. Not As It Seems .

She stepped off the train with a thoughtful look in her piercing burgundy eyes, searching the people around her. Every now and then, one would give her a wary look and take a path around her, but the young woman didn't seem to notice, simply adjusting the strap of the leather satchel she wore over her shoulder.

"So this is Fiore," she murmured aloud. It had been a long time since she'd been in the country; years, even. She didn't really remember the last time. She'd definitely been young when she'd left though, that much she did remember. Her first assignment had been to escort a wealthy child into another country, and she'd done it so well that she'd been requested several times over by that child's parents. She'd stayed there for years, protecting and escorting and retrieving. The Council had given their approval; apparently, the family was one that was more than willing to donate large sums to their dwindling funds.

So to receive a message that demanded her return to Fiore…

Well. It was a tad bit concerning.

She popped her neck, sighing in content before scowling at nothing in particular. She had her orders, so straight to work she went.

Rhith Vila ignored the strange looks that many cast her way as the petite woman started forward, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She'd been on the train for what felt like weeks but had been only just over twenty four hours. She'd managed to catch the last one to the capital of Fiore, Crocus, and she was sure it would suffice until she could figure out the way to the place she really and truly needed to be in. Where her orders demanded she inspect a strange influx of magical activity.

Magnolia.

Rhith's lips twitched into a smile as she hurried across a busy street, glancing this way and that to make sure she wouldn't be hit by any crazy person that came raging by. She made it across without any issue, and then fell back into thought.

Much to her dismay, she'd learned upon asking that there were no trains to Magnolia from Crocus. It required a walk to a small town nearby, where one could hire someone to drive them in a carriage to the rather famous town.

Even when she'd spent much of her life - most of it, if she was being honest - as a mage of Fiore, working in a different country, she knew who called the town home. A popular guild, the strongest in the Fiore according to the Grand Magic Games that had taken place only a few months before. She remembered seeing them on the lacrima-visions when she'd been free to do so.

Most of her time, of course, had been spent working. Rent was harsh and large when you lived near a mansion it turned out.

Rhith sighed softly, shaking her head. The long pieces of silvery hair that hung on either side of her face, framing it, swung, catching the light of the afternoon as much as the "wings" on either side of her head did. She glanced around before starting forward again.

She didn't know much else about what she was to do.

Check in with the local guild to inform them that she was passing through or possibly staying under the order of the Magic Council, figure out what the magic was about, and then report to Headquarters.

That, of course, was proving to be a bit more difficult than she'd originally planned.

For one, Rhith was not known for her abilities at map reading.

And for another...well, she'd just put it at people not too fond of her. People tended to avoid Rhith when possible for the most part, excluding a very small number of magical people. Those without magic especially shot her dirty looks whenever they came near her, and it only made it worse that Crocus had an unending supply of people. So she couldn't exactly just stop and ask for directions…

So she resorted to reading signs. She scanned each and every one she came across. her sandaled feet slapping against cobblestoned streets. She knew that the city had been destroyed by supposed dragons nearly a year beforehand, just after the Grand Magic Games had ended, but damn. They rebuilt fast.

That idea filled her mind and she frowned.

Rhith could see through illusions with ease, being a mage of them herself. Many had thought the dragons were just a show. She knew better; the dragons had been actual dragons, and there hadn't been anyone having an easy time when they'd attacked Crocus. The mages of guilds had fought viciously and hard to protect their beloved country and friends, and Rhith commended them highly on that.

All the power to them if they could protect one another.

It just showed how powerful some mages were.

Rhith was in the middle of examining a sign and reading what it said when she first heard it. She glanced up and over her shoulder at the sound of sniffling, of mumbling under the breath. When she didn't see anyone, children or adults, crying nearby, she went back to reading.

Until something tugged very lightly on her bag.

Suspicious, Rhith turned on her heel with a dark look - only to lose it and stop dead in her tracks when she discovered a fairly cute looking creature peering hopefully up at her. She wasn't sure what it was. A cat maybe? A frog? But she liked it almost immediately, and the look she'd worn previously vanished as she carefully knelt before it, immediately disliking the sight of tears. "Hello, there."

"Hello," the frog-cat mumbled, suddenly nervous. "Um, F-Fro was wondering if y-you knew the way to S-Sabertooth?"

Sabertooth, eh? Rhith recognized the name; it was the guild that had been considered the strongest when some powerful members of the Fairy Tail guild had vanished. They'd practically taken over the Grand Magic Games for years before said powerful members of Fairy Tail returned and quite literally kicked their brutal asses. Of course, Rhith was pretty sure something must have changed. She'd heard only good things about Sabertooth recently, though the Council didn't exactly like the new guildmaster, who rarely did any paperwork.

"Sorry, little one," Rhith apologized with a heavy sigh. "I haven't been around here since before Sabertooth was created. But, if it makes you feel any better, I'm lost, too. I have no idea where I'm going. Want to be lost together? I suppose if we find your guild, I can ask for directions."

He looked disappointed for only a split second before smiling nervously. "Okay. Fro will be lost with you."

She smiled brilliantly. She was absolutely in love with this cute little frog-cat. "Is that your name? Fro?"

He shook his head. "My name's Frosch. What's yours?"

"I'm Rhith," she introduced, winking as she shook his cloth covered paw. She didn't hesitate to scoop him up into her arms, and he purred, confirming himself to be a cat for her. Not that the tail that flicked behind him didn't confirm that already. "Have no worries, we'll find your guild. If you're lost, I'm sure the other members of Sabertooth are looking for you, hm?"

Frosch nodded enthusiastically at the thought. "Yeah. Lector will tell Fro's guild when he doesn't see me." He cuddled close, deciding he liked Rhith, and Rhith looked beyond pleased about the matter.

If he hadn't had a guild, Rhith was quite certain she might have kidnapped him. She may have considered kidnapping the cute little guy even with him being a part of a fairly well-known guild. But she wasn't that kind of person, she wouldn't have pulled him away from people he clearly loved for her own benefit.

"Do you have an idea of the general direction of your guild's building?" she asked politely as she went back to scanning the sign. She turned him so that he was facing forward, her arms lightly holding him so that he could see where they were going. "I don't know where we're going period."

Frosch seemed to dig into his thoughts for a few seconds before coming up with a solution. "Yes! That way! It's a big building with our emblem on it," he reported, pointing towards the southwestern side of the large city. "We're outside of Crocus. Fro was shopping with the others and got separated."

"I see." Rhith hummed as she walked, legs eating up the ground quickly despite her height. She was shorter than average, only five feet even. She knew there were others shorter than her, but it didn't help that her entire body was, as a disgusting person had put it, "delicate". Everything about her was tiny. Her feet were small, her fingers so slim that it was like a person could break them just by touching them.

In other words, she was petite in every way possible.

"Don't worry, Fro-kun," she told him with a huge smile on her face. "We'll find your friends, I promise. And if we don't, we're well on our way to the guild's building anyways, so you'll be home shortly."

"Thank you, Rhith-sama," he said cheerfully.

"Sama isn't necessary," she replied with flushed cheeks. Her burgundy eyes sparkled with excitement despite her words. How long had she addressed others as such without even receiving so much as a thanks in response? It was nice to have someone so happy to keep her company without demanding she work in the meantime.

Frosch didn't respond to her words, instead purring again when one of her fingers darted up to scratch beneath his cute little green chin.

If this was something she could do every day...she'd quit being a mage that worked for the Magic Council in an instant. It was much nicer being allowed to cuddle a cute little cat creature than dealing with the wealthy.

If only she didn't somehow make people uncomfortable...she supposed a guild would be a fun place to go, train, hang out at, etc. But that would never happen, especially not with the glares people were sending her as they moved out of her way. She remained calm, even when Frosch asked, "Rhith-sama? Why are people moving away?"

"I don't know, Frosch," she sighed truthfully.

I wish I knew.

Rhith had experienced many, many things in her life. While she wasn't exactly certain as to how long she'd been alive (a story she'd tell at a later time, when it was relevant), she'd come across things most independent mages hadn't. It came with staying in another country for years and years.

But this kind of thing was not.

"This," she said incredulously, her deep red eyes utterly bewildered as she adjusted the violet dress she wore alongside Frosch and the leather bag she shouldered. "This is your guildhall?"

Frosch, perfectly content in her arms, beamed. "Yes! This is Sabertooth's guildhall! Some of us live here! Sting does. Lector stays with him. Fro and Rogue have a different house though, and so does Yukino."

Ah. That explains the size. I suppose there must be other things in there as well, training rooms and what not. Nodding to herself, Rhith adjusted Frosch in her arms and started forward again at a walk, following the path that led to the massive fortress-like building at the top of the hill.

In the end, they hadn't come across any Sabertooth mages in the city, resulting in a two hour long walk to the nearby guildhall. Rhith hadn't minded the walk; it gave her the chance to inspect Fiore's terrain, check out the sights.

And there were some seriously nice sights, if she was being honest. She enjoyed the peace of Fiore. It was cheerful and quiet, and enjoyable peace rather than a tense one that came with a country that was constantly looking for a fight.

It was nice to know that she could walk among people and not get smacked for looking at someone the wrong way.

They reached the doors after only a few minutes, and Rhith forced herself to calm her mind before opening the door. Frosch had told her only moments before to simply walk in; Sabertooth might get defensive but would listen to what she had to say as long as he was with her.

The illusion mage patted his head lightly at the thought. She had no reason to not walk in; she was one, a mage, and two, a mage that worked beneath the command of the Magic Council - meaning she was technically allowed to do whatever the hell she wanted in regards to invading a guild mage's personal space. They answered to her, not the other way around.

Not a single person noticed her at first as she stepped inside. They continued drinking, eating, planning; they just kept doing whatever they'd been doing before she'd come in.

"Hm.." Frosch squinted, searching the guildhall with expert eyes before instructing, "Over there! There's Yukino, she'll help you, Rhith-sama! That way you won't be lost anymore." Frosch's long tail swished, curling momentarily around her waist in a motion of affection as the young woman continued forward, pushing herself to make her way over to the silver-haired girl as instructed.

When they were only a few feet away, Frosch squirmed slightly and called, "Yukino!"

Her head snapped up and the young woman blinked before smiling hugely in relief. "Frosch!" she cried, hurrying over. She held her arms out and Frosch willingly hopped into them for a tight hug. "We've been searching everywhere! Sting-sama is out in town with Rogue-sama and Lector-kun...oh. Hello."

Rhith smiled faintly, her nerves getting the better of her. "Hi there." She offered a hand to shake, cautious. She knew most would reject her offer, simply stare at her until she stopped; Yukino, didn't, however. Yukino reached out and firmly shook her hand with a hesitant smile. "I'm Rhith Vila. I work under the Magic Council."

"Oh!" she gasped. "We received word a few days ago that you'd pass through! It's nice to meet you, Vila-san, I'm Yukino Aguria, celestial mage of Sabertooth." She gave a dry smile. "And practically master of the guild since Sting-sama is a failure when it comes to paperwork…"

"Sting is bad at paperwork," Frosch agreed.

Rhith giggled softly before rubbing the back of her silver head, adjusting her leather bag's strap. "I'm sorry to bother you...this little guy asked for some help getting home and I figured I might as well help him since I needed directions myself. I need to-"

"Frosch!"

Frosch's face lit up. "Rogue!" he cried excitedly, leaping out of Yukino's arms now and straight into the arms of a dark-haired man that had appeared out of seemingly nowhere. And he had, Rhith realized a brief second later; he was still solidifying after being a shadow. He must have been in such a rush to have used magic in that way, she mused to herself.

"I'm glad you're alright," Rogue told the green cat with a frown. "Where were you? We looked all over the place. Sting got distracted again-" He cut off suddenly as his nostrils flared. A single piercing red eye turned on Rhith and she fought back a shudder of fear at the intensity of it.

Nervous now, Rhith smiled hesitantly. "Hello. I'm Rhith Vila, a mage under contract with the Magic Council. I found your friend while I was trying to figure out a way to get to where I need to go."

"I like her," Frosch mused aloud, catching their attention. Rhith blushed at what he said. "Rhith-sama is kind."

"Drop the honorific please," Rhith pleaded, somehow knowing it would do no good. "So if I could just get some instructions on how to get to-"

Again, the illusion mage found herself cut off when another person seemed to materialize beside them. This time, however, it was far too close for Rhith's liking. As in, a breath away from her face kind of close. Rhith leaned back to try and get away from the blond man that had suddenly shoved his face up near hers, his blue eyes searching her own burgundy eyes curiously. When he spoke, his breath washed over her face in a warm gust. "Well this is new, eh, Rogue?"

"Sting," Rogue retorted, "You're making her uncomfortable." He paused, and then reluctantly agreed. "It is new, however, I agree."

So this was Sabertooth's guild master, Rhith realized as the grumbling man pulled back. She recognized arrogance in the way he held himself. She couldn't help but see it with ease after working with the rich for so long. Exasperated, Rhith glanced at the door. "Look, I can go ask for directions elsewhere if you want…"

"Forgive them," Yukino pleased, and Rhith realized she had another cat in her arms, this one red with a vest on. Rhith eyed him longingly. She liked the weird cats. Even if it did startle her that they talked. "They're not usually like this...you said you needed directions, Vila-san?"

Rhith opened her mouth to talk again, and then scowled furiously when Sting caught her off. "What's your name?"

"If you'd listen," Rhith gritted out, finally losing her temper. Something about the pair of men before her rubbed her the wrong way, and it set her off almost immediately. "Maybe I'd have told you by now! Rhith Vila. Officially heading to the town of Magnolia under the order of the Magic Council to investigate a suspicious flare of magic. Any more questions?"

"I have one," the red cat who Rhith guessed was Frosch's friend Lector supplied. She gave him a look that was softened despite her attempt to not let it be so. "Should we go to Sting-kun's office? Because you're getting a lot of looks."

Rhith spared a look over her shoulder and grimaced. A lot of people were staring, and not all of them were friendly looks. Some were downright aggressive, actually. "...that might not be such a bad idea," the illusion mage admitted, her cheeks flushing just barely.

Whoops.

Sting smirked and she found herself wanting to rip that smug expression right off of his face as he waved for all of them to follow. "C'mon, not like we got anything better to do. You comin', Rogue?"

"I don't need to sit in an office to get directions," Rhith muttered to herself as she allowed herself to be led towards said room. Of course, she'd agreed to talk to them in there, but she didn't need to continue showing her approval towards anything either man said.

Rhith's eyebrow ticked, relieved Yukino and the two cats would be there, too.

There was just something that made her angry whenever she looked their way...at the same time that it soothed her, lulling her into a feeling of false security. Perhaps it was the second feeling that drove her crazy…?

When they'd all slipped into the office, Sting kicked the door shut and Rogue turned a curious look on Rhith. "You're a member of the Magic Council?"

"I work under them," she corrected. "I have a...kind of special contract, I guess? I know there aren't many mages who are sent job requests that they don't think the guilds would be good for. Don't get me wrong," she said hastily when Yukino frowned in disapproval, "You guys do a lovely job, it's just...sometimes, the Council needs a more direct involvement. Someone who doesn't go to others before them or try to solve it with their own people."

Rogue nodded slowly, murmuring, "I can see that. It makes sense. We've tried to solve several issues with our own people or even asking another guild for their opinion before even considering going to the Council…"

"What kind of magic do you do?" Lector questioned suddenly. "You're a mage, but what kind of magic?"

Rhith immediately forgot her annoyance with the two men watching her carefully. "Illusionary magic, my friend. I'm an illusion mage." She flicked a finger and a butterfly landed on it, a glowing silver. Its wings fluttered for a moment before solidifying with color into that of an orange. "I have three separate ways I use it. My weaker, used in message delivering if I don't feel like going anywhere, my middle, which is this, just realistic looking, and my strongest. I can create something out of nothing and while it takes a lot of energy, make it real enough to deal blows. It's how I fight if necessary."

A single look at the butterfly and it vanished, leaving swirling white orbs to disintegrate into thin air. "It's beautiful," Yukino complimented softly.

Rhith shot her a beaming smile. "Thanks. Anyways, if you people wouldn't mind, I'd like some directions to Magnolia? There was a suspicious influx of magic that I need to investigate, just outside of the town. The Council was concerned by it."

"Oh!" Yukino tapped her lower lip with her index finger, a look of dark thought on her face. "I remember that. It was only a few weeks ago. We felt it here, but figured it was just Fairy Tail again...they do that quite often, you know? We thought it might just be a new mage of theirs or something like that."

Sting wrinkled his nose in disgust, as if he'd smelled something disgusting. "Yeah, but I told you. Smelled weird for a while afterwards. Rogue and I had to go miles around Magnolia when we went to Hargeon."

Rhith silently noted this information. "Thank you for telling me that, I'll make sure to remember. And I suppose I can convince the Council to send some jewels your way in payment for your help. Do you maybe have a map I can borrow?"

"Nah, don't need one." Sting smirked again and Rhith shot him a glare out of the corner of her eye. "We were heading that way anyways. Just took a job in Magnolia, specifically askin' for the Twin Dragon Slayers of Sabertooth. Gotta stop by Fairy Tail and let 'em know we're there, of course, but...we can ask around for anything they might know."

Rhith huffed. She really didn't want them thinking they could take over the work that had brought her back to Fiore for the first time in years, if she was being perfectly honestly. But then a thought struck her and her eyes darted to Lector and then the purring Frosch, who was still held by Rogue. "...are they coming?"

Rogue's lips curved into an amused smile. "Of course. They're part of our team."

"...I suppose," Rhith sighed grudgingly, "It would be quite rude of me to tell you no. When were you planning on leaving? Not today, I hope. I need a break from running around. I was on a train for quite some time."

"Of course not," Yukino reassured. She dug around in the desk that resided within the office, not the least bit bothered that she was digging through the master of the guild's possessions. Most of it was pens and paperwork anyways. "You'll be accompanied by Sting-sama and Rogue-sama, as well as Frosch and Lector-kun. I, myself, will be remaining to deal with official work while Sting-sama's away." A pause as she muttered under her breath, "Not that Sting-sama does it anyways…"

"I do paperwork," Sting protested, his sharp ears catching her words with ease. He adjusted the fur-lined blue vest he wore with a proud look. "I just prefer to deal with things in a physical manner."

Rogue rolled his eyes and Rhith simply snorted in annoyance at him. "I'm sure you do. When are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow," Yukino announced, finding what she'd been looking for; it was a piece of paper, a job request. "You'll be leaving by carriage at nine in the morning...oh! Vila-san, I suppose you should be informed now...as Sting-sama and Rogue-sama are dragon slayers, they have a fairly interesting weakness."

"Oh?" Rhith cocked her head, silver strands falling into her face. "And what weakness is that? Not something too devastating I hope?"

Lector snickered. "Nah. They just suck against moving vehicles."

There was a pause, and then Rhith burst into giggles, unaware of the two sets of eyes that watched her the second the sound began. "You mean to tell me," she gasped past her laughter, "That two of the strongest mages in Fiore are weak against...against motion sickness? What kind of...ha!" She burst into laughter a second time.

"It's not our fault," Sting protested with a scowl on his face.

"It's simply something all dragon slayers deal with," Rogue agreed, looking fairly irritated about the matter. "We're not the only ones. Fairy Tail's dragon slayers suffer from it, too."

Rhith nodded to herself. At least she wouldn't have to talk the entire trip. "I see. I'll make sure to remember that then. Do you have a place to meet in mind or shall I stop here in the morning?"

"I would suggest you stop here," Rogue informed her as Frosch's tail curved around one of his wrists. He affectionately patted the cat's head. "We'll take you to where we'll rent the carriage, so be here by eight, if you don't mind."

Rhith agreed; that time could be handled. While she didn't enjoy getting up before six thirty on a normal schedule, she supposed it couldn't be helped. Frosch seemed cheerful as he added, "Fro's glad Rhith-sama is coming."

"Me, too!" Lector cheered.

Rhith's eyes practically glowed as she glanced from cat to cat, excited about the matter. She'd get hours upon hours to hopefully cuddle the two talking cats if she had her way.

Rhith turned to leave the room, tugging on her bag's strap as she waved without looking back. "Then I'll be here bright and early."

She left without looking back.

And so begins NAIS! This is finished, so the updates will be regular on Saturdays. It's seventeen chapters long and there's an epilogue. I'm quite nervous about posting this, actually. But I hope you all like it! Rhith is a favorite OC of mine, and I'm quite fond of her. :)

This is rated T, mostly because I wasn't entirely sure on where to rate it. There's mentions of sex, but I didn't write any lemons. There's violence, of course, but not too bad.