p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Chapter 15—The Shaman/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Akira/span/em/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"When we had finally reached the wood where the shaman dwelled, my mood hadn't improved in the slightest. I was silently fuming at everyone and everything when I ended up bumping straight into Gray. He looked curiously back at me and I only then realized that the party had stopped. Erza was looking at the map that the man had given us. She glanced up at the big black gate. I stared curiously past it into the ominous forest./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""This is the way." She sad solemnly. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Lucy silently took Natsu's arm as we opened the gate and walked in apprehensively. I activated my systems as soon as we entered the forest. The trees seemed to bend over themselves and twist thoroughly until it felt like we were in the thicket of a jungle. The roots and branches stood in our way at every step and made it difficult to see what was ahead or where we were walking. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Erza stepped in the front with Gray following behind her and me right after him. Natsu trekked behind me, grabbing my shirt a couple of times to make sure we didn't lose each other. Lucy held onto his hand and brought up the rear. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Gray took a few steps ahead of me and was getting a little too far away. I reached out unconsciously and grabbed his wrist. He turned around to see that Natsu was holding onto my wrist and Lucy the same. We were making a chain to not lose each other. Catching on, he reached forward and grabbed Erza's wrist who looked back but didn't protest./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"We continued a little while longer until suddenly, my systems went off and an alarm appeared in front of my face./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Lucida Console'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Warning: Large Concentration of Magic Energy within 100 feet. Warning: Large Concentration of Magic Energy within 100 feet. Warning: Large Concentration of—/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Wait." I yanked on Gray's wrist and forced Natsu to stop behind me. Erza grunted in disapproval and glared at me but I didn't look at her. I scoured the forest around us, but my sensors couldn't pick up on any specific spot because of how thick the trees were and how close together they were. I explained my alarm to the others and instead of protesting against me, like usual, Erza simply scowled at the forest in contempt./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I felt it too. We're getting close." She said simply. I took in a deep breath as we started walking again. I gripped Gray's hand tightly. Somehow, I had ended up intertwining my fingers with his in an attempt to calm my nerves. I didn't know why I was so nervous. I had gone on much more dangerous journeys than this one. For some reason, this forest and the unknown enemy was making me anxious./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Suddenly, we entered into a clearing in the wood. Natsu let go of me but Gray didn't. We stood in a circular area where no trees grew, only green grass. I frowned at the shape of the clearing. I hadn't noticed it until now, but it was shaped in a perfect circle. That wasn't natural. I frowned and suddenly, my sensors picked up on a presence coming our way. My first instinct was to fight (and eventually kill) the person. But I forced myself to calm down and whisper what I had felt to the others. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Erza's eyes widened and asked which way they were coming from. I pointed and she grabbed Lucy's arm, dragging her behind the thicket, the rest of us following close behind. We crouched silently behind a large tree in suspense. A rustling was heard from the trees until we heard the unmistakable humming of a man. Erza peeked out from behind the tree and I followed suit. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I saw a tall, slender man with long white hair, ramrod straight that flowed all the way down his back. He was wearing nothing but a simple green robe. He was carrying a cream-colored ball that looked like a potato. My sensors zeroed in on the ball and identified it as the orb we were looking for. This was the shaman. I pulled back from behind the tree and whispered the information I had just received to the others. Erza nodded, telling me that I had confirmed her suspicions. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I thought the orb was supposed to be blue?" Natsu whispered. I shrugged and peeked out from behind the tree again./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I bet it can change colors according to the owner's use of it." I whispered back. Natsu cracked his knuckles./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Whatever, can we go beat him up now?" Natsu whined, his voice almost too loud. He pounded his fists together, lighting them on fire. "I really want to kick that guy's ass."/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Wait." Erza beat me to protest. "Not yet. I want to see what he's up to." I followed her lead and continued to observe the shaman. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The shaman hadn't noticed anything about us or where we were. Or so it seemed. He stood at the exact center of the clearing and began to chant. I recognized the language as an ancient form of magic that transcended generations of magic history. The orb glowed and suddenly, a bright light burst from it, swirling around the forest in overwhelming beauty./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"We stared in awe at the light that swam in front of us and through the thicket of trees. I reached out to touch the light and grinned in pleasure when it felt like silky velvet under my fingertips. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I wanted nothing more than to be with it forever./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I wasn't the only one with those thoughts. Natsu looked like he was in a dream as the light twisted around his body. Gray's eyes glazed over and even Erza looked like she had stars glowing in her eyes. There was something in the back of my head that was telling me this wasn't natural. I pushed the annoying, nagging thought and smiled in pure bliss as I allowed the light to wind itself around me like a snake./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"There was something very familiar about the light that I couldn't put my finger on. Not that I cared, I felt nothing but pure delight. This was where I belonged, this was where I was supposed to be. This was how I was. This is me. This beauty, this confidence… it almost felt like I was using my glamor on myself./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Glamor…/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Almost instantly, reality crashed over me like a waterfall. I snapped out of my stupor and looked down. There was no light. Instead, magic sashes had appeared in the place of the light and had wound itself around me like rope. It was binding my arms and legs and had lifted me off the ground. I struggled and squirmed and looked around to see that the others were also tied up. Only they weren't conscious. They were in a haze of delusional happiness. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"My systems frantically tried to find a way out of the situation as I continued to struggle with the sashes. I noticed then that we were being pulled out from behind the tree. The sashes held me in mid-air as I turned to see the shaman, still holding the orb out. He smiled pleasantly as the five of us were brought to hover helplessly in front of him. I gritted my teeth and tried to move my fingers, but the sashes pressed my hands firmly against my body./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Well, this is certainly a surprise. I never get visitors. Whatever shall I do with these lovely, fine wizards?" he said in a surprisingly high voice. He rubbed his chin and looked at each one of us until his eyes landed on me. "Ah! I see one of you is conscious. It is very rare that you should be able to see past my illusion magic." He said smiling at me. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"What shocked me the most was that his smile was not sadistic in any way. It was a smile of delight and happy surprise. This man didn't seem dangerous at all, but I knew better than to judge a person by their looks./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I pulled and tugged against the sashes, without responding. He let out a strange chuckle that sounded a lot like a dolphin./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'm afraid it is useless to struggle. The bonds suppress any kind of magic. Well, I shouldn't say suppress. They… how shall I put it? They consume all the magic energy that they come in contact with." He grinned, showing off his perfectly straight teeth. I stared in disbelief. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Then I looked at the others and could see that he was right. They were looking weaker and weaker by the second, and the length of sash that was attaching them to the shaman was glowing bright. Even I was feeling feverish. If this continued for much longer, I knew that we would all fall seriously ill from magic deprivation and we would soon die. Even as I looked at the others, the shaman seemed to glow slightly. I looked at him and forced my systems to scan him./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Lucida Console'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Magic: Absorption. Uses Magic of Opponents to Render Unable to Fight/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Lucida Console'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Trigger: Magic Heightening Orb/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I blinked and scanned my brain, looking for something that would get us out of this situation. The shaman started laughing as the others fell unconscious. I could feel my magic leaving me through a canal out of my body and into the sash. I closed my eyes and saw the path of the magic going from my body into the sash and into the shaman's body. If I could switch the canal off, I could get free of these sashes./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I concentrated and ignored everything around me, including the shaman's dolphin laughter. I imagined doors closing and locking my magic from leaving my body. I could see the door perfectly but I couldn't close it. With everything I had, I tried to force it shut. I imagined that I was pushing the door against a hundred other people. I was stronger. I em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"had/em to be stronger. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I pictured Gray's face in my head and it gave me strength to give the mental door one last push. The door closed and my magic was cut off from leaving my body./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I gasped and opened my eyes. The sash stopped glowing and loosened around me. I fell to the ground. I shoved the sashes off my body and pushed them aside. I looked up to see the shaman looking at me with a scowl on his face. I would have one shot. One shot to get us all out alive. I couldn't mess it up. I calculated how much magic energy I had left and how much it would take for me to carry out my plan of escape. It was tight and was definitely a risk, but I had to try./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I slammed my hands to the ground and it erupted into an earthquake that threw the shaman off balance. He fell over and the orb rolled out of his hands. The earthquake also resulted in a cloud of dust, shielding everything from view. I bolted to the others who had fallen, unconscious. I grabbed Natsu's arm and tugged him closer, crawling on top of Erza and Lucy who were next to each other. I sprawled over the three of them so I was touching them all and reached out to grab Gray's hand. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Once I was sure I had everyone in my grip, I used the last of my magic energy to teleport out of the wood and on top of the closest mountain I could see. We appeared on a ridge on the mountain. We couldn't go anywhere without teleporting, but that also meant no one could get to us. Shaking from exhaustion, I crawled off Lucy, Natsu, and Erza, and pulled all four of them to be positioned the right way, laying side by side. I didn't know how long it would take for them to wake up, so I decided to make a fire./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Nightfall came quicker than I had imagined. Once I had recovered enough, I teleported away to get some food and wood for a fire. When I got back, no one had woken up yet. I sighed and fried the fish I had collected on my way out. I looked over at the four of them, lying helpless. I started to think about what would have happened if I had let them die. If I had just saved myself. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"No one would ever know it was me. I wouldn't have to worry about Erza's suspicion. I could go back to the guild and tell them that they died tragically, I could fake real tears and fool them all. With Fairy Tail's strongest wizards out of the way, I could easily get to the master and slice his throat. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I sighed and looked down, not feeling hungry anymore. If I had done that, it would have defeated the purpose of killing the master in the first place. Gray would be dead and he was whole reason I was doing this in the first place./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I found myself crawling over to where he lay peacefully. I sat next to him and brushed the hair out of his eyes. I squeezed his hand, feeling tears brim my eyelids. I closed my eyes and let the tears fall. I had promised myself that I wouldn't cry, so I didn't make a sound. The tears fell but my throat didn't constrict, I didn't feel racked with sobs, I just cried./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Don't cry…" a voice said softly. "I hate it when you cry."/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I gasped and jerked back, my eyes flying open. Gray's stormy eyes were looking at me wearily. He weakly squeezed my hand back and managed to give me a small smile. I felt an involuntary smile creep onto my face as I looked down at him. He was okay, he'd be okay. I'd protect him. I always would. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I scooted closer to him and clasped both hands around his, smiling in relief. He looked tired and weak but I didn't care. I would always be there for him. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I sat there, staring into his eyes until I felt my own eyelids drooping. Before I knew what was happening, I had curled up against him, resting my head against his chest. He exhaled slowly and I matched my breathing to his. My eyelids closed on their own accord and I dipped into sleep, wrapped in his strong arms./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI awoke to something grazing across my cheek. I squeezed my eyes shut, groggily, feeling the strange touch again. It felt like something rough and soft at the same time. And there was more than one. The touch was soft, gently, almost like a caress. My eyes fluttered open and I realized I was looking into someone's eyes. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"And that thing touching my face was actually their hand, caressing my cheek./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"My eyes widened and I jerked awake, sitting up. Words scrolled across my vision as I tried to rack my brain. Something had kidnapped me and they were going to rape me. Worse, they were going to rape and then kill me. I had to get away, I had to escape, and I had to—/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Akira! Relax, it's just me!" a pair of hands cupped my cheeks and forced me to look into those same cobalt eyes. I blinked a few times and the rest of Gray's face came into focus. I breathed out a sigh of relief, and let my hands go limp. I had realized just then that I had been pounding my fists against his chest. He didn't look hurt but I still went red with guilt./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Sorry… I—"/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You couldn't have saved the fish?" a voice interrupted me. I turned around, Gray's hands leaving my face as I stared at Natsu who was holding up rotten fish from the night before. He and his cat looked very unhappy. I looked over to see Erza and Lucy were waking up as well. I smiled in relief. Everyone was okay, we were all safe. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What the hell happened?" Erza growled, rubbing her head. Gray stood and gave me his hand. I took it and he helped me up. I finger combed through my hair as Erza turned to me, waiting for an explanation. I sighed./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I explained everything that I could recall in as much detail as I could. Erza frowned and listened intently while Gray crossed his arms, looking away. Natsu snarled when he heard about the shaman's dolphin laugh. When I explained how I managed to break free of his hold on me, Erza stopped me./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Wait, you could just stop him from absorbing your magic just like that?"/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""It wasn't that easy. It took out a lot of my energy. If I hadn't gotten us out in that short time I had, we probably would have died. I didn't even think I was going to be able to do it. I don't really remember how I pulled it off. I just did." I said shrugging. Erza frowned and closed her eyes, deep in thought./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I finished explaining what had happened up to the point where we reached he mountain ridge. I didn't talk about lying down next to Gray. I didn't talk about my thoughts about killing them. I left those parts out to spare me the embarrassment and, of course, exposing myself. I felt guilty, not telling them what went through my head, but I knew I couldn't./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Erza said nothing for a while, thinking hard. We sat in silence for a good ten minutes before Lucy finally said something./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So we can't go anywhere near the shaman without being trapped and to have all magic absorbed. How are we going to get the orb?" she asked. Gray scratched his chin./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""The orb makes his absorption magic possible. That's probably why he stole it in the first place. That way he can control the magic energy of anyone he comes in contact with. Somehow, we have to get that orb away from him." Then he chuckled and closed his eyes. "Funny how that was kind of our objective in the first place."/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""How are we supposed to do that if he can sense us coming?" Lucy asked. I narrowed my eyes and thought back to when we were hidden from view. If he could sense life forms, then he should have been able to grab us immediately. No, it wasn't life that he could sense it had to be something else./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I don't think it's a presence he can sense. It's something else." I gasped, clapping my hands together. "Of course! He can only sense magic energy if it's being used in his presence! Remember? Natsu had used his magic right before he captured us, to light his fists!" I pointed at Natsu who stared at me in confusion. Erza gasped in realization./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You're right! That means we can get close as long as we don't use magic! How did I not see it before!" she placed both hands on the ground in front of her. "This is good. This means we can sneak up on him and as long as we don't use magic, we can beat him." I shook my head./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""We can't go in there undefended. If something happens, we need a backup plan." I scrunched my eyebrows together in thought. "I think I have a plan. But it might not work. It may be the only option we have." I said solemnly. Natsu, Gray, and Lucy looked at me expectantly and then to Erza for confirmation./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I pursed my lips as she gave me a hard look. We had come to a crossroads. Either she trusted me now, or she never would. She looked away and closed her eyes. I felt my heartbeat speed up as she turned back around and gave me small nod. This plan had to work. If it didn't, then I would have no chance of getting into the guild. This had to succeed. No pressure or anything./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Okay, here's what I propose." I started. I closed my eyes and summoned my magic from within. I displayed a 3D map of the forest in front of me and in the center of our group. Erza gasped and stared at the map in front of her in awe. Gray reached out to touch the holographic map. His hand went right through it. I zoomed in on the circular clearing where the shaman was. We could see the shaman walking around in the clearing, chanting and muttering to himself./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I can see everything from here, using my archives. That means I can back you up from here. Watch." I pointed at a sport on the map and let my explosion magic take effect. A tree on the map exploded and sure enough, when we turned to look, that same tree in the actual forest had exploded as well./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""If I can keep you all backed up from here, you guys can easily defeat the shaman. Erza, I can give you any type of weapon you want, that way you won't be using your magic when you use it, you'll be using mine. Natsu, I can give you armor that enhances your speed and power of your punches, if you can refrain from using your fire, you should be able to defend yourself pretty well. Gray, I think I can replicate your magic pretty well if not perfectly. Let me try." I stood up and took an Ice-Make stance./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Ice-Make Shield!" I shouted. The ice burst from my fists to create a near perfect shield of ice. Gray stared at me in awe. I stepped back and pointed for him to stand./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Okay, now you pretend you're going to cast a shield and I'll try to use my magic for you." Tentatively, gray stood and did what I was told. We both went into our stance./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Ice-Make Shield!" We both yelled. I directed the shield I made to appear right in front of Gray as if he had cast the spell himself. He gasped and stepped back. I lowered my arms and turned back to the others./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""If I can stay here and back you all up from here, we shouldn't have any trouble getting the orb back from him. But none of you can use your magic no matter what. If he senses me, that's fine. He'll be too far out of range to do anything about it. You'll have one shot before he recovers and tries something else. One shot to throw him off-guard and grab the orb. Do you think we can pull it off?" I looked at Erza. She closed her eyes and crossed her arms. Then she opened her eyes and smiled at me./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Let's see that nice array of weapons you offered and then we'll see." She said smiling. I grinned and nodded, looking over at Gray who gave me a look of approval. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"It seemed that I was finally being accepted. I closed my eyes. I would not fail my one chance to prove that I could be trusted. Even though the nagging voice at the back of my head kept reminding me that I couldn't./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Akira/span/em/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"When we had finally reached the wood where the shaman dwelled, my mood hadn't improved in the slightest. I was silently fuming at everyone and everything when I ended up bumping straight into Gray. He looked curiously back at me and I only then realized that the party had stopped. Erza was looking at the map that the man had given us. She glanced up at the big black gate. I stared curiously past it into the ominous forest./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""This is the way." She sad solemnly. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Lucy silently took Natsu's arm as we opened the gate and walked in apprehensively. I activated my systems as soon as we entered the forest. The trees seemed to bend over themselves and twist thoroughly until it felt like we were in the thicket of a jungle. The roots and branches stood in our way at every step and made it difficult to see what was ahead or where we were walking. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Erza stepped in the front with Gray following behind her and me right after him. Natsu trekked behind me, grabbing my shirt a couple of times to make sure we didn't lose each other. Lucy held onto his hand and brought up the rear. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Gray took a few steps ahead of me and was getting a little too far away. I reached out unconsciously and grabbed his wrist. He turned around to see that Natsu was holding onto my wrist and Lucy the same. We were making a chain to not lose each other. Catching on, he reached forward and grabbed Erza's wrist who looked back but didn't protest./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"We continued a little while longer until suddenly, my systems went off and an alarm appeared in front of my face./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Lucida Console'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Warning: Large Concentration of Magic Energy within 100 feet. Warning: Large Concentration of Magic Energy within 100 feet. Warning: Large Concentration of—/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Wait." I yanked on Gray's wrist and forced Natsu to stop behind me. Erza grunted in disapproval and glared at me but I didn't look at her. I scoured the forest around us, but my sensors couldn't pick up on any specific spot because of how thick the trees were and how close together they were. I explained my alarm to the others and instead of protesting against me, like usual, Erza simply scowled at the forest in contempt./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I felt it too. We're getting close." She said simply. I took in a deep breath as we started walking again. I gripped Gray's hand tightly. Somehow, I had ended up intertwining my fingers with his in an attempt to calm my nerves. I didn't know why I was so nervous. I had gone on much more dangerous journeys than this one. For some reason, this forest and the unknown enemy was making me anxious./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Suddenly, we entered into a clearing in the wood. Natsu let go of me but Gray didn't. We stood in a circular area where no trees grew, only green grass. I frowned at the shape of the clearing. I hadn't noticed it until now, but it was shaped in a perfect circle. That wasn't natural. I frowned and suddenly, my sensors picked up on a presence coming our way. My first instinct was to fight (and eventually kill) the person. But I forced myself to calm down and whisper what I had felt to the others. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Erza's eyes widened and asked which way they were coming from. I pointed and she grabbed Lucy's arm, dragging her behind the thicket, the rest of us following close behind. We crouched silently behind a large tree in suspense. A rustling was heard from the trees until we heard the unmistakable humming of a man. Erza peeked out from behind the tree and I followed suit. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I saw a tall, slender man with long white hair, ramrod straight that flowed all the way down his back. He was wearing nothing but a simple green robe. He was carrying a cream-colored ball that looked like a potato. My sensors zeroed in on the ball and identified it as the orb we were looking for. This was the shaman. I pulled back from behind the tree and whispered the information I had just received to the others. Erza nodded, telling me that I had confirmed her suspicions. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I thought the orb was supposed to be blue?" Natsu whispered. I shrugged and peeked out from behind the tree again./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I bet it can change colors according to the owner's use of it." I whispered back. Natsu cracked his knuckles./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Whatever, can we go beat him up now?" Natsu whined, his voice almost too loud. He pounded his fists together, lighting them on fire. "I really want to kick that guy's ass."/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Wait." Erza beat me to protest. "Not yet. I want to see what he's up to." I followed her lead and continued to observe the shaman. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The shaman hadn't noticed anything about us or where we were. Or so it seemed. He stood at the exact center of the clearing and began to chant. I recognized the language as an ancient form of magic that transcended generations of magic history. The orb glowed and suddenly, a bright light burst from it, swirling around the forest in overwhelming beauty./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"We stared in awe at the light that swam in front of us and through the thicket of trees. I reached out to touch the light and grinned in pleasure when it felt like silky velvet under my fingertips. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I wanted nothing more than to be with it forever./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I wasn't the only one with those thoughts. Natsu looked like he was in a dream as the light twisted around his body. Gray's eyes glazed over and even Erza looked like she had stars glowing in her eyes. There was something in the back of my head that was telling me this wasn't natural. I pushed the annoying, nagging thought and smiled in pure bliss as I allowed the light to wind itself around me like a snake./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"There was something very familiar about the light that I couldn't put my finger on. Not that I cared, I felt nothing but pure delight. This was where I belonged, this was where I was supposed to be. This was how I was. This is me. This beauty, this confidence… it almost felt like I was using my glamor on myself./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Glamor…/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Almost instantly, reality crashed over me like a waterfall. I snapped out of my stupor and looked down. There was no light. Instead, magic sashes had appeared in the place of the light and had wound itself around me like rope. It was binding my arms and legs and had lifted me off the ground. I struggled and squirmed and looked around to see that the others were also tied up. Only they weren't conscious. They were in a haze of delusional happiness. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"My systems frantically tried to find a way out of the situation as I continued to struggle with the sashes. I noticed then that we were being pulled out from behind the tree. The sashes held me in mid-air as I turned to see the shaman, still holding the orb out. He smiled pleasantly as the five of us were brought to hover helplessly in front of him. I gritted my teeth and tried to move my fingers, but the sashes pressed my hands firmly against my body./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Well, this is certainly a surprise. I never get visitors. Whatever shall I do with these lovely, fine wizards?" he said in a surprisingly high voice. He rubbed his chin and looked at each one of us until his eyes landed on me. "Ah! I see one of you is conscious. It is very rare that you should be able to see past my illusion magic." He said smiling at me. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"What shocked me the most was that his smile was not sadistic in any way. It was a smile of delight and happy surprise. This man didn't seem dangerous at all, but I knew better than to judge a person by their looks./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I pulled and tugged against the sashes, without responding. He let out a strange chuckle that sounded a lot like a dolphin./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'm afraid it is useless to struggle. The bonds suppress any kind of magic. Well, I shouldn't say suppress. They… how shall I put it? They consume all the magic energy that they come in contact with." He grinned, showing off his perfectly straight teeth. I stared in disbelief. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Then I looked at the others and could see that he was right. They were looking weaker and weaker by the second, and the length of sash that was attaching them to the shaman was glowing bright. Even I was feeling feverish. If this continued for much longer, I knew that we would all fall seriously ill from magic deprivation and we would soon die. Even as I looked at the others, the shaman seemed to glow slightly. I looked at him and forced my systems to scan him./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Lucida Console'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Magic: Absorption. Uses Magic of Opponents to Render Unable to Fight/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Lucida Console'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Trigger: Magic Heightening Orb/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I blinked and scanned my brain, looking for something that would get us out of this situation. The shaman started laughing as the others fell unconscious. I could feel my magic leaving me through a canal out of my body and into the sash. I closed my eyes and saw the path of the magic going from my body into the sash and into the shaman's body. If I could switch the canal off, I could get free of these sashes./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I concentrated and ignored everything around me, including the shaman's dolphin laughter. I imagined doors closing and locking my magic from leaving my body. I could see the door perfectly but I couldn't close it. With everything I had, I tried to force it shut. I imagined that I was pushing the door against a hundred other people. I was stronger. I em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"had/em to be stronger. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I pictured Gray's face in my head and it gave me strength to give the mental door one last push. The door closed and my magic was cut off from leaving my body./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I gasped and opened my eyes. The sash stopped glowing and loosened around me. I fell to the ground. I shoved the sashes off my body and pushed them aside. I looked up to see the shaman looking at me with a scowl on his face. I would have one shot. One shot to get us all out alive. I couldn't mess it up. I calculated how much magic energy I had left and how much it would take for me to carry out my plan of escape. It was tight and was definitely a risk, but I had to try./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I slammed my hands to the ground and it erupted into an earthquake that threw the shaman off balance. He fell over and the orb rolled out of his hands. The earthquake also resulted in a cloud of dust, shielding everything from view. I bolted to the others who had fallen, unconscious. I grabbed Natsu's arm and tugged him closer, crawling on top of Erza and Lucy who were next to each other. I sprawled over the three of them so I was touching them all and reached out to grab Gray's hand. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Once I was sure I had everyone in my grip, I used the last of my magic energy to teleport out of the wood and on top of the closest mountain I could see. We appeared on a ridge on the mountain. We couldn't go anywhere without teleporting, but that also meant no one could get to us. Shaking from exhaustion, I crawled off Lucy, Natsu, and Erza, and pulled all four of them to be positioned the right way, laying side by side. I didn't know how long it would take for them to wake up, so I decided to make a fire./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Nightfall came quicker than I had imagined. Once I had recovered enough, I teleported away to get some food and wood for a fire. When I got back, no one had woken up yet. I sighed and fried the fish I had collected on my way out. I looked over at the four of them, lying helpless. I started to think about what would have happened if I had let them die. If I had just saved myself. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"No one would ever know it was me. I wouldn't have to worry about Erza's suspicion. I could go back to the guild and tell them that they died tragically, I could fake real tears and fool them all. With Fairy Tail's strongest wizards out of the way, I could easily get to the master and slice his throat. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I sighed and looked down, not feeling hungry anymore. If I had done that, it would have defeated the purpose of killing the master in the first place. Gray would be dead and he was whole reason I was doing this in the first place./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I found myself crawling over to where he lay peacefully. I sat next to him and brushed the hair out of his eyes. I squeezed his hand, feeling tears brim my eyelids. I closed my eyes and let the tears fall. I had promised myself that I wouldn't cry, so I didn't make a sound. The tears fell but my throat didn't constrict, I didn't feel racked with sobs, I just cried./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Don't cry…" a voice said softly. "I hate it when you cry."/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I gasped and jerked back, my eyes flying open. Gray's stormy eyes were looking at me wearily. He weakly squeezed my hand back and managed to give me a small smile. I felt an involuntary smile creep onto my face as I looked down at him. He was okay, he'd be okay. I'd protect him. I always would. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I scooted closer to him and clasped both hands around his, smiling in relief. He looked tired and weak but I didn't care. I would always be there for him. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I sat there, staring into his eyes until I felt my own eyelids drooping. Before I knew what was happening, I had curled up against him, resting my head against his chest. He exhaled slowly and I matched my breathing to his. My eyelids closed on their own accord and I dipped into sleep, wrapped in his strong arms./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI awoke to something grazing across my cheek. I squeezed my eyes shut, groggily, feeling the strange touch again. It felt like something rough and soft at the same time. And there was more than one. The touch was soft, gently, almost like a caress. My eyes fluttered open and I realized I was looking into someone's eyes. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"And that thing touching my face was actually their hand, caressing my cheek./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"My eyes widened and I jerked awake, sitting up. Words scrolled across my vision as I tried to rack my brain. Something had kidnapped me and they were going to rape me. Worse, they were going to rape and then kill me. I had to get away, I had to escape, and I had to—/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Akira! Relax, it's just me!" a pair of hands cupped my cheeks and forced me to look into those same cobalt eyes. I blinked a few times and the rest of Gray's face came into focus. I breathed out a sigh of relief, and let my hands go limp. I had realized just then that I had been pounding my fists against his chest. He didn't look hurt but I still went red with guilt./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Sorry… I—"/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You couldn't have saved the fish?" a voice interrupted me. I turned around, Gray's hands leaving my face as I stared at Natsu who was holding up rotten fish from the night before. He and his cat looked very unhappy. I looked over to see Erza and Lucy were waking up as well. I smiled in relief. Everyone was okay, we were all safe. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What the hell happened?" Erza growled, rubbing her head. Gray stood and gave me his hand. I took it and he helped me up. I finger combed through my hair as Erza turned to me, waiting for an explanation. I sighed./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I explained everything that I could recall in as much detail as I could. Erza frowned and listened intently while Gray crossed his arms, looking away. Natsu snarled when he heard about the shaman's dolphin laugh. When I explained how I managed to break free of his hold on me, Erza stopped me./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Wait, you could just stop him from absorbing your magic just like that?"/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""It wasn't that easy. It took out a lot of my energy. If I hadn't gotten us out in that short time I had, we probably would have died. I didn't even think I was going to be able to do it. I don't really remember how I pulled it off. I just did." I said shrugging. Erza frowned and closed her eyes, deep in thought./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I finished explaining what had happened up to the point where we reached he mountain ridge. I didn't talk about lying down next to Gray. I didn't talk about my thoughts about killing them. I left those parts out to spare me the embarrassment and, of course, exposing myself. I felt guilty, not telling them what went through my head, but I knew I couldn't./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Erza said nothing for a while, thinking hard. We sat in silence for a good ten minutes before Lucy finally said something./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So we can't go anywhere near the shaman without being trapped and to have all magic absorbed. How are we going to get the orb?" she asked. Gray scratched his chin./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""The orb makes his absorption magic possible. That's probably why he stole it in the first place. That way he can control the magic energy of anyone he comes in contact with. Somehow, we have to get that orb away from him." Then he chuckled and closed his eyes. "Funny how that was kind of our objective in the first place."/span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""How are we supposed to do that if he can sense us coming?" Lucy asked. I narrowed my eyes and thought back to when we were hidden from view. If he could sense life forms, then he should have been able to grab us immediately. No, it wasn't life that he could sense it had to be something else./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I don't think it's a presence he can sense. It's something else." I gasped, clapping my hands together. "Of course! He can only sense magic energy if it's being used in his presence! Remember? Natsu had used his magic right before he captured us, to light his fists!" I pointed at Natsu who stared at me in confusion. Erza gasped in realization./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You're right! That means we can get close as long as we don't use magic! How did I not see it before!" she placed both hands on the ground in front of her. "This is good. This means we can sneak up on him and as long as we don't use magic, we can beat him." I shook my head./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""We can't go in there undefended. If something happens, we need a backup plan." I scrunched my eyebrows together in thought. "I think I have a plan. But it might not work. It may be the only option we have." I said solemnly. Natsu, Gray, and Lucy looked at me expectantly and then to Erza for confirmation./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I pursed my lips as she gave me a hard look. We had come to a crossroads. Either she trusted me now, or she never would. She looked away and closed her eyes. I felt my heartbeat speed up as she turned back around and gave me small nod. This plan had to work. If it didn't, then I would have no chance of getting into the guild. This had to succeed. No pressure or anything./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Okay, here's what I propose." I started. I closed my eyes and summoned my magic from within. I displayed a 3D map of the forest in front of me and in the center of our group. Erza gasped and stared at the map in front of her in awe. Gray reached out to touch the holographic map. His hand went right through it. I zoomed in on the circular clearing where the shaman was. We could see the shaman walking around in the clearing, chanting and muttering to himself./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I can see everything from here, using my archives. That means I can back you up from here. Watch." I pointed at a sport on the map and let my explosion magic take effect. A tree on the map exploded and sure enough, when we turned to look, that same tree in the actual forest had exploded as well./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""If I can keep you all backed up from here, you guys can easily defeat the shaman. Erza, I can give you any type of weapon you want, that way you won't be using your magic when you use it, you'll be using mine. Natsu, I can give you armor that enhances your speed and power of your punches, if you can refrain from using your fire, you should be able to defend yourself pretty well. Gray, I think I can replicate your magic pretty well if not perfectly. Let me try." I stood up and took an Ice-Make stance./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Ice-Make Shield!" I shouted. The ice burst from my fists to create a near perfect shield of ice. Gray stared at me in awe. I stepped back and pointed for him to stand./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Okay, now you pretend you're going to cast a shield and I'll try to use my magic for you." Tentatively, gray stood and did what I was told. We both went into our stance./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Ice-Make Shield!" We both yelled. I directed the shield I made to appear right in front of Gray as if he had cast the spell himself. He gasped and stepped back. I lowered my arms and turned back to the others./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""If I can stay here and back you all up from here, we shouldn't have any trouble getting the orb back from him. But none of you can use your magic no matter what. If he senses me, that's fine. He'll be too far out of range to do anything about it. You'll have one shot before he recovers and tries something else. One shot to throw him off-guard and grab the orb. Do you think we can pull it off?" I looked at Erza. She closed her eyes and crossed her arms. Then she opened her eyes and smiled at me./span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Let's see that nice array of weapons you offered and then we'll see." She said smiling. I grinned and nodded, looking over at Gray who gave me a look of approval. /span/p
p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 121.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"It seemed that I was finally being accepted. I closed my eyes. I would not fail my one chance to prove that I could be trusted. Even though the nagging voice at the back of my head kept reminding me that I couldn't./span/p