EMPIRE | j. fernandes

Chapter Five: Mystogan

"I want every inch of the castle to be examined." His eyebrows narrowed. "Please, l don't want an inch untouched." Mystogan was furious. He was grateful that Fairy Tail had managed to stop his father from killing innocents to process into lacrima; it was honestly horrifying the more you thought about it. Faust had piled up living corpses and used them as energy to disperse their bodies over the Kingdom of Edolas for eternal power. Just the idea of it made Mystogan shiver.

With a quiet sigh, the king glanced down to the papers set on the wooden desk before him. He tapped his pen, the black ink marking the papers. Mystogan hadn't always been too organized. He was indeed careful with his belongings, but he had to definitely work on keeping his belongings together. Mystogan had lost those violet pills, the ones he had given to the mages in Fairy Tail back down in Earthland. He needed them, he needed to go back down to Earthland for... a special occasion.

Porcelain fingertips grazing against his skin. He could remember it so vividly. The salty liquid leaking from his hazel hues, his lips parted at the thought of something quite important to him. He missed it, he missed all of it so dearly.

"Excuse me sir, I mean— "

"What is it?" Mystogan let out a light sigh, turning his gaze to face the other. "Could you not find them?"

"No, my apologies." The man fixed his armour before standing upright. "We can keep looking, but I'm not quite sure if— "

"It's fine. I'll just have to make do." The bluenette regarded as the other left, soon returning to his previous activities. " ... " Were they really lost? That was the only safe form of teleportation he had to visit Earthland. He'd have to pinpoint something, and something quick. The timezones were opposites, if he didn't leave by afternoon, he would surely be screwed.

Taking a seat at his desk, he grew tired. Surely they hadn't gone missing. He must've put that vial somewhere. His digits had meddled with the drawer at his desk. Out of curiosity, he opened it. "Excuse me." He called out to the knight. The armoured man stopped, turning back around to see the king.

"You called?"

He began to observe the bottom of the drawer, his fingers pressing down on it. It was a false bottom. With a hum, he managed to open it; a collection of vessels that held the pills he had been looking for throughout the castle. Why had there been so many? And why had they been hidden away all of this time? Either way, Mystogan had found what he needed. "Call off the search, I've found what I've been looking for." Mystogan pulled out a half- empty glass vial. "I apologize for making you all worry."

With a nod, the knight hurried his way back to the others to inform them about their current situation.

Mystogan's orifices scanned the room, twisting the lid of the vial to open it, tilting it for a pill to descend into the palm of his hand. He slipped the glass vessel into his pocket, his gaze now fixated on the tiny sphere- like pill. It was time, he had to go quick. Maybe it would be morning by the time he got down to Earthland. Mystogan didn't mind.

When eyeing the small pill, chills had gone up his spine. It's been a year since he's visited her, and he didn't want to make a fool of himself. He knew his counterpart would be there too, at least, that was what he hoped. Mystogan hadn't met his counterpart just yet, but he had seen him from afar on various occasions. It would be quite eerie, seeing— no, meeting himself from another "world." Just the thought almost made the man insecure. Then again, what was there to be insecure about? He was a king.

With another exhale, Mystogan had finally decided. He had already spoken to the others, leaving Erza Knightwalker in charge while he was gone for the next two days.

Between his index and thumb, he took a hold of the pill, admiring it. He let it fall back into his palm. His head tilted back, cupping his hand slightly to roll the drug to make its way down into entry. It tasted almost like grape; though the taste only lasted up until the capsule had fallen down his gullet. His hazel eyes had drifted backwards, rolling to the back of his head before he could feel himself grow quite fatigue. Once his lids had managed to close, it was only a matter of seconds before he had opened them up once more, only to see the cerulean sky.

That's when he began to panic. He had completely forgotten about his disguise. His head jolted, his chin making contact just above his collarbone. Feeling his face, he let out a relieved sigh once he confirmed he was indeed wearing his mask. Then again, everyone in Fairy Tail had seen his face. Mystogan merely wore the mask so they'd be able to pick him out more easy. Though, the magic council still hadn't had a clue about the situation. It was only fair he kept his mask on until further notice.

"Oh thank goodness" Mystogan mumbled to himself, his gaze shifting away. He had noticed something quite bizarre, hearing familiar voices from a short distance away. He had hidden behind something, his head tilting forward slightly to get a glimpse of who it might've been.

"I can't believe he left us, what a bitch." Someone lightly quipped. It was a girl.

"That's a little rude to say, don't you think?" The girl had bubblegum locks.

Ah, was this Crime Sorcière? Where was Jellal? With further speculation, Mystogan had come to the conclusion Jellal had gone somewhere without the rest of the guild. At least, that's what he had gotten out of Sorano's impertinent remark. That got him thinking, if Jellal wasn't with the guild, where was he? Mystogan had forgotten the occasion, but it soon came back to mind. "Oh, I'm just being dumb?" Mystogan jested to himself.

With a sharp turn, he took off.

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INDEX
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