Child of Magic | jerza

Queen of Shadows [4]

"Erza? Can you hear me?" Ultear asked, lifting me off the horse.

"Mm," I muttered.

I don't know how long I had passed out for. But Jellal and the others were no where in sight. Ultear lay me beside a small river. 

"You survived the Dorocha attack because you have magic, right?" Ultear asked. I couldn't reply because my entire body was still numb but I managed a small shake of my head.

"Hm..You're right. A couple of people did survive. But they died afterwards. Not saying you're going to die, of course."

"Evening already," Ultear sighed. "We don't even have a torch. I don't want to leave you either. This is going to be a problem. I hope we don't encounter any Dorocha."

Evening already? Had I been passed out for almost a day?

I decided to try not to worry and get some sleep.

~ ~ ~

"Ultear Milkovich."

Ultear's eyes flew open and she reached for her sword. She gasped. The river was glowing a beautiful silver and thousands of bubbles were floating up to the night sky. But what surprised her most were the faces within the bubbles.

"We are the Vilia, spirits of the river."

"Please help me," Ultear begged.

"We understand your pain. Rest, Ultear. We will protect you from the Voices of the Dead and heal Zarina."

"Zarina?" Ultear asked.

"Sleep..Sleep.."  the Vilia chanted. With heavy eyelids, Ultear fell asleep.

~ ~ ~

"Erza?" Ultear asked, brushing leaves from her long hair. "Where are you?"

"Boo!" I yelled, shaking her shoulders.

Ultear yelped and scooted back while I laughed. "Looks like you're all better."

"I know, it's a miracle!" I exclaimed, touching my face. Nothing was numb anymore. And what was better was that we could go back and find Jellal.

"There were these bubble things with faces that protected us and healed you," she said. I smiled, knowing that if she told anyone else she would be sent to an insane asylum.

"The Vilia?"

"Yeah! That's the name!"

I turned towards the river and bowed my head, muttering a blessing.

Ultear copied me. 

"We should chase after Jellal," I told her, mounting the horse.

"Wait- Erza. Why did the Vilia call you Zarina?"

I took a deep breath. "It's my Druid name."

"Like a secret name?" she asked.

"Yeah, something like that. But promise me..never tell anyone. Most magical creatures know my Druid name and so do the Druids, of course. But if an enemy..or Minerva."

"I understand," Ultear whispered, her eyes shining. She laid a hand on my shoulder. "You can trust me."

~ ~ ~

"This is a shorter route," Jellal said, peering into the cave.

"How do you know?" Natsu asked skeptically.

"He's the king," Gajeel groaned. "Just keep quiet."

Jellal managed a weak smiled. "I have no clue what I'm doing, Gajeel. Don't blame Natsu for asking."