Dearth of Gold (Elden Ring X Fairy Tail)

Consensus is reached among your multitude. The strands loosen one by one, then by dozens and hundreds, and tens of thousands more.

The people bunkering down below Fairy Tail enter the ranks of the rare few to see Malenia the Severed dumbfounded. Not a one truly understands the significance of their observation. Not a one bears the strength to be your host, your fleeting touch only revealing moments of thoughts and feelings. Their first master, who slumbers below in self-imposed coma, would qualify. But Ankhseram's grasp on her is too firm. You can not risk challenging an equal at this juncture, not with Ranni on the hunt.

Malenia's gaze continues to trail your tendrils as they leave. Some remain yet, laying upon her skin; you know her thoughts and feelings still, but her will is once again her own. She knows it too, though she can not fathom why you made the choice you did.

Taking a deep breath, the lady of war centers herself. She feels little different to before, but a difference is indeed there.

Lucy has returned to brooding, a small spell circle glittering over her palm. It is inactive yet, merely formed. The younger woman is pleasant enough company, Malenia reasons. Her own connections upon the nobility of this kingdom aside, Fairy Tail is a powerful ally to have. This is a relationship worth cultivating.

"Would this be one of those keys?" Malenia asks, primarily to regain Lucy's attention. She draws the golden implement to show it, prompting Lucy's eyes to go wide. "It was gifted to me some months back."

"Yes, it is! And it's a Zodiac Key even!" Lucy cheers, her mood suddenly reversed. She leans forward with manic energy, studying the sign upon the key's handle. "It's Sagittarius, the archer," she identifies with ease. "I guess that fits, he is very formal too."

Malenia's brow twitches, but does not arch. She wordlessly places the key on the table and pushes it over to Lucy, whose expression turns to naked disbelief.

"B-But, are you sure? Is this not your key?"

"I have no use for a tool I can not deploy. The blade is my implement. You may have this, Lucy, as a token of my support in times of crisis."

Silence settles heavy upon the room, adding a sense of tension to their exchange. Lucy reaches out with clear hesitance, gingerly picking up the offer key. The going rate for a one-of-a-kind magic item flits through her mind, followed by a moment of nausea at the thought of having to pay it. But she understands through Malenia's silence that no price is asked.

"Thank you," she says softly. "Truly."

Then her expression firms up. Lucy stands and steps back to gain space. Ethernano gathers around her as she channels it into the key, which in turn begins to gleam. A bright yellow gate comes into being by her side.

"Oh stars upon the sky," Lucy intones, eyes turned inward, "Kaus Australis, greatest star of the centaur, hear my vow! I am Lucy Heartfilia, and I call forth the eternal huntsman! Open, Gate of the archer! Sagittarius!"

The light kept compounding on itself, growing brighter with each sentence. Until Lucy's call of the spirit's name makes it all release in a single wave of power. It crests across the room, stealing most of the guild's breath away.

Malenia watches in interest how a portal opens amidst the circle to admit a man in the guise of a horse. She can not help but arch a brow at the bipedal full-body suit, thinking of how inefficient wearing it must be. His angular features and black hair are secondary observations in comparison.

Sagittarius stands ramrod straight, his right arm raised in perfect salute. "Good day to you, mistress Lucy," he greets in an even voice. "T'has been many a year since last we met. I am ready and willing to offer my services once again."

As he speaks, Malenia realises that the horse head's eyes move separately from Sagittarius's. The archer bears not one pair, but two.

For her part, Lucy is beaming. "I'm so glad!" she cheers, then leaps forward to wrap her arms around the stoic archer. His posture does not change, but his hand lowers to softly pat her head twice.

"The pleasure is all mine, young mistress. Now the contract?"

"Yes, sure."

A quick set of negotiations follows, though they can hardly be called that. It seems that Celestial Spirits have their preferences in conduct toward their summoner, as well as the times they can be summoned. Sagittarius categorically refuses Mondays as well as nighttime summonings; Lucy negotiates for an exception in case of emergency, though her not abusing that clause seems to be a matter of good faith. Outside of that, he does not request a set limit on how often she can summon him in the month; going by her surprise, this seems to be a common limitation.

Once they shake hands and the pact is sealed, Malenia makes herself heard.

"So this is a Celestial Spirit. Well met, Sagittarius. Is there a title by which you wish to be called?"

The archer's gazes fall on Malenia, who makes to stand. She still stands taller even with the horse head increasing his height, but not by much. Sagittarius inclines his head respectfully in turn.

"Well met, mistress of the blade. I find titles of any sort needless tedium, and so Sagittarius is the only address I require. May I have your name?"

"I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella."

There is a pause to Sagittarius' motions. Just a fraction of a moment, unnoticeable to anyone but you. Lucy's reaction takes longer to smooth out, and the guild's as a whole even more so. Malenia notices them, but does not comment; she stands by her title once more.

"A sworn warrior, I see." Sagittarius inclines his head again. "Fortunate indeed is your liege."

That, Malenia can not agree with. She failed her brother monumentally. But she lives, and so she will make up for her failure in time. Sagittarius's praise is left uncommented, although she appreciates it all the same.

Lucy makes to speak, but they are cut off by a sudden rumbling. It thunders through the earth with enough force to be felt, then distant noise adds onto it.

People jump to their feet in moments. Erza is first out the door, followed by a wave of bodies. Lucy does not hesitate either, she leaps after her guild with Sagittarius on her heels.

Only Malenia and Mirajane remain for the moment. Mirajane looks after the lot fondly, though her own reluctance is a surprise.

"Will you not join them?"

The younger woman allows herself a soft sigh before sashaying to the door. "I guess I will, not that I can do much as I am. Most of my magic has been blocked for a while now, you see. All I'm good for are basic things and party tricks."

Mirajane is unhappy about it, but she hides her feelings well. Malenia simply acknowledges her words, though she is intrigued about the circumstances under which a wizard would lose access to her magic.

Then she follows outside as well; she wants to see what happens next. Not to mention that remaining in an empty guild not her own is improper.

The scenery has changed considerably to her. A massive contraption sits in Magnolia's bay now, pushed forward by legs the width of houses; a veritable castle sits on top. The structure reminds her of the wandering mausoleums at first, but Malenia soon realises it is not alive. It is a machine through and through, animated by steel and magic.

And above it all, Ranni's gaze rests. Distant though she may be, in Seven you can now tell she hides her true body, she observes closely. A single blink is the response your own gaze receives, the Empyrean unconcerned by your attention.

Phantom Lord has arrived in force, their strongest wizards in attendance; they are set up around their moving fortress, all but one powering a massive main weapon. Their master, Jose, wastes time belittling Fairy Tail; Malenia is not impressed by how he taunts the fairies over having 'defeated' Master Makarov.

The intangible apparitions he unleashes after his main weapon fails to go through Erza are more curious to her; that Erza herself survives the blast is too, but Malenia already knew she is formidable.

Jose's phantoms can be dispersed, but will reform after a short amount of time. Any form of conventional or magical armament fails to harm them. Malenia watches the lopsided battle from the sidelines, well aware a complement of Fairy Tail wizards is progressing into the enemy fortress.

Then a pair of phantoms approaches her, cackling ominously. Malenia slices through them a few times, but her own blade fails like all the others. The shades shiver and dissolve, only to reform moments later.

Their swipes are laughably easy to evade, but individual prowess is not their danger. Even the mighty Runebear will grow tired eventually, for the far weaker wolves to descend upon it.

Their goal are the Fairy Tail wizards, who hold themselves admirably against the greater numbers. For now, that is.

Even though she sees no threat for the moment, Malenia does grow annoyed with the pair that continues to attack her. A small swarm of butterflies loosens from her blade on the next swing, scattering pollen across the creature and inside of it. The Rot takes hold within the Ethernano comprising the shade, blooming outward and consuming it.

A beautiful aeonia comes into being, but withers just as swiftly. A second follows, alongside a shriek more felt than heard.

Malenia studies the decomposing remains for a moment, only to be distracted by a loud crash. One arm of the moving fortress drops into the bay and Fairy Tail cheers.

Sagittarius nocks another arrow, even while a man almost the size of Malenia claps his shoulder. Lucy shouts something that is lost over the din of battle.

And then lightning strikes the top of the fortress.

Malenia looks up at the flash and sudden smell of ozone. There are no hints of a thunderstorm, although a localised downpour happens atop the castle's remaining arm. She can not know that another of Fairy Tail's most powerful has arrived, his demeanour not dissimilar to a force of nature.

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-Policy Change: write-ins and approval voting are restored
-You can no longer make Malenia do anything, only nudge

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Pick One:

[] Resolve the block on Mirajane's magic

[] Nudge Ranni into doing something

[] Smother the phantoms

[] Observe somewhere else

[] write-in