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*Forest path to Magnolia - Minutes after the confrontation*
Damian kept a careful pace as they walked through the forest, his eyes constantly scanning for any remaining threats while stealing glances at Levy. She'd insisted she was fine, but he could see the subtle signs of someone pushing beyond their limits—the slight tremor in her hands, the way she occasionally stumbled over roots that should have been easy to avoid, the pale cast to her skin that had nothing to do with the forest's filtered sunlight.
"The guild hall isn't much further," Levy said, though her voice sounded strained. "Maybe another ten minutes through these trees."
"We can rest if you need to," Damian offered, noting how she'd begun leaning more heavily on his arm.
"I'm fine," Levy insisted, then immediately proved herself wrong by swaying dangerously to one side.
Damian caught her before she could fall, his heart lurching as he felt how unsteady she'd become. "Levy, you're not fine. How long were you running from Phantom Lord before Gajeel cornered you?"
"Just... just an hour or so," she said, though her words were starting to slur slightly. "Had to use a lot of magic to stay ahead of their tracking spells. Created decoy script words, false trails, barriers to slow them down..."
Damian's eyes widened with understanding. Extended magical use while under extreme stress, followed by the terror and adrenaline of facing Gajeel—her body was finally catching up with what she'd put it through.
"Levy," he said urgently, "look at me."
She tried to focus on his face, but her brown eyes were having trouble tracking properly. "Damian, I feel strange. Everything's getting fuzzy..."
"It's magical exhaustion," he said, scooping her up in his arms as her legs finally gave out completely. "You've pushed yourself too far. I need to get you medical attention immediately."
"No, I just need to rest for a minute," Levy mumbled against his chest, her consciousness already starting to fade. "Can't let the guild see me like this... they'll worry..."
"Levy? Levy, stay with me," Damian said, but her eyes had already closed and her breathing had shifted into the deep pattern of someone who'd lost consciousness entirely.
Without hesitation, Damian raised his free hand and tore open another Space World. The forest disappeared around them, replaced by the familiar corridors of the Magic Knights headquarters. He ran through the halls with Levy in his arms, shouting for the medical staff.
"Emergency!" he called as he burst into the hospital wing. "Magical exhaustion, possible mana depletion syndrome!"
The medical wing erupted into controlled chaos as healers rushed to prepare a bed. Damian gently placed Levy on the crisp white sheets, his hands shaking slightly as he stepped back to let the professionals work.
"Your Highness," said Dr. Meredith, the head of their medical staff, "what happened?"
"Extended magical combat while under extreme stress," Damian explained tersely. "She was being hunted by hostile mages for over an hour, had to maintain constant magical output just to survive. Then she faced a Dragon Slayer in direct combat."
The healer's hands glowed with diagnostic magic as she examined Levy's still form. "Pulse is weak but steady, magical pathways are severely strained but not damaged. This is serious exhaustion, not life-threatening depletion."
"She'll be alright?" Damian asked, the tension in his voice betraying his emotional state.
"She'll be fine," Dr. Meredith assured him. "But she needs complete bed rest for at least three days, possibly longer. No magical use whatsoever, minimal physical activity, and constant monitoring to ensure her magical pathways heal properly."
Damian slumped into a chair beside Levy's bed, relief flooding through him. "Thank you, Doctor. Please, spare no expense in her care."
"Of course, Your Highness. Though I have to ask—who is she? She's not one of our knights."
"She's..." Damian paused, suddenly aware that he couldn't easily explain Levy's importance to him without revealing more than either of them was ready for. "She's a civilian who was caught up in guild conflict. I happened to be in the area when she was attacked."
Dr. Meredith nodded professionally, though her expression suggested she wasn't entirely convinced by the explanation.
After ensuring that Levy was stable and comfortable, Damian made his way to his office where he found Tycun waiting with a concerned expression.
"Your Highness," Tycun said immediately, "the dimensional disturbance from your emergency teleportation was felt throughout the castle. What happened?"
"Guild conflict," Damian replied tersely. "A Fairy Tail mage was attacked by Phantom Lord. I intervened."
"The woman in the medical wing?"
"Miss McGarden, yes." Damian moved to his desk and began gathering papers, his movements sharp with barely controlled emotion. "I need you to handle headquarters operations for the next few hours. There's something I need to take care of."
"Sir, if there's open conflict between major guilds, shouldn't we coordinate with—"
"This isn't official Magic Knights business," Damian interrupted. "This is personal."
Tycun was quiet for a moment, studying his prince's face. "How personal?"
"Personal enough that I'm going to Fairy Tail to speak with their master directly," Damian said, his tone indicating the conversation was over. "Keep the medical wing under strict security. No one except essential staff gets near Miss McGarden."
"Understood, Your Highness."
*Fairy Tail Guild Hall - One hour later*
The famous guild hall was in a state of controlled chaos when Damian arrived. Mages moved in and out of the building with obvious urgency, and he could see signs of hasty fortification around the structure's perimeter. News of the conflict with Phantom Lord had clearly reached them.
Damian approached the main entrance in simple traveling clothes, his royal bearing somewhat concealed but still noticeable to anyone who looked closely. The guild members inside were too focused on their preparations to pay much attention to a well-dressed stranger, though a few cast curious glances in his direction.
"Excuse me," he said to a pink-haired mage who was arguing loudly with a blonde girl about proper combat formations, "I need to speak with Master Makarov. It's urgent."
"Old man's in his office," the pink-haired mage—Natsu, Damian realized—said dismissively. "But he's busy planning our response to Phantom Lord, so unless you're here to help fight—"
"Natsu," came a sharp voice from across the hall. Mirajane Strauss approached with her usual pleasant smile, though her eyes held the keen intelligence of someone who recognized authority when she saw it. "I think our visitor might be more important than you realize."
She gestured for Damian to follow her, leading him through the bustling guild hall to a staircase that led to the upper levels.
"Master Makarov," she called through the office door, "you have a visitor. A very important one."
"Enter," came the gruff reply.
Damian stepped into the small office to find the diminutive guild master sitting behind a desk covered with maps and strategic plans. Makarov looked up, and his eyes immediately widened with recognition.
"Your Highness," Makarov said, quickly standing and offering a respectful bow. "This is... unexpected. To what do I owe the honor?"
"I need to inform you about one of your members," Damian said without preamble. "Levy McGarden was attacked by Gajeel Redfox in the eastern forest approximately two hours ago."
Makarov's face went pale. "Is she—"
"Alive, but seriously injured," Damian said quickly. "Magical exhaustion from extended combat. She's receiving medical care and will make a full recovery, but she'll need several days of complete rest."
"Where is she?" Makarov demanded. "I need to see her, make sure she's safe—"
"She's somewhere secure," Damian replied diplomatically. "I give you my word as crown prince that she's receiving the best possible care."
Makarov studied him carefully, clearly reading between the lines. "You were the one who saved her."
"I happened to be in the area when the attack occurred," Damian said neutrally.
"I see." Makarov's expression showed he understood far more than Damian was saying. "And you came here personally to inform me because...?"
"Because I believe the conflict with Phantom Lord is about to escalate significantly," Damian said, his tone becoming more serious. "Master Makarov, I cannot officially intervene in guild disputes, but I can offer some unofficial advice."
"I'm listening."
"Focus on protecting your people rather than seeking revenge," Damian said firmly. "Phantom Lord clearly isn't concerned about civilian casualties or the rules of engagement. Your members' safety should be your absolute priority."
"And you're telling me this because you care about Fairy Tail's welfare?" Makarov asked perceptively.
Damian met the old master's knowing gaze. "I'm telling you this because some people are more precious than others realize, and losing them would be... unacceptable."
Understanding passed between the two men—an acknowledgment of things that couldn't be said openly.
"I appreciate your concern, Your Highness," Makarov said formally. "And your... unofficial advice will be given serious consideration."
"There's one more thing," Damian said as he prepared to leave. "Miss McGarden's current situation should remain confidential. For her own protection."
"Of course," Makarov agreed. "Though I'll need to tell her team something. Jet and Droy have been frantic since they lost contact with her."
"Tell them she's safe and recovering, but don't specify where or how you know," Damian suggested. "The fewer people who know the details, the better."
After leaving the guild hall, Damian made his way back to headquarters through darkened streets, his mind racing with worry and frustration. The conflict between Phantom Lord and Fairy Tail was escalating exactly as he'd feared, and Levy was caught in the middle of it.
But more than that, he was beginning to realize that his feelings for her had moved far beyond simple caring. The terror he'd felt when her necklace activated, the fury that had consumed him when he saw Gajeel threatening her, the way his heart had stopped when she'd collapsed in his arms—these weren't the emotions of a friend or even a close ally.
He was in love with Levy McGarden, completely and irrevocably. And that realization was both exhilarating and terrifying, because it meant that her safety had become more important to him than his own life.
As he returned to the medical wing to check on her one more time before trying to sleep, Prince Damian E. Fiore began to understand that some battles couldn't be won with magic or strategy or royal authority.
Some battles could only be won by having the courage to speak the truth of one's heart.
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*To be continued...*