The Sixteen Elemental Dragons

Changing One's Ways and A New Couple

Wendy and Mira carefully laid Chaos against a wall to rest.

Slowly, she leaned to the side and let her head fall on Fuyu's shoulder, causing a small grin to appear on her face moments after.

Seconds later, Fuyu's head tilted to the side and laid on top of Chaos', making everyone smile at the two.

Levy, Mat, and Chikyū then went to work on deciphering the wall's runes and search the books with Ellie and Mina's help.

Gajeel, Natsu, Erza, and Laxus rounded up the lackeys and tied them up in groups of twenty, ending off with Sora in front of the crowd.

Sora woke up a few minutes after the fight ended and guessed that most of the others were at the same level as Fuyu and Chaos, so he let them tie him up and say with his lackeys to avoid any more conflict.

"Sora. Why did you even think there would be any treasure left if we haven't found anything yet." Chikyū asked, sitting in front of him with Mat and Erza to her sides.

"I didn't know you hadn't found anything. I was told you kept everything you found in the dig site." he informed while looking at the stone floor, getting a slight look of disbelief from the three mages in front of him after he finished.

"You're...terrible at lying." Erza commented, shaking her head in disappointment.

"So what? I don't have to tell you anythi-!" Sora protested until he saw a few stray sparks come into view from behind him.

"Now that you know what will most likely happen if you don't answer my questions, will you cooperate?" Erza stated coldly.

Sora looked back at Laxus, whom had a slightly sadistic look on his face, for a few seconds and returned his gaze to Erza. "...Fine..." he complied.

"Good choice. Now, tell me. Why did you attack this place?" Erza interrogated.

Sora took a deep breath and stared directly into the red-headed woman's eyes. "We are from the mercenary guild, Mammoth's Tusk. My men and I were hired by someone to stop anyone from working here at the dig site. I was told that these ruins meant a great deal to him." he answered.

Mat and Chikyū raised an eyebrow at the young man and asked "Who exactly hired you?" simultaneously.

"I don't know his name, but he is around my height and looks like he is at least sixty years old." Sora replied, looking embarrassed that he didn't know all the details.

Laxus sighed and walked away, finding this entire thing annoying, and sat with Wendy and Mira.

Erza smiled. "Alright. Then your job here is done. We aren't excavating this place. We're here to decipher the runes and books. That's all." she commented.

Sora looked at her and could tell she wasn't lying after being unable to think of a reason for why she would need to lie. "Okay, but I wanna talk to those two over there before my men and I leave." he stated, making a movement with his head to make the three look at Fuyu and Chaos.

"Sure." Erza allowed, smiling at the two sleeping teens.

"But after we get everyone here treated and that includes you." Natsu stated, walking up to them with a ball of ire in his palm. "I'm gonna melt the ice and heal any areas where frostbite exists while Wendy will tend to your more physical wounds." he commented, looking over the many people with ice or freezing cold skin with the appearance of being dried up on their bodies.