Phoenix Storm || Fairy Tail [2]

➝ 𝐱. 𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜: 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙮 𝙧𝙪𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚
❛ 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴, 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶? ❜

◊

"The situation is far worse than we had imagined," Makarov sighed to himself as he looked out over the remains of the guild hall. Rose merely nodded, back pressed up against what was left of one of the walls.

"Do you really believe you can do this?"

Rose stared at him for a time. He wasn't facing her, so she couldn't make out his expression. A few curls of smoke twirled through the air lazily from his pipe. Could she do it?

She could.

Right?

They wouldn't be able to get there in time to prevent the release of the phoenix. That was certain... but they could at least put into place measures to protect the civilians. She and Makarov would be speaking with the council to organise troops who would help contain the threat and assist Veronica's military in evacuating the populace. Mobilising forces wasn't really Rose's area of expertise, but the process of convincing the council would be easier if she were there.

Once that was taken care of, they'd make haste to Veronica, and Rose would have to work to get rid of the phoenix once and for all. Up until then, it was up to the rest of the guild to contain it.

"... I am the best person for the job."

"That's all we need." Makarov set his pipe down and began to walk away. "Come. We must speak to the council."

Rose dipped her head. Cylene shifted nervously on her shoulder, azure eyes filled with worry.

"You know how dangerous this is, don't you? If anything goes wrong..."

"I know." Rose flicked Cylene's forehead discouragingly, effectively dispersing the serious atmosphere. "As I said, I'll take care of this."

◊

Éclair sat hunched over within the dark cell, back propped against a pile of rotting hay. Her ankle had been shackled to a metal loop on the stone floor, forcing her to remain in the damp corner, but the woman maintained a relatively calm expression.

The door to the cell glowed a faint gold as the charm preventing it from being opened was undone. Éclair looked up and saw that her captor, the Duke Cream, had entered along with Dyst. The latter stayed in the background as the Duke spoke.

"Oh, what great timing," Duke Cream sneered, fiddling with the necklace in his hands. He held aloft the broken stone medallion inquisitively before his grin widened further, "just what I was looking for. A fitting anniversary gift for my kingdom."

With a flick of his wrist, the Duke tossed the necklace carelessly at Éclair. She couldn't help but wince as it struck her head with an audible thunk.

"Listen to me," Éclair hissed, recovering quickly, "you mustn't revive the phoenix! Man cannot control its destructive power!"

"That's not true," Duke Cream leant over her, obviously pleased that he possessed the upper hand. "I can do whatever I please."

Éclair gritted her teeth and jolted her head suddenly, headbutting the Duke square in the nose. He staggered back with a gasp and reached for his face, prodding the tender skin, before a glare darkened his features. Then he grasped for something beneath his ceremonial sash, and withdrew a triangular dagger. With a flash of silver, he lunged out to cut the exposed skin on Éclair's shoulder.

Éclair screamed wordlessly and fell back against the wall, trembling as blood spurted from the wound. He had cut deep enough that it sprayed outwards instead of merely trickling.

"Now you listen to me!" Duke Cream pointed the blood-stained dagger at her threateningly, yelling, "I will repay you for your troubles by ending your miserable life! You have till tomorrow!"

The Duke turned with a flourish of his royal blue sash and stomped out the door. Dyst followed him silently, following which the guard shut the door once more; sealing Éclair back into the cell.

"That wench dared to strike me?!" the Duke snarled ferally, as he and Dyst made their way down the corridor of cells. Every few metres they'd pass an armour-clad soldier standing guard stoically.

"I have a feeling her comrades may try and fetch her," Dyst changed the topic, speaking for the first time in a while, "I shall have my men at the ready."

"See that you do."

Back in the cell, Éclair bit down on her lip to stifle her cries and tried to ignore the crimson bleeding out onto the stone floor below her.

◊

"You mean to tell us that the stones weren't just a legend?"

"Indeed," Makarov paused. "Nor was the phoenix's rebirth, or the power of eternal life. The Principality of Veronica will use all of these in a bid to conquer the Kingdom of Fiore."

"That's absurd!" a councilman exclaimed. "They don't have the resources to mount such an attack!"

"That's precisely why they had to resort to using such powerful ancient magic!"

The man at the head of the table leant forward, a wide-brimmed black hat casting deep shadows over his face.

"What are you suggesting? That we should launch a pre-emptive strike on one of the smallest sovereign nations?"

"I'll tell you what I suggest. In fact, I'm making an official request of the Magic Council. In accordance with Article 27 of the National Security Directive, I ask you to issue a threat elimination order so as to secure the citizen's lives and property. This is the only way to prevent this monster's return!"

"Know your place, sir!" the man from earlier stood up from his chair. "We need to examine all relevant information before we act!"

Makarov scowled, his voice becoming louder.

"I told you, we don't have that kind of time! If you're questioning the power of a phoenix, I can assure you that there is no need to do so."

The man at the head of the table stiffened, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his staff. "What do you mean? Do you have evidence here?"

"I do," Rose interrupted coldly, surveying the mages surrounding the table apathetically. 

Published: 24/01/2019