Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Tatsumi Port Island.
June 18, x788.
After Alfonzo handed the [Soul Armament Embryo] to Alzack and left his room, Alzack placed it on the coffin Bisca turned into. Then, there was nothing to do but wait. However, with his [magic Power Detection] active, Alzack noticed that inside the coffin, Bisca's magic power began circulating on its own. And as luck would have it, it also circulated through the [Soul Armament Embryo].
Unfortunately, Alzack was aware that there was no possibility for the [Soul Armament Embryo] to go through its first shift in a short time. IN Alzack's experience, he knew it would take at least three months. And that was only if Bisca was exceptionally talented.
Alfonzo and Elicia also knew this. However, they were not betting on Bisca causing the first shift so quickly. Instead, they were hoping it would awaken her potential. The potential to wield a Persona, that is. Even if they had no intention of diving into this field of magic.
Just having the potential would be enough to let Bisca break out of her transmogrified state and act during the Dark Hour. And that would be enough for them.
"Come on, Bisca." Alzack muttered as he sat on the edge of the bed and watched over the coffin where his wife slept. "I miss you already."
Like that, twenty minutes passed. As time went by, the speed at which Bisca's magic power flowed increased. And finally, the red aura emitted from the coffin began to expand, covering the entire bed.
Seeing this, Alzack did not know what was going on. So, he stood up from the bed and watched carefully. The thought of going to get Alfonzo and Elicia had run through his mind, though. But after remembering what Alfonzo said, he held down that impulse.
After another five minutes, during which, the glow of the red aura intensified, the red light finally exploded outwards. A moment later, it all collapsed in on itself. And when it finally died out, Bisca, still in the position she was in when the Dark Hour began, reappeared on the bed.
"Ahh! Harder! Alzack fu--- Huh?" Bisca, still gripped in the throes of passion, screamed until she realized she was feeling much more… empty than she thought she should. "Alzack, what hap---"
"Bisca!" Alzack cried as he threw himself towards his wife. "I'm glad you're okay!"
Being wrapped in a hug was not unexpected, considering what she was doing with Alzack only a moment before… to her at least. However, the fact that Alzack was fully clothed with tears forming in his eyes, completely confused Bisca. She was so confused, in fact, that she still had yet to notice the change in atmosphere in the room.
"Alzack, what's going on?" Bisca asked, completely confused by the turn of events.
Not wasting any time, Alzack explained everything that he knew. Then, he held Bisca by the hand and looked deeply into Bisca's eyes.
"Let's go tell Alfonzo and Lici that everything is fine." Alzack said in a tone that suggested that a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
In response, Bisca looked down at the bullet-shaped pendant hanging around her neck. Then, she smiled brightly at finally having her own [Soul Armament]. However, she did not move to get out of bed. Instead, she gripped Alzack's hand tightly. Then, she pulled him on top of herself and kissed him passionately.
At first, Alzack was surprised. A moment later, however, he was sucked into Bisca's pace. Then, after a few more moments, he regained his senses and pulled away from her.
"Bisca, we really should let them know." Alzack said, completely understanding Bisca's excitement.
At least, Alzack thought he understood his wife's excitement. And he was partially correct. Bisca was truly excited about receiving a [Soul Armament]. However, she was even more excited to take advantage of the extra hour provided by the Dark Hour. And she wanted to put it to use before it was too late.
"Don't worry, we'll naturally tell them soon." Bisca said, putting on a seductive smile as she did so. "But first, I think we should celebrate. Celebrate the fact that I got a [Soul Armament] and was freed from that coffin."
Then, without waiting for a reply, Bisca pulled Alzack down again while simultaneously removing all his clothing.
As it turns out, like Mirajane, Bisca was also looking forward to having a child. And the extra hour they would get while on Tatsumi Port Island would help her in her endeavors.
Meanwhile, Alfonzo and Elicia, who had spread out their [Magic Power Detection] to its limits to monitor the situation on the island, immediately noticed when Bisca returned to normal. However, just as they were about to get up and check on her, they noticed that she and Alzack were sticking extremely close to one another.
"Well, I guess we know what they're doing." Alfonzo said while smiling wryly.
"If they can do that right away, then it probably means that everything is fine." Elicia replied. Then, she turned towards Alfonzo with a seductive smile of her own on her face. "So, why don't we try for another one? I'm sure Mar'e would like having more siblings, right?"
Then, like Bisca had done, Elicia initiated a passionate round of love making.
Needless to say, the Dark Hour had long been over by the time the two couples finished their baby making activities.
The next morning, the four Fairy Tail wizards woke up later than usual. As it turns out, operating during the Dark Hour puts a much greater strain on a person's stamina than any other type of all-nighter. So, when they all eventually gathered in the hotel's dining room, they all looked a little more sluggish than usual.
"So, Bisca, how are you feeling after last night?" Elicia asked shortly after the waiter served everyone breakfast. "There are no lingering effects from turning into a coffin, are there?"
When Elicia asked her first question, both Alzack and Bisca's faces were tinted red, thinking she knew that they had immediately started having sex instead of reporting that Bisca was fine. However, when she continued, they realized that she was just concerned with Bisca's well-being. Still, it confirmed that she knew that Bisca had returned to normal before the end of the Dark Hour.
"Uh… Oh… Um… Yeah… I'm fine." Bisca stuttered out. "There are no problems. But I'm more tired than usual."
Not knowing that her tiredness was caused by the Dark Hour, Bisca blushed even harder, thinking that she had just told on herself.
"Yeah, me, too." Elicia replied. "I think that change in atmosphere last night had something to do with it."
Nodding her head frantically, Bisca was happy to agree with Elicia's statement.
"*Cough* Anyway, we're gonna meet with the chairman of the Kirijo Group today, right?" Alzack asked, trying to change the subject as quickly as possible.
"Hopefully." Alfonzo replied while giving Alzack and Bisca a knowing smile. "If he can open up time for us in his schedule, than we will."
Nodding in reply, Alzack dug into his breakfast and continued to eat. Meanwhile, the group chatted about what they knew about the Dark Hour. Though, it was admittedly not much. The only things the four could say with certainty were the facts that time was stopped during the Dark Hour and that stamina consumption was increased.
Around the time the quartet was finished eating, the man they met yesterday, Shuji entered the dining room. Then, after looking around for a moment, he started approaching the table where the Fairy Tail wizards were sitting.
Good morning." Shuji said with a friendly smile on his face. "I hope you enjoyed your stay last night."
"I'm sure you already know how our night went." Alfonzo said indifferently. "After all, you watched us go from one room to another during that weird time when time stopped, right?"
Hearing that, Elicia wore an indifferent expression like Alfonzo. Alzack and Bisca, on the other hand, were surprised. Because of everything that happened, they did not pay attention to their surroundings too much, even if they had their [Magic Power Detection] active the whole time.
Shuji managed to keep his composure after Alfonzo's statement. He already knew that Alfonzo and Elicia had noticed the surveillance lacrima, after all. However, that did not stop him from being surprised at Alfonzo's directness.
"My apologies." Shuji said while bowing politely. "Those surveillance lacrima are set up in most areas of the island. Otherwise, we would not be able to find those who have the potential to act during the Dark Hour."
"Sure." Alfonzo replied impassively. "Anyway, since you're here, I guess the time of our meeting with Mr. Kirijo has been decided, correct?"
Thinking their attitude after finding out they were being spied on was normal, Shuji did not pay it much mind. Little did he knew, however, that Alfonzo and Elicia were just using this as an excuse to show the disdain they felt for his character from the game.
"That's right." Shuji replied with a nod. "If it's alright with you, Mr. Kirijo is willing to meet you right now. This issue is more important than anything else on his schedule, after all."
Nodding in response, the group of four stood up from the table. Just before they left, Alfonzo dropped a stack of Jewels on the table as a tip. Then, they left the hotel.
After leaving the hotel, it only took the group fifteen minutes to arrive at the Kirijo Group's headquarters, where they immediately headed up to the building's top floor, where Takeharu Kirijo's office was located.
*Knock!* *Knock!*
"Mr. Kirijo, I've brought the wizards from Fairy Tail." Shuji said after knocking on the door to the office.
"Come in." The deep voice of a man replied from the other side of the door.
Taking that as a cue, Shuji turned the doorknob and pushed the door open before gesturing for Alfonzo, Elicia, Alzack, and Bisca to enter.
Upon entering the office, the group of four saw two people, the middle-aged man and the teenaged girl who were observing them through the surveillance system last night.
The man sitting behind the desk was an impressive looking man wearing a three-piece suit with a grey jacket and slacks, a black vest, a white collared shirt, and a red tie. He had black hair that was neatly parted on the left and starting to grey, an eyepatch covering his right eye, and a grey left eye.
The girl standing next to the man was beautiful, tall, and wore a stern expression with her arms crossed in front of her chest. Wearing a thin, sleeveless, white turtleneck, black pants, and white boots, she had long, waist-length dark red hair with bangs that covered the left side of her face and a lock that hung over her left shoulder and rested on her chest. Meanwhile, her brown eyes watched the guests like a hawk.
"Welcome." The man, Takeharu Kirijo, said as he stood up from behind his desk. "I'd like to thank you for accepting my quest. It's been ten years, yet no one has been able to solve it."
As he spoke, Takeharu reached his hand out across his desk to shake hands with the one he assumed to be the leader of the party, Alfonzo. Naturally, Alfonzo reciprocated, shaking Takeharu's hand firmly.
"Well, as members of Fairy Tail, it's kinda what we do." Alfonzo replied with a smile. "And we'll definitely complete your quest, as well."
"Good." Takeharu replied with a nod. "I like your confidence. But I expected nothing less from the Master of Metal, Alfonzo Marcus."
After naming Alfonzo with is epitaph, Takeharu turned his attention to Elicia, who was just as famous, if not more, thanks to being the owner of the Taylor Shop, rather than her skill as a wizard.
"And this must be your first wife, Elicia Marcus Taylor, if I'm not mistaken." Takeharu said as he extended his hand towards Elicia for a handshake, as well.
Unfortunately, Elicia was not paying attention to Takeharu at all. Instead, her eyes were fixed on the teenaged girl. And they were sparkling. To anyone who knew her, they would know exactly what was going through her mind at this time.
Not receiving a handshake, Takeharu lowered his hand awkwardly. Then, he followed Elica's line of sight, and his eyes landed on the girl, his daughter, Mitsuru Kirijo.
"*Sigh* Sorry about that." Alfonzo said while shaking his head tiredly. "When Lici sees someone she wants to make clothes for, she sometimes… No, usually loses track of everything else. And the person she sets her eyes on usually ends up with quite a few custom outfits at no charge."
Hearing that, Takeharu was dumbfounded. A moment later, however, he smiled helplessly, his smile looking a lot like the one Alfonzo was wearing.
"Well then, I guess my daughter is quite lucky." Takeharu said. "Oh, and allow me to introduce you to my daughter, Mitsuru."
With that, the girl, Mitsuru, did her best to ignore Elicia's passionate stare that made her feel a bit uncomfortable, yet excited to possibly get free custom clothes from the owner of the Taylor Shop, and took a step forward before placing her right hand on her chest.
"It's my pleasure to meet you." Mitsuru said elegantly. "As my father said, I am Mitsuru Kirijo. And I will be working with you during this quest."
While Alfonzo and Elicia were expecting to work with Mitsuru in some capacity, Alzack and Bisca were taken aback. This was a Ten Years Quest, after all. And although Mitsuru was not completely lacking magic power, the amount they could feel from her was quite low for a quest of this level.
"I know you must be confused by my daughter's declaration, but please, let's have a seat so I can explain everything to you." Takeharu said as he gestured towards a pair of couches on either side of a glass coffee table.