The Devil Slayer & The Steam Prince Volume1

Chapter 13 Solitary Part3

Antonio's POV: I'm at the FairyTail guild and talking with Erza while she and Mira the she-devil give me their autographs, while Seth gets the rest of the autographs I wanted. "So does your family often have many parties?" Erza asks me as she looks over at me while I pace around waiting on Seth's return. "Often enough and besides it makes me and mom happy to throw them especially now that Seth is attending after his hiatus and year-long travels I was so happy to see him when he came in his fathers place and my mom also seemed so happy to see how he has grown up and yet could still see her friends young son in him, I say to the she-knight as I explain how our families know of each other." ———————————————————————
Eventually, Seth comes from the basement steps and hands me the pile of autographs. "Sorry to keep you but I'm ready now, Seth says with a bright smile." As we walk through the store I see my childhood friend who is now a guild mage pick out 2 costumes and femmenises some parts of them and even makes masks that match each costume. "Whatcha think of a phoenix turning into a swan think I could pull it off." Seth says as he holds the 2 costumes side by side. "Yeah besides water is more harmless where fire is more harmful for a dance plus I'm sure it would give you an advantage if during the dance we vote for best costume." I reply———————————————————————
"I don't know if I should pick out a costume for him or just have him dress in regular dress attire." Seth says walking in circles. "Well doesn't he have his Fantasia Parade outfit still I'm sure that would work as a happy medium." I suggest. "Yeah guess ur right that does seem to suit him well." My friend says as he finally stops pacing around in a circle. "So why do u seem so distant from the team, Erza told me u keep ur distance on jobs." I ask as I drive us out to grab lunch.———————————————————————
"Well it's my health I've given them enough scares already I don't want them to keep worrying about me so I keep to myself and don't use my magic except shadow magic for stealth." Seth says somberly. "So you're forcing yourself into a state of solitary because your scared that something might happen to you and you don't want to scare them with it, Seth that's crazy they are your guild family they are going to care and be worried for you whether you force yourself into solitude or you are your old self full of fun light and smiling laughter." I tell him as we look through our menus.———————————————————————
"I know I know but I just can't help it right now this soon into the guild I just don't want to be a burden or liability to them is all." He says after sighs a deep breath. "Alright, I gotcha don't worry I won't keep pushing the subject." I say as I look at him and see how depressed he really is. "Do you think they are talking about you back at the guild." I ask him with a tilted head. "If they are I hope it isn't anything about me keeping my distance." He says as we walk around in some more shops.———————————————————————
Meanwhile back at the guild———————————————————————
Ezra's POV: As I sit with my team I can't help but think of our trip with Seth and how he was acting at points. "Hey, Erza you okay." I hear someone say but I am just too deep in thought "ERZA!" Someone shouts at me and so I snap out of it. "Sorry everyone I was thinking about the trip we took with Seth before he was put under house arrest." I say to my team. "Oh ok, maybe we can tell you what we noticed and enjoyed about him during the trip." Lucy suggests." ———————————————————————
"That sounds like a good idea." I reply to her. Lucy tells me she liked when Seth used his magic while swimming in order to look like a dolphin, Wendy said she liked hearing his music, Natsu found it cool that Seth was friendly and had good taste in food, Juvia liked his dancing and his fashion sense. All that was left to speak of my friends was Gray who looked up at the ceiling for a while before speaking "I like that he is willing to talk about his past and also I think he is kinda cute and innocent looking when he sleeps." Gray says before looking away from us all.———————————————————————
I then am shocked speechless at what I just heard but I manage to get a few words out. "You think Seth looks cute and innocent when he sleeps how?" I ask the ice mage. "Well when he sleeps on his side he has one leg out the sheet and he wraps it around the sheet leg he also rests his hands by his face. If he sleeps on his back he will have one of his hands rest above his head while his other hand hangs off the side of the bed and he turns his face towards the side the hanging hand is on, after all he and I shared a room during the trip and he was always the first of the two of us to fall asleep." Gray explains to us.———————————————————————
I just sneakily write his answers down before speaking to the ice mage. "Okay, I will keep that in mind, I say to him as I get up." As I'm about to head for the door for a cake run because I was craving cake, the door opens and Seth and Antonio walk in. "Welcome back I didn't think you would be gone for such a short time I thought you would of at most come back during dinner time." I say to the boys in front of me. "Yeah well, we found our costumes and what not even grabbed a bite to eat now I just want to be left to myself and my music, Antonio do me a favor and give the plus one ticket to the one I told you on my behalf." Seth says as he answers me and then looks at his friend.———————————————————————
"Sure thing buddy you go relax I got this." Antonio says to the mage. "Thank you my dearest friend." Seth replies soft and sweetly. I then see Seth go up to his room and Antonio tap Gray on the shoulder with an envelope. Gray takes it from him and Antonio walks back towards me in order to exit and leave. I decide not to leave yet and instead read the letter for over Gray's shoulder.———————————————————————
"You are cordially invited as the plus one of the guest listed below to the Bartell family Halloween bash." Costumes aren't mandatory but are preferred." there is then a small note that reads "Your Fantasia parade outfit would be a most welcome sight." the end of the letter states the date of the event and the time to show up. "I guess that means your Seth's plus one to this event and in a way to satisfy me his security during the event Gray that sure is nice of him to have you attend with him." I say as I fold the letter back up for him and place it in-front of him.———————————————————————
"I guess it does and besides it's rare I get to wear my festival outfit it should be a nice change of environment for a night." Gray responds plainly. "If they decide to do a pairing dance contest u may have to dance with him your ok with that right?" I say with a raised eyebrow. "Well it's not like he is throwing himself at me like Juvia does so sure I guess I'll join him in dancing." Gray says with a shrug. "I'll let him know." Lucy states as she takes the letter and heads for Seth's room. I just shrug it off guessing he told her about his feelings for the ice mage and so I just leave for my cake run.———————————————————————
Seth's POV: I'm up in my room playing my guitar and just relaxing but then I hear the annoying sound of a knock on my door. "Yeah what is it!" I call out loudly. "Um, It's Lucy I came to give you Gray's answer to the invite," Lucy says out from the hall. I then take a deep breath and just open it and sit nervously as I await her verbal answer. "He said he will attend and wear the fantasia attire and yes to joining you in dancing if there is a pairing dance contest." The zodiac mage finally says. "Thanks for letting me know Lucy I appreciate it now if you will excuse me ill be out back coming up with dance moves for the contest, I say with a soft smile and walk past her and leap over the second-floor railing and land on the ground floor." ———————————————————————
I then walk out back and dance with a shadow clone and during the dance practice I'm wrapped in its arms and then it spins me outwards and so I spin in place and at the end I hold my hand out the shadow takes it and I give a flashy pose before bowing with my eyes shut and soon I hear clapping. I open my eyes and see Erza just side leaning nearby and watching. "That's stunning I'm sure you can take first place all on your own if you dance and if Gray just uses his magic, Erza says while walking up to me." "Thanks but did you come just to spy on me or was there an actual reason with something to tell me I say as I dispel my shadow clone." ———————————————————————
The she-knight then tells me what she and the others were talking about while I was out with Antonio earlier. "Also care to explain why you been so distant from us so suddenly Erza says as she sets her hands on her hips. "I just feel that I don't want to scare the team and I have already scared you all twice so I don't wanna feel like a liability there you have your answer are we done yet, I say with a sharpness to my voice." I then just walk away with my hands balled together against my chest and continue to avoid everyone until the ball.