Fairy Tail Origins Episode 1: The Eternal Journey

"I'm not really sure how you saw it that way," said Gareth. "I'm just saying that if you're going to want to keep him safe by going after them, it would be a good idea to get someone who knows what path they're taking to come with you. Someone from Silver Chimera who was around to here their mission statement, for example. I'm also warning you that asking the wrong people about where they went could lead to the wrong sort of people to piece together what you're planning to do and get you into career problems. I'd suggest minimizing risks by not asking anyone who doesn't already know."

Seeing as I was about as subtle about it as a Phalanx Eruption,

"It's a deal," said Gareth. "As long as you let me make a pit stop to the guild to pack weapons and some meds."

I still got three vials of antidote from Behemoth Horn tucked away for emergencies.

"Right." Hecate said simply. She had nothing more to say but look at Jerrid and Nalia. "I can count on you two, right?" She asked.

Atticus looked up from his introspection. "Don't worry, Guildmaster Sounders, we'll find information. There's no way someone can disappear off the face of the world entirely. I'm sure they left traces."

Also us steps over to Rosa, seemingly regaining his composure from earlier. He puts on a smile. "Rosa, is it? It's nice to meet such a beautiful woman in person. I look forward to working with you."

Aldous waved the knife in front of Rosa's face. "No need to go searching. This right here is the knife we're looking for." He explained.

"We find out who crafted it." Aldous said frankly, looking over at Vallory. "Where should we start, or for that matter, do you recognize this handicraft?"

"We can talk. That might help both of us," Eden said as she placed her free hand on his.

"Alright," she said, then she took a deep breath while contemplating what to tell him. "Grigori isn't that bad. But... He's so obsessive, and I don't know why. It was never like this before. It's like there's something he's holding back, and he can't move on with life until he lets go of it, and someone letting it go involves me helping with that. But that's part of what's bothering me. We didn't really know each other before. So if it involves me, it must involve the past, but I don't know to what extent."

Just what do you know, Grigori?

"It's hard to even begin to guess what it might be when any given person could easily know more about your past than you do."

"You don't think he would do anything stupid, do you?" she asked.

Vallory grabs Aldous and Rosa by the shoulders, guiding them toward the door.  "Enough talking.  We have a plan, and now it's time for action.  We'll visit every blacksmith and store in town, if we have to.  Every inn and bar, as well.  Sooner or later, we'll find someone who recognizes the work, I'm sure."

She pauses at the door just long enough to look at the others.  "Well?  What are you waiting for?  Pack your bags.  The train to Ambrosia won't wait for you, I'm sure.  Hurry along, now, and I'm sure you can still catch it."

Jerid and Nalia exchange a grin.  Jerid sidles next to Hecate and tosses an arm over her shoulder.  Nalia slips around to the other side and does the same.  "Well, Hecate, looks like we'll finally get to know each other!" Jerid says cheerfully.

"We've seen so little of you, even though you joined a whole month ago!" Nalia adds.

"Haha!  Don't you worry about a thing, little lady!  We'll get our little lion back if we have to take on every dark guild and abnormality from here to Fiore!" Jerid promises.

"Nothing can stop us when we get serious!" Nalia growls.

"So put away that frowny snarl, and put on your determined smirk!" Jerid continues.

"Onward!" Nalia cheers.

"Upward!" Jerid answers, as the pair quickly boost Hecate into the air, tossing her up a few feet.

"Get packed!  To Ambrosia we go!" Nalia commands.

---

Vallory drags Rosa and Aldous to one store after another.  Almost every blacksmith and store owner has something to say about the knife.  Almost none of it is useful.

"It weren't made hereabouts," one says.
"The craftsmanship is exquisite, definitely a master's work."
"'s definitely made in Aselia," another assures them.
"Well, it's brand new, I can tell you that much."
"Ah, now whatcha got there's a Fiore design."
"This balance.  Hmph.  Amateur work."
"Did you check with the Pergrande import station?"
"I think the shop next door makes 'em like this."
"What a wonderful antique!  How much do you want for it?"

"Now that knife was made for killin'!" one particularly unlucky blacksmith says.

"I'm sure it was made for killing!  It's a knife!" Vallory snaps at him.

"Hey, hey, knives can be made for lotsa stuff.  I meant this one's especially made fer killin' people.  Where'd you get a thing like this?" he asks the group.