I looked out the window, watching the grass dance to the wind. The fields and trees were green and luscious. I could see deer and other wild beasts wondering through the woods. And here I was, sitting in a small room being told the history of my country.

Don't mistake my inattentiveness for disinterest. I am quite interested in the history and lore of my country. However, the subject that are being covered today is one I've already researched for a few months. Magic.

In my country, magic is still a new concept. Although it is used for powering lights, kitchens, vehicles, and such things, humans using it for weapons and power is a rare practice. The only people who know how to use it properly are the nomads. However, they are travelers from different lands and thus gained knowledge from these foreign places.

It wasn't until recently that they have been allowed to wander into my country, Fiore. It was illegal for them to enter due to the fact that magic users were considered evil. After making trade with the other countries to the North and West (where magic is prevalent) that myth was dropped. Although many civilians still see magic users and evil beings.

With the arrival of magical nomads, children started to develop magical powers. Some considered it a curse (at least the lower classes) and thus left their children on their doorstep for the nomads to take them. It was a cruel practice but the children would have been shunned if they stayed. Those children born in the higher classes often were sent to a private school, one where they could learn to control it. However, the magic taught here were no more than parlor tricks and fortune telling. Anything more than that was punished.

Magic was more of a game to the nobles while it was seen as the devils work to the lower classes. This creates a tension in Fiore. Where the lower classes are scared of nobles for fear their devils magic will kill them while the nobles feel all powerful when all they can really do is make a rabbit disappear.

"Ms. Heartfilia, please stand up" my attention was brought back to the board. I stood up as asked and waited. My hands were held to the side and palms on my thighs. The teacher did not look towards the students, he just held his pen on the board waiting for me to answer.

"Please tell me the names of all the magic using countries," the teacher asked. I nodded.

"The Northern country, most known for their furs and wild beasts, is Silvercoast. The country to the West, known for their Iron and mountains, is Ironpost. Finally the country to the South, known for their large variety of magic users, is Fairriver. Fairriver is also the largest country and has the most variety of geographical features. Thus making it a great trading partner." I answered. The teacher wrote my answers on the board and a small map of where they were in relation to Fiore.

"That is correct Ms. Heartfilia. Now can someone tell me why magic was banned for so long in Fiore?" the teacher asked. I rose my hand to answer.

"Yes Ms. Heartfilia," the teacher said.

"The reason why magic was banned until twenty-five years ago was for the trade agreement with Rayfay, the country over the ocean to the East of Fiore. They banned magic as well as Fiore, however, because of the war between Fiore and Rayfay, we lifted the banned so that Fairriver could assist us. Thus leading to our victory." I said. The teacher nodded with his fact still towards the board.

"That is correct again Ms. Heartfilia. You may sit down." He said.

I sat down and opened my notebook. Where I had more in-depth notes on the war between Rayfay and Fiore, more commonly known as the Eastern war, which lasted for 5 years. There were at least 3,000 dead from Fiore and 12,000 dead from Rayfay. The death toll was even for the first 3 ½ years until the agreement with Fairriver, then we were able to kill many more Rayfayians. Thus resulting in the Peace Treaty of the East (PTE). The agreement with Fairriver was that they would help us in any war as long as we conducted trade with their country. It was too good to pass up, especially since our country had many people who were interested in the resources of Fairriver. After the war, both economies grew. It was profitable for both countries and thus Ironpost and Silvercoast wanted to conduct trade with Fiore as well.

It was still unclear in what started the war. Some say that it was a Fiorian who slaughtered a Rayfayian trading post with magic. Thus making the Rayfayians think we lied to them about banning magic. The Rayfayians felt that magic was the devils work as well. They felt it had no place in their land and thus killed anyone who possessed it. It never got that bad here in Fiore, the child would simply be sent to Fairriver or another country. It was common for magical tests to be conducted every few years. However, since it isn't banned anymore, magic users and been breeding more magic users.

My mother was from Fairriver and my father was born in Fiore, they met during the war and got married soon after. My mother agreed to live in Fiore since the banned was lifted and started a family here. I was born soon after. I was about 8 when my mother died. Ever since then I've been sent from one magic school to another. Hoping that I could learn the same spells my mother had, celestial magic. No such luck though. It seems that the only spells the schools will teach me is how to summon a dog spirit (which I named Plue).

As great as Plue is, he's nowhere close to the spirits my mother used to summon. I sometimes practice summoning her old spirits but I could only summon them for a short time before feeling exhausted. I had 4 of the 12 golden keys, which were the hardest keys to get, thanks to my mother. It's just upsetting that I can't really use them.

After class I walked down to the lunch room to relax. I said hi to a few of my acquaintances. I didn't chat with them since most of them were a bit weary of me. It seems that my mother had a reputation back in her home country. She was known for her ability to summon two spirits at once, and still fight with them. It required a large amount of energy just to summon one spirit let allow two, then to fight with them. That's a hard rep to live up to.

I didn't have many friends since I never stayed very long. My father's main goal in having me go to all these schools was to find a husband worthy of the Heartfilia fortune. My father wanted me to be with a magic user from this country. Hoping that it would be a bit of a compromise. I would still be with a magic user like me but they wouldn't be very strong. This would let us gain status but not have us be the freaks of the noble world. I don't care really if I marry or not. I just wish that my husband will let me be.

"Hey Lucy," one of my classmates yells (I think her name was Eve). "I heard you're having a ball tomorrow to pick your future husband, are you excited?" she asked. Her eyes were big and wide. It was like she was trying to live through me. If I remember correctly, her family had already picked a husband for her the minute she was born. So she didn't have much of a choice in the matter. Even though I'm told I have to choice by tomorrow, I still have somewhat of a choice in the matter, although limited.

"Yeah, sure" I said halfheartedly. This didn't faze her. She was still on cloud nine. It didn't really matter much to me. If it made her happy to imagine herself in my shoes, then let her be happy.

We both got our food and sat down at a small table. Some of her friends sat down with us, unmoved by my appearance in their group.

"You're so lucky. Can you imagine it, you'll be walking in, in your best dress," I let her continue on with her story. It seemed interesting and plus I really had nothing else to do.

"Then all the most handsome men will flock to you, but you'll smile and nodded until, he arrives, the man of your dreams," she continued. Her story did seem interesting. I've read my fair share of romance novels and often imagine being in one. But there were always more pressing matters at hand.

"He wouldn't be in the crowd surrounding you, no. He would be by the window looking out. Up at the stars, you'll be fascinated by the man and walk up to him. You won't know why but he just seems so perfect to you, and you haven't even seen his face." Her hands were on her cheeks. I could see the stars in her eyes.

"You say 'Hello' but he doesn't respond. You'll be a bit frustrated but you try again, refusing to leave until you get an answer. 'Hello' you'll say with a hint of frustration. He turns his head to you, you blush with embarrassment because you know that he knows you were angry at him. He smirks at you and turns his head back to the window, then…" she stopped as I turned her around to face me.

"Look, Eve was it? I know that it sounds exciting but I doubt that it will turn out that way."

"Well, you'll never know until tomorrow will you." She said. Her cheeks were puffed up. Angry that I cut her off. I rolled my eyes and continued to eat my food. She continued the story with her friends.

After school I ran to the river. There was a large tree by the bridge that I always sat under. This was where I worked on my research on the war and countries involved. I also would buy a newspaper and read on the uprisings in Ironpost. It seems the mixing of different magic cultures can lead to conflicts. This isn't a surprise really but will greatly affect the price of iron in the next few months. After the trade agreements with Ironpost, Silvercoast, Fiore, and Fairriver, a Grand Council was created to lead all four countries, at least for trade and magic purposes. They will probably be the ones to respond to the uprisings. Their army is composed of soldiers from all four countries and thus have ties to the whole continent.

"I wonder what they will do," I said out loud. I look up through the tree. A small breeze made me shiver. I was just wearing a skirt and a polo, the usual school uniform for Spring. I closed my eyes to enjoy the warmth of the sun. It was quiet except for the water and the wind. I hate to admit it but I fell asleep just like that.

When I opened my eyes there were another set looking at me. They were dark and large. Both of us were still. I wasn't sure what was going on. So I did the only thing I could think of. I slapped him.

"What the hell was that for?" he responded as he rubbed the bright pink mark on his face.

"For being a creep," I said. Really I had no reason to slap him. But I wasn't going to let him just stare at me.

"I didn't even do anything to you," He said.

"Well, you shouldn't just stare at people, it's rude," I said.

"Well, you've cured me of that," He said. With the distance between us I was able to gather more details about his appearance. His hair was almost as pink as the mark on his face. He was wearing a black vest with a loose white shirt underneath. He had a white scarf wrapped around his neck and white puffy pants.

"Clearly you aren't from around here, are you lost?" I asked. He looked at me for a second then stood up.

"No, I was on my way to my camp when I saw you sleeping here. I know they say that this area is pretty safe but I still wouldn't want to sleep in the open. There could be beast and stuff you know?" he said with his arms crossed. I stood up and fixed my skirt.

"Well thank you for your concern. I didn't mean to fall asleep, it was just really peaceful out here." I paused and smiled at the man. "By the way, you said you were on your way to your camp, are you by chance part of a nomad clan?" I asked. He smiled and nodded.

"Yeah we are doing a job for a noble around here, they're name is Heartfilia I think." He said. I was about to speak when a blue cat came flying out of nowhere and plopped on his head.

"Found you Natsu," the cat said. I was in shock. There was a talking cat. Is this a celestial spirit? I thought. Apparently, Natsu saw my reaction.

"You look like you've never seen a flying cat before," he chuckled. I didn't respond. I was just really confused. So I grabbed him and stretched his cheeks.

"What are you?" he flew away and hid behind Natsu.

"Who's the mean lady?" the cat asked. Natsu moved his hands behind his head and shrugged.

"I don't know, I just met her." He said.

"Oh, forgive my rudeness," I bowed. "My name is Lucy, Lucy Heartfilia, and it is a pleasure to meet you Natsu and…" I waited for a response.

"Happy, his name is Happy and I'm Natsu Dragneel," Natsu said. He pulled out his hand.

"It's nice to meet you Natsu Dragneel and Happy," I shook Natsu's hand and smiled. Natsu had a big grin on his face.

"So are you the client?" He asked. I nodded my head no.

"Well, my father is probably the ones that hired you but it's for my ball so kind of." I said. Before Natsu could respond Happy gave him a light shove.

"Natsu we have to get back, Gramps is going to get mad if we don't practice for the ball," Happy said, still hiding behind Natsu.

"Alright, well it was nice to meet you Luigi, see you tomorrow." He said before running off.

"IT'S LUCY" I yelled. Was it too much for a nomad to remember his client's name.