During the Seven Years

Chapter 29

With my heart pounding, I reach the top of the stairs and step into the main hall of Crimson Blood's guild. The room is dimly lit, its dark elegance casting a sinister shadow over every corner—red velvet drapes, polished black stone floors, and chandeliers hanging like thorny crowns above. But none of that matters when my eyes land on the crowd waiting for me.

Several mages stand ready, each of their faces twisted with either hatred or amusement. At the center are three women radiating such powerful auras that they eclipse everyone else in the room. One of them I recognize immediately—the purple-haired woman who had captured me, her smirk a mocking reminder of my earlier defeat. But the other two are strangers. One has long, wavy teal hair styled into two high ponytails. Her eyes are large and amber-colored, with detailed highlights. She wears a ruffled white top with teal accents, adorned with an ornate pendant featuring a green gemstone at the center. Her earrings are delicate and match her elegant style.

Beside her stands a woman with long, flowing black hair with a slight wave, giving a sense of motion. She has large, expressive amber eyes that add intensity to her gaze. Her outfit is a blue, sleeveless top with intricate silver detailing, including a decorative strap across her chest and metallic accents resembling flower patterns on her shoulder and waist.

The weight of their presence presses down on me, sending chills along my spine. I know instantly that they're no ordinary opponents. Every instinct screams that they are leagues above the other mages in the room, and my grip tightens on my keys. But I can't let fear stop me—not now. I force myself to meet their gazes, pushing down my panic.

The purple-haired woman steps forward, a sneer tugging at her lips. "Escaping from your cell so soon? You're full of surprises, I'll give you that. But this is as far as you go." She glances at the other two women with a smirk. "Shall we show her how we handle intruders?"

I swallow, barely keeping my voice steady. "I've faced worse," I say, hoping I sound braver than I feel. "I'm not afraid of you."

The teal-haired girl's eyes flash with amusement as she raises a hand, twirling her fingers gracefully. "You're so brave," she murmurs, her voice soft but dripping with malice. "I wonder how long that'll last." She flicks her wrist, and shimmering petals materialize around her, growing into thick, thorny vines that spiral and coil with menacing beauty.

Without missing a beat, the black-haired woman raises her hand, her fingers glowing as a crackling red magic circle forms beneath her. Her light brown eyes meet mine, a cold smile playing on her lips. "I hope you can dance, Fairy Tail girl," she taunts. "Because I don't miss."

I barely have time to register her words before she slams her hand to the ground. The floor erupts in a blaze of red and orange, a powerful explosion tearing through the air, forcing me to leap back as the blast nearly knocks me off my feet. The shockwave sends my hair flying, and the heat stings my skin as I roll to the side, narrowly dodging another explosion that leaves a crater where I had just been standing.

I'm outnumbered, but I have no choice. I summon one of the few spirits I know can help. I pull out Scorpio's key, my determination flaring to life. "Open, Gate of the Scorpion! Scorpio!"

A whirlwind of sand swirls beside me, and Scorpio materializes, his eyes sharp as he sizes up the situation. "Looks like we've got some tough customers, Lucy," he says, his usual confidence tempered by focus.

"We'll handle it," I say, determination hardening my voice. "Let's show them what we can do."

Scorpio wastes no time, aiming his tail at the charging mages. "Sand Buster!" he shouts, unleashing a fierce blast of sand that whips across the room, forcing several mages to shield themselves from the stinging grit. The sandstorm provides us with a moment's reprieve, but it's short-lived.

The teal-haired female steps forward, her expression calm, almost serene, as she raises her hand again. The thorny vines ripple and twist, slicing through Scorpio's sand as they shoot toward us with terrifying speed. I dodge, feeling the sharp edges graze my arm, leaving a shallow cut that stings as blood seeps through my sleeve.

Scorpio shifts to block the attack, whipping up another sandstorm. "Back off!" he yells, sweeping his tail in a wide arc to deflect the vines. But his effort is cut short as another explosion erupts nearby, and the black-haired woman strides forward, her hand still glowing with fiery energy.

She smirks, watching me with those calculating light brown eyes. "Explosion magic," she says, her tone smug. "I hope you can keep up."

She slams her palm into the ground again, and the resulting blast rocks the hall, sending me sprawling backward. The force of the explosion rings in my ears, and I struggle to stand, my vision blurring as I fight to stay focused.

The teal-haired woman takes advantage of my distraction, flicking her wrist as the vines surge toward me once more. They're faster this time, weaving through the air with a life of their own, their sharp thorns glinting ominously. I barely manage to roll out of the way, feeling the sting as one vine lashes across my shoulder.

"Enough of this!" I shout, forcing myself to my feet despite the pain. I can't afford to give up—not when I'm this close.

Scorpio repositions beside me, his expression grim as he readies another attack. "Lucy, let's go all out," he says, the sand gathering around him in a dense, swirling cloud.

Together, we charge forward. Scorpio unleashes a blast of sand at the teal-haired woman, but she stands her ground, summoning a thick wall of vines to block the attack. I dodge an incoming explosion from the black-haired woman, my heart racing as I weave between their attacks, looking for an opening.

But it's not enough. The two of them are relentless, their magic combining to create a near-impenetrable assault. My movements grow sluggish, each dodge taking more out of me as exhaustion claws at my muscles.

Just when it seems I'm out of options, the loud crash of doors slamming open echoes through the hall. The mages freeze, turning in shock, and I glance over to see Jellal, Ultear, and Meredy stepping through the doorway, their expressions fierce and unyielding.

Jellal's voice rings out, cold and commanding. "Get away from her."