."
Aurelia turned sharply towards me. "Where did you acquire this?"
"Trade serect~." I cheekily whistled.
Her eye twitched a little bit. "Boy."
Morrigan placed a hand on her shoulders. "Trust me darling, he's not going to budge, he's just a weird one. Till this day there are things even he hasn't told me about, let alone the shenanigans he gets into when his alone. Just let it go."
She put the skull in her requip space.
Aurelia sighed and relaxed. "Fine but this would have been a magnificent chance to add additions to the dragon exhibit."
My ears raised a bit."Wait, you own a museum or something."
"Why of course." she said and placed her on her chest. "History is too often buried, stolen, or forgotten. If I uncover something extraordinary, I refuse to let it rot in darkness or gather dust in some lord's bloody private hall. My museum ensures the world remembers."
"And what's the name of your company again."
"Here…" Morrigan took out a magazine for her requip space, tossing it at me. "Just read that."
Catching the magazine I saw Aurelia on the cover dressed in some sexy business woman clothes sitting on a fancy throne. It was a cover of Sorcerer Weekly or in other words one of Earthland's versions of those playboy magazines some older kids used to sneak in school back when I was in primary. Wonder if it's still around though, with the internet and all.
As I was reading some info on her company and museum some room service came in with the food ranging form lobsters, fresh bread, soup, roasted meat, and fruit tarts, making me sigh in bliss.
"Why did a wolf's tail come out of you?" questioned Aurelia.
"He does/I do that sometimes." Morrigan and I answered walking to the table to dig in.
I grabbed a plate of meat. "Oh and I forget. We really need to talk about that temple."
"Well then let's hear it and don't spare important details." Aurelia continued to elegantly eat her bowl of soup but was still very much attentive.
--xx--
Author note
Wlell that took longer than expected. Sorry it took a week to get this chapter out instead of a few days like promised, but stay in tune for the next chapter were the three will meet the Sabertooth team and the mage from Mermaid heel.
Like always don't be afraid to leave a chapter comment or a review.