Fairy Tail Origins Episode 1: The Eternal Journey

"Maybe walking will help me clear my head. Yeah. Let's try that. Lead the way, Orion."

Orion nodded, and lead Eden out of his room, down the hallway. The train's main corridor was quite wide, enough to easily fit several people side by side, and the passenger cabins were spaced out evenly on each side. A thin red and gold curtain separated First Class from the business section, which is where the Express Cafe and gift shop were located.

From the way Orion seemed to know exactly where he was going, it was clear he was no stranger to riding the Imperial Express. They stopped in the cafe, and Orion purchased a mug of coffee for them both, and a couple danishes. He then found them a table near the window, where they could be relatively alone.

"This reminds me of the cafe in Elmsdale," he said suddenly, smiling, a hint of wistfulness in his tone. "It already feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it? Eden... I know it's difficult, but... Try to smile. You have no idea how much your smile affects everyone, how much your smile raises everyone's spirits."

Aldous studied the caltain's face before he formulated a response. "We're here for a few things, stopping in town, and we thought that we'd pay a visit to the Mermaid's Folly since we heard it was here. If possible, we'd like to speak to Marian, but if that isn't possible, we're content as well." He said curtly, adjusting his clothes.
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Atticus paced. "They must be pretty competent to be able to do that. The question is what did they do this for? It makes little sense for this sort of stuff to happen." He muttered angrily, pacing faster and faster. He seemed to be aware all eye's were on him. Nervous, but secretly proud, he continued, "We should study all of their bases, formulate how far they move, and see if we can learn their patterns. I think we'll find their motives for this elsewhere."

Hecate had been sitting in a chair, listening to both Jerid and Atticus. The thing that bothered her wasn't the size of the guild, but the competency and brazenness they had displayed. "We should also see if they were following us. That could have been possible...but I am concerned mostly with how strong their members are. Size can play a factor in strength, but not always in scenarios. They might be stronger than we think," She added, rising to her feet. She placed a hand on the table, eyes hard. "But that doesn't mean we are going to cancel our rescue. We should keep our eyes open, ears stretched, and mouths quiet. A good thing to have would be spies. I'm not sure if we have or can afford those...or their loyalty for that matter." Hecate mused.

"We might be watched as we speak. I wouldn't put it past them to have spies tracking us. They might be small, but I doubt they're idiots. They might have been hired as well, like Atticus suggested."

Jerid folds the book closed.  "Now, now, kids.  Calm down.  I checked around during my morning run.  I didn't recognize anyone from the train poking around outside the inn.  Nalia?"

"There was one person from the train that checked in with us.  He didn't come out with us this morning," she says with a nod.

"There, see?  Nothing to worry about," Jerid says calmly.  "...Except the dark guild we're trying to track down and fight."

---

"Marian didn't come back with us," Ian says.  "Her usual bodyguards resumed their normal duties.  Don't rightly know where she is now.  If you really need her, I can give headquarters a call and see what I can do.  But more than likely it'll be a while before she can get back to you."  The whole time he speaks, he stares, confused, at the squirrel riding on Rosa.

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"Could you, Forte?" Sounders asks Lucian.  "I'd owe you a big one.  Guild's gonna be awfully light the next few days.  Just me an' Val jammin' out while everyone else goes on an adventure.  And if something were to happen...  Well, y'know how much collateral damage I tend to do when I rock out."

Hecate looked at Jerid before her gaze moved to Nalia. "Alright." She said simply. She closed her eyes and took a seat, waiting for them to move on to the next step. She wasn't completely sure about not being watched. She shivered.

Atticus visibly deflated. "Yeah, guess we're getting too far ahead of the game, huh?"
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"That would be fine," Aldous answered, turning to look out to sea. Not too long ago, Fluffy had attacked them somewhere out there. He wondered what the monster kraken was doing now. "Do you know anything about this knife?" He asked, drawing it from his sleeves.

"Can't say I do," Ian says, barely glancing at the knife as he reaches into his pocket. He pulls out a peanut and offers it to Rosa's little friend. "Should I?"

Thana allowed herself to show slight interest. Although her interest was indeed piqued. However, she was no fool to Athena's tricks, but anything would Beat sitting on her a*** all day in some airship.

Thana stood from her chair. She wasn't as young as she used to be, but anyone whom called late twenties or thirties Middle Aged was a fool. Thanks was more than capable of performing any task she could before, and with experience under her belt, she could do it better.

"Fine then. If you lowlife scum cannot complete a simple retrieval mission yourselves, I suppose I will take it upon myself."Thana then gestures for Athena to rise."Tell me more about this creature and island."

Zalia gives a deep laugh. "You and me both, you and me both. Regardless, it was nice seeing you again, Sounders. Even if the circumstances aren't the greatest. I'll call you back once I return from Ambrosia. "

She waves her hand, and the image shimmers and vanishes. The crystal goes dark. She sighs and rubs her eyes, then leans back in her chair. She closes her eyes and concentrates. Even though she hadn't used Thought Projection magic in a while, it still only required minimal effort on her part.

A perfect, astral copy of Zalia suddenly materialized in the entrance of Ambrosia's Main Library, startling a couple patrons. She walked up to the front desk, her form shimmering ever so slightly; the only difference between the astral projection and her real body.

"Pardon me, I'm looking for a group of Wizards from Alicorn Wing," she said politely, drawing the librarian's gaze. "They would be researching a Dark Guild called Basilisk Wattle."

The librarian gave her an odd look, then pointed to a room towards the back. "Yes ma'am, they went to use that room there, on the left. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Zalia shook her head. "No thank you, child. I appreciate your help."

Zalia turned and strode towards the direction of the room the librarian pointed to, passing by a few more odd looks. A few people even seemed to think they recognized her, but quickly changed their minds. Zalia gave a small smile. Magic is a powerful thing.

She easily found the group from Alicorn Wing- some she recognized, such as the young dragon slayer, and some she didn't. She opened the door and walked in, and her sudden entrance caused all heads in the room to turn.

"I apologize for intruding," she said friendly, closing the door. "Hecate, Atticus. It's good to see you again. I see a couple faces I don't recognize, so allow me to introduce myself. My name is Zalia. I am the Guildmaster of the Magic Guild Silver Chimera, and an old friend of Sounders. He's asked for my help in rescuing Leone, which brings me to why I'm here. I have some info you may need. But first..."

Zalia snapped her fingers, and conjured a soundproof barrier over the room, which would block any attempt at eavesdropping. Her astral form flickered, briefly becoming transparent before solidifying again. She smiled. "It's been some time since I've had to use other magic in astral form. But rest assured, the barrier will hold. No one on the outside will be able to hear anything that's said in here, even with magic. Now before I tell you what I came for, what have you found so far?"

"Hello," Hecate said, bowing before Zalia politely. "The only other thing we have on Basilisk Wattle is a knife they used to stab me, which Aldous has. They're getting clues on where it was made, and we're here with this." She gestured, referencing Nalia's explanation as a source.

Atticus shuffled nervously in front of the guild master. "A-and a sketch," He said, pulling out his handrawn sketch that they had showed the librarians. "Their guild stamp, ma'am...lady..Guildnaster!"