During the Seven Years

Chapter 26

It doesn't take long for us to arrive at the inn. I stare at the building before us with a serious expression on my face, sensing something unsettling about this city. Could it be the presence of Crimson Blood nearby?

Meredy places a hand on her hip. "What now?"

"All we need to do is get a room," Ultear says, casting a glance at her, her voice steady despite Meredy's visible nervousness.

"Let's go!" I lead the way inside, with Ultear, Meredy, and Jellal trailing behind me. At the counter, a young man greets us.

"Hi. Can I help you?"

Jellal steps forward. "We need a room for a few nights. Do you have any available?"

The man taps on a lacrima, scrutinizing the display before him. "We've got two rooms left: one with two queen beds and one with a king bed."

My heart hammers. There's no way we can share the king-sized bed, so the two queens it is.

"We'll take the two queens," Ultear replies. After some more details are settled, we're handed the keys and make our way to the room.

Once inside, Meredy flops onto the bed while Jellal removes his cloak, looking as serious as ever. "Before we plan our move against Crimson Blood, let's settle in and relax. We'll need our strength."

Ultear nods, agreeing with his assessment. "It's hard to say how long this mission will take, especially if Crimson Blood is as strong as the Balam Alliance."

As we discuss the gravity of the situation, Meredy groans from her bed, clearly too tired to think about it. Ultear narrows her eyes at her but says nothing, heading to the shower instead.

I glance at Jellal, who puts his cloak back on and heads for the door. "Wait, where are you going?"

"Just walking around," he says casually, then adds, "Want to come?"

Surprised, I nod and follow him out. Walking with Jellal feels surreal, knowing the complicated history he shares with Erza. My heart races as we wander through the city, its vibrant lights and busy streets a stark contrast to Jellal's somber demeanor.

"I've never been to Crocus before," he admits, head lowered in regret. "I wish my past didn't force me into hiding."

I offer him a reassuring smile. "You're trying to make amends. That's all that matters."

He sighs, but I can tell my words bring him some comfort. We continue walking when, suddenly, a child's voice cries out from a nearby alleyway. Without hesitation, I charge in, finding a group of mages surrounding a small boy. Rage flares within me as I confront them.

"Stop picking on him!"

The mages laugh, but I won't back down. It doesn't take long for us to arrive at the inn. I stare at the building before us with a serious expression on my face, sensing something unsettling about this city. Could it be the presence of Crimson Blood nearby?

The mages laugh, but I won't back down. I swing my whip and knock two mages to the ground, their bodies crashing into the dirt with sickening thuds. The others charge at me, their feet pounding the cobblestone, the sound of a rising drumbeat in the alley. I pivot on my heel and deliver a swift kick to one of them, feeling the resistance of flesh and bone beneath my boot, while another mage is hurled into a building with the crack of stone as my whip wraps around him and yanks hard.

More of them come. My breath hitches, eyes flashing with intensity. I can't back down now!

A mage with a sword charges at me, his steel blade glinting in the pale moonlight. I barely have time to dodge as his weapon slices the air where I stood seconds before. My whip snaps out, the leather curling around his wrist, and with a powerful tug, I rip the sword from his hand. He stumbles, and I follow through with a spinning kick to his jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground.