The sun was already high in the sky by the time Yukari and Hinote reached the town of Oak. It wasn't much to look at dusty streets, worn-down buildings, and a few scattered vendors peddling their goods. But it had one thing they were after: information.
"Alright, so Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord," Yukari said, glancing at the rundown sign of a nearby tavern. "Which one do we hit first?"
Hinote tapped her chin thoughtfully, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Well, you've got to look at it this way. One of them is all about camaraderie and probably gives out free hugs. The other is more about crushing your enemies, seeing them driven before you, and all that fun stuff. Which sounds more like you?"
"Neither," Yukari deadpanned, already walking toward the tavern. "Let's just get some information and go."
They pushed open the tavern doors, and the smell of stale ale and questionable food greeted them. A few rough-looking patrons glanced their way but quickly returned to their drinks, disinterested.
Hinote leaned in close to Yukari as they approached the bar. "Maybe we should try not to set anyone on fire just yet."
Yukari shot her a glare. "No promises."
They reached the bar, where a grizzled old man was cleaning a glass with a rag that looked dirtier than the glass itself. Yukari wrinkled her nose.
"Hey, old man," she said, not bothering with pleasantries. "We're looking for information on two guilds Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord. What do you know?"
The bartender raised an eyebrow at her, not seeming too impressed by her direct approach. "And who's askin'?"
"I am," Yukari said flatly, already growing impatient. She didn't have time for games.
Hinote leaned casually on the counter, smiling in that way that made people think she was nice. "We've heard some things about both guilds, but we're looking for more details. You know, the kind only people around here would know."
The bartender grunted and set the glass down, looking Yukari and Hinote over. "Fairy Tail, huh? Not many folks ask about them these days. They're still small, located down in Magnolia Town. About five kilometers from the coast. Word is they were founded by a real fairy, but I don't believe none of that crap."
"A real fairy?" Yukari snorted. "Seriously?"
"That's what they say," the bartender shrugged. "Guild's been around for decades, but it's only in recent years they've started growing. Not as famous as Phantom Lord, though."
Yukari leaned forward, her interest piqued. "What about Phantom Lord?"
"Phantom Lord's a whole different beast," the bartender said, lowering his voice as if the mere mention of the guild's name carried weight. "They've been strong for years. Got multiple branches and some of the best resources in Earth Land. They're not far from here either. Oak Town's got one of their bases, but their real HQ is just outside the town."
Hinote smiled, though Yukari could tell she was getting impatient too. "What else? Anything we should know about them?"
The bartender wiped his brow with the back of his hand. "Phantom Lord was created by a guy named Geoffrey. Used to run Blue Skull before it got destroyed. He's got a grudge against Fairy Tail. Wanted Phantom Lord to be the strongest guild in Fiore. And for a while, they were. Still might be."
Yukari mulled over the information, trying to figure out which guild sounded more like the kind of place where she could thrive. Both had their strengths, but Fairy Tail sounded... softer. She wasn't sure she was the type to fit in somewhere where people were probably hugging each other every five minutes.
"Thanks for the info," she muttered, tossing a coin on the counter before turning to leave.
Hinote followed her out of the tavern, hands behind her head as she strolled leisurely down the street. "So, what do you think? Fairy Tail or Phantom Lord?"
Yukari frowned. "Phantom Lord sounds stronger, but Fairy Tail might give me more room to grow. I don't know. I need more time to think."
Hinote chuckled. "I'm sure whichever one you pick, you'll set the place on fire at some point."
"Not helping."
Before Yukari could say anything else, a group of rough-looking men stepped into their path. They were dressed in ragged clothes, with smug grins plastered on their faces. The one in front, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, crossed his arms and looked Yukari and Hinote up and down.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" he sneered. "Two little girls, all alone in the big, bad town. Must be lost."
Yukari narrowed her eyes, already feeling the familiar heat of her magic stir inside her. "Move."
The man laughed, a deep, guttural sound that made Yukari's teeth grind. "Oh, I don't think so, sweetheart. See, me and my boys here, we were just thinkin' it's about time we made some new... friends. How about you two join us for a little fun?"
Hinote sighed, rubbing her temples. "You know, I was hoping for a nice, quiet day. But no, you just had to go and pick a fight with the wrong people."
Yukari didn't waste time with more words. She raised her hand, flames licking at her fingertips as she stared the man down. "Last chance. Move, or I'll burn you to ash."
The man's grin widened. "Oh, tough little girl, aren't you? I like that."
He reached out to grab Yukari, but before his hand even made contact, she flicked her wrist, sending a small burst of fire right at his face. The man yelped, stumbling back and patting at his singed beard.
"You little—!"
Yukari didn't give him a chance to finish. She shot forward, flames erupting from her hand as she aimed a punch right at his gut. The fire exploded on impact, sending the man flying into a nearby wall with a satisfying thud.
Hinote laughed, watching the rest of the bandits scramble in surprise. "Oh, you idiots really picked the wrong day to mess with us."
The rest of the men hesitated, clearly reconsidering their life choices as Yukari turned her burning gaze on them.
"What's the matter?" Yukari taunted, flames dancing around her fists. "Not so tough now, are you?"
One of the bandits, a scrawny man with a crooked nose, pointed at her with a shaky finger. "You—you're a freak! A monster!"
Yukari smirked. "Yeah? And you're a waste of space. Let's call it even."
Before the bandits could fully retreat, Hinote stepped forward, cracking her knuckles. "Alright, boys. I'm feeling generous today. You can either run away with your tails between your legs, or I can let my little fireball here keep playing with you. Your choice."
The bandits exchanged panicked glances before deciding that, yes, running was indeed the best option. They turned and bolted down the street, disappearing as fast as their legs could carry them.
Yukari sighed, the flames around her hands fading as she crossed her arms. "Idiots."
Hinote grinned, clapping her on the shoulder. "Not bad, kid. You're getting better at this whole 'people' thing."
"I still hate them," Yukari muttered, kicking a pebble down the street.
Hinote laughed. "Yeah, but at least you didn't set the whole town on fire. That's progress."
They continued walking, the sun dipping lower in the sky as they made their way toward the edge of town. Yukari's mind was still on the guilds, but now she had something else to consider.
If this was how people treated her now, what would it be like in a guild? Would they see her as a monster too? Or would they be different?