It does not matter how to approach the fact, Malenia realises that now. She does not fully trust Ranni with her brother's wellbeing, but that is all the more reason to work with her.
"Very well, I accept. But I can not give my word that it will last; that will be Miquella's choice to make."
Ranni gives a prim nod in response, though her gaze flickers past Malenia once more. Her feelings on the answer she received do not make their way onto her expression. "So it shall be. I will discuss the matter at length with him, should indeed he be present. If not however, I will hold you to your word."
"As will I you," Malenia retorts curtly. They both know what happens if the other goes back on the deal. The one matter Ranni was no doubt truthful about is that her plans require Malenia staying her hand.
The sisters size each other up for a moment, a palpable sense of pressure following. Then their respective powers recede and Ranni offers her hand. Malenia takes it, squeezing tightly. Ranni returns the gesture with similar strength.
"Call mine name if you seeketh mine council," the older redhead offers. "Until then, I shall endeavour to broaden the search. Good tidings, Malenia of the Haligtree. Farewell, Natsu and Lucy of Fairy Tail."
Her form grows ever more translucent, vanishing entirely on the final words. Neither youth manages to return the goodbye in time, both still utterly confounded by what they witnessed. The gleaming moonlight recedes, leaving them in almost utter darkness until Natsu ignites a flame on his palm.
"So who was she?" Lucy asks of Malenia, now that they are alone. "You said something about your father earlier, but I did not want to interrupt."
Malenia inclines her head, absently running her flesh-and-blood hand through her crimson mane. "Ranni and I share the same father, though we are of different mothers," she explains. "She is my elder sister and an excellent sorceress. However, I believe you realised that she is as shrewd as she is brilliant."
"Yes, I understood that much. She's good."
"Quite."
'Good' is an understatement, but Malenia understands the sentiment Lucy makes. She has no frame of reference to appreciate that Ranni played the game for an age.
Nonetheless, Malenia is willing to keep her sister close; that way, even if she dares go back on her word, Malenia will know.
Natsu yawns into the silence between them. Then he points over his shoulder with a thumb. "How about we get going? I wanna get home before the trains stop for the night."
He shudders even while saying it, yet the fast travel while sick still seems more alluring than a needless night out in the wilds. Malenia sympathises with the sentiment; she got used to uncomfortable circumstances while on campaign, but it never has been her preference; nor will it ever be.
Lucy is just as quick to agree and they get moving. The young woman makes for intelligent conversation once they do catch the last train, although they part before long.
"Please come visit us in Magnolia sometime," she offers with a friendly smile. "Fairy Tail's guild hall is there. I'm sure everyone will be happy to meet you, Malenia."
"I will consider it," she allows. In truth, Malenia holds little interest in such an outing. But at the same time, she left her old life behind. Maybe one day she will feel a desire to meet new people.
Thoughts like these accompany her as she settles back into her new routine, although the latter does not last long. Ruminations of days long past, shaken up by Ranni's presence, remind her of all the pastimes she nearly forgot.
So it is that, a scant few days after their encounter, Malenia obtains a harp. A small thing that she can carry in her arms like a babe, producing clear notes with every strum.
It has been an age since last she played, but even the Rot can not take muscle memory so finely trained. A minimum of practice is all it takes to shake off the rust. Soon enough, Malenia plays as if she never put down her instrument.
She has an audience just as fast. Students and teachers, converging into the academy gardens to follow the gentle noise of her harp. Malenia pays them and their gawking no mind; her focus lies on her instrument, flesh and gold fingers making it sing sweet song like none of them heard before.
The blade is not her sole implement. Malenia has precious few abilities, but those she chose were nurtured far beyond any other's standard. Perfection is the bare minimum for her.
As she plays, Malenia's thoughts turn back to the past. When she and Miquella were younger, they told each other they would pick up complementary instruments. Yet where her brother gave up on the piano half a year in, Malenia refused to surrender. The Rot's constant growth and churning ever made her feel as if the next day may be her last; as if these notes were the last she would ever play. That there was no time to start anew.
And so she persevered. Her fingers grew more certain, her will grew note by note. Until, when the time came where even her lady mother would offer rare applause, Malenia's mind was made.
The way of the sword was the next skill she chose to learn.
Now she is here, proof positive that talent only carries one so far. She had none when she started, every motion honed to mastery through countless repetitions. Talent, indeed, only offers a better starting point. No one who does not put in the work can soar like she has.
The final note is played, leaving blissful silence in its wake. Malenia's eyes open properly to behold the crowd her song drew. A satisfying, thundering applause follows.
Maybe this is not so bad.
Some of her peers come forward to ask questions, which Malenia answers dutifully. There is truly no great secret to her mastery of the harp, only hard work over a long time. Her explanations are taken with awe and no small amount of disbelief, but that is fairly normal. Few truly believe they can do it until they themselves put in the work and achieved their goal.
Playing the harp again reminds Malenia more and more of the peaceful times before The Shattering. Her memories are riddled with holes after the long sleep, clearly caused by the Rot. Some of them fill in again, but most remain blank. Yet what remains is ample enough to satisfy Malenia.
Her peers are notably more inclined to approach her from that point onward. Caution slowly bleeds away as days turn to weeks of study and her dedication is once again revealed; where Malenia had to catch up since the first day, her grounding in the basics of magic is now complete. Being a demigod brings with it not necessarily greater intelligence, but a metabolism that lends itself to more study time than most. Journeys to and from her various missions are used to recapitulate on whatever her current area of interest is.
Three weeks down the line, she is commonly included in conversation that used to shy away from her. Hence how she is among the first to learn of a peculiar incident.
"I tell you, they let a monster into the city!" the young woman insists, rapidly waving her hands. "My brother was on duty when it came in! And it had a girl hostage, too!"
There are a number of shocked gasps, though Malenia foregoes a physical reaction to the clear exaggeration.
"Why would they allow such a creature inside," she inquires reasonably. "Not to mention uncontested."
The girl falters momentarily as reason wins out over fluffed up fear. Unfortunately, the moment passes and she crosses her arms at Malenia, pouting. "Not everyone can fight these things, you know? If it's strong, it makes sense they'd call in people to deal with it."
Spoken like a true scholar, indeed.
Malenia arches a brow after all. "The duty of a guard is to protect the populace with their lives," she lectures. "Anything malevolent, they must stop or at least delay no matter the cost. So if the guards at the gate did indeed allow a monster into Crocus, the capital city of all places, then the lot of them is liable to face summary execution. Such cowardice is not acceptable in their line of duty."
Several people grow pale, first and foremost the young lady whose brother is apparently among that group. Malenia halts herself at the sight; she did not quite mean to frighten them, though a reminder of how the world works was clearly not amiss.
"Hence why the situation can not be as dire as you make it out to be," she finishes.
There is some tentative agreement from the group, though some of the men start to get eager. "I'm kinda curious what caused that rumour now," one of them admits. "How about we go check it out?"
The girls seem equally interested for the most part, now that the question was asked. Several of them turn pleading eyes on Malenia as well, clearly wishing for her prowess nearby just in case.
In truth, she is also somewhat curious. There are a number of beings with intelligence comparable to humans in these lands; she met the demons of Galuna Island, Happy the cat, and most recently a number of creatures known as Vulcans. That the latter are classified as beasts is understandable, at least; their life cycle is a parasitic one, where a Vulcan uses Take Over magic to steal the body of a human, blends into human population, and swiftly reproduces.
So if she already met three different sorts, there are most likely more.
In the end, Malenia voices her agreement and the group gets moving.
Although nobody has any idea where this 'monster' has gone though, they soon notice signs: agitated crowds, people discussing heatedly, and a rather notable complement of guards. The latter intrigues Malenia the most, seeing how not one of them bears a drawn weapon. They are ill at ease, but not ready for battle. Waiting. Observing, perhaps.
Her peers ask around the people who clearly saw what was going on, and so they are pointed along the trail of whatever agitates the crowds.
They find it half an hour later, in one of the parks no less.
"See! A monster!" the same girl as earlier whispers heatedly and points at the still distant figure.
Malenia has no words to describe her surprise at what she sees. Ragged leather clothes, torn in various places to reveal dark grey skin bearing notable veins. On top of that a spiked, bony tail that complements the horns sprouting from one side of the head.
The Omen notices her group's presence, too. A faint turn of the head is all the signal they get, though this motion reveals that all the horns on the other side of the head are broken off.
Male, Malenia thinks. And old, if the many wrinkles across his sharp features are any indication. He rises from where he sat on a fallen tree, his slightly hunched-over form only adding to the image of age. Much the same goes for the gnarled, wooden staff he grasps.
While her peers press closer together and try hiding behind Malenia, she herself remains dumbstruck. She knows of Omen, has even slain a few, but she does not understand how one can be here.
The Omen himself makes no rapid motions. He meanders over to where they are, causing scared whimpers behind Malenia. His motions are fluid, completely unlike the old age that seems to pour from every pore of his body. Moreover, though ragged, he is clean. And he stands notably taller than Malenia even while hunched.
She stands her ground, refusing to display more than a healthy amount of wariness. Her fellow students slowly inch backward as the Omen nears. He has no attention for them to begin with.
No, his eyes are solely on her.
Once they stand but five metres from each other, the Omen stops. His jaw works soundlessly, expression all but blank.
"How peculiar," he murmurs. "Malenia the Severed, Blade of Miquella. You have not been seen in an age."
Malenia's eyes narrow in turn. Yet even though this Omen clearly knows her, he does not seem intimidated. That she could end him with a flick of her wrist does not seem to worry him. This indifference intrigues her anew.
"I was unaware that my name is spoken even amongst Omen," Malenia answers just as curtly. "Although you have me at a disadvantage."
A snort follows, not quite derisive but nearly so. The only sign of stress is the force his hand holds onto the staff by his side. He studies her once more before offering a bow.
"It appears I do. Morgott is my name, but with titles I can not serve. All I once held has crumbled to dust, making me but a humble traveler."
A note of melancholy swings in his wizened voice, strong though it still is. Malenia inclines her head in greeting as well. He does not act like she would expect of an Omen, but such is often the case with those shunned by the Golden Order.
"Well met. What brings you this far out from the Lands Between?"
Their eyes meet. He knows what Malenia really wants to know. Great intelligence hides behind his misshapen face and brutish appearance. Not to mention the cunning of one who had to fight over scraps since birth.
"Truthfully, I find myself adrift," he admits, sounding almost idle. "For a time I shall remain a traveler and behold Fiore in all her facets. Then, perhaps another realm. What of yourself?"
He gives little away, although his words strike a chord within Malenia. She, too, is adrift after all.
"About the same," she admits readily. The way his expression sharpens tells her that he understands Miquella is not with her. "I am taking some time to study the sorcerous arts of these lands for the time being."
"Mr. Morgott?"
A new voice interrupts them before their careful maneuvering can continue. Malenia glances to the side much like Morgott does, only to find a young woman coming their way; a mane of luscious hair as deeply blue as the sea follows her every step, each motion fluid like that of a predator. Her gait puts Malenia on edge, but the girl's soft and open expression releases that tension moments later.
She is young, that much Malenia can tell. The pudginess of childhood has passed her by, but she does not move with the bearing of an adult yet. She holds onto several filled bags with ease, which speaks of notable strength.
She stops before them, looking between everyone present. "Who are these people?"
The question serves as a reminder of the other students, none of which dared speak before. They keep their silence still, and so does Malenia; it was not her the girl asked.
Morgott, for his part, gravely readjusts his staff. The bags float away from the girl and align themselves at his belt in the meantime. It is an impressive display of fine control, given almost as an afterthought.
"I know not the rest of her followers," he begins dismissively, which makes several people flinch. "But you stand before Malenia the Severed. Do show proper respect as I taught you, Wendy."
"A-Ah, of course!"
She steps forward and curtsies quickly, though her attention never leaves Malenia. There is wariness now, a minute tension to her body. "I am honoured to make your acquaintance. My name is Wendy Marvell."
Malenia makes to offer a greeting of her own when the wind shifted. Wendy's eyes bug out, the younger woman bending forward and slapping both hands in front of her nose. She gagged pitifully, the sudden change taking Malenia and Morgott both by surprise.
They stare down at the girl for a moment, gazes following her quick scramble away from Malenia. It is not fear so much as disgust that drives her away, though the reason for that reaction remains a mystery. The motion seems familiar for some reason, too.
"My apologies for her behaviour," Morgott mutters with clear disappointment. "Wendy is not one for such displays for the most part. She certainly meant no offense."
Malenia inclines her head, not that she is particularly offended. She watches Wendy, now stationary some distance away out of the breeze. A white-furred cat that reminds her of Happy joins the girl as she takes deep breaths, too.
The sight is familiar enough to niggle at Malenia's memory again. The momentary sense of danger earlier, the smoothness of her motions, now this. It does fit.
Malenia motions faintly for the girl, intrigued now. "She is a Dragonslayer?"
By the way Morgott's face slackens in surprise, she got it right. He nods a moment later.
"She is. Do you have further insight into her reaction?"
Avid whispers start up behind Malenia now. Dragonslayer magic is incredibly rare these days, seeing that all Slayer magic develops in reaction to an existing species; the dragons of Earthland have been dead for four hundred years by now.
The question is whether she should pass on the word. This pair is certainly odd, not to mention that there is no telling what an intelligent Omen might be up to. How much caution is prudent in regard to Malenia's own associates?
[] Tell them about Fairy Tail
[] Strike Morgott down
[] Learn more about the pair
[] write-in
