"So this is their house huh," Natsu stared at the gate of a large eastern-style mansion, "They really are rich, your clients I mean."
"I mean, they want to give a hundred thousand for a fruit." Said Laki.
"Well, let's go in." Natsu said as he walked in front of the gate and was about to open.
"Hey!" Laki grabbed his arm, "Don't be rude, at least ring the doorbell!"
It was at this moment that the gates just suddenly, as Natsu and Laki just stared at it, before an old woman appeared on their field of view.
Laki quickly let go of Natsu and greeted the old lady, "Hello ma'am, we're mages from Fairy Tail, we are here for the job?"
The old woman blinked before letting out an, "Ah, I see." She smiled, before motioning them in, "Come, let us talk inside. I am Senju Mito, your client."
Natsu stared at the old man before whispering to Laki, "Isn't it Mito Senju?"
"In the east, we put our last name before our given name, child." Said Mito, not even turning her head to stare at Natsu as she led them towards the house.
"Urgh, you heard me?" He was sure his voice was low.
"I may be old, but my senses haven't quite dulled yet," said Mito, humming as she replied. "It isn't as sharp as you dragon slayers, but I am quite confident with it."
"Wait," Natsu tilted his head, "How'd you know I'm a dragon slayer? I haven't even used any magic …"
"I have met my fair share of dragon slayers child," said Mito before halting her steps to stare at Natsu, "So? What generation are you?"
"Gene …ration?" Natsu looked confused. He knew the meaning of the word, what he didn't know was why is this old woman asking him such a thing?
"A first generation dragon slayer are those who were personally taught by a dragon. A second generation are those who are implanted with a lacrima. A third generation are those who were raised by a dragon, and implanted a lacrima."
Natsu never knew that there are classification for such things. Then, according to Mito, him, Gajeel, and Wendy are considered as First Generations, while Laxus and Cobra are second generations.
He haven't met any third generations yet, though. But that sounded awesome. He bet that the third generations should all be incredibly powerful dragon slayers.
"I'm a first generation," said Natsu, "I was raised by Igneel, the fire dragon."
"I see." Mito nodded before she opened the sliding door, leading to a balcony that gives them a perfect view of the courtyard, "We're here. Make yourselves comfortable."
"Thank you." Laki gave a light bow to Mito before she sat in seiza on the floor.
"Thanks granny." Natsu followed, sitting beside Laki with his legs cross.
Mito sat on seiza, facing Natsu and Laki, "So, I am sure you already read the request; I just want a certain fruit from Sun Village, I will provide your transportation to your destination and back."
"Yes ma'am, but what kind of fruit is it? I don't really know anything about it besides that it is a fruit." Said Laki.
"Ah, it's called the Will of Fire. It only grows near the Eternal Flame that is worshipped by the inhabitants of the Sun Village. That was my husband's favorite food, and I want to offer it to him since his death anniversary is coming up."
Natsu and Laki stared at each other, suddenly noticing the atmosphere became a bit depressing.
Natsu quickly decided to get back on topic.
"So we only need to grab the fruit, and return it to you right?" Asked Natsu.
"Hm." Mito nodded, "However, the fruit itself must be stuck with a branch that continuously provides it with magic power, or else it will wilt."
"Ah, so that's why you requested a wood mage." Said Laki.
"Indeed, you can attach the fruit to a wood you created and you can continuously provide it with magic power," Mito said with a smile, before suddenly frowning as if remembering something, "Though, the quality and freshness would be affected, but at least it will not wilt."
"Why would it?" Asked Laki, confused, "shouldn't I just provide it with magic power?"
"Yes, but it also needs to be around an Essence Flame to truly keep it as fresh as possible. Unfortunately, I have yet to meet any fire mage that tamed an essence flame." Mito sighed in disappointment.
"I have it," Natsu raise his hand.
"What?" Mito's eyes widened as she stared Natsu. "What did you say?"
"The essence flame," Natsu opened his palm, and a small chimeric beast made out of crimson flame appeared on his hand, "I have one."
"Whoa," Laki stared at it in wonder.
"Let me see," Mito hurried over to observe the beast made of flames on Natsu's hands, "…Indeed, this is an essence flame. The Ten Thousand Beast Flame, to be exact."
Natsu raised a brow, feeling a little surprised that the woman knew about this, "You knew about this?"
"I do," Mito smiled as she returned to her seating position, "I have a scroll detailing every essence flames that was discovered since ancient times. If you can complete the mission I'll give it to you."
"… Alright then, don't go back on your word now granny." Said Natsu, grinning at the old lady. "Also, what should I use this for?"
"Just simply have that flame near the fruit." Replied Mito.
"That seems easy enough." Said Natsu, shrugging at the lack of difficulty.
Mito simply nodded, "Well now, if you have more questions then let it out. If not then, well, you can stay in this place to rest for a bit if you want, after that you two shall immediately set off to Sun Village."
"No, we're ready to set off." Natsu and Laki said at the same time.
"Well then," Mito stood up, "I will have your carriage ready."
...…
...
…
"Tsk, we were too late." Ultear muttered as she stared at the town that was burning in black flames. "Meredy, go look for survivors. If there's still dark mages around, kill them."
"Got it." Meredy nodded as she left to look for any survivors.
Ultear clicked her tongue as she also went around and search for any signs of life.
After parting with the pink haired dragon slayer yesterday, she and Meredy immediately started their hunt for dark guilds.
They found a clue, which led them to this village. But it was already too late and the whole village was burnt down to the ground.
These black flames just reminds her of the flames of a certain blonde ex-guildmate of hers. And it was infuriating.
"…There!" Finally, after awhile of searching, she sensed a sign of life from a large house and immediately went there.
She kicked the door open, and her eyes couldn't help but widen in shock and anger seeing a group of dark mages raping a woman …and her mind almost blanked out due to extreme anger seeing the woman look to only be around Meredy's age, 12–13 years old!
She doesn't know how long this girl have been raped, but by the lifeless looks on her face and a body full of bruises and burns, she can guess it was long enough to break her mind.
"Huh?" One dark mage took notice of her entering the house. "Hey guys, look there's a fresh one right here."
"Hm? Hahaha, probably a legal mage sent by the council." Said another.
"Get her!"
"I'll take the first turn!"
Ultear narrowed her eyes before she put her fist above her palm, "Ice Make: Rose Thorns!"
Then, large stems of roses full thorns emerged from her hands and trapped every dark mages on the area.
"Aah!!"
"Gaahh!!?"
They screamed as the thorns pierced and even went through their bodies, their eyes glared at her with hatred as they were slowly dying from blood loss.
It didn't take much of an effort. Ultear was confident in her strength to match that of a weaker Saint-class mage, taking down a bunch of no name dark mage is nothing.
She approached the body of the girl whose dull eyes moved and stared at her, and Ultear couldn't help but flinch.
She wasn't a stranger to killing, in fact, she has her fair share of bloods of innocents in her hands, all those whom she had killed, she killed quickly.
She has never before been looked at by the eyes of people whose mind was broken.
Suddenly, the woman's mouth opened, "T— Thank …y—you."
Ultear was quick to notice that the girl was no longer breathing, even her heart stopped beating.
"I'm sorry."
She couldn't arrive earlier. If she did, then she could've prevented all of this from happening.
"I'm sorry."
If only she was a little faster, then this would've never happened.
"H—Hey …"
Ultear's eyes widened as she turned her head and saw a man bleeding heavily on the corner. She noticed a mark on the man's shoulders, and guessed that he's probably a mage from a certain guild.
From his injuries, she knew he can no longer be saved. It was a miracle he was even alive.
"No time," said the man, breathing heavily, "Y—You must have b—been, sent by …, the council right?"
"Yes." A lie. But she could at least give some semblance of hope to the dying man.
The man smiled, "T—The …, underworld is in …, c—chaos."
Ultear narrowed her eyes, "That's impossible, the Balam Alliance will never—,"
She paused. There was no longer Balam Alliance. Oracion Seis fell, Grimoire Heart collapsed …she can only imagine the amount of chaos it caused.
She was sure that every dark guild is fighting for supremacy right now, to know who can take the now empty seat of the Alliance.
This village was probably caught in the conflict.
There was a reason why the council just left the Balam Alliance be, unless they did something drastic, like what the Oracion Seis did by trying to awaken an ancient weapon.
Because despite being the most heinous of the dark guilds, the Balam Alliance was actually the one keeping the other smaller dark guild in check.
With them gone, there would no one to keep them from causing as much chaos as possible just to establish dominance.
"Y—Yes, as you can …see, t—this is the result of it." The man took a deep breath, "L—Listen …, tell the c—council, to be careful a—against the Night Hands, t—they are planning to—…"
Ultear frowned as she checked the man …no pulse, nor heartbeat.
He's already dead.
She gritted her teeth in frustration. But eventually calmed down as she incased the man's body in ice.
The least she could was preserve his body and send him back to his guild for a proper burial.
"Night Hands huh," Ultear muttered.
The frowned, remembering a certain dark guild with that name.
"If I remember correctly, they are …"