Price To Protect The World

Chapter 1

Lucy looked at herself in the mirror and sighed before pulling her hair up into her normal side ponytail and tied it with her blue ribbon. She was exhausted and it was easy to see from the dark marks under her eyes but she couldn't get any rest since she would be late if she didn't hurry. Quickly putting on her long sleeve shirt and tying her tie she grabbed her bag and hurried out of her apartment, remembering to lock the door behind her before quickly running to her destination.

"Everyone, please take your seats" Capricorn-sensei called and all of the students realized that the teacher had entered the room so they were quick to put away books, magazines and lacrima-phones before taking their seats.
"Before morning attendance can start, I would like you all to welcome your new classmate. Please come in and introduce yourself" Capricorn-sensei said and gestured to the door. With a deep breath Lucy stepped into the classroom, a smile plastered onto her face as she turned and saw familiar and not so familiar faces looking back at her.
"Good morning, I'm Lucy Heartfielia. It's nice to meet you," She said. The class instantly burst into noise as they all tried to talk over each other and ask Lucy all different types of questions. of course they didn't get any answers since she couldn't understand one question from another.
"Enough!" A loud voice instantly made everyone go silent. Erza Scarlet glared at her fellow classmates making them all shrink into their seats, she was part of the student council and captain of the kendo team so it was no wonder they were all terrified of her.
"You will all have the chance to get to know Miss Heartfilia during the lunch break or your own time. For now please take a seat next to Mr Fullbuster, please raise your hand" Capricorn-sensei said and Gray raised his hand. Lucy held back her tears, keeping a smile on her face as she walked to the desk, placing her bag at the side before sitting down and facing the front.
"We will now begin attendance" Capricorn-sensei called their attention back to him.
'You can do this Lucy, this isn't the first time so hold it in. You can do this' Lucy thought to herself, her hands fisted in her lap, not even paying attention as her nails cut into her palms. The small pain from those cuts were nothing compared to the pain of seeing her friends and knowing that they didn't recognise her.

"So you're new here? Did you just move into town or did you transfer schools?" Gray asked as the bell rang for lunch. He wasn't the only one that was asking questions as Lucy soon found her desk surrounded and everyone was asking questions that she couldn't keep track of.
"Come on guys, let her breathe a little" Lisanna smiled.
"Yeah, she can't answer if you keep demanding answers like that," Levy said. Lucy bit the inside of her cheek to keep her tears at bay.
'This isn't the first time. It isn't the first time. You are strong and you can do this' Lucy thought to herself.
"I just moved into town" Lucy smiled at them, showing none of the pain that she felt.
"So you're completely new around here huh? Well if you want anyone to show you around then feel free to ask" Erza smiled before she headed out of the classroom to meet up with her own friends.
"You know, there is something that I have been wondering about," Lucy admitted.
"Oh? Feel free to ask and we'll do our best to help you out" Levy smiled.
"Some of you guys are older or younger aren't you? Aren't normal schools broken up into different age groups?" Lucy asked.
"They are," Levy nodded.
"This school is a little different since it's a school that doesn't only train us in everyday subjects but also magic so we are each grouped together because of the person who chooses to teach us" Gray explained.
"Which reminds me, we haven't heard what magic you use Lucy" Lisanna smiled.
"Ah, I have summoning magic," Lucy lied. It's not like she could tell them the truth.
"That's magic where you can summon animal familiars right?" Levy smiled.
"Yeah, though I'm not really good at it, all I have managed to do is summon a little dog," Lucy admitted and ducked her head. She knew exactly how to act to make it so that they wouldn't continue to ask questions.
"I'm sure that you will get better the more that you practice" Lisanna tried to cheer her up.
"Hey, do you want to eat lunch with us today?" Levy offered.
"Sure" Lucy smiled even though it felt like she was breaking from the inside. What they didn't see was a pair of onyx eyes watching them, narrowed as he looked at the new student.