The evening breeze swept through Shirotsume Town, carrying with it the faint smell of polished stone and trimmed hedges. The lights of Duke Everlue's sprawling mansion flickered on in the distance, bright against the deepening twilight.
Lucy walked in silence, still bristling from the humiliation earlier that day. She had marched up to Everlue's mansion, disguised in a maid's uniform, only to be tossed aside before she even set foot inside. His sneering insult—ugly—still rang in her ears like a cruel echo.
She had tried to laugh it off, tried to brush past the sting, but her clenched fists betrayed her anger.
Natsu stomped alongside her, glaring at the ground as if it personally offended him. "Next time, I'll torch that pig's house," he muttered, small flames licking at his knuckles.
Happy flapped his wings nervously above. "Lucy, don't listen to him! You're not ugly, aye!"
Lucy softened at the Happy's earnest voice. "Thanks, Happy."
Kael walked a pace behind the group, mismatched eyes glinting in the dim light. Unlike Natsu, he didn't fume, and unlike Happy, he didn't blurt reassurance. He simply observed.
When Lucy's eyes flicked toward him, expecting some sly remark, he only gave her a faint smirk. "Don't waste energy on worms like him. He doesn't see clearly enough to judge you, Lucy."
The simple, matter-of-fact tone caught her off guard. there was no teasing in his voice, just quiet assurance. She quickly looked away, cheeks warm.
"Let's just get this over with," she muttered, hugging her keys tightly.
The Mansion at Night
The mansion loomed before them like a fortress. Its white stone walls gleamed in the moonlight, and guards with torches patrolled the perimeter with stiff discipline.
Lucy crouched behind a hedge, heart pounding as she traced the guards' movements. "This is insane. If we get caught, we're finished."
Natsu grinned, crouching beside her. "That's why we don't get caught."
"That's not reassuring!" she hissed.
Happy perched on her shoulder, whispering, "We'll sneak in super quiet, Lucy. Natsu can be sneaky too! …Sometimes."
Kael leaned casually against the hedge, arms folded. "This isn't complicated. We climb, slip through a weak spot, and head straight for the library. Just don't trip on the carpets."
Lucy scowled. "Easy for you to say. If this goes wrong, we're in jail."
"Then don't let it go wrong," Kael replied smoothly.
Her glare only made his smirk widen.
The group moved quickly when the guards circled to the far side. Natsu grabbed hold of the stone wall and vaulted over with reckless energy. Happy zipped above, wings a blur. Lucy scrambled up less gracefully, her foot slipping on a loose brick until Kael's hand pressed firmly against her back, steadying her climb.
She glanced at him, startled. "I had it—"
"Sure you did," he murmured, boosting her the rest of the way before vaulting up himself.
They landed silently on the manicured lawn inside. Tall hedges and marble statues cast long shadows across the gardens. Lucy clutched her keys tighter, every sense on edge.
"This way," she whispered, pointing toward a side window partially ajar.
Kael tilted his head, scanning the shadows. "Not bad. Let's move."
They dashed across the lawn, ducking behind stone fountains and creeping along the hedges until they reached the window. Natsu pried it open with a triumphant grin and slipped inside first.
Lucy exhaled. We're really doing this.
Inside the Mansion
The air inside was thick with the scent of polished wood and old velvet. Dim lanterns lined the hallways, their light barely chasing away the shadows. The rugs muffled their footsteps, but Lucy's nerves made every creak of the floorboards sound like a scream.
"I think the library should be down this corridor," she whispered, leading them with careful steps.
Natsu sniffed the air like a hound. "Smells like dust and rotten perfume."
Happy wrinkled his nose. "Aye, it's stinky."
Kael stayed a pace behind Lucy, mismatched eyes scanning the corners. His stride was unhurried, almost lazy, but his attention never wavered. Every guard's shadow, every shift of light on the walls, he noted silently.
Lucy glanced back at him once, her heart fluttering nervously. He looked as calm as if they were taking a stroll through Magnolia. Somehow, that steadiness helped settle her own nerves.
The quiet shattered as two guards rounded the corner up ahead, torches held high.
Lucy froze. The torchlight spilled over her face, and one of the guards' eyes widened. "Intruders!"
Panic surged. Lucy stumbled back, fumbling for her keys. Her hand shook as she reached for her belt—
The nearest guard lunged, blade flashing down toward her.
Her breath caught—
And Kael was suddenly there.
He stepped between her and the sword in a fluid motion, hand snapping up to catch the guard's wrist mid-swing. With a sharp twist, he disarmed him, the blade clattering uselessly to the floor. Kael shoved the man backward into his partner, both tumbling into a heap.
"Watch where you're swinging that," Kael said coolly, mismatched eyes glinting in the torchlight.
Lucy's chest heaved as she stared up at him, her keys trembling in her grip. "I—I had it under control."
"Of course you did," Kael replied smoothly, though his smirk softened into something almost gentle.
Natsu barreled in with a roar, fists blazing. "Less talking, more smashing!" He knocked both guards out with two quick blows.
Happy sighed. "So much for sneaky."
Lucy groaned. "We're supposed to avoid attention!"
Kael shrugged. "Then maybe we shouldn't bring Natsu."
"HEY!" Natsu barked.
A slow clap echoed down the corridor.
"Well, well. What do we have here?" a mocking voice drawled.
The group turned sharply. Two men stepped out from the shadows ahead, dressed in dark suits that contrasted with the gaudy interior of the mansion. Their steps were measured, confident.
Lucy's eyes widened. "The Vanish Brothers…"
She had heard of them—mercenaries infamous for their speed and coordination. The fact they were here meant Everlue was taking this job far more seriously than expected.
The taller of the two cracked his knuckles. "We were hired to keep pests out. Guess you kids don't know how to knock."
Natsu's grin spread wide, fire sparking across his fists. "Perfect. Just the warm-up I needed."
The brothers didn't give him a chance to finish. One blurred forward, vanishing from sight before reappearing behind Natsu with a dagger aimed at his back.
But Natsu twisted at the last second, flames bursting to life as he smashed his fist into the man's ribs. The mercenary flew into the wall with a grunt.
"Too slow," Natsu taunted.
The second brother was already on him, blades flashing in quick succession. Natsu blocked one strike with his arm, ducked the next, and countered with a fiery uppercut that sent sparks across the corridor.
Lucy gasped, clutching her keys. "They're so fast!"
Kael calmly put a hand on her shoulder, keeping her back. "Natsu's faster."
The first brother staggered up again, fury twisting his face. "You little brat…"
The two regrouped, circling Natsu in perfect sync. Their movements were sharp, coordinated, practiced from years of fighting together.
Natsu only grinned wider, licking the corner of his lips like a dragon ready to feast. "Come at me!"
They lunged. Both attacked from opposite angles, blades gleaming in the torchlight. Natsu crouched low, inhaling sharply—
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
The corridor exploded in a blast of flame. The wave engulfed both mercenaries, their screams echoing as the fire hurled them into the far wall. Smoke and ash rained down as their bodies slumped into an unconscious heap.
Lucy shielded her face, coughing. "Natsu! You'll set the whole mansion on fire!"
Happy peeked from behind her hair. "That's Natsu for you, aye…"
Kael lowered his arm, brushing soot off his coat. His mismatched eyes flicked from the charred walls to the unconscious mercenaries. "Messy," he remarked, voice calm. "But effective."
Natsu flashed him a feral grin. "That's how I do things."
Lucy groaned, burying her face in her hands. "We're doomed…"
But despite her complaints, the group pressed on, deeper into the mansion—toward Everlue's library, and the cursed book that awaited them.