Chapter Text
Kagura Mikazuchi
Kagura was currently sipping a cup of tea when she saw Millianna coming towards her. Putting down the cup, she looked at her friend and asked her what she wants.
"Well Beth and the other girls went out on jobs, and I wanted to train a bit." Said Millianna as she looked at Kagura with a pleading look on her face. "You saw how I fared back at the Grand Magic Games. I did poorly. Granted, the other girls did, but I got caught by Minerva and I caused us to lose the tag team battle. I need some more training if Mermaid Heel is to get stronger." Kagura hummed at that in agreement. Aside from her, the rest of their team during the Grand Magic Games fared poorly. She gently scolded them after the games for this, saying they need to do better if they wished to compete again in the Grand Magic Games. Something that many of them took to heart, especially after that monster came and killed off dozens of wizards by itself along with its spawn.
"If you wish then, let's do so." Said Kagura as she grabbed her sword nearby and went to the small training area the guildhall had for members that wished to train or engage in simple spars between each other. When they arrived, Kagura looked at Millianna and ordered her to get ready. "Be warned, Millianna, I won't be holding back." Millianna nodded at that with a smile.
"Nor would I want you to." Said Millianna before charging at Kagura. She swiped at the gravity mage, trying to earn a hit on her, but Kagura simply dodged all her attacks before countering with a jab with her sword sheath. Millianna dodged that attack, but left herself open for another attack by Kagura with her left leg, sending Millianna flying to the ground.
"Ow." Said Millianna as she got up. "Can't believe I let myself wide open for an attack. I thought I figured out not to lower my guard anymore."
"Even the most experienced of fighters can let their guard down in the worst of times." Said Kagura as she looked at Millianna as she got up. "Especially when they're suffering from a tragedy." Millianna just nodded sadly at that as she remembered what happened with that monster after the Grand Magic Games.
That monster and its spawn killed a lot of people while they were around. Mermaid Heel took fewer losses than everyone else, but that didn't matter in the long run as many of the most powerful wizards in Fiore died from that thing, including Wizard Saint Makarov Dreyar, the Guild Master of Fairy Tail. The guilds were scrambling to recruit new blood to their ranks, but many were still grieving over the loss of their friends and family. Mermaid Heel included.
"I know." Said Millianna, remembering they lost Beth to those monsters. One of those blobs got the jump on her and ripped her apart before their eyes. It was a gruesome sight and one that Millianna still saw in her sleep. "I miss Beth."
"So do I." Said Kagura as she thought of the cute girl that was one of Mermaid Heel's best wizards. She was so full of life and so young. To die so soon was a tragedy. One that Kagura blamed both on herself for failing to prevent. It was a lesson that Kagura needed to get stronger along with the rest of Mermaid Heel. Upon returning back to Acacia town, she made a request to the Mermaid Heel Guild Master that they needed to do a training regimen for the Guild in order to prevent another tragedy like the one that happened after the Grand Magic Games. After some thought into the matter, the Guild Master agreed and encouraged their members to train. Some protested the action, but others agreed with how Mermaid Heel fared in both the Grand Magic Games and the battle with the Black Beast as the Magic Council began referring to the monster that appeared after the Grand Magic Games. Of course, the Guild Master gave people a choice if they wanted to participate or not, but a surprising number began training with each other in order to get stronger. Kagura, of course, was amongst them.
Even though she was already Mermaid Heel's strongest wizard, she knew that she needed to improve more. Her performance in the Grand Magic Games, though admirable, proved that. She couldn't land a significant hit on her friend, Ragna, and she had to put a decent effort into defeating Yukino. Thus, she realized she needed to become stronger. Was it a fool's errand? Probably, given how strong Ragna was, she was still going to try. For, if there was anything that people needed to know about her, it was that she was stubborn to a fault.
"She was a good wizard and an even greater friend." Said Kagura as she looked at Millianna with a look of regret. "However, we must honor her memory by continuing our duty as wizards. So as to prevent another tragedy like her again. Along with what happened in Crocus by that Black Beast." Millianna nodded in agreement as she remembered the announcement by the Grand Magic Council just two days ago.
With testimonies from both Ragna and Erza, the Grand Magic Council was able to determine the identity of the ones responsible for the attack on Crocus. A Relius Clover and a Hazama. As a result of what happened in Crocus, the Magic Council and Royal Family have decreed that both men are wanted men for the destruction that occurred on Crocus as well as the death of countless wizards. Putting them on top of the wanted list in Fiore, the Magic Council has asked the remaining legal guild wizards to bring them alive but exercise extreme caution as both Ragna and Erza claimed they're skilled fighters that even an S-class mage will struggle against to beat.
Kagura, having heard about these two men, felt rage and hatred that rivaled her hate for Jellal. Those two men unleashed a monster on them all that killed dozens of wizards and destroyed countless homes. For what, she didn't know, nor did she care. If she ever saw them, they'll feel the wrath of her sword. Clenching her sword, Kagura soon heard Millianna speak out.
"Kagura." Said Millianna in worry as she saw her friend shaking in anger. Upon hearing the concern in her friend's voice, Kagura forced herself to calm down. Once she did, she looked at Millianna.
"Let's end our training session for today. I don't think that I can handle another training session today. I don't wish to harm you." Said Kagura. Millianna, still concerned for her friend, nodded in agreement before taking off. Once she was gone, Kagura sighed and thought about Ragna and how he was doing.
Being her first true male friend, Kagura was concerned for him and his wellbeing. Even more so now when his guild suffered more than the others in the form of the death of their guild master. She knew he wasn't the Guild Master, that belonged to Erza Scarlet, but still, he must be overburdened along with everyone else with the number of tasks he had to do now that Fairy Tail lost a few of their members and the fact that all the guilds had to work overtime to accomplish the number of jobs sent their way due to the losses they all sustained from fighting the Black Beast.
Speaking of jobs, she had to go on a job soon. The guild just received a massive batch of jobs today and many of them required a strong wizard to accomplish. Being the only strong wizard in Mermaid Heel, well compared to the other strong guilds out there, she had to accomplish them for the guild lest their reputation go down and she refused to let that happen. Thus, she went to her guild's job board to go and pick out a job for her to do. Upon picking one, she stepped out of the Mermaid Heel Guild Hall and straight towards Acacia's train station.
Later
Kagura
Vermillion Town
Upon arriving at her destination, which was called Vermillion Town, Kagura walked towards the Town Hall. The mayor of the town had requested her specifically on an urgent job. The flier for the job said that it was a mass kidnapping that even the local law enforcement couldn't handle. Thus, they made this an S-class job. Having heard the efficiency of Vermillion town's law enforcement from several guild mates that lived there, Kagura could see why the mayor requested her.
Upon arriving at the Town Hall, she let herself in and soon made her way to a receptionist. Upon seeing the Mermaid Heel member, the receptionist greeted her.
"Thank you for coming, Kagura Mikazuchi." Said the receptionist as she got up. "Please follow me and I'll take you to the mayor." Giving a nod of thanks, Kagura followed the receptionist to the upper floors of the Town Hall. As they walked, Kagura noticed the lack of pictures and decorations in the hallway that most Town Halls had that depicted previous majors. Wondering why that is, Kagura was about to ask her question when the receptionist told her that they arrived. Stopping in front of a double-ended door. She then opened it up to reveal a man in his fifties and another man in a red trench coat. A man that Kagura was familiar with.
Kagura blinked in surprise to see Ragna the Bloodedge with the mayor of Vermillion town and so was the white-haired man judging by how he blinked upon seeing his friend.