1 | Ascent [DISCONTINUED]

29 | WHAT WE DESERVE

ELVIRA DIDN'T KNOW WHAT it was about her, but surprisingly she was very good with children. For some reason, children stuck to her like glue, especially Rogue, and more recently Yukino. Before meeting Rogue, Elvira wasn't around kids as much, as Phantom Lord was primarily adults and all guilds before that, she and Gajeel were always the youngest. Due to her inexperience, she was surprised that she got along so well with children, but she glad that she was able. Had she not been able to, she wouldn't have gotten the chance to get to know Rogue, or even more recently Yukino.

About two weeks have passed since Elvira first met Yukino and gave her, her first celestial gate key. And in those two weeks, Elvira has been doing her best to ensure that the girl gets all the knowledge she needs to properly wield the gate key. Twice a week she goes to Dicentra Village with books and journals focused on celestial magic. Of course, Elvira wasn't able to teach the girl first hand, but by providing the girl knowledge, she was at least pointing her in the right direction. When Elvira wasn't helping Yukino with her magic, she was spending time with Rogue and the other children at the orphanage, alongside Totomaru. And when she wasn't spending time with them, she was doing deliveries for Moot Point.

Following Elvira's first successful delivery, Yoro decided to add the option of delivery to his business. Having delivery not only allowed him to reach more customers beyond Oak Town, but it allowed Elvira to get from behind the counter. Yoro could tell Elvira found more joy in going out than standing behind the counter, and because he disliked seeing her frown, he decided to provide the option of delivery for her sake. Of course, he benefited from it as well, but the main reason why he started it was for Elvira. While he stayed behind the counter and dealt with the in-store customers, she traveled around Oak Town and even beyond to deal with those outside deliveries. So far, the delivery business has been going great, although there admittedly have been a few hiccups.

"I'm sorry Rogue, but you can't come," Elvira says, looking down at the boy who wore a frown on his face. "It's too dangerous."

It was a new day, which meant a new day of work, which also meant new deliveries for Elvira. In total, there were six new deliveries, five of which came from Oak Town, but the last one, however, came from a village beyond Oak Town. After finishing the five deliveries in Oak Town, Elvira returned to Moot Point for a quick lunch before she set off. During her lunch break, Totomaru had come in with the children wondering if she was up for a park visit. Wanting to get the delivery done before nightfall, Elvira respectfully declined but promised to come by the orphanage before the children went to sleep.

When asked why she couldn't join them, Elvira revealed the job, only for Rogue to ask to come with. This wouldn't be the first time Rogue asked to join her on one of her deliveries, but it would be the first time she was very adamant about him not joining her. When Elvira had deliveries around Oak Town, as well as in the surrounding villages, she had no issue with bringing Rogue along. However, the issue with this delivery wasn't only the fact that it was far from Oak Town, but the fact that she needed to go through the East Forest to get there. Elvira knew what lurked in the forest, she knew how dangerous it could be, and because of that, she rejected any idea of bringing any children with her.

"But aren't all your deliveries dangerous?" Rogue questions. "Don't you take risks of being robbed every time to make one?"

"Yes," Elvira acknowledges, "but this time, the risks are bigger than some lousy thief, I'm talking about monsters."

"Monsters!" the four other children exclaimed.

"Yes, monsters," she further confirmed before bending down to Rogue's height. "Listen, Rogue, if I leave now I'll be back before sundown. And if Miss Tomoe allows it, I'll join you guys for dinner. Okay? Do we have a deal?"