Dawn of Adventure {Book One of The Paths We've Traveled}

Chapter Three: Strange Occurrences

"Finally! We're stopping!" In an act so reminiscent of just several days earlier, Natsu threw himself down to the ground, doing his best to embrace the wooden planks of the station. The others soon followed, Wendy looking just as excited to be on unmoving ground.

"You do realize that we're just stopping for the night, right? And that tomorrow we're getting back on the train?" Lucy crouched down next to him, grabbing his arm and trying to pull him off the ground.

"Ugh, don't remind me," Natsu groaned, allowing Lucy to help him to his feet. "How far away is this place anyway? I mean, we've already been away from Fiore for what? Three months? And the quest hasn't even started yet! I mean, the longest a job has taken before has been, like, a month, at the most."

"Oh, do quit complaining. It's not going to get us anywhere." Erza sighed and rubbed her temples, looking forward to the hopefully peaceful night ahead. Natsu grumbled to himself, mocking the scary mage behind her back. "Natsu," she warned, knowing exactly what was going on. He stopped immediately, looking frightened for his life.

"Benos is two days away," Lucy informed him as she grabbed her suitcase and began walking into the small town before them. "And don't you dare start whining again. After all, you're the one who wanted to go on the 100 year quest."

"Yeah, but it's not my fault that I have motion sickness!"

"Well you don't have to be so dramatic about it every time!"

Natsu and Lucy bickered the whole way from the train station to the inn, causing several eye rolls and groans from their friends as well as confused glances from those they passed. "Just shut up and kiss already!" Happy crooned, flying up high to avoid the swat Lucy aimed at him.

"We're at the inn," Grey interrupted before the arguing got any worse, subtly stepping between Lucy and Natsu. The small, two-story building rose up before them, long tendrils of ivy covering aged cobblestone. The inn must have been centuries old, so old that it must have survived the war with the dragons. If the war even reached this land, Lucy wondered as she marveled at the character of the establishment. Grey broke their concentration again by clapping his hands. "Let's go inside and get rooms, cause, I don't know about any of you, but I am seriously so exhausted right now."

The seven Fairy Tail members stepped through the door of the inn, filing into the small room and almost completely filling up the space with their bodies and luggage. A few scattered people sat at tables or the bar, and everyone's attention turned towards the newcomers.

Lucy pushed her way to the front of the group, putting on her best smile and addressing the innkeeper standing behind the bar. "Good evening sir. Do you have any available rooms?" The man looked their group over, showing no sign of recognition as he continued to clean the bar with a tattered rag.

"I might. May I ask what brings you here tonight?" His deep voice reverberated throughout the room, and Lucy chose her next words very carefully.

"We're just passing through. I promise you, we don't mean any harm. And we are more than willing to pay more than a fair price for two rooms." The innkeeper cast a suspicious glance at the pair of Exceeds, but thankfully they didn't say a word. After another minute, he jerked his chin towards the rickety stairs across the inn.

"Follow me." The man led the group up the stairs and down the hall until he reached the last two doors on the right. "8,000 jewels per room for the night." Lucy mouth dropped at the outrageous price before quickly gathering her features and pouting.

"Surely you can't lower that even just a little? After all, it's not everyday you see such beautiful women like me and my friend." She batted her eyelashes even as Gray scoffed and Natsu rolled his eyes. When Lucy's charms failed to make the innkeeper budge, she sighed and pulled out her purse. "Fine, I'll pay. But you guys better pay me back for this." The others didn't even hear her as they pulled away, desperate to sit down, and left Lucy alone in the hallway.