Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 78 - Crime Sorciere Pt. 2

The once ancient magic system lay as nothing more than a mountainous heap. Nature hadn't had enough time to reclaim it, as only a smattering of weeds had started climbing up its six appendages that once housed powerful lacrima. It was, in some ways, quite a bit still imposing even as it lay defeated in the dirt. It was a reminder, much like the fallen ruins of kingdoms past.

"It's huge," Millianna said. "I always pictured it as this little device."

"Not at all," Richard said.

Jellal stood at the top of the cresting hill alongside Kagura. Her hand rested, as it almost always seemed to, on Archenemy.

"They're coming," Kagura said.

"We'll meet them at the base of the ridge," Jellal said, pointing to where he wanted. "It'll be tight quarters. It'll encourage less of a fight. Not that I'm expecting a fight, but leaving ourselves unprepared would be foolish."

"August certainly knows what's happening," Kagura said. "They won't be coming alone."

"That's why we need a small spot," Jellal said. "We need to bottleneck Sorano and Erik."

"And the rest?"

"Macbeth and Sawyer can see to them."

Kagura nodded. "You mean to speak to them alone? You're not even an original member of the Seis. It should be one of their own that they hear from."

"As much negotiating as I want to do, I expect Richard to do almost as much."

The valley pushed a breeze around them, ruffling Jellal's cloak. Kagura's hair, always perfectly tied back behind her bunny-eared bow, stayed put.

"I sense a great evil in their wake, Jellal," Kagura said. "A fight's inevitable."

"Scared?"

"Never."

"Start moving into position."

Kagura moved silently down the ridge, calling Millianna, Meredy, and Tayaka with her. Macbeth and Sawyer listened as Kagura explained the plan.

Jellal slowly made his way down, hands clenched in tight balls at his side. The reunion of the original Oración Seis was paramount to the success of the rebellion. They knew, as well as anyone, how to be disruptive to critical systems. There was a reason the Guild Masters of Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, and Lamia Scale knew they had to team up to defeat them: letting the Seis move unchecked would have obliterated the status quo and order of things. Even beyond the Nirvana incident, each member of the original Seis proved that they were more than willing to go out of their way to go beyond the bounds of the law to do what they wanted.

"I am excited to see those two again," Richard said. "It has been far too long. I've worried endlessly for their safety."

"I'm sure the Empire has treated them well. They're two of their strongest wizards, after all."

"Still. Their malevolence knows no bounds." Richard looked over the ridge toward the rest of Nirvana's destruction. "I still hold that near to my heart, Jellal. That memory."

Jellal reached up and clasped Richard's shoulder. "I won't say to keep it there. But let that fire burn for a little longer."

"You know, I thought for a long time that it was Nirvana's magic that led me, ultimately, to the path I am on now. That of love. But I think not. I think it was only a catalyst. Iron Rock Jura showed me the path, Nirvana gave me the tools, but this has been my journey to walk with the rest of you."

"You've earned your freedom from the shackles that kept you bound for so long, Richard."

"We all have. It is why I know we must speak with Erik and Sorano, those still bound to the darkness captured in their souls. A darkness placed by Zeref and his Empire."