【Re:Freezing】 | Gray Fullbuster x OC

55. Cold She Is Might

Everyone was on their own and following the plan that Mavis had given them. The only strategy provided to them was their opponent and how they should maneuver around the map. Although Mavis was aware of what kinds of magic they used, she could only direct them to their suitable opponents. The way they won their fights was completely up to them.

Apart from the obvious cheers coming from the stadium where the audience watched their every move, it was absolutely quiet in the streets of Crocus. Karissa almost found it unnerving, but she kept an ear out for any abnormal sounds. She was no Dragon Slayer with acute hearing, but her ears still helped her detect any alarming noises during missions.

Which is how she ended up in her current situation.

Karissa deadpanned as she trailed behind Lamia Scale's Toby, who kept making dog-like noises with every turn he took. His noises made her alert, and she was able to spot him without being spotted herself. As he kept moving, she only followed him. She was actually finding it sad that he didn't notice her soundlessly flying above the buildings. Her body was positioned in a way where she looked like she was sitting in a reclining chair with her legs out. It would have been wiser to just take him out and earn that point while there was no one around that could steal the point from her... but come on, she wanted to see how long it would take for him to find her.

She stuffed her hands in her pockets and listened as he whispered to himself how quiet it was.

While she flew in the air, she caught sight of a small device which was most likely a lacrima camera broadcasting the sight of her and Toby to the audience.

She looked at it and shrugged her shoulders.

―

"Could she just stop playing with her food?" Cana slapped her hand over her face. "We get it! He can't see or sense you! Stop embarrassing him!"

"For real." Max sighed. "I'm getting second hand embarrassment over here."

"I think it's funny." Van snickered along with the crowd who found Karissa's nonchalant shrug hilarious.

"Just take him out already!" Makarov groaned. "Focus your time and energy somewhere else!"

"I agree with Van." Bickslow cackled. He was loving the way she kept maintaining a straight face as she observed Toby. She looked borderline at a loss with him.

―

Okay. Now it was getting ridiculous.

Karissa cupped her hands over her mouth and let out a dog bark.

Toby whirled around and began growling like a dog. But Karissa wasn't there, as his ears had told him she would be.

She was just gone.

―

"Wait. What."

Cana squinted her eyes and leaned her head back, lost. "Why'd she leave?"

"She just left without taking an easy point!" Makarov exclaimed, flabbergasted. "Karissa! Go back!"

"No. It's fine." Mavis told him and the others who were protesting Karissa's decision. "I advised her to not take out any enemy in her path."

"Advised?" Lisanna echoed. "What do you mean? Shouldn't we rack up as many points as possible to ensure our victory?"

"There are times when instant victory is not important. There is a saying that if you go to war early then you will win your first battle. However, if you arrive late after much preparation then you will win thousands of battles, maybe the entire battlefield."