Fairy Tail:Celestial Tempest [NaLu]

Gathering information

The forest was behind her now, but the memory of the battle still lingered. Lucy stepped out of the shadows and into the light of a  town . She adjusted her cloak, pulling the hood over her head, and made her way through the crowded streets of Fiore.

She approached a market stall, her eyes scanning the crowd. 'I need to find someone who knows about Dark Vortex,' she thought, her grip tightening on her celestial keys hidden beneath her cloak.

"Excuse me," she said, addressing the vendor. "I'm looking for information on dark mages. Specifically, a group called Dark Vortex. Have you heard of them?"

The vendor's eyes widened, and he glanced around nervously. "Dark Vortex, you say? They're a dangerous lot. Best to steer clear of them."

"I need to find them," Lucy pressed, her voice steady. "Can you help me or point me to someone who can?"

The vendor hesitated, then nodded towards a tavern at the end of the street. "Try the Broken Wand. There are people there who might know what you're looking for."

"Thank you," Lucy replied, slipping him a few coins before heading towards the tavern.

The Broken Wand was dimly lit and filled with the murmur of hushed conversations. Lucy made her way to the bar, her eyes scanning the room for anyone who looked like they might have information.

She approached the bartender, a burly man with a grizzled beard. "I'm looking for information on Dark Vortex," she said quietly.

The bartender's expression darkened. "Why are you asking about them?"

"I have my reasons," Lucy replied, her voice firm. "Can you help me or not?"

The bartender studied her for a moment before nodding. "There's a man in the corner booth. Name's Marcus. He knows a thing or two about Dark Vortex."

Lucy nodded her thanks and made her way to the corner booth. A man with a scar running down his face looked up as she approached. "You Marcus?" she asked.

"Who's asking?" he replied, his eyes narrowing.

"Someone who's looking for Dark Vortex," Lucy said, sliding into the seat across from him.

Marcus leaned back, his eyes assessing her. "Why would a girl like you want to tangle with them?"

"That's my business," Lucy shot back. "What do you know about them?"

Marcus sighed, running a hand through his hair. "They're a large group, spread across Fiore and even into other countries. They've got bases in the east, west, north, and south. The group in the Forbidden Forest was just a branch. The main group is much more secretive and dangerous."

Lucy leaned forward, her eyes intense. "Do you know where their main base is?"

Marcus shook his head. "No one does. They're good at covering their tracks. But I've heard rumors that their leader moves around a lot. Never stays in one place for long."

"Do you know anything about their leader?" Lucy asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Marcus hesitated. "Not much. He's a shadow, a ghost. But I've heard he's powerful, ruthless. You don't want to cross him."

"I don't have a choice," Lucy said, determination burning in her eyes. "I need to find him."

Marcus studied her for a moment before nodding. "There's a contact in the northern mountains. Goes by the name of Elara. She might have more information. But be careful. If you're not careful, you might not come back."

"I'll take my chances," Lucy replied, standing up. "Thank you."

Lucy left the tavern behind, her thoughts consumed by the information Marcus had provided. 'The northern mountains,' she thought, determination settling into her bones. 'That's where I need to go next.' The road stretched out before her, and she knew it would be a long journey, but she was prepared for whatever lay ahead.

"North, huh?" she muttered to herself, glancing at the sun as it began its descent in the sky. "That's quite far from here. This place is east, so it looks like I've got a long journey ahead of me."

Her first stop was the remaining branch groups of the Dark Vortex in the east. If she could gather more information on their numbers and locations, it would give her an advantage. The Forbidden Forest was just one base; there had to be more. She decided to start by questioning the surviving members of the Dark Vortex in the eastern regions.

After days of travel and discreet inquiries, she found herself in the desolate outskirts of a small village near the border of the Eastern Badlands. The air was heavy with tension, and the locals avoided eye contact as she walked by. She approached a group of rough-looking men huddled near a rundown tavern.

"Excuse me," Lucy said, her voice firm. "I'm looking for information on the Dark Vortex. How many bases do they have in the east, including the Forbidden Forest?"

The men exchanged wary glances before one of them stepped forward, a sneer on his face. "Why should we tell you anything, girl?"

Lucy met his gaze steadily,  she release some of her magic aura strong enough to make the man shiver in fear and stare at him like he's going to die. "Because if you don't, you'll regret it."

The man's shiver and fear, and he glanced at his companions before speaking. "There are six bases in total in the east, including the Forbidden Forest. The others are scattered in the towns of Greythorn, Raven's Hollow, and Blackstone, and the more hidden ones in the Sunken Marshes and Shadow's End."he said while in fear tone

Lucy nodded, committing the information to memory. "Thank you," she said, turning to leave.

As she walked away, she couldn't help but feel the weight of the task ahead of her. 'Six bases,' she thought, her determination unwavering. 'I'll start with the nearest one and work my way through.'