章 27: Green Love
"Strider!" a shrill voice cried out. Strider grudgingly woke up, wanting a few more hours but was denied it as Mira stormed in.
"Mira? What is it?" Strider asked.
"A CENTURY QUEST?! ARE YOU INSANE?!" she yelled at him. Strider just grumbled and fell back on to the bed.
"Five…ten…more minutes," he mumbled.
"I don't think so!" she said, ripping his blanket off. Strider reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her a bit closer.
"Care to join?" he asked in a husky voice. He chuckled as Mira blushed; the yelling had stopped for now.
"That doesn't get you off the hook," she said, a bit quieter.
"Payback for waking me up like that," he said, sitting up. "Yes. I spoke to Master Makarov about it. It seems like an interesting job."
"You realize that besides Gildarts, no one else has come back alive form a Century Quest, right?" Mira asked worriedly.
"I know. Still, I think I'd like to give it a shot. After those dragons, how hard can it be?" Strider asked.
"There's a reason that these quests have gone unfinished for over a hundred years. They're hard. Really hard. And I think you need to take it easy, especially for now," Mira said.
"I'll be fine," Strider said soothingly. "I promise. It's not like I'm going to rush in without a plan. I'll probably scope them out firsts before doing it."
"Take m—" Mira began before Strider quickly cut her off.
"Absolutely not," Strider said sternly.
"If you're taking Er—" she began before he cut her off again.
"I'm going to be going these quests solo," Strider said.
"What about Erza and the others?" Mira asked, surprised.
"While I'd like to try these quests, I'm not going to take any needless risks. Like you said, these quests haven't been completed in over 100 years. I can't risk my attention being diverted between the quest and the others. That'd be the end of us all, I think," Strider said.
"You don't think they can handle it?" Mira asked.
"I'm not sure. From everything I've heard about those jobs, though, it doesn't seem like it. Erza, Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Wendy are exceptionally powerful wizards in their own right - but something like this, I'd much prefer to be safe than sorry," Strider said.
Mira gave him a long hard look, wondering what to say next. She wanted to press it further, but opted not to for the moment. She moved a bit closer to him, resting her head against his shoulder. She slipped a hand under his shirt, gently tracing the scars he wore.
"Something on your mind?" Strider asked softly.
"You've no idea. I won't ask you to go into your past right now, though. Some of the others want to listen in as well," she sighed.
"So I heard last night," Strider said with a laugh. "It appears to be a popular topic of discussion."
"Well, you are Mr. Popular. Who did you dance with last night, again? Bisca, Princess Hisui, Jenny. That purple haired girl as well. Who was that, by the way?" Mira wondered, trying to sound nonchalant
"Yoruichi, Master of Mermaid Heel. She's pretty interesting," Strider said.
"Why did she want to dance?" Mira wondered.
"She was a part of the investigation into the attacks in Alvarez. I wanted to see what I could learn about it," Strider said.
"So…completely innocent, then?" Mira asked.
"Why so curious, Miss Strauss?" Strider asked with a light smile.
"Just looking out for my guildmates," Mira said, blushing a bit.
"Is that all?" Strider wondered, leaning in a bit closer.
"Yup. That's it," she said, feeling her heart beat a bit faster. It wasn't long until his lips were only inches from hers.
"Mmm. If you say so," he said, laughing as he sprung up.
"You're a real asshole, you know," she grumbled. Taking her hand, Strider gently pulled her up as well.
"So you've told me. My only regret last night is that I wasn't able to dance with you," he said.
"It's fine," Mira sighed, leaning forward. "Save one for me next time."
"I promise," Strider said softly. With a quick kiss on her cheek, he began to get ready for the day.
-o-
"Where are we going, Master?" Erza asked.
"The king's been kind enough to let us stay at the newest hotel," Makarov said with a massive grin. He proudly led the guild through the main street of Crocus, waving here and there as people stopped and cheered for them.
"STRIDER! I LOVE YOU!
"MIRAJANE, MARRY ME!"
"GRAY! TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES!"
"ERZA! TIE ME UP!"
"Looks like everyone loves us again," Levi said.
"Of course they do, Levi! We kicked everyones asses!" Natsu cheered, quickly hopping from side to side and putting on a show.
"STRIDER! CAN YOU SIGN SOMETHING FOR ME?!" a beautiful brunette asked.
"Of course," Strider said. She gave him a marker and pulled down her shirt, clearly exposing her right bright.
"Make it out to Iris," she said with a smile.
"I must say this is a first," Strider sighed, writing a quick message. Turning around, he was on the receiving end of several deathly glares. With a nonchalant whistle, he quickly picked up the pace.
"Mira," Juvia began.
"Yes, Juvia?" Mira asked stoically.
"Where are the best places to hide a body here?" Juvia asked darkly.
"There's a few. Erza?" Mira asked.
"Pick up the pace, ladies," Mavis giggled, pushing them along.
-o-
"Who gets the penthouse?" Levi asked as they arrived.
"What? Penthouse?" Gajeel asked.
"Yeah. I read about this place when we got here. The top floor is a penthouse suite. Has the best views in the city. Usually it's really expensive, but I guess we have it for free for our stay," Levi said.
"Well that's obvious - it should be me," Gajeel said.
"WHAT?! HOW DO YOU FIGURE THAT?!" Natsu asked.
"DID YOU SEE ME FIGHT THAT DRAGON!?" Gajeel yelled back.
"SCREW THAT! I TOOK OUR RUFUS, LYON, AND I BEAT THAT DRAGON'S ASS!" Gray yelled.
"Did they already forget what happened?" Macao asked lamely.
"If anyone is getting such a comfortable suite, it shall be Laxus!" Freed interject on the Thunder Dragon Slayer's behalf.
"I'm the Master of this guild!" Makarov yelled.
"Thank you, my lady," they heard Strider say to the receptionist.
"Not a problem. If you need anything, just call," she said sweetly.
"I will," Strider said with a wink. As he turned to his guild, he showed them the penthouse room key.
"HEY! THAT'S NOT FAIR!" Natsu yelled.
"YEAH! WHY DO YOU GET IT?!" Gray demanded.
"Well, I had the sense to ask so…" Strider trailed off, doing a good job on restraining his laughter.
"MASTER MAVIS! CAN HE DO THIS?!" Makarov asked.
"Would you mind if I stay in that room as well?" Mavis asked cheerfully.
"But of course, First Master. Plenty of rooms," Strider said.
"WAIT! SHE'S A GHOST! WHY DOES SHE NEED A ROOM?!" Droy cried.
"YAY! ME TOO!" Asuka cheered.
"As you wish, my lady," Strider said, bowing low to the child. Asuka giggled before grabbing Mavis and Bisca by the hand and leading them to the elevator.
"Hey, Strider…?" Wendy asked nervously.
"You as well, Wendy," Strider said, ruffling her hair.
"SAVE SOME ROOM FOR ME!" Lucy screeched, latching on to Striders arm.
"AND ME!" Cana shouted.
"I would love to acquiesce to your desire, but I'm afraid that's all the room I have. Too slow, I'm afraid," Strider said with a laugh.
"Pull," Lucy said dryly.
"Happily," Cana agreed. Strider chuckled as they tried to pull his arms off but soon felt as though they actually would succeed. He quickly took his leave as well.
-o-
"Quite a nice room," Erza said, stepping out of the elevator immediately after Strider.
"It's quite rude to enter someones room without their permission," Strider lamented.
"You'll live," Mira sighed, following. The penthouse suite was large and filled to the nines - fit for a king, as it were. Strider immediately stepped out onto a large terrace, taking in the view of Crocus from below. He saw a forest off in the distance with several rivers cutting through it. Beyond the forest was a mountain range.
'Almost like home,' he thought with a smile.
"You alright?" Bisca asked, carrying Asuka.
"Hmm? Yeah. Just reminiscing," he said.
"What about?" she wondered.
"Home. It's not exactly like this, but it's similar. The forests, the mountains, the rivers…so quaint. So peaceful," he said.
"You must be eager to get back," she said. Hearing the sadness in her voice, Strider quickly put an arm around her.
"Even when I do, I promise that I'll be back just as quickly. I enjoy spending so much time here - I wouldn't change that," Strider said. Bisca nodded, leaning into the hug a bit more.
"So pretty," Asuka said in awe as she peered over the railing.
"Careful, sweetheart," Bisca said, holding on tight.
"I'll be fine, Mama!" Asuka said proudly.
"Quite the adventurous daughter," Strider said.
"No kidding. I don't think I was like that when I was her age. She definitely keeps me busy," Bisca said with a smile.
"That's her job," Strider said with a laugh. Asuka turned to him and gave him a thumbs up with a large, toothy grin.
"She really seems to like you as well," Bisca said softly. She turned to Strider, a searching look in her eye.
"Free for dinner tonight?" Strider asked.
"I am," she said, smiling.
"I'll see you tonight, then," Strider said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before taking his leave.
-o-
"Where are you going?" Ultear asked as she and Strider chanced upon each other near the northern end of the city.
"Hello, Ultear. Was about to head to the forest for a little walk. Care to join?" he asked.
"Sure," she shrugged.
The two made their way along a golden dirt road in silence, doing little but admiring the scenery around them. Along the walk, Strider found out why they called Crocus the City of Flowers. He had seen blooms that he had never seen before, of all varying shades. Among the roses, the daisies, the lilies, the sunflowers, and the petunias were flowers he could not name. As his eyes traveled up the path, so did the flowers.
"It's quite nice," Ultear finally said, breaking the silence.
"Very. I sort of regret not getting out of the city earlier, now," Strider said.
"No kidding. All that work and we couldn't find anything," Ultear grumbled.
"Related to Zeref, you mean?" he asked.
"Yeah. We thought we had something with the Gate, but now that that's destroyed, Zeref obviously can't use it," Ultear said.
"Perhaps he's dead?" Strider offered.
"I doubt it. Zeref is immortal - he's lived centuries," Ultear said.
"Say he is, though - what will you do then?" Strider wondered.
"What do you mean?" Ultear asked.
"If there's no more Zeref, what will you do? Stick with your guild?" Strider asked.
"I'm…mmm…not sure. I haven't given it much thought," Ultear said uncomfortably.
"Well, what do you desire then?" Strider asked.
"All I want right now is to get rid of him," Ultear stated.
"Besides that, then," Strider said.
"If…I could have anything?" Ultear asked hesitantly.
"Anything," Strider said.
"To spend some more time with my mother," Ultear sighed.
"Your mother?" Strider asked, intrigued.
"Yes. I told you a bit about her yesterday. Ur. She was a fantastic wizard, not even all that long ago - so good that she was considered to join the Ten Wizard Saints," Ultear said with a proud smile. "I told you about what happened with the Bureau of Magical Development and how she had taken in Lyon and Gray. You know Gray was orphaned, right?"
"I do," Strider sighed; that seemed to be the case with a lot of Wizards at Fairy Tail.
"Do you know how it happened?" she asked.
"I…don't, now that I think about it," Strider said, frowning.
'I guess I haven't spent enough time with Gray. Or Natsu or Wendy, for that matter,' he thought.
"His home town was attacked by a Demon from the Book of Zeref way back when - Deliora. Gray was one of the few survivors of the attack. My mom had taken him in after that and taught him his Magic. Gray was serious about learning it because he wanted to go after Deliora. Being him, though, he wasn't ready when tried again. Lyon and Ur both went after him, but even with all three of them, Deliora was to strong. She had to use a really powerful technique called Iced Shell. It traps whoever is caught in the area of effect in an mostly impenetrable shell of ice. Gray, being the idiot that he is, tried to use it - but being as young as he was, he wouldn't have been able to pull it off. She knew it was the only way to seal Deliora away, though. So she did," Ultear said with a bitter smile.
"That's quite the sacrifice for anyone to make," Strider said.
"No kidding. I was about to kill Lyon when Gray told me that he tried to awaken Deliora so he could fight it, but apparently Deliora was so weakened by the attack that it just cracked apart. Talk about luck. Still, Lyon was successfully able to return the ice to the ocean. When I fell into the water near Tenrou Island…I can't explain it," Ultear said.
"What happened?" Strider asked, intrigued.
"It's…like she became part of the ocean. I had an insight into her memories - of what happened. I know that she tried to visit me, but those bastards told her that I was dead. That she cried for days on end. Even when she raised Gray and Lyon, she kept thinking about me," Ultear said, her lip trembling. She managed to suppress her tears, but let out a shuddered sigh. "I wonder…"
"Wonder what?" Strider asked as they crossed the threshold of the forest.
"I wonder how disappointed she would be in me," Ultear said bitterly. Strider had no immediate reply; he just looked ahead, mindlessly leading on.
"I think she would be proud of who you are now," he said.
"And everything else I've done?" Ultear asked.
"That, I'm not sure," Strider admitted.
"Yeah, I thought not. Be honest - she'd be ashamed of what I've done," Ultear said, a bit harsher.
"Perhaps. She may have been understanding, considering the circumstances being what they were. It's a bad situation all around," Strider admitted. "You were able to get revenge on them, were you not?"
"The Bureau? Some of them. It's still around, though. I check in from time to time to make sure they're not doing anything like what they did to me," Ultear said darkly.
"I think that's a sufficient enough threat to deter them. It's dangerous - as well as wrong - to experiment on children like that," Strider sighed.
"Did you have anything like that where you're from?" Ultear asked.
"Not really, though. Plenty of children were taught how to wield a sword and shield or a bow and arrow from a young age, but magic and technology aren't as advanced as they are here," Strider said.
"You seem to be more than adept at Magic," she mused.
"My case was different; I had a unique teacher to show me the ropes. For the most part, however, Magic isn't a part of peoples daily lives. It's far more rare than what you find here. Or, perhaps I'm just so used to what I have there that I don't consider it Magic anymore," Strider said thoughtfully.
"You have…cars and trains and the like though, right?" she asked.
"Nope. Horses are the preferred method of transportation, unless you're me - I prefer flight," Strider said.
"What about communication?" she asked.
"Courier, usually. I had a Lacrima in a pocket dimension when I went back, though. Turned it over to some people far smarter than me to see if they can produce it on a larger scale. Communication takes place over months as it stands; if we can cut that down to days - or even hours - the result would be unprecedented," Strider said.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked.
"I suppose we'll find out. At worst, we'll destroy ourselves. At best, it'll be revolutionary and change the way we live. The risk is worth it, I think," Strider said.
"I can't even begin to imagine what living like that would be like. Courier. That's medieval," Ultear said.
"I'm not familiar with the term," Strider said.
"It's…used to reference traditions, edicts, or ways of life of a bygone age," Ultear said.
"I'm almost certain I should feel offended right now. But, it's not bad if you grew up with it. It's only difficult when you're used to the convenience you find here and then have to go back to the old ways. Even flying takes a longer time than using a Lacrima," Strider said.
"What about cars and trains?" she asked.
"That's more difficult. We use railway carts, but that's about it. There's no other infrastructure in place that could manage cars or trains. Not to mention, the terrain is more rugged than it is here. Any attempts to push my home to fast, to far is going to be met with sharp rebuke as well as the lay of the land itself," Strider said.
"You're a war hero though, aren't you? I'm sure you could get the people on your side," Ultear said. She immediately regretted it as she saw the look on Strider's face. "Oh. Strider, I'm so sorry…"
"It's fine. Perhaps. But I'm not sure I want to use that to get my point across," he said.
"I understand," Ultear nodded. They walked in silence for a while longer, finally reaching a glistening river. Ultear knelt down and smiled, running her hand through the pure waters.
"Hey, Mom," Ultear whispered. Strider took a step back, letting her enjoy the moment.
"It's been a while since I talked to you, hmm? But don't worry about me. I'm doing really well now, actually. Jellal and Meredy are looking out for me. I think you'd like them - especially Meredy. She's so adorable and sweet," Ultear said, her voice shuddering as the water escaped her fingers. Strider heard the faint splashes of her tears hitting the water, unifying with the sacrifice of her mother.
"Jellal is doing so much better now as well. He still has nightmares, but he's improving. Still can't talk normally to Erza, though," Ultear said with a little giggle.
'At least she can still make a joke,' Strider thought, smiling.
"Lyon and Gray are doing really well. Still fighting, like always. Still stripping, too - that's definitely your fault," Ultear sighed fondly. "Gray beat Lyon during the last event of the Games, but I think Lyon might have it in the bag next time. They're gonna keep going at it for the rest of their lives. Every time they fight, though, they remember you."
"I'll see you soon, Mom," Ultear said, scooping some water in her hand and letting it run through her fingers. She kissed her hand, closing her eyes tight so that no more tears would escape. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she turned around; Strider looked at her with a kind smile.
"That was beautiful," he said, helping her up.
"Th-Thanks," she said, slightly embarrassed that he heard all that. She had all but forgotten he was even standing there.
"Do you feel her in the water?" he asked, his voice trailing along the river from source to mouth.
"I do. It's faint, but it's there. Like…her essence is still around. It's not the sea, but whenever I come across a source of water I can feel her," Ultear said.
"It sounds like your mother is with you wherever you go," Strider said.
"Like a good mother," Ultear said. She couldn't hold her tears back anymore; they spilled out full force. Strider moved to comfort her but she held him away.
"It's fine. Thanks. I'm going to head back to the city," she said, quickly wiping.
"Of course. I'll see you later, then," he said.
"Bye, Strider," she said, taking her leave.
As she left, Strider sat down under a large oak tree. While it wasn't particularly warm, it felt nice to be under the shade.
'Her essence, hmm?' he thought, his eyes still on the river. 'No. That'd be impossible. It's far to diluted. Besides, I'm not there quite yet.'
"This is good," Strider said aloud, smiling and putting his arms behind his head. At ease and comfortable, he quickly fell asleep.
-o-
"Hey, Ultear. You alright?" Meredy asked as Ultear got back. Without a word, Ultear suddenly pulled her in for a tight hug. Meredy was surprised, but offered no objection. Instead, she returned the hug just as hard.
-o-
"Reconstitution? It's the first I'm hearing of it," Strider said with a frown as he sat across from an older man. The man wore pure white robes that matched his hair and beard. They sat near a large pool with a roaring waterfall nearby.
"Because it's never been successfully done before," the old man began, looking out towards the waterfall. "In fact, it's nothing more than theory right now."
"What's the gist of it?" Strider asked.
"What a telekinetic is capable of is fundamentally different from other wizards. While, for example, Gandalf and Saruman can both use it to some extent they have their preferences. Others like Radagast simply prefer not to use it at all. You, however, have mastered it to an extraordinary degree - at the cost of being able to conjure any other Magic, mind you," the old man said.
"I know," Strider sighed. "But what does that have to do with Reconstitution?"
"Reconstitution - or Reconstruction - is rebuilding something again. The gist is that a telekinetic has the ability to put broken things together if they're good enough. Like so," the old man said. Strider looked to his right and saw a broken wicker basket being put back into perfect condition.
"Now that is remedial and not of much note - it's simply reforming the baskets original shape and interlacing the material makeup of the basket with whatever it is that holds it together - twine, in this case," the old man said. "Theoretically, this should apply to much larger and complex things - severed limbs, houses, villages - and depending on the case, people," the old man.
"You're going senile," Strider sighed.
"I'm serious," the old man said as he leaned forward, a gleam in his eye. "Telekinesis is ability to change without touch. So long as you can visualize the change, it should theoretically come about. Now this won't work in every case - you likely can't bring a person back from the dead there's nothing left to bring back, or it's due to an irrevocable factor like age. But if you reattach a limb with trouble, why isn't it possible to extend it further?" the old man asked.
"That's not what I'm arguing with. A limb isn't beyond the realm of diffi—" Strider began.
"Unless you're Strider and lack any sense of medical knowledge," the old man sighed.
"As I was saying…" Strider said, grinding his teeth. "A limb isn't beyond the realm of difficulty. But if they're completely pulled apart, no telekinetic is putting them back together, regardless of his medical expertise. You can't just shove the blood back in."
"If your Reconstitution, that shouldn't be a problem. A telekinetic of exceptional power should be able to pull off quite literally anything they can imagine," the old man said. "You can stop that waterfall in its tracks, yet this is to much for you to imagine?"
As he watched him leave, Strider sighed. He clenched a fist several times, going over what they had just discussed.
'Reconstitution? It's insane,' he thought with a frown. As his eyes traveled up the waterfall, Strider smiled. Raising a finger, the flow of the waterfall suddenly stopped. He could almost feel the pressure building up behind; slowly, he let the water begin to fall again. He repeated the procedure several times before heading after his mentor, more questions on his mind.
-o-
Strider suddenly felt a small pressure on his head. Turning his eyes up, he saw the edges of a pink frog suit.
"Hello, Frosche," Strider said.
"Hello to you!" Frosche said adorably as he jumped down.
"What are you doing here?" Strider asked.
"I was just shopping," Frosche said.
"That's quite responsible of you. Although, we're in the forest right now," Strider said kindly.
"Yup, that's me," Frosche said. A moment later, however, he began to cry.
"What's wrong?" Strider asked worriedly.
"I don't know where I am," Frosche said, slightly afraid.
"Do you want me to take you back to the guild?" Strider asked. To his surprise, Frosche shook his head.
"No. I'm always getting lost. I need to find my way back by myself. And I know that my best friend Rogue is out there, watching me," Frosche said happily. Looking to his side, Strider smiled.
"Sabertooth should be proud to have such a brave member in their guild," Strider said kindly. Frosche looked at him curiously, tilting his head.. "I mean it. You are very brave. But remember - there's never a problem in asking for help."
"Strider, can you help me?" Frosche finally asked.
"Sure. What do you need?" Strider asked.
"Which direction is Sabertooth?" Frosche asked.
"Follow this rock. It'll put you back on the path," Strider said, levitating a rock at Frosche's eye level and leading it along.
"Thanks, Strider!" Frosche said adorably as he skipped off in the direction of the rock.
"You should be proud of your partner," Strider suddenly said aloud. Rogue, Sting, Lector, and Yukino came out from the large tree they were hiding behind.
"How'd you know we were here?" Sting asked, surprised.
"I'm doubtful that you guys would let Frosche go out on his own. It's good that you're letting him get back by himself, though," Strider said.
"Thank you for helping him," Rogue said, bowing.
"Not at all. You should catch up to him, though. Something tells me he just went off course," Strider said with a laugh. "His heart is in the right place, at least. Just needs a little guidance.
"Thanks, Strider!" Sting shouted behind him as they rushed off after their friend.
-o-
As Strider got back to the city, he encountered Master Mavis again. She was sitting near a bridge, a crown in her hand.
"I hope I'm not interrupting, First Master," Strider said, taking a seat.
"Not at all," she said. "Master Makarov told me that you're going to attempt a Century Quest."
"It appears as though Master Makarov is far to talkative," Strider sighed.
"You've already had questions, then?" she asked.
"Many," he said.
"And for good reason. These are, quite literally, the most difficult quests up until this point. Their non completion is for a reason. They've been the end of many a wizard," Mavis said.
"Do any of them ring a bell to you, Master Mavis?" he asked.
"A few. Sacred Mount Zonia is the quest that Gildarts attempted. It's a mountain in Northern Fiore where it's constantly snowing. The legend is that a white angel fought with a black angel over a certain man. The white angel won, and so Zonia has been graced with pure white snow ever since. The quest itself has been active for over a hundred years, although I can't recall the exact date. It is younger than the others, however," Mavis said.
"What about the shrine?" he wondered.
"Blossom Valley Shrine. It's one of the more dangerous ones, from what I understand. The quest itself has been active for over 500 years, as I recall - no one has attempted it within the last hundred or so. I recall that the last Wizard that attempted it was found with his body stricken around the forest in which the shrine is," Mavis said.
"Definitely some kind of monster, then," Strider said.
"A third takes place at Mount Brand. It's a dormant volcano on the border of Isvan, Bosco, and Fiore. It's the one we know the least about; nothing has ever remained of those that attempted it. I'm afraid I've no insight to offer on it," Mavis sighed.
"Did you ever think to try these quests?" Strider wondered.
"Gildarts is the only Fairy Tail wizard crazy enough to even think of trying a Century Quest, They're not to be trifled with - you know how powerful he is, yet he was barely able to step onto Mount Zonia before Acnologia almost killed him. You might have a better shot, but I implore you to take it seriously. Otherwise, you might not be as lucky. Even the best warrior can be brought down with the right shot," Mavis said, unusually serious.
"I understand, Master Mavis. Don't worry - I'll be exceedingly careful," Strider said.
"Do you have an idea of which one you'll try first?" she asked.
"Likely the Shrine or Mount Zonia," Strider said.
"Why not the volcano?" she asked.
"No…particular reason," Strider said, rolling his neck. "Are there any more Century Quests?"
"A few more, I believe. There's only a handful total - most quests aren't that difficult. There's roughly 20 Decade Quests as well - difficult, but not a much as Century Quests. Although it goes without saying that only Decade Quests can become Century Quests. Below that, there are around 100 uncompleted SS-Class quests. Beginner and S-Class are abound, however," Mavis said.
"I see. That's good to know. It's been a while since I've done one of these. Looking forward to getting back into the thick of it all," Strider said with a smile.
"Just remember to be careful," Mavis warned.
"Yes, ma'am," Strider said.
-o-
"Is Yoruichi still away?" Strider asked as he came across Kagura.
"Ah, Strider. Hello. Yes, I'm afraid she is. Do you need her?" she asked.
"Just curious. That letter seemed extremely important," he said.
"It was. Soi Fon is extremely serious, so whenever we receive a correspondence from her we know to let Master Yoruichi know immediately," she said.
"Is that another of your guildmates?" he wondered.
"Yes. Our second in command, as it were - as well as Master Yoruichi disciple," she said.
"Disciple?" Strider asked, surprised.
"Soi Fon was experienced even before meeting Master Yoruichi, but she still managed to learn several thing from her. She's quite an exceptional Master," Kagura mused.
"Is she a Wizard Saint?" Strider wondered.
"Seat Six," Kagura said proudly.
"Do you know who the others are?" Strider asked; he recalled Jura mentioned that one of them was on their way to see him.
"Hmm…Let's see. You've already met Jura; he's Seat 5. Master Makarov is Seat 10, but that's apparently only because he doesn't take it as seriously. I don't know Seats 2, 3, or 4 - but the first seat is God Serena," Kagura said.
"God Serena?" Strider asked interestedly.
"Yes. I don't know much about him except that he's considered to be the strongest wizard in Ishgar," she said. Looking sideways, she took in Strider's form.
'Don't know if that's true anymore,' she thought.
"You never know. He might be better than me," Strider said, guessing what she was thinking.
"Your Magic is extremely difficult to overcome, so the chances might be more in your favor than you think," she sighed.
"You're far to kind," Strider said.
"I thought I had you with my Gravity Magic," she sighed.
"You might yet. I never expected there to be something like that. It's not quite telekinesis, but reducing the weight of whatever you want to zero, or magnifying it to tons - that can come in quite useful," Strider said.
"It's not the same as simply being able to manipulate anything you wish," she said.
"True enough. Perhaps we can have a rematch during the upcoming contest," he said with a smile.
"I look forward to it," Kagura said, returning the smile.
"It's good to see you in such high spirits," he said.
"What?" she asked, blushing.
"It's just that during the Games, you were much more serious. Since they ended though, you've become almost a whole new person. It's… heartening, I suppose," he said.
"Ah. I…thank you," Kagura said, blushing.
"Blushing as well, hmm? Also nice to see," he teased.
"I just remembered I have to be elsewhere. Bye, Strider," Kagura said, quickly taking her leave. Strider soon heard a tinkling laugh from behind.
"You tease everyone, don't you?" Jenny asked with a smile, putting her arms around him.
"It's one of my favorite hobbies," he said.
"I can tell. And here I thought I was special," she pouted.
"You certainly are special," he said, caressing her cheek. Jenny smiled, taking his hand in hers and kissing it softly.
"So…my shoot is this weekend. Think you can make it?" she asked.
"I would love to," Strider said. "Probably shouldn't have made that bet, though."
'You're telling me. Now I've gotta go hang out with the She-Devil," she grumbled.
"Have fun," Strider said. Jenny quickly leaned up and stole a kiss.
"At least that doesn't make me regret it as much," she said before heading off.
-o-
"So we're having dinner here?" Bisca asked, blushing as Strider pulled the chair out for her. Strider had dinner prepared for them on the terrace of the penthouse.
"We are. It's nice, no?" he asked.
"Really nice. Thank you," she said as he poured her some wine.
"I'm sorry that I haven't gotten much time with you since I've been back," Strider said, heart full of regret. Of everyone at Fairy Tail, he knew that he had hurt Bisca the most when he had taken his sojourn back home. Regardless of his reasons, he knew that none were good enough to make up for the distinct lack of contact.
"It's fine. We're spending some time together now," she said.
"Where's Asuka, by the way?" he wondered.
"Master Mavis, Cana, and Lucy took her out to play. She loves playing with them, especially Master Mavis," Bisca giggled.
"They are roughly the same height," Strider laughed.
"Don't let her hear you say that," Bisca laughed along "So…how are you feeling now?"
"Well enough, mostly. No aches to speak of, at least," he said.
"That's good. Talk about a scary night," she sighed.
"No kidding. We got it done in the end, at least," he said.
"You mean you got it done. The rest of us weren't much help," she said.
"If all of those dragons had focused on me, I'd be a goner. One at a time is difficult enough," Strider said.
"At least we could be distractions, then," she sighed.
"I imagine if dragons were more prevalent here, it would be different," Strider said.
"Are there really that many dragons where you're from?" she asked.
"They're still rare, but common compared to the scene here. Most of the small ones are dead, leaving only a few of the larger ones behind. They don't come out of their holes much anymore though - not to mention a decade isn't that long for a dragon anyways. While a few are still active, a lot of them are hibernating right now so it's not a big deal," Strider said.
"What about the active ones? Do you still have to deal with them from time to time?" she asked.
"Not very often, no. Do you remember the story I told you seven years ago? About the dragon in the mountains near Mount Hakobe?" Strider asked.
"Yup. You mentioned that he flew north, right?" Bisca asked.
"Yeah. When I went back home that time, I met as well. He's happy living there - says there's a lot more that he can learn compared to living off of scraps in Ishgar. He's gentle, though - not at all threatening to humans," Strider said.
"What does he eat, then?" she wondered.
"Mostly just medium to large game in the area he's in. He devours books faster than food," Strider sighed.
"Books?" Bisca asked, flabbergasted.
"Easily the smartest dragon I've ever met," Strider laughed. "He's an anomaly, even amongst dragons. Zero taste for human flesh, which is why he's more liable to talk to them than eat them."
"I never thought I'd hear that kind of a story about a dragon," she sighed.
"I never thought I'd tell it. Happy to report, though. I haven't come across another like him," Strider said.
"Speaking of dragons, though…" Bisca said uncomfortably.
"Right…" Strider sighed. "Let's…save that for a little later, if you don't mind."
"Sure," Bisca nodded. They ate in silence for a while longer before Strider finally spoke again.
"Bisca…" he began.
"It's fine," she said softly.
"What?" he asked, surprised.
"You were going to apologize again," she said with a small smile. "I appreciate it, but really - it's fine. I… understand that you had other responsibilities. I'm still a little pissed at you for not coming back - just for a little while - but I forgive you."
"I… thank you," he sighed. "It's not my place to ask, but…"
"Asuka's father?" she asked.
"Yeah," Strider nodded.
"Well… I guess it was four years after what happened on Tenrou. It wasn't a one night stand kind of thing, if that's what you're wondering. I…tried to move on as best I could, you know? Alzack and I dated for a couple of weeks but that didn't turn out. I met another guy that had come here from Alikitasia - near the town I grew up in, actually. We hit it off, I guess. When he found out that I was pregnant, though, he just left. Didn't say another word about it, didn't leave a note, nothing - just gone," Bisca said, poking at her food. "It was hard, but it would've been harder without the others to help me. They really helped out a lot."
"I'm happy to hear that, at least," Strider said, although his regret was bubbling up still. "You've never heard back from him?"
"Nope. Good riddance, I think. Probably wouldn't have been able to do much for her, anyways," Bisca said bitterly. Suddenly, Strider saw tears begin to well up in her eyes. He quickly abandoned his plate and moved to her side, putting a comforting arm around her.
"What is it?" he asked softly.
"Is it my fault?" she asked quietly.
"What do you mean?" she asked, surprised.
"Why…you didn't come back? Why he left? Why…?" she asked.
"No. Not at all. That fault lies with me and me alone. I didn't come back, Bisca. It… that was completely my fault. No one else but mine. As for him - it's his loss. He won't get to know how wonderful of a mother you are to his daughter," Strider said, holding her tight. Bisca turned to face him and buried her face in his chest. Strider felt her tears seep through his shirt; he tightened his hold as much as he could while keeping her comfortable, swaying gently.
-o-
"I'm sorry about that," Bisca said.
"You've absolutely nothing to apologize for," Strider said, wiping away the remnants of her tears.
"I'm just… so happy to have you back again. To finally be able to spend some time with you," she said.
"As am I," Strider said, hugging her close. "Like I said, I promise never to leave like that again. I'll always come back."
"I believe you," she said.
They got settled closer to the edge of the terrace, admiring the marvelous sprawl laid out in front of them. Bisca rested her head on his chest, her hand tracing up and down his stomach.
"So…" she said.
"Ah. Right. The dragon fire," Strider said, uncomfortable. It was a memory he wished would have been forgotten, but that wasn't liable to happen anytime soon.
-o-
Rain and thunder were breaking the sky in a way they had not for ages in this region of the world. The dark fortress, Angband, was under siege. The blood flowed freely and rapidly as Strider's forces cut through their enemies with a fury that their foes had never seen before.
Strider himself was at the helm of the battle, cutting through Orcs and Uruks as though there would be no tomorrow - and for many, there would not be. The retreat had been sounded by The Tower, one of three Black Captains. From the top of Angband, he looked down in anger at the sight he beheld. His forces were being annihilated by an army led by the same man that he should've broken.
"Dunèdan," he snarled. Strider heard him. Eyes and mouth blazing blue, he roared at Tower and took flight.
"HE CAN FLY!" shouted an Orc that soon had his head lobbed off.
"SLAY THEM ALL! NO ORC LEAVES THIS PLACE!" Strider roared to his companions. They cheered at command and resumed the bloodbath below. The retreat itself was of no use; the only thing before them was a sprawling valley - the enemy had no place to flee.
"Orcs and Uruks fight to death. There is no retreat to be sounded here, relic. Come. Die with pride," Strider snarled as he landed atop the fortress. Tower snarled at Strider and lunged, swinging his battleaxe. Strider locked his sword with Tower, who snarled again in his face. The two continued to do battle, their hate doing all the talking.
"I should've killed you when I had the chance," Tower snarled, pushing Strider down a bit.
"The witch took your manhood. You couldn't, even if you wanted. I'll be taking you and Hammer with me," Strider snarled back. Suddenly, Tower held his hand up. A blinding burst of light erupted from his hand, forcing Strider to reel a bit. As he regained his vision, he roared in frustration - Tower had run from the battle. He looked over the bloodshed below, a vicious look in his eye as he saw the orcs below. Strider concentrated hard, trying to feel out where Tower could've run off to. He had vowed that he would end him - and he would. His neck snapped to one side as he locked in. He was taken aback at his foes choice.
'Thangorodrim? No one has traveled inside in ages. This should be interesting,' Strider thought as he made his way after Tower. The layout of Angband was such that the fortress was built into the side of the legendary volcanic range that Morgoth himself had raised from the earth. The lava gave way to some of the greatest smithies on the continent, giving weapons and armor here a tint that they could not find elsewhere. The Mountains of Tyranny had lain abandoned for thousands of years after a rumor appeared - a rumor that a beast as horrible as Morgoth made his home here. The Black Captains didn't believe such a rumor, and so Tower had restarted the furnaces and operations of the Iron Prison.
As he got closer, the heat only increased - until the point where water would immediately begin to steam. Ash and soot began to fall heavier and heavier as Strider quickened his pace. He found himself at the entrance to hell and began to descend. He went on for a while - it seemed as though Tower kept going lower and lower as well. Inside the volcano, he noticed destroyed and broken pieces of the mountain here and there - but no impact marks. Whatever did this did so without touching them - or perhaps it was simple geological movement.
This particular theory was shot to hell when Strider finally heard it. A scream. A terrible scream. One that stopped the fighting outside for it was so loud. He ran quicker and quicker until he came upon the source of the scream. Ahead of him was Tower - or at least what was left of Tower. The skin was blackened beyond recognition and began to fall off as ash would a weed. Tower tried to speak, but all he could do was let out pained wheezes. He turned and faced Strider - and in his eyes, Strider saw the fear of a man who breathed his last. With a thud, Tower fell to his knees. The impact shattered some of his now brittle body - notably the head, which came rolling off and to a stop at Strider's feet. He promptly crushed it to dust. He observed the lifeless body with contempt. With one short flick, he through it to the side.
"That was unkind," a voice came. Strider felt a cold chill go down his spine - the absolute farthest it could've been from this hellhole he crawled into. He quickly found the source. Having come across exotic beasts in his life, he wasn't new to this. But every once in a while, he saw something that truly captivated him - this was one of those times.
Strider had made his way several miles into the deep earth - into a cavern that was large enough to house a large city of tens of thousands of people. As it stood, this black and red hell cavern was home to only one beast of permanent residence.
It was so large, he had initially mistook it for a part of the mountain. It stood before him, the largest creature he had seen thus far. Its scales were blacker than night, only interrupted by red splotches here and there - marks form the great fights he had participated in; the last results of legendary warriors now dead. The wings were as black as the scale, which were harder than mithril. The snout was long and sharp and several large, horny protrusions ran down the back of the neck. Four large horns erupted from the head. His teeth were bared; there were to many to count, each larger than an oliphaunt and as sharp and bloodthirsty as Anglachel. The eyes were blood red and focused on only one thing - Strider.
Strider was unable to speak as he regarded the massive dragon before him - the largest he had ever seen in his life. The dragon noticed and let out a terrible chuckle.
"I am magnificent," it said in a deep but quiet voice that still reverberated throughout the cavern. Strider felt the earth shake as the dragon readjusted a bit to get a better look at Strider.
"That you are," Strider said, bowing low. He had to treat this situation very carefully. One wrong move, and he knew that he'd be down as easy as Tower was.
"As I said, that was unkind - how you treated the fool," the dragon said.
"I apologize for doing so in your home. I fought him above, but he retreated down here," Strider said.
"Ah. Then it is I who should apologize for taking your prey," the dragon said.
"Not at all. Your home, your rules," Strider said.
"And who might you be?" the dragon said.
"Strider, lord," Strider replied.
"Do you know who I am?" the dragon asked.
"I do not, lord," Strider replied.
"Ancalagon," Ancalagon replied. The name sent a shiver down Strider's spine - it was one that inspired fear and nightmares. The legendary black dragon was well known for razing entire realms to the ground in a matter of hours. The enemy had not tried to recruit this particular beast - in fact, Strider wasn't even sure that the enemy knew it was alive.
"Do you know who I am now?" Ancalagon asked.
"I do, lord. Forgive me, but I must express my shock and surprise at seeing you here alive and well," Strider said, looking into the piercing eyes. Ancalagon let out a low laugh - one that rumbled the earth.
"Indeed? I am not shocked. I suppose I should commend you on your manners. This fool disturbed my rest," Ancalagon said, looking at the remains of Tower.
"Forgive our intrusion," Strider replied, bowing again.
"It appears you know how to treat with dragons," Ancalagon said.
"I've had the fortune of meeting several in my life," Strider said.
"I see. Yes, I can smell them on you. But there's another smell. Blood. Orc blood, it smells like. Have you come from battle?" Ancalagon asked.
"I have, lord. There is one going on above - at Angband," Strider said.
"Angband. Morgoth's fortress. I remember him - more so than that insipid fool he had around him. Perhaps the fool grew into something great, but he did not have Morgoth's strength or resolve. I take it he's still up there?" Ancalagon asked.
"What's left, lord. His body was destroyed millennia ago. What remains is but a shadow of his former self," Strider replied.
"Of course. He is not his master," Ancalagon said. He concentrated his focus on Strider, who didn't reply to the comment. "You have more blood on you than a normal warrior should."
"I am unsure how to receive that, lord," Strider replied.
"A compliment. It's quite impressive. Hmm… hundreds? No. This numbers in the many thousands. Oh yes, I can smell it all, Strider. Dragon's senses are finely attuned, mine more so than my brethren. That is interesting. Interesting indeed. That fool perhaps has killed hundreds of thousands through his orders. But you - you've done thousands with your hands and your sword. Interesting indeed," Ancalagon said. There was a vicious but appreciative connotation in his voice, one that made Strider's hair stand on end.
"I thank you for the compliment, lord - but I am undeserving of such high praise. I merely do what I must," Strider said.
"There's no lying to me, boy. If you only had to do what you must, you would've taken those orcs as prisoner. But I sense your resolve is something more than that. You want to see them exterminated. But do you have the strength to do so? Hmm… time will tell, boy. Time will tell," Ancalagon said - this time speaking more to himself than Strider. He stared at him intently still.
"Perhaps you disagree with my conclusion? Perhaps you wish to let the orcs live - and let them continue doing what they're doing," Ancalagon said. He smiled viciously as he felt Strider's magic flare at the suggestion. His eyes grew wider with interest as he saw the power that came from him. "And a powerful magic user. How interesting."
"I'll slaughter the last of them," Strider said quietly. Ancalagon noted the hatred and strength behind the voice and let out a devious laugh.
"Of that I have no doubt. Perhaps you should rejoin the battle above, then," Ancalagon said. Strider hesitated slightly but began to back out.
"My lord," Strider said, bowing. He turned to leave.
"Strider," Ancalagon said.
Strider began to turn. His eyes went wide as a sudden pain struck his body. Without rhyme or reason, Ancalagon sent a small jet of dragon fire at him. It encapsulated the left side of his body, focusing mainly on the head. Strider stumbled down to his knees as the pain overwhelmed him. He could feel his hair singing, his skin melting - but above it all, he felt the most excruciating pain he could think of. He trained his eyes on Ancalagon, who didn't move a muscle - he simply observed. Strider didn't let any cry of pain escape him - he would have to deny the dragon that pleasure. As he looked down, he saw bits burnt flesh peeling off and falling to the ground, never to return. After several minutes, the flames suddenly vanished. Still on his knees, Strider gently brought his hand to his check. It went through - he was touching something hard. He move his fingers slightly and made out what it was - teeth. He continued to gently feel around for damage; it was extensive.
"Impressive. You didn't even scream for mercy. Impressive indeed - not many can withstand my dragon fire. We shall meet again, Strider," Ancalagon said. With that, his eyes fluttered close - he went back to sleep. Strider knew that he couldn't attack this dragon - Ancalagon could've killed him several times over by now. Grudgingly, he bowed.
"Thank you, lord. Until then," Strider said, taking his leave. As he climbed out, he heard Ancalagon's chuckle.
-o-
"A dragon did that to you?" Bisca asked quietly.
"A nasty one, yes," Strider sighed.
"The dragon - is it still…?" she asked. Strider sighed and nodded.
"I can't beat him as is," he said grudgingly.
"What do you mean?" she asked, surprised.
"He's different from every other dragon I've come across. I don't know what he wants or what he needs. He just stays inside that place… sleeping. He hasn't come out in as long as I can remember. He talks now and then - but that's it," Strider said.
"If he can't move…" Bisca said.
"If he did move, that'd be even worse. I can't take any risk with him, Bisca," Strider said. Looking up, Bisca saw that he was unusually pale. The thought that there was something that made him react like that frightened Bisca.
"Do we have to worry about him coming here?" she asked quietly.
"I don't think so. He'll probably sleep for a few hundred more years," Strider said.
"That's good," she sighed. Bringing a hand up, she caressed his cheek. "Can you… show me?"
"It's not a pretty sight," Strider said.
"Show me," she ordered. With a sigh, Strider nodded. Twitching, the illusion Magic faded away. All that was left was the bony and muscly skin and the milky white eye. For a second, Bisca felt as though she was going to lose her dinner but quickly got it under control. Bringing a hand up, she touched his cheek softly. Her finger went through, touching his gums and teeth. It took all she had not to cry again at seeing him in such a destroyed state.
"I'm sorry this happened to you," she said, unsure of what else she could say.
"Not your fault," Strider said. She relied a bit as she saw his teeth move. The skin cracked a bit and Strider rubbed it, seemingly in pain. Resolving herself, Bisca leaned up and kissed the charred part of his cheek, resting her lips there for a few seconds. Strider was surprised by action. He reverted back to his usual self, wondering what to say.
"What was that for?" he finally asked.
"I…dunno. Felt…right, I suppose," Bisca said, blushing. Strider soon leaned down, giving her a kiss as well. Bisca was surprised but quickly reacted, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him in deeper. Strider ramped up the passion, bringing her onto his lap as he kissed her passionately. As they broke apart, Bisca rested her head against his.
"That…was nice," she said.
"No kidding," Strider said. He and Bisca looked at each intensely before they were quickly at each other again. Bisca wrapped her legs around her waist and thrust herself closer. She felt him run a hand through her long, green hair before going down the side of her dress. She felt him squeeze her thighs tight, his fingers slowly creeping along.
Strider broke from her lips and began to kiss Bisca down her neck, pausing at the base and sucking it a bit. Bisca weaved her fingers through his hair, keeping him in place. Strider slowly kissed his way up to her lips. He quickly shifted their positions, laying her down on and getting on top. Bisca quickly flipped him over on to his back, breaking the kiss. She saw the primal look in his eye and could tell that he wanted the same thing that she did.
Not wanting to be caught in an uncompromising position by anyone just hopping in, she slid her hands down Striders stomach, disappearing under the hem of her dress as she sat atop him. She lowered his pants down ever so slightly, blushing as she got him free. Bisca and Strider groaned in pleasure as she slipped him inside.
"What, no foreplay?" Strider asked as his flipped her over.
"Not tonight. Just fuck me. Now," she ordered, locking lips with him again. As she felt his tongue through into his mouth, she also felt him begin to thrust. Bisca squealed into the kiss and wrapped her legs around his waist, giving him all the access that he wanted. She felt each thrust reach deep inside, inching both of them closer and closer to a wonderful climax.
Strider broke the kiss yet again and pushed her dress up a bit, getting one of her breasts free and sucking on it. Bisca held him there, taking in each lash of the tongue against her tip, each gentle bite, and each hard thrust. It had been years since she had had a night like this, but she didn't feel the same then as she did now. Each thrust felt like an apology for leaving her so long. Satisfied that no one in Fiore had gotten to her before him, Bisca took control once again. She pulled her dress back down and began bouncing atop him. Strider grabbed her ass tight and guided her along. Bisca's hands went up her body, weaving through her hair as she moaned and cried out in ecstasy.
Strider quickly stood up, taking Bisca with. She balanced herself with a foot on the ground, the other one hiked around his waist. Strider continued fucking her in the position, moving slightly until her back was against the balcony. They kept their lips separated by inches, staring at each other with desire and passion as they enjoyed each other to the fullest. Bisca hopped up a bit, bringing both her legs around his waist. Strider obliged, grabbing her ass yet again and bouncing her up and down. She matched him thrust for thrust, forcing him in as deep as possible.
"Oh, goddamit! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! YES!" Bisca yelled, feeling Strider bite her neck as he continued to fuck her. She felt as though her senses were on fire - their smells and tastes intermingling, heightening the sensation further; the sense of touch stronger than anything else she could recall. Strider felt a rush of pride as she continued to scream in pleasure, forcing him to go harder and faster withe each passing round.
Strider let her down and turned her. One hand snaked under her dress and grabbed her breast tight while the other descended, massaging her clit. Bisca squeezed her legs tight at the sensation; as soon as he locked lips with her again, however, she unclenched and let him continue as he wanted. His tongue slipped inside her mouth again, lashing against hers. She savored the taste she had wanted for so long, each bit as wonderful as she had imagined it to be.
Strider took her to the ground yet again, lifting her legs and pushing them back as far as they would go. Bisca had kept up her training during those seven years and was as flexible as ever. They reached near her head and the look she gave him told Strider everything he needed to know. He guided himself back in, smirking as he heard the shuddered sigh she let out. Being given full access, he stretched Bisca as far as she could go and began to fuck her harder than before.
She felt her muscles stretch with each go. It was a sensation unlike any other, Bisca thought - to have him inside her. She guided his head back down to hers and kissed him, biting his lip gently and savoring the taste. It wasn't to long until she felt it; Bisca closed her eyes tight and paused Strider quickly, feeling her entire body begin to quiver. Strider smiled and looked up, seeing her toes clenched. He waited until she subsided before he resumed. Bisca felt her legs collapse down; she quickly tightened them around his waist and let him continue, holding on tighter than before. It wasn't long until she felt something warm inside. She felt Strider begin to slow down, his breathing more ragged than before. He soon grounded to a halt, kissing her gently before he got off to the side.
"Wow…," Bisca said, her chest heaving. She saw that both of them were drenched in sweat, still almost fully clothed. She thanked her luck that was the case - there was soon a knock on the door. Pushing through the pleasure, Bisca tried to get up. Strider helped her, giving her a shoulder to lean on. She quickly cleaned up as best as she could, her lips curved into a happy smile. Looking over, she saw that Strider was grinning as well. She quickly swooped in and kissed him, wanting one more before she had to get to sleep.
"That was…," she began softly, lingering to taste him a couple more times.
"Shh," Strider whispered, giving her one more kiss as well. "Sweet dreams, Bisca."
"Good night, Strider. See you soon," she said, smirking. As she sashayed away, Strider had to exert complete willpower to prevent himself from giving her a hard spank. He quickly stepped into his room and showered, still grinning.
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