The Elemental Sorceress

Chapter Sixteen

CHAPTER — SIXTEEN

The Heartfilia Mission

Nova enters the guildhall shortly after everyone returns, but something odd catches her eye. Sitting at the bar chatting with Mirajane was someone she never expected to see again. It appeared to be Lisanna Strauss who had died several years ago.

In seconds she's cleared a path to the girl and grabs her shoulders. She narrows her eyes as she pulls on her cheeks, squishing them between her fingers.

"Ah— that hurts, Nova!"

Nova feels tears brim her eyes as she blinks. "I'm sorry I had to make sure you were real." She brings the younger girl into a bone-crushing hug.

Lisanna squeaks, "I can't breathe!"

She squirms out of the embrace and giggles, "You're the same as ever, huh?" The youngest Strauss pats her on the shoulder with a bright grin.

"How...?"

"Well, it's kind of a long story." Lisanna gives her a rundown of how she had traded places with the Edolas version of herself. Then she begins telling stories of how different each of the guild members is in the parallel world.

"Though one thing that was comforting is, you remained the same there except you had white hair." Lisanna tells her slightly confused, "Maybe it's like Mira? Though... you haven't really changed."

Nova shrugs, knowing that the reason most likely had to do with her heritage. Before she can say anything a flaming fist sails towards her head. Suddenly everyone around her moves away as she kicks her stool back and gets to her feet.

She catches Natsu's fist extinguishing it on contact, "What's the big idea, flame brain?!"

Natsu frowns yanking his fist back. "Where the hell were you? None of us saw you."

Nova's mind goes blank for a split second before giving the first excuse she could think of. "The portal rejected me, and closed up before I could try again."

The fire dragon slayer nods, taking her words as the truth instantly. "I guess it's a good thing, you'd have taken all the fighting for yourself. It was hard enough already with damn Laxus."

The brunette snorts patting the boy on the shoulder, "Whatever you say, Natsu." She looks around the silent crowd, "Hey does anyone know where Gramps is?"

Mirajane pops her head over the counter, "He's in his office, I think he said it was important business."

Nova nods and begins to walk up the stairs without a word. When she enters the room she sees him pouring over the report she'd given him. "I need to talk to you."

The old man nods and flicks his wrist, a surge of magic energy surrounds the office. It was a privacy enchantment, they only needed them when the guild was full. Especially with dragon slayers lurking in every corner.

She sits down in front of him and sighs, "I have something extremely important to take care of. Can you give me the date for the meeting?"

Makarov glances at her, "It's set out for three months from now. May I ask what this task is?"

Nova shuffles in her seat awkwardly, "There is too much to explain at the moment. It'll take too much time... but I need to leave today and I'll be taking Lucy with me. While I'm gone I will try my best to fill you in, but you must take measures to make sure no one finds out."

"It sounds like whatever is going on is serious. Does it have anything to do with the threat on the Wizard Saints?"

"Everything. I wish I could tell you now but..."