The Contract

Chapter 16

Levy sat down, on the steps of the Shrine, touching a barrier that moved like a wave. Her body still throbbed, but her body felt numb to it now. But was that a good thing?

"What are you doing?" She turns to see Larcade walking down the stairs. She didn't know how to feel about him yet. He did save Sting's life, but that didn't mean there was no ulterior motive. Larcade noticed her brown eyes search his face. He looked healthy with a lean body, and good 5 feet 8 inches. Tattoos were on his left arm, from his shoulder to wrist. He had blonde hair, and orange eyes. She found his eyes unique, and saw curiosity in them. She then turned her head back to the barrier.

"I am checking the barriers wave sequence. This mountain is already protected by the Shrine, but since I have built a barrier, I don't want them to contrast, but connect. Strengthen."

"I see." He sat beside her then, watching her. Curiously, he asks, "How does it feel? The energy I mean?"

He goes to touch it, but Levy grabs his arm, stopping him. "Once you touch it, it leaves your essence. It can be tracked by the wolves."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to, you know cause problems.. I just-I know when they talked about you...The dark Users, they said your soul is nothing but energy. It could create things; life or destroyed them. So, I wondered what it felt like. How everything feels to you."

"My soul is still apart of me. It is human like you, even my skin and emotions. I am not an object...However you are right." He nods, listening to her.

She seemed different than Kline or Scott. She seemed kind.

"Levy." Lucy stood there on top of the stairs, adding, "Everyone is heading inside to re group. Come on." Lucy looks at Larcade then. "You should come too. Everyone still needs to keep an eye on you."

Larcade nods. Once they got inside the Shrine, Levy sees Gajeel sitting on a table while everyone sat on the floor. The chatter of everyone quieted when Gajeel, knocked on the table, using his steel fist.

"We need to think about our next move." Gajeel's eyes turn towards her, only to have her look down. The jolt of pain radiated in her. Our eyes connected, Levy thought, damn.

"Levy are you alright?" Lucy asked, noticing veins on Levy's neck were noticeable, bulging out. Pulsing?

"I'm fine."

Lucy gives a frustrated look then turns her head toward Gajeel who was still watching Levy.

"Gajeel you need to forgive Levy already. Stop being stubborn."

The muscle in his jaw twitched.

"She is hurting, because of you. She only did what she did to save us. To save You!"

"Lucy is right. If she didn't do what she did, Levy would have died or worse. We would have all died." Mira said.

Gajeel looks at everyone seeing them nod. He then sighs, running his hand through his hair. There were right, he thought, taking a deep breathe before saying, "Levy, I am not mad at you. You can look at me, but you can't touch me yet. I still need time."

A wave of relief passed through her, the veins in her neck vanished. Levy saw the relief on Lucy's face too. Her eyelashes fluttered toward him, and her brown eyes look at him. He forgot how shocking her eyes were to him. Jesus, he thought, suddenly feeling restless. What was this restlessness?

"Thank you Gajeel. I know that I should have been honest, but-"

"I know. I know," He said, his red eyes leaving hers, taking another breathe. "I know that I may have over reacted a bit. I didn't want to hurt you, I don't want to. I just need time..."

She nodded, understanding.

"Back to our situation, we need to decide."

Everyone began to talk all at once, suggesting ideas. Gajeel blinked while Levy couldn't even hear her own thought.

"All of you yelling, is not helping. Calm down. We have time. My barrier will keep us safe as long as you don't walk passed the stairs." Levy said, watching them all look at her. She felt all of there emotions, and knew how anxious or frustrated they were.

"I promise you, they don't know where we are. This barrier hides us. The Shrine already had an alternate plain when we arrived. My powers reinforced that, so if they come, they would walk through the plain and not into us."

"Alternate plain?" Ezra asked.

Levy nodded, answering, "I know I didn't explain it all, but think of us in another universe. Or a different time on the planet." Silence took place then.

"Is that why the mountain is lush with forest?"

"No, like I said, The Shrine has a power to it already, protecting the mountain itself. Priests must have done something to it."

"Priests huh? I wonder where they are now. Men shouldn't run." Elfman commented, straightening up.

"They are probably dead." Flare said, brushing her red hair to the side.

Everything got quiet again. "Okay, thank you Levy for explaining it to us better. Now since we have time, we will come up with a plan. One person at a time." Gajeel said, listening to each and everyone.

"We could stay here as long as we can, and come up with weapons. Or even try to look for others who would fight with us."

"We don't know if we could trust them. I suggest that we strengthen up, and attack them."

"But there are too many. If we did attack them, it has to be in there territory."

"Wait, wait." Larcade spoke up, his eyes wide with clarity. They all look at him, some of there expressions, wary.

"I have been in there territory. I know where the layout. We could plan an attack right in there base."

Gajeel looked at Larcade, thinking for a moment.

"Juvia isn't sure she likes the idea." Juvia crosses her arms, looking at Larcade then Gajeel.

"It's true. We hardly know you yet, and you provide us this solution that could kill us."

"I understand. No matter what, I want to earn all of your trust."

"You have mine," said Levy who looked right into his eyes. Larcade blushes at that, smiling a little.

"Thank you."

Gajeel's eyebrow raised up, watching Larcade.

"I already trust him too." Lucy said, agreeing. Then Sting agreed and Wendy. Larcade looked a bit happy by that, and embarrassed. He clears his throat then, adding, "When you all decide on what plan, I will be on board with it. I want to help. I want things how they used to be."

"In the mean time, If you decide to go with my plan, I will have a layout drawn for you just in case. Even if we didn't use my plan, the details could be used."

Gajeel just looked at him as if weighing the option. Everyone was..."We will think about your proposal and come to an agreement eventually. For now, we should all get some sleep."