Fairy Tail Origins Episode 1: The Eternal Journey

Four days later...

The next few days passed in relative peace and quiet. Repairs on the town continued to progress smoothly, and already the attack from Aboleth seemed little more than a distant memory. The people of the Roses were a hardy folk, and they had experienced many a storm in their time, and life always moved on. There was no point in dwelling on what you couldn't control. It was a hard life lesson to be learned, true, but it was one that needed to be learned... By some more than others.

Orion leaned back in his chair and ran his hands through his hair, pausing in his writing. It was early afternoon, not long after lunch. Mayor Armstrong- who had only recently returned to Rosebud- had declared this day a new holiday, dubbed the "Day of Beginnings". The entire community, Silver Chimera included, had spent a good portion of the morning planting new seeds all over the city, in the gardens and the park, and even the soil in the cracks in the cement, and those seeds would someday bloom into beautiful red and white roses. After returning to the Guild for lunch, Orion had gone up to his room to be alone with his thoughts. Writing always helped clear his mind.

He closed his journal and placed it in the top drawer of his desk, then stood up and walked downstairs. He momentarily paused on the last step and smiled. It's nice to know some things never change. I guess that's why I love this Guild so much. The constancy, the certainty... It's a welcome change of pace.

Cenric and Zalia were playing a game of chess at the bar. Velia, Eden, Grigori, and a few others were sitting in front of the stage, watching one of Lucian's usual, everyday magic shows. Rhys was busy painting the scene, capturing what everyday life in Silver Chimera was like. Jurian and Ryner were still out on a job, but that was nothing unusual. According to Zalia, Jurian once took a hundred year job, for which he was gone for quite some time.

Orion walked over to the small audience row of chairs in front of the stage and sat down next to Eden. She turned to him and smiled, and he smiled back.

Noticing the newcomer, Lucian finished his show- to much applause, of course- and turned to look at Orion, dramatically motioning to the stage. "Come, Master Bard, perchance you will play us a tune?"

Feigning reluctance, Orion sighed and rose to his feet, retrieving his flute from the folds of his cloak. He had a special pocket sewn into the inside of his cloak, just for his beloved instrument, and he often kept his flute there unless he was travelling.

"If I must. Tell me, Master Magician, do you have a preference?"

"Something melancholy, but beautiful!" Lucian answered, still in performer mode. He could be such an over-actor at times. "Sing us a tale of love and war, of tragedy and heartbreak! Play us a saga of loss and beauty, and thrones and adventure!"

Chuckling and shaking his head, Orion pulled a chair up onto the stage and sat down. "Lucian, sometimes I envy your overactive imagination. I really do."

Lucian merely grinned and gave a low, dramatic bow, handing Orion the stage. Orion didn't miss him taking the seat next to Eden, just to mess with him, either. Orion took a deep breath, and slowly brought his flute to his lips. And then, suddenly, before he could even begin to play, that certainty he loved so much came crashing down, and a raging storm blew in.

The front doors of Silver Chimera swung open violently, hitting the walls on either side with a loud thud. Suddenly, the Guild grew quiet, and all heads turned to look for the source of the intrusion at once. Orion looked too, and it was a sight he would remember for a long time to come.

A familiar face stumbled through the doorway, the man's long blue coat covered in blood. His glasses were cracked and bent, and one of the lenses was missing completely. Blood trickled down his forehead, coating his cheek, and the man was clutching his chest with his right arm, his shirt soaked with blood. His left arm dangled limply at his side, like it was broken. Orion recognised him immediately. It was Ryner. And he was mortally wounded.

Gasps of alarm and shock erupted from those present, but before everyone could swarm him, Orion burst from the stage like a rocket, knocking over the chair.

"Clear the way!!! Lucian, stretcher, now!" He barked, the first one to speak. "Cenric, go get Doctor Pierce! Tell him we have a Class A emergency, he'll know what to bring! Eden, you know where I keep my staff in my room, right? I need it, and I need it quickly! Grigori, bring me some towels from the bathrooms, and Gareth, I need the first aid supplies! They're in Zalia's office! Zalia, get me some alcohol, the strongest stuff you have, and Rhys, I need you to help me lift him!"

As everyone exploded into action, Orion rushed to Ryner's side, and Rhys and Lucian helped him lift Ryner into the stretcher. Orion opened Ryner's clothes and swiftly checked his wounds, while Zalia brought over a bottle of Tondarion Fire. Orion took one look at the drink and thanked whatever God had helped Ryner stay barely conscious. If he had been fully alert, or completely unconscious, this would have been a whole heck of a lot harder.

Orion helped him drink the alcohol, and for the first time in years, he really began to pray.

Grigori wasted no time getting to the bathrooms by coating his hand in black dust then causing it to explode as he punched the wall inbetween his position and the bathroom, breaking it down and probably scaring anyone inside half to death as he rushed to get the towels and bring them to Orion.

Using the first aid supplies and the towels Gareth and Grigori brought, Orion dressed Ryner's wounds quickly and swiftly, with the hands of an experienced combat medic. He just needed to slow the bleeding. Cenric and Doctor Pierce flashed in a moment later, and the good Doctor rushed over with a grim expression, carrying a large black duffel bag.

"Report," Pierce ordered, immediately taking the bulk of the work from Orion.

"Severe chest trauma, gash-like, no exit or entry wounds, left arm is completely broken, head trauma, severity unknown, burns on legs and arms, three broken ribs, internal bleeding, severity unknown, extreme blood loss. Final diagnosis, Class A, mortal. The only way for me to save him is to cast my strongest healing spell. Your job is to keep him alive until I can cast, Doc."

Doctor Pierce nodded grimly and went to work, while Orion stepped back and focused his magic. He held his staff out in front of him, and began to chant under his breath. An intense silver aura enveloped Orion, and then spread out to cover Ryner, linking them together. Two large magic seals materialized beneath them, emitting a bright white light. Orion clenched his fists and continued to chant, his voice becoming tight and strained. He hid his pain well, but if one was looking close enough, they could see he was in a lot of pain. Then, the seals grew and expanded, and several more seals materialized, branching out from the originals, until they formed a large circle, with Orion and Ryner in the middle.

"I call upon the power of the light, the star, and everything. I call upon the great link, the everlasting, the almighty, and the chosen. The contract is fulfilled, and the price is paid in full! Descend, O healing star! Come forth, Holy Tower of Babel!!!"

All of the magic seals shot forward and converged beneath Ryner, and a great pillar of golden light surrounded him, instantly healing all of Ryner's wounds. Then, the light suddenly vanished, and just like that, everything returned to normal.

"Go," Orion said to Pierce, panting slightly, his voice hoarse, as he leaned against the wall for support. "He isn't out of the woods yet. He'll need a blood transfusion. Cenric-"

"You don't have to say anything more," Cenric said quickly, interrupting him. "I know."

Without another word, Cenric, Pierce, and Ryner vanished, stretcher and all, leaving everyone else still standing there, in a state of shock. For once, the Guild was eerily quiet.

Gareth stood there without knowing what to do as Orion performed his magic and the wounded guy was carried away on a stretcher. He then noticed Orion stumbling and Eden telling him he required rest.

"Hey, do you need a shoulder to lean on?" Gareth asked Orion. "You look like you're having trouble standing."

"Well fine then," muttered Gareth beneath his breath.

He looked over to where the wounded guy was taken away for a few seconds before taking a seat nearby, both to get out of everyone else's way, and to be around in case he's needed.

"That's not what I mean," Orion whispered to her, the urgency in his voice growing. "I.. Out of curiosity, I asked Zalia what quest they took... A couple days ago. I found it strange that a Wizard of Jurian's caliber would take so long on a quest, so I... I was wondering if it was far away. I... I told her... As soon as she told me what the quest was, I told her she needed to send a rescue party immediately, that the quest was impossible..."

Orion groaned and lay back in his bed, trying desperately to stay awake. I have to tell her. She has to know...

"Promise me... Promise me you won't go off on your own. Promise me you won't let Cenric do so either... That... That thing... It's not... It can't be killed... Forgive me, it's all my fault, it's all my fault..."

His eyes suddenly closed, and his hand went limp, slipping out of Eden's, as he lost consciousness. His breathing was slow and labored, but steady. He didn't appear to be in any immediate danger.

-----

"How is he?" Zalia asked softly as she walked into Doctor Pierce's office.

He removed his glasses and sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Lucky to be alive. The blood transfusion was a success, and I have both of the boys resting now, but..." He trailed off ominously.

Zalia's eyes narrowed. "But what?"

"His wounds, Grave, his wounds... They weren't normal. It was like he went ten rounds with a mountain. I've seen a lot of injuries in my time, and there aren't a lot of things in this world that can do that to a Wizard... Especially not one as powerful, intelligent, and resourceful as Ryner Engel. Isn't he S-Class in all but name? I don't like this, Grave, not one bit."

"That makes two of us James," Zalia answered. She lingered a moment longer, then left to go sit with her grandchildren.

When she left, the usually unshakable Doctor put his head in his hands. What is this world coming to? We've always had our fair amount of trouble, but this... This is... What if the thing that injured the boy goes after a village? A town? God help us all...

Atticus frowned. "Leone, you know you don't have to leave, right? Hecate hasn't said a word for these last three days, and has barely came out of her room, you know? Seriously, we're your family. Your REAL family now. I know my lame words won't get to you, but we want you to stay. We'll fight the Vallast Trading Company. Might get our asses kicked, but you know how we are. Heh. I bet Hecate would most definitely kick their butt after the kraken ordeal. But, if you really want me to give her a gift, fine. Just... Just write or something, okay?"

Atticus grew somber.
-----
Hecate opened and closed her fan countless times, lost in thought. The last few days she had hardly left her room, and had been contemplating. She hadn't had the energy to take on elant quests the last few days.

If she did come out to eat, it was quick and rare. Today might be the last time she'd see Leone. For some reason, Hecate didn't feel the need to say goodbye. She knew she'd wind up doing something she'd regret if she met Leone today.

She glared at her fan, opening it again and again before she placed it on the desk. She had lost her appetite.

Normally Atticus would have jumped for joy, but current events had made him a little more serious. "Are you going to at least tell me what it is? And for that matter, is she even going to accept it?" He asked.

"Where in the world is Atticus? He's late. We were supposed to start some training." Aldous muttered. He recalled Atticus having gone out with Leone for something, and so he headed outside.

"I'll be back!" He called to Sounders and Marsh. Not long after, Hecate came downstairs, poking her head out from the stairway. She caught a glimpse of Aldous leaving. Rubbing her eyes, she aimed to go outside at least once today before everyone got worried.

"Aldous." Hecate said simply, watching the normally composed twin jump in shock comically. "It's you. I wasn't scared." Aldous coughed into his hand, looking bashful.

"Where are you going?" Hecate asked, her eyes boring a hole into the twin. Aldous shifted uncomfortably. She seemed to give everyone that stare.

"I-I'm going to see where Atticus is. He-"

"Oh my gods! There's a man in the street!" A woman screamed. Aldous turned around. He couldn't make out the figure, but... Aldous grew cold as he slowly recognized the figure on the ground.

"Atticus?!" He called, already running to the scene. Hecate wasn't far behind him, leaning over after brushing through the crowd—rather roughly on Hecate's part. Aldous rolled Atticus over, doing a full analysis of his body.

"He's out cold. But, there's no sign of physical injuries whatsoever. Well, damn. " Aldous swore, chewing his lip. This was the first time Hecate heard him curse, or look so conflicted.

"He'll be alright, right?" The Iron Dragon Slayer asked slowly. She didn't show it, but on the inside she was panicked. One after another, things seemed to pile up. She closed her eyes, squeezing them tight. She couldn't have another attack here... In front of all these people. She hadn't fully gotten her emotions sorted out from Leone's announcement.

Atticus muttered something inconsolably. "Leone... Stop... Don't... Take... Nngh."

Aldous leaned down, hoping he would repeat the words. "S-stamp. White... Top..... Red on... B-bottom." Atticus continued to say. His eyes slowly opened, but he seemed to not be moving.

"Atticus? Atticus, can you move? What's wrong? What do you mean Leone? Stamp? What stamp?! Dammit, don't fall unconscious again!" Aldous growled. He had an absolutely murderous look in his eyes.

"Hecate, see what he was talking about. Check all of Harborshire! No... Check outside!" Aldous yelled. This seemed to frighten the crowd, who whispered and backed off. Aldous slowly began to lift Atticus up.

"I'll take him back to the guild, and then join you." Aldous replied. Hecate watched the scene blankly before shaking her head. Leone... Was taken? Her mind began to catch up with the information, and she almost took off until she saw the box that was once beside Atticus. She picked it up, looking at it.

Clutching it in her hand, she headed towards the gates of Harborshire, praying she made it in time. Without a second thought, the familiar pain of iron wings bursting from her back could be felt. She didn't really care about her clothes right now. She took the sky, zipping past the gates, and scanning the fields.

"Where are you, Leone?" She mumbled.