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

Chapter Thirty: Caught His Eye

Wendy shifted uncomfortably as she stood by the wall, Erza at her side and little Racel nowhere to be found. Natsu and Gray too had disappeared, maybe together or maybe separate. And with Lucy somewhere else—probably the kitchens getting ready for dinner—Wendy and Erza were by themselves, forced to face the next few hours of boring court life alone.

"How're you feeling?" Erza asked, leaning down to the side to address the Sky Maiden clearly. Wendy smiled up at her friend, knowing the requip mage could see the forced cheer she was forcing to her face.

"Great. I've been worse." I've been better too were the words she didn't say, knowing Erza would hear them regardless of if she actually said them out loud.

The scarlet warrior understood. She placed a surprisingly gentle hand on Wendy's arm, giving it a squeeze and hopefully transferring energy and strength through the simple motion. "Not much longer if everything goes as planned. Be strong. We can do this."

Wendy's smile shifted from forced to sincere, even as it diminished in size. "Thanks Er-, Scarlet. Aunt?" Erza shrugged with a smile, having no idea what she should be called by her supposed niece. It wasn't like she had any nieces or nephews of her own to use for reference. Without any siblings, how could she? Although, maybe if Shô or Millianna or Wally ever had children of their own... Or maybe they already had. She'd been gone for long enough that it truly wouldn't surprise her to return to Fiore to find that her old friends had begun families of her own. She wished she could do the same.

She blinked rapidly, trying to rid her thoughts of a certain blue haired man she hadn't seen in too long. She returned her focus to Wendy, ignoring the familiar voice threatening to wash through her system. "I wonder where the boys have gone," she mused out loud, hoping the words would help wash out the odd feeling in her chest.

Wendy shrugged, subtly pulling at her grey skirts to try and loosen the suffocating bodice. It didn't really do much. "As long as they aren't getting into trouble, right?" Then she frowned. "But maybe I shouldn't talk about him that way. Ugh, I hate this so much sometimes. I really don't know how you've managed to get this far. Any of you."

Erza smiled again, smoothing out a wrinkle in her own yellow gown. "It really is a miracle sometimes. But as I've told... Silver, I believe 'all the world's a stage,' and using my immense acting abilities, it really isn't a challenge. Everything leading up to this has been practice, and now I am in the role of my life. Isn't it just a rush?"

Wendy humored Erza with a halfhearted chuckle, part of her mind distracted by trying to figure out what Erza had just quoted a moment before. It was something famous, wasn't it?

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't even notice someone knew stood before her until she heard him clear his throat. Her eyes snapped back into focus in time to see Verlane standing before her. Well, towering over her. He was even taller than Gajeel and maybe Laxus, something that made her hesitate. She flushed, dropping into a clumsy curtsy along with Erza. Gazes from random nobles drilled into the side of her head, and she could clearly hear the whispers beginning to circulate throughout the room. "Why is he down here?" "What's Lord Verlane doing with the sick girl?" "Isn't that Lord Drago's daughter?" "What do you think he's saying to her?" "Maybe he's just looking for her dad or Lady Scarlet's husband?"

"Good afternoon Mistress Shelia," Verlane rumbled, either unaware of the gossip or uncaring. He dipped his head, as much as a concession to her rank as he would give. She curtsied again, not knowing what to do. He greeted Erza as well, the warrior clamping down on all of her instincts and instead lowering her head, refusing to do any more than that. His eyes hardened a fraction, and Wendy hurried to distract him from whatever he was going to say next.