Second chances.
A concept of redemption that seemed so far away, so foreign to her…
All the sins she carried due to her obsession for the so-called Grand Magic World, ones that she couldn't reverse no matter how much she wanted.
It was ironic really, as a wizard who wields the Arc of Time, fixing the past was no longer an option.
If her victims were alive to see her now, they would simply sneer at her, wondering where she got the audacity to even hope for such a thing.
Hades took advantage of her desperation, and recruited her into Grimoire Heart, a dark guild that sought to revive Zeref for that complete world that held the happiness she expected.
Oh, how foolish she was, clinging to delusions that were nonsensical.
Delusions that were shattered so easily by a miracle born out of a mother's pure love for her daughter.
What else would she call it? Memories suddenly entering her mind that displayed her mother's raw, heart wrenching despair at her supposed death that was fabricated by her captors.
It was as if the world heard her twisted hatred of being replaced and abandoned, a misconception that was etched deeply down towards her very soul.
Yet that misconception vanished like a spring breeze, giving her a sense of clarity in return.
Thanks to familial love that transcended time itself.
This is who she really is, Ultear Milkovich, a human that was shaped out of a small misunderstanding that could have been fixed if she didn't run away.
No amount of atonement could overwrite the countless atrocities she did, even if it spanned her entire lifetime.
Right now, Meredy was the only anchor in this undeserving new lease of life of hers, one that felt like a punishment for the most part. Death was the easy way out, and Ultear understood that it is simply an attempt to escape from the sins that haunted her every night.
She wouldn't dare to entertain such a thought, considering that Meredy is her reason for this feeble willingness to live. Ultear accepted her fate with dignity, determined to carry these sins until the very end.
Ultear, who was accompanied by her foster daughter, traveled aimlessly during these last two months. It was also when she decided to assist in exterminating dark guilds from the shadows, whether they worship Zeref or not.
Obviously, it wouldn't raise her chances for true redemption by doing this, but she saw it as a solemn duty to see through no matter the cost. Meredy had no complaints and was simply content to be beside her always.
A small sum of happiness that she wasn't sure she deserved… Although maybe this mindset of hers will change as time goes on.
…
Restricted Area, Devala Headquarters.
"Blue Pegasus? Are they also here to investigate?" Meredy whispered as she observed the purple humanoid giving orders to his subordinates.
Ultear shook out of her stupor again, humming in response. "It will be advantageous for us if that were the case. I just didn't expect for Raven Tail's operations to be so meticulous."
Meredy narrowed her eyes at the scene. "We've been following their traces for a whole week now… It is good that two of their elites appear to be stationed on this island."
A while ago, after what appeared to be a detailed report of some kind, the short, purple humanoid exited the restaurant to make his way towards Devala Headquarters himself.
Both of them trailed the dark wizard without being discovered, easily bypassing even the disguised locals' eyes and ears within the central district. Their training and experience while they were in Grimoire Heart helped them develop simple and useful skills.
If they wanted to conceal their magical power, nobody will be able to detect them for a period of time. Unless one was a wizard with truly sharp instincts, it was impossible to sense their presence without sufficient strength.
They managed to reach all the way into the restricted area of the headquarters, where they're currently eavesdropping on the conversation between the Raven Tail Elite and his subordinates.
Hiding behind a bunch of stacked crates, they intently processed the information that was given.
"Should we lend support?" Meredy asked.
Ultear crossed her arms as she contemplated. "We'll let the situation unfold for now, then once everything is clear to us, that will be our cue to help openly."
They still need to gather more evidence regarding the situation, revealing themselves this early would eliminate their element of surprise.
Before they arrived at the island, the duo was already searching and chasing for leads regarding Raven Tail's large network.
Ultear in particular, was surprised with their current status. As the former leader for the Seven Kins of Purgatory, she was the priviest to countless details regarding the inner workings of the Baram Alliance.
She knew of Raven Tail's disinterest to be included within their ranks, although it was considered as a minor inconvenience for the most part.
Ultear during that time had more pressing matters to do for Grimoire Heart, and really didn't pay close attention to some other guild's activities.
But she understood that creating and establishing one's own faction as a neutral party is no small feat, especially when you have to navigate within the chaotic environment of the underworld that was swarmed with unhinged personalities.
So the moment both her and Meredy accidentally discovered how influential this guild became after exterminating a huge syndicate related to them, they immediately locked in their sights towards Raven Tail.
It was definitely a lucky coincidence that they chose this particular lead that was connected to Paramount Tide, which overlapped with another group who wished to expose the concealed truth that was lurking behind a veil.
Once the purple humanoid signaled his subordinates to do their tasks, he instinctively scanned the area.
"This fellow is quite sharp." Ultear softly remarked in surprise.
"Nullpudding, number two in our priority list of targets. I suggest that we subdue and interrogate him immediately." Meredy was already preparing to dash out of their spot.
The older woman sighed and gently pinched her cheek. "Fighting will be our last resort. Do you not remember our goal when we entered the island?"
Meredy grumbled. "Gathering substantial evidence to expose Paramount Tide while progressing with Raven Tail's case at the same time."
Ultear nodded in satisfaction. "Out of all the connections that Raven Tail has, they've considered this island as a major asset for their operations, important enough to send at least two of their core members." Her gaze never left Nullpudding, who finally stopped the sudden probe of his surroundings.
He then turned and walked towards a specific direction, which prompted the duo to quietly follow in response.
"I understand, Ultear… It's just that we've been receiving vague results up until this point. I am sure that Raven Tail is aware of our existence after we uprooted some of their closest allies." Meredy stated as they leisurely trailed their target by maneuvering through batches of crates.
"That's a valid concern, and I can't blame you for it." Ultear chuckled quietly. "But with Paramount Tide in the picture, the situation will become too unpredictable once we join the conflict hastily."
The number of crates dwindled as they traveled deeper and deeper into the restricted area, making them use the buildings' rooftops to maintain their secrecy.
"What if we do engage in exchange for attracting Paramount Tide's attention?" Ultear continued lecturing Meredy while monitoring the scene down below.
"We still don't have an accurate grasp on Paramount Tide's notable wizards, so a misjudgment on our side will… turn it into… a… profound complication." The impulsive young woman's change of tune was glaring, and realized the possible results of her actions.
Meredy coughed to cover her embarrassment. "You're right, Ultear. I was indeed a bit careless in expressing my thoughts."
Ultear simply smiled in amusement, patting her head as a response. "You're so cute when you're flustered, Meredy."
"Don't tease me." Meredy pouted in resignation, acting her age for a brief moment.
The duo's banter resounded peacefully throughout their nightly chase, only ending it when they noticed Nullpudding standing in front of a concealed entrance.
He placed his left hand on the handle, smoothly opening it in the process. Once he stepped inside, the vicinity returned to its usual tranquility, alongside the remaining two who were currently planning their next approach.
"How strange… is there really no one left to watch over this section of the headquarters?" Meredy frowned as she analyzed their surroundings that was devoid of any type of personnel.
"We'll just have to do a thorough sweep." Ultear agreed with her foster daughter's sentiments, gracefully leaping down from the top of a building to land on the ground.
This part of the Restricted Area consisted of mostly high-quality weapons, whether it would be forged from the standard iron to magical weapons that radiated decent amounts of Ethernano.
It was a bit unexpected for such a place that was rich in resources to not have it guarded with countless protective measures.
Both of them were meticulous in their sweep, making sure to include every nook and cranny possible, from darkest of corners to the brightest of turns.
"There's truly nobody at all." Meredy returned to the weapon caches, her expression displaying confusion.
"I'd guess it thanks to the current situation they're facing, although it's unexpected for almost everyone to be called." Ultear's arrival followed afterwards.
"If you state it like that, they're either being extremely cautious, or there is the likelihood of Blue Pegasus having more allies." Meredy pondered in thought.
"It's definitely the latter." Ultear said. "Looks like we need to double our efforts to repay the unintentional help they've been giving."
She scanned the scene in front of her. "These weapons are all in good condition for the most part." Then her eyes spotted a bundle of documents coupled with what seems to be receipts of clients, picking them up as she read their contents.
Ultear scoffed after a few moments, making Meredy curiously look over.
The young woman also had the same reaction. "Judging from the quantity alone, anyone would assume that this was prepared for various groups of customers."
Although there were confirmed deliveries, they only saw a singular name that filled each document. He was someone who they considered as the culprit that inadvertently caused this mess within the island, alongside previous cases they solved by exposing or exterminating factions related to him.
Founder of Raven Tail, and Son of the Eighth Wizard Saint…
Ivan Dreyar.
"This is basically enough to arm a small private army at the minimum." Ultear intently gazed at the even the tiniest of details that could help progress their pursuit of Ivan.
There were no concrete addresses within each order, which is what she expected. Fortunately, its meeting checkpoints were still recorded, and it was simply a rotation between specific places, narrowing down the scope of their search into something more focused.
"A breakthrough at last." Ultear remarked. "But production abruptly paused after a certain point." She glanced at the stamped date for the last order.
"It ended two months ago?" Meredy blurted out incredulously, reading alongside her foster mother. "So those talks and information we've gathered previously regarding that man's primary goal held some substance?"
Ultear hummed in response. "Well, you could also call it a coincidence." Saving what they found as images for Paramount Tide's activities for evidence, and reference for Raven Tail's traces within her orb.
She sighed softly. "He built an underground network to accumulate wealth from scratch, using it to organize and prepare for waging war against Fairy Tail…" Gleaming all of the important things to note during their one-week pursuit of this elusive guild, and formed the expected hypothesis.
"... Then Tenrou Island's destruction occurred." Meredy muttered guiltily.
The duo went silent for a few moments, recalling the sight of that despair-inducing presence of the massive black dragon wreaked havoc upon the island.
Ultear gently rubbed Meredy's pink hair, her eyes darting at the entrance Nullpudding went through. "Like you told me before, we have each other."
"I'll be right beside you if the mental burden is too much to bear." The older woman pinched Meredy's cheeks again.
Meredy simply smiled. "The same goes for me, Ultear."
Ultear chuckled, gently stopping her pats as she started to walk towards the door, ready to infiltrate the headquarters with silent elegance.
"Are you ready to expose another dark guild, my cute Meredy?"
Meredy's expression lightened up. "Yes!"
…
Western Side, Welbor Island.
Lyon and Sherry traveled in a quick pace while also being discreet, going through the uneven terrains without much problem. Their gazes were vigilant, as if they wanted to avoid being discovered
Unfortunately, this was because the enemy was smarter than anticipated and managed to stay one step ahead of them.
When they successfully took the path described by Waynir, there were no hiccups for the first few minutes.
That was until they saw groups of patrols roaming around various areas, making them feel the weight of dozens of magical signatures that screamed their eagerness to burst out from even the slightest hint of suspicious movement.
"Paranoia can be also a form of love!" Sherry whispered in complaint while taking cover behind some rock protrusions.
Lyon was just a few feet away from her as he hid behind a tree. "Well… It was kind of expected since Ichiya's group escaped into the forest." He sweat dropped at her comical annoyance.
"I know, I know!" Sherry sighed quietly, slowly looking over to see if the patrol went for another direction.
The Ice Make Wizard also did the same, observing the patrol's current location.
"Let's go!" He signaled Sherry softly, timing it the moment the dark wizards lost their interest to continue searching in this particular section.
The two of them immediately bolted, albeit in a very careful manner. They also had to be on guard against numerous spell traps, whether it would be sigils, stigmas, or even solid script seals.
Obviously, they could have opted for a more direct confrontation, but considering the unknown risks due to being outnumbered, getting drained of their stamina and magic power was the last thing they wanted.
Lyon was in front as he swiftly decided the routes to weave across the terrain unhindered. Sherry followed along smoothly, displaying their improved teamwork during these recent months.
After avoiding a few more obstacles, they discovered an upward path that may get them out of this encirclement.
They looked at each other and nodded, unhesitatingly stepping on it.
Whoosh!
However, a sudden breeze caught them by surprise.
Anyone could have mistaken it as a natural phenomenon, since this was in the forest and all.
"Ice Make: Wall!"
Lyon instinctively conjured a barricade of ice to protect him and Sherry, sensing a blast of magical energy coming their way with roaring pressure.
WHOOSH!
This time, it was wind that seemed to obliterate all that dared to block it, slicing trees in half, and producing gashes on the ground.
CRASH!
CRRK! CRRK!
Lyon and Sherry retreated just in time, seeing the countless shards of ice that appeared in their view as the wall crumbed under the wind's might.
They solemnly gazed at the new arrival who manifested more wind after the sudden ambush.
It was a man with medium-length, dark green hair that was tied into a ponytail. He simply showed a serene smile that felt poisonous as his pristine-shaped, arm tattoos illuminated with raw magic power.
"Master Vandis' analysis was spot on…" The man chuckled. "Try not to give up so easily against my wind, light wizards."
"Your arrogance is not a form of love!" Sherry harrumphed as she prepared herself for battle.
Lyon already stripped all of his top clothing unconsciously, the temperature around him decreasing.
"Nice joke there, buddy."
No more words were needed as the fight between them had already begun.