Hot and Cold

The Wind Barrier

~*****~

Erza ends up making me carry her up the stairs to the outside for her to warn the people outside. "If you value your lives, then you will leave this place at once!" Erza shouts into the megaphone we'd found. "This station's been taken over by evil wizards. They are threatening to broadcast a deadly spell over the loudspeakers that would kill everyone here! I beg you, run as far as you can!"

"Hey, lady! Why would you make everyone panic like that?!" I gaze off to the side as a train worker appears.

"I would rather that than watch all of these people die." Erza hums. "In fact, you gentlemen will need to evacuate as well." They do leave after a moment, and I heave out a soft breath of relief. "Now that I've cleared everyone from the train station, I wonder what Erigor's next move will be."

The wind picks up and I turn around and gape. "Whoa--" I stammer. "Hey, uh, Erza, I think Erigor's making his next move."

"It's-- It's some kind of wind barrier!" Erza exclaims.

"You know, I've always wanted the opportunity to fight the queen of fairies," I hear Erigor's voice. "I know the little Ice wimp isn't going to be much of a challenge." I scoff at him. "But unfortunately, I don't have time to play with you two right now."

There's a flash of light. It shoves Erza and I into the wind barrier. "Erigor!" Erza shouts. She tries breaking out, but it knocks her back almost immediately.

"It's useless. There's no way you'll never be able to break through my magic sealing barrier! You see, it's one way only. If you try to escape, the wind will tear you apart!" Erigor shouts.

"What is the meaning of this, you scoundrel?" Erza asks angrily.

"We've wasted enough of our time on you Fairy Tail Flies," Erigor comments. "Now, if you'll excuse me."

"Come back here!" Erza shouts. I push my finger into my ear and yawn. "Curse you, Erigor! I will find a way to stop you!"

"So, it seems he wasn't targeting the station after all..." I hum. "What town does this train stop at, end of the line?" I tilt my head, trying to remember. "It's Clover, isn't it?"

Erza glances back at me, her brows furrowed. "Yes, what of it?" She asks a little breathlessly.

"Well, aren't the guild masters having a meeting there?" I question again, my head tilting again.

Erza's brows lift almost immediately, and she hurries past me, running down the stairs. "We need to question all of them to see what their plan is!"

"One hundred percent gonna go with targeting the guild masters," I call after her as I run down after.

~*****~

Erza seems to accept that what I put together is true and starts demanding questions on how to break the barrier. "Erza! Aria!" I hear Gray shout as I sit on the shoulders of one of the unconscious men.

"Hey, Gray, you still have your clothes on!" I say with a grin.

"I thought I told you to go with Natsu!" Erza shouts.

"We decided to split up. Never mind that, now! Listen, I just found out Eisenwald's real target is Clover! The next town up!" Gray exclaims.

"Ten steps ahead of ya!" I chime.

"Then you know Erigor's heading toward the conference as we speak! He's planning to use the Lullaby to kill the Guild Masters!" Gray shouts.

"Only problem though, is that the station is surrounded by a wind barrier." I retort.